Individual Details

Will

Washington Co., MD, Will Book (Liber B?), pp. 117-120, copy from the courthouse.
The last Will and Testament of Andrew Bosteter deceased
In the name of God Amen: I Andrew Bosteter of Washington County in the State of Maryland being sick and weak in body but of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs and thereby be the better prepared to leave this world when it shall please God to call me hence do therefore make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say. First and principally I commit my soul into the hands of Almighty God and my body to the earth, to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors hereinafter named and there after I devise and bequeath as follows: First I give and bequeath unto my dear wife Elizabeth Bosteter all the books I now have in possession, and of the household furniture as much as she shall deem necessary: and she shall also have in the house where I now live, the back room next to the Kitchen for her own use and enjoyment, and likewise as she shall want and deem necessary: and she shall also have one of my [unclear] which she shall choose and likewise two of my Cows which she shall make choice of, and four of my sheep also: And she is also to have of the best pasture on the place I now live for her creatures including one colt also: And further she is to get for her own use and benefit two fifths of all what the place on which I now live shall or may produce annually the grain and every thing that may be devided with the bushel and shall be evided in the bushel and flax and hemp when broke by the pound, the hay on the heap and then ha[u]led home and fit for the stove and fireplace ann[u]aly: and what she shall not want of her yearly income shall fall into the hands of my Executors annaly. And provided she should at any time be discondendet and desirous to change her situation she shall have privilege to apply to my Executors and they shall sell all my lands and give unto her the lawful interest of Six hundred pounds yearly And all the moveables which she my said wife shall not choose to keep my Executors shall expose to publick Sale and my son-in law Jacob Gribe is to have the preference to live on the place I now possess complying with the delivering to my said wife the two fifths yearly as above mentioned during her natureal life or as long as she shall be contendet therewith or during his the said Gribe's good beheavour, and my other place now in possession of Jacob Gribe known by the name Walnut Bottom shall be rendet out likewise on such terms as my Executors shall deem proper and after the decease of my said wife all my lands shall be sold on terms most advantageous to all my heirs: and my Executors shall give free and peaceable possession, a good title and a free and clear deed of conveyance to the purchaser or purchasers of my said lands. Whereas I have given to my youngest son John the amount of three hundred and seventy pounds Maryland currency it is my will that my Executors shall after having discharged all my dept give unto him the sum of One Hundred and fourty pounds mony aforesaid of the first of what my estate shall or may produce. And whereas my daughter Christina have received her part which I gave her in land except two dollars which is my will that my Executors shall pay to her at the same time when the above mentioned sums ar[e] paid unto my son John and to my daughter Chris[t]ina:
It shall go in full sadisfaction of all right, title, interest claim and demand whatsoever which they may or can in any way pretend to have or claim of, in or to all or any part of my real or personal estate. And whereas I have given to my eldest son Jacob to the amount of four hundred pounds Maryland Currency he shall be sadisfied until the rest of my heirs shall have received an alike equal share which shall be paid unto them in the manner following: Item I have given to my daughter Susanna the amount of One hundred pounds specie she shall have one hundred more of like money. Item I have given to my daughter Elizabeth to the amount of twenty pounds specie. Item I have given unto my daughter Catharine to the amount of thirteen pounds specie. Item My daughter Maria hath received nothing. Item I have given to my daughter Magdelena Fifty fife pounds ten shillings specie. Item I have given to my daughter Rose twelve pounds. Item My above named six daughters shall have an equal sum of two hundred pounds specie each of the first payment and the above mentioned sums to be included as part of the same. Item After the above sums are paid there shall next be paid unto my daughter Elizabeth two hundred pounds specie. Item Next shall be paid unto my daughter Magdelena the sum of two hundred pounds like money aforesaid. Item Next to Susanna my daughter two hundred pounds specie. Item Next to my daughter Maria two hundred pounds specie. Item Next to my daughter Rose two hundred pounds specie. Item I give and bequeath unto my grandson John Gribe the sum of fifty pound Maryland currency. Item I also give and bequeath unto my grand daughter Maria Murray the sum of fifty pounds Maryland Currency. Item And after the above mentioned sums are fully paid then all what is left of my estate both real and personal I devise and bequeath to be equaly devided among my son Jacob and my daughters Susanna, Elizabeth, Catharine, Maria, Magadlene and Rose. And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint David Long and my son Jacob Bosteter to be Executors of this my last will and testament. Revokeing and annulling all former wills by me heretofore made ratifying and confirming this and none other to be my last will and testament In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this twelfth day of Aprile in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and Six 1806.
Andrew Bosteter (seal) (In German)
Signed sealed published and declared by Andrew Bosteter the above named estator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto
Daniel Reichard
John Long
Jacob Reichart Junr
Whereas I Andrew Bosteter of Washington County have made and duly executed my last will and testament in writing bearing date the twelfth day of Aprile in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and six, which said last will and testament and every clause bequest and devise therein contained I do hereby ratify and confirm saving and excepting such bequests, devises therein mentioned as are by me herein after revoked and made void and being desirous to alter some parts thereof, do therefore hereby make this Codicil, which I will direct shall be taken and held as part of my said will and testament in manner and form following that is to say, Whereas since the making of my said will I reflected on and duly considered the unsteady and changing disposition of my son-in-law John Murry: and whereas I by my said will did give and bequeath unto my daughter Elisabeth, the sums therein mentioned I do hereby revoke the said legacy and do give and bequeath said legacy unto the children of my said daughter Elisabeth to be equily devided among them after the death of her my said daughter but dureing her natureal [life] She my said daughter shall be entitled to and receive the interest of said legacy annually And whereas I did by said Will and testament give and bequeath unto my grandaughter Maria Murry the sum of fifty pounds Maryland Currency: now I do hereby revoke the said legacy as she is intitled to a proportionable part of her mother's legacy as above mentioned. In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed my seal the eighth day of June in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and Six.
Andrew Bosteter (L S) (In German)
Signed sealed published and declared by Andrew Bosteter the above named testator as and for a Codicil to his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request, in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names and witnesses thereto.
Daniel Reichard
John Long
Jacob Reichart Junr
Washington County to wit
On the 17 day of July 1806 came David Long and Jacob Bosteter and made oath &c that this is the true and whole will of Andrew Bosteter late of Washington County deceased that hath come to their hands and possession and that they do not know of any other. At the same time came Daniel Reckart, John Long and Jacob Richart the three subscribing witnesses to the annexed will and made oath &c that they did see the testator herein named sign and seal this will that they 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 their apprehensions of sound and disposing mind, memory, and understanding and that they subscribed their names to this will in the presence and at the request of the testator.
Certified by George C. Smoot Reg.
[NOTE: Twice I asked the Maryland State Archives to see if they could find the original will, rather than this recorded one, but they said it no longer exists.]