Samuel Handy was not married to Comfort Wisher. Comfort Wisher married Samuel's brother Thomas Handy (as his second wife; his first was Ann Scarburgh). Samuel Handy had one son named John and one daughter named Elizabeth, not two. He had no son named James. His children, Samuel, Mary, Elizabeth, John and William are all named in his will. Samuel married Mary Gore, Mary married Elzey Maddox, Elizabeth married Matthias Davis, John married Priscilla Long, and William married Mary King Henry, widow of William Whittington.
Will of Samuel Handy who married Mary Dennis:
In the Name of God Amen. I Samuel Handy of Somerset County being sick in body but of a sound and disposing memory, do dispose of all my worldly estate by this my last Will in manner and form following, that is to say - First I give unto my beloved wife Mary Handy one third part of my lands and houses and all other improvements thereon during her natural life. I give unto my son Samuel Handy, his heirs and assigns forever all my lands except the third given before to his mother and after her decease the said thirds to be and remain unto him the said Samuel and his heirs and assigns forever. I leave my son Samuel under the care and direction of my brother-in-law Littleton Dennis until he arrives at the age of twenty-one years. I give unto my said wife Mary Handy the following Negroes, to wit: one Negro man named Cudgoe, one Negro woman named Dido, one other named Jenny, one girl named Patience, and one boy named Harry, that is to say I give them as followeth that my said wife only of Jenny and Patience during her natural life or widowhood whichever which may first happen, and that immediately after then I give Jenny unto my daughter Mary Handy and her heirs and assigns forever, and Patience I give unto my daughter Elizabeth Handy and her heirs and assigns forever, and the first child that the said Jenny shall have and shall be living at the time of the death of my said wife or her widowhood (sic) I give the same unto my son John Handy, his heirs and assigns forever; and the first child that the said Dido shall have and be living at the time of the death or widowhood as aforesaid I give unto my son William Handy his heirs and assigns forever, which said children I desire may be brought up and maintained by them that shall have the two Negro women in possession, and Cudgoe, Dido and Nancy I give to my said wife during her natural life and at her decease that the same, (except the second child that Dido shall have & be alive at the death of my said wife, which child I give unto my son Samuel Handy, his heirs and assigns forever) I leave to be equally divided between my children Mary Handy, Elizabeth Handy, John Handy & William Handy. I give my new gun unto my son Samuel Handy and his assigns; I give unto my son John Handy the gun I had of Wm. Whittaker. I give all the rest of my estate to my said wife after my debts (are) paid to be at her disposal. I give unto my wife all the increase of the aforesaid Negroes that shall be at the time of her death, except before disposed of, unto her and at her disposal. Lastly I make, constitute, ordain & appoint my said wife executrix of this my last will & testament, hereby revoking & annulling all other and former wills heretofore by me made. In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal this second day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty four.
- SIgned, sealed, published, and pronounced to be his last will & testament in the presence of Thomas Handy, John Dennis Junr., Littleton Dennis.
Samuel Handy
- April 2 1755. Came john Dennis and Littleton Dennis two of the subscribing witnesses to the within will. and on the same day also came the other witness Thomas Handy, and all made oath on the holy evangels of Almighty God that they saw the Testator Samuel Handy sign and seal and heard him publish, pronounce and declare this instrument of writing as his last will and testament.
Sworn before Nehemiah King (seal)
See also "Annals and Memorials of the Handys and Their Kindred", p. 25 & 72-81.
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