Will of Philip Jones 1761

Last Will and Testament of Philip Jones of Baltimore County, Maryland, Dated 2 Sept 1761

In the name of God, Amen. I Philip Jones of Baltimore County in the Province of Maryland, being Weak and Sick in Body but of perfect sound and disposing Mind and Memory do make my last Will and Testament in manner following; First and principally I commend my Soul to the care of the Almighty being from Whom I received it. And my Body to be decently buried in such manner as to my Executrix hereafter named shall seem meet, and as to what Worldly Estate it hath pleased the Almighty to put me in possession of I dispose of it as follows.

I give and devise to my son Nicholas Jones his heirs and assigns forever all those Tracts of Land lying and being in Baltimore County aforesaid, near a place called the Soldiers Delight resurvey'd Abners Camp and Jones Prevention.

I give and devise to my daughter Rachel Jones her heirs and assigns forever a Tract of Land called the Folly lying in Baltimore County near Soldiers Delight aforesaid.

I give and devise to my Daughter Hannah Jones her heirs and assigns forever All that part of a Tract of Land called the Eagles Nest that lies on the East side of the Patapsco Falls in Baltimore County.

I give and devise to my Daughter Anne Jones her heirs and assigns forever All that other part of the Tract of Land called Eagles Nest that lies on the West side of the Patapsco Falls in Baltimore County.

I give and devise to my Son John Jones his heirs and assigns forever all that tract of Land called Jones Contrivance lying and being in Baltimore County aforesaid, as also One hundred and Twenty-eight Acres part of a Tract of land called Addition to Stony Hill joining the said Jones Contrivance.

I give and devise to my Sons Thomas, Nicholas and John Jones and their heirs in Joint tenancy not to be divided unless sold Ten Acres of land called Sewell's Relief in Baltimore County aforesaid.

I give and bequeath to my Daughter Margaret Murray the Sum of Fifty Shillings in full for her part in my Estate and I do hereby exclude her from any other part of my Estate.

I give and bequeath to my Grand Daughter Elizabeth Murray, daughter of the aforesaid Margaret Murray, Fifty Pounds Sterling to be paid by my Executrix if she shall apply in person for the same within the space of Ten Years after my Death.

I give and bequeath to my Grandson Philip Rogers one Negro boy called Nathan being now about Seven Years old.

I give and bequeath to my daughter Henrietta Rogers one Mulatto Girl named Sal with her Increase.

I give the Sole Use of the House wherein I now live and all other Houses on the Plantation I now live on except such as shall be neccessary for securing the Crops thereon made to my Wife, Ann Jones during her Natural Life as [and?] also all the Use of all my Lands heretofore disposed of except the Lott I have in Baltimore Town to her and my Son Thomas Jones to be Cultivated at their joint Expense and they to Share and Enjoy the Profits thereof and after her Decease the Land to revert to my Son Thomas Jones his heirs and assigns forever. And as to the remainder of my Estate, after my Debts, Funeral Expenses and Legacies are paid I do direct that my Wife retain one Third part thereof and that the Residue be equally divided between Six of my Children To Wit: Rachel, Thomas, Nicholas, Hannah, Ann and John Jones and I as Particularly direct that in such division my daughter Rachel have a Negro Woman named Jane paid her at the Appraisement.

And Lastly I do direct that my loving Wife Ann Jones be Guardian to such of my Children as shall be minors at the time of my Death and Sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament, hereby Revoking all other Wills by me heretofore made, Ratifying and confirming this to be my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal this Second day of September, One thousand Seven hundred and Sixty-one.

Philip Jones (seal)

Signed, Sealed, Published, Declared and Delivered by the above Philip Jones the Testator, for and as his last Will and Testament in the Presence of us who have Subscribed our Names as Witnesses
Cornelius Howard
Nicholas Orrick
Hannah Orrick

Baltimore County, March 19 1762, came Cornelius Howard and Nicholas Orrick, two of the Subscribing Witnesses to the within Will, and being duly and Solomnly sworn onthe holy Evangelist of Almighty God depose and say that they Saw the Testator Philip Jones Sign the said Will and heard him publish and declare the same to be his last Will and Testament. That at the time of his so doing he was to the best of their apprehensions of sound and disposing mind and mamory and that they subscribed their Respective Names as Evidence to the said Will as also they Saw Hannah Orrick, the other Witness, Subscribe her Name all in the Presence of the said Testator and at his Request. Sworn before William Young, dep. Commissary, Balt. County

1762 March the 20th,
Mrs. Jones the Executrix mentioned in within Will, refuses the Execution of the said Will but not Renounce the devise and Legacy Bequeathed her before Wm. Young, dep. Comm'nr, B. Co.

Contributed by Phil Stackhouse