Somerset County, Maryland - Wills: Robert Bruce (Pollok) Polke 1699 ******************************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non- commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to The USGenWeb Project to store the file permanently for free access. ******************************************************************************************** Submitted By: Lola Harris Withrow April 21, 2001 ************************************************************************ Will of Robert Bruce (Pollok) Polke In the Name of God, Amen: This sixth day of May in the year of our Lord, 1699, I Robert Polke of Somerset County in the Province of Maryland being of good health and Perfect memory at this present thank be to Almighty God for the same yet knowing the uncertainty of this present life and being desirous to settle my affairs doe make this my last will and Testament in manner and form following: First and principally I commend my soule to God who gave it to me, assuredly believing that I shall receive full and free pardon of all my sins and be saved by the pretious Death and Merritts of my Blessed Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ and my Body to the Earth from whence it was taken to be buried after a decent and Christian manner at the discretion of my Executor hereafter named and as touching such worldly estate as God in his mercy hath bestowed upon me. It is my will that it be disposed of as hereafter is expressed. 2ndly I leave to my son Robert Polke a parcel of land called Lone Ridge being part of a tract of land called Forlone Hope, formerly belonging to Augustine Standforth but now conveyed to me the said land called Lone Ridge beginning at a marked pine standing in a slash next to my said Son's House and from thence running north east the number of poles specified in the pattent soe leaving to my son Robert what land belongs to the said pattent on the north east side of the said Slash to him the Said Robert Polke and his heirs forever. 3rdly I leave to my said son David Polke the remainder of the above tract of land called Forlorne Hope as also one hundred acres of land called Polks Folly bounded as per Pattent will appear both said tracts of land to him the said David and his heirs forever. 4thly I leave to my Beloved Wife Magdalen Polke my now dwelling house and plantation during her natural life as also a third of what goods and moveables I am possessed with or shall hereafter to the day of my death the said Goods and moveables to be at her dispossing at her decease. Another third of my Goods and moveables I leave to my daughter Martha be it little or much here and her heirs forever and as for the other third. It is my will it be equally divided between my sons David and Joseph, and if it should please God to Remove me before I purchase a seat of Land after my son Joseph, this my will: that my son David give unto my son Joseph four thousands pounds of Tobacco in the leu of the above said tracts of Land left to my son David and as for what Cattle I have given to my son Joseph they being in his proper Mark it's my will that he enjoy and possess the same he and his heirs forever for this boy Christopher must live with Magdalen Polke during her life time then. 5thly I leave to my son James an Orphan Boy called Christopher Little to him the said James and his heirs during the time of his Indre. I leave unto my son Ephraim the choice of what stear I have or may have at the day of my death. I leave to my sons John and William Polke to each of them twelve pence. I constitute and appoint my son David Polke and my wife Magdalen Polke to be Executors of this my last will. Codicil--I constitute my sons Ephraim and James Polke to be Executors of this my last will and testament disannuling and making voide all former Will or Wills by me made either by word or written. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written this being altered the eighth day of August, 1703. Robert Polke X mark Seal Richard Knight, Mary O. English, Richard Whittley, And I desire that Martha Poock may have liberty let her cattle run on the plantation until she gets plantation and as to Sarah Powers she must have a heifer at her freedom day. Signed, Sealed and delivered in the presence of us Robert Polk Richard Whittley Richard Knight Mary O. English. On the back of said will was thus written: "Vizt:--Memorandum this 5th day June the within will was proved to the Act and Deed of the within named Robert Polke by the oaths of Richard Whittley, Richard Knight and Mary O. English before. Peter Dent, Depty Com'y. Test. R. McKendree Davis, Dept. Register Orphans Court Anne Arundel County State of Maryland Annapolis Wills T. B. 1701-3, folios 416-418. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: Robert Bruce (Pollok) Polke or Polk, born 1625 in Donegal, Ireland, married Magdalen Tasker. They arrived in America, circa 1678, and settled first in Lord Baltimore's Colony, Robert received land grants from Lord Baltimore & settled in Somerset Co., MD. He established several plantations; "White Hall," was the family plantation, others were, "Polk's Folly, "Polk's Lott," "Come By Chance," his wife, Magdalen owned the estate of "Moneen" in Ireland. After arriving in America, Robert changed his name to POLK, sometimes spelled Polke. © 2001 Lola Harris Withrow