Will of John RUKE (1769), Worcester Co. MD

Contributed by Earl Rook <rookswan@attbi.com>

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IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN this 20 day of January in the year of our Lord 1769 I 
JOHN RUKE of Worcester County in the provinces of Maryland being in good health 
of body and in perfect mind and memory and knowing it is appointed for all men 
once to die do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament. First I bequeath 
my soul to the Almighty God and my body to the earth to be buried at the 
direction of my executors hereafter named as for my worldly estate I give and 
dispose of the same in manner and form following --

I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife Mary Rook all of my estate, lands, 
tennants and chatels during her natural life or widowhood my desire is that

My son Ezekiel Ruke may have my dwelling house and plantation, from a maple 
standing in the edge of the Sivanne (?) to a pesemon tree standing by the mouth 
of a small branch.
All the rest of my land I give to my son James, and at Ezekiel's death the whole 
of the land to James and if he dies without issue to Ezekiah (Hezekiah), and if 
he die without issue to Levan.
Item - I give to my son Ezekiel Ruk one shilling sterling.
Item - I give to my son John Ruke one shilling sterling.
Item - I give to my daughter Sarah Owen one shilling sterling.
Item - I give the remainder of the estate at the widows death or marriage to be 
equally divided amongst my six youngest children and my desire is that Ezekiel 
Ruke may have the third of the apples in the young orchard and Lastly I do 
hereby confirm this my last Will and Testament. In Witness thereof I have 
hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first written.

John Ruke his mark

Signed Sealed and Delivered by the said John Ruke to be his last will and 
Testament in presents of us
John Davis,
James Davis
Isaac Meglamre
Jonathan X Vinson

On 20 sept 1773 came John Davis and the 29th Oct 1773 came Jonathan Vinson two 
of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing will and made oath...that they saw 
John Ruke the Testator sign Seal and heard him publicly declare the same to be 
his last Will and Testament...of a sound and disposing mind...Subscribed their 
names at his request.

Mary Ruark, administrator. Security - Peter Owens & Benjamin Cox.

(Hall of Records, Will Book 39:422)