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_________________________________________________________________________ In the History of Allegany County, Maryland, Vol. II by James Thomas and Judge T.J.C. Williams the following story is told of Rebecca Twigg (Granny Becky) and her negro slave girl, Ruth. Ruth is again mentioned in the will of Rebecca Twigg made on 4 September 1799 and probated on 8 April 1825. In truth, this story is as much about Ruth as it is Rebecca Twigg (Granny Becky). "We find the family tradition full of Granny Becky's house, just where it stood and a story of her having a negro slave girl, Ruth, taking an axe and endeavoring to kill a cherry tree that stood down by the Williams roadside, a considerable distance away from her home, because it had several times blossomed but had never borne any cherries. Ruth, in execution of her mistress' orders, hacked the trunk of the cherry tree, as had Jesus Christ upon the barren fig tree that bore no fruit. But negro Ruth's hacking all the bark from around the trunk of the barren cherry tree did not kill it, but made it ever after a never failing tree, and it grew and grew into a giant cherry tree and its luscious, never failing fruit was the delight of granny Becky Twigg's children's children to the fourth generation." =========== NOTE: There have been no changes to the grammar, spelling or phrasing. The Will of Rebecca Twigg, wife of John Twigg: Made: 4 September 1799 Probated: 8 April 1825 In the Name of God Amen: I Rebecca Twigg of Allegany County and State of Maryland being in perfect health of body, and sound and disposing mind memory and understanding, considering the certainty of Death and the uncertainty of the time thereof and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs and thereby be the better prepared to leave this world when it shall please God to call me hence, do therefore make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say------ First and princepally I commit my soul into the hands of Almighty God and my body to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executrix herein after named and after my Debts and funeral charges are paid I devise and bequeath as follows------ I give and bequeath unto my Beloved Daugher Lurena Twigg one nego girl named - Ruth which I bought of a certain Thomas Turner of Maddison County and State of Kentucky as by a Bill of Sale from said Turner to me and recorded among the records of Allegany County Court will more fully and at large appear to be hers, her heirs and assignes forever. Item, I devise and bequeath all the rest and residue of my personal Estate to my Beloved daughter Mary Twigg to be and remain hers, her heirs and assigns forever. And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my beloved Daughter Lurena to be sole Executrix of this my last will and testament revoking and annulling all former wills by me heretofore made; ratifying and confirming this and none other to be my Last Will and Testament. In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this fourth day of September anno Domini one thousand seven and ninety nine. her Rebecca R Twigg mark Note: This "R" was made in mirror image. Signed sealed published and declared by rebecca Twigg the above named Testatrix as and for her Last Will and Testament in the presence of us, who at her request and in her presence have subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto. Wm. McMahon Tom Cromwell James MClery