"I shall not enjoy the happiness" - Amanuensis Monday

Thanks to John at Transylvanian Dutch who originated the Amanuensis Monday meme, providing a framework (and nudge) for transcribing family records, news clippings and other treasures.

Though I have yet to complete last week's notes for Joseph Conway's will, this is not the day. It is a day I can transcribe another letter from the papers belonging to Maria Lee Palmer Smith, my husband's great-grandmother. This letter was written to her mother, Margaret Meredith Palmer, in 1851.

Envelope addressed to
Mrs M M. Palmer
near Kilmarnock
Lancaster Co
Va

Madam:

     Your Kind invitation could not have been made at any time, more convenient, than the present. Hence I have a thousand obligations for your exquisite goodness. May our dear Lord grant me as many opportunities of proving my gratitude, as my heart desires.
     And yet, Madam, I shall not enjoy the happiness of seeing you, your dear little children, and my own good William, since I am condemned by my physician, to retire for some days to the north. Be sure, this is a penance to me. I like the good Virginians So much, that it would afford me the greatest consolations, it would perhaps restore my health, if I could do them so good. Let us cheerfully submit to the holy will of God.
     Please, Madam, receive my hearty thanks for your kindness and charity, together with the promise of praying for you and all those who are dear to your heart, as often as I think of you.
     With the sincerest esteem, in union with your holy prayers

most truly yours in  αst

Feast of St. Mary Magd.
Balte.  1851                                              J. Francis.
Mrs. M. Palmer

Notes
The Feast of St. Mary Magdalene is celebrated on July 22nd.

I find the letter of interest for two reasons. The first is the size (I added a penny to the photograph for scale) and flowery writing of the day. The second that the letter (and the fact that it was kept by both Palmer and her daughter) is one more indication of the strong Catholic ties maintained by Palmer while she lived in Virginia. William, her brother, was confirmed a Roman Catholic at some time in 1851. He would take his vows as a Redemptorist priest in 1853.

I have not been able to identify J. Francis. There is no obvious match in the 1850 census in Baltimore. He may be a Redemptorist, but I have not found him in any of the order's histories.

I am not certain about the symbol in the closing line but believe it is the Greek letter α (alpha) or icthys symbol. It seems to be used in lieu of writing Christ. 

Source: 
Francis, (Baltimore, MD) to Margaret M. Palmer. Letter. 22 July 1851. Privately held. Frederick, MD. Published with permission.  

A Grave Concern - Amanuensis Monday

Thanks to John at Transylvanian Dutch who originated the Amanuensis Monday meme, providing a framework (and nudge) for transcribing family records, news clippings and other treasures.

This is another transcription of a document from the papers of Maria Lee Palmer Smith (1844-1931), my husband's great-grandmother. It is a letter from the men acting as her uncle Thomas Meredith's executors addressed to Maria's mother, Margaret Meredith Palmer. Punctuation, format and spelling are retained from the original, though line breaks have been altered.

Baltimore 31st March 1854

Mrs Margaret M. Palmer

Frederick Md   Dear Madam

Your letter of  the 28th inst

has been received -

In reply  we would respectfully suggest, with your concurrence,

that Thursday the 20th April be fixed for the interment of the remains of your deceased husband.

As regards the remains of our most estimable friend Thomas

Meredith; as far as we can ascertain, we believe it is determining that they shall remain where they now are, in the vault of his brother in law Edward Jenkins.

If you should desire to be present, at the internment of 

the remains of your late husband, the day and hour may be fixed with you, after your arrival in Baltimore

                                                                 Very Respectfully

                                                                    Wm Kennedy          }        Executors

                                                                                                                       of

                                                                    MCourtney Jenkins  }   Thos. Meredith

Notes: This letter answered one question and posed so many more.  

The family has long wondered what happened to the gravestone of James Palmer who died in 1847. We assumed he, like most of his family, was buried at Clifton in Kilmarnock, VA even though there was no stone. 

One of my husband's cousins told me that Margaret's grave was "scanned" (I have no idea what technology was used) when the family put up a new marker to replace one that had eroded and that another, small unmarked grave was next to hers. They were hoping to find James' grave but decided the second grave was too small to be an adult. 

After discovering a handwritten family record in Maria's papers I believe the small grave may be that of Maria and James' stillborn daughter. But James was a mystery. 

From this letter, written a few months after her uncle Thomas Meredith's death, it seems James Palmer was buried in Baltimore in 1854 - more than six years after his death. 

I do not know which cemetery the executors were referring to (on the to do list), but I strongly suspect it was a Catholic cemetery. The first one I will check is the one associated with Baltimore's new cathedral - a project Meredith actively supported. I also suspect the reason Palmer was not buried in Virginia was that there was no Catholic church or cemetery near his home at the time of his death. 

Of course, the real question is where was James Palmer's body those six years? 

Source: Kennedy  & Jenkins, (Baltimore, MD) to Margaret M. Palmer. Letter. 31 Mar 1854. Privately held. Frederick, MD. Published with permission. 

Making Connections in 1928 - Amanuensis Monday

Thanks to John at Transylvanian Dutch who originated the Amanuensis Monday meme, providing a framework (and nudge) for transcribing family records, news clippings and other treasures.

This summer past I spent a week examining and digitizing papers belonging to my husband's great-grandmother Maria Lee Palmer Smith. Maria Lee was a dedicated family historian and archivist and her papers include many letters from other researchers and family members. This letter, from a cousin reestablishing connections, is one of my favorites.

“Two - mile House”

Carlisle Pa

April 2 . 1928

My dear cousin : -

After hearing from Mrs. West the other day, I had made up my mind to write to you as she enclosed you letter saying you would be “glad to know who Mrs. Beyea is”, & I thought I would explain us – both.

Yes, we are “Jimmie” Meredith's children, & I remember seeing your mother at my grandmother's in Balto. When I was a very little girl. She looked tall to me, and a little severe & I think her hair was parted in the middle; and she wore a long gold chain around her neck & there was a watch on it that slipped into her belt, & it seems to me her hair was not white but very dark, streaked with gray & I was rather in awe of “Aunt Palmer” as she was called in the family – after all these years. I wonder if these recollections are correct, or if I may have confused her with someone else in the family. I used to hear my father speak of “Mollie Palmer” & it is from a letter of his written in 1912 that I got your name and address to send Mrs. West

My father died in 1916 and if he had lived would have been eighty one I think. My Aunt, Kate Meredith – died several years ago. We only have one Meredith descendants to carry on the name – Richard Screven Meredith (now at Yale) a son of my brother Philip T. Meredith.

My other brother Harry P. Meredith died a year and a half ago - & left three girls & my third brother, Howell Janvier Meredith died when he was 24 years old, unmarried.

Mrs. Beyea (Elizabeth Janvier after my grandmother ) is a widow with two boys & two girls. “Jim” is like my father, but the Meredith name is gone. I also have a son & daughter & one grandson about 4 years old; but this does not carry on the name!

I married, the first time, John Mather Wallis of Baltimore, nephew of general Teackle Wallis – whom may have known as he was a well known lawyer of Baltimore – so my children are Wallises – Mr. Moore and I have no children.

And now that I have told you all my family history, I want to thank you so very much for your letter, and for taking the trouble to write out my “tree” for me.

I never knew which one of my great-grandfathers wives I was descended from until I got your letter, nor did I know that my great-great grandfather was William. Thank you so very much. Before this I have always had to confess that I didn't know who my great-grandmother Meredith was - and so have to thank you for Mary Dillard.

I don't think my father knew either as he speaks in this letter of his “grandfather John Meredith and his various wives” being buried I Lancaster Co. etc.

My father used to speak of “Uncle Tommy”. He must have been Aunt Palmer's brother. Then there was “Father Meredith”, he must have been the son of John Meredith and Anne Brent & a half-brother of Aunt Palmer's of my grandfather's. I have only heard of these various names – as a child, and never saw them on paper before & was therefore always a little hazy as to the relationship.

I also, have always heard we were Welsh, & I there is a Meredith coat-of-arms, which my brother Harry had become much interested in tracing, but after he became ill he was unable to continue it. Some friend of his in Detroit Mich. Had shown it to him & it was used by the original Meredith who came to this country in, I think, 1669. His name was I believe Jonathan. I can hunt this up if you are interested as I made some notes at the time my brother sent the coat-of-arm on for me to see. You know so much more than I do, that I am afraid I can never be of any help.

Do you ever take any motor trips? If so, won't you get my “cousin William” to bring you up here this summer? We live just outside of Carlisle, on the Chambersburg Highway, on an old stone house that was a tavern - “that's why” the Two-mile House, the original name. I should so much like to know my two cousins, whom I am so glad to have found.

I hope I have not bored you with too much detail & family.

It was so nice of you to write. I shall send your letter to my sister as she will be as much interested as I am.

With much love, I am your cousin

Alice Meredith Moore.

I am wondering if I maybe doubly connected, as I am on my mother's side a direct descendent of La__gra_ Thomas Smith – of S. Carolina however their name is legion, so that is just a chance.

My sister's address is

Mrs. Henry D Beyea

323 Midland Ave

Wayne Pa

I forgot to mention that my daughter is grown and has been married for several years, so I am not really so young after all!

~~~

Notes

Alice Moore and Maria Lee Smith were technically half first cousins once removed. The half is a distinction never seen in any of Maria Lee's papers. Her mother, one of four known Meredith children born to John Meredith by three different wives, did not distinguished her half-brothers from her full brother in any of the letters I've read. 

This is the first description of Smith's mother Margaret Meredith Palmer that I've read. Knowing the Palmer and Smith families I find it hard to believe that she was tall. I've towered over most every family member I've ever met. Perhaps to a child. 

The letter contains information that I believe to be incorrect. A Mary Dillard did marry a John Meredith (1782, Lancaster, VA) but I believe it was not Margaret's father John Meredith she married, but her great-uncle John Meredith. Uncle John died in 1795 leaving a will naming his wife Mary and three young daughters. Maria Lee Smith knew little of her Meredith or Palmer background. Other correspondence in the collection involves her hiring researchers in Lancaster County to search for marriage records. At this point I do not know the name of John Meredith's first wife, the mother of Thomas James Meredith (Alice Moore's grandfather). 

Finally, I wish I knew the source for "the original" Meredith! Not to mention who he was... 

Source: Moore, Alice Meredith. (Carlisle, PA) to Maria Lee Palmer Smith. Letter. 2 April 1828. Privately held by Smith's granddaughter. Frederick, MD. Published with permission. 

Will of John Meredith, 1830 - Friend of Friends Friday

This is the part of a series of transcriptions and abstracts of records involving slaves that I copied at the Library of Virginia during my summer research marathon. My husband's 3rd great-grandfather John Meredith wrote a his last will in 1830, before the birth of his last child, William Vincent Meredith. He named his wife, one adult and two minor children, his brother and two young slaves, Henry and Maria.

From Lancaster County (VA) Will Book 28, pages 327-328 (LVA Film #21)

     In the Name of God Amen I John Meredith of the County of Lancaster and State of Virginia being at this time in tolerable health and of Sound mind and knowing the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death do make and ____ this instrument my last will and testament revoking all others that I have heretofore made -
1st. It is my will and desire that my loving wife Ann Steptoe Meredith have and enjoy the use of all my estate both real and personal during her Single life for the purpose of Supporting maintaining and educating my younger children Margaret Maria and Thomas Wm. Meredith and Such other child or children as it may please God to bless me with by her Should however my relations think it best on Consulting with my said loving wife to Send them out to School or otherwise to take care of them, then and in that case instead of her having the use of my whole estate, She Shall have the use of one third of the Same during her natural life for it is my desire not to leave her worse off than I found her but rather better, She has been and continues to be, a most affectionate wife, as as well as mother to my children --.
2nd. I give and bequeath to my Son Thomas Jas. Meredith the plantation on which I live my negro boy Henry and my negro Girl Maria to him and his heirs forever any thing in the first item as above to the contrary notwithstanding, but he is not to have the possession of the said plantation till the Single life of my Said loving wife should terminate or the changes take place as above mentioned, he is however to take possession of above named Negroes as Soon after my decease as may be --.
3rd. The balance of my estate (in all cases my Just debts first to be paid of every description) I desire may be equally divided between my two younger children the Said Margaret Maria Meredith and Thomas Wm. Meredith and Such other child or children as I may have by my said loving wife --.
Lastly I hereby appoint my said loving wife Ann S. Meredith my brother Joseph Meredith of Totuskey Bridge and my Son Thos Jas: Meredith of the Same place my Sole Exors. To this my last will & testament. In Testimony whereof I have hereto Set my hand & affixed my Seal (the whole being written by my Self) this 9th day of July in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty --.

Jno. Meredith {S.S.}

At a Court held for the County of Lancaster on the 16th day of June 1834. This last will and testament of John Meredith decd was this day produced in open court, and being proven to be wholly in the proper hand writing of the Said decd by the oaths of Addison Hall & Ralph Edmonds two respectable witnesses was ordered to be recorded.

Teste,  Benjamin M. Walker cl.

Notes: I have not transcribed the estate records of John Meredith yet. There were other slaves named in later records. I have not researched Meredith's son Thomas James Meredith's estate which would have been recorded in Baltimore, Maryland. It is not clear whether the slaves Henry and Maria remained in Lancaster County (probably being rented to local land owners), moved to Totuskey Bridge (Richmond County, VA) where Thomas James Meredith was living, or were sold. I did not find record of such a sale in Lancaster County records. 

This is the first will I have transcribed where provisions were made for removing the children from the widow's care. In this case the children named were not her natural children, but the children of Meredith's previous wife, Ann Currell Lee Towles Meredith. Meredith had been married a year and a half when he wrote this will. The children did, in fact, remain in her care until her death in 1835. 

Lancaster County, VA 1833 - Amanuensis Monday

Thanks to John at Transylvanian Dutch who originated the Amanuensis Monday meme, providing a framework (and nudge) for transcribing family records, news clippings and other treasures.

During my research at the Library of Virginia last month I was able to copy more than one hundred pages of wills, deeds, marriage records, even voting lists. This page, from Lancaster County (VA) Deed Book 34, p. 159, may be my favorite. Other pages have more information but here, in separate entries, two of my husband's 3rd great-grandfathers are named.

Lancaster County to wit --
                  We John Meredith and James Harding Justices of the peace in the County aforesaid in the State of Virginia do hereby certify that Elizabeth Vowell, the wife of Valentine H. Vowell parties to a certain deed bearing date the 8th day of March 1833 and hereto annexed, personally appeared before us in our County aforesaid and being examined by us privily and apart from her husband and having the deed aforesaid fully explained, She the said Elizabeth Vowell  acknowledged the Same to be her act and deed and declared that She has willingly, Signed SEaled and delivered the Same, and that she wishes not to retract it--   Given under our hands and seals this 15th day of March 1833.

Jno: Meredith

James Harding

At a Court held for the County of Lancaster on the 15th day of April 1833
The deed from Valentine H. Vowell and Elizabeth his wife to William Gresham was proved in open court by the oaths Ezekiel G. Shearman and Robert H. Tapscott two of the witnesses thereto --
and at a Court held for the County of Lancaster on the 20th day of May following the said deed was further and fully proved by the oath of William Boyd the other witness thereto - and together with the Justices certificate of the privy examination of the Said Elizabeth was ordered to be recorded --

Teste;

Benjamin M. Walker, c.  c.              

For and in Consideration of the Sum of one Hundred and fifty Dols: to me in hand paid, I have this day bargained and sold unto Cols: Armstead J. Palmer all my right, title claim interest and demand that I now have or hereafter expect to have in the personal Estate of Joseph Carter Jr: decd the right to Said property I warrant and defend unto Said Palmer free from the claims of all and every person or person whatever -- as witness my hand and Seal this 15th day of Feby: 1833.
Teste,
Robert C Clarke                              Jno: Lunsford {seal}

At a court held for the County of Lancaster on the 20th day of May 1833
This Instrument of writing from John Lunsford to Armstead J. Palmer was acknowledged in open Court by the Said Lunsford and Ordered to be recorded --.
Teste, Benjamin M Walker c c

Notes: There is an Ancestry.com marriage record for Jno Jr. Lunsford to Lettice L. Carter on 17 Nov. 1817 in Lancaster County. One online tree names her as a daughter of a Joseph Carter who died in 1815, but Joseph Lyon Miller's The Descendents of Capt. Thomas Carter of Barford, Lancaster County, Virginia...  names different children (p. 357). I am curious what if any relationship existed between Palmer and the Carter family since Palmer's son purchased a large tract of land from the family in 1843.

This is the first reference I have for John Meredith serving as a Justice of the Peace.

Source: Lancaster, VA, Deeds, Deed Book 34:159; Library of Virginia, Reel 12.

At Road's End, Catholics in the Northern Neck

Palmer Hall today.

Catholics living in remote parts of the United States in the early decades of the 19th century often went to great lengths to practice their faith. For my husband's Meredith and Palmer ancestors living in Lancaster and Northumberland Counties, maintaining their Catholic faith involved traveling to Maryland by steamer or arranging for a priest to come to them, as Thomas Meredith did in 1830. 

I am anxious to go to Baltimore this spring to make my Easter but if I go when Brother Thomas goes I shall not be able to stay so long and must give up the pleasure of his company and protection. Please be so kind as to tell me when would be the best time for me to come and make my Easter. (M. M. Palmer at Clifton to Thomas Meredith, Baltimore, 9 March 1949.)

Since it was far easier to travel by water to Baltimore or Norfolk than by road to Richmond they journeyed to Baltimore to celebrate religious holidays, marriages and christenings when they could. But from at least 1830 the family celebrated Mass at home whenever a priest was able to visit.

The Confession chair at Clifton

After the Civil War John A. Palmer took over the family home at Clifton and raised a large family. According to his family, priests would come from Baltimore or Fredericksburg and celebrate Mass in one of the large parlors. Confession would be heard with the priest sitting in one of the wing chairs. Though there were only a few Catholic families in the area, Palmer began lobbying for a church to be built in Kilmarnock. On August 1, 1885 Palmer and his wife deeded land near the town to Bishop Keane of Richmond for five dollars (Lancaster County (VA) Deed Book 45:473). A small frame church was built and the mission parish of Saint Francis de Sales was opened. Priests continued to travel by steamer, staying at Clifton, but celebrating Mass in the new church. No resident priest lived there until after 1915.

Copy of 1885 Deed

In 1956 a new church was constructed next door and the first building became a parish hall. Palmer Hall, as it is known today, was restored several years ago. St. Francis de Sales remains a small parish in numbers, but covering much of the land of the Northern Neck. It has established its own mission church, St. Pauls Catholic Church 35 miles away in Hague, VA.

My husband's family is enormously proud of their efforts to maintain and promote their faith at Clifton since 1840 despite the distances involved. His great-grandmother, John Palmer's sister, kept her copy of the deed with her most treasured family papers.


View Catholic Churchs c. 1840 in a larger map


Written for the 109th edition of the Carnival of Genealogy.


For further information see
St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church
The Catholic Church in Virginia (New River Notes)
The Museum of Virginia Catholic History and Diocesan Archives

Totuskey Creek - Wordless Wednesday

Totuskey Creek, in Richmond County, Virginia, is where James Meredith and his uncle Joseph Meredith had a store in the 1830s. It is where Margaret Meredith, my husband's 2x great-grandmother lived after her father and step-mother died.

Margaret Meredith Palmer - Tombstone Tuesday

Mrs. M. Palmer
Wife of
Jas. A. Palmer
1824-1889

Margaret Meredith Palmer lies in the small graveyard at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Kilmarnock, Virginia. The land the church and graveyard are on was originally part of Clifton plantation, the Palmer home.

Palmer Hall, the original church at St. Francis de Sales.

Her son John A. Palmer and his family are buried near her under a series of large markers.

Selling the Meredith Land - Amanuensis Monday

Thanks to John at Transylvanian Dutch who originated the Amanuensis Monday meme, providing a framework (and nudge) for transcribing family records, news clippings and other treasures.

I am beginning to process the documents copied at the Library of Virginia during my recent travels. This deed documents the 1838 sale of the land my husband's 3rd great-grandfather, John Meredith, willed to his eldest son, Thomas James Meredith in 1834.

       This Indenture made the 17th July 1838 between Thomas J. Meredith of the County of Richmond of the one part and George W. Flowers of the county of Lancaster of the other part each of the state of Virginia: witnesseth that the said Thomas J. Meredith for and in consideration of the sum of Three thousand five hundred dollars to him by the said George W. Flowers agreed to be paid hath granted bargained and sold and by these presents doth grant bargain sell and convey unto the said George W. Flowers his heirs and assigns a certain tract or parcel of Land containing one hundred and seventy four acres or the same more or less lying and being in the County of Lancaster and on Dymers Creek and being the same tract of Land devised by the last will and testament of John Meredith decd: to the said Thomas James Meredith --
   To have and to hold the said tract or parcel of Land with the appurtenances thereto belonging from and after the first day of January next To him the said George W. Flowers his heirs and assigns forever: and the said Thomas James Meredith for himself and his heirs exors & admons doth hereby convenant and agree to and with the said George W. Flowers his heirs and assigns that he said Thomas J. Meredith and his heirs the said tract or parcel of land with its appurtenances unto the said George W. Flowers his heirs and assigns against him the said Thomas J. Meredith and his heirs and against all persons whomsoever shall and & will by these presents forever warrant and defend. In witness whereof the said Thomas J. Meredith hath hereto set his hand & affixed his seal the day and year above written --
signed sealed and delivered }           Thomas J. Meredith {Seal}
in presence of                     }
Ro: T. Dunaway
B. M. Walker
James E. Waddey
          The grave yard  on the premises hereby conveyed is excepted & reserved to the said Thomas J Meredith his heirs and assigns forever say one fourth of an acre.
witness                                              Geo: W. Flowers
Ro: T. Dunaway
          At a Court held for the County of Lancaster on the 16th day of September 1839. This deed from Thomas J. Meredith to George W. Flowers was proved by the oaths of Ro: T. Dunaway, Benjamin M. Walker & James E. Waddey witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded.
                                                           Teste,
                                                                  Benjamin M. Walker cl

Notes ~ This deed narrows the locations possible for John Meredith's land, land he had inherited from his father, William Meredith. His home was referred to as Plum Hill in an obituary appearing in a Richmond newspaper. No such name exists in the area today, but Place-names of the Northern Neck of Virginia by Mary Ruth Miller (Richmond, VA: Virginia State Library 1983) mentions Plum Tree Swamp as a marsh, located in Northumberland or Lancaster Counties in the vicinity of Fleets Bay. The deed's mention of Dymers Creek supports a Fleets Bay location. Dymer Creek is located in Lancaster County and separates Fleets Bay Neck and Poplar Neck before it empties into the Bay. 

The mention of a graveyard intrigues me. My assumption is that William and Caty Yerby Meredith (John's parents), John, at least one of his three wives, and other Meredith siblings were buried there. I've found no other mention of a Meredith graveyard before this. The map above does indicate two cemeteries that are not visible on Google Earth. 

Sources
     Lancaster, VA, Deed Book 39:78, Thomas J. Meredith to George W. Flowers, 17 Jul 1838. Library of Virginia Film #13. Digital image. 
     Map from the Virginia Department of Health's Shoreline Sanitary Survey for Indian, Dymer and Tabbs Creek, dated 11 June 2011. (http://www.vdh.state.va.us/EnvironmentalHealth/shellfish/shoreline/survey016.pdf. Accessed 31 Jul 2011.)

Slave Division of Thad. Pullen's Estate - A Friend of Friend Friday

This is the part of a series of transcriptions and abstracts of records involving slaves that I copied at the Library of Virginia during my summer research marathon. Eleven slaves were named in the Division of Slaves for the estate of Thaddeus Pullen, who died about 1809 in Lancaster County, Virginia. I abstracted the slave and heir information from the microfilm copy.

From Lancaster County Estate Book 27, p. 339 (LVA Reel #47)

Slave Division of Thadeus Pullen's Estate. 17 February 1817.

To Frances George, late widow of Thad. Pullen
     Bob $400
     Alice $330
     Jerry $130
     Molly $80
             $ 940

To Westley Kirk, by right of his wife who was Elizabeth Pullen, Lot 4
     John at $400
To Enoch George, guardian of Jonathan Pullen, Lot 2
     Charles $230
     Tom $230
To William George, guardian of William Pullen, Lot 3
     Hannah $330
To William George, guardian of Catherine Pullen, Lot 5
     Sarah $330
To William George, guardian of Addaline Pullen, Lot 1
     Jesse $280
To William George, guardian of Nancy B. Pullen, Lot 6
     Ann $330

Submitted by Sp. George, Wm T. Yerby, Danl P Mitchell and recorded at Lancaster Court 19 Jan 1818.

Pullen's widow, Frances George, was the sister of my husband's 3rd great-grandfather, John Meredith. At this time I know very little about the Pullen heirs and where they remained. Addaline did die shortly after this settlement. Jesse likely ended up belonging to another of the heirs. William Pullen remained in Lancaster County until the Civil War. I have not researched him further than that. 

Slaves of William Meredith - A Friend of Friends Friday

This is the part of a series of transcriptions and abstracts of records involving slaves that I copied at the Library of Virginia during my summer research marathon. Ten slaves were named in the inventory and appraisal of my husband's 4th great-grandfather, William Meredith, who died in 1808 in Lancaster County, Virginia. I abstracted the slave information but did not copy the list of household goods.

From Lancaster County Estate Book 27, p. 32 (LVA Reel #47)

Appraisal for estate of William Meredith, deceased. 8 July 1808.

     1 negro man Daniel                              £ 100.00
     1     "       "   Solomon                               90.00
     1     "       "   Saunders                             100.00
     1     "       "   George                                  75.00
     1     "     boy Stephen                                15.00 
     1     "    woman Nell                                  21.00
     1     "         "      Nanny                              75.00
     1     "         "      Minny                               75.00
     1     "         "      Patty                                60.00
     1     "     girl Martha (see below)                 30.00


     Submitted to Lancaster Court by William Gibson, Samuel M. Shearman, Geo. W. Yerby, Rich. Berryman and recorded 18 July 1808.

~~~

The name of the girl Martha was difficult to read and may be incorrect. 

The slaves total value was £631.00 making them the majority of the estate which had a total value of £813.20. The appraisal did not include Meredith's land or three more slaves who were named as individual bequests in his will (Lancaster Will Book 28, p. 106). There he named Battron, Harry and Willis. Solomon was also an individual bequest to a son Robert but was named in this inventory. For further information on Solomon and other enslaved people see my WeRelate page recording slave information found during family research. 

Abstract thoughts

I've relied for many years on published abstracts of wills, marriages and deeds in my research. I don't live anywhere near the places I've needed to research and it's only in the last few years that original documents have become more available online. As I worked through the thousands of names in the family trees I inherited, validating the information and adding rudimentary sources, the abstracts were heaven sent.

I'm now in Virginia - ground zero for much of my family and my husband's. I'm visiting houses, cousins, graveyards and my personal Mecca, the Library of Virginia. Four days there doesn't seem nearly enough time, but I shall make the most of it. 

Saturday I plowed through Lancaster and Northumberland records, looking for the wills I've been citing, looking for estate settlements, inventories, other deeds and indentures. And I found them. Dozens and dozens of them. I haven't dared count how many pages I'm going to copy to my flash drive on Monday.  

And I saw what I'd known in the abstract - the names that are missing from those lovely, easy abstracts. There are dozens and dozens of them, as well. Names like Sam, 42 year old male. Annie, 16 year old female. Stepto, 27 year old male. (These aren't specific people - just examples.) I looked away several times. I was more exhausted than I've been the entire trip. I can't possible copy them all. But I will copy everyone of "ours" that I can get to. And over the next months I will transcribe every name and publish them all. 

In the meantime, if you're seeking enslaved ancestors from the Northern Neck and believe they might have been owned by the following families please contact me after August 1st. I'll be glad to send you copies of anything I've found. 

Slave Owners naming Slaves in 18th & 19th c. Northern Neck Records

Corbin

Currell

Gibson

Lawson

Lee

McTyre

Meredith

Palmer

Yerby

These other families may also have left records naming slaves, but I have not seen them so far. I will, however, be copying records so may have information on them later.

Conway (Northern Virginia)

Dobyns (Northern Virginia)

Doggett (Northern Virginia)

Holt (Amelia and Campbell Counties)

James (Wythe and Smyth Counties)

Mason (Campbell County)

Porter (Fauquier County)

Turner (Northern Virginia)

Williams (Wythe, Grayson, Smyth Counties)

Finding Father - Thankful Thursday

I have spent many years researching my Meredith in-laws and have come to care deeply about many of them. I have an especially dear place in my heart for Father William Meredith, the younger half-brother of my husband's great great-grandmother.

From the first references to him as a young child in 1830s family letters to newspaper articles about him when he was serving as a priest in St. Louis in the 1870s every mention has been full of warmth and caring. When I realized he had been in St. Louis, where I live and served as the first pastor at a church, where I have worshiped, I began searching for a portrait of him. The Redemptorist order he was a member of is no longer headquartered in St. Louis; the church where he presided burned recently and most of it's records have been stored. I've not been able to find a photograph or painting.

So I was beyond thrilled when going through the papers of his niece and my husband's great-grandmother to find several documents. There was a lengthy obituary, a transcription of his tombstone, and there was this.

I'll admit to a loud gasp and a tear or two. Dancing ensued. There isn't any logical reason why he, and now this photograph, mean so much to me, but I will be forever grateful that I had the chance to pour through those papers, open up an envelope and see this face. 

I believe the writing on front says "your gruncle Wm. V. Meredith, C.S.S.R." The photograph was taken by A. J. Fox (205 North Fifth Street, St. Louis), perhaps in 1878 when Fr. Meredith celebrated his 25th anniversary as a priest. He's a little heavier than I expected, definitely posed and formal. But his eyes seem kind and his face gentle. He looks well, and strong, though he died in 1884 in New Orleans, only a few years after this portrait was taken. 

Having found Uncle Father Willie Meredith, I intend to keep him near, to guide and encourage me, even to share a celebratory jig upon occasion! By all accounts he's a very good man to have around.

Mystery Monday's Merediths

I have spent years researching my 19th century Meredith in-laws and have had considerable success finding information that has clarified their relationships and cast a bit of light on their lives.

There are some aunts and cousins that are more shadowed - even hints of a bit of scandal. But I've not delved deep into those individuals yet. I hope to find some records this summer in Virginia that will answer some of my questions. But above all I want to find out about my mystery Merediths.

My husband's gg grandmother Margaret Meredith Palmer had three brothers - Thomas James (T.J. or James), Thomas William (Tommie or Thomas), and William Vincent Meredith (don't you just love those names!). I've written about James' untimely death and about William's life as a Redemptorist priest several times. But Thomas has been difficult to decipher.

He was mentioned in the family letters from the Thomas Meredith papers at the Maryland Historical Society. There was no reference to college for him, however, which I found puzzling since so many other nephews and his sister, Margaret, were being educated at Catholic schools by their uncle. His brother (and guardian) James wrote about taking Tommie with him on business trips which suggested he was being groomed to join the family ranks of merchants. Margaret writes about relying on him for advice and assistance following her husband's death in 1847.

The information in the letters is supported by the 1850 census. He appears twice - enumerated as a merchant on July 1st in Lancaster County (VA) with his brother, William, and again in his sister's household in Northumberland County (VA) where he was enumerated as a clerk on November 15th. Also in his sister's household was a young woman, Frances Palmer. I have not been able to identify her relationship to the family.

And then his life becomes much less clear. I have a theory as to what happened, but many, many questions. I posted this query on several message boards in 2007 (no responses to date).

Seeking information on the following persons listed in 1850, 1860, & 1870 Census:

1850 - VA Northumberland, District 7
Frances PALMER 22 female
Thomas MEREDITH 25 male clerk
Both were living in the household of Margaret Meredith Palmer, widow of James Palmer.

1860 - VA Lancaster, Eastern District (Litwalton Post Office)
F M MEREDITH 33 female seamstress & head of household
John MEREDITH 6 male
Caroline MEREDITH 4 female
Nanny L MEREDITH 2 female
Thomas E MEREDITH 1 male
All born in Virginia

1870 - VA Northumberland, Wicomico
John MERRIDETH 16 male working on farm, born in Virginia
He is in household of John Palmer, son of Margaret Meredith & James Palmer. Margaret Palmer is also in household.

MD Baltimore, Ward 10
Carrie MEREDITH 14 female born in Maryland
Nannie MEREDITH 12 female born in Maryland
Both were residents of Saint Mary's Orphan Asylum.

On the face the information suggests Thomas (who with his brother, William, were the only Merediths enumerated in Lancaster and Northumberland Counties in 1850) likely married a woman whose name began with F, had four children and died. Was the woman the Frances Palmer living with his sister in 1850? A memorial on Findagrave shows he died in 1859 and was buried at St. Mary's Whitechapel in Lancaster County. It's fairly tidy.

BUT, why was Thomas left out of his uncle's 1853 will? His uncle left substantial bequests to all of Thomas's siblings and his sister's children. Why was he buried at St. Mary's when there is no record of any other family member being buried there? What happened to F M Meredith and the baby Thomas? Marriage records indicate she remarried. Did the Civil War impact the family? Why were the daughters in an orphanage in Maryland (which was one of the largest beneficiaries of Uncle Thomas's will)? And what happened to the young Merediths in the years that followed?

I hope to get answers to many of my questions when I visit the Library of Virginia and the Mary Ball Washington Museum & Library this summer.

Thomas Meredith's 1853 Will, Part III - A Meredith Review

I have spent more than a few days analyzing and absorbing the information in my husband's 4x great-uncle Thomas Meredith (TM) will. He and his extended family have fascinated me for years, all the more after I read many of the letters he and his family exchanged during the 1830s and 1840s in the collection of his papers (MS1795) housed at the Maryland Historical Society.

The will confirmed, in spades, what the papers had suggested. TM and his wife had no children who survived to adulthood. He was extremely wealthy, generous to his family (mostly) and a devoted Catholic. Just for grins I calculated what the $50,000 that he is reported to have left Catholic organizations and charities would be worth today. According to calculators at Measuring Worth.com his 1853 gifts to the Church roughly equal $19,000,000 in 2010. In addition, there were the more than $52,000 of named bequests to his wife and other heirs. He left a large estate and he spread his wealth around.

His will supported the information gathered from the TM papers. Those family members whose letters were saved, who were mentioned regularly in the correspondence, are generally the family members named in the will.

Finding the McSherrys mentioned both in the will and in his papers drove me to some fast online research that suggested Dr. McSherry was a cousin of TM's wife. Since McSherry referred to both TM's wife and nephew James (Thomas James Meredith) as cousins this suggests McSherry may have been related to James' as yet unidentified mother. I love clues!

There were a couple nieces named in the will (Elizabeth Kirk and Ann B. Purcell) who did not appear in his papers. I believe they are daughters of TM's sister Frances Meredith Pullen, one of his sisters I know very little about. Many researchers name her as the Fanny Pullen who married William Garland Yerby in Richmond County, VA. This Fanny Pullen was still alive during the time covered by TM's papers and when he wrote his will. If this Fanny Pullen was TM's sister the fact that she was not mentioned in either his papers or will suggests they were not on good terms. The fact that her daughters were named in the will could also suggest that TM's sister died before his will was written. There are several Richmond County Chancery Court cases I plan to review this summer that I hope will clarify whether the wife of William Garland was also TM's sister.

Finally, and much to my disappointment, the will did nothing to illuminate the life of TM's nephew Thomas W. Meredith, the only known surviving child of John Meredith NOT named as an heir. Thomas is my remaining Meredith mystery - at least for this generation of the family. But that, I think is another post.

Thomas Meredith's 1853 Will, Part II - A cast of thousands

On Monday I posted a transcription of Thomas Meredith's will which was far lengthier and more detailed than other wills I have transcribed. The will named 35 different individuals - most as heirs, witnesses or executors. I have developed an index that gives a brief overview of each person's relationship to Meredith and other germane information.

Further information about many of the people named in this will can be found in this blog's posts tagged "Meredith" and in an article at WeRelate about the Meredith papers at the Maryland Historical Society.

Persons named in the will

Bayzand, Wm. H Witness to will. Listed as a Justice of the Peace in Matchett's Baltimore Directory for 1853-54.

Hickman, N Register of Wills. Listed as Nathaniel Hickman in Matchett's Baltimore Directory for 1853-54.

Israel

J. Robert Witness to will. With Henry, below, was a member of the firm Israel Fielder & Sons, listed as conveyancers in Mattchett's Baltimore Directory for 1856-57. A conveyancer was an attorney specializing in property sales and transfers.

W. Henry See Robert (above).

Jackson

Henry Heir. Son of Henry F. (below).

Henry F. Father of two heirs (above and below). Proprietor of the Eutaw House Hotel where Meredith and his wife lived for almost 20 years. Jackson began managing the hotel in 1846. See Scharf's “History of Baltimore City and County...”

Lucy M. Heir. Daughter of Henry F. (above).

Jenkins, Michael Courtney Executor of will. An attorney in Baltimore. The Jenkins' were a prominent Catholic family in Maryland. May be related to TM's sister-in-law Ann Spalding Jenkins.

Kelly, James Neighbor of Lancaster/Northumberland County VA Merediths who was leasing the slave Jim Sanders from Meredith. Not a known relation, but possible related by marriage to TM's niece Margaret Palmer (below) through her late husband, James Armistead Palmer.

Kennedy, William Executor of will. Listed as president of Mount Vernon Co. (a cotton mill) in Matchett's Baltimore Directory for 1853-54. Kennedy was another Baltimore merchant.

Kenrick, Francis Patrick Heir. Archbishop of Baltimore from 1851 to 1863. See Wikipedia article.

Kirk, Elizabeth Her unnamed children were heirs. Niece of TM and sister of William Pullen. Pullen was the son of TM's sister Frances Meredith Pullen Yerby. She is presumed to have died before the will was written.

McCrorken, Rosanna Heir. Maid to TM's wife Maria Meredith. Not found in 1850 census using Ancestry.com index.

McSherry

Richard Heir. Son of Richard Jr. MD (below)

Richard, Jr. MD Father of an heir (above). Prominent Baltimore Physician. His Aunt Susan McSherry married John Piet, son of TM's sister-in-law Margaret Meredith from her first marriage. He wrote a letter dated 21 Mar 1843 from Martinsburg, Virginia sending “sincere regards to Cousin M. (Maria?) and Cousin __ James”. Online trees (sourced) state that Anastasia Lilly (this Richard's mother) and Mary Lilly (mother of TMs wife Maria Spalding Meredith) were sisters. This suggests that the mother of James (Thomas J. Meredith, below) may have been related to McSherry since there is no known relationship through the Meredith family.

Menzies, Margaret Louisa Heir. Nee Ghequiere. Great great niece of TM. Granddaughter of his brother William Meredith and his wife, the widow Margaret Piet, who was also the mother-in-law of Dr. McSherry (above).

Meredith

Maria M. Heir. Nee Spalding. Wife of TM. Died in 1877.

Thomas Testator. Identified as TM throughout this article.

Thomas J (1815-1855) Heir. Nephew of TM and eldest son of John Meredith and his unknown first wife. Half-brother to William V (below) and Margaret Palmer (below). A Baltimore merchant, he left a widow and three young children when he was killed in a train wreck.

William V. (1832-1884) Heir. Nephew of TM. Youngest son of John Meredith and his last wife Ann Steptoe Brent. Half-brother to Thomas J. (above) and Margaret Palmer (below). Catholic priest.

Murray, John Heir. Leased a farm belonging to TM located in "Peter", Baltimore County. Neither the land nor Murray have been researched at this point. Not yet identified in any census. 

Palmer

John T. (1846-1929) Heir. Great nephew of TM and son of Margaret M. (below).

Margaret M. (1823-1889) Heir. Nee Meredith. Niece of TM and daughter of John Meredith and his wife Ann Currell Lee Towell. Half sister of William V. Meredith and Thomas J. Meredith (above).

Maria (1844-1931) Heir. Great niece of TM and daughter of Margaret M (above).

Purcell, Ann B Heir. A niece of TM. Not yet defined but (based on indexes of Richmond County Chancery Court Records) believed to be a daughter of Francis Frizzel Meredith Pullen/Pullin Yerby. This would make her a sister to James Pullen/Pullin and Elizabeth Kirk.

Sanders, Jim A bequest. A slave working at James Kelly's plantation near Kilmarnock.

Scammon

Caroline M. Heir. Daughter of below.

E. T. I., Lt.  Father of an heir (above). May be the Lt. Eliakim P. Scammon (1816-1894) of the Army Engineers stationed in Baltimore in 1836 who became a Union Army Brigadier General during the Civil War. Further research needed.

Shearman, Joseph W. Heir. Nephew of TM. Only child of his sister Caroline Meredith Shearman. His education at Georgetown College was paid for by TM.

Spencer, Joseph H Business partner of TM & his nephew in Meredith & Spencer. He appears in the 1850 census aged 26, born in Maryland living with three Spencer females (Ancestry Source Citation: Year: 1850; Census Place: Baltimore Ward 18, Baltimore, Maryland; Roll: M432_287; Page: 16B; Image: 37). Probably an heir to Edward Spencer, an earlier partner of TM.

Ward, Charles Heir. Servant at the Eutaw House where TM lived for many years. He is enumerated as a 30 year old black male, born in Maryland, living at the Eutaw House in the 1850 census.

Yerby

Ellyson Husband of Heir (below). Brother-in-law and probably cousin of TM. Also a merchant who dealt with TM and his nephew James during the 1840s.

Hannah Heir. Sister of TM and wife of Ellyson.

Maria Heir. Great niece of TM and daughter of Ellyson & Hannah Yerby.

Virginia Heir. Great niece of TM and daughter of Ellyson & Hannah Yerby.

1853 Will of Thomas Meredith - Amanuensis Monday

Thanks to John at Transylvanian Dutch who originated the Amanuensis Monday meme, providing a framework (and nudge) for transcribing family records, news clippings and other treasures.

I recently found the 1853 will of one of my favorite in-laws, my husband's ggg-great-uncle Thomas Meredith, on FamilySearch. Each time I find another trace of Uncle Thomas I am more and more impressed. This is by far the most detailed will I have come across in our families. So detailed that my notes and comments on it and its cast of thousands (only slightly exaggerated) will be another post.

     Be it Known, that I, Thomas Meredith of the City of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, being in feeble health, but of sound disposing mind, memory and understanding, considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof, do make and publish this as my last Will and Testament, in manner following, that is to say; ~
     I order and direct all my just debts and funeral expenses to be fully satisfied and paid out of my Estate.
     I give and bequeath to my beloved Wife, Maria M. Meredith, her executors, administrators and assigns, ninety nine Shares of Stock in the Commercial and Farmers Bank of Baltimore, (full paid) also two Shares of Stock in the Baltimore and Ohio rail road Company, also nine thousand dollars of the Government Loan of the United States of America, redeemable in Eighteen hundred and sixty eight, also five hundred dollars of the Loan of The Trustees of The Catholic Cathedral Church of Baltimore, also fifty Shares of Stock in the Merchants Bank of Baltimore, also one hundred Shares of Stock in The National Fire Insurance Company, upon which Seven dollars per Share has been paid; also Two thousand Dollars of The Baltimore and Ohio Rail road Company's free Bonds; also three hundred dollars of The Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road company's Bonds, subject to taxes, also, Six thousand one hundred and forty eight dollars and fifty cents of the six percent Stock or loan of the Corporation or City of Baltimore, also the sum of six thousand dollars, in Cash, also, my negro man Jim or Jim Sanders, as he calls himself, now hired to James Kelly, Esquire, of Kilmarnock, Virginia, also, all and entire of my furniture and plate and Library of Books of every description, also my wearing apparel, and I likewise give to my said beloved wife, Five hundred dollars for special pious purposes.
     I give and bequeath to my sister Hannah Yerby, wife of Ellyson Yerby, now living in the City of Richmond, in the State of Virginia, her executors, administrators and assigns, six thousand dollars of the six percent Stock of the State of Virginia.
     I give to my Niece Margaret M. Palmer of Northumberland County Virginia; two thousand dollars. I give to her daughter, Maria Palmer, two thousand dollars, and I give to John T. Palmer, (son of said Margaret M. Palmer.) the sum of two thousand dollars, which two last named amounts or sums may be used in whole or in part, to educate said children, or may be invested for them under the direction of their mother, as may be thought best, upon taking good advice of friends.
     I give to my nephew William V. Meredith the sum of one thousand dollars. - I give to my nephew Joseph W. Shearman, the sum of one thousand, five hundred dollars.
     I give to Maria Yerby and Virginia Yerby (daughters of my said Sister Hannah Yerby) the sum of one thousand dollars, apiece.
     I give the sum of two thousand dollars to the children of Elizabeth Kirk, sister of my Nephew, William Pullen, to be equally divided between said children share and share alike.
     I give to the most Reverend ArchBishop, Francis Patrick Kenrick, the sum of Five hundred dollars, I give to Richard McSherry, (young son of Doctor Richard McSherry Junior,) the sum of five hundred dollars, I give to Caroline M. Scammon, ~ (young daughter of Lieutenant E. T. I. Scammon, United States Engineers.) the sum of five hundred dollars, - I give to Lucy M. Jackson, (young daughter of Henry F. Jackson, proprietor of the Eutaw House) the sum of two hundred dollars, - I give to Henry Jackson, (son of the above named Henry F. Jackson) the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars. I give to Rosanna McCrorken, my Wife's maid, two hundred dollars. I give to Charles Ward, Colored Servant, who has waited on myself and Wife, faithfully for many years, the sum of one hundred Dollars.
     I give to John Murray of Peter, the sum of one thousand five hundred ~ dollars, and also all claim I may have, to the live Stock and farming utensils and implements, on the Farm now occupied by him, belonging to me.
     It is my will and desire the portion of my Estate above devised to my dear Wife, shall first be paid and secured to her, and that she be supplied with money out of my Estate by my Executors herinafter named, or the surviving or acting one of them, for her current expenses, at the rate of two thousand dollars per annum, from the time of my decease, until her share of my estate shall be secured to her; the legacies to my relations to be paid next, and then the other small legacies.
     I give and bequeath to my Nephew, Thomas J. Meredith, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, all my interest at the time of my decease, in the business and property of the old firm or concern of Meredith and Company, my said Nephew Thomas J. Meredith, being the ~ partner in that firm, and I hereby authorize him, if necessary, to make use of the name of the said firm in collecting all debts and accounts due to the said firm, and I also give to my said nephew, Thomas J. Meredith, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, all my interest in the firms of Mummey and Meredith, Meredith and Spencer, and any other firm or firms, I have been a member of, except the present existing firm of Meredith Spencer & Company.
     I have as my Capital in the business of Meredith, Spencer and Company, ~ Eight thousand Dollars, and being unable from feeble health to give personal attention to the business, and with the intention of keeping myself as disconnected as possible from it, so as to get out of business at any time I might see proper, It was agreed that the other partners in the said firm of Meredith Spencer & Company, should pay me interest on said Capital of Eight thousand dollars, and allow me a stipulated small sum for my share of the profits, the interest and profits aforesaid to be paid to me quarterly in Cash, on the first day of April, July, October and January, which agreement has been fully and duly complied with. - so that when I withdraw from the said firm of Meredith, Spencer and Company, or at my decease, I shall have no further claim upon the profits of said firm, but only the claim for my capital, and the Interest on it until paid, and in consideration of the small share of the profits which it was agreed I should receive, the other partners, namely, Thomas J. Meredith and Joseph H. Spencer, should take the business and pay all expenses, losses etc; releasing me, my heirs, executors and administrators, from all obligation to attend in any manner or way whatever to the settlement of the business of said firm, and from the expenses of the collecting and settling up said business, and from all losses by bad debts or otherwise, howsoever, and my Estate from all liability whatever, for or on account of the business of the said firm. Now I desire and therefore I request that my capital and interest on it shall be paid to my executors herinafter named or the surviver or acting one of them, as fast as possible after my decease, and that the whole shall be paid in two years or sooner if practicable, at the rate of not less than four thousand dollars per annum from the time of my death.
     It is my desire, therefore I do order and direct, that Mr. John Murray of Peter, be continued on my Farm in Baltimore County, for two years from the time of my decease, upon the same terms he now has it, namely, one half of the clear profits of each year to be retained by him, as his compensation, and the other half paid to my Executors, or the surviver, or acting one of them, to be by them or the surviver, or acting one of them, paid over to my dear Wife, for her own use and benefit, or used by her in charities for the poor. The Statement of profits of said Farm to be made by said John Murray of Peter, which statements shall be conclusive without ~ further examination, and the settlements made accordingly. At the expiration of the said two years, it is my will and intention, and therefore I do order and direct, that my said farm in Baltimore County, and my warehouse and lot of ground and premises on the North side of Baltimore Street in the City of Baltimore, and the two small ~ dwellings in the rear, shall be sold together, at the sametime with my farm, and I do hereby fully authorize and empower my Executors hereinafter named, or the surviver or acting one of them, to sell the said farm, and the said Warehouse and lot of ground and premises on the North side of Baltimore Street in the City of Baltimore aforesaid, and the two small dwellings in the rear of said Warehouse, either at public or private Sale, and upon receipt of the purchase money to make, execute and deliver, in due form of law, to the purchasor or ~ purchasers thereof, his, her or their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, one or more good and sufficient deed or deeds of Conveyance and assignment or assignments therefor.
     All the rest, residue and remainder of my Estate, (after the payment of every specific legacy and bequest herinbefore made by this my Will, ) I dispose of in the manner following, that is to say,
     I give the sum of six thousand dollars (part of said residue) to my said wife, Maria M. Meredith.
     I give the sum of one thousand dollars, (part of said residue) to Margaret Louisa Menzies.
     I give the sum of one thousand five hundred dollars (part of said residue) to my Niece, Ann B. Purcell, if she is living at my death, if she is not living, then I give the said one thousand five hundred dollars to her children, to be equally divided between them.
     And the Balance or remainder of the said rest and residue of my Estate, - I dispose of as follows: that is to say, twenty five percent thereof, I give to the Trustees of Saint Charles College, twenty five per cent thereof, I give to the Protectors of Saint Mary's Orphaline Female School in the City of Baltimore, twenty per cent thereof I give to my said wife, Maria M. Meredith, Fifteen percent thereof, I give to the Saint Vincent of Paul's Benevolent Association and the remaining fifteen per cent thereof, I give to The Trustees of the Orphans' Home in Baltimore County
     It is my wish to spare my dear Wife, all trouble and care about the settlement and distribution of my Estate, and I therefore hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my friends William Kennedy and Michael Courtney Jenkins, to be the Executors of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former Wills by me made and declaring this to be my only one.
     In Testimony Whereof, I the said Thomas Meredith, have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my Seal this Sixteenth day of August in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and fifty three.
                                                                Tho. Meredith (seal)
Signed, sealed, published and declared by Thomas Meredith, the Testator, to be his last Will and Testament, in the presence of us, who in his presence, at his request, and in the presence of each other, have hereunto subscribed our names, as Witnesses. ~

Wm. H. Bayzand, J. Robert Israel, W. Henry Israel

Baltimore City, Ss: on the 27th day of December 1853, came William H. Bayzand, John Robert Israel and William Henry Israel, the tree subscribing Witnesses to the aforegoing last Will and testament of Thomas Meredith late of said City deceased, and made Oath on the Holy Evangely of Almighty God that they did see the Testator sign and seal this will that they heard him publish pronounce and declare the same to be his last will and testament, that at the time of his doing he was to the best of their apprehensions of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding, and that they subscribed their names as witnesses to this will in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other.
Sworn to in Open Court,
Test: N. Hickman Register of Wills for Baltimore City

Source:

 "Maryland Probate Records", digital images, FamilySearch, (www.familysearch.org: accessed 9 May 2011), Thomas Meredith will dated 16 Aug 1853, Baltimore Will books, Nov 1853 to Nov 1883, Liber N.H. 26, pp 57-61.