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