Will of Edward Stoxdale 1779

Last Will and Testament of Edward Stoxdale, Dated 16 Aug 1779, Proved 13 Oct 1779

In the name of God Amen I Edward Stoxdale of Baltimore County being at this time infirm in Body, advanced in Years, but of sound mind memory and understanding, reflecting on the incertainty of this life and willing and desirous to make a distribution, such as to me seems just and right of such worldly Estate, as by permission and assistance of the divine Providence I have acquired here do hereby make and order such distribution in manner following, that is to say I commit my Soul to the hands of the Almighty God from whom I received it and my body to the earth to be decently interred at the discretion of my Executors herein after named.

Item. I give an bequeath to my beloved son Solomon Stoxdale twenty five acres of land called Edward's Venture adjoining a tract of land called Buckingham's Prevention. I also bequeath to the said Solomon Stoxdale a piece of silver commonly called an English Shilling in full for his part or portion of my Estate.

Item. I give and bequeath to my dear and beloved wife the use service and labour of my negro woman anmed Kate and my nego girl named Flora for the term of her natural life. After her decease I give and bequeath the said negro woman named Kate to my daughter Hannah Hooker on this express condition that she pay to her sister my daughter Margaret the sum of ten Pounds current money but on her refusal or neglect to pay the same after my wife's decease, my will is, that then the said negro is to become the property and be delivered to my said daughter Margaret to hold the said negro to such legatees and their assigns forever. I also give to my said daughter Hannah a piece of silver called an English Shilling which with the above bequest is in full for her part or portion of my estate.

Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Margaret a piece of silver commonly called and English Shilling with the above legacy as and for her full part or portion of my estate.

Item. I give and bequeath to my son John Stoxdale one hundred and thirteen acres part of a tract of land called Stoxdale Addition and nineteen acres of a tract of land called the Park to be laid off for him agreeable to a plat and certificate thereof lately made for that purpose to hold the same to him his heirs and assigns forever. I also bequeath to the said John Stoxdale a piece of silver commonly called and English Shilling and no other part of my estate.

Item. I give and bequeath to my son Thomas Stoxdale a black mare called Boney and a piece of silver called an English Shilling for his full part or portion of my estate.

Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Catherine Brown part of the tract of land called Fine-Soil Forrest containing sixty acres to hold the same to her during her life after her decease to descend to her son Edward Brown to him his heirs and assigns forever. I also give to my daughter Catherine one feather bed and furniture and one English Shilling in lieu and full satisfaction for her part of my estate.

Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Rachel Griffith the above named negro girl named Flora to hold to her and her assigns after my wife's decease upon the express condition that my said daughter shall give and make over to my grandson Aaron Davis son of my daughter Margaret the first child the said negro Flora shall have to live and arrive to the age of two years. I also give to my said daughter Rachel one English Shilling and no other part of my estate.

Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Eleanor a negro girl anmed Hagar but with this condition and proviso annexed, that the first child of said negro has and bears that shall arrive to age of two years shall then and from thenceforth be the right and property of my granddaughter Catherine Hooker and shall then be made over and delivered to her. I also will and direct that my said daughter Eleanor have the use and possession of a negro girl named Lathy during the life of the said Eleanor and after her decease I give the said negro girl to my granddaughter Rachel, duaghter of the said Eleanor and her assigns but I do further order and direct and my will is that if the said negro Lathy should have and raise two children to be the age of five years that then such children shall be the property and estate of my granddaughter Margaret daughter of her the said Eleanor. I also give my said daughter Eleanor a piece of sliver commonly called an English Shilling and no more of my estate.

Item. I give to my grandson Edward Davis a negro girl named Ruth to him and his assigns forever.

Item. I give devise and bequeath to my dear and beloved wife the use and profits of my plantation or farm whereon I now live supposed to contain two hundred and thirty seven acres of land together with the use of all my personal estate not herein specifically bequeathed to others for her support and maintenance only during her life she paying thereout my debts and funeral expenses. After her decease I give and devise the same to my son Edward Stoxdale to him his heirs and assigns forever.

Item. I give and bequeath to my son Edward Stoxdale a negro boy named Sam to him and his assigns forever.

And lastly I constitute and appoint my said dear wife and son Edward sole Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and utterly disannulling every other will at any time heretofore by me made. In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed my seal this the sixteenth day of August 1779.

his mark
Edward Stoxdale

Signed sealed published and declared by the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have heretofore subscribed our names and evidences in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other
Richard Williams
Ely Israel
William Parrish
Thos. Jones

Balt. County 13th October 1779 came Thomas Jones, Richard Williams, Eli Israel subscribing evidences to the aforegoing last Will and Testament of Edward Stoxdale deceased and made oath on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God that they saw the Testator within mentioned sign and seal and heard him publish and declare the same as and for his last Will and Testament that at the time of his sodoing he was to the best of their apprehensions of sound and disposing mind and memory and understanding and that they together with William Parrish the other subscribing evidence subscribed their names as witnesses thereto in the presence and at the request and in the presence of each other. Certified by me the subscriber Register of Wills said County.
William Buchanon

Contributed by Bob Reynolds