Updated November 25, 2022
Background
The settlement of Lord Baltimore's Maryland began with the arrival of passengers from England at St. Clement's Island in the Potomac River in what is now southwestern St. Mary's County on March 25, 1634. The passengers arrived in two vessels, the Ark and the Dove, which had set sail from the Isle of Wight on November 22, 1633. The county is also home to the first Catholic Mass celebrated in one of the original thirteen colonies, after they'd become English colonies. St. Mary's County was the first county established in Maryland, in 1637, probably by an order of the Governor. The county seat and state capital was St. Mary's City. In 1649, Lord Baltimore, with the Maryland General Assembly, passed the Maryland Toleration Act, which provided religious freedom for any sect, and which was the first law of its kind in the New World.
Overview
Wills
Will of Cornelius Watkins(on)
15 Apr 1697;
To James, son of Geo. Keeth, of All Faith Parish, personalty.
To wife Eliza:, extx., residue of estate, real and personal, during life; at her decease to pass to Cornelius Watkinson, son of Peter Watkinson, of Accomac.
Test: Rich'd Southoron, Jno. Gillem, Mary Comptton.
9 Apr 1698.
Saint Mary’s County, MD, Will Book (Liber) 7, page (folio) 365.
Will of John Price, John (64 yrs. of age), St. Mary's County
15 Nov 1697
To wife Joan, extx., plantation and all personalty during life.
To dau. Eliza: and hrs., plantation afsd. and ½ of personalty at death of wife.
To dau. Ann Roberts and hrs., “Price's Lot” and ½ of personalty at death of wife and plantation afsd. in event of death of dau. ****liza: without issue. In event of death of both daus. afsd. without issue, estate to be used for maintenance of free school.
Test: Jno. Gillman, Jno. Johnson.
Rec: 28 May 1698.
Saint Mary’s County, MD, Will Book (Liber) 7, page (folio) 374
Will of John Gillam
13 Dec 1711
To dau. Rachel Wood and hrs., 1/2 land, "The Desert," where she and her husband now live.
To dau. Mary Thorne and hrs., residue of The Desert afsd., where she and her husband now live.
To granddau. Mary Thorne, personalty. wife Mary, extx., residue of estate.
To Thos. Rablin, residue of estate and ex. at decease of wife.
Test: T. Trueman, Greenfield, Joseph Edwards, John Biggs. 13.457.
Rec: 16 Sep 1712
Saint Mary’s County, MD, Will Book (Liber) 13, page (folio) 456.
Saint Mary’s County, MD, Will Book (Liber) 33 B, page (folio) 163. Inventory and Account
Sources
- Cotton, Jane Baldwin. The Maryland Calendar of Wills: Wills from 1703 to 1713, page 231
- Maryland State Archives. Maryland Indexes (Probate Records, Colonial, Index) G, 1634-1777, SE4-7. www.msa.md.gov/megafile/msa/stagsere/se1/se4/000000/000007/html/02153.html
- Saint Mary’s County, MD, Will Book (Liber) 33 B, page (folio) 163.
- Saint Mary’s County, MD, Will Book (Liber) 33 B, page (folio) 163. Inventory and Account