268 OGDEN v. OGDEN.—1 BLAND.

ing with me, about six thousand dollars worth of real and personal
property; and at my death, if blessed by Divine Providence, at
least as much more. You and I do not agree as to the real value
of the land in the Big-bend; I should be loth to convey that land
to a stranger for less than ten dollars per acre. Too will recollect,
brother, that there is a great many people in Europe, and as soon
as opportunity will admit, will emigrate to America."

This letter was endorsed in the same hand-writing, thus:—"Copy
sent Benj. Ogden."

Amos Ogden, on the 27th of May, 1817, a few days only after
he had written this letter to his brother, made his will, in which,
among other things, he says:—"And whereas it is agreed and
* expected, that my nephew John Wesley Ogden of Benja-
286 min, and my niece Nancy Ogden of Stephen, will be mar-
ried to each other some time early this ensuing winter; therefore
I give unto them the said John Wesley Ogden and Nancy Ogden,
as joint tenants and to the survivor in fee simple, seven hundred
acres of land in the State of Kentucky, it being a part of a tract
of land, that I purchased from a certain Philip Phillips, out of his
twenty-two thousand one hundred and seventy, on the north side
of Green River, and to begin at the upper corner of said survey,''
&c. " I also give to them the said John Wesley Ogden and Nancy
Ogden, as joint tenants and to the survivor in fee simple for ever,
part of a tract of land lying and being in Baltimore County, and
known by Taylor's Purchase, it being part of that part of Taylor's
Purchase that I bought of the real estate of William Lux, and was
deeded to me by Samuel Moale, Esqr. as trustee by order of the
Honorable Chancellor, and to be strictly included within the fol-
lowing metes and bounds, courses and distances,''&c. "But it
is to be understood, and so my will is, that the said John Wesley
Ogden and Nancy Ogden, shall not be entitled to the said part of
Taylor's Purchase, except they shall pay, or cause to be paid, such
debts or balances of such debts, and to such persons as I shall
charge against her the said Nancy Ogden, and only charged and
credited on the pages of this my will, and that in my own hand-writ-
ing, "&c. " And whereas I have had many services from Amos
Ogdeu and Nancy Ogden and Sarah Burket, and to secure them
in part for such services, I have given to them my bond for the
conveyance of all my personal property as hereto annexed, and
dated 1817," &c.

The marriage of John W. Ogden and Nancy Ogden was solem-
nized on the 25th of December, 1817. and they lived with their
uncle until his death, which happened on the 10th of February
following, without his having altered or revoked the will he had so
made and published. The original letter of the 22d of May, was
received by Benjamin Ogden, to whom it was directed; and was
sent by him to John W. Ogden, but miscarried, and has been lost.