Will of James Steel

No. 235

District 7, Cecil Co., MD

Sept. 17th, 1798

                In the name of God Amen, I - James Steel of North Susquehanna, Cecil County, Farmer, being in Health and of Sound Mind, Memory, and Understanding but considering the uncertainty of the transitory Life, do make, publish and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following -- First of all, it is my will that all my just and lawful debts and funeral Expenses be paid with all Convenient Speed by my Executors hereafter named after my Decease.  Secondly, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Mary Steel the one third of all my Real and Personal Estate during her Natural Life, which third she shall in no way, sell or make away, also during the said time she shall [have] the full Privilege of what is now called her own [Room?] to dwell in, with free Egress and Regress to and from the Water and all other Reasonable Places where she wants to go and also that my son Hugh Steel or his heirs who is now Executor of this my last will shall at all times when necessary find and lay into her a sufficiency of firewood and all other reasonable [items] that she shall want, her _______ and Expenses to be deducted out of the Rents and Profits of her third.  Thirdly I give and bequeath to my Daughter Jane Steel alias Boyd to her and her heirs the sum of fifty pounds lawful money to be paid in one year after my Decease by my Executor hereafter named.   Fourthly I give and bequeath to my Son Hugh Steel to him and his heirs my Negro Man Squire and my Negro Woman Violet until they arrive at the age of thirty-seven years, they being now twenty-two years of age and then my will is that they shall be at Liberty.   Fifthly My Will is that my Negro Girl Sylla who is now four years of age, also my Negro Boy Abraham, who is now three years of age I give and bequeath to my Son Hugh Steel to him and his heirs untill they arrive at the Age of thirty-seven years.  Sixthly I give and bequeath to my Son Hugh Steel to him and his heirs all the Residue and Remainder of all my Real and Personal Estate and also at the [Decease] of my Loving Wife Mary Steel the one third now willed to her to be and remain wholly to him and his heirs for ever and Seventhly and lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint my son Hugh Steel whole and Sole Executor of this my last will & Testament hereby revoking all former will and wills heretofore made by me, and declaring this to be my only will.  In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my hand and seal this seventeenth Day of Sept. in the Year of our Lord Seventeen Hundred and Ninety Eight (1798).

James Steel [ his seal]

Signed, Sealed, Published and Declared in the Presence of us who are witnesses hereto

Greenbury Rawlings

Rebekah Rawlings

J. Egan

 Transcribed 5/6/97 by Fred Kelso Oxford,PA