ARTHUR JOHN WILLIS

Item 1 I give, devise and bequeath unto my beloved wife Belle M. WILLIS all that piece or parcel of land at Potters Landing contained within the following metes and bounds viz commencing at the fork of the roads near O. M. HIGNUTTS store, and bounding with said roads untill it reaches a line running parallel with the west end of the building commonly known as the Hotel, said line to run from the county road leading to B. G. Stevens Store, Fifteen feet west of said Hotel Building supposed to contain one and a half acres of land more or less together with all the buildings and improvements thereon, during her natural life, and at her death to go to the children of my daughter Mary Virginia STEVENS equally, and I further will that my executors hereinafter named shall pay at my death to my said wife Belle M. WILLIS the sum of Two Thousand Dollars as agreed between us before our marriage, also that they pay her whatever dividend maybe declared during her life on Twenty Shares of preferred Stock of Northern Pacific Rail Road, and at her death said Rail Rod Stock to go to my Grand Daughter Caroline E. VANSICKLE, and I further will to my said wife One Piano, Piano cover and Stool, One full set of Cottage furniture with Bed, Bolster, Pillows and Bed clothes complete, one chamber and chamber Bucket, Wash Bowl & Pitcher, Six Towels, Combs & Brush, Flower stand and all the Pot Flowers, with all she had before our marriage and all she has accumulated since

2nd I give devise and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Virginia STEVENS wife of B. G. STEVENS all my lands and improvements that may belong to me at the time of my death (except that part herein willed to my wife) on the South side of the County road leading from Lidens Mill to T. F. Johnsons Store running with said Johnsons line South to a big Stone and thence West to the Wharf on the Great Choptank River Known as Potters Landing I further will and bequeath unto her One Hundred and Fifty Four Shares of Preferred stock of the Northern Pacific Rail Road.

3rd I give devise and bequeath unto my Daughter Caroline S. Messick Three parts or parcels of land Situated in the 4^th Election Districk of Caroline County, One of which is Known as the P. J. WILLIS tract 150 acres on which (unreadable word) Mill has been erected, The 2^nd tract Known as the R. S. WILLIS tract containing 136 acres, The 3^rd Known as the Timber land tract containing 85 acres, all formerly owned by Short A. WILLIS Dec'd, I further will her One Hundred and Fifty Four Shares of Preferred Stock of the Northern Pacific Rail Road.

4th I give devise and bequeath unto my daughter Georgeanna VANSICKLE wife of John T. VANSICKLE, Three Hundred Shares of Preferred Stock of the Northern Pacific Rail Road to be held in trust by my executors for her use, and for the support and education of her children, she being hopelessly insane, and in case the dividends should be more than sefficient for the maintenance of herself and children, the surplus to be invested for her use, and in case of her death all shall be equally divided between her children when they arrive at lawful age to receive their portion.

5th I give devise and bequeath unto my Grand Son A. J. Willis STEVENS my farm known as the Willis Homestead on which Rownell CARROLL at present resides, laid down for 150 acres of land, and in case he should die without lawful issue I will it to my Grand Son A. J. WillisMESSICK.

6th I give devise and bequeath unto my Grand Daughter Caroline E. CROSBY formerly Caroline E. STEVENS all that tract or parcel of land lying on the Northside of the County road leading from Lidens Mill to T. F. JOHNSONS land whereon Capt Robert HUTCHINSON at present resides.

7th I give devise and bequeath unto all my Grand children that may be living at the time of my death (equally divided) One Hundred and Forty shares of the Preferred Stock of the Northern Pacific Rail Road, and I hereby direct that my Executors shall invest the dividends for their use untill they shall arrive at lawful age to receive their portion.

8th I hereby direct that all my personal property not herein specified, be sold by my executors at Public sale and after paying my funeral expenses and other just debts the balance of the proceeds of said sale be equally divided among my three children.

I hereby appoint B. G. STEVENS and R. M. MESSICK sole executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me made, In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal this 18^th day of May 1886.

Signed and Sealed A. J. WILLIS

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the above named Arthur John WILLIS, to be his last will and testament, in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence have hereunto subscribed our names, as witnesses to the same ~

T. F. JOHNSON
W. F. LIDEN
J. W. HIGNUTT

Caroline County to wit:
The 26^th of March 1889.

Then came Thomas F. Johnson, the depositor of the aforegoing instrument of writing and made oath on the Holy Evangely of Almighty God, that the said instrument of writing is the true and whole will of Arthur John WILLIS, late of Caroline County, deceased, that hath come to his hands or possession, and that it was delivered to him by the testator, and that he doth not know of any will of a later date left by the said deceased or of any codicil.
 

Cert by Jas B. STEELE Reg of Wills for Caroline county ~

Caroline County, to wit:
26^th of March 1889.

Then came Thomas F. JOHNSON and William F. LIDEN, two of the subscribing witnesses to the aforegoing last will and testament of Arthur John WILLIS, late of Caroline county, deceased, and severally made oath on the Holy Evangely of Almighty God, they did see the testator sign and seal the said will, that they heard him publish, pronounce and declare the same to be his last will and testament, and that at the time of his so doing he was, to the best of their apprehensions, of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding, and that they respectively signed their names as witnesses to the said will in the presence and at the request of the testator, and in the presence of each other and of John W. HIGNUTT the other subscribing witness ~

Cert by Jas B. STEELE Reg of Wills for Caroline county ~

Caroline County, to wit:

26^th of March 1889.

Then came John W. HIGNUTT one of the subscribing witnesses to the aforegoing last will and testament of Arthur John WILLIS, late of Caroline County, deceased, and made oath on the Holy Evangely of Almighty God, that he did see the testator sign and seal the said will and that he heard him publish, pronounce and declare the same to be his last will and testament, that at the time of his so doing he cannot say that the testator was, to the best of his apprehension, of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding, but that he together with Thomas F. JOHNSON and William F. LIDEN the other subscribing witnesses respectively subscribed their names as witnesses to the said will in the presence and at the request of the testator, and in the presence of each other ~

Cert by Jas B. STEELE Reg of Wills for Caroline County