The will of Elizabeth Downes, from Register of Wills, Queen Anne's County, MD

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Cathy Downes [Cathy_Downes@msn.com] 

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ELIZABETH DOWNES

Will of Elizabeth Downes, from the Register of Wills, 
Queen Anne's County, Centreville, Maryland.

In the name of god Amen I Elizabeth Downes of 
Queen Anns County in the state of Maryland being
weak in body, but of sound and disposing mind 
memory and understanding considering the certainty
of death and the uncertainty of time thereof, and 
being desirous to settle my worldy 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 into 
the hands of almighty God, and my body to the
Earth, to be decently buried at the discretion 
of my Executor hereinafter named, and after my debts
and funeral charges are paid, I devise and bequeath 
as follows.

I give and devise to my beloved son, Richard Esekiel 
Cooper Downes all my real Estate vis. all that
lot of ground situated in the town of Church Hill 
upon which are a stone house and Dwelling house,
now in the occupancy of Martin Rush, which was 
purchased from Dr. Washington Finley, all that lot
of ground and improvements now in the occupancy of 
Lawrence _____ (Gilden/Gilder?) situated in
the same town, and which descended to me from 
my Father, and also all that lot of woodland,
containing about twenty seven and three fourths 
acres, situated between the farms of John Covington
and Samuel Meredith in Queen Anns County the said 
woodland being part of several tracts, which
descended to me from my Father to him the said
Richard Esekial Cooper Downes and his heirs and
assigns forever, but should my beloved son Richard 
Esekiel Cooper Downes die without leaving
heirs of his body lawfully begotten, then I give 
and devise my said real estate aforesaid as follows;
the lot of Ground and premises occupied by Martin 
Rush, to John Solomon Sparks, Hester E. Sparks, 
and Rachael Sparks children of my brother Henry 
Sparks to them and their heirs and assigns 
forever; and the lot of woodland to my dear 
sister Hannah Collins; to her and her heirs and
assigns forever; the lot of ground and premises, 
occupied by Lawrence ______(Gilder/Gilden?) , to
Henry W. Sparks and William Sparks, children of 
William Sparks, my brother, to them and their
heirs and assigns forever; and the lot of woodland 
to my dear sister Hannah Collins; to her heir and
assigns forever.

Item. I give and bequath to my beloved grand daughter, 
Margaret E. Devorix during her life time, the
sum of forty dollars, to be paid to her, by my son 
Richard E.C. Downes his heirs and assigns,
annually, on or before the first day of January 
of each and every year. Item. I also give and bequeath
to my said grand daughter, Margaret E. Devorix, one 
bed bedstead and furniture, and the small mahognay 
card table, should she go to house keeping.

Item. I give and bequeath to my dear sister Hanah 
Collins one negro Girl Mary ____.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my said beloved 
son Richard E. C. Downes one negro girl Mary -
but should my said son die without leaving heirs 
of his body lawfully begotten then I give and
bequeath the said negro Girl Mary to my niece 
Hester E. Sparks.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my beloved son 
Richard E. C. Downes all the rest and residue of my
property, real, personal, and mixed. And lastly 
I do hereby consitute and appoint my dear son,
Richard Esekiel Cooper Downes to be the 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 Testamony to whereof I have hereunto set my 
hand and affixed my seal, this seventh day of
January in the year of our Lord one thousand 
eight hundred and forty six.

Elizabeth Downes (seal)

Signed, sealed, published and declared, by Elizabeth 
Downes, the above named Testator as and for
her last will and testament, in the presence of
us, who at her request, in her presence, and in the
presence of each other, have subscribed our names 
as witnesses thereto, George Trenchard, Enoch
George, C.M. Newman,

Queen Anns County __

February 17th, 1846 Then came George O. Trenchard 
and C. M. Newman two of the subscribing witnesses 
to the foregoing will and severally made oath on 
the Holy Evangely of Almighty God, that they did 
see Elisabeth Downes the testator therein named 
sign her name to the foregoing will, that they 
heard her publish pronounce, and declare the same 
to be her last will and testament, that at the
time of her so doing she was to the best of their 
apprehensions of sound and disposing mind memory
and understanding, and that they subscribed their 
respective names as witnesses to the said will in
the presence of each other, and in the presence of 
the Testator and at her request.

____ Roberts Reg Wills

for Queen Anns County

Queen Anns County __

February 17th 1846 Then came Richard E.C. Downes 
Executor within named and made oath on the Holy 
Evangely of Almighty God, that the foregoing is 
the true and whole last will and testament of 
Elisabeth Downes late of Queen Anns county deceased, 
that has come to his hands or possession
and that (he) does not know of any other.

Lem ? Roberts Regr Wills

for Queen Anns County