Will of John Reeves

Prince George’s County, Maryland
2 Apr 1718
Will Book 1, Page 103-104

In the name of God Amen This Second day of April 1718 I John Reaves of Prince George’s County in the Province of Maryland planter being sick & weak of body but of sound and perfect mind & memory thanks be to god for the same & calling to mind the uncertain estate of this human life & that all flesh must yield to Death wn. it shall please God to call doe make ordain & appoint this to be my last Will & Testament & none other and being Sorry for my Sins past humbly desire of God forgiveness for the Same into whose hands I commit my soul & my body to the Earth to be decently Interred by my Exers. hereafter named Item I give & bequeath unto my Daughter Ellinor Reaves all my Wives wearing apparell & will her to be free at the age of Sixteen years. Item I will & ordain yt. my three Sons John Reaves Thomas Reaves & Danl. Reaves to be free to work for themselves and have ye benefit of their Labour at their Several ages of Eighteen years and lastly after my Death and funeral Charges shall be paid & Discharged I give and bequeath all the remainder of my Estate whatsoever to be equally divided among my four children above named Share & Share alike & of this my last Will & testament I leave Mr. Robt. Tyler my whole & Sole Exectr. desiring him that if I shall not leave my Children to any particular Persons Care before I die that he will take care of them or if those persons who I design to leave them to shall after my decease be willing to take them I desire & will yt. he will permit them to take my Sd. Children into their Care wch. persons I shall in prence (sic) of some of my Neighbours Nominate & appoint who will declare the Same In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal the sd. Second day of April aforesd.
Signed Sealed published and Declared                                         his
to be ye last Will & Testament of afsd. John Reaves      John JR Reaves (Seal)
in the presence of us after the word will here interlined         mark
Richd. Duckett
Mark MD Brown
William WF Fowler

On the back of this Will was endorsed to Wit Pr. Geog. Cty. ye April 15th. 1718 Then came Richd. Duckett & Mark Brown & William Fowler Witnesses to the within Will & made oath upon the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God that they Saw the within named John Reaves Sign & Seal & heard him publish & declare the within Instrument of writing as his last Will & testament & that at the time of his doing thereof he was to the best of their apprehension of perfect Sense & memory Sworn before me Patrick Hepburn Depty Comry Pr. Geog. Cty.