William Norris

M, b. 1718, d. before 27 January 1748
     William was born in 1718 in Charles County, Maryland. He was the son of Daniel Cuthbert Norris and Mary Jane Jenkins. William married Elizabeth Lee, daughter of James Lee and Mary [Maria] (?), in 1742 in Frederick County, Maryland. William and Elizabeth had children: William Sierra [1743][m. Miss Waters] & Elizabeth Sierra [1745][m. 1760 Aquilla Compton].1 William made his will on 1 January 1746.

In the name of God Amen I William Norris Schoolmaster of the Parish of All Hallows in Prince George County in the Province of Maryland being weak in Body but of Sound Perfect mind memory & understanding do make & Ordain this my Last Will & Testament in Manner & Form following –
Imprimis ye al my Debts & funeral Charges be paid & Discharged – Item all the Rest of my Estate Goods & Chattles Lands & all and everymy Real & Personal Estate I give & Bequeath unto my Loving Wife Elizabeth Norris during her Continuance in Widowhood but if she _____ by Marriage then to Enjoy but one third part thereof and to deliver up two thirds thereof to my two Children William Sierra Norris and Elizabeth Sierra Norris so Soon as they shall arrive to the age of Twenty one years or the day of Marriage to be theirs & the Lawful heirs of their bodies forever –
Item by Will & desire it ye if Either of my said Children die Without Issue the Other to have ye deceased part of ye Estate, if they both die Without Issue and before my said Wife then she to have the Whole to dispose of at her discretion.
Item My desire is ye if my said Children or one of them Survive their Mother he she or they ye Survive to enjoy the Whole of my Estate – Item my desire is ye my Son lives to be kept at School till he Comes to age and the Girl till she has good Sufficient education –
Item My desire is that my Son have all my books Except one of my Pray books Which I Give to my Daughterand desire she may have ye whole Duty of man ye Government of ye Tongue & __________ on Death to ber bought and gave to her as soon as she shall be able to make use of it Which books I desire to be got and Laid by or the money to Purchase them before amy division make in ye Estate
Item I desire my Body to be Buried Near the ____ in a tract of Land called Sierra’s Love at the Discretion of my Wife Elizabeth Whom I Leave full & Sole Executrix of this my Last Will and Testament & I do hereby Revoke disanull and make void all Former Wills by me heretofore made – In Witness Whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal this first day of January in the year of Our Lord 1746
Signed Sealed Published and                          Wm Norris
Declared by the above Named
William Norris as his Lat Will &
Testament before us
Stephen Hampton
William Littlefield
Abraham Neighbours.2

William departed this life in Prince George's County, Maryland. In his will, he asks to buried in a tract of land called "Sierra's Love. His will was probated on 27 January 1748.

Family

Elizabeth Lee b. c 1726

Citations

  1. [S506] Note: Information on these two children found in the Compton Forum on the website Genealogy.com doing a goggle search for "Sierra's Love", Maryland.
  2. [S2039] State of Maryland, Maryland, Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1777.