Will of Beachamp Howard
Somerset County, Maryland
June 23, 1865
In the name of God Amen I, Beachamp Howard of Somerset County in the state of Maryland being weak and feeble in body, but of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding. Considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs and thereby be the better prepaired to leave this world when it shall please God to call me hence, do therefore make and publish this my last Will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say, first and princapially I commit my soul into the hands of Almighty God and my body to the earth to be decently buried at the decretion of my friends and after my debts and funeral charles is paid I divise and bequeathe as follows
Item I give and divise unto Joseph H. Howard my eldest son the plantation whereon he now lives which formerly belonged to his grand father Joseph Howard and to be divided by the fence as owned by said Joseph Howard, decd, to him his heirs and assigns forever
Item I give and divise unto my second son Hiram H. Howard the plantation whereon he now lives which I bought of Perry O. Nelson to him his heirs and assigns forever
Item I give and divise unto my third son Louther J. Howard all the lands which I bought of Luther Kennerly and Alfred English to him his heirs and assigns forever
Item I give and divise unto my fourth son Azariah B. Howard the plantation whereon I now live and all the lands which I bought at trustee sale of the heirs of Thomas Cooper, decd, to him his heirs and assigns forever
Item I give and divise unto my four sons Joseph H., Hiram H., Louther J. and Azariah B. Howard all my right in the mill property known as the double mills share and share alike
Item I give and divise unto my beloved wife Mahala Howard her Right of dowery in all the lands which I now posess as the Law provides and one horse which I bought at the sale of William Giles and the carriage which I now own to her during her natural life and then the horse and carriage to my son Azariah B. Howard.
Item I give and bequeathe unto my daughter Sally A. Bayley the sum of one hundred dollars and to her son John W. Bayley the sum of fifty dollars to be paid by my son Hiram H. Howard in consideration of the property left to him.
Item I give and bequeathe unto my daughter Mary Howard the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars to be paid her by my son Joseph H. Howard
Item I give and bequeathe unto my daughter Margarett P. Howard the sum of seventy five dollars to be paid by Joseph H. Howard in consideration of the property left to him and the sum of seventy five dollars to be paid by Azariah B. Howard in consideration of the property left him.
Item I give and bequeathe unto my daughter Rachel E. Howard the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars to be paid by my son Azariah B. Howard in consideration of the property left to him.
Item I give and bequeathe unto my gran daughter Mary M. Howard the sum of twenty five dollars to be paid out of the residue of my estate.
Item I give all the rest and residue of my estate to be disposed of as the law provides - and lastly should my wife or son Joseph H. Howard refuse to administer on my estate, then I appoint my son Azariah B. Howard my sole executor of this my last will and testament revoking and annulling all former wills by me heretofore made rattifying and confirming this and none other to be my last will and testament.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 23rd day of June in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty five - 1865
Beachamp Howard (seal) his mark
Signed sealed published and declared by Beachamp Howard the above named Testator as and for his last will and testament in the presents of us who at his request in his presents and in the presents of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses
Richard P. Darby
Benjamin P. Gravenor
William T. Darby
