The Will of Joseph Hedges of Monocacy,
dated September 6, 1732
[This copy of the will has
been transcribed and conformed to the original]
I, Joseph Hedges of Manaquicy in Prince Georges
County in Maryland do recommend my soul into the hands of God and
profess faith in full and free pardon of his sins through the death
and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I order my body be decently
buried at the discretion of the Executor, and all my debts be paid in
convenient time after my decease by my Executor.
I give and bequeath to my well beloved son
Solomon Hedges whom I likewise constitute make and ordain Executor of
this my Last Will and Testament a certain tract of land computed to be
250 acres lying up Manaquicy Creek on the West side of said Creek. [There
is a fold across the last digit of 250; it could be 258, 256, or just
25. The only way to tell for sure is to check other land records for
that piece of property.]
I give unto Charles Hedges and Joshua Hedges, my
2 sons, each of them, two hundred acres of land at Opeckon to be
cleared and paid for out of my estate and effects.
[A blot over the second "o" in "Opeckon" could
be a filled-in "e".]
My will is that my Executors Solomon Hedges and
Charles Hedges shall purchase 400 acres of land at Opecken which shall
be equally divided between my two sons Jonas Hedges and Joseph.
My Will is that my Executors above named do
purchase one hundred and ninety acres on Manaquicy out of my estate
and effects for my son Samuel Hedges.
I give unto my Daughter Ruth my gray mair and
colt and to my Daughter Cathren a young brown mear and to my daughter
Dorcas a young sorrel mear and to my son Joseph a dark bay mear and
colt. I give to my son Samuel by brown mear and colt.
And my will is that what remains of my estate
stock and effects with household goods and furniture be equally
divided amongst my children and wife.
The will was signed by his mark. Witnesses were Chidly Mathews, Thomas Hillard and John Hilliard.
The will was probated before the court of Prince George's County,
November 29, 1732. Childly Matthews made an oath that he saw and heard
Joseph Hedges sign, and publish the will. "The other subscribing
witances to this will are dangerously ill and could not attend.".
[Mathews' name appears twice on the document, witness as "Chidly"
and appearing in court as "Childly"]
The original of the will is now located at Annapolis, Maryland and is
recorded as Wills 20:468. |