Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1948-02-05

few have disposed of so little as
that of an English farmer of the
late 18th century,, made over $50
years ago.
The man was Reginald Liable.
The list of his goods does not con-
tain any cash. He left 3 hens; 2
sheep and lambs; a COW and
calf; 8 bushels barley; 112 bushels
wheat; IL bundles fodder; 2 sheets,
a bolster and a rug; a brass dish
and tripod for cooking; a JAG
ket, a tunic, and a hood; half a
pennysworth of salt. The widow
got only the COW. The will was
used as an illustration of how
little one of the better "serfs' Of
the day owned.
The total value was given as 33
shillings eight pence, or about So
today. Money bought more in those
days-for instance the COW was
valued at sum about equal to ST.,
just about what one pays today
for a pound of butter! One penny
was paid the grave digger and
two pence went for the cost of toll
ling the church bell after the far
mer died.
Miss ella Plummer, who has
been in the office of Register of
Wills since 1920, and others of the
staff listened with interest to the
above and then told of some Of
the remarkable wills filed in their
office. All wills probated since the
county was established in 1776 are
recorded there.
There are short wills and long
ones with attached inventories list
ing large estates and including
things like zone small hand bel
lows, one old axe, a pr. old mowI
(mold) rings. The inventory Of
John Fletchall, a wealthy man,
listed among valuables SO yards
of family plaid (Scotch) and 3
stone juggs." The early appraisals
were in English currency and show
how valuable were the things we
of today throw out as junk.
The first will probated was that
Edward Gather, son of Benjamin,
June IL, TIT, before Sam West,
the first register of wills. The wit
nesses were John Ray, Jr., Benz.
Ray, John Suter, and Samuel
Hardesty. Many acres of land con-
tanned in "Gaither's Purchase"
"What's Left" Mitchell's Garden"
Mitchell's Range" "The Range
"Good Luck" and other tracts,
were left to his wife and sons
Basil, Eli, Greenbury, Nicholas,
Burgess, Jonsey, and Brice. Be-
sides other properties he left his
wife Elenor his Cooper still dur
ing her natural life" To bis
daughters Elenor Prather, Sarah
Gather, Casander Gather, and
Lyla Gather he devised all his
negroes, save the two to his wife
during her life.
The second will was that of
Samuel Saffell, dated November
25, 1776. Its witnesses were
Robert Dave, Benjamin B. Kelly,
and Griffith Davis. He gave to his
children-Samuel, William, Ann,
James, Joshua, Elizabeth, Charles
and Sarah-each a shilling, and
to his wife Sarah, made the execu-
trix, all his properties.
The shortest will consists Of
eleven words. 1t is that of William
H. Gilpin dated January %, 1912;
Il will and bequeath all my world
ly possessions to my wife,
Undated, but probated before
Henry C. Allnutt, register, April
is, 1921, was the will of C. H.
Manner, which ran "Man can never
tell-if should die-I want my
wife to have all my property where
ever situate. At her death to be
divided equally between the chill
dren."
An amusing item in the will of
James Stabler, made the 4th day
End month 1875 said II desire my
wife (named 'executrise) to give
some little thing to each of my
brothers and sisters, and also
something to my cousin Charles
H. Brooke above named, he hav-
ing just rocked over in his chair
while ASLEEP" This will was pro-
bated February Is, 1909, and was
exceptional in that it was made
so long before he died, while most
wills seem to have been made just
few months or years before the
death of the testator. Most of them
start "sick and weak of body but
of sound disposing mind" or some
variation of the theme.
Ore interesting will was wit
messed by r. H. Lansdale, C. F.
Townsend, Frank Griffith and
Elisha Riggs of S. Made in 1873,
for obvious reasons we do not
give the name of the testator.