Thomas Tredway of Maryland Treadway Wills
James Meads Will
01 Feb 1816
Donated by Janice Harding
Harford Co., Maryland
In the name of God, Amen. I James Meads of Harford County, State of Maryland, being weak of body but of perfect sound mind and memory, thanks be given to almighty God, therefore but calling to mind the uncertainty of this state of life do for the better settling of my worldly estate make and constitute and appoint this present writing my last will and testament as dispose of my temporal goods in manner and form following:
Item: I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Hannah Meads all my estate both real and personal during her natural life and widowhood and at her decease or remarriage then at that time be the case then.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my son James Meads, Jr. one hundred acres of land being a part of a tract call’d “Meads Delight” by paying unto his brother Daniel Meads fifty pounds for to paid in two years and no more unto him and his heirs forever and also unto to my son Daniel Meads and his heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my son Elisha Meads seventy one acres apart of a tract called “Meads Delight” and also three acres of the three perches apart of a tract of land called “Tredway’s Hope” where on the red house stands and also thirty five acres of land, it being apart of the tract of land call’d “Gray’s Last Shift” and for him to pay his brother Benedict Meads fifty pounds in two years and also Elisha Meads my son, for to have my horse and also bridle and saddle and my son Benedict Meads no more not less him and his heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary as I have no lands to bequeath to her thirty pounds sterling to be levied out of my Estate for the use of her and her heirs for ever.
Item: I give and bequeath to Ann Everett my daughter twenty five pounds for to be raised out of my personal property and no more unto her and heirs forever.
And I also do allow twenty five acres of land lying apart of a tract call’d “Gray’s Last Shift” lying on the west side of the lane the “Original of Gray’s Dewing” to be sold for to pay my debts and funeral expenses is paid then the remainder part of my Personal property for to be equally divided between my daughter Hannah Meads and my granddaughter Ruth Meads.
Lastly I appoint my loving wife Hannah Meads and my son James Meads my whole and sole executors of this my last will and testament in witness hear of I have set my hand and applied my seal this 1st day of February, one thousand eight hundred and sixteen.
James Meads {Seal}
George Norris
Crispen Tredway
Edward Guyton
Harford County the 30th day of September 1817 came Hannah Meads and James Meads the executors named in the foregoing instrument of writing who produced the same and made an oath on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God that they found the same among the papers of James Meads late of Harford County, and that it is the true and whole last will and testament of the said deceased that came to their knowledge that they do not know of any other.
Certified by James Richardson