Gabriel Moran is my seventh great-grandfather, 1692-1734.  He married Elizabeth Vilette and with her had at least four sons – John, my ancestor, Peter, Andrew and William.  In the following will Gabriel mentions the child that his wife is soon to bear.  I have nothing more on this child, but since the will was written in March 1733 and probated in July 1734, it is quite possible Gabriel saw the birth of this child, but did not change his will.

Gabriel Moran Will

Charles County Maryland Will Book 1734-1752, Pages 28-29

In the name of God, Amen.  I, Gabriel Moran, of Charles County, planter in the province of Maryland, being sick of body but of sound and perfect memory, make this my last will and testament in manner and form following. 

Imprimis.  I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it me, my body I recommend to be buried in a decent manner at the direction of my executors hereafter mentioned, as for my worldly estate I desire may be disposed in manner and form following.

Item.  My will is that all my just debts be paid by my executors hereafter mentioned.

Item.  I give and bequeath my plantation whereon I now live to my loving wife, Elizabeth Moran, during her natural life and after her decease to my son John Moran and his heirs or assigns forever.

Item.  I give and bequeath to my loving wife Elizabeth Moran one hundred and fifty acres of land, part of the addition to Cattles Grove, being the plantation so settled adjoining upon Thomas Allen’s land, during her natural life and after her decease to my son or daughter that my wife is now with child with.

Item.  My will is that all my other land that I have and hold be equally divided between my four sons, John, Peter, Andrew and William.  My son John to begin his part adjoining a tract called the Black Oak Thicket, Peter’s part to adjoin to John’s, Andrew’s to Peter and William to Andrew’s and provided that either of my sons decease before they arrive to the age of eighteen that this part of land should be equally divided among the survivors of my said sons.

I make my loving wife, Elizabeth Moran, with my son John Moran, joint executors of this my last will and testament and I do hereby utterly disallow and revoke all and every other testament, will and bequests and executors by me in any way before this time named, notifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament.  In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and fixed my seal this fifteenth day of March 1733.

                             Gabriel Moran

Signed, sealed, pronounced and declared before us – Randall Morris, John Anderson, Jonathan Wilson, Thomas Farrand and Hugh Stone

Item.  My will is that my loving wife Elizabeth Moran have and enjoy the third part of my personal estate and the remainder to be equally divided between my four sons, John, Peter, Andrew and William, and to the son or daughter that my wife is now with child with. 

                                  Gabriel Moran

Signed, sealed, sworn and declared the day and year above mentioned before us – Randall Morris, John Anderson, Thomas Farrand, Hugh Stone

On the back of the foregoing will was endorsed the following and probate to wit –

Charles County, Memorandum, that on the third day of July 1734, John Anderson, Jonathan Wilson and Hugh Stone, three of the subscribing witnesses to the within will being duly and solemnly sworn on the holy Evangelists of Almighty God, do prove and say that they saw Gabriel Moran, the testator sign the within will and the addition or codicil thereto, which was wrote and signed at the same time and that they heard him publish and declare the said writing to be his last will and testament, that at the time of his so doing he was to the best of their apprehension of sound and disposing mind and memory and that they subscribed their respective names as witnesses to the said will in the presence of the testator and at his request, which said oath was taken in the present of John Moran, heir at law to the testator, which said John Moran did not object to the probate of said will.

Test. S. Hanson