Westall Ridgely

     Westall was born in 1706 in South River, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, at the family home "Abbington". On 17 March 1726, his brother, William, granted him a tract of land being part of Ridgley's Chance in Ann Arundel County containing 220 acres lying on the Potuxon River. Westall married Sarah Isaac, daughter of Richard Isaac and Sarah Pottenger, circa 1731 in Prince George County, Maryland. On 7 August 1731, Westall and Sarah received from her parents a tract of land called Isaac's Park containing 150 acres.² Westall made his will on 29 August 1765.

In the name of God, Amen - I Westall Ridgely Sen, of Frederick County & Province of Maryland Thru the Abundant Mercy & Goodness of God tho weak in Body yet of sound & perfect understanding and memory do Constitute this my Last Will and Testament and desire it may be received by all as such. Imprimis I most humbly bequeath my Soul to God my Maker beseeching his most gracious acceptance through the alsufficient Merits of mediation of my most compassionate redeemer Jesus Christ who gave himself to be an atonement for my Sins and is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him seeing heaven liveth to make Intersessions for them and who Christ will not reject me a returning penitent Sinner when I come to him for mercy
In this hope and confidence I render up my Soul with Comfort humbly beseeching the most blessed & Glorious truly one God most holy most merciful and gracious to prepare me for the Time of my Desolution and then to take me to himself into that Peace and Rest uncomparable Liberty which he has prepared for all those that love and Fear his holy Name Blessed be God
Imprimis I give my body to the Earth from which it was taken with full Assurance of its Resurrection from thence at the Last Day as for my Burial I desire it may descent at the discretion of my Dear Wife hereafter named who no doubt will mange it with all required Prudance. Also my worldly estate I will and Positively order that all my just Debts be paid. Item I give to my Dear and loving Wife, Sarah Ridgely for term of life all my lands and Tenements called Ridgely’s Rest containing two hundred & fifteen acres whereon I now dwell with all my household Goods & moveables both real and personal & all things to me belonging and after her Decease what is left of the aforesaid Lands and other things to me now belonging to go to all our children, namely Westal Ridgely Junior, Sarah [a blank space], William Ridgely, Jane Diverela Ridgely, Isaac Ridgely, Jacob Ridgely, Alice Ridgely, Martha Ridgely, Richard Ridgely & Jemima Ridgely to be equally divided amongst them or those amongst them that should be the longest Liver of our said children, and if my dear Wife Sarah Ridgely shall enter into the Shadows of Death before my two youngest Children Richard & Jemima are raised to Maturity my Will is that they make choice amongst their Brothers & Sisters which shall bring them up, and that they have a years Schooling at a Reading School that the Bringer or Bringers of said children may have forty Shillings for Richard and he to be fore a nd fore himself at the age of eighteen years and for Jemima five pounds and she to be free at the age of sixteen years. And I _____ desire that there shall be a Quarter of an acre of Ground be left for a Burying place where my wife or Children should think most proper & not to be disposed of anyway forever. I do _______Constitute my Wife hole and sole Executirx of this my Last Will &Testament & Trustee for my children. In Whitness whereof I have her unto set my hand & Seal this 29^th Day of August one thousand seve hundred & sixty five 1765
Signed Westall Ridgely
Signed Sealed & delivered in the presence of us
Thomas Thrasher John Thrasher John Tutterah.

Westall departed this life in the family home "Ridgely's Chance", Frederick County, Maryland. His will was probated on 2 June 1772.

Additional Notes:

To all people to Whom this present Writing shall Come I William Ridgley of Ann Arundell County Send Greettings Know ye that I the said William Ridgley as well for and in Consideration of the Natural Affection and brotherly Love which I have and bare unto my well beloved brother Westall Ridgley of the County aforesaid as Also for Divors Other Good Causes and Considerations me at this present Especially Moving, have Given and Granted and by these presents Do Give Grant and Confirme unto the said Westall Ridgley all that part and parcel of Land being part of a tract of Land Called Ridgley’ Chance lying in Ann Arundell County on a branch of the Potuxon River Called Rogues Harbough branch beginning at a bounded Water Oak Standing on the side of a hill and running thence South Nineteen Degrees: west Sixty four perches to two bounded red Oaks thence South Sixty Six Degrees west Eight six perches to two bounded pines then North Sixty Degrees west thirty Nine perches to a bounded Red Oak then South Twenty Six Degrees west One hundred and Twenty Six perches to four red Oaks then South forty Eight and a half Degrees East fifty two perches then North Seventy one Degrees East two hundred and fifty four perches then with a strit line to the first beginning Water Oake Containing and now laid out for two hundred and twenty Acres be it more or Less To have and to hold the aforesaid part and parcel of Land with all Appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise Appertaining unto the said Westall Ridgley his heirs Executors Administrators or Assignes to his their Own proper Uses and behoof and Ever freely and Quietly without any Matter Challenge Claim or Demand of me the said William Ridgley or of any person or persons Whatsoever for me in my Name by my Cause means or procurement and without any money or Other thing therefore to be yielded paid or Done unto me the said William Ridgley my heirs Executors Administrators or Assignes and I the said William Ridgley all and Singular the aforesaid part and parcel of Land with All Appurtenances thereunto belonging unto the said Westall Ridgley his heirs Executors Administrators or Assignes to the use aforesaid Against all people Claiming any Right title or Interest from by or under me my heirs Executors Administrators or Assignes Do Warrant and for Ever Defend by these presents and further Know ye that I the said William Ridgley have put the said Westall Ridgley in peaceable and Quiett Possession of all all and Singular the aforesaid Land and Appurtenances by delivery unto him at the Insealing hereof One Coined piece of Silvor Commonly Called three pence fixed on the Seal this 17^th Day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and Twenty Six.