Will of Samuel STEPHENS (1856) Frederick County, Maryland

This file was contributed by Julie Rogers <Jrogers@ewa.com>

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(Compiled by Julie Rogers from the Frederick County Courthouse, Frederick, 
Maryland Records Department December 1998)

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF SAMUEL STEPHENS
(Book G.H. 1, Page 86 )

In the name of God Amen - - I Samuel Stephens of Frederick County, State of 
Maryland, being sick and weak in body but of sound and disposing mind and memory 
in understanding the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof 
and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs and be the better prepared to 
leave this world when it shall please God, to call me hence, do therefore make 
and publish this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following, that 
is to say - - First . . . to be buried in a plain manner, no mourning badges, no 
funeral sermon, this request I make of my hereinafter named Executors and after 
my debts and funeral charges are paid, I devise and bequeath as follows: Item - 
I give and devise unto Nancy (nee: Lucas) Stephens my beloved wife and to Samuel 
Stephens, Jr. my third eldest son now living, my dwelling house, and store house 
which I now occupy both front and back lots and all that belongs to the 
premises, household and kitchen furniture, this is to be for the benefit of my 
beloved wife during her natural life and a house for my two youngest children 
Mary and Charles, which they remain at home and single, provided they treat 
their mother right and as have been named heretofore in this instrument that 
Samuel, my third oldest son, is to occupy the store room, any way he things 
proper by taking good care of his mother, and after her death, the property 
named shall be his, the one half of the stock, belonging to the store. I have 
given to Samuel my son already named in this Will . . . To Charles my youngest 
son I bequeath my silver luver watch and my new rifle. To David, my son for 
disobedience to me, I give to him $25.4 (he has been a disobedient boy). To 
Nathan my eldest son I bequeath one sett of my Smith tools, including all my new 
screw plates, my househoulds and kitchen furniture is to be Samuel's my third 
son, as has been named, after the death of his mother, by his given to Mary, one 
feather bed and steade, the 16acres of land purchased of Cornelius Clay is to 
remain unsold untill all my children become of age, but to be cultivated and the 
proceeds for the use of my wife and the two youngest children also my Smith shop 
to remain unsold untill all become of age . . . and finaly lastly this two lots 
lying North East of New Market, wish my machinship and all the apprethances 
belonging thereto wish all my personal property and all that has not been named, 
. . . be sold by my thereafter named Executors, and the proceeds of the same, 
with that of notes of bonds and acts that may remain in my hands at my death to 
be let at interest untill all become of age and the equally devided between 
Nathan my son and Samuel my son and Charles my son and my daughter Mary - - 
Lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint Samuel Stephens, Jr., my son, and 
Nathan Stephens my son to be sole Executors of this my last will and testament 
revoking and annulling all former wills made by me . . .

(G.H. 1, Page 139) To the Judges of the Orphans Court of Frederick County, 
Maryland. I Samuel Stephens, Jr., one of the appointed Executors in the Last 
Will and Testament of Samuel Stephens, Sr., late of Frederick County, dec'd, do 
hereby refuse to act as one of the Executors of said deed by virture of said 
appointment and therefore renounce all my rights, title and claim to said 
Executorship May 1856.

(A.P.K. 4, Page 419) Administrative Accounts
The third and final of Nathan Stephen's accounting, Executor of Samuel Stephens, 
late of Frederick County, dec'd. This accountant charges himself with the 
balance due on real estate sold to John C. Clay and rectified by the Orphans 
Court on the 7th day ofFeb. 1857 - $200. Also with this sum received of Eugene 
Hammonly for real estate sold him and rectified on the 11th day of April 1864 - 
$1,376. Also with this sum received of Grafton B. Hammond for real estate sold 
him .. . 11 April 1864 $460. Totaling $2,026.