In the name of God Amen I Benjamin Wells of Ohio County and Commonwealth of Virginia being weak in Body but sound and perfect Memory thanks be God for the same. Revoking all others do make Constitute and ordain this my last Will and Testament in Manner and form following that is to say.
I give and bequeath to my son Benjamin Wells of Baltimore Town All my land in Baltimore County State of Maryland and also all the is due to me from the estate of Charles Ridgely son of John and every other estate that I have in possession or Reversion in the said County or State. With the proviso that he pays all my debts in the said County of Baltimore and State of Maryland to him his heirs and assigns forever.
I also give and bequeath to my son Amos Wells all that tract or parcel of land that I purchased of Israel Cox in this County I likewise give to my son Amos Wells thirty Acres of land to be laid off out of the tract of Land on which I now live to be laid off Convenient & adjoining the tract of land aforesaid to him his heirs and Assigns forever.
I also give and bequeath to my said son Amos all that Israel Cox is indebted to me, by Morgag Notes and Accounts all my interests in the said debts. I also give and bequeath to said son Amos Twenty pound Currant Money of Pennsylvania to him his heirs and Assigns. I give and bequeath to my son Caleb Wells the remainding part of the Tract of Land on which I now live with the proviso that my loving Wife Temerance Wells is not to be interupted or Molested in the full and queit & use possession of the said land during her life and then to my said son Caleb Wells his heirs & assigns forever. I give and bequeath to my Grand daughter Sarah Wells Daughter of Nicholas Wells Two Negro Girls (Towit) Sall and Peg and one feather Bed and furniture & two cows and calves, to hir,hir Heirs and Assigns forever I give and bequeath to my Grand daughter Temperance Talbot: Two Negro's To, wit Helen and Peter, one feather Bed and furniture to hir Heirs and Assigns and it is my further will and Meaning that if either of these my said Grand Daughters should die having no heir of their of body the other shall have and enjoy the whole of what is left to to them in this my last Will, and if they should both die not having any heir as above that then the Legacies above Given shall be considered as my estate and be equally divided amoung my Children, and it is my will and desire that after my death, that Seven of my negros shall be sold at public sale (Towit) Charles Lucy Abagail, Charles son of Charles, Cat, Fanny, Pole and it is my will and desire that the interests of the Money arising from the sale of said Slaves be the property of my loving Wife Temperance Wells and the principal to be Divided amoung my Children (hereafter to be Named) after the death of my said wife And it is my further will and desire that my loving wife Temperance shall at her own discretion Sell what part of the stock she sees cause and receive the interest of the money arising from such sale to her own proper use, and principal, after her death divided as above. I give and bequeath to my loving wife Temperance one Negro Man Named Jack, And after her death it is my will and desire that the said Negro Jack be Amancipated and Set free, I likewise give and bequeath to my said wife the following negros (towit) Baishar, Abraham, Cloe and Rachel during her life and then after her death to be sold and in case any of the said Slaves should become Troublesome or misbehave it is my will and desire that my said wife shall at her own discretion, sell them and enjoy that Interests of the Money arising from such sale as her own property, and the principal after her death be divided Amoung my children as my estate and my further will and desire is that after the death of my loving wife Temperance Wells, That then the residue of my estate that is not here given and Legacied away that is to say the principal, Monies arising from the sales directed above and every other property that shall be to divide at the time of my wifes death be equally amoung Children as follows Towit Charles Wells Absolom Wells William Wells Amos Wells Caleb Wells & Sarah Walters Or their heirs after my Just debts are paid, and I appoint my son Charles Wells and my loving wife Temperance Wells Executor & Executrix of this my last Will and Testament in Witness whereof I the said Benjamin Wells have hereunto Set my Hand and Seal this twenty Sixth day of November in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Ninety four
Signed and Sealed in
the presence of us
Geo. Hammond
Samuel Adams
William Adams
