Somerset County MDGenWeb James Gunby of Somerset County Will Written 24 May 1800, Proved 2 Dec 1800 Somerset County Will EB23:26-27

This will transcription has been provided by Beth Johnson. Thanks, Beth!

In the name of God amen. I James Gunby of Somerest County in the state of Maryland being sick and weak of body but of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding a now calling to mind the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs do make and ordain this my last will and testament in the following form and manner. That is to say, first and principally I commit my soul into the hands of Almighty God and my body to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executor herein after mentioned and as touching my worldly estate I dispose of the same in the following manner.

Imprimus, I give and bequeath unto my son James Gunby all my wearing apparel and fifty pounds in money to him and his heirs forever.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my daughter Sally Adams sixty three pounds in money to her and her heirs forever.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Marshalls children forty one pounds in money to be equally divided among them share and share alike.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my son Joseph Gunby's children twenty three pounds in money to be equally divided among them share and share alike.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my son Benjamin Gunby the sum of thirty five pounds current money to him and his heirs forever.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my daughter Betty Schoolfield the sum of seventy nine pounds current money to her and her heirs forever. Item, I give and bequeath unto my Stephen Gunby the sum of twenty nine pounds currency money to him and his heirs forever.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my grandson George Stevenson Gunby one Negro boy named Peter and as much money as will buy him two heifers of two years old to him and his heirs forever.

Item, I give and bequeath unto Joseph Gunbys children one-seventh part of the remainder of my estate after the above legacies are taken out, which seventh part I give to be equally divided amongst my said son Joseph Gunbys children share and share alike.

Item, I give and bequeath the like sum or in other words another seventh part of the whole remainder after taking out the legacies above specified to my children unto my daughter Mary Marshall's children which sum I desire shall be equally divided among her children share and share alike.

Item, I give and bequeath to my five children, to with, Salley Adams, Bettey Schoolfield, Isaac Gunby, Benjamin Gunby, and Stephen Gunby all the remainder of my estate to be equally divided amongst them share and share alike.

Lastly, I do nominate and appoint my son-in-law William Adams, whole and sole Executor of this my last will and testament, and do hereby revoke and make void all former will or wills by me heretofore made and do ratify and confirm this and no other to be my last will and testament. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this twenty fourth day of May Anno Domina Eighteen hundred

Signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared by James Gunby the within testator to be his last will and testament in presence of us who in his presence and at his request subscribe our names as evidence thereto in presence of each other.

James Gunby (his mark)

Samuel Smith
Lazarus Addams
Dennis Addams

December the 2nd 1800. Then came William Adams and oath on the holy Evangels of Almighty God, that the within instrument of writing is the last will and testament of James Gunby, late of Somerset County deceased that hath come to his hand possession or knowledge and that he doth not know of any other.

December the 2nd, 1800. Then came Samuel Smith & Dennis Adams two of the subscribing witnesses to the within last will and testament of James Gunby, late of Somerset County deceased and made oath on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God that they did see the testator within named, sign & seal the within will, that they heard him publish, pronounce, and declare the same to be his Last will and testament, that at the time of his doing so he was to the best of their apprehensions of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding and capable of executing a valid deed, & that they respectively subscribed their names as witnesses to the same in the presence and at the request of the testator and in the presence of each other & they further depose that they saw Lazarus Adams subscribe his name as a witness to the same, in the presence, at and at the request of the testator.

Monday, 21-Aug-2023 22:55:23 EDT