Montgomery County MD Archives Wills.....Ward, Joseph August 18, 1780 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/md/mdfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Patricia O'Connor p-oconnor@att.net March 9, 2006, 6:10 pm Source: Montgomery Co. Md Wills & Accounts Liber B P. 22, 23 Written: August 18, 1780 In the Name of God Amen, I Joseph WARD of Montgomery County and State of Maryland being at this time in a very sick and low state of health and calling to mind the certainty of death to all flesh, but blessed be to God, of perfect and sound sence memory and understanding do make this my last will and Testament Renouncing and disallowing all or any will or wills heretofore made. And first I recommend my soul to Almighty God who gave it to me in full hopes tho my sins be great and grieveous that the thought the mediation of my glorious redeemer Jesus Christ to be redeemed from them and accepted by him now is able to save to the utmost those that beleive and as to my body I desire it to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executrix hereinafter named. Secondly - I desire that all my just debts and funeral charges be justly paid Thirdly - I give and bequeath to my loving wife Anne May WARD during her widowhood all my lands, but in case she should marry or take an other husband my desire is that she take one third only and that in what part of the land she pleases so at that she leaves out one of the springs and after her decease I give all my land to be equally divided between my three sons to w - Benjamin WARD, Joseph WARD and John WARD quantity and quality and to prevent Law suits between my sons in cast they should disagree in the division - My desire is that it be divided by three discreet neighbors and what division they make is the land I give to them their heirs and assigns forever and in case any or either of them die without a will or heirs of their bodys to be equally divided between the survivors. I give and bequeath to my son Benjamin WARD a Negro man slave named DANIEL, one Feather bed and furniture to him his heirs or assigns forever. I give and bequeath to my son Joseph WARD a Negro Lad slave named DAVID and one Feather Bed and furniture to him his heirs & assigns forever, I give and bequeath to my son John WARD a Negro Slave named DENBOE and one feather bed and furniture to him his heirs and assigns forever. I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth, wife of William SPENCER during her natural Life a Negro woman named HANAH to wait, act and do for her during her natural Life she the said wench HANNAH is not to be sold hired or disposed of any other ways nor means whatever and in cast that she my said daughter or any other person do or act contrary to this my will my desire is that she be taken away from my said daughter put up to sale among my other children the said Negro HANNAH and her increase and the money arising from said sale to be equally divided among my other five children, but in case she should keep her during her life, in that case I, after her decease give the said Negro wench HANNAH and her increase to her heirs forever. I give and bequeath to my daughter Ann WARD a Negro girl named DOLL, a feather bed and furniture to her her heirs and assigns forever, and all her future increase as above to her her heirs and assigns forever. I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Ann WARD a Negro girl named NELL and a Negro Boy named JERE and the future increase of said NELL, one feather bed and furniture to her her heirs and assigns forever. I give and bequeath the rest or other slaves that I am possessed of to my Loving wife during her natural Life and after her decease my will is that they and there increase be equally divided among my children to wit: Benjamin, Joseph, and John sons, Ann and Mary Ann and in case Elizabeth wife of William SPENCER should have any I give him her or them, that is to say the sixth part in the same manner and form as I gave her HANNAH and no other way whatever. As the rest or remaining part of my Estate that is not willed my desire is that first my loving wife take one third in what she likes best and the other two thirds to be equally divided among my sixth children aforesaid shear and share alike -- And Lastly - I constitute, appoint and authorize my loving wife Anne May WARD whole and sole Executrix of this my last will and Testament In witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seal this 18th August 1780 signed, sealed published pronounced Jos WARD [seal] and declared by said Joseph WARD this instrument of writing to contain his Last Will & Testament in our presence and at his request we hows [whose] names are hereunto subscribed did sign the same and in Presence of each other Knt CAMPBELL Patrick [X] AUGHTERLONG Bennett GREENWELL Jonathan [X] GOLDSBURY Transcribed by Patricia O'Connor p-oconnor@att.net This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mdfiles/ File size: 5.2 Kb