Will of Mathias Costen

In the name of God Amen I Matthias Costen of Somerset County being well strickned in years and weak in body but of perfect mind and well disposing memory thanks be to Almighty God for it calling to mind the mortality of my body doth make and order this my last will and testament in manner and form following Viz. Imprimis I will that all my just debts and funeral charges be paid out of my estate. Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Simpson one shilling sterling and that to be her hole and sole part of my estate Real and Personal. Item I give and bequeath unto my grandson Matthias Costen Taylor all that part of my land whereon the said Matthias C Taylor liveth begining at an Mention Bounder of Benjaman Cottmans which is a marked pine that is now dead and a Bounder stone by it and from thence to a marked white Oke and from thence along his fence until it makes a short turn down to the Big Ditch and all my part of the land lying and being on the Northwest side of the afsd. big ditch of what name it may be on Miles's side of said Ditch to him his heirs and assigns. Item I give and bequeath unto my grandson William Costen all that part of my land lying and being upon Merumsco Creek begining at the corner of Robert Riggin's Plantation at the Eastermost corner and from thence to Clew's Gut by a line with the ditch and all the land on the Westermost side towards Coxes also one negro woman called Nancy and all her increase to him and his heirs and assigns and that to be his full part of my estate Reall and Personal. Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Esther Smith all the remainder of my land at Merumsco that is not given to my grandson William Costen of whatsoever name or names it may be, to her and her heirs and assigns and that to be her hole and sole part of my Estate Real and personal ~ Item I give and bequeath unto my son William Costen after he pays Comfort Maddux or her heirs the just sum of one hundred and fifty pounds lawful money and that to be her full part of my Estate Real and personal, and also that my son William Costen shall pay my grandson William Costen one feather Bead and furniture and two Cows and one Mare, then my will is that my son William Costen to have Costens Care and Costens Trouble and all the residue of my estate Real and Personal to him his heirs and assigns and also all the debts that is due to my estate of whatsoever I give to my son William to him his heirs and assigns ~ Item I constitute and appoint my son William Costen to have the estate of my grandson William Costen untill he comes to the full age of twenty one ~ Item I constitute and appoint my son William Costen to prove my last will and testament June the 7th. day 1803 ~ Published pronounced and declared in the presence of ~ Levin Maddux Matthias Costen (Seal) Isaac Harriss Geo Furniss April the 9th day 1805. Then came Levin Maddux, Isaac Harriss and George Furniss and severally made oath on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God, that they did see Matthias Costen the Testator sign & seal this will, and that they heard him publish pronounce and declare the same to be his last Will and testament, and that at the time of his so doing he was to the best of each of their apprehensions of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding capable of executing a valid deed, and that they did respectively subscribe this will as witnesses, in the presence and at the request of the Testator ~ Before Geo. Handy Regr. W.S.C. Recorded in Liber E B No 23 folio's 90 & 91. Examined Test. Geo. Handy Regr. W.S.C.