Will of Stephen Onion 1754

Will of Stephen Onion, Dated 24 Aug 1754, two days before his death on 26 Aug

I, Stephen Onion of Baltimore County make this my Last Will & Testament being weak in body but Perfect in Understanding. Item, I give & bequeath to my Brother Thomas Onion of Braywood in Staffordshire Twenty Pounds Sterling a year during his life.

Item, I give to my Sister Susannah Barret Ten Pounds Sterling during her life years.

Item, I give to my Neice Joyce Holms Twenty Pounds Sterling yearly during her life.

The money to be remitted them annually.

Item, I give my whole Real Estate to my nephew Zacheus Barret who from henceforward shall be called Zacheus Onion and the said estate to be continued to him & his Heirs of his Body by the name of Onion and in case of Death without a male heir to keep up the Name of Onion to the nearest related and for want of such relation to the Name of Onion forever.

Item, I make my well Beloved wife Deborah Sole Executrix of this my Last Will and Testament investing in her full Power and Authority of the mannagement of my Estate until Zacheus Barret who shall be called Onion comes of age; and then my will is that half of my Personal Estate shall be divided and given to him. In testimony whereof I have here unto set my Hand and Seal this 24th day of August 1754.

Signed & sealed: Stephen Onion
The within will Signed Sealed Published and Declared in the presence of Wil (Wm) Lyon, Ann Richmond, Francis Ingram

Codicil, It is my will that my wife Deborah have all the household Furniture and that she have the Dwelling Houses during her life.

Item, I give unto her and her heirs Two Tracts of Land one called Onions Fishery, the other called Onions Wilderness both lying upon Susquehannah River.

Witness whereof my Hand & Seal this 24th day of August 1754

Stephen Onion

Same witnesses as above.

Contributed by Betty Lee Hudson
Source: Baltimore County Register of Wills (Wills Original) Box 8 Folder 53, [Md. HR 8892-8-1-79]