LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF BENJAMIN P. CARR

MAY 12, 1821

 In the name of God Amen.  I Benjamin P. Carr of Anne Arundel County in the State of Maryland being of sound mind, memory and understanding, calling to mind the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time it may happen and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs, do make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say, I give, unto my beloved wife Priscilla Carr, the plantation whereon I now live to use and occupy during her life or widowhood.

 I give unto my sons and daughters hereinafter named, the sum of one hundred dollars each that is to say to my son William, the sum of one hundred dollars to be paid to him when he shall arrive to the age of 21 years, and to my sons John, Benjamin, Samuel and Charles, one hundred dollars each to be paid to them when they shall have accomplished the twenty first year of their age, respectively.

 I give to my daughter Elizabeth one hundred dollars and a negro girl named Lidia to her and her heirs forever and to my daughter Mary Ann, I give the sum of one hundred dollars and a negro girl named Rachel to her and her heirs forever.

 I also give to my beloved wife Priscilla, during her life or widowhood, all my personal property of whatsoever kind it may be after paying the legacys above mentioned and after the death or marriage of my wife Priscilla, my will is that the whole of my estate, both real and personal be equally divided between my sons and daughters herein before named, them and their heirs forever.

 And lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my wife Priscilla Carr and my son William Carr to be my sole Executrix and Executor of this my last Will and Testament, revoking and annulling all other Will or Wills heretofore by me made ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament.

 In witness whereof  I have hereunto set my hand affixed my seal this Twelfth day of May, Eighteen Hundred and Twenty One.

Signed, sealed, published and pronounced   Signed  Benjamin P. Carr
by Benjamin P. Carr this written named
Testator and for his last Will and Testament in the presents of us who in his presents and in the presents of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.

Samuel Cipel, Samuel Carr, William Alfred Ray, Anne Arundel County.

Then came Samuel Carr, one of the subscribing witnesses to the 12th day of November 1836 a foregoing last Will and Testament of Benjamin P. Carr, late of Anne Arundel County, deceased and made oath on the Holy Evangely of Almighty God that he did see the Testator therein names sign and seal this Will and that he heard him publish, pronounce and declare the same to be his last Will and Testament that at the time of his so doing he was to the best of his apprehension of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding, and that he together with Samuel Cipel who is since dead and William Alfred Ray who has since left this State, the other subscribing witness, respectively subscribed their names as witnesses to this Will in the presence and at the request of the Testator and all in the presence of each other.
 
        Sam Brown, Reg. of Wills, A.A. County

Ann Arundel County
12th day of November, 1836:
Then came Priscilla Carr and made oath on the Holy Evangely of  Almighty God that the foregoing instrument of writing is the whole truth and last Will and Testament of Benjamin P. Carr, late of Anne Arundel County, deceased that hath came to her heirs and possession and that she doth not know of any other.
        Sam Brown, Reg. of Wills, A.A. County

Aden Darby who wrote the Will accompanied the only subscribing witness present, one being dead and the other out of the State and testified that he was present at the signing and publishing of  it and that Benjamin P. Carr was of sound disposing mind, memory and understanding at the time.

        Sam Brown, Reg. of Wills, A.A. County

To the Honorable (?), The Orphans County of Anne Arundel County:
I do hereby renounce all my claim, right and title as Executrix of Benjamin P. Carr, late of Anne Arundel County, deceased desiring at the same time that Charles Carr may be united with me in Letters of Administration from the Estate of said deceased.
                                her
Witness my hand this 12th day of November, 1836   Priscilla + Carr
                              Test.  Sam Brown                 mark

Reference:  Maryland State Archives, Anne Arundel Co. Register of Wills, TTS #1, pp. 277-278 (MdHR 13,809,1-13-12-201)

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