This is the last Will and Testament of me, Jonathan D. Prather, of District Number 15, Washington County, State of Maryland.
First and principally I commit my Soul into the hands of Almighty God and my body to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executrix herein after named. and after my debts and funeral charges are paid, I devise and bequeath as follows.
First. I give devise and bequeath unto my beloved wife A. Catharine Prather all the Real Estate that I may have and own at the time of my death, for her to have and hold during the term of her natural life, and no longer, and after her death I do hereby direct that all of said Real Estate be sold and converted into cash as soon as possible and the amount divided equally among and between all my sisters or their personal representatives and assigns share and share alike.
Second. I give, devise and bequeath unto my beloved wife the said A. Catharine Prather all my securities of whatsoever nature or description, except five hundred dollar ten forty United States bond, to be held by her during the term of her natural life, and if any of said securities mature before her death, I do hereby direct that she collect and reinvest them in such securities as she may deem safe and reliable and hold them during the term of her natural life, and after her death I do hereby direct that the aforesaid securities be equally divided between my sisters or their Personal representatives share and share alike.
Third. I do hereby direct that all my farming implements and stock as well as my interest in all my household property be disposed of at Public Sale by my Executrix after my death and the proceeds therefrom arising be given to my wife the said A. Catharine Prather, for her to invest in some safe and reliable investment and the same to be held by her during the term of her natural life and I do hereby direct that the same be distributed after her death equally among my Sisters or their personal representatives share and share alike.
Fourth. I give devise and bequeath unto my wife the said A. Catharine Prather all my household and Kitchen furniture of whatsoever nature or Kind to have and to hold as hers absolutely or to dispose of as she may deem best.
Fifth. I give devise and bequeath unto my niece Louisa Perry of Clearspring, Washington County, Maryland, one five hundred dollar ten forty United States bond.
Sixth. I hereby direct that all the rest and residue of my Estate by disposed of as my farming implements and stock are provided for and the proceeds be given unto my wife the said A. Catharine Prather to be invested and held by her during the term of her natural life and after her death to be divided as hereinbefore named.
And I do hereby direct that my wife the said A. Catharine Prather draw and receive all income, interests and Emoluments from all the aforesaid investments both real and Personal, (except the bond hereinbefore named as given to Louisa Perry) for her the said A. Catharine Prather sole and exclusive benefit during the term of her natural life and to make such disposition of the said interests income and emolument as she may wish or deem best. The Phrase "To my sisters or their personal representatives" found in this will is intended to convey my sisters interest to their children if their mother is not alive at the time of my wifes death.
And lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my dear wife A. Catharine Prather to be sole executrix of this my last Will and Testament, and I hereby ratify and confirm this to be my last Will and Testament.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal, this seventeenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
Jonathan D. Prather (seal)
Signed, sealed, published and declared by Jonathan D. Prather, the above named Testator, as and for his last Will and Testament, in the presence of us who, at his request, in his presence, and in the presence of each other, have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.
William Goodrich
P. H. McCleery
William Updegraff
Allen A. Nesbit
State of Maryland, Washington County. to wit:
On this 15" day of July A.D. 1879 came William Goodrich, P. H. McCleery, William Updegraff, and Allen A. Nesbitt the four subscribing witnesses to the foregoing Last Will and Testament of Jonathan D. Prather, late of Washington County deceased, and made oath in due form of law, that they did see the said Testator sign and seal said will, that they heard him publish pronounce and declare the same to be his Last Will and Testament, that at the time of his so doing he was to the best of their apprehensions of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding, and that they subscribed their names as witnesses to said will at the request and in the presence of said Testator and in the presence of each other.
Sworn in Open Court
Test:
Thos E. Hilliard, Register of Wills
State of Maryland, Washington County, to wit:
On this 15" day of July A.D. 1879 came Mrs. A. Catharine Prather the Executrix named in the foregoing Last will and Testament of Jonathan Prather late of Washington County, deceased, and made oath in due form of law that the foregoing is the true and whol will of said deceased, that has come to her hands and possession and that she doth not know nor hath she heard of any other of a later date.
Sworn before
Thos E. Hilliard, Register of Wills