Edward Barber was born in Saint Mary’s County, Maryland, about 1719. Edward was the son of Luke Barber and Rebecca White.  His three known siblings were Baptist, Cornelius and Dorothy.  Edward was the great-grandson of Dr. Luke Barber, the immigrant.

Edward married Elizabeth Price, who gave birth to at least three children – Barnett, Price and Luke – dying before this will was written.

Edward and Elizabeth’s daughter was given her mother’s maiden name, Price.  A rather unusual name for a daughter.

This will is written in beautiful handwriting, but the lower case ‘d’ looks like a ‘p’ (seventh word, top of second page).  Some of the capitalized letters are difficult to determine.

Edward’s will can be found in Saint Mary’s County Will Book 1733-1776, Pages 607-608.

The Will of Edward Barber

In the name of God, amen.  I, Edward Barber, of the County of St. Mary’s in the Province of Maryland, considering the uncertainty of this transitory life, do make, ordain and constitute this my last will and testament in manner and form following.  First and principally I commend my soul to almighty God, trusting that in thorough mediatorial sacrifice of my blessed Redeemer, to be a partaker of everlasting life, my body to be entered at the direction of my executors, herein after named.

Secondly, I desire that all my just debts be paid – and as for the temporal estate which

God hath bestowed on me, I dispose of it as follows.  I gave and bequeath to my son Barnett Barber, the plantation I now dwell on, being part of Luck Land, also the following Negroes, viz., Abigail, Soho, Barsaba, Tom, Ann, James, Maria and Selah – together with their increase.  I give and bequest to my daughter Price Barber, two hundred pounds to be raised out of the estate in the management of my children, also the following Negroes – Tony, Abraham, Sarah, Phillis, Anthony, Phaid, Moll and Bess, together with the increase.  I give and bequeath to my son Luke Barber part of a tract of land called Westham, which I purchased of Henry Green, also a bond for three hundred and thirty pounds sterling, money from my brother Cornelius, and provided my said brother Cornelius Barber, shall convey to my said son Luke the half of a tract of land purchased of Thomas Hangerford in Charles County, the said bond to be void and of no effect, otherwise to be of full force and virtue; also the following Negroes – Will, Mary, Susannah, Dick, Lucy, Esther, Henry, Nathan and David.  All my stock and moveable effects to be divided equally amongst my three children, above mentioned.  I appoint my brother Cornelius Barber and my son Barnett, to be whole and sole executors of this my last will and testament, revoking all former wills and testaments by me before made, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament.  In witness whereof I have to this my last will and testament, set my hand and seal this ninth day of June in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and sixty-nine.

Edward Barber

Signed, sealed and declared by the said Edward Barber, the testator, to be his last will and testament in the presence of Thomas Barber, Thomas Allen, Henry Morris.

Saint Mary’s County (to wit) I do hereby resign all the trust reposed in me by the within last will and testament, and refuse to take upon me the trust of an executor, witness my hand the fifteenth day of February, seventeen hundred and seventy.                  Cornelius Barber 22 February 1770

Witness, Owen Allen Henry

You, Cornelius Barber and Barnett Barber, as executors of Edward Barber, solemnly make oath on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God, that the within is the only true last will and testament of Edward Barber, late deceased, that has come to your hands, possession or knowledge.  Sworn before Owen Allen Henry, 22 February 1770

Saint Mary’s County

On the twenty-second day of February 1770 came Henry Morris, Thomas Barber and Thomas Allen, the three subscribing evidences to the within last will and testament of Edward Barber, late of the County aforesaid, deceased, and severally made oath on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God that they did see the said Edward Barber, the testator therein named, sign and seal this will, and hear 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 apprehension of perfect sense and of sound and disposing mind and memory and understanding, and that they respectively subscribed their names as witnesses to the said will, in the presence and at the request of the aforesaid testator, and that they did see each other subscribe their names thereto as evidences. Sworn before Owen Allen Henry.