Will of Luke MATTINGLY (1783); St. Mary’s County, Maryland This file was contributed by Judith Burger. ************************************************************************ * 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. ************************************************************************ Luke Mattingly Signed: March 7, 1783 Proved: December 9, 1783 The Will of Luke Mattingly In the Name of God, Amen. I Luke Mattingly of Saint Mary's County being sick and weak of body but of sound and disposing mind and memory and understanding, do make this my Last will & Testament in manner & form following. Infinnis I commend my soul into the hands of my Redeemer, and my body to be buried in a decent manner at the discretion of my Executors hereafter mentioned-- Item. I give and bequeath to my beloved wife all my Real Estate during her natural Life, and after her demise I give the same to my son Bennet Mattingly, and his heirs forever his paying within twelve months after the death of my wife Six thousand pounds of Crop Tobacco to my son Zachariah Mattingly but if my son Bennett should neglect or refuse to pay the said securitity of Tobacco, by the time mentioned, then and in such case I give and desire all my Real Estate to be Equally divided between them, the said Bennett & Zachariah, and their heirs forever Item. I give to my Daughter Anastatia Spalding Wife of Joseph Spalding, one negro Girl named Jenny---Item. I give and bequeath to my Daughter Elizabeth Spalding, Wife of Thomas Spalding, one negro Girl named Sandor---- Item. I give and bequeath to my Daughter Ann Wimsatt, Wife of Richd Wimsatt, one negro Girl named Ally, and one negro Girl named Lucy----Item. I give and bequeath to my son Bennett Mattingly, one negro man named Joseph, and my handmill and still but my wife to be allowed to make use of the still when she wants it. Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Zachariah Mattingly one negro man called Basil-------Item I will and desire that my Daughter in Law Dorothy Knott may as long as she chooses live in my Dwelling House and that she Horse & Servant to attend her at all times when she chooses and to be supported in every thing while she chooses to stay and I will and desire that my son Bennett have the care of her, and I desire that he will see this part of my will punctually performed.------Item I will and desire that my aforesaid Daughter in Law, Dorothy Knott have the sole use of the following negroes, to wit, Sarah and her Children, to wit, Jack, Daniel, and James, during her life--Item. I give and bequeath to my Daughter Mary Ford Mattingly one negro Girl named Henny and one negro Boy called Harry--- ------Item. I give and desire to my beloved wife a mare that she generally Rides--Item. Item I Will and Desire, that all my Household furniture and stock except such parts thereof as my be disposed of in Specific Legecys, Should remain in the plantation, during the life of my wife, and after her death I desire the same to be Equally Divided first deducting my wife's thirds part to between my two sons: Bennett & Zachariah, and my daughter Mary ------Item. I give and bequeath to my three Daughters, Anastatia, Elizabeth and Anne nine head of Cattle, none of them to be under two years old, non more then Eight years to be Equally divided, among them-------Item I give and bequeath unto my three sons in law, Joseph Spalding, Thomas Spalding, and Richard Wimsatt, three Horses, none to be under two years old, non more than ten years old-------Item. I desire that my Executors, when called upon should pay and Hogshead of Crop Tobacco, towards Repairing of Saint Josephs Chapel --------Item I will and desire that all the Residue of my Estate remain, and be kept on the plantation for the use of my wife and family during my wifes life, and after her decease I leave the same after deducting my wifes thirds to be equally Divided between my two sons Bennett And Zachariah, and my Daughter Mary, to be equally divided between them- -----Lastly I nominate Constitute and appoint, my beloved wife And my two Sons Bennett and Zachariah whole and Sole Executors of this my Last Will and Testament, hereby Revoking, all other wills by me heretofore made, In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal this Seventh day of March, one thousand seven hundred and Eighty three------ Luke X Mattingly (((seal))) Signed Sealed published and declared By the said Luke Mattingly as & for his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us who In his presence and at his Request, and in The presence of each other, have hereunto Subscribed our Names as witnesses J A. Thomas, Elenore Miles Tho Shiercliffe Saint May's County to wit the 9th Day of December 1783---Then came Priscilla Mattingly, Bennett Mattingly & Zachariah Mattingly and made oath on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God that the foregoing Instrument of writing is the True and whole Will of Luke Mattingly Late of Saint Marys County Deceased that hath come to their hands or possession and and that they do not know of any other---- Certified (illegible) Jeremiah Jordan Regr Wills Saint Marys County of the 9th Day of December 1783-----------------Then came John Allen Thomas, Elenor Miles & Thomas Sheircliffe the three subscribing witnesses to the aforegoing Last Will and Testament of Luke Mattingly, Late of saint Marys county deceased, and severally made a Oath on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God, that they did see the Testator there in named, sign and seal this will, that at the time of his so doing he was to the best of their apprehensions of sound and Disposing mind memory and understanding, and that they Respectively Subscribed their names as witnesses to this Will in the presence & at the Request of the Testator & in the presence of each other------- Certified ByJeremiah Jordan Reg Wills December the 9th 1773---- The widow agrees to stand to this will before. Jeremiah Jordan Reg Wills ******************************************************************************** ******************************* Transcribed by Judith A. Burger October 17, 2000 from a photocopy, courtesy Lynne L. O'Brien, of the original Court document from Saint Mary's County, Maryland. The photocopy was good. The writing was ill formed so the spelling of the names may be questioned. I made no corrections of any kind. All Names were underlined on the photocopy of the original document.