Last Will & Testament of Johns Hopkins the Elder - 1784

Will of Johns Hopkins the Elder (1720-1784) – Transcription

In the Name of God, Amen

I, Johns Hopkins of Anne Arundel County in the State of Maryland being indisposed of Body but thanks be to Almighty God am of a perfect disposing mind and memory doe make ordain and appoint this present writing to be forever hereafter taken held and deemed to be my Last Will and Testament in manner and form as followeth. 

Imprimis (sp?) to my Sons Samuel Hopkins and Philip Hopkins I give all my Land called Whites Hall and the Angles to be equally divided between them, to my Son Samuel Hopkins, I give the North and North west part which will include my dwelling house, and to my Son Philip Hopkins, I give the South and South west part to them, their heirs and Assigns forever, it is my will and desire that my Sons Samuel Hopkins and Philip Hopkins in Lew of the land shall pay to my Sons Gerrard Hopkins Evan Hopkins and William Hopkins to each of them one hundred pounds Sterling Money as they arrive to the Age of twenty one years, and if either of them should die before they arrive to the Age of Twenty one years the surviving ones shall be paid their part. 

ITEM to my Son Samuel Hopkins I give one feather bed and furniture as also one Negro boy called John. 

ITEM to my Son Philip Hopkins I give one Negro boy Francis as also one feather bed and furniture. 

ITEM to my Sons Ezekiel Hopkins [with M Gillis], Johns Hopkins [with M. Crockett], and Richard Hopkins, I bequeath the sum of five Shillings Sterling to each of them to be paid by my Executrix hereafter named having before given them a sufficiency. 

ITEM to my Son Gerrard Hopkins I give three Negroes Henry, Abraham, Cesar. 

ITEM to my Son Evan Hopkins I give five Negroes William, Dover, Eaus, Benjamin and Jerry. 

ITEM to my Daughter Elizabeth Hopkins and Anne Hopkins [I give] Phebe Nelly Jenny, and Phillis to be equally divided between them. 

ITEM to my loving wife Elizabeth Hopkins I give all tobacco in tobacco houses, all money in merchants hands, one-third part of Bonds and one-third of personal estate also my dwelling planation known by the name of Whites Hall with the Angles during her Natural Life or so long as she remains my Widow. 

The residue and remainder of my Estate with my goods Chattles Plate Bonds with all other property of what kind soever to me appertaining I Give devise and bequeath to my daughters Mary Hopkins Margaret Hopkins Elizabeth Hopkins Anne Hopkins and Rachel Hopkins to be equally divided between them and if either of them should die before they arrive to the Age of eighteen years or without Issue, then the surviving ones shall receive her part.

And Lastly I constitute and appoint my loving wife Elizabeth Hopkins to be my whole and Sole Executrix of this my Last Will and Testament and I do hereby utterly revoke disallow and disannul all former bequests Wills and Legacies by me heretofore in any wise left or made, declaring, ratifying and confirming this and not other to be my Last Will and Testament in Witness hereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this Seventh day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and Eighty three so Signed, Sealed Published and declared by the Within names Testator Johns Hopkins to be his Last Will and Testament in presence of us who subscribe our names and in presence of the said Testator and of each other

John Cowman

Joseph Hopkins

Elisha Hopkins

Ann Arundel County

The 30th Day of July 1784

On the back of the aforegoing will was the following endorsement to wit

Then came Joseph Hopkins and Elisha Hopkins and being of the People called Quakers did solemnly affirm and declare that they did see the Testator Johns Hopkins sign and seal this Will and that they heard him publish and declare the same to be his Last Will and Testament and that at the time of his so doing he was to the best of their Apprehensions of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding and that they together with John Cowman respectively subscribed their names as Witnesses to the Will in the presence and at the request of the Testator and in the presence of each other.

Affirmed to before Thos. [sp?] Gassaway, Reg. of Wills for AA Cty.

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Johns Hopkins, the elder, Last Will and Testament: https://exhibits.library.jhu.edu/omeka-s/s/johnshopkinsbiographicalarchive/item/2933