Will of Levin Cooper
Wicomico Co., Maryland
April, 06 1888
In the name of God, Amen, I Levin Cooper of Wicomico County in the state of Maryland, being in my usual health and of sound mind, and of a disposing memory and understanding do therefore make this my last will and testament in manner form following
Item 1 I give and devise unto Lambert H. Cooper my eldest son all the Land that I purchased of Samuel Brattan except about six acres lying north of a line beginning at a stone thence running south eighty five degrees east to a line of Joseph P. Twilley’s land containing one hundred and sixty-two and a half acres more of less to him the said Lambert H. Cooper in fee simple.
Item 2 I give and devise unto my son Lambert H. Cooper all my interest in and to the Grange building and lot in the village of Barren Creek Springs to him the said Lambert H. Cooper in fee simple.
Item 3 I give and devise unto my son Severn H. Cooper my home farm whereon I now reside containing one hundred acres of land more or less in fee simple.
Item 4 I give and devise unto my son Severn H. Cooper all that part of the land that I purchased of Samuel Brattan lying north of the line described in Item 1 of this will containing about six acres more or less in fee simple.
Item 5 I give and devise unto my son Severn H. Cooper all my part in and to a saw mill, stock yard mill pond and water privileges, said mill is know as the English Mill to him the said Severn H. Cooper in fee simple.
Item 6 I give and bequeath unto my son Severn H. Cooper one horse, one wain cart, one timber cart, one young yoke of oxen, and bed and furniture.
Item 7 I give and devise unto my daughter Jennie A. Cooper wife of Wailes Cooper all that part of a tract or tracts of land called Gladson’s Adventure and Hardship lying on each side of the County Road leading from Riverton to the Horntown Mill containing sixty-three and a half acres of land more or less said land is on the east end of said tract or tracts and on the east side of a line drawn across the platt of said land to her the said Jennie A. Cooper in fee simple by the said Jennie A. Cooper paying the interest on fifty dollars annually unto my grand daughter Emily Howard daughter of Loudy J. Howard
Until the said Emily Howard has an heir of own body then the said Jennie A. Cooper shall pay the said Emily Howard the sum of fifty dollars, but if the said Emily Howard should die without an heir of her own body then the said Jennie A. Cooper shall pay the said sum of fifty dollars unto my children then living share and share alike
Item 8 I give and devise unto my daughter Nancy E. Adams all that part of a tract or tracts of land called Gladson’s Adventure and Hardship lying on each side of the County Road leading from Riverton to the Horntown Mill and on the west end of said tract or tracts and on the west side of a line drawn across the platt of said land containing thirty-nine and a half acres more or less and also all my land adjoining the Nanticoke River containing twenty-five acres more or less to her the said Nancy E. Adams in fee simple,
by the said Nancy E. Adams paying the interest on fifty dollars annually unto my grand daughter Emily Howard until the said Emily Howard has an heir of her own body, then the said Nancy E. Adams shall pay the said Emily Howard the sum of fifty dollars, but if the said Emily Howard should die without an heir of her own body then the said Nancy E. Adams shall pay the said sum of fifty dollars unto my children then living share and share alike.
Item 9 I give and devise unto my daughter Mary P. Cooper one half of all the land that I purchased of Thomas Robertson to her the said Mary P. Cooper in fee simple by the said Mary P. Cooper paying the interest on fifty dollars annually unto my grand daughter Emily Howard until she has an heir of her own body and then pay her fifty dollars, but if the said Emily Howard should die without an heir of her own body then the said Mary P. Cooper shall pay the said sum of fifty dollars unto my children then living share and share alike.
Item 10 I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary P. Cooper one bed and furniture and one chest.
Item 11 I give and devise unto my daughter Laura D. Bennett wife of Isaac S. Bennett one half of the land that I purchased of Thomas Robertson to her the said Laura D. Bennett in fee simple by the said Laura D. Bennett paying the interest on fifty dollars annually unto my grand daughter Emily Howard until she has an heir of her own body, and when the said Emily Howard has an heir of her own body then the said Laura D. Bennett shall pay the sum of fifty dollars unto the said Emily Howard, but if the said Emily Howard should die without an heir of her own body then the said Laura D. Bennett shall pay the said sum of fifty dollars to my children then living share and share alike.
Item 12 I give and bequeath unto my grand daughter Emily Howard daughter of Loudy Howard, the sum of five hundred dollars out of the proceeds of my personal property to be paid to her by my executors whenever she has an heir of her own body, but my executors must pay her the interest annually on the said sum of five hundred dollars until she has an heir of her own body but if she the said Emily Howard should die without an heir of her own body then my executors shall pay said five hundred dollars to my children then living and share and share alike.
Item 13 I give and bequeath all the residue of my personal property after my debts and legacies are paid unto all my children then living share and share alike.
And lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my two sons Lambert H. Cooper and Severn H. Cooper to be my sole executors of this my last will and testament revoking and annulling all former wills by me made, ratifying and confirming this and none other to be my last will and testament. In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this the sixth day of April in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and eighty eight, 1888
Levin Cooper (seal)
Signed, sealed and declared by the testator in the presence of us and at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.
Thomas B. Taylor
J. B. Armstrong
Luther M. Vincent
Wicomico County, to wit: February 9, 1892
Then came Lambert H. Cooper & Severn H. Cooper and made oath on the Holy Evangely of Almighty God, that the foregoing instrument of writing is the true and whole last Will and Testament of Levin Cooper, late of Wicomico County, deceased, that hath come to their hands or possession, and that they doth not know of any other.
Before: Levin J. Gale
Register of Wills for Wicomico County
