Will of James SOMERS Sr. (1758), Atlantic/Gloucester County, MD Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Ray Steelman http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************************** " WILL OF JAMES SOMERS , SENIOR " In the name of God Amen the thirteenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty eight, I JAMES SOMERS Senior of Great Egg Harbour in the County of Gloucester and province of West New Jersey, yeoman being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given to God. Therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament viz. Principally and first of all I give and Reccommend my Soul unto the hands of God that Gave it and for my Body I reccommend it to the Earth to be Buried in a Christian Like and Decent manner at the Discretion of my Executors nothing Doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall Receive the Same again by the mighty powers of God and as Touching Such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to Bless me in this life I Give and Dispose of the Same in the following manner and form. I give and Bequeath to my Beloved Son JOHN SOMERS one Certain tract of Land lying upon Great Egg Harbour River to the Quantity of Four Hundred and Fifty acres whereon the sd JOHN SOMERS now lives and is settled be the same more or less, to himm and his heirs and Assigns forever more, only the Said JOHN SOMERS Shall Return one equal third part of the Rent thereof for the use of ABIGAIL SOMERS mother of the sd JOHN SOMERS During her Natural Life. I give and Bequeath one acre of land for the use of the people called Quakers where the meeting house now stands forever. I give and Bequeath unto my beloved son JAMES SOMERS Jr., one certain Tract of Land and Homestead which now I live on it being the Quantity of four Hundred and forty nine acres Together with his Gristmill and Mill Dam and one acre of Land purchased of RETURN BABCOCK, be the Same more or less to him and his heirs and assigns for evermore and the sd JAMES SOMERS Jr., shall Return one equal third part of the Rent thereof for the use of ABIGAIL SOMERS mother of the Said JAMES SOMERS During her Natural Life. I give and Bequeath unto my Loving Son JAMES SOMERS Jr., nine acres of Land Lying on the North west Side of JAMES ROBERSONS Survey, to him and his heirs and assigns forevermore. I give and Bequeath unto my Beloved Son ISAAC SOMERS one certain Tract of Land Lying on the South west Side of PETER COVENOVERS being the quantity of two hundred and fifty acres be the same more or less, to him and his heirs and assigns forevermore, only the Said ISAAC SOMERS shall Return one equal third part of the rent thereof for the use of ABIGAIL SOMERS, mother to the sd ISAAC SOMERS During her Natural Life and if the Said ISAAC SOMERS dies without issue that the said two hundred and fifty acres of Land be Sold and the money be given one half to his mother and the other half to his sisters. I Give and Bequeath unto my Loving Son JOHN SOMERS one piece of Land Lying on the Beach in quantity of one hundred acres or there about Commonly known by the name of the Great Hummocks at the East End of the Beach to him and his heirs forevermore. Item I give and Bequeath to my loving Son JAMES SOMERS Jr., one certain tract of Land Lying on the Beach Beginning at JOHN SOMERS Line and Running along the Beach to the East End of the Slashes. Item, I Give and Bequeath unto my Loving Son ISAAC SOMERS one certain piece of Land Lying on the Beach Beginning at the East End of the Slashes aforesaid and Runs along the Beach to a place the parsimmom point be the same more or less, to him and his heirs forevermore. Item, I give and bequeath unto my Loving Son JAMES SOMERS Jr., all and Singular the rest part of the west End of the Beach, to him and his heirs forevermore. Item I give and Bequeath all my cedar Swamp to be equally Divided Between my three Sons, JOHN SOMERS and JAMES SOMERS and ISAAC SOMERS, to them and their heirs and assigns forevermore. Item I give and Bequeath unto my Loving Son JAMES SOMERS Junr one piece of Marsh called the Lone tree Island Containing Seventy Acres or thereabout and one piece of Swamp it being about five acres Lying below the Cedar Swamp Bridge. Item After my Lawful Debts be paid I give and Bequeath unto my well beloved wife ABIGAIL SOMERS one half or moiety of my movable Estate and the room that I now live in and the two front Rooms in the Chamber and the Garrett During her Natural Life and whats left of my estate after her Decease Equally to be Divided amongst my Seven Daughters within named. Item, I give and Bequeath unto my Loving Daughters SARAH STEELMAN, HANNAH SMITH, JUDITH SWAIN, ABIGAIL SMITH, REBECKAH BADCOCK, MARY SOMERS and RACHEL SOMERS, the other half of my movable Estate to be Equally Divided among them, only my Daughter MARY SOMERS, to be made Equal with the Rest, to them and their heirs forevermore, now I here order if Either of my Seven Daughters Die without Issue that her part be Equally Divided Among the Surviving Sisters. Item, I do hereby make well beloved wife ABIGAIL SOMERS my executrix and my Beloved Son JAMES SOMERS Jun., my executor of this my Last Will and Testament and I do hereby utterly Disallow Revoke and Disannul all and Every other former will Testament and Legacies, Executed by me before this time named, written and Bequeathed, Ratifying and Confirming this my last will and no other. In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal the Day and year above written. Signed and Sealed in the Presence of, JOSEPH MAPES JAMES ROBINSON MATTHEW (his X mark) DENNIS Signed JAMES SOMERS Probated April 15 1761 New Jersey Wills Liber 10 Page 376