Transcribed on August 8, 2006, from SAMPUBCO copy by Laurie Blessing Hale.
Frederick County, Maryland Will Book Vol. 6, page 451.


Last Will and Testament of Jacob Blessing

In the name of God, Amen. I, Jacob Blessing, of Frederick County and State of Maryland being in Health and of perfect sound and disposing mind memory and understanding and being desirous to settle and adjust all my Temporal concerns before it may please Almighty God to call me hence Do therefore make and publish this Instrument of writing as and for my last will and Testament in manner and form following – Viz. –
First of all, I direct that my Executors hereinafter named shall well and truly pay and satisfy all my Just Debts and funeral Expenses as soon as possible after my Decease.
Secondly, I give and Devise unto my son Philip Blessing and to his heirs and Assigns forever Twenty Acres of Land and premises part of the plantation on which I live being part of “Brother’s good will” be laid off on the south side of the Harpers ferry Road and adjoining my said son Philip’s other Land –
Thirdly, I give and Devise to my son George Blessing and to his heirs and Assigns forever the like quantity of Twenty Acres of Land and Premises being part of said Tract of Land called “Brothers Good Will” to be laid off on the north side of the Harpers ferry road and adjoining my said son George’s other Lands. I also give and Devise unto my said son George Blessing and to his heirs and Assigns the sum of Ten Pounds current money which I direct to be paid to him by my son Philip in consequence of the Land hereby Devised to him being worth ten pounds current money more than the Land Devised to my son George.
Fourthly, I give and Devise unto my son Abraham Blessing and to his heirs and Assigns forever the Quantity of Eighty Acres of Land and Premises part of the said Tract called Brothers Good Will to be held by him as Surveyed and laid off by Alexander Grim.
Fifthly, I give and Devise unto my son Solomon Blessing and to his heirs and Assigns forever the like quantity of Eighty Acres of Land and Premises part of the aforesaid Tract of Land called “Brothers Good Will” to be held by him as Surveyed and laid out by Mr. Alexander Grim.
Sixthly, It is my will and desire and I do hereby order and Direct that my sons Abraham and Solomon in consequence of the Devises herein before made to them shall well and Truly Pay or cause to be paid unto my Daughter Magdalene Richards the Sum of two Hundred and Twenty Pounds current money and the like Sum of two hundred and twenty pounds current money to my Daughter Catharine Staup wife of Jacob Staup and the sum of One hundred pounds current money to the heirs of my Daughter Barbara Easterday, deceased, formerly the wife of Conrad Easterday which said Sums of money I direct my said Sons Abraham and Solomon to pay to my said Daughters Magdalene and Catharine and to the heirs of my Daughter Barbara Easterday Deceased and to their heirs and Assigns in Six equal annual Installments after my Decease in equal proportions to each of the parties Entitled – which said Several Sums of money so directed to be paid. I give and bequeath unto my said Daughters Magdalene Richards, Catharine Staup and the heirs of my Daughter Barbara Easterday Deceased to Each of them their heirs and Assigns forever.
I also further hereby order and direct that my said Sons Abraham and Solomon Blessing in consideration of the Devises aforesaid shall well and truly pay or cause to be paid unto the heirs or Children of my son Jacob Blessing Deceased the sum of one hundred pounds current money to be paid to them in Equal Proportions in Six equal Annual Installments after my Decease – which said sum of one hundred pounds current money together with one hundred and thirty Dollars current money which is in my hands and the accruing Interest belonging to the Estate of my son Jacob Blessing Deceased I give and Devise unto them the said heirs or children of my said son Jacob Blessing Deceased to them their heirs and Assigns forever to be Equally Divided between them share and share alike.
Seventhly, my will and desire further is that my Executors shall as soon as convenient after my Decease Expose to Public Sale all my Personal Estate and the money arriving therefrom together with any monies in my Possession (not already bequeathed) or that my in any manner be due me on bond note or Book Account at the time of my Decease I Give and bequeath to be Equally Divided between my sons Philip, George, Abraham, Solomon and my Daughters Magdalene Richards and Catharine Staup their Heirs and Assigns forever.
And Lastly, I constitute and appoint my Sons Abraham and Solomon Blessing and my son in law Mathias Richards Sole Executors of this my last will and Testament Hereby revoking and making null and Void all former wills or bequests by me at any time heretofore made or Executed hereby ratifying and confirming this and none other to be my last will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Affixed my seal this first day of November One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirteen.

Jacob Blessing (Seal)


Signed Sealed Published Pronounced and Declared by the said Jacob Blessing as and for his last will and Testament in the Presence of us who at his request and in his presence and all in the presence of each other have Subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto –

Laurence Brengle
Henry Kuhn
Arthur Nelson


Frederick County to wit
On the 27th day of Day of December 1813 came Abraham Blessing, Solomon Blessing and Mathias Richards and made Oath on the holy Evangels of Almighty God that the foregoing Instrument of writing is the true whole will and Testament of Jacob Blessing late of Frederick County Deceased that hath come to their hands and Possession and that they do not know of any Other.
Richard Butler, Registrar

Frederick County to wit
On the 27th day of December 1813 came Laurence Brengle and Henry Kuhn two of the Subscribing Witnesses to the foregoing last will and Testament of Jacob Blessing late of Frederick 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 that they heard him publish, pronounce and Declare the same to be his last will and Testament that at the time of this so doing he was to the best of their apprehensions of a sound and disposing mind memory and understanding that they respectively Subscribed their names as witnesses to this will in the Presence and at the request of the Testator. And that they did also see Arthur Nelson the other Subscribing Witness Sign his name as a Witness thereto in the Presence and at the request of the Testator and all in the Presence of each other.
Richard Butler, Registrar