Will of Benjamin Johnson 1889

Last Will & Testament of Benjamin Johnson, Dated April 1, 1889; Proven September 14, 1891

I Benjamin Johnson of Baltimore County in the State of Maryland do hereby publish and declare this instrument of writing to be my last Will and Testament.
1st. It is my Will that after my decease, all my just debts and obligations shall be paid.
2nd. It is my Will that as soon after my death as possible my Executor hereafter named shall sell my Entire Estate real and personal and convert the same into money; it is my Will however that my Executor shall decide upon the proper manner and time of selling my Real Estate, so that it may bring the highest price possible.
3rd. I bequeath to my son James T. Johnson the sum of Three hundred dollars.
4th. I bequeath to my son William H. Johnson the sum of Three hundred dollars.
5th. I bequeath to my daughter Ellen Kidd the sum of Three hundred dollars.
6th. I bequeath to my daughter Jennie Hanson the sum of Three hundred dollars.
7th. I bequeath to my son Nathan H. Johnson the sum of Three hundred dollars.
8th. It is my Will that the legacies to my children above named shall be paid as soon after the sale of my Estate as possible.
9th. It is my Will that my wife Maria Johnson shall have all the household goods which she shall claim as her own; that she shall also have the family bible; and it is further my Will that she shall have all the rest and residue of my Estate of whatever nature, kind or description or wherever situated.
10th. It is my Will that the bequest to my wife of the remainder of my Estate shall be in lieu of Dower.
11th. I hereby nominate and appoint my son James T. Johnson to be the Executor of this my last Will and Testament.
In testimony of the aforegoing instrument of writing witness the hand and seal of the Testator this First day of April in the Year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and Eighty nine.

Marked: Benjamin Johnson
Witnesses: John Flanagan
Frank Duncan
Frank Wheeler

Contributed by Isabelle Board-Obert
Source: Baltimore County, Will Book BWA 9, folio 337