Charles County MD Archives Wills.....Martin, John July 4, 1776
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Kathleen Brown kbrown@mmri.org August 1, 2006, 4:21 pm

Source: Maryland State Archives, Prerogative Court Will 41, P. 41-42
Written: July 4, 1776

In the name of God Amen.  I John Martin in Charles Co. Selleset[?] being 
troubled with Bodyle Pains and diseases and in my right senses and in the face 
of God and Man I give up my Soul to the Almighty God- Amen

I will and bequeath to my Son Allen Martin his freedom of eighteen years of age 
and all my Ware and Apparell and young Mare one year and eleven months old 
likewise my wife Elizabeth gives him third part of a Tract of Land that Thomas 
Anderson Lomas now living on named Bretgood Choice to be delivered up to him at 
the Age of Eighteen and one double Breech Gun 
The Residue of my Estate to be equally divided between my wife Elizabeth Martin 
my daughter Sally Martin my Son Allen Martin  If my wife Elizabeth Martin dies 
without Heir her part to be equally divided between My Daughter Sally Martin my 
Son Allen Martin being my last Will and Testament.

Witness my hand    John Martin (His mark)

Witness  Manning Skinner  (His mark)
         Elizabeth Robinson  (Her mark)

On the back of the aforegoing Will was thus written  Vist-
Charles County Jst   On the 4th day of July  1776.  Came Manning Skinner one of 
the Witnesses to the Last Will and Testament of John Martin late of Charles 
County deceased and made Oath on the Holy Evangels that he saw the said Martin 
Sign this Instrument but did not hear him publish and declare it to be his Last 
Will in the Usual form but that he the Testator desired him to Sign it as a 
Witness to his Last Will which he did in his presence and in the presence of 
Elizabeth Robinson the other Subscribing Witness and at the same time the said 
Elizabeth Robinson made Oath that she was desired by the Testator to sign this 
Instrument of Writing as a Witness to his Will which she accordingly did in his 
presence and in the presence of Manning Skinner but that she did not see the 
said John Martin sign it nor did she otherwise hear him declare it to be his 
Last will.  The Witnesses both declare that at the time of their Signing the 
same the said Martin desiring them to so he was to the best of their 
Apprehensions of sound and disposing Memory and understanding-
Certified by Walter Hanson  Dcom

On the same 4th day of July 1776 came Elizabeth Martin widow of John Martin 
late of Charles County deceased and Quitted her claim to the several bequests 
and devises made to her in the Will of her said Husband and Elected in lieu 
thereof her Dower or third part of the deceased Estate both real and personal.
Before Walter Hanson  Dcom

N.B.  Allen Martin the Heir at Law being a Minor was not present at the taking 
of the above probate.


Additional Comments:
It was somewhat unusual for a women to refuse to abide by the terms of her 
husband's Will and to instead claim her dower rights.  Elizabeth Martin is 
mentioned in Lee, Jean B. "The Price of Nationhood: The American Revolution in 
Charles County". New York: Norton and Co., 1994.

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