Frederick County MD Archives Wills.....Griffith, Orlando September 10, 1800
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Allie Griffith-Nelson alinel@sbcglobal.net March 28, 2007, 3:23 pm
Source: From Archival Copy
Written: September 10, 1800
Recorded: July 31, 1801
In The Name of God Amen The 10th day of September Eighteen Hundred
I Orlando Griffith of Frederick County and the State of Maryland being very sick
and Weak of Body but of perfect mind do make and Ordain this my last Will and
Testament. Principally and first I Request that my Body be Buried in a decent
and Christian manner and Touching the Worldly Estate of which I am at this time
possess'd I give demise and swiftness of in manner and form following-
First I give unto my wife Elisabeth Griffith my Negro man Sam, my said Negro Man
Sam I give unto her during her life and at the time of her death I give the said
Negro man unto my Son Orlando Griffith and heirs and assigns forever- I give
unto my Son Elisha Griffith the Sum of five shillings Current Money and no
more-I give unto my son Zadock Griffith the Sum of five shillings Current money
and no more- I give unto my son Chisholm Griffith the Sum of five shillings
Current Money and no more-
I give unto my son Joshua Griffith the Sum of five shillings Current money, my
English Musquet all the wearing apparel I may have at the time of my decease and
no more- I give unto my Elisabeth Griffith my Negro girl named Charity the said
Negro girl and her increase I give unto my said daughter Elisabeth Griffith and
their heirs of her Body Lawfully begotten forever as also the rent of my
Plantation which is now in the Tenure of Mathew Hilton during the time she shall
remain unmarried and no longer- I give unto my daughter Rachel Griffith my Negro
girl Kathe with her increase I give the said Negro girl with her increase unto
my said daughter Rachel Griffith and the heirs of their Body Lawfully begotten
forever is also the Rent of the plantation whereon the Widow Gator now lives-
during the time she shall remain unmarried and no longer I give unto my
daughter Ann Silver the wife of Georg Silver, my Negro girl named Cassy and her
increase I give the said Negro girl Cassy with her increase unto my said
daughter Ann Silver and heirs of her Body Lawfully begotten forever.
I give unto my grand daughter Elisabeth Silver daughter of Georg Silver and Ann
his wife my Negro girl named Nell I give the said Negro girl Nell and her
increase unto my said Grand Daughter and the heirs of her Body Lawfully begotten
forever.
I give unto my Son William Griffith two plantations one of which is in the
possession of William Caywood the other in possession of Henry Griffith.
Beginning to include the said plantations of the one of two hundred purchases on
the fourth line of a tract of land called Black Acre and Running with said Land
until it comes opposite to the end of the last line of a tract of Land I
conveyed to Henry Darnell then by a line at right angles, to Strike the end of
the said line of the land I conveyed to Henry Darnell as aforesaid then with
this given line thereof to the Beginning of the last mentioned land. Then with
the course of the said given line extended into the Hollow then with a straight
line to the first place of beginning The said land and two Plantations I give
unto My said Son William Griffith his heirs and assigns forever Also my Negro
Woman Named Fanny a cow and a calf a Sow and pigs Ewe and Lamb the feather bed
and furniture which is now called his and my Rifle Gun
The said articles I give unto him his heirs and assigns forever
I give unto my Son John Griffith all the rest and remaining part of my Estate
both Real and personal. I give the same unto him his heirs and assigns forever
And I do revoke all former wills heretofore made by me hereby ratifying and
confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament. In witness
thereof I have herein to set my hand and affix my seal the day and year first
above written
Signed and Sealed Published pronounced and
delivered by the said Orlando Griffith at the said day
and year first above written to be his last will and
Testament
Orlando Griffith [seal]
In presence of-
John Coons, Roger Edmonston
George [x ] Silver Jerome Plummer
mark
Frederick County July 31 1801 then came John Coons Roger Edmonston Jerome
Plummer witnesses to the afore going last will and Testament of
Orlando Griffith late of Frederick County Deceased and made oath on the Holy
Evangeles of Almighty God that they did see the testator therein named sign and
seal this will that they heard him publish pronounce and declare the same to be
his last Will and Testament that at the time he was to the best of their
apprehensions of a sound and disposing mind and memory and Understanding that
John Coons, V Roger Edmonston two of the witnesses above named respectively
subscribed their names as witnesses to this will in the presence and at the
request of the Testator and that the said Roger Edmonston did also sign the name
of Jerome Plummer the other of the witnesses above named at the Special Instance
In request of the said Jerome Plummer and that they did also see Georg Silver
the other subscribing witness make his mark to which his name is perceved as a
witness to said will in the presence and at the request of the Testator and all
in the presence of each other.
George Murdock Reg.r
I Elisabeth Griffith Widow of Orlando Griffith late of Frederick County
Deceased do hereby renounce and quit all Claim to my Bequest or Devise made to
me by the last Will of my Husband exhibited and proved according to Law and I
Elect to Take in lieu thereof my Dower or legal Share of the Estate of my said
Husband-
Elisabeth [x] Griffith
mark
July 31 Day 1801
To the Register of Wills
Fred Cormty
Additional Comments:
When reading of the somewhat skewed portion of the estate that was left to
Elisabeth Griffith, by husband Orlando,it is obvious why she chose to renounce
her claim to the current will. Electing instead to invoke her Dower rights, or
legal share, in this particular instance afforded Elisabeth a lifetime interest
in 1/3 of all land owned by her husband.
Allie Griffith-Nelson
28 Mar 2007
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