Will of George Downes, 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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Will of George Downes, Register of Wills, Queen Anne's County, 
Centreville, Maryland
 
In the name of God amen I George Downes of Queen 
Anne's County in the State of Maryland, being in a
precarious State of health but of Sound and disposing 
mind, memory and understanding do make and publish
this my last Will and Testament and first do recommend 
and commit my Soul into the hands of almight God and
my Body to the earth to be decently buried at the 
descretion of my Executrix hereafter named and after my just
debts and burial charges are paid, I devise and Bequeath as follows.
 
I give and divise to the nine negro Slaves hereinafter 
mentioned freedom from Slavery and bondage after the
expiration of the number of years following each of their 
names to be _______  from the first day of January now
past.   Four years to serve Mary and Fanny,  each about 
thirty four years old, to serve each five years.   Hary
being about twenty years old to Serve ten years.  
____ [Matt's?] being about fifteen years old to Serve fourteen
years.  Peter being about fourteen years old, to serve 
fifteen years.  Esther being about two years old to Serve
twenty year.    Alley being about one year old to Serve 
twenty nine years and in case any of the females should
have children before they are free.  Such children or 
issue to be free as they may arrive to thirty years of age.
 
I give and divise to my Eight children to wit Nathan A. 
Downes, Nancy C Godwin, Richard C. Downes, Ezekiel G.
Downes, Rachel Downes, James Downes, Vachel Downes, 
and Anna Maria or such of them as may be alive or
have Lawful issue six years after my decease, all my 
Lands, Tenants, Frehold, Estate, to be equally divided among
them share and share alike, and in Case I should have 
any other Child or children hereinafter to be born, they
have an equal share with my said Children named to them 
and each of them their heirs forever.
 
I give and divise to my loving wife Mary my Carriage 
Horse and Chaise & Harness, a negro woman named
Charity,  the new Silver Table (spoons) and the five new 
Silver Tea spoons, and a small quilted Case and Bottles,
and also the use and occupation of all my Estate real 
personal & mixed  (after my Just debts and Burial charges
are paid) for the term and space of five years after my 
decease; to enable her  raise and Educating four youngest
Children and she is also to pay to my son Richard C. Downes 
from the time of decease til the first day of January
Eighteen Hundred and Seven at the rate of fifty pounds 
Current money per year to compete his studies and to my
Son George twenty five pounds Current money to find him 
in clothes in his apprenticeship untill untill (repeated
in document) he shall arrive to twenty one years of age 
and after the expiration of the said five years and then my
whole Estate to be Equally divided among my Children them 
alive or their Lawful issue, first deducting my loving
wife's right of Dower ___ thirds, and my two Children 
Nathan H. Downes and Nancy C. Godwin.  Shall deduct
from them part of my personal Estate each two Hundred 
and twenty pounds current money which has been
advanced to them as my books may affirm.

And Lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my dear 
wife Mary to be sole Executrix of this my last will and
testament revoking  and annulling all former wills by 
me hereunto made ratifying and Confirming this and none
other to be my last will and testament.

   In Testimony whereof I have hereto let my hand and 
seal this fifth day of March in the year of our Lord
Eighteen Hundred and five.  George Downes

Signed, Sealed published and declared by 
George Downes as ___ for his last will and
Testament in the presence of us who at his
request and in the presence of each other have 
Subscribe our names.
John Dodd
________(Morton or Marlow?) Cecill
James Harrington
Queen Anne's County ___
March 19th 1805  Then came Mary Downes and made oath on the holy Evangels of almighty God that the
foregoing is the true and whole last will and testament of George Downes late of Queen Ann's County deceased
that has _______________________ and that she does not know of any other. 
      Wm. H. Nicholson, Reg
      QA County