Will of Mary TURNER (1825): Charles County, Maryland Transcribed and contributed by Herman Stephan Copyright 2004. All Rights Reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/md/mdfiles.htm ******************************************************************************** MARY TURNERS WILL SEPT 2, 1825 In the name of God, Amen I, MARY TURNER of FRIENDLY HALL in Charles County and State of Maryland being advanced in years and infirm in health, but of sound disposing mind memory and understanding considering the certainty of death, and the uncertainty of the time thereof, and Being desirous to settle and dispose of the property with which it has pleased Almighty God to bless and bestow upon me in this world, before he shall call me hence, do make publish and declare this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all the wills by me hereto fore made ratifying and confirming this an no other to be my last will and testament. First and principally, I commit my seal into the hands of Almighty God, my heavenly father in humble hope of its future happiness and my body to the earth to be decently buried at the direction of my executors here after named, and as to my worldly good I give and bequeath and devise them as follow. Imprimes ? is my will and desire that the property heretofore bequeaths to my daughter ELIZABETH FERGUSON by her uncle JOHN B. TURNER (the use and benefit of which now reserved to me during my life) shall be delivered and paid over to her immediately upon my decease, that is to say Negro woman PHILLIS LIZZY and CHARITY, Negro man BEN? and ? FRED., two mahogany dining table, one mahogany breakfast table, two old looking glasses and firm feather beds and bedsteads (she my said daughter having receive two at the time of her marriage there being six in all. Item. After the payment of funeral expense and all my just debts, I give and bequeath and devise unto my daughter ELIZABETH FERGUGSON during her life all the land I now own or have in possession, that is to say a part of a tract of land called DURHAM containing about three hundred acres, and part of a tract of land called BARBADOS containing about two hundred acres, making in the whole about fie hundred acres and after her death to my Granddaughter MARY FERGUGSON to her and and her heirs forever, and in case my daughter ELIZABETH FERGUGSON should out live my said Granddaughter MARY FERGUGSON there and in that event, the fee SIMPLE ESTATE in said land shall rest in my said Daughter Elizabeth FERGUGSON and her heir forever, with this request and desire ?// however, that she shall give the said land to such one of her children, as she may sayth, who from Thier habits and turn of mind she may in her judgement and discretion think most capable of judicially managing and taking care of the same. It is further my will and desire and I do hereby desire that my said land shall be charged with the payment of an annuity of one hundred dollars until my Grandson ZEPHANIAH TURNER shall have arrived at the age of twenty one years, which sum shale be paid annually to my executors hereinafter named or to the survivor of them and by them or the survivor of them appropriated for the benefit maintenance and education of my said Grandson ZEPHARIAH TURNER, is such way and manner as they thing best... Item I give and bequeath and devise to the children of my said daughter ELIZABETH FERGUGSON, who may be living at the time of my death, two thirds of the balance of my property personal and mixed to be equally divided amongst them each one share. Item I give and bequeath and devise unto my respected friends my son in law JOHN FERGUGSON and JOHN EDELERS of Charles county the remaining third part of my personal and mixed estate to be held by them or the survivor of them in trust for the benefit maintenance and education of my two Grand Children ZEPHENIAH TURNER and MARY E TURNER during Thier minority, to be used and appropriated by them or the survivor of them in any manner which they may conceive to be most beneficial to my said grand children in the following proportions have ?, that is to say two thirds thereof or its income for the maintenance and education of my Grandson ZEPHENIAH TURNER and one third thereof or its income for the maintenance and education of my Granddaughter MARY E. TURNER, and in the event of the death of either of my said Grand Children before they arrive at lawful age, the full benefit of this legacy is to survive to the other, and if both of my said Grand Children should die before they arrive at lawful age, then and in the event it is my will and desire that the trust herein declared shale cease and everything contained in the clause of my will shall thenceforth be null and void and the legacies Herin devised to my two Grand children ZEPHENIAH TURNER and MARY E. TURNER shall go to, and be equally divided between the children of my said daughter ELIZABETH FERGUGSON as mentioned in the preceding clause of this my will, to be held by them their heirs and a -------. Item It is my will and desire that upon the arrival of my said Grand Children ZEPHANIAH TURNER and MARY E. TURNER, the full benefit of the Legacy or Legacies so devised for their maintenance and education, shall become absolutely vested in them or either of them as the care may be their heirs or assigners, that is to say two thirds thereof to ZEPHANIAH TURNER and one third thereof to MARY E. TURNER or the whole thereof to the survivor if either should die, to be held by them or either of them as the case may be their heirs and assignees forever. Lastly I hereby nominate constitute and appoint my said friends JOHN FERGUGSON and JOHN EDELERS executors of this my last will and testament. In testimony whereof I Have unto subscribe my name and affix my seal this second day of September eighteen hundred and twenty five MARY TURNER (seal) Signed Sealed and publish and declared by MARY TURNER the within named testators as and for her last will and testament in the presence of us who at her request and in her presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as Witness thereto BENNET HAMILTON JOHN LOMAX (X) his mark CATHARINE C. HAWKINS; Charles County June 10th 1826 then came JOHN FERGUGSON and JOHN EDELERS, and made oath on the Holy Evangely of God.