WILL OF JAMES TAYLOR
SOMERSET CO., MARYLAND
APRIL 18, 1788

In the Name of God Amen. I James Taylor being old and weak of body but of perfect mind & memory thanks be given unto God, therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die: do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament that is to say principally and first of all I give recomend my soul into the hand of almighty God, and for my body I recomend it to the earth to be buried in a christianlike and decent manor at the discretion of them it may concern nothing doubting but at the general Reserrection I shall receive the family again by the mighty power of God and as for touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased almighty God to bless me with in this life I give and bequeath and dispose of the same on the manner and form following -

Item I give and bequeath to my well beloved son Joshua Taylor all my Lands in Taylors Addition above the ditch that runs through my plantation up to the branch to him and his heirs forever -

Item I give & bequeath to my well beloved son Levin Taylor the remainder part of my Land called Taylors Addition with my dwelling house and orchard and one tract of Land called Taylors Intent, one black horse that he commonly rides, one puter dish and two puter plates and one feather bed and furneture to him and his heirs forever-

Item I give and bequeath to my granson James Taylor, son of William Taylor one fethor bed and firneture to him and his heirs forever -

Item I give and bequeath to grandaughter Betty Ackworth Taylor daughter of William Taylor, one fether bed and firneture to her & her heirs for ever -

Item I give and bequeath to well beloved son Levin Taylor one tract of Land called Taylors Addition of (rem acoss??) in the Tract to and his heirs forever -

Item I give and bequeath to my well beloved son Thomas Taylor one pair of handmill stones to him and his heirs forever -

Item I give and bequeath to my well beloved son Isaac Taylor, one large cobort to him and his heirs forever -

Item I give and bequeath to my son Jacob Taylor one desk to him and his heirs forever -

Item I give and bequeath to my sons William Taylor, Thomas Taylor, Isaac Taylor, Jacob Taylor, one negro wench called Diner to be equally divided between them William, Thomas, Isaac, Jacob Taylor to them and their heirs forever -

Item I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife all my estate lands and Livings of every kind of moveable to her during her nateral life or widdowhood and after her death to be equeally divided between all children, Sary Parmers children, William, Thomas, Isaac, Jacob Levin Taylor to them and their heirs forever and lastly I opoint my beloved wife whole Exceceter of this my last Will and Testament or whomsoever she would opoint whereunto I have set my hand and fixed seal this Eighteen day of April one thousand seven hundred and Eighty Eight.

Testes. Bartholomew Taylor, Spencer Williams, Charha Taylor

James Taylor (seal)

June the second day 1788 then came Betty Taylor & made Oath upon the holy Evangels of Almighty God that the within instrument of Writing is the true & whole last Will & Testament of James Taylor late of Somerset County deceased that hath come to her hand, or possession & that she doth not know of any other - - Before Esme Bayly, Regt WSC

June the 2nd day 1788 Then came Bartholomew Taylor, Spencer Williams, & Charha Taylor the Subscribing Witnesses to the instrument of writing & severally made Oath upon the Holy Evangels of Almighty God that they did see James Taylor therin named sign & seal the same and that they respectively subscribe their names as Witnesses to the same in the presence of the said James Taylor deceased & in the presence of each other -

Before Esme Bayly, Regt.WSC

Recorded in Lib EB fol. 305 & 306

Cindy