William Mill1

M, b. 1628, d. before 26 October 1676
     William was born in 1628 in England. He immigrated to Maryland in 1651 as an indentured servant. William married Tabitha Wright circa 1665 in Calvert County, Maryland. William made his will on 13 March 1676.

I William Mill of Patusent River in the County of Calvert planter being sick and weake in Body, but of perfect memory, do make this my last will and testament in manner and forme following: Imprimis I bequeath my Soule to all mighty God who gave it me in full hope and assurance of everlasting life in and through the merritts of the blessed death and passion of my only savior Jesus Christ. My body I bequeath unto the earth from hence it came, to be decently buried at the discretion of my executors hereafter named; as to my worldly estate with which it hath pleased almighty God to intrust me I dispose of it as followth
Item I will and bequeath my personal estate to be equally divided into three equall portions, two of the said portions to be distributed equally to all my children, and the third portion to my will beloved wife Tabitha Mill to be hers free and sole disposing, and my will is that my sons shall receive theyr proportions of my said personal estate as soone as they attaine the ages of eighteen years, and not before, and my daughters theyr equall parts as soone as they shallcome to the age of sixteen years, or at theyr day of marriage and that in the meantime my wife shall use occupy and Enjoy all the benefits of my said personal estate, for her own maintenance and the better bringup and educating my said Children Item I give and bequeath to my eldest sonn and heir William Mill those two pieces of land adjoining to each other Called and knowne by the name of Dunbafree and Faddington to him and his heirs forever, Reserving only to my beloved wiafe Tabitha Mill that part of the said lands lying within the Lawpitt Braigche, for and during her natural life.
Item I give and bequeath unto my Second sonne John Mill and the Child my said wife now goeth with, if it happen to be male that piece of land knowne and Called by the name of Trenent, according to patent, to be equally divided betwixt them and in Case of either of theyr mortalities the Survivor to have and Enjoy the whole, if both should happen to dye, that then my said sonne and heire William Shall posesse and Enjoy it, and further my will is that whomever of my sons Shall Survive and outlive the rest shall have and enjoy all my whole estate in lands, herein mentioned, and Bequeathed, but if the Child my wife now goeth with doth prove to be female, my will is that She have her equal Share of my personal estate with the rest of my daughters.
Item I ordaine Constitute and appointe my well beloved friends Alexander Magrouder Samuel Tayller, Ninean Bell, overseers of this my last will & testament in behalf of my Children with full power unto them, in Case of either of theyr mortalities, to nominate and appointe any other person in the need of him or them so deceased.
Item I make, ordaine and appointe my well beloved wife Tabitha Mill Sole Executrix of this my last will and testament in witnesse whereof I have herein to sett my hand & Seale this 13th day of Marche in the first year of the dominion of the most honarable Charles Lord Pryor of the province o f Maryland and Avalonll and in the yeare of our Lord 1676.
Sealed and published in the presence of
Lindsay
Rob. R F Fowkes
Richard R Chafey.2

His will was probated on 26 April 1676. William departed this life in Calvert County, Maryland. The inventory of William's estate was taken on Monday, 13 June 1678. His estate was inventoried by a neighbor and fellow planter, Thomas Blanford [Tabitha's second husband]. It was appraised at 29,559 Pounds (doubtlessly counted in tobacco, which was widely used as currency in Virginia & Maryland; 150 pounds of cured tobacco equaled about 20 shillings or 1 British pound)[20] with 11,313 owed to debts, leaving a net worth of 18,246 pounds of tobacco. Tabitha received 6,082, her "widow's third," and William's orphans, including Tabitha, the "unborn childe," received 12,164 pounds.

Family

Tabitha Wright b. c 1648, d. b 20 Jan 1701
Children

Citations

  1. [S2018] Early Colonial Settlers of Southern Maryland and Virginia's Northern Neck Counties.
  2. [S2039] State of Maryland, Maryland, Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1777.