Will of Joseph FOWLER (1822); Prince George’s Co., MD

Contributed to the USGenWeb Archives by Bill Arnebeck <warnebeck@aol.com>

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Will of Joseph Fowler of Prince George’s County, Md., dated April 5, 1822, 
proved May 29, 1823:

"In the name of God amen I Joseph Fowler of Prince George's County in the State 
of Maryland being sick and weak in body but of a sound and perfect mind and 
memory thanks be unto God, considering the certainty of death and the 
uncertainty of the time thereof, and, being desirous to settle my mortall 
affairs, and thereby to be the better prepared to leave this world when it shall 
please God to me do therefore make publish and ordain this my last Will and 
Testament in the manner and form following:  That is to say principally and 
first of all I commit my soul into the hands of Almighty God that gives it and 
my body to the Earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my son Samuel 
Fowler, whom I do hereby appoint and ordain my only and sole Executor and after 
my funeral charges and debts are paid I devise and bequeath as follows:  

1st It is my will and desire that the whole of my estate that I possess at my 
death in whatsoever consisting, where ever being and when so ever found, shall 
be appraised and valued by two or three impartial and disinterested men of known 
probity (?) and of good understanding of the case, except my Negro Slave Gramber 
which is to serve my son Samuel Fowler for two years and then the said Negro 
Gramber shall be free.  

Also to Benjamin Fowler, my grandson, I give and bequeath my Negro man Benjamin 
to him and his heirs forever.  

Also I give and bequeath to my Grand daughter Elizabeth Simpson my Negro Girl 
Nancy, to her and her heirs forever.  

Also I give and bequeath to my Grand son Joseph Fowler, my Negro man John, to 
him and his heirs forever.  

Also I give and bequeath to my Grand daughter Matilda Fowler my Negro woman 
Selina to her and her heirs forever. 

Also, I give and bequeath to my Grand son William Fowler, my Negro boy John 
Jubiter, to him and his heirs forever.  

Also I give and bequeath to my Grand son Samuel Fowler, my Negro boy Bill, to 
him and his heirs forever.  

Also I give and bequeath to my daughter Ann Ball and her heirs, lawfully 
begotten by her body, Two thousand five hundred dollars to be paid by my 
Executor out of my Estate.  

Also I give and bequeath to my son Samuel Fowler all the rest of my property, 
not otherwise bequeathed, that shall be at my death remaining and to his heirs 
forever.  

Also it is my will and intention that if either one of my grand children or more 
than one of them should depart this life without heirs lawfully begotten by 
their body that is to say, Benjamin Fowler, Elizabeth Simpson, Joseph Fowler, 
Matilda Fowler, William Fowler and Samuel Fowler, that the property left by the 
deceased shall be equally divided among the remaining brothers and sisters or 
their heirs.  

And I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and dis_____ all and several former 
testaments, wills, bequests, legacies and _____ by me and otherwise before named 
___ and bequeathed satisfying and confirming this and no other to be my last 
will and testament.  In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal 
this twenty fifth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight 
hundred and twenty two.

Signed, sealed, etc.                                    Joseph X Fowler    Seal
John Jenkins                                                         His Mark
Richd. Ridgway
Jonathan Ridgway
Proved May 29, 1823