Elisha Tupper will, 10 March 1811

In the Name of God Amen, I Elisha Tupper of Annapolis yeoman being very weak of Body but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be to God, therefore calling into mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, Do make, and ordain, this my last will & testament that is to say principally, and first of all, I give and recommend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God, that gave it, and my Body I recommend to the earth, to be buried in a decent Christian manner, at the discretion of my Executrix, nothing Doubting, but at the general Resurrection, I shall receive it again, by the mighty Power of God, and as touching such worldly Estate werewith it has pleased God to bless in this life; I demise, dispose of the same in the following manner. First, I will and order that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid by my Executrix herein after mentioned out of my personal estate and also the legacies herein after bequeathed, to be paid out of my personal Estate. Item. I give and bequeath unto my beloved wifeElizabeth Tupper all my real and personal Estate, that is to say, Houses, Buildings, Lands and all improvements and benefits belonging to them, or arising from them here after, the said premisses, that is to say, the Farm, whereon I now live with all the goods and chattels thereunto belonging; I also order that the Cousins farm that my wife Elizabeth Tupper shall have the benefit of the same, and I further order that she shall have the whole dfiscretion and management of all my Estate both real and Personal during her natural life. Item. I also give and devise to my beloved daughter Amy Bent the sum of one hundred pounds currency beside what she has already had, to be paid by my Executrix. Item. I also give and bequeath to my beloved Daughter Ann Chipman the sum of One Hundred pounds currency, beside what she has already had, to be paid by my Executrix. Item. I also give and bequeath to my beloved daughtersElizabeth Tupper and Lucy Tupper the Cousins Farm, to be equally divided between them, at the expiration of four years and a half after my decease, to them their heirs forever. I also further order that my two daughters Elizabeth & Lucy Tupper remain at my dwelling house unmolested by any of my heirs, the same as they are, so long as they remain single. Item. I also give and bequeath to my beloved son William Tupper the farm and dwelling house where I now live, with all the houses, buildings and improvements, messuages or Tenements, marshes, and all pieces or parcels of lands thereunto belonging to the said farm, except the Cousins Farm before mentioned, and all the household furniture remaining at my Wife’s decease which I then will and bequeath to my daughters, Amy, Ann, Elizabeth and Lucy, to be equally divided between them share and share alike, and likewise all the stock of cattle that may be then belonging to the said farm, all horses, sheep, swine, and likewise the goods and chattels belonging thereto, & likewise all the implements of husbandry such as ploughs, harrows, carts and every other utensil thereunto belonging in and about the said farm with all the privelidges thereunto belonging. I do further will & order that the several Legacies & sums of money shall be paid to the several Legatees in the following order, that is to say, Twenty five pounds to be paid to my daughter Amy Bent in eighteen months after my decease, the remaining part of her Legacy to be paid twenty five pounds yearly. Also to my daughter Ann Chipman the sum of twenty five pounds to be paid in eighteen months after my decease and the remaining part of her Legacy to be paid twenty five pounds yearly, the several Legacies to be paid by my Executrix- And Lastly I also constitute make and appoint my beloved wife Elizabeth Tupper my Sole Executrix of this my last will and Testament, by her freely my Lands messuages and tenements, to be possessed and enjoyed during her natural life & I do hereby wholy disallow, revoke and disannul all and every other former Testament Will, Legacies or Bequests executed by me, ratifying and confirming this to be my last Will and Testament. In Witness wherof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this tenth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eleven.

Elisha Tupper

Signed sealed, pronounced& delivered by the said Elisha Tupper as his last Will & Testament in the presence of us, who in his presence & in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names-

John Whitman
John L. F’Randolph
James Whitman