Will of Charles Merryman 1724

Last Will & Testament of Charles Merryman of Baltimore County, Dated 16 Jan 1724, Probated 14 Jan 1725

In the Name of God Amen. The sixteenth day of January one Thousand seven Hundred and Twenty four. I Charles Marryman of Baltimore County & Province of Maryland planter being of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God for & calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for man once to die, Do make and ordain this my last will and Testament in manner and form following, that is to say first and principally I give my soul into the hands of God who gave it to me and for my body I command it to the Earth to be buried in Christian and decent manner nothing doubting but altho general I ? I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God and as touching my worldly Estate is herewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give, devise and I signeth and dispose the same in manner and form following.

Item: I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my true and beloved wife Mary Marryman to be my whole and sole Executrix to see all my lawful and just debts be paid.

Item: I give and I bequeath my dwelling plantation with the land and woods thereunto belonging jointly and equally between my wife Mary Marryman and my daughter Elizabeth Cox jointly and equally to be enjoyed by the said parties during the natural life of my said wife and at her decease ?/ to my daughter Elizabeth Cox and the heirs of her body lawfully begotten for ever.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my said Executrix all and singular my personal Estate remaining after my just debts are paid and do hereby Impower her my said Executrix ? to will I bequeath, devise and dispose the same as she shall think fit peaceably and give authority to enjoy or dispose of the same without any manner of lott hindrance or molestation from any person or persons whatsoever.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my grandson Marryman Cox one hundred acres of land beginning at the Tanners Run and running up the said run with my outward line till it comes to one Hundred acres.

Item I give and bequeath unto my Eldest son John Marryman one piece of money to the value of one shilling Sterling.

Item I give and bequeath to my youngest son Samuel Marryman one piece of money to the value of one shilling sterling.

And I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and annull all and every other former Testament, Wills, ? , Requests and Executors by me in any wise before this time namely Wills I bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this and none other to be my last Will and Testament. In witness thereof I have hereby set my hand and seal this day and year above mentioned. Signed

Charles Marryman (CM his mark)
(his Seal)

Signed Sealed Published Pronounced and Declared by the said Charles Marryman as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us:
Edward Cook,
Johns (J his mark) Robinson,
James Powell,
Mordicai (M his mark) Price,
John ( X his mark) Welch,
Hannah (H her mark) Cox.

At the foot of the foregoing will was thus written Viz: Maryland for Baltimore County Jan 14th 1725 came Edward Cook & James Powell Johns Robinson & Hanna Cox subscribing witnesses to the aforegoing Will and made oath on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God that they saw the Testator Charles Marryman sign and seal and heard him publish and Declare this as his Last Will and Testament at that at the time of his so doing he was to the best of their knowledge and apprehension of sound and disposing mind and memory and that the subscribed the said will in presence of the said Testator sworn to before me Tho. Sherirdine D. Com. Baltimore County.

Transcribed and contributed by Selena DuLac
Extracted from: SLC Family History Microfilm 0012847 Probate Records of MD Vol 17-18 1721-1726

A SECOND TRANSCRIPTION OF THE LAST WILL & TESTAMENT

Last Will & Testament of CHARLES MERRYMAN SR. of Baltimore County, dated 16 January 1724, proved 4 January 1725

In the name of God Amen, 16 January 1724; Charles Merryman of Baltimore Couty, Province of Maryland, Planter; being of perfect mind and memory, thanks given unto God therefore, calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men ...to Dye, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following: That is to say first and principally I give my soul unto the Hands of God who gave it to me. And for my body I commend it to the earth to be buried in Christian and decent manner, nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall know etc... of the mighty power of God and as ... my worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I give, devise, bequeath and dispose the same in manner and form following:

Item: I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my true and well beloved wife Mary Merryman to be my whole and sole executrix to see all my lawful and just debts paid.

Item: I give and bequeath my dwelling plantation with the lands and woods thereunto belonging, jointly and equally between my wife Mary Merriman and my daughter Elizabeth Carr (?), jointly and equally to be enjoyed by these parties during the natural life of my said wife and at her decease to return to my daughter Elizabeth Cox(?) and the heirs of her body lawfully begotten, forever.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my said executrix all my ... personal estate remaining after my just debts are paid and do hereby empower my said executrix to will, bequeath, devise and dispose the same as she shall think fit, reasonably and quietly(?) to enjoy or dispose the same without any manner of lett, hindrance or molestation from any person or persons whatsoever.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my grandson Merriman Cox(?) one hundred acres of land beginning at the Tanners(?) Run and running up the Sail(?) Run with my outward line till it comes to one hundred acres.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my eldest son John Merriman one piece (purse?) of money to the value of one shilling sterling.

Item: I give and bequeath to my youngest son Samuel Merriman one piece (or purse?) of money to the value of one shilling sterling.

And I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and annul all and every other former testament, will, legacies, bequests and executors by me in any way before this time named, willed, etc., confirming this and none other to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.

his X mark
Charles Merryman

Signed, etc, in the presence of:
Edward Cooke
Jonas S. Robinson (mark)
James Powell
Mordicai Price (mark)
John Welch (mark)
Hannah Cox (mark)

Maryland, Balt. County Jan.4, 1725 came these (people to attest to the validity of this will)

Notes: Charles Merryman was probably born in Lancaster Co VA by 1660, the son of John and Audrey Merriman. He married 1st, Mary Haile, the daughter of Nicholas and Mary Haile & the widow of Henry King. Mary is the mother of his three sons, the eldest two sons were apparently born in Lancaster Co. VA. Charles Merryman married second, by 1693, Mary, the adminstrix of the estate of Andrew Matson. It appears his daughter Elizabeth who married Jacob Cox was by his second wife, based on the above will and her apparent age.

Contributed by Stephen Ford