Will of Peter Butler (1764): Frederick County, MD

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Bill Thayer (whthayer@verizon.net)

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Bill Thayer (whthayer@verizon.net)

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Peter Butler's will is listed in will book A, page 215, in Frederick Co. MD
and was dated 1 Jan 1764. The will was proven on 14 May 1764 by the
witnesses.  It reads as follows:

    "In the name of God Amen, the first day of January in the year of our
Lord one thousand seven hundred & sixty four. I Peter Butler of Frederick
County in the Province of Maryland Gentleman being very sick and weak in Body
but of perfect mind & memory, thanks be given unto God therefore, calling
unto mind the mortality of my Body & knowing that it is appointed for all men
ever to dye, do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament, that is to
say, Principally and first of all I give and recommend my Soul into the Hands
of God that gave it & for my Body I recommend it to the Earth to be buried in
a Christian Like and decent manner at the discretion of my Executor, nothing
doubting but at the general Reserection I shall receive the same again by the
mighty power of God and as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath
pleased God to bless me in this Life I give Devise and Dispose of the same in
the following Manner and Form. Imprimis It is my Will and I do order that in
the first place all my just Debts and funeral charges be paid & satisfied,
Item I give and bequeath unto my son Richard Butler, all that Tract or Parcel
of Land called Resurvey on Turnstile to him his Heirs and assigns forever.
Item I give and bequeath unto my son Tobias Butler all that Tract or parcel
of Land called Below the Nipple & the Bubby to him his heirs and assigns
forever. Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Butler all that
Tract or parcel of Land called the Resurvey on Butler's Lott to her her Heirs
and assigns forever. Item I give and bequeath unto my son Joseph Butler, all
that Tract or parcel of Land called College Green to him his Heirs and
assigns forever. Item it is my Will and desire that all the rest of my Estate
both real and personal be sold and that the money arising therefrom two parts
of it be paid to my wife Mary, and the rest to be equally divided among the
Children. Item I constitute make and ordain my beloved wife Mary and my Son
Richard Executors.  of this my Last Will and Testament, and I do hereby
utterly disallow revoke and dismiss(?) all and every other former Testaments,
Wills Legacies and Executors, by me in any ways before this Time, named
Willed and bequeathed Ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my
Last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand &
Seal the Day and year first above written.
            signed P. Butler  (Seal)
    Signed Sealed published pronounced &
Declared by the said Peter Butler as his Last Will & Testament in the
Presence of us the Subscribers
John Darling, Christopher Edelin, Samuel Stearns"