Peter Montgomery is my 5th great-grandfather. He was born in France about 1682 and came to the Province of Maryland about 1715. He brought with him two sons, Francis and John Baptista. This fact is from the Act for Naturalization of Peter Montgomery of Charles County, Planter, and His Children of 1727. Peter is listed as a native of France and names the above two children as already born.
In 1716 Peter Montgomery rented land from Joshua Guilbert and his wife Ann, daughter of William Boarman, Sr., the said land given as her dower. Rent is 700 pounds of tobacco yearly which is to be sent to a convenient port on the Wicomico River. Peter is to plant 150 apple frees and build a fence. The land was located on the south side of Zekiah Swamp. The swamp becomes Allens Fresh Run, from whence it flows into the Wicomico River, which eventually reaches the Potomac River. An easy journey down the waterways gets tobacco or other products to market – and on across the Atlantic to sell in England. From a 1712 deed from William Boarman to Joshua and Ann, the amount of land was 250 acres.
In 1726 Peter rents an additional 87 acres in the same area from William Newman, and three years later purchases the property for 4,000 pounds of tobacco.
In the following will Peter gives a total of 336 acres of land to his children and wife. In the 1753 Charles County Debt Book, Peter Montgomery paid tax on 336 acres of land, the same amount gifted in his will. The two oldest sons, also listed in the naturalization papers, were given 1 shilling each. I feel sure they received land before their father’s death. Giving them one shilling negated their being able to sue for a part of their father’s estate. Peter Montgomery, Jr., was given 56 acres of land ‘ beginning at the first bound tree and laid out on the same side of a branch that the tree stands on.’ Joseph was given 56 acres next to his brother. Wife Margaret is given 112 acres, which will descend to son William after her decease. Daughter Mary Magdelene Higdon and son Elisha were given the remaining lands – but no total was listed. If you deduct the acres of land given from 336 – Peter, Joseph and Margaret – there remains 112 acres to be divided between Mary Magdelene and Elisha. This is my interpretation.
Seven children are listed in Peter’s will, in the order named – Francis, John Baptista, Peter Jr., Joseph, Mary Magdalene, James and Richard. I feel these are the older children, most from his first wife, whose name we do not know.
Second wife, Margaret, some give her maiden name as Hagan, names the following children in her will – Joseph, Mary Ellen Montgomery, William, Mary McAtee, Susanna Higdon, Margaret Turner. Son Ignatius Montgomery is named Executor. Margaret and Peter had ten children. Elisha, born in 1743, died young. Another son named Elisha, born in 1745, died in 1766. The three unmarried children were Ben, Charles (my ancestor) and Ann Mary.
Children of Peter Montgomery and First Wife
- Francis Montgomery, 1709 –
- John Baptist Montgomery, 1711 –
- Peter Montgomery, Jr., 1713 –
- Joseph Montgomery, 1715 –
- Mary Margaret, 1717 –
- James Montgomery 1719 – 1777
- Richard Montgomery, 1722 – 1767
Children of Peter Montgomery and Margaret Hagan
- Mary Ellen Montgomery, 1737
- William Montgomery, 1741 – 1814
- Susannah Montgomery, 1742 –
- Elisha Montgomery, 1743 – 1743
- Margaret Montgomery, 1743 –
- Elisha Montgomery, II, 1745 – 1766
- Ignatius Montgomery, 1746 – 1777
- Benjamin Montgomery, 1748 – 1775
- Charles Montgomery, 1750 – 1809
- Ann Mary Montgomery, 1752 –
Will of Peter Montgomery
January 16, 1752 – Probated December 26, 1754
Page 31
In the name of God amen. I, Peter Montgomery, of Charles County in the Province of Maryland, being infirm of body but in sound and perfect memory do make this my last Will and Testament as follows.
Imprimis. I bequeath my soul to God who gave it me, my body to the Earth after my departure to be decently buried at the charge of my estate and discretion of my Executor hereafter named.
Item. I will that my just debts and funeral charges be first paid.
Item. I give and bequeath to my loving son Francis Montgomery one shilling sterling.
Item.
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I give and bequeath unto my loving son John Montgomery one shilling sterling.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my loving son Peter Montgomery fifty-six acres of land beginning at the first bound tree and lay it out on the same side of a branch that the tree stands on, to him and his heirs forever, also one feather bed and covering and one cow and calf.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my loving son Joseph Montgomery fifty-six acres of land, to be laid out on the west side of a branch joining to his brother Peter and the branch to divide them, to him and his heirs forever.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Margaret Montgomery the plantation I know dwell upon with one hundred and twelve acres of land joining thereunto, during her natural life and after her decease to my loving son William Montgomery, to him and his heirs forever.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my loving daughter Mary Magdalene Higdon and my loving son Elisha Montgomery all the remaining part of my land, to be equally divided to them and their heirs forever.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son James Montgomery one shilling sterling.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my loving son Richard Montgomery one feather bed and covering and calf.
Item. I nominate, constitute and ordain my loving wife Margaret Montgomery whole and sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament, to whom the aforesaid Margaret, my wife, I give and bequeath all the remaining part of my personal estate. I ordain that his present will to be my last Will and Testament. In witness hereof I set my hand and fixed my seal this the 16th day of January in the year of our Lord 1752.
Peter Montgomery, his seal
Edward Turner, Jacob Moreland, John Hunt, his mark
Annexed to the foregoing will was the following probate, to wit
Charles County Court 26th December 1754
Came Edward Turner, Jacob Moreland and John Hunt, the three subscribing witnesses to the foregoing will, who, being duly and solemnly sworn on the holy Evangelists of Almighty God that they saw the testator, Peter Montgomery, sign and seal the aforesaid will and heard him publish and declare the same to be his last Will and Testament and that at the time of his so doing was to the best of their apprehensions of sound and disposing mind and memory and that they severally subscribed their names as witnesses to the said will in the presence of the testator
Page 33
and at his request, which probate was taken after Francis Montgomery, heir at law, had signified he had no objections. Before Daniel Jenifer, Deputy Clerk of Charles County
Will of Margaret Montgomery, Wife of Peter
October 10, 1773, Probated December 20, 1774
Page 215
In the name of God amen. I, Margaret Montgomery, of Charles County, being sick and weak in body but of sound and perfect memory do make and ordain this my
Page 216
last Will and Testament, revoking and making void all other will or wills by me heretofore made and do acknowledge this to be my last Will and Testament as followeth.
First. I give and bequeath unto my loving son Joseph Montgomery all that part of land being fifty-six acres that I bought of Peter Montgomery, to him and his heirs forever.
Secondly. I give and bequeath unto my loving daughter Mary Montgomery one feather bed with one pair of sheets and good covering, over and above a child’s part.
Thirdly. I give and bequeath unto my loving son William Montgomery one English shilling.
Fourthly. I give and bequeath unto my loving daughter Mary Macatee one English shilling.
Fifthly. I give and bequeath unto my loving daughter Susanna Higdon one English shilling.
Sixthly. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Margaret Turner one English shillings.
Seventhly. I give and bequeath unto my children that have not been married all my personal estate, to be equally divided. My will and desire is that none of my estate should be sold by my executor nor administration to be made, but to be equally divided amongst all my children that have not been married.
Lastly, I nominate and appoint my beloved son Ignatius Montgomery my whole and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament and I do hereby enjoin the said Executor to pay my debts. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this tenth day of October Anno Domini 1773.
Margaret Montgomery, her mark
Signed, sealed, published and declared to be the last Will and Testament of the above said Margaret Montgomery in the presence of William Turner, Rhoda Turner, James Montgomery
On the back of the foregoing will was thus endorsed, to wit
Charles County Court 20th of December 1774
Then came Ignatius Montgomery and made oath on the holy Evangels of Almighty God that the written instrument of writing is the true and whole will and testament of Margaret Montgomery, late of Charles County, deceased, that hath come to his hands or possession and that he doth not know of any other.
Certified by Daniel Jenifer, Deputy Clerk
And on the same day came William Turner and James Montgomery, two of the subscribing witnesses to the written last Will and Testament of Margaret
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Montgomery, late of Charles County, deceased, and made oath on the holy Evangels of Almighty God that they did see the testator therein named sign and seal this will and that they heard her publish, pronounce and declare the same to be her last Will and Testament, that at the time of so doing she was, to the best of their apprehension, of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding and that they, with Rhoda Turner, respectively, signed their names as witnesses to this, the will, in the presence of the testator and in the presence of each other.
Certified by Daniel Jenifer, Deputy Clerk
Categories: Old Wills
Rebecca Montgomery Cambron is my 5th great, daughter of John Baptista, son of Peter Montgomery. It was wonderful getting this additional information. Thanks you. Welcome back to KY!