Will of Joseph Thomas (1769) Cecil County, Maryland This file was contributed by Kelly Thomas . *********************************************************************** * USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. *********************************************************************** Will of Joseph Thomas 1769 I, Joseph Thomas, this fifteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord God, one thousand seven hundred and sixty two, being at this time in health, although aged weak and infirm in body, but of sound mind and memory thanks be to God, and calling to mind the uncertainty of this mortal life, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, in manner and form following, that is to say, first I bequeath my soul to God, who gave it unto my body to buried in a Christian like manner, at the direction and discretion of my executors, and as to my worldly estate which I thought the blessing of Almighty God have acquired. I give and dispose in manner and form following, to wit, I give and bequeath unto my loving wife, Jane, one hundred pounds current money to be paid here out of my personal estate, and also one third part of the residue of my said personal estate after my just debts and other legacies hereafter by me devised unto my grandchildren herein after mentioned be deducted which is my Will, she, my said wife Jane, should have in full for a marriage agreement between my said wife and me before our marriage as it is my Will my said wife should have and enjoy all therein contained and no more of my estate. I give and bequeath unto my grandson Joseph Thomas, son of my son Benjamin Thomas, the sum of twenty pounds current money to be paid him by my executors when he arrives to the age twenty one with legal interest from the end of one year after my decease. I give and bequeath unto my two grandsons, David Howell and Enos Howell, sons of my daughter Dinah Howell wife of David Howell, the sum of ten pounds each respectively to be paid them when they arrive to the age of twenty one years with the interest, in the manner aforesaid. I give and bequeath unto my son in law, James James, the sum of ten pounds current money to be paid him by my executors as a debt for his services done me in my lifetime. I give and bequeath unto my five children: Benjamin Thomas, Joseph Thomas, John Thomas, Elinor the wife of Joseph Jacobs, and Priscilla the wife of William Buchanan, all the residue of my personal estate (after the above mentioned legacies and other legal charges be paid) to be equally divided between them and their heirs forever, and to be paid them in one year after my decease, respectively. I give and devise and bequeath unto my son Joseph Thomas, his heirs and assigns forever, one moiety or half of all my real estate. I give and bequeath unto my son John Thomas the other moiety or half of all my said real estate to be enjoyed by him during his natural life, and after his decease to the issue of his body lawfully begotten, but if my said son, John Thomas, should die without any lawful issue then my Will is and I do hereby devise my said son John’s half unto my said son unto my said son Joseph Thomas, and his heirs and assigns forever. I give and Bequeath unto my said wife Jane, and my son in law James James and to their heirs and assigns forever, all that plantation and tract of land whereon he the said James James now lives provided they pay or discount to my other executor so much out of their demands of my estate for the same as I paid Governor Hamilton and others for said land and plantation otherwise I give and bequeath the same to my said two sons Joseph and John in manner aforesaid. My Will also is and I do hereby order that what effects or money I have heretofore given to either or any of my children shall not be recond to them as any debt or part of what is herein devised to them. And lastly, I do hereby nominate, constitute, and appoint my said loving wife executrix and my friend David Howell, executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and making void all other Wills by me heretofore made satisfying, and confirming, this and no other to be my last Will and Testament. Joseph Thomas