Will of Samuel Cox

In the same of God Amen June 1st 1772 I Samuel Cox of Somerset County in the province of Maryland being sick and weak in body but of perfect sense mind and Memory thanks be to almighty God for it but calling ti mind the uncertainty of this transitory life and knowing that is appointed for all men once to die and being desirous to settle all my worldly affairs wherewith it hath been pleased almighty God to bless me with Farr beyond my mirrit and doth hereby of all my worldly goods give leave and Dispose of then in manner and form as follows Viz______ Emprimus It is my will and desire that all my just debts should be paid by my executor Second Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved son John Davis Cox on e half of all my lands that I now possess beginning at the mouth of a gut that is but a small distance t the southward of the dwelling house and soe running to the extent into the woods or the said lands unto him and his heirs forever______Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved son Thomas Handy Cox all the other half of all my lands unto him and his heirs forever~ Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved son Samuel Cox on negroe named Jeffery unto him and his heirs forever______Item I leave all the remainder part of my estate unto my well beloved wife Martha Cox furing her natural life or widowhood and after her death or marriage them to be equally divided amongst my three children John and Thomas Cox and Samuel Cox to them and heirs forever______Lastly I do hereby appoint my well beloved wife Martha Cox to be my whole and sole Executor of this my last will and Testament Revoking Disannulling all other former wills by me made heretofore and acknowledging this to be my last ______ Signed Sealed Published Pronounced and Declared as the Testators last Will and Testament In the presence of Wm. Miles Samuell Cox Seal Solomon Bird Jacob Milbourn On the 19th day of August 1772 Came Martha Cox and made oath that the afforegoing Instrument of writing is the true and only will and testament of Samuell Cox late of Somerset County deceased, that hath come to his hands possession or knowledge and that she did not Know or heard of any other. Sworn before Thos. Holbrook Deputy Comy. Of Somerset County on the nineteenth day of August one thousand seven hundred and seventy two Came William Miles one of the subscribing Witnesses to the writhen will and Made oath on the Holy Evangilist of Almighty God that about six weeks before the death of the testator and at that time he did see the said Samuell Cox Sign and Seal his name as appears to the with in Will and heard him publish pronounce and declare the same to be his last Will and testament and at the time of is so doing he was the best of his apprehansions of a sound disposing Mind memory and understanding and that he subscribed his name as a witness to the same in the presence of the said testator, and he further maketh oath that the next day the said Samuell Cox sent for him this deponent to make sure in all alteration in the said will, and accordingly he did, and then the said Samuell Cox did acknowledge the writhen Will to be his last Will and Testament and at the time of his sodoing he was to the best of his apprehansion of a sound disposing mind memory and understanding and further this deponent sayeth not Sworn Before Thos. Holbrook deputy Commy. Of Somerset County on the same day and year above written Came Solomon Bird and Jacob Milbourn the other two subscribing witnesses to the withen will and made oath on the Holy Evangilist of Almighty God that about six weeks before the death of the Testator Samuell Cox, that they did see the Testator Samuell Cox Sign and seal his name as appears to the withen Will and at that time they heard him Publish Pronounce and declare the same to be his last Will and Testament and at the time of his sodoing he was to the best of their apprehansions of a sound disposing mind Memory and understanding and that they subscribed their names as witnesses, in the presence of the said testator, and they also made oath that they were informed that the said Samuell Cox had in all alteration made in the said will the next day after they had witnessed the dame and further these deponents sayeth not______ Sworn before Thos. Holbrook Deputy Comy. of Somerset County on the nineteenth day of August one thousand seven hundred and seventy two Came Martha Cox Widow to Samuell Cox and made her Election to the withen will, and did refuse to abide the said will or any part thereof, But desired to have her thirds agreeable to an Ait of Assembly in such cases made and provided_______ Sworn before Thos. Holbrook Deptuy Commy. Of Somerset County Recorded in Liber EB no. 5 folio 10 and 11~ Eprm. Bayly Regs. WSC