Will of Philip Key, SMC, son of Richard and Mary Key, born in the Parish of St. Pauls Covent Garden, London, 3/21/1696. 3/10/1764-9/1/1764.
To be buried in the vault at Chaptico Church and the coffin of my late wife to be put upon mine.
I hereby confirm and establish the marriage agreement I entered into before I was married to my present wife.
Wife: Use of my dwelling plantation and all the houses thereon except the old and new stone house with each brick chimney which I give to my son Thomas.
Wife: "Maiden" Bower"; cattle, furniture, and negroes (named); after her death the negroes to be divided among my several children.
To: The two children of my son John Key (deceased) silverware. If both dead, then to son Francis and if he be dead then to his eldest son. The manor land where John Harring now lives and negroes (named) belong to my wife.
Eldest son: Richard Ward Key, tract where he now lives and that adjoining to it which I bought from John and Richard Shercliffe; that pt. of "Diniard's" which I bought from Matthew Guibert; pt. of "Finchley" I bought from John Medley Thompson; land in Charles Co. I bought from John Gales, Sr., Joseph Gales, John Gales, Jr., Peter Gales, and Robert Gales, 361 ac. (surname should be Gates); land I bought from George Ward in Charles Co.; my manor land in Charles Co. near Zachia, 300 ac.; a slave called Sam the Smith; my steel seal with my coat of arms; my family pictures drawn in England; and silver utensils. The land I devise by this will
to my two grandchildren (children of son John) are to descend to my heirs at law if they die during their minority.
Grandson: Philip Key, lands at or near Chaptico that I bought from Thomas Scott, Richard Halliwell, and John Halliwell called "Melton's Hope" and that I bought from John Johnson and that I bought from John Mattingly and that I bought from Edward Welsh and to which Matthew Cartwright and John Cartwright released their right and I bought from the same Matthew Cartwright and that I bought from Thomas Melton and that I bought from William Moore and Richard Melton and that I bought from John Bennet Taylor and Charles Gaven. If he dies without issue then to my son, Francis Key.
Granddaughter: Susanna Gardiner Key, all of tract lately patented by me "Weems", 355 ac. and also that I bought from Thomas Scott where Richard Melton now lives; for want of heirs to her brother Philip. Whereas I have lately entered into an agreement with Thomas Bond who married the widow of my son John Key in relation to the wardship of the same children and since then he has been appointed their guardian. My Executors to have care and guardianship of sd. children.
Grandson: Philip Key, use of 4 slaves (named).
Granddaughter: Susanna Gardiner Key, use of 4 slaves (named).
Son: Francis Key, land in Frederick Co. "Epping Forest", 1070 ac.; 1/2 of tract in same co. "Terra Rubia" patented for 2798 ac. and of 50 ac. I bought from Uncle Uncles (sic); family pictures drawn by Mr. Hessellius and that drawn for Mr. Ross.
Grandson: John Ross Key, slave.
Grandson: Philip Barton Key, slave.
To: Elizabeth Scott Key, slave.
Son: Edmund Key, "Paradise Regained", 530 ac. and "Friendship", 206 ac., both in Frederick Co.
Son: Thomas Key, after my wife's death or remarriage, the land where I live called "Bushwood Lodge" and that I bought from Mrs. Cole and Thomas and Luke Gardiner and lately from John Gardiner called "Maiden Bower" and to have immediately the tracts called "Addition to Guibert's Chance" which I bought from Matthew Guibert and also immediately to her upon the death of Thomas Coode, "Penryn" which I bought from sd. Coode; the land I bought from Mr. Thomas Perry in SMC and Charles Co.; "Somerfield" I bought from John Mills; land I bought from Sam Willis and from William, John, and James Bailey and from Arat (?) Thompson and from Abraham Wood and from William Cumming and from Dr. Talley and my lot in Leonard Town; the chimney glasses in my dwelling house; lands I bought from Mr. Parry, "Bushwood Lodge", "Penryn", and "Maiden Bower".
Son: Thomas, 33 negroes (named); pictures; clock and plate; stock.
Daughter: Susanna Gardiner Bruce, wife of Normand Bruce, the other half of the land "Terra" and that I bought from Uncle Uncles, in all 1424 ac.; chest; plat; harpsichord I bought for her; and goods and money Mr. Bruce has already which will appear in my books.
Sons: Richard Ward Key and Thomas Key, the water mill at the head of St. Clement's Bay and the land belonging to it.
Sister-in-law: Mrs. Elizabeth Miles, goods out of my stock of tobacco, wheat, and corn.
To: Mrs. Gosling, with whom I formerly made an agreement to pay her 2000 lbs. tobacco yearly during her life, having died lately, I am now by the agreement obliged to pay Roger Copsey, the wife he held at the time of my agreement with Mrs. Gosling having died since then, 1000 lbs. crop tobacco each Christmas during his life.
Friends: Rev. Mr. Alexander Williamson, John Ross, Esq., Daniel Dulany, Esq., and Rev. Upton Scott, a gold ring of a guinea price to be sent for to London with inscription. Execs. to collect money due me and divide into 8 equal parts and divided between my eldest son, Richard Ward Key; my daughter, Susanna Gardiner Bruce; grandson, Philip Key; granddaughter, Susanna Gardiner Key; son, Edmund Key; and the other half part to sons Francis and Thomas Key.
Execs: Sons, Richard Ward Key, Edmund Key, Thomas Key.
Wit: John Chesley Rogers, James Key, William Goodwin.
