Will of Joseph Hawkins 1725

Last Will and Testament of Joseph Hawkins of Baltimore Co., Dated 7 Dec 1725, Proved 13 Jan 1725/6

In the name of God, I, Joseph Hawkins being sick and weak but of sound mind and memory do make and ordain this to be my last will and testament in and form following that is to say first I give my soul to God who gave it to me and hope through the merits of my blessed Savior and God's mercy to be save and as to my body I desire the same be buried in Christian and decent manner Discretion of my good and loving wife and my son in law Josephus Murray as to my state in this world I give the same as followeth

Item-I give and bequeath to my loving wife my tract of land called Brothers Kindness containing 90 acres to her and her heirs and assigns forever

Item-I give and bequeath to my two sons John and Augustine my tract of land called Hawkins Desire of 100 acres to be equally divided between them when they are at the age of eighteen years at which age it is my desire they may be free and the said tract of land to theirs and their heirs or assigns forever.

Item-I give and bequeath unto my son John one of my guns and one of my sets of shoemakers tools and to have the first choice of the guns

Item-I give and bequeath unto my son in law Josephus Murray one of my sets of shoemaker's tools, my cane, and my tobacco box.

I give and bequeath unto my daughter Ruth Murray my gold ring.

Item-I give and bequeath unto my daughter Sarah Murray my young horse branded thus

Item-I give and bequeath the remainder part of my personal state after just debts paid unto my loving wife as long as she continues a widow but at the day of her intermarriage to be equally divided between my four children John, Augustine, Jemima and Elizabeth.

Signed Sealed Declare to be my last will and testament in the presence of us

George Ogg(..)
Cornelius Howard	Joseph Hawkins (his mark)
Richard Jones (his mark)
John Risteau

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Contributed by Leigh Leonard Smith

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