Will of Margaret Manning (Stites) - 1813

In the name of God Amen I Margaret Manning of Providence, in the County of Providence, and State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Widow, being of sound mind memory and understanding (blessed be God therefor) and calling to mind the mortality of my body, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament

First of all I commend my Spirit into the hands of God who gave it, and my body to the earth to be decently buried by my executors herein after named, hoping for the resurrection to life eternal through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord

As to such worldly substance as it may please God to bless me with till the day of my death, my will is that all my just debts and funeral charges be first paid out of the same as soon as may conveniently be done after my death

Item I give and bequeath to my nephew the Reverend Stephen Gano, one hundred dollars, and my mahogany desk, and four of my great silver spoons marked J.M. and all my books, except my family bible, which I hereby give to my niece, Mrs Julia M. Holroyd.

Item I give and bequeath my clock to James Manning Holroyd, and my soup ladle to Stephen Gano Holroyd, and ten dollars to William Tillinghaste Holroyd, sons of my niece, and my cream cup, sugar tongs, mustard pot and spoon, and six tea spoons to Abba Stites Holroyd, and six great spoons and five small ones to Sally Tillinghaste Holroyd, daughters of my niece Julia M. holroyd.

Item I give the Portrature of my husband to Brown University

Item all my clothing, household furniture and indoor moveable, not otherwise given away, I give and bequeath to my trusty friends, the Reverend Stephen Gano and Ass Messer, and it is my will that they apply them in such manner as they shall best to the personal benefit of my niece Julia M. Holroyd, and that, in case of her death they apply them should any remain to the benefit of her daughters, Abba Stites and Sally Tillinghaste.

Item all the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate real or personal wheresoever it may be I give and devise and bequeath to James Manning Holroyd and Stephen Gano Holroyd sons of my niece, to be equally divided between them, and to be held for them by my executors as herein directed.

Item I do hereby appoint and constitute my aforesaid trusty friends, the Reverend Stephen Gano and Assa Messer of Providence to be the executors of this my last Will and Testament, and hereby revoke and make void all former wills made by me, and establish this and none other to be my last Will and Testament, directing at the same time that all the property herein given to the children of my niece, Julia M. Holroyd, shall during their minority be entirely subject to the discretion and management of my executors, and liable as they shall think best to be kept as I shall leave it, or converted into other property or sold and applied to the rising necessities of the children to whom it is here given

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal at Providence this eight day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirteen.

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the above Margaret Manning to be her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names in presence of the testator.

Margaret Manning

Abner Daggett
Wm Snow
Ann Daggett

Acknowledgements & source - 

Brown University

Center for Digital Initiatives

Box A, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912