LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF MATTHEW COMPTON

 
February 1770

 "In the name of God Amen.  I Matthew Compton of St. Marys County, in the province of Maryland, taking into consideration the uncertainity of this most transitory life, do make this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following.

First and principally, I give my soul to Almighty God that gave it to me, whom He in His wisdom shall see fit to call me home, trusting in His infinite mercy through the above merits and mediation of Jesus Christ for the full pardon and remission of all my sins, and that at the judgment day of account when all men shall appear before the Tribunal of the Just and everliving God, I shall be counted worthy to be summoned amongst those that shall have that Blessed and heart rejoicing soul and a prouncement unto them come ___ Blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  Asto my body, I commit it to the Earth from whence it was taken, to be buried by my executrix hereafter named, in a Christian like manner, and asto my Temporal Estate, which it hath pleased God to bestow upon me, after all my just debts are paid, I give and bequeath in the manner following - sinpinnis

I give and bequeath unto my pious and well beloved wife, Rachael Compton, my whole Estate both real and personal during her widowhood, but if it should be her pleasure to marry, then my will and desire is that my Estate, aforesaid be divided amongst my six children as follows. Viz

The Tract or parcel of land whereon I now dwell called Wornout, I give and bequeath unto my sons Barton, Alexander and Edmund Howard Compton to be for their support and maintenance untill they arrive to full and lawful age, and no longer thou after my said wife’s death or marriage, my children aforesaid come to full age, I give and bequeath the aforesaid Tract or parcel of land called Wornout unto my son Stephen Compton and his heirs forever but if my said son Stephen should die without heirs, then I give and bequeath said Tract of land unto my son Matthew Compton and his heirs forever and if my said son Matthew should die without heirs, then I give and bequeath said Tract of land unto my son John Compton and his heirs forever and in case my said son John Compton should die without heirs, then I give and bequeath said Tract of land unto my son Barton Compton and his heirs forever, and if my said son Barton should die without heirs, then I give and bequeath said Tract of land unto my son Alexander Compton and his heirs forever, and if my said son Alexander Compton shoudl die without heirs, then I give and bequeath said Tract of land unto my son Edmund Howard Compton, and his heirs forever.

After my wife’s death or marriage, it is my will and desire that my personal Estate be equally divided amongst my six children Mtthew, John, Samuel, Barton, Alexander and Edmund Howard Compton and provided my wife should die or marry before my children come to lawful age, to take the Estate into their own hands then I do hereby nominate and appoint my son John Compton to be guardian for my said children and to take their Estate immediately into his hands.

Lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my said wife Rachael Compton whole Executrix of this my said Will and testament.  In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Day of February Anno Domini 1770.

Signed, sealed and published    Matthew Compton  (Seal)
pronounced and declared in the
presence of us

Robert Slye Wood
Henry Morris
Samuel Briscoe

In September 1770, you Rachael Compton, as Executrix of Matthew Compton, solomonly make oath on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God, that this is the only true Last Will and testament of Matthew Compton late deceased that has come to your mind, hand, possession or knowledge.

    Sworn before Owen Allen, Deputy, St. Mary County
      ________ September 1770

3 September 1770
Then Rachael Compton widow of deceased, made her election and chose to abide by the Will.

    ______ Owen Allen  Rachael (mark) Compton

Saint Mary’s County, to wit:

On the 5 day of September, 1770, came Robert Slye Wood, Henry Morris, two of the three subscribing witnesses to written Last Will and Testament of Matthew Compton, late of this county, aforesaid deceased and severally made oath on the Holy Evalgels of Almighty God that they did see the said Matthew Compton, the Testator therein named, sign and seal this Will and heard him publish 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 their apprehension of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding and that they respectively subscribed their names as witnesses to the said Will, in the presence, and at the request of the aforesaid Testator and that they did so each other together with Samuel Briscoe the other subscribing witness, subscribe those names thereto as Evidencios.

       Sworn before Owen Allen Deputy
       St. Mary’s County, MD

Reference:  Maryland Hall of Records, Wills, Liber 38, Folio 53, pg 592-593

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