Will of David Brown

In the name of god Amen I David Brown of Somerset County in the province of Maryland being sick and weak of body but of perfect memory praises be to Omnipotent, therefore and knowing the uncertainty of this present life, do make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following, Imprimus, I comitt my soul to him who gave it me hoping through the merritts of my blessed saviour and redeemer to have full pardon and free remission of all my sins, my body in convenient time to be decently buried and as to such Estate as the lord in Mercy hath lent me my will and Pleasure is it be disposed of as hereafter mentioned ____ It is my Will and pleasure is that all just debts sue by me be payed and discharged in convenient time after my decease- Item it is my will that Mr. Thomas Wilson Sen. for his better support have ten thousand founds of tobacco to be paid of my best debts Item I give and bequeath unto famous college of Glasgow as a Memorial and support of any of my relations to be educated therein to be paid in cash or served by good exchange to the visitors or to Mr. James Brown and William Carmichael for the use afse. The full sum of one hundred pounds sterling current money of England, with all convenient speed after my decease. Item I give and bequeath unto the said Mr. James Brown and William Carmichael five pounds sterling current money of England to be convey at the same time appointing them trustees that the adosd. Money be conveniently paid to the college as aforesaid. Item I give and bequeath unto my sisters Daughter Margaret and Mary Eriskin thirty pounds sterling a piece of like money and also one feather bed apiece to each curtings and vallings and a rugg to each of the best I possess at my decease Item I give and bequeath unto the civilized poore of this County six thousand pounds of tobacco to be disposed too such as my Executors shall think honest and also that my Town lands in this County or what shall be the produce for the same be appropriated for the said poor_______ Item I give and bequeath unto Edward Jones three thousand pounds of Tobacco Item I give and bequeath unto William Scott two cows and calves. Item I give and bequeath to Robert Perrie, four hundred pounds of Tobacco, Item I give unto Mr. Roger Wolford twenty shillings to buy a gould ring. Item I give unto Mrs. Mary Wolford, one black hood and one pair of gloves. Item I give and bequeath unto John Brown all my title and Interest of a tract of land called South Betherton together with part of a tract of land called Thomas Addition, so fare from the first bounder to make south Betherto Square and two sows and their increase to his meall heirs for ever it being in requital of severall services done for me, Item I give and bequeath unto Rebecca Stevens besides her wages one thousand pounds Tobacco, provided she prove honest and faithfull and doth not purloin or embarrass any of my goods that shall be under her hands. Item, I give and bequeath unto Robert Mathewson one thousand pounds of Tobacco. Item I give and bequeath unto old Mary Goldsmith five hundred pounds of Tobacco, to buy three or four years by indentures or assignments now in this County to each of them, I give the sum of twenty shillings or the value thereof, Item I give to Capt. Nicholas Evens my second sword of Best. Item it is my will that Patrick Mcallister be set free on the first of January next._____ Item it is my Will that Black Betty be learned to read the bible and to sow with needle will to have good clothes and two cows and calves when set free which I desire to be at the twenty second year of her age she being eight years of age last April and I desire that her mother Black Peggy shall serve twelve years after my decease, and then to be set free___ Item I give and bequeath unto Alexander Brown and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten four tracts of land to wit, meadows containing eighty acres___ Thornton containing six hundred acres on which I live Horekaleck containing three hundred acres and Jesimon, my meaning is to say the mail heirs of his body but if the said Alexander Brown or his heirs of his body doth deny or refuse here to inhabit or cultivate the afsd. Tracts of land within the space of tow years after my decease then it is my will, that Epriham Wilson one of my Executors hereafter mentioned do possess occupy inhabit and enjoy all the said four tracts of land to him and his mail heirs for ever and the rents and duties of the same lands to be payed out of the remaining part of my Estate for tow years until Alexander Brown's mind be known in the matter and for the better management of said plantation and the ditches there on it is my will that my servants be kept and looked after by a free man during the afsd. time of two years or the coming of Alexander Brown. In the mean time the profits thereof to come into the hands of Ephraim Wilson when I order and appoint to see the same kept in no worse repair then now and the kitchen to be finished, the barn to be builded and the graves to be forthwith covered of the best brick that can be made and laid in good strong lines. Item I give unto John Jackson two thousand pounds of Tobacco as all others. Item it is my will that Ephraim Wilson Thomas Wilson Jun. Margaret Eriskin and Mary Eriskin be joint Executors of this my will and Testament and in there absence what of necessity by the law required to be done Eprhiam Wilson and Thomas Wilson Jun. Or wither of hem faithfully to perform until the aforsd. two years are expired. Item I give and bequeath unto my sister Elizabeth ten pounds shilling. Item it is my will and that my four for named Executors have and enjoy equally the rest of my real and personnel Estate let it be in lands wares. Merchantdizes cowes horses sheep hoggs or any other goods what so ever and the same in specia to be equally divided and possessed by them and there heirs for ever In Testimony hereof I hereby revoak and disanull all Will or Wills by me formily make confirming this to be my last Will and Testament, In Witnesses whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Nineteenth day of July Annog Dom One thousand six hundred ninety and seven Signed Sealed Acknowledged and Of the above said_____ D: Brown {seal} Roger Wolford, Robert Mathewson Signed David Brown James Pool, and James Wolford __ Thomas Bensin, George Hutchins Somerset County at Manokin October the 17th 1697. Memorandum that probate was made of the within Will by the oaths of Toger and James Wolford and Robert Mathewson and George Hutchins appraised then sworn and testimony Sellers granted Copie will refused being taken [p??] Excec. Witness ____ S. Hopkins D.Com (Indoresement; Intd. In liber H folio 150) Recorded in Liber EB No. 5 folio: 128-129 ~ Test. Esme Bayly Regr. W.S.C.