Walter Lane of Somerset Co., Md., died 1715

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From: "Richard M. Wilson" <gramin@comcast.net> Subject: Will of Walter Lane of Somerset Co., Md., 1715 Date: Fri, 7 May 2004 23:17:29 -0600

Walter Lane of Somerset Co., Md., attorney, member of the lower house of the Maryland legislature, planter, was born ca. 1648-1650 and died by 1717. A short treatment of his family published recently gives a very misleading picture (Peden, Henry C. and F. Edward Wright, Colonial Families of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, vol. 9 (Lewes, Del.: Delmarva Roots Pub., 2000), 148-151) and what follows is meant as a partial corrective. <<

In my research I've been able to identify twelve children of Walter Lane (Sr.) of Somerset Co., Md., using his will (transcribed below, in which he mentions only three children by name) in conjunction with the will from 1742 of his eldest son Walter Lane (Jr.) of Craven Co., N.C., vital records from Liber IKL of the Somerset Co. land records, deeds, tax lists, court records, etc. Walter Lane (Sr.) married: (1st) Sarah (Kirk) Gunby on 16 April 1684; and (2nd) Sarah Wilson on 24 September 1689. He mentions a wife in his will, but doesn't name her, nor is she named elsewhere in his estate papers.

His children were:

Mary - born 23 July 1684, daughter of Walter and Sarah (Kirk) (Gunby) Lane; married William Bevans; probably died by 1742 (not mentioned in brother Walter's will)

Joane - born 26 July 1685, daughter of Walter and Sarah (Kirk) (Gunby) Lane; married John Kellum; probably died by 1742 (not mentioned in brother Walter's will)

Walter - born ? (eldest son and heir at law according to a deed from 1719); removed to Craven Co., N.C. by the early 1720s; married Mary Norwood, daughter of Edward and Anne Norwood; will 1742 in Craven Co., N.C., proved 1757; son: George

Elizabeth - born last day of February, 1691/2, daughter of Walter and Sarah (Wilson) Lane; married (unknown) Maddux by 1712 (mentioned in uncle John Lane's will as "cosin" Elizabeth Mattux); still living in 1742 (mentioned in brother Walter's will)

William - born 29 April 1694, son of Walter and Sarah (Wilson) Lane; married Elizabeth (unknown); will 1749 in Worcester Co., Md., proved 1751; children: William, Sarah Blake, Rachel Mills, Ezekiel, Levin, Israel, Mary, Ann, Leah, Walter, Francis, Elenor

John - born 8 February 1695/6, son of Walter and Sarah (Wilson) Lane; carpenter; may never have married; seems to have owned little if any land after 1738; living in 1742 (mentioned in brother Walter's will); probably him witnessing will of brother William in 1749; died ?, probably in Worcester Co., Md.

George - born ?; married Grace Gunby, daughter of John Gunby; probably removed to Craven Co., N.C. in the early 1730s where his brother Walter sold him land; living in 1742 (mentioned in brother Walter's will); may be his will from Craven Co. in 1771 (wife Rebecca; children: Daniel, Francis, John, Easter Howard, Sarah Loftin, Elizabeth Tillman)

Francis - born ?; mariner; married Sarah (unknown); died by 1735, estate probated in Somerset Co., Md., by widow Sarah who married (2nd) Thomas Linsay; daughter: Sarah, who married Isaac Dixon in 1754

Abraham - born ?; probably died between 1740 (mentioned on Somerset Co. tax list) and 1742 (not mentioned in brother Walter's will)

Sarah - born ?; married John Goddard; living in 1742 (mentioned in brother Walter's will); probably still living in 1765 when she probated husband's estate in Somerset Co., Md.; children: Francis Lane, George, Sarah

Elenor - born ?; married Richard Joseph Hixon; living in 1742 (mentioned in brother Walter's will); son: Walter Hixon

Rachel - born ?; apparently never married; living in 1742 (mentioned in brother Walter's will)

Please note that the original spelling (including misspellings), capitalization, punctuation, grammar, etc., have been retained in this transcript. [From: Maryland, Prerogative Court, Wills, vol. 14, ff. 282-283; Family History Library film #0012846]

[Short abstract of names: wife (unnamed); son William Lane; daughter Mary, wife of William Bevans; daughter Joane, wife of John Kellum; rest of children (unnamed); land bought from Mark Genderon]

In the name of God amen I Walter Lane of Somerset County in the Province of Maryland Planter being weak in body, but of sound and perfect memory praised be Almighty God and calling to rememberance the uncertan Estate of this Transitory life and that all Flesh must yeild unto death when it shall please God to call doe make and ordain and declare this my last Will and Testamt. in manner and forme following revoking and anulling all former Wills and Testaments by me made Either by word or by writeing and this only to be taken for my last Will and Testament and no other and first being penitent and sorry from the bottom of my Heart for my sins past humbly begging and desireing forgiveness for the same I give and commit my soul to Almighty God my Saviour and redeemer in whom and through the meritts of Jesus Christ I trust and beleive assuredly to be saved and that my Soule with my Body at the Generall day or resurection shall rise again with joy to possess and inheritt the Kingdome of Heaven prepared for his Elect and Chosen and my Body to the Earth now for the setleing of my Temporall Estate and such goods and chattells as it hath pleased God far above my Deserts to bestow upon me I doe order give and dispose the same in manner & forme following vizt. First I will that all those Debts or dues that I owe in right or consience to any person or persons whatsoever shall be well and truely satisfied contented and paid or ordained to be paid within convenient time after my decease by my Executor hereafter named Item I give and bequeath to my Son William Lane my Plantation whereon I now live containing two hundred acres formerly bought by me of Mark Genderon to him and his Heirs for ever Item I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife the third part of my personall Estate Item I give to my Daughter Mary wife to Willm. Bevans one Shilling Item I give and bequeath to my Daughter Joane wife to John Kellum one Shilling The rest of my personall Estate I desire may be equally divided amongst the rest of my children Lastly I doe appoint my Son William Lane Executor of this my last Will and Testament in wittness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale this twentieth day of Decembr. one Thousand seven hundred and fifteen

Walter Lane (seale)

Signed Sealed and Delivered in presence of us John Townsend his mark, Jane Townsend her mark, Sarah Townsend her mark

And at the End of said Will was thus Endorst

This 21st day of March 1716/7

Came before me Tho. [sic] Tounsend Jane Tounsend and Sarah Tounsend in their propper persons and made Oath upon the Holy Evangelist that they saw the above Testator Declare and signe the within Instrumt. as his last Will and Testament and that he published Pronounced & and Declared the same so to be and that at the time of his so doing he was of sound and perfect mind and memory to the best of their knowledge Testes

Sa Hopkins Dept. Comr.