Wills: Thomas Greenfield, 1715: Prince Georges County, MD

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Maryland Wills Liber 14, folios 89-94.

transcript:
In the Name of God Amen, I Thos. Greenfield of County and Province above, 
being ill-stricken in years and having dayly mementos of mortality coming on 
me, otherwise of sound and good memory (praised be the Lord) but certainly 
knowing that there is an appointed time for all men to dye and therefore make 
this my last will and Testament, revoking all wills by me heretofore made do 
make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament.  
And first I bequeath my soul into the hands of God who gave it hoping that 
thro the blessed death and passion of my dear Saviour Jesus Christ the 
Righteous I shall receive full Remission of all my sins and transgressions 
and inherit Eternall Life.  And my body to be buried without Pomp or 
ostentation at the discretion of my Extrx & Extr hereafter named and 
appointed.  Also my will is that all my just debts and funerall charges be 
defrayed and paid.
Item -- I give and bequeath to my daughter Jane Greenfield all the remaining 
part of a tract of land called Archers Pasture, having given the other part 
of sd. tract to my son-in-law Gabriel Parker and his wife and their heirs for 
ever; 
I also give and bequeath to my sd. daughter Jane Greenfield a tract of land 
adjoining to sd Archers Pasture, called Pheasant Tree, and 73 acres of land 
lying and adjoining to Pheasant Tree, on the last thereof being butted and 
bounded as in a certain deed of conveyance made by my son Thos. Truman 
Greenfield to me; 
I also give and bequeath to my sd. daughter Jane Greenfield 100 acres of land 
part of Retalliation, running from Cabbin Branch with the divitional line 
between my land and my son Thos. Truman Greenfield's land to a bounded Tree 
in sd. line, it being the first bound tree of a tract I gave to my son-in-law 
Basill Waring and his wife and the heirs of her body whch she shall think 
convenient forever thence, running eastwardly to a small branch then down to 
a 2nd small branch with Mr. Waring's land afsd to the Mill Road, then 
so-wardly with a straight line into Cabbin Branch afsd, thence up to sd 
branch to the divitionall line beforementioned all withsd, four parcels of 
land with all the buildings and improvements upon all or any of the sd pcells 
of land, I give and bequeath to my dear daughter Jane Greenfield and her 
heirs lawfully begotten forever, and for want of such heirs then to my next 
heir.
Item -  I give and bequeath to my son James Greenfield a tract of land called 
Pheasant Hills, which contains 52 acres adjoining to the tract of land 
whereon he now liveth to him and his heirs forever.
Item - I give and bequeath unto my Townsman Jn. Brent? alias Gervas? fifty 
acres of land being the southernmost part of a tract I have called Justa 
Stadium Aureolum to him and his heirs for ever.
Item -- I give and bequeath unto Benj. Gale, the son of my townsman Jn. Gale 
dec'd. who is now under the guardianship of Mr. Richard Groom of this county, 
50 acres of land part of Justa Stadium Aureolum, next adjoining to land I 
have just bequeathed to Jn. Brent (to the northward) to him sd. Benj. Gale 
and his heirs lawfully begotten for ever but for want of such heirs to the 
poor of the town of Gedling? near Nottingham.
Item -- I give and bequeath to Wm. Olliver who was in his minority under my 
guardianship 50 acres of land adjoining to Benj. Gales land to the northward 
thereof to him and his heirs for ever.
Item -- I give and bequeath the remaining part of Justa Stadium Aureolum  to 
my daughter Jane Greenfield and her heirs for ever.
Item -- I give and bequeath to my loving wife Martha Greenfield one tract of 
land called Golden Race containing 200 acres with the plantation and 
improvements thereon to her and to whom she shall bequeath it to forever, 
also one lott and dwelling house in Mills Town lying by the land where my 
Tenant Evan Jones liveth to her and to whom she shall dispose of it for ever, 
also that sale of land which Mr. Wm. Mills of this County dec'd made me as by 
the Records of this County will appear with all the rents for two years due 
for the sd. house and lott.
Item -- I give and bequeath to my son Ths. Truman Greenfield one tract of 
land lying in St. Mary's Co. called Slokebardolph? to him and his heirs for 
Ever.
Item -- I give and bequeath to Tho. Truman Greenfield and his youngest bro. 
Micajah Greenfield now in their minority and under the guardianship of Jn. 
Hall in Baltimore County the third part of a tract of land containing 500 
acres called Truman's Acquaintance lying in Gunpowder Neck one third part of 
wch. to be equally divided between the sd. Thos & Micajah to them and their 
heirs for ever, provided that the sd. Jn. Hall Esq. clear it from all 
arrearages of rents due to his Lordship or any other person under him, 
otherwise to be sold and disposed of the best advantage by my Exs towards 
paymt of my debts and positions.
Item -- My will is that my Exs. hereafter named and appointed do make sale 
and dispose of 200 acres of land being part of Billingsly Point in the fork 
of Patuxent River wch I bought of Mr. Barnaby Keane of James River in 
Virginia, ordering my Exs. hereafter named to give to Henry Dike who liveth 
on part thereof the first refusall of 50 acres or thereabouts and to my 
couzen James Holladay the first Refusall of the remaining part of the sd. 200 
acres abovesd before any other person.
Item -- It is my will that my Exs hereafter named shall make sale of part fo 
a parcell of land called Pasenum wch lyeth adjoining to Mr. Nath. Magruders 
land called Anchovies Hills, they giving the sd. Magruder the first Refusall 
as I promised him.
Item -- My will is that my Exs hereafter named shall make sale of a third 
part of a tract of land called Nutwells Adventure whereon Edwd. Thomas now 
dwells to the westward of his Lordships Manour in Charles County.
Item -- My will is that my Exs hereafter named make sale of a third part of a 
tract of land lying in Cecil County wch was mortgaged and sold by Nicho. 
Spome to Mr. Charles Carroll, Mr. Josh. Cecill and my self ordering that Mr. 
Carroll have the first Refusall and the purchase money of it be the land 
abovesd. to be applyed towards payment of my just debts and Legacys.
Item -- I give to my son James Greenfield and his heirs for ever my Salt 
Stone House and half acre of land whereon the sd. Stone house standeth in 
Nottingham Town.
Item -- My will is that my Exs. shall sell and dispose of the southermost 
part of a tract of land of mine called Taylors Coast, I meqan beginning at a 
bounded hickory of Bullngton now in possession of Maj. Willson, thence runing 
east by so. 80 perchase then so. to Bernd. Johnson's Land called the Doves 
Perch and wth the sd. land west by no. to the land I sold Mr. Thos. Truman 
and wth the sd. Land to the first bound tree and my meaning is that Hugh 
Williams who has built thereon have the first Refusall and purchase money to 
be apply'd towards paymts of my just debts & legacys.
Item -- Whereas I have pargain'd & sold to Mr. Henry Cox of Calvert Co. a 
tract of land called Merry Greenwood as by a certain writing will appear and 
that he failed last year in the payment wch was then due, if he supplys that 
defect this year together with the year's payment and all other articles of 
the sd. writing, then I order my Exs hereafter named to make him a title 
according to our agreemt. to the sd. land.
Item -- I give & bequeath to my son in law Jn. Wright & Ann his wife and 
their heirs for ever a Lease I bought of Natll Macgruder, part of Anchovies 
Hills as upon Record may appear, provided the sd. Wright comply with the 
conditions therein mentioned.
Item -- I give & bequeath to my son Truman Greenfield one negro woman called 
Jane & her three children, also all the stock of cattle and hoggs and 
household stuff wch now are upon my plantation called Indian Creek in St. 
Mary's Co., to him & his heirs for ever.
Item -- I give and bequeath to my daughter Jane Greenfield & her heirs for 
ever one negro boy called Sam, one other called Prince (Hannah's boy) & a 
negro girl called Betty, also four cows & calves, and feather bed boulster, & 
ruggs & blanketts to be delivered out of my estate when she arrive to the age 
of one and twenty, or day of marriage.
Item -- I give & bequeath to my daughter Martha Waring three cows & calves to 
be delivered her wthin twelve months after my decease, as also one negro girl 
named Bab.
Item -- My will is that my Exs. hereafter named do sell and dispose of 80 
acres of land adjoining to Ann Guins land to the south on Bullington to the 
west and Lingan Willsons land wch I gave him by a certain deed as appears 
upon record in Prince Georges Coty, also 30 acres adjoining to Lingan 
Willsons on the east thereof provided taht Mrs. Catherine Boteler have the 
first Refusall otherwise to any other person willing to purchase & the money 
to buy Rings for each of my daughters & daughters-in-law not forgetting one 
for my niece Mrs. Margery Coverington and the overplus (if any) towards 
paying my debts.
Item -- I give & bequeath to my daughter Eliz. Parker & her heirs for ever 
one negro girl called Bess being the daughter of my negro Jack as also one 
mullattoe girl called Pegg.
Item -- I give & bequeath to my son Thos. Truman Greenfield & his heirs for 
ever one negro boy called Nero & his sister Diana, being the children of my 
negro woman Doll.
Item -- I give & bequeath to my son James Greenfield & his heirs for ever one 
negro boy called Will, being a child of the abovesd. negro Doll.
Item -- I give & bequeath to my daughter Ann Wright & her heirs for ever one 
negro girl called Pegg (being the daughter of my Negro Jack) now in her 
possession, as also one Mollata girl called Beck.
Item -- I give & bequeath to my son Truman Greenfield & his heirs for ever 
one negro girl called Flora, beign the daughter of a negro woman called Dido 
now in the possession of my Cous. Leonard Holladay.
Item -- I give and bequeath to my daughter Jane Greenfield & her heirs for 
ever one negro boy called Peter.
Item -- My will and desire is that my kinsman James Hollyday (when he comes 
to age) shall have delivered to him by my Exs. hereafter named one negro 
woman called Nell (in lieu of a negro that is dead wch was part of his shear 
of his father's estate) with her increase, but in case the sd. ames Holladay 
when he comes to age shall refuse to accept of sd. negro woman that in such 
case my will is that my Exs. hereafter named buy a negro for him.
Item -- I give & bequeath to my loving wife Martha Greenfield all the 
Plantation I now dwell on during her naturall life & after my (sic) death to 
my son Truman Greenfield & his heirs male for ever, but for want of such 
heirs male then to the heirs male of my son James Greenfield, but for want of 
such heirs then to my son Thos. Truman Greenfield & his heirs males for ever 
but for want of such heirs males then to the poor of the town of Gedling (in 
Great Britain), the place of my nativity.
Item -- Whereas I have given to my daughter Jane Greenfield (when she comes 
to age) a parcell of land wch I bought of my son Thos. Truman Greenfield it 
is nevertheless my intent and meaning that her mother shall have liberty if 
she pleases to dwell upon any part of the same wch lyes to the northward of 
the Cabbin Branch during her widowhood & same to occupy during the time.
Item -- It is my will that my negros Prince, Sampson, Juno, Leander, Jack, 
Pegg & Nell (if my Coz. James Holladay when at age shall refuse to accept of 
her in lieu of an old bursen negro wch died in my possession) be employed as 
my Exs. shall think convenient & the produce of their labour (besides what 
shall maintain them) to be applyed towards payment of my just debts till 
satisfyed, after wch so many of them as shall be living to be equally divided 
between my three sons & their heirs for ever.
Item -- My will & desire is that my negro women Dido, Doll & Sarah wth her 
son Benj. be kept at work upon my plantation whereon I now dwell by & for the 
maintenance of my loving wife Mrs. Martha Greenfield during her naturall life 
& that my negro woman Cate be kept to attend & waite upon her sd. Mistris 
during her naturall life as afsd & after her decease the sd. five negros to 
be equally divided between my Exs. hereafter named and what increase they 
shall have during my wife's life to be disposed of out of her discretion 
amongst my children or grandchildren.
Item -- I give & bequeath to my daughter Eliz. Parker & her heirs for ever 
all the stock of cattle & hoggs wch now are upon the plantation where she now 
dwells called Gedling Pt.  After the cattle, hoggs, horses & sheep wch I have 
upon my dwelling plantation Billingslys Point & Trout Neck or else where are 
appraised, these I give to my loving wife Martha Greenfield six cows & calves 
& of steers & heiffers ten more towards her & my daughter Jane's support till 
she be married or at age as beforesd. together wth the stock of hoggs upon my 
sd. dwelling plantation, & two feather beds & coverings with their curtains & 
valences. 
Lastly -- I ordain constitute and appoint my two sons Thos. Truman Greenfield 
and James Greenfield joyntly my whole and sole Exs. or in case my son James's 
death I appoint my son Truman Greenfield to my joynt Exs with his Bro. Thos. 
Truman Greenfield afsd. hereby making null & void all former wills by me made 
& ordained, In Witness whereof I have to this my last will & testament 
(contained in six sides & one half of paper wth an interlination of fourteen 
words in the first page) set my hand & affixed my seal this 17 day of Aug. 
1715.
witnessed by Joseph Perry, Nich. Davis, Jun., and Wm. Badger.

Presented 7 November 1715 by the witnesses.