(See Frederick County Wills, page 86; and book 41, page 467)

Nathaniel Barnard Will

In the name of God amen the 30th day of December 1776 I Nathaniel Barnard of Frederick County & Province of Maryland Farmer being sick and weak in Body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be unto God for the same, and calling into mind that it is appointed once for all men to die. I do make this my Last Will and Testament and first I give & bequeath my soul into the hands of Almighty God my Heavenly Father that gave it hoping for the forgiveneſs of all my sins through the merits and intercession of Jesus Christ my Beloved Redeemer and my Body I leave to be buried in a christian like manner, at the direction of my executrix hereafter named, nothing doubting but that I shall receive the same again at the General Resurrection, and as for my worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life with, I give and dispose of the same in manner and form following. Imperialis it is my Will and desire that after my Burial Charges & just debts are paid and my wife's thirds + taken out, the remainder of my Estate I give & bequeath unto my beloved children namely William Barnard, Luke Barnard, Mary Barnard, Phebe Barnard, Tobias Barnard, Jeſse Barnard, Nathaniel Barnard, Notley Barnard & Mena Barnard to be equally divided amongst them to them, their Heirs and aſsigns for-ever And lastly I constitute, ordain and appoint my well beloved wife Mena Barnard my whole and sole Executrix of this my Last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former Wills before this by me made, notifying and confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament. In Testimony whereof I have here unto Set my hand & affixed my Seal the day and year above written. Nathaniel ( his + mark ) Barnard {Seal.}



Signed Sealed published and pronounced by the said Nathaniel Barnard to be his Last Will and Testament in presence of -
Joseph Wood Junior, Robert Fulton & Charles Springer.

On the 25th day of February 1777, came Robert Fulton and Charles Springer two of the Subscribing Witnesses to the foregoing Will and made Oath on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God that they did see the testator Nathaniel Barnard sign and seal said will and heard him publish, pronounce and declare the same to be his last will and testament and at the time he did so he was to the each of their apprehensions of a sound and disposing mind and memory and that they did also see Joseph Wood the other subscribing witness sign his name as a witness in whole and that they verily subscribed their name as witnesses to the said will in presence of the testator and also in the presence of each other.

Sworn before T. Bowles   dist. Com.


Note: I have not confirmed the section in red from scans of the original manuscript.