Will of Benjamin Ricketts.
In the name of God Almighty – I Benjamin Ricketts, Sen of Montgomery County and State of Maryland being in a low state of health but in my perfect senses thanks be to Almighty God do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in the following:
Infinito I commend my soul into the Hands of Almighty God to be dealt with according to his pleasure and my body to be Christianly and decently buried.
Item I give and bequeath to my son Benjamin Ricketts the following Lands vis Banker’s Venture and Green Marsh
Item I give and bequeath to my son Jacob Ricketts the plantation I now live on during his natural life and after his death to my grandson Robert Ricketts son of Jacob to claim and his Heirs forever
Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Martha Ricketts a parcel of Land called Ricketts Folly containing fifty two acres to her and her Heirs forever
Item I leave to my grandson Jacob Elliott forty pounds currency Money of Maryland.
Item I leave to my grandson Robert Ricketts son of Jacob forty pounds currency Money of Maryland in the hands of my son Benjamin Ricketts for the purpose of schooling the son of Robert Ricketts.
Item The Residue of my personal estate I leave to be equally divided among my children Viz Benjamin Ricketts, Drusilla Ricketts, Martha Ricketts and Jacob Ricketts and Mary Ricketts wife of Anthony Ricketts.
It is my desire that my son Benjamin Ricketts should have a negro fellow named Lindy given him by me appraised with the rest of my personal estate and shall discount the value of him as grant of his grant of my personal estate
Lastly I ordain my son Benjamin Ricketts sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament.
In witness where of I have here unto set my hand and seal this sixteenth day of November and one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven.
Benjamin Ricketts (Seal)
Signed, sealed and delivered in Presence of
Zad K. Magruder
Benjamin Mcdugle (B his mark)
Thomas Reade
