Will of Alexander COOKE (1807); St. Mary’s County, Maryland This file was contributed for by Gwen Bjorkman . ************************************************************************ * USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. ************************************************************************ Film #14426. St. Mary's Co, MD Will Book JJ3:144. Alexander Cooke's last will and Testament} In the Name of God Amen. I Alexander COOKE of Saint Mary's County and State of Maryland, being aged & infirm of Body but of sound and disposing mind memory & understanding do make and constitute this my last will & Testament in manner & form following that is to say First I will that all my Just Debts & funeral Charges Shall be paid. Item -- I give and bequeath to my Daughter Jane Green COOKE the following Negroes to wit -- Let. Harry Charles and Aaron also one Horse saddle & Bridle her choice of all I am possed of at the time of my death, two cows her Choice four sheep her choice, two Beds two Bolsters and four pillows two pr of sheets and five Quilts all her choice one Bedsted cord and mat, one painted chest, one Dozen plaits & two Dishes now in the House, one set of cups & saucers a case of knives and forks now in the House one pewter Dish and six plates her choice -- one pot one dutch oven, one wheel and cards her choice one Looking Glass her choice and one third part of the crop I leave on the Ground in the House or not disposed of at the time of my decease Except the cotton of which I leave her one half to her and her Heirs. Item -- I give and bequeath to the children of my Daughter Mary Reeves Mattingly one Negro Boy Jim one Boy Townley and one Boy Bob to be devided among them in equal portion share and share alike. Item I give and bequeath to my Daughter Sarah F Johnson one negro Girl Edy one Negro Boy Watt and one negro Boy Mike to her and her heirs. Item -- I give and bequeath to my Daughter Susanna COOKE one Negro woman Charity & one Girl Liz -- to her and her Heirs. Item -- I give and bequeath to my son John U COOKE one negro woman named Cate one Girl Henny, and one Boy Orph -- to him and his heirs forever. Item I give and bequeath to the children of my Daughter Margaret Chappelear one negro woman named Lender and one Girl named Mary to them and their Heirs, to be equally Divided among all the children of my said Daughter, but my will and desire is that my said Daughter Margaret Chappelear shall have the use of the two Negroes Lender & Mary during her natural life, but by no means for them to be at the Disposal of her husband James Chappelear. Item all the Rest and Resedue of my Estate of what nature or kind soever I Will to be Equally divided between my Daughter Jane Green COOKE my Daughter Sarah F Johnson my Daughter Susanna COOKE my son John U COOKE and the Children of my Daughter Mary Reeves Mattingly, and the Children of my Daughter Margaret Chappelear the children of my last mentioned two Daughters to have the part their mothers would have been entitled to; Divided among them in equal portion share and share alike. And lastly I nominate and appoint my Son John U COOKE and my Daughter Jane G COOKE whole & sole Executor and Executrix of this my last will and Testament, Revoking and annulling all other and former wills by me made Ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will & Testament, In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seale this Twenty fifth day of February 1807. Alexander X Cooke his mark Signed sealed published & declared by the above named Testator as and for his last will & Testament in the presence of us the subscribers who in his presence and at this Request have put our names as witnesses thereto} Andrew Mills, Jeremiah Pantry. On the back of the aforegoing was the following to wit. Saint Mary's County, to wit, the 14th day of April 1807. Then came Joh U COOKE and made oath on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God that the aforegoing instrument of writing is the true and whole will and Testament of Alexander COOKE late of Saint Mary's County deceased, that hath come to his hands or possession, and that he doth not know of any other. Certified by James Forrest. Regr. Wills for Saint Mary's County Saint Mary's County SS the 14th day of April 1807. Then came Andrew Mills one of the two subscribing witnesses to the aforegoing last will and Testament of Alexander COOKE late of Saint Mary's County deceased, and made oath on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God that he did see the Testator herein named sign and seal this will and that he heard him publish pronounce and declare this same to be his last will and Testament, that at the time of his so doing, he was to the best of his apprehension of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding and that he subscribed his name as a witness to this will in the presence and at the request of the Testator and also that he did see Jeremiah Pantry the other witness to this will subscribe his name as a witness thereto, in the presence & at the request of the said Testator. certified by James Forrest, Regr. Wills for Saint Mary's County.