Peter Dent

Copy of the Will of Peter Dent, dated October 5, 1757

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In the Name of God, Amen, I Peter Dent, of the Province of Maryland, Preamble

Item: I give and bequeath to my loving wife, Mary Dent, four negroes, Harry our carpenter, and

Jean, his wife, Dick or Richard and Letty, his wife, and the house and plantation I now live on.

during her natural life, with the furniture in the house, all but what she shall think fit to

give to her children, as of with liberty of tending and clearing as far down and up the swamp as

the plantation now is, that is to say as far down as the dividing line.

Item: I give and bequeath to my loving daughter Eliza Dent, her choice of the negroes unwilled at

the hour of my death, with full liberty in the house with her mother, during the time she shall

be unmarried, and one good bed and bedclothes suitable.

Item: I give and bequeath to my loving son, Peter Dent, what negroes and stock, and made over

some land to him, I give and bequeath him the sum of ten shillings, current money, with a

confirmation of what I have already given him.

Item: I give and bequeath to my loving son, William Dent, all the land I have any right to in

Frederick County, to him, the said William Dent, and his heirs forever, as also, what he has

already in his possession.

Item: I give and bequeath to my loving daughters, Mary Beall and Lucy Hardy, five shillings each,

with what they have already in their possession.

Item: I give and bequeath to my loving daughter, Ann Dent, one negro, a bed and bolster and

proper covering with full liberty of living in my now dwelling house until married.

Item: I give and bequeath to my loving son, Thomas Dent, one negro boy called Jeremiah, son of

Sam, as well also I give and bequeath to the said Thomas Dent one half of the land that shall be found between the house where Joe Marlow now lives and the upper end thereof as well, and what

land I may have or may take up as the original tract called "White Haven" the whole to be equally

divided between my said son Thomas and his brother Walter, my said son Thomas to have first

choice after the division is made, the dividing line to be run as true as may be from the barrens

to the main swamp of Mallowmen, and one good bed and sheets, bolster and proper covering.

Item: I give and bequeath to my loving daughter, Ann Dent, one young negro, and unmarried at my

death, then to have her equal part of what is left unwilled after her mother's death to her heirs

and for, with liberty of living in my dwelling house, and to have the use of the plantation

during the time she lives unmarried.

Item: I give and bequeath to my loving daughter, Eleanor Dent, one young negro to be delivered

her at the day of marriage, with the same liberty of the dwelling house and plantation during the

time she shall remain single, as mentioned to her sister Eliza.

Item: I give and bequeath to my loving son, Walter Dent, one negro called George, one good bed

and bolster and also the other half of the land that's to be found above the house where Joe

Marlow lives, to him and his heirs forever.

Item: I give and bequeath to my loving daughter, Barbara Dent, one young negro named Timothy,

with the same privilege of living in my now dwelling house, and use of the plantation as

mentioned to her other sisters till married.

Item: I give and bequeath to my youngest son, Richard Dent, one young negro named Charles, with a

bed and furniture as mentioned to the other children and then part of my land called "White

Haven" and any other adjacent thereto that I have taken up, land already made over to my son,

Peter Dent, to him, the said Richard, and his heirs forever.

Signed: Peter Dent

October 5, 1757