Wills:  Last Will & Testament of James Dunn. (1807) Baltimore County, Maryland

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Last Will and Testament of JAMES DUNN of Baltimore Town Dated 12 Oct 1807, 
Proved 21 Oct 1807 IN THE NAME OF ALMIGHTY GOD I James Dunn of the City of 
Baltimore in Baltimore County and State of Maryland, Merchant, being of sound and 
disposing mind memory and understanding (praised be Almighty for the same) do make 
publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner & form following.

That is to say. First I do will and direct that all my just Debts, Funeral expences and the 
charge of the probate of this my Will and all other charges and expences thereto to be paid 
& discharged by my Executors hereinafter named. And. I do give unto my father John 
Dunn of the Kingdom of Ireland the sum of Five thousand dollars to be paid to him as 
soon as conveniently may be after my decease. And. I do give unto my Brothers and 
Sisters the sum of Five Thousand Dollars each, to be paid to them respectively as soon as 
conveniently may be after my decease. And. I do give unto Mary Armstrong the wife of 
James Armstrong of the said City of Baltimore (which said James Armstrong is my 
copartner in Trade) the sum of one thousand Dollars to be paid to her as soon as 
conveniently may be after my decease. And. I do give unto James Dunn Armstrong the 
son of the said James Armstrong and Mary his wife the sum of Five Thousand Dollars, and 
do request my executors hereinafter named either to place the same out at interest or to 
invest the same in some Public Funds of the United States or in some public incorporated 
Bank or company as they in their discretion shall think most proper, and as soon as 
conveniently may be after my decease, and to receive the Interest Dividends and proceeds 
of the same when and as the same shall become due and payable and pay and apply the 
same when so received for and towards his maintenance cloathing and education; and to 
pay the principal sum unto the said James Dunn Armstrong or assign and transfer the same 
to him when he shall attain the age of Twenty one years. And it is my request and desire 
that the Interest proceeds and Dividends to accrue and arise upon the said last mentioned 
sum be received by the said James Armstrong during the minority of his said son and be by 
him paid and applied for the purposes before mentioned. And. I give unto my cousin 
Thomas Orr the son of Joseph Orr the sum of Two Thousand Dollars: and unto my cousin 
Robert Orr the sum of Three Thousand Dollars: to be paid to them when and as they shall 
respectively attain the age of Twenty one years without any Interest for the same in the 
mean time. And. I do will desire and request that an inventory of my Share Right and Title 
of in and unto property at Baltimore held in copartnership with the said James Armstrong 
be made by persons to be appointed by the Orphans Court there and appraisment made of 
the same; and that my said copartner shall and may take the same to his own use upon 
paying the amount of such valuation to my Estate, and in case of his refusal to take the 
same at such valuation then I direct that the same shall be sold and disposed of according 
to the Laws and customs of the State of Maryland and also that an Inventory & valuation 
of my share right and Title of in and unto all property in Virginia held in copartnership 
with Robert Caldwell of Petersburg in Virginia aforesaid, and that my said copartner 
Robert Caldwell shall and may have and take the same to his own use upon paying the 
amount of such valuation to my Estate, and in case of his refusal to take the same at such 
valuation then the same shall be sold and disposed of according to Law, and in case any 
sale shall be necessary my Executors to have power and authority to sell the same upon a 
reasonable credit as they in their discretion shall think proper. And. I do give devise and 
bequeath all the rest Residue and Remainder of all the Real, personal and mixed Estate and 
Effects of every kind and Discription of which I shall be seized and possessed at the time 
of my decease unto my three sisters, to be equally divided amongst them share & share 
alike and to their lawful issue Respectively such issue to be entitled , share and share alike, 
to such share as the mother would have been entitled unto in case she had been living.

And I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint the said James Armstrong and Robert 
Caldwell Executors of this my Will, and Lastly I do hereby revoke and make void all 
former Will or Wills and codicils to the same by me at any time heretofore made and do 
publish and declare this to be my Last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I the said 
testator James Dunn, have hereunto set and put my hand and Seal this twelfth day of 
October in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred and Seven. James Dunn (Seal) Signed 
Sealed published and declared by the said testator, James Dunn, as and for his last Will 
and Testament, in the presence of us, who have subscribed our names as witnesses hereto 
at his request, in his sight and presence and in the sight and presence of each other. Two 
words being first obliberated. William Roseberry Henry Crabbin Wm. Hollins Baltimore 
County ss On the 21st day of October 1807 came William Roseberry, Henry Crabbin and 
William Hollins the three subscribing evidences to the aforegoing last Will and Testament 
of James Dunn deceased and made oath etc. That they did see the testator sign and seal 
this the Will that they heard him publish, pronounce 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 disposing mind memory and understanding that they subscribed 
their names as witnesses to this Will in his presence at his request and in the presence of 
each other. Sworn before me Register of Wills for Balt'e. County. Wm. Buchanan In 
Testimony that the aforegoing is a free copy taken from the original Will of James Dunn 
deceased etc.I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office this Twenty 
Second day of October Eighteen hundred and seven. (Large Seal) Wm. Buchanan RWBC. 
At a Hustings Court held for the Town of Petersburg at the Courthouse of the said Town 
Monday the 4th day of January 1808. An authentick copy of the last Will and Testament 
of James Dunn deceased together with the attestation & certificate of William Buchanan 
Register of Wills for Baltimore County and the seal of the said office thereto annexed was 
presented in Court by Robert Caldwell one of the Executors therein named and on his 
motion are ordered to be recorded, AND on the motion of the said Executor who made 
oath and together with Francis Lynch & William Cather his security entered into and 
acknowledged their bond in the penalty of Ten thousand dollars as the law directs 
certificate is granted him for obtaining a probat of the said Will in due form. Liberty being 
reserved for the other executor named in the said Will to join in the probat whenever he 
shall think fit.
Attest J. Grammer C.T.P. Reference: (Will Book 2, page 28, Hustings Court, 
Petersburg,VA)