Will of Benjamin PRATHER (1834); Washington Co, Maryland This file was contributed by Linda Dill. ************************************************************************ 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. ************************************************************************ In the name of God. Amen. I Benjamin Prather of Prince George's County in the State of Maryland, being in good Health of body and of sound and disposing memory and understanding, aware of the certainty of death, and that the period of its approach is hidden from our eyes, desirous of setling all my worldly affairs and preparing for the awful transition from time to Eternity when it shall please our Heavenly father to summon me hence. do therefore make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner following; that is to say. First and Principally I resign my soul to my all gracious creator who fashioned it with an humble reliance on his mercy, and forgiveness of all my sins and transgressions through the mercy and atonement of Our Blessed Redeemer and I commit my Body to the earth to be suitable interred under the direction and at the discretion of my Executor hereinafter named and appointed. Provided that there shall be no Funeral Preached over my remains. And it is my desire that neither of my Daughters nor any of my relations shall not wear mourning as is customary on such occasions - and after my Funeral Expenses and my Just debts are paid I devise and bequeath as follows. I give and bequeath to my grand son Benjamin Belt Nichols (son of John and Rachel Nichols) all my Plantation whereon I now live being a part of two tracts of land called Gog harbour and Prather folly, which has been Resurveyed and Called Mount Prospect. Except one half Acre of Land which I reserve as a family Burying Ground at the back of the Orchard North of my Dwelling house where the Burying ground now is. Also a small tract of Land lying on the Piney branch bottom on the western side of the branch called Brothers Delight, in fee simple. Item. I give and Bequeath to Kitty Waring (wife of Edward G. Waring) One Hundred Dollars. Item. I give and Bequeath to Elenor Baden (wife of Clement Baden) One Hundred and fifty Dollars. Item. I give and Bequeath to Caroline Waring (daughter of James Waring deceased) Fifty dollars. Item. I give and bequeath to Dr. James Waring (son of Edward G. Waring) One Hundred Dollars and my map of the United States. Item. I give and Bequeath to Richard B. Walker my large Bible. Item. I give and Bequeath to Richard M. Waring my watch. Item. I give and Bequeath to my Daughter Rachel Nichols my half dozen Silver Table spoons. Item. I give and Bequeath to my daughter Eliza Nichols one dozen Silver Tea Spoons. Item. my Will and desire is that all my Negroes. viz. Bob, Bachus, Joe, Bill, Dorsey, Henson, Sarah, Ann, John, Martha and Rachel, shall be sold for the Highest Prices that can be obtained for them under the following Provisions, that is, none of the aforesaid Negroes shall be sold to any Person Residing out of Prince George's County without their own Consent and in all cases they shall have the Priviledge of Choosing their own masters. (to be sold to all the rest and residue of my estate I will to be sold to the best Advantage; and the proceeds of such sale as well as the proceeds of the sale of the Negroes to be equally divided between my two Daughters Rachel and Eliza share and share alike. And it is my will John Nichols Husband of my daughter Rachel and Nicholas Nichols Husband of my Daughter Eliza Shall [...] nor have any authority or Controll over any part of my Estate hereby given and bequeathed to their wives (my said daughters Rachel and Eliza). but my said daughters may themselves receive of and from my Executor hereinafter named their respective shares and receipt in their own names which shall be as good and sufficient discharge to my Executor as if they had been at the time of so doing afeme sole And lastly I do hereby Constitute and appoint Richard M. Waring Executor of this my last Will and Testament Revoking and annulling all former Wills heretofore by me made ratifying and confirming this and none other to be my last Will and Testament. Witness my hand and seal this twenty first day of July in the year of Our Lord one thousand and eight Hundred and Thirtyfour. Benjn Prather (seal) Signed, Sealed, Published, and declared, by Benjamin Prather, the above named Testator, as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us the undersigned who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each Other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto. Joseph I. Jones Samuel Phillips Overton C. Phillips