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These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. ================================================================== JB2 120-121 120 V #447 The last Will and Testament of William Houck, Decd. - In the name of God Amen I, William Houck, of Carroll County in the State of Maryland, being in health of body and of 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 to 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 the manner and form following, that is to say, First and principally I commit my Soul into the hands of Almighty God and my body to the earth to be decently at the discretion of my Executors hereinafter named, and after my debts and funeral charges are paid, I devise and bequeath as follows. Item - I give devise and bequeath unto my beloved wife Lucy during her natural life the following real estate, the plantation whereon I now reside, containing one hundred and eight acres, one rood and two square perches of land, more or less as contained in a deed of conveyances from Thomas Richard to William Houck bearing date on the twenty-first day of April eighteen hundred and twenty-eight and recorded among the land records of Baltimore County in Liber (W.G. No. 192 folio 552 V. (excepting a certain part of the aforesaid conveyance as heretofore conveyed by me to a certain William Montgagle by indenture bearing date the 4th day of May 1853) also one other piece or parcel of land containing about six acres and thirty perches more or less, for which I now hold a bond of conveyance from Joseph Armacost bearing date the 27th day of November 1847 - Also my yellow boy named Ben, Two mahogany dining tables, twelve chairs, one corner cupboard and the contents, one Bureau and the contents, one desk, one chest of drawers and the contents, two settees, one cook stove, one tinplate stove and pipe, four beds and bedsteads, one horse, two cows, all my hogs, one Buggy and harness, on wagon and horse gear, one sleigh, all the bacon, beef, corn, wheat, rye, oats, potatoes, grain in the ground together with other household, Kitchen furniture and farming utensils as she may need during her natural life, and after death I do hereby order will and direct my Executors hereinafter named to sell, transfer and convey all the aforementioned named and described real personal and mixed property in the possession of my wife at her death either at public or private sale as soon as conveniency will admit, and the money arising from the said sale I give devise and bequeath as follows, to my Sons Jacob Houck, George Houck, Elias Houck and Elizabeth, wife of John Ebaugh, Catharine, wife of Joseph Armacost, Julian, wife of Melchoir Algire their heirs and assigns share and share alike, after deducting the sum of two hundred dollars to be paid by my Executors to my grand daughter Julian Houck (daughter of Wm Houck) when she shall arrive at the age of twenty one years (or marriage) but to be retained by them until said time, clear of interest - and further my will and intention is and K do hereby order, will and direct my Executors hereinafter named as soon as conveyance will admit after the death of my wife, Lucy, to dispose of my said yellow boy named Ben by appraisement either to my son Elias or George at the appraised amount (Elias having the preference) and should neither take him at the appraisement, he shall be sold at public sale for the unexpired term of Forty-four years of age, not to be taken out of the state, and when he shall arrive at the age of Forty-four years, I do hereby declare him manumitted, in the same manner as if I were present to execute a deed of manumission and the amount or sum of money as appraised or sold for to be divided among my children above-named, share and share alike and their heirs, and whereas I am possessed of other real and personal estate not herein devised, It is my will and intention and I do hereby order will and direct my Executors hereinafter named to sell, transfer and convey the same as soon as conveniency will admit of after my death either at public or private sale and the money arising from the sales thereof to be divided among my above named heirs, share and share alike. Item I give, devise and bequeath unto my daughter Lucy, her heirs and assigns all my lands and ground, rents in the town of Manchester in the county aforesaid, as conveyed to me by Richard Richards, to her, her heirs and assigns forever - Item I give devise and bequeath unto my Son, William Houck, his heirs and assigns the sum of five dollars being his portion in full of all my real, personal and mixed estate in addition to what he has already had - Item I give, devise and bequeath unto my daughter Lucy, her heirs and assigns in addition to the above named ground rent the sum of two hundred dollars stock in the Manchester Saving Institution - and testify I do hereby constitute and appoint my sons, Elias Houck and George Houck to be the Executors 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 seal this second day of July eighteen hundred and fifty-three. Wm Hauck (Seal) Signed, sealed, published and declared by William Houck, the aforenamed testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto John Shultz Jacob B. Sellers James Kelley Maryland Carroll County To wit On the 27th day of March 1834, before the Orphans' Court for Carroll County, came Elias Houck, the person who exhibited the aforegoing instrument of writing and, in open Court, made oath on the Holy Evangely of Almighty God, that the said instrument of writing is the true, whole and last Will and Testament of William Houck late of Carroll County deceased. That the same came to his hands and possession by receiving it from Lucy Houck, widow of the Testator, since Testator's death, and that he does not know of any other will of codicil left by said deceased - Test: Jos.N Parke, Register.