November 1722, Maryland

November 20, 1722- Anthony Neale signs his will at the age of 63 in Charles County, Maryland. There are records also showing November 20, 1722 as the date of death of his son and namesake, Anthony. Perhaps the death of his son prompted his writing of the will.
His son Thomas had died sometime earlier, and is not mentioned in the will.
The will is probated July 12, 1723. I do not have an exact date of death for Anthony, the father.
Anthony had fought in the Nanticoke Indian War in the 1670s on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

Will of Anthony Neale, Charles County, 20th Nov., 1722; 12th July, 1723.

To Thomas Mansell, William Hunter and John Bennett, priests; George Newman, James Gates and dau. Mary, personalty.
To son Raphael and hrs., "William's Folly" and personalty.
To son Henry, £12, and, in case he does not enter priesthood, 1/5 of personal estate. Shd. he take orders, or die during minority, his portion to 4 younger children, viz. Edward, Charles, Bennett and Mary.
To son Edward and hrs., ½ dwelling plantation "Aquenseek," and personalty, including silver chalice and suit of church stuff, to remain in sd. dwell, house for use of family.
To son Charles and hrs., residue of "Aquenseek," and personalty; sd. tract to be divided by sons Raphael and Roswell, Charles Diggs, Wm. Chandler and William Diggs.
To son Bennett, in case he does not enter priesthood, lease of 200 A. and 1/5 of personal estate (same condition as in bequest to son Henry).
To sons Edward and Charles, exs., and their hrs., storehouse and lot in Chandler Town bou. of Philip Hemsley and Mary, his wife.
To sons Edward and Charles and dau. Mary, residue of estate; shd. any of younger child., viz. Henry, Edward, Charles, Bennett and Mary, die during minority or without issue, survivors to divide portion of dec'd, except lands, which in sd. cases shall revert to sons Raphael and Roswell and their hrs.
Dau. Mary to receive portion at 16, son Charles immediately.

Test: John Bennet, John Sanders, Walter Pye, Margaret Pye

(Anthony Neale is my first cousin 10 times removed. Our common ancestors are Benjamin Gill & Mary Mainwaring.)

October 1714, Maryland

October 16, 1714- William Elder, the first husband of Elizabeth Finch, has died.
William Elder was a Quaker immigrant from Lancashire, England.

William and Elizabeth had married in 1705. They lived on a 50-acre tract of land called "Beale's Goodwill" which Elizabeth had inherited from her family. This land was originally within the boundaries of Calvert county, and is today a little east of the Oxen Hill/Clinton area near Rosaryville State Park. "Beale's Goodwill" contained 100 acres, and Elizabeth's sister, Mary (Finch) Beavan, wife of Charles Beavan, resided on the other 50 acres. Goodwill was located north of and adjoined the home plantation of Arnold Livers, known as Timberly.
William Elder's estate was listed in the Maryland Prerogative Court [Inv. & Acct. 36A folio 198; 36C folio 42].The appraisers were listed as Thomas Blanford, and Soloman Stimson. These documents were also signed by: Charles Beavan "Kindred"; Henry Darnalb "Creditor"; and Henry Culver "Kindred."
The accounting of Elizabeth Elder [36C folio 42] shows: "Eliz.a Elder adminx of all & singular goods & chattels & credits of Wm Elder late of Prince Georges county dec'd."
The accounting included money from: Edward Diggs, Capt. Thomas Clegat and Paul Hoye: credits to: Henry Darnell, Luke Gardiner, Capt. Thomas Clegat, Henry Culver, Jn. Boye, Thomas Williams, John Miller, Benjamin Berry and Jacob Jones.
Elizabeth would go on to take Solomon Stimson as her second husband.

(Elizabeth Finch & Solomon Stimson are my sixth great grandparents.)

1754 Maryland - Taneytown Founded

1754- Taneytown, Maryland was founded in 1754 when one of the area’s first land grants took place. Nearly 7,900 acres were granted to Edward Diggs and Raphael Taney under a patent designated as the Resurvey of Brothers Agreement. Lots were laid out and the first deeds registered in 1762. Raphael Taney, whose home was in St. Mary’s County, probably never lived here. He did, however, help design the town’s layout and gave it his name. One popular misconception is that the town was named for Roger Brooke Taney, a U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice. Judge Taney, who shared a common ancestor with Raphael Taney, was not born until 1777.

The earliest known inhabitants in the Taneytown area were native Americans. The Tuscarora Indians hunted deer, otter, wolves, and wildcats in the area’s abundant woodlands. The early European settlers were Germans from Pennsylvania and Germany. Before the arrival of white settlers, however, most native Americans had already migrated west over South Mountain in the Cumberland Valley. The Treaty of Six Nations, which was signed in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1745, offered white settlers protection from Indian attacks in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia and made the ownership of land by white men legal.

Of the town George Washington once wrote "Tan-nee town is but a small place with only the Street through which the road passes, built on. The buildings are principally of wood."