Will of James William Loch WEEMS (1808): Prince George’s County, MD Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Anne Agee ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** Will of James William Loch Weems In the name of God, Amen. I James William Loch Weems of Prince George’s County in the State of Maryland being in usual health of body and 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 do make and establish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following: that is to say, First and principally, I commit my soul into the hands of Almighty God and my body to the earth to be decently buried where I have shewn my family at the discretion of my Executor, hereinafter named and after my debts and funeral charges are paid, I devise and bequest as follows, to wit: Imprimis, I give and bequeath to my dear wife Mary Weems my Negro man Will, his wife Beck and daughter Mary, Anthony, [another name can’t make it out], Yellow Nell and her daughter Sophy with all the increase of the females from this time. Also the coach and pair of horses belonging to it, twelve mahogany chairs purchased of John Templeman and the large mahogany chair bought of William King. The Cabinet she purchased of my sister and all and every article of furniture which she has or may purchase with her own money as she terms it and as understood by our dear children. Together will all the plate her deceased father gave her. Two beds, furniture and the choice of all the bedsteads excepting the mahogany one. I also give her the use , profit and benefit of all the rest and residue of my estate both real and personal during her single state not doubting but that she will support our fatherless children and indulge them as they were wont to be in my lifetime and that as they marry if with her consent, she will give them the whole or such part of the property herein devised and bequeathed as she can conveniently spare. Should she marry, my will is and I hereby declare my children to be entirely free and independent of all or any power and authority, any right or control which she in her widowhood might derive over them from this my last will and testament. You, my beloved children, when I am gone, can never fail to testify to the reverence, honor, love and gratitude which is due to your Father’s widow, and your own fond, tender, and ------ Mother. Item, I give and devise to my dear son Richard William Weems all my real estate in Prince George’s County, to him the said Richard William Weems and his heirs forever. I also give and bequeath to my said son Richard William Weems the following Negroes to wit: Morria, John, Aaron, Kate, Little Ned, Minty, Lucy, Poll, Charles, Jenny, Young Sam, Peg, Tom, Rachel and her son Bill, Fan, with the increase of the females from this time; also one third of my plate not before bequeathed, one third of all my stock of every description, one third of all the money I may die possessed of and one third of all the debts due or becoming due to me at the time of my death. The mahogany bedstead, all my beds and furniture, chairs, tables, and every other description of household goods not herein before or hereafter disposed of. My watch, sleeve buttons, road horse, saddle and furniture, his own horse, saddle, and furniture. These two last horses are not to be considered as a part of my stock for division. Item, I give and devise to my dear daughters Margaret Hall French and Amelia Margaret Weems as tenants in common and not as joint tenants all my real estate in Calvert County to them, the said Margaret Hall French and Amelia Margaret Weems and each of them, and each of their heirs forever, and in case either of them shall die before the age of twenty one, without issue living or after that age without leaving issue or having made and executed a valid will and testament, then I hereby give and devise the whole to the survivor in fee simple. Item, I give and devise to my dear daughter Margaret Hall French the following Negroes, to wit: Big Ned, Billie, her child, Peg, Abraham, Nell his wife, Addison, Henny, Rachel’s Salle, little Jenny and Ester with the increase of the females from this time. One bed and furniture, one third of all my stock, and one third of the plate, one third of all the money I may die possessed of and one third part of all the debts due or becoming due to me at the time of my death. Item, I give to my dear Amelia Margaret Weems the following Negroes, to wit: little George, Patrick, Nell, Nancy in Calvert County, Sarah, Big George, Ambrose, Nate and Silter’s Tom with the increase of the females from this time. One bed and furniture, the remaining third of my stock and plate and the remaining third of all the money I may die possessed of and the remaining third part of all the debts due or becoming due to me at the time of my death. And lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my dear wife Mary Weems to be my 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. Signed, sealed, published, and declared by James William Loch Weems the above named testator as and 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 this 23 day of November 1808. JWL Weems Francis M. Hall Charles Hill John Hill Probated 24 Dec 1811 Transcribed by Anne Scrivener Agee 28 April 2000 Maryland State Archives Prince George’s County Will Book TT #1 F 84