Will of Edward Smith

In the Name of God Amen the 14th day of Aprill 1687 in the these year of the reigne of or Sovereign Lord King James the second. I Edward Smith of the County of Somerset and Province of Maryland being sick and weak in body but of sound and perfect memory Praise be given to God for the same and Knowing the uncertainty of this like of Earth and being desirous to settle things I order doe make this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following, that is to say first and principally I comend my soul to Almighty God my creator assuredly believing that I shall receive full pardon and free remission of all my sins and be delivered by the precious death and merits of my blessed savior and redeemer Christ Jesus. And my body t the Earth from whence it was taken to be burried in such decent and Christian manner as to my Executrix hereafter named shall be thought meet and convient And as touching such worldly Estate as the lord in mercy hath lent me, my Will and meaning is the same shall be Imployed and bestowed. As hereafter be this my Will is expressed and first I doe revoke renounce frustrate and make void all wills formily by me made, and declare and appoint this my Last Will and Testament, Item I give and bequeath unto my loving wife who is my Executrix of this my last will and testament tow tracts of land the one called golden Quartz, containing three hundred acres and the other called Riple containing four hundred acres. Likewise I give unto my aforesaid executrix my two negroes and English woman servant during her life, and then to return to my two daughters Martha and Elizabeth. Likewise I give and bequeath unto my aforesaid executrix all my goods, debts and chattles three feather beds expected that is to say two feather beds with all furniture unto my two daughters Martha and Elizabeth. And one bed bolster Rug, blankets unto Ann Eniss, my grand daughter. And further that my aforesd. Executrix doe make my daughter Martha stock of cattle as good as my daughter Elizabeth is now at Golden Quarter. Further I do give and bequeath unto my daughter Martha and Elizabeth to tracts of land adjoining one of which is named Last Choice cont. seven hundred acres and the other called Unity Containing three hundred acres to be equally divided between. And further I do give and bequeath unto Robert Perry one tract of land containing two hundred acres called Bangroud I give and bequeath unto my daughter Ann Vigorous the sum of twelve pence sterling, I further give and bequeath unto my two cousins Jonathan and Armwell Showell tow cows and calves with all their female increase, I give and bequeath unto my grand Child Cornelius Sniss two cows and calves with their female increase, and unto my grand Child Pusy Sniss and one yearling maire with her increase, and unto daughter Mary the sum of twelve pence [stou??] , and to my brother Showell all my wearing cloths, In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above mentioned______ Before signing and sealing that in case my wife should dye before my tow daughters Martha and Elizabeth comes to age that then I request Wm. And James Round to take care of them and of what belongs unto this signed sealed in presence us Michael Howard Edward Smith Seal Mary [mark] Orman James Round Somerset County this day to wit the 26th day of February 1687/8 Came before me one Mr. James Round Michael Howard and Mary Orman Witnesses to the withen ___ mentioned will and made oath that they saw the testator Edward Smith withen named with his own hand sign seal and the said will and heard him then decease that it was his last will and testament_____ This day aforesd. Anne Smith Executrix in the withen will named and appointed took her oath before me Verbatim according to the form of the oath of an Executrix. In the like manner came before me John Smock and Wm. Richardson appraisers of the goods and chattles of Edward Smith aforesd. And made oath according to the form accustomed the day above mentioned~ The premises order of the Honorable Henry Darnell and Clement Hill Esqs. Judges for Probate of wills [??] : to be transmitted under my hand and seale, March the 12 87___ Sam. Hopkins Seale Examined Recorded in Liber EB No. 5 folio 173~ Test. Esme Bayly Regs. W.S.C.