Will of Samuell Watkins 1743

Last Will and Testament of SAMUELL WATKINS of Baltimore county, Dated 2 Apr 1743, Proved 22 Aug 1743

In the name of God Amen the second day of April in the year of our Lord one Thousand seven hundred and forty three, I Samuell Watkins of Baltimore County being very Sick and weak of body, but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God therefore, calling unto mind the mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Die, do make and ordain this my last will and Testament that is to say, principally, and first of all. I give and Recommend my Soul into the hands of the almighty God that gave it, and for my body, I recommend it to the Earth, to be buried in a Christian like, and descent manner, at the discretion of my Excutors, nothing Doubting but at the General Resurrection, I shall receive the same again by the almighty power of God and as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give and dispose of the same in the following manner, I give, devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form

Impremes, I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Mary Anne Wattkins eight hundred pounds of Tobacco, out of my Estate before it is divided and than to have equal part with the rest of my Children.

Item. I give and bequeath my Servant woman liberty to free herself by paying a ______________ Satisfaction of Three hundred pounds of Tobacco with four years intrest.

Item. I give and bequeath my beloved Son, Samuell Wattkins, whom I likewise constitute make, and ordain my only and Sole Executor of my last will and Testament to Divide my Estate equally between his Brothers and Sisters and I hereby _________disallow________and___________ all and every other former Testament, wills, Legacies, and Executors, by _______any_________ before this time named, willed, bequeathed Ratifying and confirming this to be my last will and Testament, in witnesses whereof have here unto Set my hand and Soul, the day and year above written.

Samuell Wattkins

Signed, Sealed, published, pronounced and declared by the said Samuell Wattkins as his last will and Testament, in the presence of his Subscribers, viz (pounds of Tobacco with four years intrest was entered before Signed and Delivered
John his X mark Leggett
Solomon (his X mark) Wattkins
James Moore

John Leggett, Solomon Wattkins, and James Moore the Subscribing witnesses to the foregoing will being duely and Solemnly sworen on the holy Evangelists of the Almighty God __________and say that They saw the Testator Samuell Wattkins Sign the foregoing 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 apprehension of sound and Dis___sing mind and memory and that they subscribed their respective names as witnesses to the said will in the presence of the said Testator and at his request, which oath was taken by the said witnesses in the presence of Samuel Watkins heir at Law, who did not object to the probat of the said will.
August 22, 1743
Thomas White Deputy Commissary Balt. County.

Contributed by Joy Jinkerson