I William BOARMAN of Charles County in the province of Maryland being in perfect health and memory do constitute and ordain and appoint this my last will and testament
 
Imp - I bequeath my soul to God that made me Hoping to obtain mercy at his hands my body to the earth to be decently buried at the charge of my estate and at the discretion of my Executrix hereafter named.

Item I give to my Son William BOARMAN all the land lying between the two grate branches which is from the hors Run called down to Mr. Thomas JAMESON great Run that his mill stand on with the Swamp line and head line only reserving for my Loving wife Mary BOARMAN my dwelling plantation I now live on and what land --- shall have occasion for to make her crops and working her servants during life then to return to my son WILLIAM and his heirs for ever

Item - I give to my son Joseph BOARMAN all that parcel of land lying between my son in law Marsham WARRAN Lyne and ye Lyne of my son Joshua GUIBERT with the head Lyne and Swamp Lyne to him and his heirs forever also I Give my son JOSEPH one negro boy named Ignatius one young horse and one mare three cows and three heifers, six ewes and six sows one feather bed and furniture.

Item - To Give my son Thomas James BOARMAN all that parcel of land beginning at the fork of ye Run & running with ye run to ye out line of ye mannor and with my son in law Marsham WARRANs Lyne all within these bonds to him & heirs forever also one negro boy called Chum also one young horse and mare three cows and heifers six ewes & six sows one bed and furniture.

Item - I give to my daughter Sarah BOARMAN one feather bed and furniture & curtains and two pair of sheets one table cloth and six napkins of Huckaback one pewter casson two dishes six plates & two silver spoons one looking Glass of ten shillings price one young negro woman called Pegge and all her increase one horse and one young mare three cows and three heifers six ewes and six sows & twenty pounds sterling money of England to be paid when Received further it is my will that if my daughter Sarah never marries but lives a singall life she shall have the orchard where bettey Prockter lives and sixty ackers of Land joyning to the said orchard for her life but if she should marry then this to be void.

Item - I give to my Daughter Jane BOARMAN one negro Girl called Henrietta and thirty pounds sterling money of England of the money in Capt. Thomas Tumer's hands one feather bed and furniture three cows and three heifers six ewes and six sows one young horse and one mare also it is my will that in case my daughter never marries but lives singall that then she has sixty ackers of land in her brother Joseph's track where she has most mind to have it for her life butt if she marries then this to be void.

Item - I give unto my daughter Mary BOARMAN one negro girt named Beck and forty pounds sterling of England one feather bed and furniture three cows three heifers six ewes and six sows one young horse and one mare. Further it is my will if my daughter should live a single life that she shall have sixty acres of land in her brother Thomas James track where she has most mind to have it for her life but if she marries this to be void.

Item - Lastly it my will that all that parcell of Land that lys between my son in law Josiah GUIBERT & Joseph great Run be equally divided between my two sons Joseph BOARMAN & Thomas James BOARMAN the uper part with the plantation that now John Glas lives on to be my son Joseph BOARMAN and the Lower part next the swamp for my son Thomas James BOARMAN & their heirs forever.

Further it is my will that my two son be of age at eighteen but in case that either of my sons should dye before they come to age Joseph BOARMAN & Thomas James BOARMAN that then the Survivor shall have all the land but in case they both should dye and without issue lawfully begotten that then my will is their lands may be equally divided between my three daughters Sarah, Jane, and Mary Also I appoint my son William BOARMAN to see that all things is performed in full as my will expresses and be assistant to his mother and his brothers and sisters in their affairs, likewise I leave my son WILLIAM my best suit of close.

Lastly I give all ye residue of my personall estate to my Loving Wife Mary BOARMAN whom I appoint constitute and ordain to be my whole and sole Executrix of this my Last will and testament, Revoking and making null and void all other wills and testaments In confirmation of the same I have here underneath sett my hand and seall the eight of April one thousand seven hundred & twenty. 

/s/ WILLIAM BOARMAN, SR.

14 September 1703:

13 November 1753

13 August 1754

9 March 1756

1755, May 9th Susanah BUTLER (Molatto):

Charles County ss. on the 9th of March 1756 William Parker before me made oath on the holy Evangelists of Almighty God that the within Account is Just and True, and that he hath not to his knowledge directly or Indirectly received Either Part of Parcell Security or Satisfaction for the same more then Credit given.

.. . . And the said Susanah by John Hall her Attorney ... saith that she Cannot deny the Action aforesaid . . . . also 185 pounds of tobacco . . . . Costs

March 1756

13 June 1758

Negro man Jack 28/0/0
Do. Rumwell
Do. Harry
Do. James
Do. Charles very old & lame 5/0/0
1 Negro woman named Kate 25/0/0
Do. Nan old 22/0/0
Do. Jenny
Do. Betty
1 Negro boy abt. 9 years old Will 16/0/0
" " do. abt. 6 years old Robin
" " do. 3 years old James
1 Mallatto about 2 years old Geo. 6/0/0
1 Negro Girle abt. 12 years old Moll
1 Negro Girle abt. 7 years old Nanny 14/0/0
1 Negro Girle abt. 3 years old Pegg

SANDERS, John, Charles County, 22nd October, 1724; 15th April, 1730.

Executor instructed as to payment of debts, especially debt to estate of Wm. Hutchison, dec'd.

To priest attendant at death, 500 lbs. tobacco.

To wife Mary and hrs., in lieu of dowry, certain designated personalty absolutely (not to include altar or church furniture); and certain personalty for life, to pass to daughter Mary POWER for her life, and then to grandson John POWER and heirs.

To daughters Mary POWER and Jane DOYNE, 20 shillings each.

To son John and heirs, 100 acres. of “Cane's Purchase” at Porttobacco (for description see will); and personalty.

To son Edward and heirs, part of last named tract adjacent to land of bro. ——.

To daughter Ann, personalty.

To son William and heirs, residue of land at “Port-tobacco,” being plan. where Thomas Osborn lived; and personalty; to receive estate at death of testator.

To eldest son Thomas, executor, and heirs, residue of estate, real and personal (except land in Virginia sold by father Edward SANDERS to Nicholas Russell, whose rights therein are hereby acknowledged).

Test: Thomas MUDD, Robert Thompson, Joseph GARDNER, Benjamin GARDNER, Charles Clements.

Codicil: 6th July, 1729. Testator states that estate of Ethelbert DOYNE, deceased, with 3 small children being in his hands, is to be distributed as follows: Grandson Ethelbert DOYNE, to care of Clement GARDINER until of age to receive his estate, real and personal, as designated; 2 granddaughters Mary and Jane DOYNE, with personalty, to care of Thomas Thompson, Port-tobacco.

Test: James Whitgreave, Edward NEALE, Edward Magatee. 19, 892.

September Term 1770

William BUTLER & Mary BUTLER a. Richard BOARMAN⁷

27 Day of September 1763 the plaintiffs by John Hall their attorney file in Court here the following petition to wit:

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at said next court 2nd Tuesday of April 1764 come again as well as the said Richard BOARMAN by Thomas Johnson Junior his attorney. thereupon the said cause is continued to next court. . . . next court . . . April 1765 . . . come again the parties aforesaid and ruled by the said court that the Depositions of John Branson, Samuel Love, Senior, John Jordan Smith, and Elizabeth Waring be admitted as Evidence on behalf of the defendant. And on giving four days notice of the time and place of Examination to the Complainants, and thereupon the said cause is further continued until next court . . . second Tuesday of September 1765 . . . . second Tuesday of April 1766, come again the parties aforesaid . . . continued next court.

Third Tuesday in October 1766 came again the parties and ruled by the said court that the Depositions of all witnesses on both sides to be taken before a magistrate be admitted as Evidence on the Argument of this cause, in case the Evidences are not able to attend, the adverse party given two days notice of the time and place of taking each Deposition. next court.

May 1767 . . . October 1767 . . . Third Tuesday May 1768 . . .

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Third Tuesday October 1768 ... Third Tuesday May 1769 . . . . Second Tuesday of September 1770 It is considered by the Justices here that the said William BUTLER and Mary BUTLER of and from any further servitude to the said Richard BOARMAN be hence discharged and freed. And it is also considered that the said William and Mary BUTLER recover against the said Richard BOARMAN the sum of ________ pounds of tobacco by the Court here unto them on their assent adjudged for their costs and charges laid out and expended by occasion of the premises etc.

Thereupon the said Richard BOARMAN by his attorney aforesaid prays appeal from the Judgment aforesaid . . . . High Court of appeals . . . granted

Copies of the Depositions of the Witnesses taken and admitted as Evidence on the hearing of the aforegoing cause are here annexed.

Charles County September 12, 1767 The Deposition of John Jordan Smith aged about Eighty five years, taken before me the subscriber . . . above sixty years ago he was well acquainted with Eloner BUTTELER, an Irish woman, and negro Charles and that they lived together several years and that they had three children which then lived with them, one named John, one named Sarah, and one named Catherine, and the Deponent further saith that he believes the said John was then between nineteen and twenty years of age, and Sarah about seventeen, and Catherine about fifteen years of age, and this Deponent further saith

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that the said Eloner Butteler used to come several times to his father's house to wash for the family, and further saith that the said Eloner and Charles lived on a plantation of Majr. BOARMAN's and that he saw them several times at the Majr's and further this Deponent saith not. Allen Davis. John Jordan Smith. I further certifie that William BUTTLER was present when the above Deposition was taken. Allen Davis.

The deposition of Jane Howard aged seventy years or there abouts being sworn . . . declares that when this Deponent was ten, eleven, or twelve years of age, she used frequently to be at Major BOARMAN's house (his wife being godmother to this deponent) and at that time there was in Major BOARMAN's possession two Mulatto's as slaves, the one a young man named Jack, twenty years of age or thereabouts, the other a well grown young lusty wench named Kate, (both which Mulatto's she this deponent often heard Major BOARMAN and Nell BUTLER, an Irish woman, and also several neighbours say the same likewise that they were married. Jean x Howard. The above deposition was taken before me one of the Lordship's Justices for the County aforesaid September 21, 1767.

The Deposition of Thomas Beach, aged seventy eight years . . . saith that he knew Irish Nell that the first of his knowing her was at Mr. Leonard BROOKES⁸ and that she the said Irish Nell appeared to him at that time to be about forty years old, that Nell had a Daughter called Abigail, that when he first knew her she was about nine or ten years old, and lived at Leonard BROOKEs' and that he the deponent was then about twenty or twenty one years old, and that he often heard that William BUTLER was the son of the said Abigail and that Irish Nell was a white woman and that when he first knew Irish Nell he was about twenty or twenty one years old. Thomas x Beach 28 October 1767.

William & Mary Butler a. Richard BOARMAN . . . in the Provincial Court May 27, 1767.

Ann Whitehorn aged seventy six years the eleventh day of December next . . . saith that William BUTLER one of the petitioners, is a son of Eleanor BUTLER's Daughter named Elizabeth, commonly called Abigail, which said Elizabeth, this Deponent saith was near her age, but something younger, that they were girls together, and lived within two miles of each other,

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and that she never knew that the said Eleanor BUTLER was in a state of slavery that she frequently used to come and see her Children, and stay with them for a month and longer at a time as other free people do, that she never knew or heard that Eleanor BUTLER was married to a negro, that the said William BUTLER is, she believes about forty four years old, that the said Elizabeth, mother of the Petitioner has been dead about thirty years, that she knew Eleanor BUTLER from the time this Deponent was seven years old or thereabouts to the time of the said Eleanor's death, and that she the said Deponent always lived within a mile or two of the Elizabeth commonly called Abigail, Daughter of the said Irish Nell and that the said Eleanor was a Midwife and lived chiefly among the BOARMANs in Charles County without being confined to any particular place that she knows of that Eleanor bore three or four Children after this Deponent knew her, and at the time of her first knowing her was a Child bearing woman, that Eleanor she believes was about forty years old when she died but does not know how long it is from her death, that one of the Children which the said Eleanor used to go and see was at Richard BOARMAN's, that is now but then Leonard BROOKE's in Saint Mary's County⁹ and another Richard BROOKES in Saint Mary's County,¹⁰ that she heard, but don't know from whom that Leonard BROOKE's wife was of the family of Sanders, who the wife of Richard BROOKES was she never heard, maybe she was a SLY, she thinks she has heard so, and further saith not. Ann x Whitehorn.

In the Provincial Court 27 May 1767.

Samuel ABELL, Junior,¹¹ aged fifty years next March . . . deposeth and saith that in April 1764, as well as he can remember he was at Annapolis attending the provincial Court with Mr. Edwards and lodged at one house, and Mr. Richard BOARMAN the Defendant came to their lodgings and in discourse about the matter now in question the said BOARMAN told him and Edwards that Lord Baltimore a good many years ago came into this Country to live and brought with him a woman named BUTLER whose Christian name he do not remember, to wash and iron and boarded her with his Grand Father, and that some time after they had been there, said woman called BUTLER fell in Love with one of his Grand Father's Negroes and wanted to marry him, and upon my Lord being informed that she wanted to marry the negro, my Lord sent for her in, and chid her, and told her that if she married the negro she would by that means enslave herself, and her posterity, upon which the woman told him that she would rather marry the negro under them circumstances, than to marry his Lordship with his Country, upon which he told her she might go and marry him, and be damned. Accordingly she went and was married to the negro, and of that marriage came these two negroes William and Mary BUTLER the Petitioners, upon which he this Deponent or Mr. Edwards he don't remember which

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of them asked him if there were not a good many of that Family. he said there was about one hundred and twenty of them, but the negroes by their county made near three hundred of them, for that thy had taken even some salt water negroes into their count, and upon asking him how they came to be slaves as they came of a white woman. He said he claimed them by a Law of this province whereby white women marrying of slaves, should become slaves to the house of their Husband's master. And he took out his pockett a paper which he said was a copy of the Act and it appeared to be a copy of an Act and under that Act he claimed them and thinks as well as he can remember, he said Mr. DARNALL¹² copyed it for him; afterwards this deponent and Mr. Edwards were talking about the matter and that they would be summoned as Evidences, upon which Mr. BOARMAN said he only spoke to them as friends and desired they would say nothing about the matter and after they the said Deponant and Edwards, went home several people came to him and asked what the conversation was which passed between him and BOARMAN, upon which he knew he never told any body, and when he saw Mr. Edwards he asked him how he came to tell of it, he said it was no secret. Mr. BOARMAN had told it to fifty people besides, and further saith not. Saml. ABELL

In the Provincial Court 27 May 1767.

Nathaniel Suit aged forty years the twenty second day of July next . . . saith that his father Nathaniel Soot at the time of his death was in the Eighty ninth year of his age, and that he has been dead ten years last April and that about seventeen or eighteen years ago he told his Father that Ned BUTLER had sued for his freedom and his father said he was a foolish dog wou'd never get free nor none of Irish Nell's Children, for she was married to a negro Fellow of Major BOARMAN's named Charles, and that enslaved them all, and said he was there when they were married and was a small boy and was there with his mother, and thinks his Father said they wanted him to kiss the Bride, or she wanted to kiss him, or did kiss him, and he runaway, and further saith not. Nathaniel Suit

In the Provincial Court 27 May 1767

William McPherson aged sixty years, the fifth day of September next, being first sworn ... saith that he knew Eleanor BUTLER, commonly called Irish Nell, about fifty years ago, when Pomphrey John SANDERS¹³ married Major William BOARMAN's widow and brought his wife home, he said Irish Nell -

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and a negro Charles at the said SANDER's, that he has seen Nell and Charles and that negro Charles called the said Nell his old woman, and she called him her old man, that he never knew of the said Nell being held as a slave, that when Charles went to SAUNDER's quarter Nell went there also and acted as a Cooke, that Nell appeared to him to be an old woman and bore no children after his knowledge of her, that he knew a Daughter of her's called Kate, that Kate was the mother of Pegg, that Pegg was the mother of Moll, one of the petitioners, that he first knew Kate about forty five years ago, that she then had Children and died about seven or eight years ago, and thinks she must in his judgment have been seventy years old if not more at the time of her death, that Eleanor BUTLER hath been dead about thirty eight, thirty nine, or forty years ago. that he knew two other Daughters of the said Eleanor called Moll and Nan, that Nan was the youngest of the three and he believes Moll younger that Kate, that John SAUNDERS hired negro Charles to Nasy BOARMAN,¹⁴ that Eleanor BUTLER either came with him or followed him there and acted as a free woman and took in Spinning and acted as a midwife, that Charles was afterwards hired to SAUNDERS's son and moved away from Nasy BOARMAN's, but that Eleanor BUTLER stayed at Nasy BOARMAN's till she died, that the said Eleanor appeared to him much broken and an old woman when she died, that when Eleanor first came into the Country she lived with Major William BOARMAN as he heard, that the children of Nell before spoken of in this Deposition were held as slaves, that is Kate by John Baptist BOARMAN,¹⁵ Pegg by Ignatius BOARMAN,¹⁶ and Moll was born at Ignatius BOARMAN's and fell to a son of the said Boarman's called Francis BOARMAN¹⁷ that he knew Ned BUTLER pretty near twenty seven or twenty eight years ago, that he was then a man grown and appeared to him to be about twenty eight years old.

Edward EDELEN¹⁸ aged fifty years or thereabouts . . . saith he heard his father say a little before he died which was seven years next fall, that he was Eighty nine years old, or thereabouts, and that he heard his Father say he went to Major BOARMAN's one morning, and when he came there he said My Lord Baltimore was there, and then lived there, and he heard Lord Baltimore ask for Eleanor BUTLER, a servant woman of Major BOARMAN's, when she came to him he said, I understand you are going to be married to Day to negro Charles, he said to her what a pretty so likely a young Girl as you are should fling herself away so as to marry a negro, and he said not only that, but you'll make slaves of your children and their posterity, and he heard his Father say he did not stay to see them married, but he understood they were married that day and lived together afterwards as man and wife, this Conversation with his father happened about twenty years ago, that he says that his sister married one of the BOARMANs who had some of the Descendants of Nell Butler -

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and her Children as he has heard now claims them & further saith not.

In the Provincial Court May 27 1767.

Benjamin JAMERSON¹⁹ aged forty Eight years last November being first sworn . . . saith that he has heard his mother who is now dead say that she has heard old Madam Witham who is also dead say that she saw Irish Nell or Nell BUTLER, he's not certain which, married to negro Charles, that the said Charles at that time belonged to old Major BOARMAN, further he has heard her say she heard old Mrs. DOYNES²⁰ who is also dead say that she was at Major BOARMAN's when they were married and thinks she see them married, and further has heard her say that she heard one old Ann Short who is also dead say she was at Major BOARMAN's when they were married and thinks said she seen them married, and also heard old Mrs. Ruthorn who is also dead say that she was at Major BOARMAN's when the same Nell and Charles as she understood was married, but that she did not see them married, that she heard several people wish them much Joy and that she behaved as a Bride and that he has heard his mother say that she heard many people say that my Lord was at Major BOARMAN's at the time when they were married and cautioned this Nell BUTLER against it, that before they were married that if she married negro Charles she would enslave herself, and all her posterity, my Lord asked her how she would like to go to bed to a negro? She answered that she rather go to bed to Charles than with her Lordship, that he heard Mr. Yates²¹ who was a Magistrate of Charles County, and now also dead say, that they were married under a Law that made them slaves, that Mr. Yates at the time of his death was about fifty or sixty years old, as he apprehends, that Mr. Yates was not a native of this province as he believes, and was a man when he first saw him to be about twenty or near thirty or more, about seventeen or Eighteen years ago, but that he is unable to form any Judgment of what age he was, and further saith not. Benja. JAMESON.

27 May 1767. . . . Thomas Bowling aged sixty three years ... saith that in some discourse with his mother who is now dead, I heard her say, that in some discourse with Irish Nell about her marriage with a negro, Irish Nell told her the day she expected to be married, she was early up intending to clean the house out, and a Gentleman whether it was Lord Baltimore, or any other person he can't remember, asked her if she was the girl that was to be married that day to the negro? She said yes,

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he then chid her and told her she would put a mark by that upon her children and bring them into Slavery, that if she would marry a white man her children might be a Credit in the world, otherwise they wou'd be in slavery, upon which she fell a crying, and said it was to her Choice, she wou'd rather have Charles than have your Lordship or his Lordship he can't tell which, upon which he said marry him if you will and so were married, and that this Conversation between him and his mother happened about thirty years ago, that he knew Kate a Daughter of Irish Nell who had a Daughter named Pegg who had several children that he understood Jack was the Eldest Child of Irish Nell, that he knew Jack about fifty four or fifty five years ago and then he appeared to be one and twenty years of age and that several young people were with him in the yard who he knew to be about one or two and twenty, and that he appeared to be of their age, he himself that time being six or seven years old, that he always understood the descendants of the said Irish Nell were held in slavery during his remembrance, and that several of them who he knew were held as slaves that he knew Leonard BROOKE who he always understood married Major BOARMAN's daughter and Richard BROOKE and his wife Clear²² which Clear was the Daughter of Major BOARMAN, that he the Deponent from his infancy lived in the Neighborhood of BOARMAN's family in Charles County until he was forty years old, and then removed into Prince George's County, that he was nine or ten years old sent him for corn, and then he saw Ned BUTLER at his master Joseph PILES²³ his house, and that the said Ned BUTLER was a size bigger than himself, and that he judged him to be a year or two older than himself, that he has heard that one Hubbert was a Roman Priest, and lived in the Neighborhood near Major BOARMAN, that it was before his time, and that he never saw him as he knows of, that one Haddock succeeded him, and that he knew him very well, and that Mr. Hubbert died an old man, as he has heard, that he does not know whether Nell was a slave or not, for when he knew her she was old and past her Labour. Thomas Bowling.

In the Provincial Court 27 May 1767.

William SIMSON aged sixty nine years . . . saith that as for Irish Nell and her Husband ever since he knew any Body he knew them likewise he knew Kate who came from them, and he knew the Grand son Ned who went for Kate's son, and he the said Ned and himself were pretty near of an age, and were Children and played together, his master put him out to work, and his master got this Deponent to work with him, he kept on to work for some time, and then went away from this Deponent down to his master, Billy NEALE,²⁴ who lived at Kob, that he heard his Father say he was at the wedding at these two old people called Nell Butler and Charles and -

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saw them married, and heard him tell Capt. Redhead he was at the wedding, and a fine wedding it was, the Capt. told his Father she was a foolish woman for marrying the negro, for that it would make herself and her children slaves forever after, and as for the two couple, he used to work abroad and doth not know whether the lived or died slaves that the time he went to work abroad, he was three and twenty, that he remembers Nell BUTLER and Charles, and they passed as man and wife and called themselves so, and that Charles he believes was a saltwater negro, and always understood was a slave of Major William BOARMAN, that this Deponent's daughter married Baker BROOKES²⁵ who had one or two Mulato's who he understood were of this family and that Baker BROOKE and his wife were both dead without Children, that Baker BROOKE did not get these Mulatto's by his wife, that he knew the people when he was two or three and twenty years old by that they did not come into his walks after he went away to work, being asked how old Nell was, when he first knew her? Said it was a great while ago, and that he don't know, not very old about thirty or perhaps forty years old, that he has heard his father talk of one Mr. Hulbert being a roman Priest, and that he used to preach at a Chappell pretty next Major BOARMAN's and that this Deponent don't remember ever to have seen him, and further saith not. Wm. Simpson.

In the Provincial Court 27 May 1767.

Joseph JAMESON²⁶ aged fifty two years next December . . . saith that he knew Irish Nell very well, that she lived at Mr. Nasy BOARMAN's within a mine of his Father's, that she had a Daughter living with her, who died as a slave of Mr. BOARMAN, and being asked how he knew she was a slave? says she worked among the other slaves and lived as they did, she there died, and Mr. BOARMAN sent for a spade, and he went and gave it out of the mill, and went with them to the place where they put her in the ground, the old woman Nell was lamenting the loss of her Daughter, and said it was the greatest loss she had met with since she was married, some one there bystanding asked her who married her? and she answered one Mr. Hubbert since that about thirty six or thirty seven years ago, Mrs. DOYNES happened at his Fathers, Major BOARMAN's Charles was there of an errand sent, and his mother said to Mrs. DOYNES there was Major BOARMAN's Charles the husband of Eleanor BUTLER, who Mrs. DOYNES said she and Madam Witham saw married, and the morning before they were married my Lord Baltimore then was living at Major BOARMAN's was pleased to ask this Eleanor BUTLER whether she was going to be married to negro Charles that day or not? her answer to him was, she was, she hoped she was that day to be married, who said to her, he was surprised she was going to marry a negro which she was likely enough to marry some one of her own Colour, her -

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answer was, she had much rather be married to negro Charles than his Lordship, he then said she did not consider what she was about or going to do, for that she did not bring only slavery upon herself, but all her posterity, that he knew negro Charles and that he was always reputed to be a negro slave of Major William BOARMAN, that the said negro Charles and Irish Nell were always deemed as man and wife and did acknowledge themselves as such, that he knew several Children of Nell BUTLER's named Kate, Moll, and Nan, that Kate had a Child named Pegg who was the mother of Moll that he believes Kate at the time of her death was between sixty and seventy years old, that all the Descendants of the said Nell that he knew lived and died slaves. They were working and living as such except the said Kate who he had heard from the neighborhood and one Spalding had purchased her freedom, and further saith not. Joseph Jameson.

In the Provincial Court 27 May 1767.

Mary Crosen aged seventy four years the fifteenth day of February next . . . saith that she knew Eleanor BUTLER a white woman commonly called Irish Nell, that she was settled by Nasy BOARMAN then a single man with her children at a place where Gerrard BOARMAN²⁷ now lives called Zachiah Swamp near the old Bridges, that she lived within two miles of Irish Nell, that she knew some of her Children, one called Kate, the other Moll, that she knew Nell as long as she can remember and that she supposes she was twelve or fourteen years old when she first took an account of her Kate, Nell's Daughter has been dead between six and seven years. Kate had several Children, two of them she knew Jack and Jenny, that Kate was upwards of fifty years old when she died, that Kate and Moll when she first knew them were young women, and that she thinks Kate was fourteen or fifteen years older than herself, but cannot be certain, and that Kate was older than Nan, that she does not know that Nell was a free woman but appeared to her to do as she pleased, that she was a hard labouring body and made good Crops, and she believes Mr. Nasy BOARMAN's family got them, that she has heard that Kate had a daughter called Pegg to the best of her knowledge, that she has heard that Nell had a Daughter called Abby, and further saith not. Mary x Crosen.

Charles County September 17, 1767.

Mrs. Elizabeth Warren, aged sixty five years ... saith that she knew negro Charles who was a slave to Mr. William BOARMAN sixty years ago, as also a white woman named Nell, which said slave and white woman she understood from all her acquaintances of them times, to be man and wife, and never heard -

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it disputed till some few years ago, and this Deponent further saith that as far back as she can remember she saw a negro man named Jack at Major Wm BOARMAN's a person who went for the son of the aforesaid Charles and Nell, that she always understood from the Neighbors he was a slave to said BOARMAN that said Jack runaway from his said Master, that Mr. BOARMAN's son followed him to Lower parts of Virginia, and that Jack bought his freedom, that he never returned as she knows of. Elizabeth x Warren.

Above deposition was taken at the Instance of Mr. George BOARMAN in the presence of Negro William BUTLER this 17 September 1765.

September 18, 1765, Mr. Samuel Love, Senior, aged seventy nine or thereabouts . . . sayeth that his mother and grand mother and old Mr. Richard EDELEN and several other people about seventy years agoe he has often heard them say that a Negro man slave called John slave to Major William BOARMAN, was married to Eleanor BUTLER, and he has often heard it said they always went as man and wife, and the Deponent says he often heard Eleanor BUTLER call the said negro John her Husband, and he saith he never heard Eleanor BUTLER had a base born child. Samuel x Love Senr.

Saint Mary's County.

The deposition of John Branson aged Eighty two years some time next month . . . . declares that sixty two years ago he this deponent workt at William BOARMAN's in Charles County at which time a Mulatto man called Jack was put to work with him which he was informed was a son of a white woman called Irish Nell and at that time he declares that the said Jack was a slave, and that it was occasioned by his mother intermarrying with a slave belonging to the aforesaid William BOARMAN, and further this deponent saith not. 28 September 1765.

To wife - dwelling plantation and 1/3 personalty during life.

To son-in-law Charles CARROLL and heirs, 3 tracts in Prince George's County, viz., 1726 acres, "The Girl's Portion,"' 925 acres, "The Outlet"' at head of Western Brack of Patuxent River and 406 acres, "The Concord," also 400 acres, on Patuxent River, purchased from Philip Gitting, having been purchased by him from Cuthbert Fenwick.

To son-in-law Clement HILL, tracts, each of 400 acres in Prince George's County, one on lower side of Clement BROOKs' land on east side of Piscataway Branch, and the other lying below afsd. tract but separated by- land taken up by Thomas BROOK; also such estate as was agreed upon between testator and Clement HILL, Sr., upon his marriage with daughter Anne.

To son-in-law Edward DIGGS and heirs, 1000 acres, in Cecil County, conveyed to testator by executors of Col. Vincent Low; also 2 tracts in Prince George's County, viz., 250 acres, "Kingstone." purchased from Peter Joy, and where said DIGGS now lives, and 125 acres adjoining, purchased from Nathan Veitch, these tracts being given in lieu of 1000 acres, " The Reserve" and 400 acres, " Conveniency, " which were promised to him at his marriage with daughter Elizabeth.

HENRY DARNALL I (1645 - 1711)

Unsigned portrait after the manner of Justus Englehardt Kuhn (died 1717)
Oil on canvas
37 15/64 x 30 7/64 in. (94.6 x 76.5 cm.)
Bequest of Miss Ellen C. Daingerfield
Holding Institution: Maryland Historical Society
Accession: 1912-1-1

Image copyright ©
Maryland ArtSource [Baltimore Art Research & Outreach Consortium]

ELEANOR HATTON BROOKE DARNALL (1642 - 1725)

Unsigned portrait after the manner of Justus Englehardt Kuhn (died 1717)
Oil on canvas
37 3/32 x 30 7/64 in. (94.2 x 76.5 cm.)
Bequest of Miss Ellen C. Daingerfield
Holding Institution: Maryland Historical Society
Accession: 1912-1-2

Image copyright ©
Maryland ArtSource [Baltimore Art Research & Outreach Consortium]

Testatrix states that her late husband Joshua DOYNE, gent., had by his will made her residuary legatee of his estate; but had made no mention of 200 acres which he had formerly designed to give to his son Dennis. She therefore bequeaths said 200 acres to Joseph and heirs, second son of Jese DOYNE, deceased, (who was heir at law to Denis DOYNE, aforesaid), said 200 acres being on Ward's Run, part of tract of 600 acres bounded by aforesaid husband of Madam Elizabeth CALVERT and her son Charles.

To son Joshua, executor, his two children, Robert and Jane, and any other children he may have by his wife Anne, granddaughter Hennerita WHARTON, and Mary and Jane, daughters to Ethelbert DOYNE, deceased, sons Ignatius and Edward, and daughter Jane WHARTON, personalty.

Test: James Boulter, Ann Sprett, James Thompson. [22. 81]

Item.-To be buried at Chapel Point by my dear wife.

Son, Robert DOYNE, 100 acres of land containing this plantation whereon I now live, being a moiety of 200 acres formerly belonging to my son Joseph DOYNE, that tract whereon Charles Mattingly lives, formerly belonging to my deceased brother, Dennis DOYNE, 200 acres which I sold to Richard Hutson.

Son, Joseph DOYNE, a tract of 550 acres left to my brother, William DOYNE, by my (deceased) father, Mr. Joshua DOYNE.

Son, Robert DOYNE, 1,000 acres of land which was left by my father, Mr. Joshua DOYNE, between myself and my deceased brother, Ethelbert DOYNE, which, not being divided, I claim, as survivor. I give said land to my son Robert DOYNE forever.

Son, Robert DOYNE, my plantation whereon John Mosas now lives, containing 200 acres.

To Peter Atwood, one horse.

Overseers and Trustees: My friends Mr. William. Chandler and Mr. Charles SANDERS, to whom I give one mourning ring each.

To my two sons, ring each.

My two sons must get consent of my trustees before making bargains until they reach 18 years of age.

Item.-Whereas I give each of my sons, Robert and Joseph, a tract of land on the Eastern Shore and not then knowing the names of said land, I now explain that the 1,000 acres left to Robert is called "Timnah Sarah" and the 550 acres left to my son Joseph DOYNE is called "Rouse" (or "Ramp").

Executors: My son Robert DOYNE and my son Joseph DOYNE.

Witnesses: John Chalmers, John Hinkson, Francis Adams.

Will dated December 14, 1726. Proved June 26, 1727.

NOTES: By R.T. Semmes.-This testator was Jesse DOYNE of Joshua DOYNE, died 1698. This testator married Elizabeth, daughter of Robert BRENT, of Virginia, by his wife, Anne BOUGH.

Deponent stated he knew of an Ignatius MATHIS who is said to be the son of Jane CORKSHUTT. John CAUSEEN was reputed to be the heir of the above-mentioned land. Ignatius CAUSEEN married the daughter of this deponent. [Liber CL, p. 707]

Executor not named
Test: Robert GREENE, William BOARMAN, Jr. [5.163]

_________________________

MATHEWS, Thomas ,Charles County, 9th January, 1675; 11th March, 1676.

To wife Jane, executrix, 300 acres Huckleberry Swamp or Beckley, in Charles County; 400 acres St. Helen's and Matthews' Hope at St. Helen's; also personalty for the use of herself and testator's children. To son Thomas and heirs, 700 acres, part of tract on Mattawoman Branches. To daughter Mary, wife of Capt. BOREMAN, and heirs, part of tract aforesaid given to son Thomas, and 255 acres, Hill Freehold at St. Mary's. Test: Ignatius CAUSSIN, Marke Lankford. [5. 83]