Text of will of David Matthias:

I David Mathias of Carroll County in the state of Maryland being advanced in years and weak in body but of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof, and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs and be whereby the better prepared to leave this world when it shall please god to call me hence. I therefore make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say, first and principally I command my sould into the hands of God, and my body to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my hereinafter named executor. And after all my Just debts and funeral expenses are paid, I dispose of my estate as follows to wit:

I give devise and bequeath unto my beloved wife Rachel Mathias all my real estate that I may be possessed of at the time of my death during her natural lifetime, nevertheless upon the following terms and conditions, that is she the said Rachel Mathias shall pay and discharge all my Just debts and funeral expenses as well as the expence of selling and closeing my estate in the Orphans court for Carroll County, And after the death of my said wife I give devise and bequeath unto my grand daughter Rachel Ann Elizabeth Frock all my land lyeing on the north side of the spring branch starting at Peter Kridlers spring and runing through any land to and through the lands of Jacob Mikesele, and it being that part of the Benters farm whereon the primary scholl house is now erected, together with all the improvements thereto belonging; to her heirs and assigns forever. And all the remaining portion of my real estate, I give devise and bequeath, after the death of my widow, unto my daughter Sarah now intermarried with John Frock dureing her natural lifetime. And in case my daughter now the wife of John Frock should die before her husband John Frock then and in such case the said John Frock shall have the full use and possession of all her real estate dureing his natural lifetime. And after the death of both my daughter Sarah and her husband John Frock then the said real estate shall belong to the children of my said daughter Sarah, neverthelesss with the following exceptions and reservations, that is if the said John Frock should become involved in debt by accident or otherwise either dureing the lifetime of his wife Sarah or after her death, so much so that necessity would compel him then and in such case the said John Frock shall have the right and privelege of selling and conveying the by deed in as full and ample a manner as if could possible do myself where I liveing at the time Eighteen acres of land of that part of my farm known as the Benter farm and at the north west end of said farm about equal width along the line of the lands of Jacob Mikesell the same adjoinging the lands of Barbara Knipple, but the said John Frock shall at no time cut or sell from the farm and wood or timber except it be dead or broken down.

Item - I give and bequeath unto the Joint Congregations of Jerusalems Church two cords of wood and one hundred new (?) nails.

I further give and bequeath unto my daughter Sarah two cows, one heifer, two shoats, two bedsteads and bedding thereto belonging, six chairs, one beureu, one corner cupboard, one chest, and one dineing table. All the balance of my personal estate of whatsoever kind or nature if may be and not herein before bequeathed I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Rachel Mathias dureing her natural lifetime. And all of that estate remaining at the death of my said wife I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Sarah to her heirs and assigns forever.

And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint Henry(?) Wilson to be the sole executor of this my last will and testament whose duty it shall be to see that all her property is properly taken care of, and also to see that my widow be provided for with the necessarys and comforts of life, revokeing and anulling all former wills by me heretofore made, satisfying and confirming this instrument of writing to be my last will and testament and none after.

Witnesses: P. H. L. Myers, Peter Krideler, John Fuhrman

Presented for probate April 11, 1864 by Philip H. L. Myers and Peter Krideler