Dorchester Co. Wills

From the Maryland Calendar of Wills; comp. By J. B. Cotton & R. B. Henry; Vol. IV Wills from 1713-1720;

p. 95: William Merchant, planter, Dorchester Co., Written January 30, 1711; Probated September 23, 1717

To son Joseph and heirs, personalty and 50 A "Merchant's Outlett", and 200 A., "Herriford". He failing issue, to grandson Thomas Wall and heirs.

To grandsons Alexander and William Wall and their heirs, residue of "Herriford" and land called "Slow" equally between them; for want of issue in said grandsons to pass to rightful heirs.

To son-in-law John Standford, Jr., 108 A "Mount Silley" during life; after his decease to granddaughter Margaret Standford and heirs; she lacking issue to lawful heirs of John Standford, afsd.

To Alexander Wall, exe., residue of personalty.

Test: AV. Smith, Phil Tedman, Thomas Cook, John Kirke. (14, 325)

William Merchant. On June 24, 1666, a 100 acre tract of land was surveyed for William Merchant and James Mossley. The tract was named "Cedar Point" and it was located on he Little Choptank River at the mouth of Slaughter Creek.

William Merchant came to Maryland from Virginia as a servant for Thomas Skinner. He married Mary (last name unknown). William and Mary had at least two children: William Merchant II and Elinor. After William I died, his widow, Mary married a man named Stoker.

William Merchant II made a will dated January 11, 1711, which was probated September 23, 1717 (Wills 14, 325) and in it he named his son, Joseph; daughter Mary Wall and her husband Alexander Wall and their children: Alexander Wall, William Wall and Thomas Wall. He also named his son-in-law, John Standford, JR and granddaughter, Margaret Standford.

From the Maryland Calendar of Wills; comp. By J. B. Cotton & R. B. Henry; Vol. IV Wills from 1713-1720;

p. 125: Mary Stanford, Dorchester County; Written April 15, 1717; Prob. November 13, 1717. (14, 452) Click here.

From the Maryland Calendar of Wills; comp. By J. B. Cotton & R. B. Henry; Vol. V Wills from 1720-1726;

p. 5: Salsbury (Salsbure, Salisbury, Pettygrew), Patygrew, Dorchester Co., Written September 25, 1719; Probated March 10, 1719.

To son Andrew and heirs, 100A "Salsbury Charge" at age of 21. Said Andrew to provide for his sister Sarah should she continue in present condition; should son Andrew not choose to make such provisions for his sister Sarah, she may select some honest neighbor, who is empowered to make use of 1/2 of afsd 100 A for benefit of daughter Sarah afsd.

To daughter Sarah, should she recover and marry a man of industry, the 20 A out of afsd track.

To Rachel Stanford, 68 A part of "Salisbury's Charge" (running to head of branch below Thomas Sommers plantation, and including all land between Sommers and Blackwater R.) during life, at her decease to Rachel and Elizabeth, daughters of Dorrington Fisher (the former owner of said land) sd. Rachel and Elizabeth Fisher dying without issue sd land to heirs of Rachel Stanford, afsd.

To Thomas Sumers and heirs, 16 A above Sumers Branch. To wife, Mary, extx., use of real estate until son Andrew arrives at age of 21; personalty during her life. Test. Thomas Howell, William Standford, J. Fattet (16, 32)

p. 156: William Standford witnessed the will of John Orrel of Dorchester County on November 23, 1726.

p. 234: Jno and Wm. Standford witnessed will of John Flowers of Dorchester County on September 3, 1726.

From the Maryland Calendar of Wills; comp. By J. B. Cotton & R. B. Henry; Vol. VI Wills from 1726-1732;

p. 21: John Standford, planter, Dorchester Co.; written: April 17, 1725; prob. April 6, 1727 (19,132) Click here.

p. 178: Richard Pritchard (Pritchit, Prichit) Dorchester Co., written: December 28, 1730; prob. January 16, 1730

To son William and heirs, 100A__________
To two sons, James and John, "Hap-at-a-venture", transquaking R., and household goods carried by their grandmother_____to John White's.
To son William, daughter Ann, sons James and John, son-in-law Samuel Standford, and Mary Donaway, personalty.
To four children_____, personal estate. John White to have the bringing up of three sons, William, John, James until eighteen years old.

Test: James Sloan (Slone), Jane Sloan, Elizabeth Helsby, Mark Fisher.

Richard Pritchard, June 10, 1735
Surieties: John Eccleston, Walter Stephance
List of debts: William Whyland, John Jones, Zebulon Pritchet, John Foord, George Drury, widow Grimes, Andrew Smith, Patrick Convan, George North, John Salisbury, Noah Penson, Jos. Muchard, Jacob Lockerman, Elisabeth Treego, James Mooney, William Arnett.
Payments to: David Rodgers on judgement against Elisabeth White and Eliinor White (executrices of Thomas White (surety for estate of said Rodgers) left ot arbitriment of Charles Goldsborough & Henry Trippe, Samuel Standferd (one of the orphans of John Standferd (dead) paid to his guardian Charles Standford, Capt. Bartholomuew Ennalls.
Mentions: ___Rodgers (dead), May Short (orphans of chirstopher Short (dead)).
Administrator: John White

p. 192: Will of Samuel Harper, Dorchester Co., written April 15, 1735; probated 1736.
Names four grandchildren: Elizabeth, William, Samuel and Margaret Stanford. Test. Ezekiell Keene, Jacob Gray, Lewis Griffins, Sr.

From the Maryland Calendar of Wills; comp. By J. B. Cotton & R. B. Henry; Vol. IX Wills from 1744-1749:

p. 64-65: Charles Standford, Dorchester Co., Written December 15, 1745; Prob. February 20, 1745 (24.354) Click here.

p. 65: John Standford, Dorchester Co., Written December 11, 1745; Probated February 20, 1745. Click here.

p. 65: William Stanford, Jr., Dorchester Co., Written January, 1745/46; Prob. February 21, 1745: (24, 358) Click here.

From the Maryland Calendar of Wills; comp. By J. B. Cotton & R. B. Henry; Vol. X Wills from 1748-1753:

p. 44: Thomas Stanford, Dorchester Co, Prob. April 10, 1749

To wife Rachel Standford, slaves. To son John Standford, my dwelling plantation, and if no said issue, then to my unborn child, and if both are without issue, then to wife Rachel Standford. To son John Standford, cattle Wife: Rachel Standford, exe. Wit: Isaac Patridge, Edward Breadhurst, Elizabeth West (27, 55)

p. 5: William Stanford, Dorchester Co., Written January 20, 1748; Prob. April 10, 1749. 26.18. Click here.

From the Maryland Calendar of Wills; comp. By J. B. Cotton & R. B. Henry; Vol. XI Wills from 1753-1760

p. 224: Samuel Stanford, Dorchster Co., Written March 7, 1759; Probated May 7, 1758

Wife: Elizabeth. Children: Thomas and Samuel. Grandchildren: John Stanford, son of Thomas. Exes: Elizabeth Standford; if dead, William Lane. Wit: Charles Walters, Jonathan Patridge, Mary Snelson (30, 611)

Thomas Standford; £108.13.6; May 11, 1749-August 9, 1749
Appraisers: Edward Trippe, Jr., Isaac Patridge
Creditors: J. Ennalls, J. Eccleston
Next of Kin: Betty Stanford, Samuel Stanford
Administrator: Charles Standford

William Stanford; 136.5.3; April 24, 1749-August 10, 1749
Appraisers: Ezekiell Keene, Isaac Patridge
Creditors: J. Ennals, William Murray
Next of kin: William Stanford, Samuel Stanford
Executrix: Elisabeth Stanford.

From the Maryland Calendar of Wills; comp. By J. B. Cotton & R. B. Henry; Vol. XII Wills from 1759-1764

From the Maryland Calendar of Wills; comp. By J. B. Cotton & R. B. Henry; Vol. XVI Wills from 1764-1767

p. 355. The account of William Stanford and Rachel, his wife, admx. of Joseph Wall, late of Dorchester Co, dec'd January 2, 1718.

p. 483. The account of Richard Prichard, executor of Mary Stanford, late of Dorchester Co., MD., deceased November 12, 1719.

p. 271. Dorchester County, account of Richard Prichard and Elizabeth, his wife, exts. of John Stanford, dec'd. Disbursements due to William Stanford. December 11, 1726.

Wm. Stanford, s/o William, owe Rebecca Wall for rent of plantation, 250 acres, being part of the track Edmondon's Reser. £5 annually for two years. (1754-1755)

Note: William Stanford married by 12 Jan 1718, Rachel, who was administrator of Joseph Wall of Dorchester Co, MD. (MGSB, Vol. 34, #2)