Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1941-02-20
MONTGOMERY
III SIDELICHTS
Bg ELSIE WHITE HA1NEs

y
stories about the first President =
tho occasionally we do hear a good
new one not always suited to
this column, however.
Looking around for something
different, we came across a copy
of the will of Mary Washington,
and where do you think we found
lit? Why in Gaithersburg, where
Mrs. Ambrose Hoopengartner has
treasured it for years = she is a
quiet little invalid - unknown to
half the people in the town tho
she has lived there for thirty years.
Mr.. Hoopengartner has been an
employee of the State Roads for
twenty years. Yes, we have
trouble with that name too, so we
call him Mr.. Hoop - they laugh
ingly tell of a neighbours little boy
who always called them "Hooky"
and "Big Hooky".
After a long preamble begin
ming "In the Name of God! Amen"
l, Mary Washington of Fredericks-
burg in the County of Spottsylva-
mia" etc. the will is as follows:
'Imprimus = / give to my son
Gen. George, Washington, all my
land in Accokeek Run, in the
County of Stafford (Va.) also my
negro boy, George, to him and his
heirs forever, Also my best bed,
bedstead and Virginia cloth cur
tain, (the same that stands in my
best bedroom) my quilted blue and
white quilt, and my best dressing
glass.
Item = give and devise to my
son Charles Washington, my negro
man, Tom, to him and his assigns
forever.
Item = give and devise to my
daughter, Betty Lewis, my phaeton
and my bay horse.
Item - give and devise to my
daughter-in-law my purple cloth
cloak lined with shag.
Item - give and devise to my
grandson, Corbin Washington, my
negro wench, old Bet; my writing
chair and two black horses, to him
and his assigns forever.
Item = give and devise to my
granddaughter, Betty Carter, my
negro woman, Little Bet, and her
future increase, to her and her as
signs forever; also my largest
looking glass, my walnut writing
desk with drawers, square dining
table, one bed, bedstead, bolster,
one pillow, one blanket, and one
pair sheets, and white Virginia
cloth counterpane and purple cur
tains, my red and white china, tea
spoons and the other half of my
pewter, crockery-ware and the re-
mainder of my iron kitchen furni-
ture,
Item - give and devise to my
grandson, Fielding Lewis, my
negro man Frederick, to him and
his assigns forever; also eight
silver spoons half of my crockery
ware, my blue and white china,
with bookcase, oval table, one bed
stead, one pair sheets, one pair
blankets and white cotton counter
pane, two table cloths. six red
leather chairs, half my pewter, and
one half my iron kitchen furniture.
Item = l give to my grandson
George Washington, my next best
dressing-glass, one bedstead, one
bed bolster, one pillow, one pair
sheets, one blanket and one coun-
terpane.
Item = l devise all my wearing
apparel to be divided equally
among my granddaughter, Betty
Garter, Francis Ball, and Milly
Washington; but should my daugh-
ter, Betty Lewis fancy any one,
two, or three articles, she is to
have them before division there
Of"
Then she goes on to appoint Gen.
Washington executor, and as she
"owed little money" hoped that the
provisions would be carried out
with as little trouble and delay as
possible, and assured them all OF
her love.
The will was signed goth day Of
May 1888 and witnessed by John
Ferneyhough, ]. Mercer, and 10.
seph Walker.
You know there are wonderful
lessons in those old documents =
how they valued and treasured
their possessions!
But do you not rather wonder
how the best informed people Of