Francis J. Smith 1805 Will - Amanuensis Monday

I am currently examining and digitizing papers belonging to my husband's great grandmother Maria Lee Palmer Smith [MLPS]. Included among them is an 1805 copy of Francis J. Smith's will, who was her husband's great-uncle. He died shortly after his will was written on 12 April 1805. This copy of the will is attached to the original letter of administration issued on the 27th of May, 1805.

Copy

Francis J Smith

Will annexed

to Letters Testamentary

For

Jane Elizabeth Smith

Leonard Jamison

& William Williams

Executors

Maryland ss) The State of Maryland To all persons

To whom those Presents shall come Greeting

Know Ye that the last will and Testament

of Francis J Smith of Frederick County Deceased

Hath in due form of law been Exhibited

Proved and recorded in the Office of the

Register of Wills for Frederick County a Copy

of which is to those presents Annexed and

Administration of all the Goods Chattels

and Codils of the Deceased is hereby granted and

committed unto Jane Elizabeth Smith, Leonard Jamison,

& William Williams The Executors by the said will appointed

Witness John Schley Esq^r Which Justice of the Orphans

Court of Frederick County this 27^th day of May ~ 1805

Test Richard Butler Reg^r.

Of wills Fred^k County.

In The Name of God Amen I Francis

J Smith of Frederick County and State of Maryland

being Sick & weak in Body tho of sound mind and

memory thanks be to Almighty God for the same

do make and Ordain this to be my last will and

Testament in manner and form following Viz^d

1^st I resign my Soul into the hands of Almighty

God who gave it and my Body to the Earth to be

decently buried at the discretion of my Executors

hereafter named - 2^nd I Give and bequeth

all my Estate of which I am at this time or may ~

Hereafter be Possessed both real & Personal after

paying my just Debts unto my beloved Wife M^rs.

Jane Elizabeth Smith, her heirs & assigns forever in full

confidence she will dispose of it to the best advantage

that may be in her power – as a Provision for herself

and our Dear Children – it may be proper to mention

that the real property to which I have a legal right

is in the State of Kentucky but the County or Counties

in which it lies from the fragment changes which

have taken place in the limits of the Counties

in that State is not at Present recollected

3^rdly It is my desire that out of Personal

Estate my dear Wife will pay into the hands

of the Reverend M^r John Dubois as soon as she

can make it convenient without Distressing the

family the Sum of Twenty Dollars to be applied

by him as heretofore verbally directed -

4^thly I hereby appoint my Dear Wife Jane

Elizabeth Smith M^r Leonard Jamison & M^r William

Williams (of S^t Marys County Executors of this my last

will and Testament In Testimony whereof

I do hereunto set my hand & Seal this Twelfth

day of April in the Year of our Lord one

thousand Eight Hundred & five

Signed Sealed & Acknowledge)

in the presence of -                  )       Francis J Smith {seal}

P. Thomas, Joseph Smith         )

Baker Jamison                         )

True Copy Test Richard Butler Reg^r.

Notes: According to family records, Smith's wife was Jane Hurd. Leonard Jamison was Smith's brother-in-law, married to his sister, Mary. He was also the grandfather of MLPS's husband and believed to have received the will and letters of administration. Joseph Smith, a witness, was Francis Smith's brother. Baker Jamison was Leonard's brother. [Updated] A Family Record name the children of Francis and Jane Hurd Smith as Leonard (unmarried), Jane (married Dr. Stone), Mary (married Raphael Neale) and Ann (unmarried).

The handwriting, though extremely legible, included what I believe is an unusually formed letter "e" that looked like an "o". I opted to transcribe it as an "e".


Source: Frederick, Maryland, Francis J. Smith Will, dated 12 April 1805 and Letters of Administration, dated 27 May 1805; Contained in the Maria Lee Palmer Smith Papers [Privately Held] Frederick, MD.