Friend of a Friend Friday - Kent Island Queen Anne County MD

 

Edward Ringgold of Cox's Neck to my dear wife Rebecca my negroes Maria Nichols, Harriet Robinson, James Robinson, Frederick Nichols, Richard Hazzard, Delia Nichols and Harry. It is my will that Maria Nichols and Harriet Robinson shall be free at the death of my dear wife or soon if they reach the age of thirty years and the other negroes bequeathed to her shall be free as they reach the age of thirty excepting Harry who shall be free at the end of the term to which he was sold to me by the executor of William S. Constable.

Item I bequeath to my son John Fletcher Ringgold my negro boy Jacob Hazzard to serve him until the age of thirty years when he shall be free.

Item to my son James B. Ringgold and the lands he possesses I charge the lands pay to my Negro woman Susan Berry the annual sum of twelve dollars. 

Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary R. Rasin my negro girl Hannah Robinson until she shall attain the age of thirty years.

Item I give and bequeath my daughter Jane Eliza Tilden my negro woman Ann and her children ( excepting her child Marion) and my negro woman Drusilla Harrison and also my negro boy Wesley until they shall reach the age of thirty.

Item I give and bequeath unto Martha Cummins ( granddaughter) my negro girl Athalia Nicols until the age of thirty.

Item, unto my son John Fletcher Ringgold my negroes John and Emory until the expiration of their servitude.

Item unto my Granddaughter Mary Rebecca Ringgold  my negro girl Sarah Jane until she reaches the age of thirty.

Item I give unto Louisa Ringgold widow of George my negro woman Harriet Hazzard until thirty...

 I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Smith the sum of one hundred and  thirty dollars and the negro girl Marion daughter of negro Ann until thirty...

Item, I manumit and set free at the end of the year next after my death my negro man Moses Berry and that he be paid ( paraphrasing here) annually the sum of twenty five dollars.
 
Item I will and direct that Susan Berry alias Susan Chase be free at the end of the year following and paid the twelve dollars listed above from the land of my son John Fletcher Ringgold.

Item that my negroes Richard Worrell, Washington Smith, Henry Anderson and May Hazzard shall be free at  the end of the years after next.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my negro woman May Hazzard her female child Emily until she is sixteen when she shall be free.

May 6th, 1854

Afterward: Looking in the 1860 and 1870 census many of these folks are living in and around Chestertown MD