William Walter – St. Mary’s County, Maryland – b. 4 May 1741 d. Nov 1802
St. Mary’s Will No. JJ#2 F 307, 11/6/1802; 11/22/1802
WILL ABSTRACT:
Wife, Ann 1/3 dwelling. Plantation and all of land I own in Maryland and slave Charity.
Daughter Elizabeth slave, Harriet, 1/3 household and 1/3 crops son, John Thomas Walter 1/2
land in Maryland and slave Henry. Son, Richard Craddock, 58 3/4 acres in Fauquier County,
Virginia which is now in possession and adjoins land of my son, Walter Bragg Walter. Children:
Eleanor, Elizabeth Walter, Ann Smoot, John and Richard Walter what I have already given them.
Children: Walter, Eleanor Walter, Ann Smoot, Elizabeth, John Thomas, William Shanks Walter
and Richard Craddock Walter slaves Thomas and Charity. Executors: Wife, Ann & son William
Shanks Walter. Witnesses: Henry Gardiner, Andrew Mills, James A. Callis, and Lawrence
Walter.
COMPLETE TRANSCRIPTION:
The last will of
In the name of God amen. I William Walter of Saint Mary’s
County in the State of Maryland, being sick in body, but of
William Walter
sound mind and memory, do make this my last will & testament
in the following form ~~~ I Give and bequeath to my ling wife Ann
Walter 1/3 of my dwelling plantation and all the land I hold and possess in the State of Maryland, during the
term of her natural life, and no longer--- also I give my loving Wife Ann Walter to her and heirs forever one
negro woman Charity ------ also one third part of all my house and kitchen furniture plantation utensils and
crop now on the land~~~~~ I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Walter to her and her heirs one
negro girl named Harriet, also one third part of my house & kitchen furniture, plantation utensils, and crop
now on the land __ I give and bequeath to my son John Thomas Walter to his and his heirs forever, one half
of all the Lands I hold and possess in the State of Maryland, I give and bequeath to my son Richard
Craddock Walter to him and his heirs forever, a tract of Land lying in Fauquier County State of Virginia
adjoining the Lands of my son Walter Bragg Walter which is now in the possession and occupation of my
said son Richard Craddock Walter supposed to contain Fifty eight and three quarter acres___ , I give and
bequeath to my son William Shanks Walter to him and his heirs forever __ one half of all the Lands I hold
and possess in the State of Maryland, I also give to my son William Shanks Walter one bed and furniture
being part of the remaining third of my house furniture not before bequeathed. I give and bequeath to my
three daughters and two sons, to wit; Eleanor Walter, Ann Smoot, and Elizabeth Walter and John Thomas
Walter and Richard Craddock Walter in addition to what I have heretofore given them__ all in equal
proportions, the residue of the remaining third part of my house furniture, kitchen furniture & plantation
utensils after deducting the above mentioned Bed & furniture bequeathed to my son William Shanks Walter
~~~ I give and bequeath to my son John Thos Walter to him & his heirs one negro man named Harry ~~~ I
give and bequeath to my three sons and three daughters, to wit: Walter Bragg Walter, Richard C. Walter &
William Walter and Eleanor, Ann Smoot & Elizabeth Walter _ in addition to what I have already given
them _ all six in equal proportion to be divided among them the three following negros, to wit; boy Gordon
Girl Charity and boy Thomas, to them and their heirs. --- I give and bequeath to my loving wife Ann Walter
and my son William Shanks Walter, in order to enable them to settle my estate and pay all my Just debts –
the residence of my estate, including the outstanding debts – and lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint
my loving wife Ann Walter and my son William Shanks Walter to be Executrix and Executor of this my last
will and Testament, revoking and setting aside all other will or wills heretofore made by me. In witness
whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this sixth day of November in the year of our Lord eighteen
hundred and two -- ~~
Signed, sealed, published & declared by William
Walter the above named Tester as his Last will
& Testament in the presence of us the subscribers
who have signed our names thereto at his request
& in the presence of each other
Henry Gardiner James A. Callis }
Andrew Mills
Lawrence Walter}
Wm Walter
seal
On the back of the foregoing was the following, to wit. Saint Mary’s County, to wit; 22d day of
November 1802, then came Ann Walter & William Shanks Walter & severally made oath on the evangels of
almighty God, that the within instrument of writing id the true and whole will & Testament William Walter
late of Saint Mary’s County deceased, that have come to their hands or possession & that they do not of any
others.
Certified per Jeremiah Jordan Reg. Wills
for Saint Mary’s County
d
Saint Mary’s County so, the 22 day of November 1802 __ Then came Henry Gardiner, James A. Callis,
Andrew Mills & Lawrence Walter, the four subscribing witnesses to the aforegoing last Will & Testament
of William Walter late of Saint Mary’s County, deceased, and severally made Oath on the Evangels of
almighty God, that they did see the testator therein named sign his Will & that they heard him publish,
pronounce & declare the same to be his last Will & Testament; that at the time of his so doing he was to the
best of their apprehensions of sound and disposing mind, memory & understanding; that they respectively
subscribed their names as witnesses to this Will in the presence and at the request of the Testator and in the
presence of each other. ~~
Certified per Jeremiah Jordan Reg. Wills
for Saint Mary’s County