Notes for Benjamin Gaither

Notes for Benjamin Gaither

!Some information from web page:
http://pweb.netcom.com/~fzsaund/gaither.html
!Will of Benjamin Gaither (copied from above web page):
In the Name of God Amen the Twenty Sixth Day of March in the Year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred & forty one I Benjamin Gaither of Ann Arundel County do make this my Last Will & Testament in manner and form following my will and meaning is that the same shall be imployed and bestowed as hereafter by this will is Expressed and first I do make renounce frustrate and make void all wills by me formerly made and Declare and appoint this my Last Will and Testament.
Imprimis I Give and bequeath to my well beloved wife Sarah Gaither the Manor House whereon I now Dwell During her life & no Longer.
Item I give and bequeath unto my son Benjamin Gaither and his Heirs forever all that whole Tract of Land called Polecat Hill Lying in the fork of Polecat in Ann Arundel County with half the Orchard During his Mothers Life and the other half at her Decease also half of a Tract of Land called Turkey Neck lying in Ann Arundel County in the fork of Patuxon to him his part adjoining to the aforesaid Polecat Hill.
Item I give and bequeath unto my son John Gaither and his Heirs forever of that Tract of Land Called Bite Biter whereon he now Dwells and to have the whole Tract Equally divd betwixt him & his brother Samuel in Goodness and acres.
I give and bequeath unto my Son Edward Gaither and his Heirs forever three hundred and fifty Acres of Land where he now dwells being part of a Tract of Land Called Benjamins Lott lying in Prince Georges County.
Item I give and bequeath unto my Son Samuel Gaither and his Heirs forever the remaining part of that Tract of Land Called Bite the Biter and the Plantation where Peter Pinkston did Live to be Equally Divided in Quantity of Acres and Goodness Betwixt him & his brother John that will together ----- Tract Equally Divided.
Item I Give and bequeath unto my Son Henry Gaither and his Heirs forever three Hundred and fifty acres of Land called Gaithers Chance Lying in Prince Georges County and to begin at the beginning Tree and to Inherit this Land at the age of twenty one years.
Item I Give and bequeath unto my Son William Gaither and his Heirs forever Two hundred acres of Land called Gaithers Fancie whereon I now Dwell with half the orchard and the remaining part of the orchard and House at his Mother's Decease and Also the Addition to Gaithers Fancie Containing on hundred and Eighty Acres of Land as also the half of a Tract of Land Being part of a Tract of Called Turkey Neck lying in Ann A. County in the fork of Patuxon and to Enjoy the Land at the Age of Twenty one Years.
Item I give to my Daughter Elizabeth Davis and her Heirs forever the Lower part of a tract of Land Called Benjamins Lott lying in Prince Georges County containing one Hundred & Sixty Acres.
Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughters Sarah Gaither, Ann Gaither, Mary Gaither, Cassandra Gaither and their Heirs forever the remaining part of that Tract of Land Called Gaithers Chance lying in Prince Georges County Containing Seven hundred and Ten Acres to be Equally Divided amongst those four in Quantity of Acres and Goods and to Inherit the Land and ------ at the Day of their Marriage or at the age of One & Twenty.
Item I Give and bequeath unto my Son Benjamin one negro Girl called Jemima.
Item I Give and bequeath unto my Son John Gaither one Negro called Peter? which he hath now in his Possession.
Item I Give and bequeath unto my Son Edward Gaither one Good Negro between the age of fifteen & Twenty five.
Item I Give and bequeath unto my Son Samuel Gaither one Good Negro between the age of fifteen and Twenty five.
Item I Give and bequeath unto my Son Henry Gaither one good Negro between the age of fifteen & Twenty five.
Item I Give and bequeath unto my Son William Gaither one good Negro between the age of fifteen & Twenty five.
Item I Give and bequeath unto my Daughter Elizabeth Davis one Negro Called Jack which is now in her Possession.
Item I Give and bequeath unto my Daughter Sarah Gaither one Good Negro between the age of fifteen & Twenty five.
Item I Give and bequeath unto my daughter Ann Gaither one good Negro between the age of fifteen & Twenty five.
Item I Give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Gaither one Good Negro between the Age of fifteen & Twenty five.
Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Cassandra Gaither one good Negro between the age of fifteen & Twenty five.
Item In case any of my Children should depart this Life before they come to their Personal Estate or Land that theirs is Equally to be divided amongst the rest of my Children.
Item for my Moveable Estate Except the above mentioned Negroes after my Worldly Debts are paid the rest is to be Equally Divided amongst all my Children.
Item My will and Meaning is that what my Eldest Children has Received or may Receive in my Lifetime shall be Deemed as part of my Estate and part of their Portions.
Item I do appoint my well beloved Wife Sarah Gaither, Benjamin Gaither, Edward Gaither, Samuel Gaither, Henry Gaither & William Gaither my Sons to be Executors of this my Last Will & Testament as Witness my hand and Seal the Day and Year aforesaid.
Signed Sealed in the presence of us Benja Gaither
John Thompson Thomas Davis Francis Davis
The will was proved on 31 Aug. 1741.