Lanham Documents
Documentation of Stephen Lanham
Montgomery Co., MD
[I will transcribe these as I have time]


The final account of Susanna Dyal Executrix and James A. Shaw Executor of Stephen Lanham late of Montgomery County deceased.

And these accountants charged themselves with the balance of a former account heretofore exhibited and recorded amounting to  188 2 8 4/4

Know all men by these presents that we Joshua Dyal, Susanna Dyal Richard Lansdale & James Beddo of Montgomery County are held and firmly bound to the state of Maryland in the sum of Two hundred Dollars Current money to be paid to the state aforesaid or its certain attorney to which payment well and truly to be made we bind our selves our heirs executors and administrator jointly and severally firmly by these presents dealed with our seals and stated this ninth day of April in the year of our Lord one Thousand eight hundred and eleven.

The condition of the above obligation is such that if the above ?? Joshua Dyal & Susanna Dyal as Guardian to Samuel Lanham of Montgomery County shall faithfully account ?? the orphan, ?? of Montgomery County as directed by Law for the management of the property and Estate of the orphan under their care and shall also deliver up the said property agreeable to the order of the said Court or the directions of Law and shall in all respects perform the duty of Guardian to the said Samuel Lanham according to Law then the above obligation shall cease it shall otherwise remain in full force and virtue in Law.  Signed Joshua Dyal, Susanna Dyal, Richard Lansdale, James Beddo.  Signed Sealed and delivered in the presence of Solo Holland.
paid $1.52.



In the name of God Amen, I Stephen Lanham of Montgomery County and State of Maryland being very weak of body, but of a perfect mind and memory thanks be to God for this same? and calling to mind that it appointed once for all men to die do make & ordain this my last will and testament in manner and following that is to say principally and first I recommend my soul into the hands of him that gave it formerly trusting in his mercy and my body to the earth to have a Christian Burial and as touching my worldy Estate that it hath pleased God to bless me with I give and divest & Dispose of in manner and form following that is to say in the first place after all my just debts are paid then I give and bequeath to my beloved son Archibald the sum of five shillings sterling and no more.  then I will and bequeath to six more of my beloved children namely Sarah, Jeremiah, Thomas, Stephen, Leah and Maryann five shillings sterling to each of them and no more then to my beloved wife Susannah I will and bequeath one third part of my Estate both real and personal during her natural life and at her death to be equally divided between my four beloved children namely Walter, Samuel, Margaret and Ruth and further I will and Bequeath all the residue? of my Estate both Real and personal to be equally divided between my beloved wife Susannah and my four children namely Walter, Samuel, Margaret and Ruth and it is my will and desire that each of my beloved children, namely Walter, Samuel, Margaret and Ruth to be paid their part at the day of Marriage or when they shall come of age that is the girls [line missing from copy] all my Estate that I have willed and bequeathed to my beloved wife Susannah to be Equally divided between my four children namely Walter, Samuel, Margaret and Ruth after her death and lastly I appoint institute and ordain my beloved wife Susannah and James Alexander Shaw my whole and sole executors and I do hereby renounce and revoke all former wills and testaments made by me and do hereby acknowledge this to by my last will and testament in the presence of the undersigned witnesses and dated this twenty fifth day of June in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and Six.  It is further my will and ?? and do hereby give and bequeath Twenty dollars to each of my sons namely Walter & Samuel for their education.  Signed by his mark, Samuel Lanham.  Witness present, James W. Perry, Basil M. Perry,  John. R. Bussard.

Montgomery County Sct.  On the 9th day of September 1806 came James W. Perry and Basil M. Perry two of the subscribing witnesses to the within last will and testament of Stephen Lanham late of Montgomery County ?? and severally made oath on the holy evangels of Almighty God that they did see the testator herein named sign and ?? this will and that they 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 sound and disposing mind memory and understanding and that they respectively subscribed their names to this will and witnesses in the presence and at the request of the testator and in the presence of each other and also in the prescense of John R. Bussard the other subscribing witness hereto.  Certified by Saml. Turner Register