The Will of John 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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The will of John Downes, from Register of Wills, Queen 
Anne's County, Centreville, Maryland:
 
In the name of God Amen I John Downes of Queen Anns 
County State of Maryland being in health of body and
of sound mind memory and understanding knowing the 
certainty of death and the uncertainty when cometh do
ordain publish and declare this my last will and Testament 
revoking all others by me heretofore made confirming
this as the only one as follows viz.

First I commit my soul to God and my Body Decently 
to be intered my Past Debts and funeral Expences paid
bequeath as
follows -

First I give and divise unto my son William Downes all 
that tract of land I now live on being part of a tract of land
called Rachels Disire  Containing by estimation about two 
hundred and two acres to him and the Heirs of his
Body forever.

Item  I give and divise unto my said son William Downes 
all that tract of land known by the name of the (Squirrel
Swamp?) lying and being in Caroline County to be frely 
posses (freely possessed?) by him and the Heirs of (his)
Body forever.

Item I give and Bequeath unto my said son William Downes 
all my personal Estate on condition that he (give?)
and satisfy unto my Daughter Rebeckah Downes the sum of 
Three Hundred pounds of the now current money of 
Maryland and to be paid in manner and form following 
viz - that is to say forty pounds to be paid on her 
arriving at the age of sixteen years and to continue 
the payment of forty pounds a year till the whole of the
aforesaid three Hundred be paid.

Item I give to my Daughter Rebeckah Downes the sum of 
fifty dollars to be laid out so her Bringing up and
schooling for each year till she shall arrive at the 
age of  fourteen years of age.

Item I will and divise that in case my son William and 
Daughter Rebechah Downes both die without heirs of their
Body then and in that case the whole of my lands and 
Estate be equally divided between Sarah Calahan (spelled
with one "l" here) the daughter of James and Rebecca 
Callahan and Esther Denny the daughter of Peter Denny
and Esther his wife to them and their heirs forever -  
lastly I ordain and appoint my loving wife Sarah Downes my
sole Executrix of this my last will and Testament in 
witness whereof I have hereinto set my hand and seal this 28th
day of May (A.D.?) one Thousand seven Hundred and seventy eight.   
Signed sealed and acknowledged in
presence of 
James Vanderford
Charles Elliott     John Downes (seal)
Bennett Downes
 
Queen Anns County, March 20th, 1802    Then came Charles 
Elliott and Bennett Downes two of the subscribing
witnesses to the foregoing last will and Testament of 
John Downes late of Queen Anns County deceased and
made oath on the holy Evangels of almighty God that they 
did see the testator therein named sign and seal this
will that they heard him publish pronounce and declare 
the same to be his last will and Testament that at the time
of his so doing he was to the best of their apprehension 
of sound and desposing mind memory and understanding 
that they subscribed their respective names, and saw 
James Vanderford sign his name as witnesses to the said 
will in the presence and at the request of the Testator
and in the presence of each other.
     Wm H. Nickolson Reg.
     QA County