The Will of Mary Newport of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Note: According to Ancestry’s Concise Genealogical Dictionary messuage means dwelling house. (RWB)
Transcribed by Mary V. Spiers
Philadelphia County Wills #129 Book W (2004) signed Dec. 6th, 1791.
Will of Mary Newport
Be it remembered That I Mary Newport of the City of Philadelphia, Gentlewoman,
being advanced in years and desirous of settling my worldly Estate do make and Publish
my last Will and Testament in a manner following, First I do order and direct
all my Just debts and Funeral Expenses to be paid. Then I do give and
devise unto my Niece Mary Newport, all that my mesuage? And lot of
ground situate on the North side of Norris’s Alley, between Second and Front
Streets in the said City in which I now live, the said lot extending from
Norris Alley to Gray’s Alley, bounded on the West partly by a Mesouage
and Lot of Joseph Lablong and partly by a Message and Lot late of Joseph Sketch
deceased and Eastward by a Messuage and Ground now or late of John Shee
together with the appurtenances(?) To hold to her the said Mary
Newport her heirs and assigns forever. Amen. I do give to my niece
Mary Carmalt all that my mesouage and lot of ground situate on the east
side of second street continued in Southwark which I purchased of Edward Cook
and wife together with the Appurtonaneces(sp?) free and clear of
the ground rent which I have purchased off. To hold to her the said Mary
Carmalt, and the heirs of her body lawfully issuing and for default of such
issue then to the use & behoof (?) of my cousin Mary Edwards daughter
of John Edwards her heirs and assigns forever, but if on the death of my said
niece Mary Carmalt without issue, her father Thomas Carmalt should also be
dead, their mother Sarah Carmalt should be living, then is such case to the use
& behoof of the said Sarah Carmalt during her life, and after her death to
the use & behoof of the said Mary Edwards in fee as aforesaid.
I also give to the said Mary Edwards Fifty Pounds. Then I do give unto my
nephew William Baker Sixty Pounds, To my niece Mary Baker Fifty Pounds, To my
nephew John Baker Fifty Pounds and to my niece Elizabeth Baker Two Hundred
Pounds and two of my Silver Table Spoons, Item I do give to my half brother
Jesse Newport three hundred pounds to be deducted and taken from the money
which he shall or may owe me on his Bond or otherwise at my Death. Item I
do give unto the ten children of the said Jesse Newport named Thomas, Aaron,
David, Jesse, Benjamin, Richard, Anne, Elizabeth, Lydia and Mary the sum of one
thousand pounds to be equally divided between them. Share and Share alike
in which sum is to be included the balance of the monies their father Jesse Newport
shall owe me on his Bond or otherwise at my death. I likewise give to my
said niece Mary Newport my six Silver Tea Spoons marked with my name and three
of my new Silver Table Spoons, I also give to Elizabeth Newport two of my
Silver Table Spoons one Bed and Bedstead, two pair of sheets and one Bed quilt,
two Blankets and one pair of Curtains one Bureau Table one looking Glass one
tea table, half a Dozen Walnut Chairs two Potts(sic) and two Kettles one bottle
and one big of each sort, one sauspan (sic), one pair of brass and irons shovel
and tongs one Tea Kettle, two Candlesticks and all my China. I likewise
give to the said David Newport Fifty Pounds and if any of the said ten children
should happen to die under age without issue then the Estate both real &
personal hereby given him or her shall go to and I do give the same to the
survivors equally if more than one in fee as Tenants in Common. Item I do
give to Mary Gray senior, the sum of Four Hundred Pounds and to her daughter
Mary Gray junior I do give the sum of fifty pounds. Item I do give to my
executor the sum of two hundred pounds in trust to be by him placed out at
interest on good real security in the City or County of Philadelphia & the
interest of early arising there from I do give unto my cousin George Reagen for
his better for support during his life and after his death I do dispose of the
said two hundred pounds as follows. One half part thereof I do give to
the four children of Mary Gray namely Anne, Jeremiah, Catharine & Mary to
be equally divided between them. Share and share alike. I likewise give
to the said Catharine the further sum of sixty pounds which legacies are to be
paid to them as they shall generally attain to the age of twenty one
years and the other half part of the said two hundred pounds I give to
the four children of the said John Edwards namely Amos, Alice, Eleanor &
Elizabeth to be equally divided between them. Share and share alike to be paid
to them as they shall generally attain to the age of twenty one years. And if
any of the four children of the said Mary Gray should die under age and without
issue then the share of each dying shall go to and be equally divided among the
survivors. Also if any of the four children of the said John Edwards
should die under age and without issue then the share of each so dying shall go
to and be equally divided among the survivors. Item. I do give to my said niece
Mary Carmalt all the sum of two hundred pounds to be paid to her at the age of
twenty one years with the interest that shall or may accrue thereon, but if her
father Thomas Carmalt should die before that time, then the said interest money
shall yearly be paid to her mother the said Sarah during her life and at her
death the said principal to become payable to the said Mary if of age as
aforesaid, but if the said Thomas should not die before that time till I do
desire her the said Mary not to let her mother Sarah want as long as she has
any thing to live on. My reason for not being more liberal to her the said
Sarah is because of the idleness of her husband. I also give to her the
said Mary Carmalt my Silver Cream Jug my two Large Silver Table Spoons my Stew
Pan and my Padesey(sic) Gown. And if the said Mary Carmalt should happen
to die under age and without Issue then I do give the said sum of Two Hundred
Pounds to my Executor, in Trust, and for such uses and purposes as I shall
heareafter give to him the sum of Four hundred Pounds. And I do hereby
release and discharge the said Thomas Carmalt and Sarah his wife of and from
all Monies Accounts and other Demands whatsoever which I may have against him
or her at my death. Item I do give to him paid over to such Person or
Persons as the monthly meeting of the People called Quakers of Philadelphia for
the middle district appoint to receive the same which sum I do direct to be
placed out at Interest forever on good real security and the interest yearly
arising therefrom. I do order to be paid & distributed to and among
such poor old honest industrious Maidens & Widows as may land in need of
Support. Item I do give to Mary Robinson Wife of John Robinson my Cloth
Cloak And all the remainder of my wearing apparel I do give to all the
daughters of Jesse Newport and John Edwards to be equally divided between
them. Item I do give to my friend Mary Holton an elderly Maiden the Sum
of twenty five Pounds, To Jane Peart also an elderly Maiden that lives with me
the like Sum of Twenty five Pounds & To my Friend Sarah Lancaster also an
Elderly Maiden the like Sum of Twenty five Pounds. To Ann Fordham a
sister to Isaac Jones’ wife the Tobacconist I do give the sum of Fifty Pounds,
and to Rebecca Dorsey wife of John Dorsey I do give my Silver Can, And all the
rest resiou(unreadable) and remainder of my Estate both real & personal
whatsoever or wherever I do give to Anne, Elizabeth, Lydia and Mary Newport
their Heirs, Executors Administrators and Assigns for ever to be equally
divided between them share and share alike. And I do hereby Authorize
and fully empower my Executor to place & keep out at Interest on good
real security in the City & County of Philadelphia my General
Legatees Monies who shall or may be under Age at my death until they
shall generally attain to their Ages of Twenty one Years for their general use
and benefit and at their risqué respectively, or in case of any or either of
their deaths before the said age, for the use and benefit of those to whom I
have herein before generally given the same.
And Lastly I do nominate and appoint my good Friend John Drinker Executor of
this my last Will and Testament, kindly desiring my Friend Henry Drinker to
give him his advice and Assistance in the Execution of this my Will, and hereby
revoking all others by one another(?). I do declare this only to be my last
Will & Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand
& seal this fifth day of December in the year of our Lord One thousand
seven hundred & ninety one. (signed Mary Newport).
Signed Sealed Published & declared by the said Testatrix Mary Newport for
as her last Will & Testament in the Presence of Us. The said
Testatrix first giving to Mary Watson an old maiden the sum of twenty five
pounds. James Starr, Abm Shoemaker. James Starr and Abraham Shoemaker
Witness to the foregoing will on their solemn affirmation do declare & say
that they saw and heard Mary Newport the Testatrix duly Sign Seal Publish &
declare the same as and for her last Will & Testament and that at the doing
thereof she was of sound mind memory and understanding to the best of their
knowledge & beliefs.
Affirmed the 7th day of May 1792 before Geo.Campbell Reg.
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