Wills:  Will of William Pearce, (1719) Anne Arundel County, Maryland

This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Bill Pearce
(bilpearce@aol.com).

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Last Will & Testament of William Pearce of Anne Arundel County
dated 12 September 1719, proved 19 October 1719 

In the name of God, Amen! I William Pearce of Anne Arundell County being Sick & 
Weak in Body but of sound mind & Judgement (Blessed be God) do make contstitute & 
appoint this my last Will & testament thereby revoking all Former Wills by me 
heretoforemade. In Manner & form following that is to say~~Firstly before all things I 
recommend my Soul into the hands of Allmighty God believing Remission of Sins & 
Everlasting Life through the Meritts Death & Passion of Jesus Christ my Lord; and only 
Saviour. And for the better disposal of my Worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God 
to bless me I dispose thereof as followeth. I do give & bequeath all my Land to be equally 
divided between my two Sons William & John Pearce and to their Heirs forever, and in 
Case either of them shall die before the Said Lands be divided and Leave Issue, then the 
Heirs of the body of the deceased shall have an equal Right in the Said Lands with my 
Surviving Son. And it is my Will & Mind that my Said Sons be at age to work for 
themselves as they shall arrive to the Age of Sixteen Years Successfully. And I do make 
constitute & appoint my Loving Wife Elisabeth Pearce full & whole Executrix of this my 
Last Will & Testament desiring her to bring up my Children in the Fear of God, and to let 
them have such Part of my Personall estate as by Law shall belong to them as they shall 
arrive to the age of twenty one Years Successfully. Lastly I do make & contstitute my two 
Loving Nephews Thomas & William Tipton Trustees of this my Last Will & Testament, 
desiring them to See the same duly executed, by me made this twelfth day of September In 
the Year of our Lord God One Thousand Seven hundred and Nineteen.
Signed Sealed Published
and Declared to be his Last 

Wm Pearce (Seal)


Will & Testament by the 
Abovementioned Testator.
In the presence of
Henry Hall
John Stevens
Susanna Wanill. 

On the back of the aforegoing Will was thus endorst (first) Oct. 19th~~ Then came the 
Reverend Henry Hall and John Stevens Subscribing Evidences to the within Will & made 
oath on the holy Evangelists that they Saw the Testator Sign Seal and Deliver the within 
Instrument of Writing as his Last Will & testament & that he published & Declared the 
Same so to be. And at the time of his So doing he was of Sound and perfect mind & 
Memory to the best of their knowledge. Sworn before me. Phil. Hammond D.C.A. 

Source: Prerogative Court (Wills) 1718-1719; 15, p.217.
(MSA: Microfilm SR4409; pp.389-390)