"In the name of God Amen. I William Jones of Somerset County
in the Province of Maryland, being sick and weak in Body, but of perfect
mind and memory, thanks be to Almighty God, and calling to mind the
uncertainty of this life and knowing that it is appointed for all men once
to die, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, first I
commend my Soul into the hands of God that gave it me, my body I
commend to the dust to be buried in a decent Christian manner, nothing
doubting but I shall receive the same again at the General Ressurection and as to such
Worldly Estate as it hath pleased God to Bless me with, I give and bequeath in
manner and form following viz, I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas Jones
my Dwelling Plantation whereon I now live to him and his heirs for ever and it is
my will and desire that my five Daughters Mary, Elizabeth, Rebeckah, Tabitha
and Ann Jones, may have free liberty to live on the aforesaid Plantation with my
son Thomas while they continue unmarried and if my son Thomas should
marry and my five Daughters or either of them should cease to live by
themselves, it is my desire that my son Thomas should build a house for
them / at the place called John Moore's on my said Plantation / twenty foot long
and fifteen foot wide and finish the same for them to live in whilst they continue
single as aforesaid. -- I also give unto my son Thomas Jones a negroe boy
called Linn and a servant man called George Hornor during his time of
servitude, also my best bed and furniture and what Pork I made this year
if it was for sale to him and his heirs for ever.
Item. I give to my Daughter Mary Jones a negroe girl called Fendor, also one
bed and furniture, one calf of Drawors and one silver spoon to her and her heirs
for ever. Item. I give unto my daughter Elizabeth Jones a negroe boy
called Peter and bed and furniture and one silver spoon to her and her heirs.
Item. I give to my daughter Rebeckah Jones one negroe boy called Pompoy,
also one bed and furniture for her and her heirs.
Item. I give unto my daughter Tabitha Jones one negroe girl called Rose, also a
bed and furniture or ten Pounds in paper money to be paid to her at the
choice of my son Thomas, also I give my said daughter one silver spoon
the aforesaid to her and her heirs for ever.
Item. I give unto my daughter Ann one negroe girl called Priss, also one bed and
furniture or ten pounds in paper money to be paid to her by my son Thomas
at his choice, I also give unto my said daughter one of my best oval tables
and one silver spoon to her and her heirs.
Item. I give unto my grandson James Glasgow two silver spoons and the first colt
that any of my mares folds to him and his heirs for ever.
Item. I give unto my daughter Martha Glasgow four cows and calves to her and
her heirs.
Item. I give and bequeath the one half of the remaining part of my Estate
to my son Thomas and the other half I give to my five daughters Mary, Elizabeth
Rebeckah, Tabitha and Ann Jones to be equally divided between my said
five daughters, which I give to them and their heirs.
Lastly, I nominate and appoint my son Thomas Jones whole and sole Executor to this
my Last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all other Will or Wills by me
heretofore made, confirming this to be my last Will and Testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and my seal this
fourteenth day of January, Anno Domini 1743/4 [sic].
Willm. Jones
Sign'd, Sealed and acknowledged,
In the Presense fo us.
John Anderson
James McGrah [his mark]
Tunstall Hack
To the foregoing Will was annexed the
following Probat, viz.
February 1st, 1745 Came John Anderson and on the seventh day of same
month and year came Tunstall Hack, the surviving evidences and made
oath on the holy Evangelist of Almighty God, that they saw the Testator
William Jones, sign and seal and hear him Publish, Pronounce and Declare
this Instrument of writing to be his Last Will and Testament and 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 the said
John Anderson and Tunstall Hack, subscribed their names as witnesses to
the said Will in the Presence and at the request of the Testator William Jones.
Sworn to before Nehemiah King, Deputy Comm'r of
Somerset County.
