Dorchester County:
Last Will and Testament of William Stanford
IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN. I, William Stanford of Dorchester County in the Province of Maryland being very sick and weak of body but of sound mind and memory, thanks be given to Almighty God for the same, but calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that is it appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following.
First of all. I recommend my soul unto the hands of Almighty God hoping by the precious death and merits of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to receive no punishment for all the sins and offenses of y past life; my body I bequeath to earth to be Christianly and decently burried at the discretion of executors to be hereafter named; and as touching such worldly goods as it hath pleased God to bless me with all I give, devise and dispose in the manner and form following.
Item. I give and bequeath to my dearly beloved wife Elizabeth Stanford one negro man named Coukey and one negro woman named Jemondy and one negro boy named Sam.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son William Stanford Jr., mantle cloth Jacket lined with red duffell and one country cloth jacket and two pair of shoes and stockings that belong to me and one had that I used to wear and one long gun and one pair of long breeches and one pair of old leather breeches and none of my estate.
Item. I give and bequeath to my son Richard Stanford one tract of land called and known by the name of Dicks Land joining upon a tract of land called Hariford Spring in the northwest fork of Blackwater River.
Lastly. I nominate, constitute and appoint my dearly beloved wife Elizabeth Stanford executrix of this my last will and testament ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament in the presence of us signed, sealed, published and declared to be my last will and testament this 20th day of January, 1748.
William Stanford
Test: Isaac Patridge, Thomas Staplefort, William Coritchett, Sarah Staplefort
