LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF BENJAMIN CARR
JULY 14, 1796
JULY 14, 1796
In the name of God Amen. I Benjamin Carr of Anne Arundel County in the State of Maryland, Planter, being in a low state of health and weakly but of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding (thanks be to God for the same) do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament, in manner and form following:
Imprimis: I recommend my immortal soul into the hands of Almighty God hoping for mercy and pardon through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, my most gracious Redeemer, leaving my body to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named, and as for the worldly goods it hath pleased God to bless me with, I dispose thereof as followeth:
Item - I give and devise unto my beloved son, Robert Carr, and his heirs forever, all that tract or parcel of land whereon I now dwell called Carr's Hills, being part of Anne Arundel Manor, containing 112 acres of land, more or less. I also give and bequeath unto my son Robert Carr and his heirs one negro man by the name of David, aged about 19.
Item - My will and desire is that my other tract of land, being part of Anne Arundel Manor called Carr's Farm, be sold at public sale to the highest bidder, and the money arising from the sale thereof to be applyed towards payment of my just debts; and my Executors hereafter named or any two of them are hereby authorized and empowered to sell the land aforesaid to the best advantage for that purpose; and make a deed of conveyance to the purchaser in full payment of the consideration money and not before.
Item - I give and bequeath unto the children of my deceased daughter Eleanor Welsh one negro woman named Sue with all her children now in possession of their father Robert Welsh and all heirs and their future increase to be delivered to them or the survivors of them after the death of their father, reserving to him the full use of them during his life.
Item - I give and bequeath unto my grandson Benjamin Norris and his heirs one negro girl named Henny and her increase to be paid to him my Executors with his distributive part of my personal estate, when he arrives at lawful age, and in case he should die before he arrives to age and without lawful issue, then my desire is that the said negro Henny and her increase be divided among my children and grandchildren Benjamin Carr and Elizabeth Green and the children of my deceased daughter Eleanor Welsh, my grandchildren taking their deceased father and mother's parts.
Item - I give and bequeath unto my son Benjamin Carr and his heirs one negro named Harry.
Item - My further will and desire is that from the time of my decease my yellow girl called Fanny be considered as free and at full liberty, released from slavery, and to confirm my intention, I do hereby authorize, empower, order and direct my Executors or either of them immediately after my decease to cause her to be fully and lawfully liberated by a good and lawful deed of manumission for that purpose.
Item - And further after my just debts are fully paid and satisfyed , my will and desire is that the residue and remainder of my personal estate be equally distributed among my three sons, Benjamin Carr, John Carr, Robert Carr, and my grandchildren Benjamin Carr and Elizabeth Green, son and daughter of my deceased son Richard Carr to be considered as a full compensation for any interest they can or may claim of me for the balance of their father's estate, and the children of my deceased daughter Eleanor Welsh and my grandson Benjamin Norris and their heir but should any of my said children or grandchildren die before they receive their distributive part of my estate according to the direction of this my Will or without issue, their part to be equally divided among the survivors of them and their heirs, my grandchildren taking their deceased father and mother's parts among them and no more.
Lastly, I hereby constitute and appoint my two sons Benjamin Carr and Robert Carr and my son-in-law Robert Welsh Executors of this my Last Will and Testament, and do revoke and disannul all and every Will or Wills Testament or Testaments formerly or any time before the date hereof by me made or ordained, and all and every matter therein contained, ordaining this my Last and only Will and Testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this
Fourteenth day of July Anno Dominini, 1796.
Benjamin Carr (Signed and Seal)
Witnesses: Isaac Simmons
Henry Plummer
Zachariah McCeney
Reference: Paragraph 6: Benjamin Carr's Will-Anne Arundel County
Register of Wills, JG #1, pp 588-591 (MdHR 4808, 1-3-12-15).
San Jose Family History Center, Film 0896933 Salt Lake #
a: Wbensr.doc