Will of John Joines 1877

Last Will and Testament of JOHN JOINES of Baltimore County, Dated 24 Sept 1877, Proved 5 Oct 1877

In the name of God, Amen. I, John Joines of Baltimore City in the State of Maryland being feeble in body and knowing the uncertainty of life- but of sound mind, memory and understanding do make and publish this as my last will and Testament in manner and form as follows, 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 Executor, hereinafter named-and after my debts and funeral expenses are paid, I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Elizabeth Joines my brick dwelling house on Eden Street the third door from Madison Street, being the same house I purchased from Mrs. Bruce.

Item, I also bequeath unto my said wife, all my household and kitchen furniture, together with all beds and bedding, together with all my effects of every kind and description both real and personal, to have and to hold the same during her natural life(with the exception of my wearing apparel which I have left to my son as hereinafter specified) and after the death of my said beloved wife Elizabeth Joines the property bequeathed to her to be divided equally, share and share alike, between my grand-daughters Kate A. Plowman, Alice Forrest and Mary Teresa Davison.

Item, I give and bequeath to my son, Joseph Joines, all my wearing apparell. I also give to him , after the death of my beloved wife, the sum of one hundred dollars and no more.

Item, I give and bequeath to my friend Mary D. Barker fifty dollars. Lastly, I do hereby appoint and constitute to my wife Elizabeth Joines and Mary D. Barker as the Executors of this my last Will and Testament revoking and annulling all others heretofore made by me and ratifying and confirming this and none other to be my last will and Testament.

In Testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand and affix my seal on this Twenty fourth day of September in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and seventy seven.

John Joines

Signed, sealed and published and declared by John Joines the above named Testator as and for his last Will and Testament, in the presence of us, who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses hereto this 24th day of September Eighteen hundred and Seventy seven.
Joseph S. Baynes
George W. Parlett
Mena C. Sloman

Baltimore City, SS.
On the 5th day of October 1877 came Mary D. Barker and made Oath on the Holy Evangely of Almighty God, that she doth not know of any Will of Codicil of John Joines late of said City deceased, other than the above instrument of writing and that she received the same from the Testator at the time of its execution and has retained it in her possession until produced in Court. And that the Testator deceased on the 26th day of September 1877.

Contributed by Anne Van Patten
Source: Maryland State Archives, Folio 78, Book 44, Film #CR 143-4