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From Ewing in Early America
Recorded in Cecil Co., Maryland Wills Liber AA Vol 1 page 360. Copied in Maryland Hall of Records Prerogative Court (Wills) #22,
pages 52-3. Dated 10 Aprill 1738. Probated March 15, 1738/9
In the name of God Amen. I Alexander Ewing being sick of body at present, but perfect of mind and memory ... Blessed be God therefore
calling to mind that it is appointed for all men to die doeth make this my last Will and Testament in the method and manner as follows:
- 1st I recommend my soul to God who gave it and my body to the dust to be buried in a Christian like and decent manner at the
discretion of my execters and touching such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with I bequeath in the method following:
- 2nd I appoint all my just and lawful debts to be discharged and paid as soon as it is possible and my execters shall see cause.
- 3rd My well beloved wife to have one third of all my moveables after the debts is paid with her proportion of the Plantation as the
law directs.
- 4th I appoint that my son, James, shall have the half of the Plantation with the house and orchard and all improvements belonging
to that half and the other half to my sons John and William equally. William Husbands to make the lines betwixt them.
- 5th I appoint that my son James shall pay twenty pounds more or less to my daughter Margaret at the discretion of my execters
when she arrives to the age of sixteen and that John and William shall pay unto my son Samuel when he arrives at the age of sixteen years
the sum of twenty pounds more or less at the discretion of my execters.
6th I appoint that my son-in-law Andrew Porter shall have given him by my execters the first day of November next the old brown
horse and six sheep together with what he hath already gotten.
- 7 If any of my sons incline to sell their part of the land it shall be to their br th other or brothers he or they paying as much for the
same as a stranger is willing to give.
8th I positively appoint that my sons James and John shall be bound to trades at or against next fall at the discretion of my execters
and that William and Margarett be likewise bound out at the execters discretion.
- 9th I appoint Andrew Barry Esq.,' James Porter, Samuell Ewing and Nathaniel Ewing to be my execters and lastly I do revoke
disallow and disanull all former wills and testaments made by me in any ways and doeth only confirm ordain and appoint this to be my
last will and testament. As witness my hand and seal 10 day Aprill 1738.
Witness present /s/ Alexr. Ewing (SEAL)
William Mitchell [Note: On original seemingly
Robert Gillespie handwritten the “g” in Ewing is written over
Rachall Ewing the “n” so that it looks like Ewig]
“X” her mark
“On the back of the afore going Will was thus written VIZ -- Cecil County March 15, 1738 [1738/39]. William Mitchell and Robert
Gillespie two of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing will being duly and solemnly sworn of the Holy Evangels of Almighty God
depose and say they saw that they saw the testator Alexander Ewing sign the foregoing will and heard him publish 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 apprehension of sound and disposing mind
and memory and that they subscribed their respective names and Rachel Ewing set her mark as witness to the same will in the presence
of the said testator and at his request which oath was taken by the said witnesses in the presence of James Ewing eldest son of the deceased
who made no objection to the probate of said will.”
Sworn before me
Wm. Rumsey, D. Com. TY.
Per Ewing in America,
[The INVENTORY of Alexander Ewing is located in Cecil Co., Md Inventories page 74.] was taken August 10, 1739. I have a copy of what seems to be the original hand-written will; a copy, hand written, entered into the records
at Annapolis and a copy of the original hand-written Inventory. A very important revelation was it was “Approved by KIN Patrick Ewing
and Andrew Porter; taken by William Husbands and John Has, appraisers, and Nathaniel Ewing and James Porter made affirmation that
this is a just appraisal of the goods and chattels of Alexander Ewing.” THE WILL, below, states that Samuel Ewing, Nathaniel Ewing,
James Porter and Andrew Barry are his executors.
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