Will of Jacob Ridenour (1808); Washington Co, Maryland This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Erma Day . ************************************************************************ 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. ************************************************************************ Washington County, MD Liber B Folio 158, 159 The Last Will and Testament of Jacob Ridenour Deceased In the name of God, Amen, I Jacob Ridenour of Washington County and State of Maryland being sick and weak in body, but of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding, considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof, and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs and thereby being the better prepared to leave this world, when it shall please God to call me hence, do therefore make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say: First and principally I commit my soul into the hands of Almighty God and my body to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors hereinafter named, and after my just debts and funeral charges are paid and my wife’s thirds taken out, I devise and bequeath as follows: Whereas I purchased this plantation whereon I now live from Peter Fisher, the father of my first wife, and paid unto the said Peter Fisher the full amount of the purchase money for said land, but the said Fisher not conveying said land to me, agreeable to contract, and as my wife Susanna died before her father, Peter Fisher, the said Peter Fisher did by his Last will and testament will the said Land to the children of the said Susannah, my first wife, and whereas I am desirous to prevent disputes between my children respecting the said Land, I therefore will and bequeath unto my four children here named: Peter, Joseph, Susanna and Dorothy, all my right and title of the above mentioned land, called “Prevention”, and as they are to have my plantation, my will is and I order that my four eldest children, Peter, Joseph, Susannah and Dorothy shall have no part or share of my personal estate. I will and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Barbara, one bed and bedding thereunto belonging, one cow of her choice, with the third part of my personal estate as above mentioned. And whereas I have advanced to my children here named, John, Isaac, Jacob and Elizabeth, which advancements to my children are to be brought into the settlement of my Estate so that my wife may get her third part of said advancements and my daughter Catherine get her part of said advancements. And whereas I have advanced to my son John one Wagon and five horses with gears and sundry fitting to go on the road, which I value to him at five hundred dollars; [inserted on original: and whereas I advanced to my son Isaac one wagon and five horses with gears and sundry fitting to go on the road which I value to him at five hundred dollars;] and whereas I give and bequeath to my son Jacob my wagon and 4 horses with the gears and every other necessarys belonging to a wagon and team that goes on the road, and one two year old colt and one set of Blacksmith Tools, which wagon, horses, gears, colt and set of Blacksmith tools I value to him at five hundred dollars . And whereas I have advanced to my daughter Elizabeth one mare, two cows, one bed and bedding and sundry household Furniture which I value to her at fifty two pounds ten shillings current money. These several advancements my sons and daughter are to bring into the settlement of my estate, so that my wife gets her thirds of the same and my daughter Catherine gets her share or part of the same. I will and bequeath unto my daughter Magdalena the sum of 14 Dollars, this sum to be paid her by my Executors at the end of one year after my decease, this to be in full for her part or share of my Estate, both real and personal. My will is and I order that after my debts and funeral charges and the legacy heretofore bequeathed are paid and my wife’s thirds taken out, the rest and residue of all my estate to be divided among my five children here named John, Isaac, Jacob, Elizabeth and Catherine to be divided as follows—each of my sons here named is to have three shares or parts and each of my daughters here named is to have two shares or parts, so that my three sons John, Isaac, and Jacob have nine shares and my two daughters have four shares. Lastly I hereby constitute and appoint my sons John Ridenour and Jacob Ridenour Executors of this my last will and testament hereby giving to them full power and lawful authority to carry into effect any contract by me heretofore made or which I may hereafter make either for conveyance of lands or otherwise as fully as I could do were I living. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 11th day of January One thousand eight hundred and eight (1808) Jacob Ridenour seal (In German) Signed sealed published and delivered by the within Testator as and for his last will and testament in presence of us who have subscribed our names as witnesses hereto at the request of the testator and in his presence and in the presence of each other. Philip Kershner (In German) Jacob Kershner of Philip Washington County to wit On the 8th day of April 1808 came John Ridenour and Jacob Ridenour and made oath on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God that this is the true and whole will of Jacob Ridenour late of Washington County deceased that hath come to their hands and possession and that they do not know of any other. At the same time came Philip Kershner and Jacob Kershner of Philip, the two subscribing witnesses to the aforesaid testament and last will of the said deceased and made oath on the Holy Evangels of Amighty God that they did see testator herein 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 apprehensions of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding and that they subscribed their names as witnesses to this will in the presence of the Testator and in the presence of each other. Certified by George C. Smoot Reg. On the day and year above John Ridenour appeared and refused to take upon himself the office of Executor by virtue of his appointment in and by virtue of said will. Certified by George C. Smoot Reg.