Will of William Washington HANDLEY (1839); Dorchester County, Maryland

Submitted By: Jean & Steve Woolston <bjwoolston@gmail.com>

Copyright 2004.  All Rights Reserved.
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WILL OF WILLIAM WASHINGTON HANDLEY 

In the name of God Amen; I William W. Handley of Dorchester County and State of 
Maryland being indisposed in body, but of sound and 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 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 manner and form 
following That is to say, First and principally I commit my soul to God; hoping 
he will reserve it through the merits of Christ. 

Item. I give and bequeath to my beloved wife her choice of one of my beds; in 
addition to her thirds of my estate as the law directs. 

Item. I give and devise to my son William James Spry all my books as a special 
legacy. 

I give and bequeath to my negro man John Holiday his freedom from and after the 
first day of January Eighteen Hundred and forty, and should be the said John 
become unable to procure a living by his labor I give him a reasonable 
maintenance out of my estate and hold my land bound for the same. 

I give and bequeath to my negro woman Margaret aged thirty one years her 
freedom; from and after the first day of January Eighteen Hundred and forty 
three. 

I give to my three negroes Mary, Ann and Andrew their freedom from and after the 
first day of January Eighteen Hundred and forty three. 

I give unto my negro boys Isaac Banks and Stephen Camper now aged four years; 
their freedom from and after the first day of January Eighteen Hundred and 
sixty. 

I give to my negro boy Thomas Edward; aged one year his Freedom from and after 
the first day of January eighteen Hundred and sixty three. 

Item is my will and desire that the increase of my negro women before mentioned 
should there be any, Should be free when they arrive at the age of twenty five 
years. 

And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my dear Uncle James Thompson to be 
sole Executor 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 affixed my seal this Eighth 
day of September Eighteen Hundred and Thirty nine. 

William W. Handley 

Signed sealed published and delivered by Wm. W. Handley the above named Testator 
as for his last will and testament in the presence of us; who at his request in 
his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as 
witnesses thereto 

Joseph Barnes 

William Webb 

James N. Sherman 

On the 23rd September 1839 

Then came James Thompson the within named Executor and made oath on the Holy 
Evangely of Almighty God that the within and aforegoing instrument of writing 
was deposited in his hands for safe keeping by the Testator therein named and 
that it is the true and whole last will and testament of William W. Handley late 
of Dorchester County deceased which have come to his hands or possession and 
that he doth not know of any other of a younger date to the best of his 
knowledge. 

Certified by Thomas H. Hicks Register 

On the 23rd day of September 1839 

Then came Joseph Barnes William Webb and James N. Sherman the three subscribing 
witnesses to the within and aforegoing ;Last will and testament of William W. 
Handley late of Dorchester County, deceased, and made oath on the Holy Evangely 
of Almighty God that they did see the Testator therein named sign and seal this 
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 apprehensions of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding and 
they respectively subscribed their names as witnesses to their will in the 
presence and at the request of the testator, and in the presence of each 
other. 

Certified by Thos. H. Hicks Register 
 


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