John Ford the elder's will

Last Will and Testament of Benjamon Griffith of Blatimore county dated 6 Oct 1784, proved 4 May 1799

In the name of God Amen I Benjamin Griffith of Baltimore County in the State of Maryland being in perfect health (blessed is God) do this sixth day of October in the year of our Lord one Thousand seven hundred and Eighty four make this my last will and Testament in manner following (that is to say First I will that all my just debts and funeral charges be paid and discharged

Secondly that my beloved wife Catharine Griffith have the third part of my Estate according as the Law directs And also I give and bequeath all the remaining part of my Estate both real and personal to be equally divided between all my children male and female whether born or unborn at the time of my decease to be divided by my Executors hereinafter named as they shall think best agreeable to the app___ment and if it shall appear to them that my Estate will not admit of being thus divided they are to sell all or such part thereof so shall enable them to pay the legacies as they become due, my children to have their respective shares divided off or paid to them as they come to age and if any of them die under age their shares to be Equally divided between my surviving children until they are of age and I make and ordain my said wife and my loving friend David McMechin Executors of this my last will In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.

Signed, Sealed Published and delivered by the said Benjamin Griffith _____for his last will and Testament in the presence of
Richd Lemmon
Robert Lemmon
Jno Thomas
Jac^b Lemmon Benjⁿ Griffith [seal]

Baltimore County to wit
on the 4th day of May 1799 came John Thomas subscribing Evidence to the aforegoing last will and Testament of Benjamin Griffith late of Balto County and made oath viz that he did ___Testator Sign and seal this will that he heard him publish pronounce and ______ same to be his last Will and Testament that at the ______

Maryland State Archives Benjamin Griffith Will Book 6, page 181

Additonal Notes from the contributor
Disposition of property and names of divisees (children). Baltimore County Deeds, Liber WG 82 pages 445-447: 20 Aug 1804, “Catherine Griffith, widow and divisee of Benjamin Griffith deceased of Baltimore County…” Names children: “John B. Griffith now of full age and absent,” and “George Griffith and Catharine Griffith now minor children and devisees…” Also 21 Aug 1804, Liber 82, pages 447-448: “Thomas Waters Griffith, Joseph Griffith, Benjamin Griffith and Ann Griffith some of the children and divisees of Benjamin Griffith deceased…” . Both deeds grant divisees’ interest in tract called “Hanson’s Improvement” to John Smith.Viewed online at Maryland Land Records. [Note that Thomas Waters Griffith authored Annals of Baltimore, published in 1838. On page 41 he states that Benjamin Griffith came from New Castle Co., Delaware in 1763. Thomas W. Griffith was born in 1767 in St. Paul’s Parish, Baltimore. ]

Transcript of the above will was contributed to this website by Marilou West Ficklin www.westerly-journeys.com

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