William Jones and Mary Thomas Jones were my 9th great-grandparents. I do not have birth dates, or parents, for either of them. However, they did die in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, per the will records.
William Jones died between January 12, 1734, when his will was signed, and February 1, 1734, when the will was probated. From the will we learn William lived in St. Michael’s Hundred in St. Mary’s County. From the Maryland Archives we find that ‘Hundred is an old English term which may have originally indicated a hundred taxable units within royal estates. Hundreds were used in Maryland during the colonial period and for some years after to designate divisions within a county. They were established by county officials for taxation and other purposes.’
St. Michael’s Hundred contained approximately 18,000 acres according to a statement by Garry Wheeler Stone in his Notes on the Settlement of St. Michael’s Hundred 1634-1644, ‘Slightly more than two-thirds of the hundred (12,000 acres) was taken up by the principal investors in the 1633-1634 expedition.’ Do the math and the hundred was about 18,000 acres.
William Jones first lists son Solomon, giving him half the land of the plantation on which William lives. The land given to Solomon was called Scotland – could we consider that a longing for the old country? I did find that Jones is traditionally a Welsh surname – the ‘s’ meaning son of John or Johan. Perhaps years before the family moved from Wales to Scotland? How large was this plantation. It is hard to say, although we know it was divided between Solomon and his youngest brother John.
Other children listed in William’s will are two daughters – Mary and Susanna. Wife Mary is Executrix, son William is Executor. I would guess that William is the eldest son and already has land given him by his father.
Mary Thomas Jones lived an additional 13 years after the death of her husband. She died between April 4, 1746, when her will was signed, and May 12, 1746, when the will was probated. Mary does not mention the eldest son Solomon – perhaps he received his share from his father. By this point daughter Susanna is married, with the surname Bisscoe. A son Joseph, not listed in his father’s will, is evidently a younger son since he is given the traditional horse, cattle, and other animals, along with feather beds and furniture, a frying pan, spinning wheel – and tobacco ‘now in the barn.’ Son John is given much the same.
Between the two parents, the children listed are Solomon, Mary, Susannah, William, Joseph and John.
I descend from the eldest son, Solomon Jones, who died in St. Mary’s County in 1748, not long after his mother. He married Catherine Burne. Solomon died between March 6 and April 24 of 1748. In his will he gives ‘my beloved wife Catherine’ her thirds. Son James receives a horse, saddle and bridle – to be his full share. The remainder of Solomon’s estate is divided between the rest of his children – Margaret, Monica, Solomon, Walter and the child his wife is carrying. Solomon and Catherine’s children were young. The boys were to stay with their mother until the age of 21 and the girls until 16.
Catherine lived less than a year. In her will she leaves the care of her children to her two brothers – James and Dennis Burne. They are also to settle her husband’s estate. Catherine names five children in her will – Solomon, Margaret, Monica, Walter and Bridget. Bridget must be less than a year old. Son James is not listed. Did he die in the ten months between his father and mother’s death? Was he Catherine’s son? These questions may never be answered.
I descend from Solomon and Catherine’s daughter Margaret who married Thomas Wetherington (I have seen it spelled many different ways.).
Will of William Jones
St. Mary’s County, Maryland, Vol. 21, Pages 280-281
In the name of God, Amen. I, William Jones, of St. Michael’s Hundred in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, knowing that it is appointed for men once to die, and considering the uncertainty of the time, to make this my last Will and Testament, first bequeathing my Soul to Almighty God, hoping through the merits of my blessed Savior to receive remission of all my sins and leave my body to be buried at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named.
Imprimis. I give and bequeath to my son, Solomon Jones, and his heirs, one-half of this land I live on called Scotland, and my will is he shall have his half in the unimproved land, and I give to my son, Solomon, and his heirs a horse, a gun and a bed, already in his possession.
Item. I give to my youngest son, John Jones, and his heirs or assigns, the other half of the plantation I live on called Scotland, to him I bequeath the part where the improvement is to him, likewise I give a Negro child, the first that is born of my Negro girl called Sarah, otherwise if that first born dies before it is twelve months old, my will is he shall have the next that lives to that age.
Item. I give to my daughter, Mary Jones, and her heirs or assigns, my Negro girl named Sarah, only reserving as aforementioned to my son John one Negro child to be delivered him at twelve months old and I give to my aforesaid daughter a mare named Venture and eight ewes.
Item. I give to my daughter Susannah and her heirs forever my Negro boy named Ben and a bald horse named Tuck and ten ewes.
Item. My will and desire is that my mill at the Mountain be sold by my Executors to be applied to the payment of my debts, the said mill and all the appurtenances
to be applied to that use aforesaid.
Item. I leave my beloved wife, Mary, and my son, William Jones, Executors of this my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twelfth day of January 1734.
William Jones
Signed, sealed, published and declared before us – James Smith, William Harrison, Daniel Duggens, John Thomas
The foregoing will was thus endorsed 1st February 1734
William Harrison, Daniel Duggens and John Thomas, three of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing will being duly and solemnly sworn on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God, depose and say that they saw the testator, William Jones, sign the foregoing will and heard him publish and declare the same 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 said testator and at his request. Sworn to before me, Thomas Aisquith, Deputy Commissioner, St. Mary’s County
The deceased’s widow stands to the will and takes her thirds.
Will of Mary Thomas Jones
St. Mary’s County, Maryland, Volume 24, Pages 387-388
In the name of God, Amen. I, Mary Jones, of St. Mary’s County, being in health of body and sound and perfect mind and memory, praise be therefore given to Almighty God, do make and ordain this my present last Will and Testament as followeth.
First I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God, hoping through the merits of my Savior, Jesus Christ, to have full pardon and remission of all my sins and to inherit everlasting life, and my body I commit to the earth to be buried at the discretion of my Executor, hereafter named, and as touching the disposition of my temporal estate as it hath pleased Almighty God to bestow upon me, I give and dispose thereof as follows.
First. I give and bequeath to my daughter, Susanna Bisscoe, one Negro woman late reserving her work on my plantation and under my sons Joseph and John Jones until the 25th day of December ensuing the date of these ?
Secondly. I bequeath to my son, Joseph Jones, a sorrel mare and five head of cattle, 2 feather beds with their furniture, eleven head of sheep, 6 hogs between one and two years old and three pigs, 2 iron pots, one frying pan, one woolen spinning wheel and the tobacco now in the barn to the use of my son Joseph Jones, a reserve is made if the above said sorrel mare shall bring colts, the second colt she shall bring to be delivered to my son John Jones
at the age of one year old.
Thirdly. I give and bequeath unto my son John Jones my best and newest feather bed with the best furniture, 6 head of cattle, eleven head of sheep, 6 hogs and 4 pigs, one iron pot and one skillet.
The rest and residue of my estate, whatever not here named I desire it may be equally divided between my son Joseph Jones and my son John Jones. I do hereby appoint and constitute my son Joseph Jones sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament and do hereby revoke and make void all former wills or testaments by me heretofore made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and fixed my seal this 4th day of April Anno Domini 1746 in the presence of James Granan and William Thomas
Mary Jones
On the back of the foregoing will was thus written, viz., St. Mary’s County May the 12th 1746
Then Thomas Granan and William Thomas, the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing will, being duly and solemnly sworn on the holy Evangelist of Almighty God, deposed and say that they saw the testator, Mary Jones, sign the foregoing will and heard her publish and declare the same to be her last Will and Testament, that at the time of her so doing she was to the best of their apprehension of sound and disposing mind and memory. Sworn before me, Thomas Aisquith, Deputy Commissioner of St. Mary’s County.
Will of Solomon Jones
St. Mary’s County, Maryland, Will Book 26, Page 15-16
The last will of Solomon Jones
In the name of God. I, Solomon Jones, of St. Mary’s County, in the Province of Maryland, being weak but of sound and perfect memory, thanks be to God, and being willing to settle what worldly estate it hath pleased God to bestow upon me, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament.
First, I give my soul to Almighty God who gave it and hoping by the merits of my blessed Savior to obtain full remission of my sins, and my body to be buried at the discretion of my executors hereafter named.
First. I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Catherine, one third part of all my lands during her natural life, and one third part of all my personal estate as her proper rite forever.
I give and bequeath to my son James one horse, saddle and bridle, the horse to be a likely horse of four years old and the saddle and bridle of fifty shillings price, and that to be his full part of my personal estate.
My desire is that all the remainder of my estate be equally divided amongst my other children: Margaret, Monica, Solomon, Walter and if my wife is now with child that to have an equal part with them.
And my will and desire is that my wife have the care and tuition of all my children till they arrive to following years, viz., the boys to
the age of twenty and one years and the girls to the age of sixteen years and to be brought up at her discretion and to have their several parts of my estate in her care until they arrive to ye ages as above.
I do hereby revoke and make void all wills by me formerly made and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament and do hereby constitute and appoint my beloved wife Catherine, my full Executrix in execution thereof. In witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal this 6th day of March anno domini 1748.
Solomon Jones
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of James Egerton, Robert Holton, John Jones, James Burne
On the back of the foregoing will was thus written, viz.,
St. Mary’s County April 24, 1748
Then James Egerton, John Jones and James Burne, three of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing will, being duly and solemnly sworn on the holy Evangelist of Almighty God, depose and say that they saw the testator, Solomon Jones, sign the foregoing will and heard him publish and declare the same 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 said testator and at his request.
Sworn to before me Thomas Aisquith, Deputy Commissioner
The day above, the deceased’s widow made her election and stands to the will certified by me.
Thomas Asquith, Deputy Commissioner of St. Mary’s County
Will of Catherine Burne Jones
St. Mary’s County, Maryland, Vol. 28, Pages 191-192
In the name of God, Amen. I, Catherine Jones of St. Mary’s County in the Province of Maryland, being weak but of sound and perfect memory, thanks be to God, and being willing to settle what worldly estate it hath pleased God to bestow upon me, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament.
First, I give my soul to Almighty God who give it, hoping by the merits of my blessed Savior to obtain full remission of my sins, and my body to be buried at the discretion of my executors hereafter named.
I give and bequeath to my son Solomon Jones a young horse, saddle and bridle to the worth of five pounds, to be delivered to him when he arrives to the age of eighteen years.
Secondly, it is my will and desire that the remainder of my estate be equally divided amongst my four children, Margaret, Monica, Walter and Bridgett, at the discretion of my executors hereafter named.
Thirdly. It is my will and desire that all my children and estates be and remain in the care and tuition of my two brothers Dennis Burne and James Burne until they shall arrive to full age, that is, my sons to the age of twenty-one years and my daughters to the age of sixteen years, or the day of marriage, which shall first happen.
Fourthly. It is my will and desire that my two brothers before mentioned shall settle my deceased husband’s estate with the commissary on behalf of my children. And it is my true intent meaning that if the court should see fit to move my children out of the care of my two brothers, that their estates shall still be and remain their possession to keep for the good and safety of my said children.
Fifthly. I do hereby revoke and make void all wills by me made and ordained, this to be my last Will
and Testament and do hereby constitute and appoint my two brothers Dennis Burne and James my full and joint executors in executing thereof and it is my full desire that my son Solomon and my daughter Bridget to live with my brother James Burne, and my daughters Margaret and Monica, and my son Walter, with my brother Dennis Burne. In witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal this the 3rd day of February 1749.
Catherine Jones
Signed, sealed in the presence of Mary Martin, Sarah Hopkins, John Connally
At the foot of the foregoing will was thus written
St. Mary’s County February 20, 1749
Then Mary Martin and John Connally, two of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing will, being duly and solemnly sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God, depose and say that they saw the testator Catharine Jones sign the foregoing will and heard her publish and declare the same to be her last Will and Testament, that at the time of her so doing she was, to the best of their apprehension, of sound and disposing mind and memory and that they saw Sarah Hopkins sign at the same time was witness to the said will in the presence of the said testatrix. Sworn before me Thomas Aisquith, Deputy Commissioner of St. Mary’s County
Categories: Old Wills
