WILL

Name:   Moses James Driskell Sr.
            

Date Written:  August 11, 1755
Date Filed: 
November 5, 1755
County / State:
  Worcester County, Maryland (Book JW-2, Page 154)

In the name of God Amen the Eleventh day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Five. I Moses Driskell Senr of Worcester County Maryland Saddler being sick and weak in body but of Perfect Mind and Memory thanks be given to God therefore Calling into mind the mortality of my body and knowing it is appointed for all men to die do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament (that is to say Principally) and first of all I give and recommend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it - and my body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in Decent Christian Burial at the Discretion of my Surviving friends Nothing Doubling but at the general Resurrection I shall receive the ...?... by the mighty power of God and as touching such Worldly Estate wherewith it has pleased God to (bestow?) on this life. I give Devise and Dispose of in the following manner and form. I give and bequeath to my daughter Rachel Toadvine five shillings current money and she to have no other part or parcel of my estate. Item I give to my son William Driskell five shillings current money as aforesd and he to have no other part or parcel of my Estate. Item I give to my Daughter Mary Ruark five shillings current money as aforesd and she to have no other part or parcel of my Estate. Item I give to my Daughter Comfort Hill five shillings current money as aforesd and she to have no other part or parcel of my Estate. Item I give to my Grand Daughter Sarah Brice five shillings current money as aforesd and she to have no other part or parcel of my Estate. Item I give and bequeath to my son Moses Driskell my Dwelling Plantation and two Hundred and twenty five acres of land at the north west end of my parcel of land called King Sale with all the (rights?) and appertances thereto belonging after the death or marriage of his Mother to him and his heirs for ever. Item I also give and bequeath to my son Moses Driskell one feather bed bedstead and furniture which is already delivered to him and his heirs for ever and he to have no other part or parcel of my Estate. Item I give and bequeath to my son Elgate Driskell one Hundred and twenty five acres of land of the aforesd tract of land being the remaining part of the same with all privileges benefits and appertances after the Death or Marriage of his Mother to him and his heirs for ever. Item I give to my son Elgat Driskell one feather bed bedstead and furniture which is already delivered and he to have no other part or parcel of my Estate. Lastly to my well beloved wife Katherine Driskell my land aforesd with plantation houses and all benefits there to belonging during her natural life or widowhood and also all my movable estate that is not disposed of requiring that she pay all my just debts and have the sole management of all my affairs. Lastly I constitute and ordain this to be my Last Will and Testament In witness whereof I have here unto Set my hand and Seal the day and year above Mentioned.

Moses Driskell (Seal)

Sealed and Acknowledged in the Presence of
James (his x mark) Cathell Sen
Jonathan (his mark) Cathell
James Cathell Junr

On the back of the aforegoing will was written the following:
Probate Viz November 5, 1755 Came James Cathell Jonathan Cathell James Cathell Junr the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing will and made Oath on the Holy Avangels of Almighty God that they saw the Testator Moses Driskell sign, seal and 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 their apprehension of a Sound Disposing Mind and Memory and that they Subscribed their names as witnesses to the said Will in the Presence of the Testator and at his request.
Sworn before Benton Harris Deputy Commissioner of Worcester County