Will of John Brewer
1690
submitted by Mary Brewer
In the name of God amen. The fifth day of Aprill in the year of our Lord God one thousand six hundred and ninety. The Last Will and Testament of Jno Brewer in the County of Ann Arundell in the Province of Maryland Planter being weak in body but of sound mind and memory. Praised be allmightie God for the same knowing that I am naturally born and ordained to dye and to pass from this mortal world and transitory life being minded to settle and put in order that estate wherewith by Gods providence and care I am indowed to the end that hereafter after my decease there should be no strife for the same Impes. I do give and bequeath unto my son John and Eke my first born this plantation where on I live containing seaven hundred acres of land excepting one hundred and fifty acres to be taken out of it for that child that my wife goes with be it male or female the quantity of land exempted and aforespecified is to be taken from the land next adjoining to the line that is known by the name of Edward Selby’s: but in case the child should be abortive and decease before it comes to maturity or in his non age then it shall return to my son Joseph: Item I do give and bequeath unto my son Joseph two hundred acres of land known by the name of Brewington it being the half of a patent that contains four hundred acres of land. Item I do give and bequeath unto my loving and dear wife Sarah Brewer all my personal estate and moveables that God hath Indowed me with and to be left to her disposall as she in her wisdom and discretion shall think meet and convenient and further know all men that upon further and most serious considerations that the land that I have bequeathed and given to either of my children above mentioned or specified that it shall run in a right line that is to say not be sold to any others but for the proper and peculiar of them and their heirs for ever and further that if either of these my children above specified do decease without issue then it shall return to the next immediate heir therefore giving thanks to almighty God for his great benefits I do desire and pray my children and all others that they would rest satisfied with this my Last Will and Testament without any further molestation or trouble and not for to add nor yet (?) to diminish anything of this my will as they will answer itt att the Judgment Seat of God who is the rewarder of all good persons and a severe Judge and Revenger of all those that do evill. Finally I constitute and ordain my loving father Henry Ridgely to be Execr of this my will and testament and next unto God do commend the care of my wife and children unto him requesting him as a dying may faithfully to discharge the duty of a father as well as executor. Item I make and ordain my said loving wife Sarah Brewer to be my executive of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe to this my Last Will and Testament with my own hand and hereunto set my seall dated the day and year above written in the first year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King William and in the fourteen year of the reign of the Right Honorable Charles anno dom one thousand six hundred and ninety.
Signed, sealed and published John Brewer
As being the last will and
Testament of John Brewer
In the presence of each respective
Person specified in the margin
Clement Davis
Thomas Sutton
Joseph S Burton
Prerogative Court (Wills) 2, pg 202-204
John Brewer 1690