Will of John Kemp 1686

Will of John Kemp of Baltimore County, Dated December 1, 1686, Filed March 15, 1686/87

In the Name of God Amen the first day of December Anoge Domini 1686, Know yee all Christian People to whom these presents shall or may come that I John Kemp of Baltimore County in the Province of Maryland being very sick and weak butt of sound and perfect Memory praise be given to God for the same and knowing the uncertainty of life on Earth and being Desierous to settle things in order do make this my last will and Testament in manner and form as followeth that is to say first and princeapally aI commend my Soul to Almighty God my Creator Asuredly believing that I shall Receave full pardon and free remission of all my sinns and be saved by the precious death and meritts of my dear Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ and my body to the Earth from whence it was taken to be buried in such decent and christian maner as my executrix hereafter named shall think fitt and convenient by her maiden name Sarah Wichell being now my dear and loveing wife whom I ordain and appoint and leave to be my whole and sole executrix of this my last will and Testament and as touching such wordly Estate as the Lord in his mercy hath lent me my will and meaning is the same shall be employed and bestowed hereafter by this my will is expressed and first I do revoke frustrate(?) Renounce and make voyde all wills by me formerly amde and declare this and appointe this my last will and Testament.

Item I give and bequeath to my dear wife Sarah the Plantation whereon I now live called Parkers Ganen(?) being one hundred acres of land as long as she lives and when my dear wife is deceased my will is that my son Richard Kemp shall enjoy it.

Item I give likewise to my son Richard that tract of land adioineing to my Plantation called Kemps Adition to enjoy it when he shall come to the age of Twenty years.

Item I will and bequeath unto my daughter Mary that Tract of land lying in bear Creek commonly called Clay Bank containing one hundred acres.

Item my will and meaning is that either my wife or my Son Richard may fetch as much Timber off this last Tract of land of my daughter if they have ocation as shall contains to the building of fower forty foot tobbacco houses now my will and meaning is that if either my children should die without Isue the Survivor shall enjoy the others part and if both dies without Isue then is my wife to enjoy all the land as long as she lives and if praise God to call my wife to needs or poverty my both children being dead she may sell or dispose of any one of the fore mentioned Tracts of land the other two Tracts my will and meaning is thatt Elizabeth daughter of Nicholas Corbin shall enjoy it and if she dies without Isue my will is that Nicholas Corbin Junior and Mary his sister shall equally enjoy it and my will and meaning is that after my wife have had her third of my personall Estate that the rest of my Personall Estate be equally divided between both my children.

Item my will is that Christopher Gist and Richard Cromwell and george Ashman shall be the oversears of this my last will and Testament to see it performed according to the true intent and meaning thereof. Item my will is that such debts as in consience I owe to any person be first satesfied contented and paid. Item I give unto Christopher Gist and Richard Cromwell twenty shillings apeece in money or moneys worth. In Witness hereof I have hereunto sett my hand and Seal this s.. day of December Anogo Dom 1686.

John (The mark of ) Kemp

Witness

George Ashman
Edward Norris
Denis Garrett
James Robardson

Memorandum 15th day of March Edward Norris, Dennis Garrett and James Robertson did prove this within mentioned will upon oath before me to be the act and deed last will and testament of John Kemp lately deceased given under my hand this 15th day of March 1686.

John Boring

Contributed by T. J. Shumaker
Source: Baltimore County Courthouse, Book 1, Page 56, microfilm only