Mary Ridgely Preston Brown (1857-1895)
MSA SC 3520-2282
First Lady of Maryland, 1892-1895
First: I give and bequeath all my silverware of every kind to my two children to be equally divided between them:- and I give and bequeath all my jewelry of every kind to my daughter, except my Solitaire diamond ring and my large diamond padlock bracelet, both of which I give to my husband, Frank Brown, and I request that all my silverware and jewelry shall be kept by the "Safe Deposit and Trust Company of Baltimore" until they are divided, as above directed.
Second: I give the sum of Five Hundred Dollars to Mary Tracy, the former nurse of my children, if she be living at the time of my death: and I also give the sum of One Hundred Dollars to each of my servants who have been living with me more than one year at the time of my death.
Third: I give the sum of Five Thousand Dollars to my Father, and also the sum of Five Thousand Dollars to my Mother.
Fourth: I give and devise the one third of all the rest and residue of my property and estate to my husband, for the term of his natural life, and from and after his death, the same shall become a part of the rest and residue of my Estate, to be disposed of as hereinafter mentioned.
Fifth: I give and devise all the rest and residue of my property and Estate, to the "Safe Deposit and Trust Company of Baltimore", In Trust to collect and receive the rent, income, and profits thereof, and to invest the net amount of said collections in safe securities, for the use and benefit of my two children, until they respectively become of legal age, at which time, I give the income of my said Estate to them, so that each one shall receive and enjoy his and her income and apply and use the same as they may deem proper. After they thus respectively become of legal age, but not before that time, unless my said trustee shall deem it proper and necessary to give them a part of said income for their care and support, in which case, I authorize the said trustee to give to them, or apply to their use, such amount as it may deem proper: and when my said children become twenty five years of age, respectively, I do authorize and direct my said trustee to convey and deliver to each of them, when he and she attain that age, the one-fourth part of my property and estate, held for them: - and when they respectively become thirty years of age, I authorize and direct my said trustee to convey and deliver to each of them, as and when he or she attain that age, the other fourth part of my estate, so that they may hold the same freed for said trust:
And I authorize and empower my said children, when they respectively become of legal age, to devise and dispose of their shares of my property and estate by their last Will in such manner as they may deem proper,- my wish and will being that though they shall not be entitled to receive the principal of my estate given hereby, and to hold the same absolutely, until they respectively become twenty five years of age, and thirty years of age, as above mentioned, yet they shall have the right to dispose of the same by their Wills, respectively, after they become twenty one years of age.
Sixth: In case either of my said children should die under legal age and unmarried, without having lawful issue living at his or her death, then I do give and devise the share of my estate of the one so dying, to my surviving child,- and, in case of both of my said children should die under legal age and unmarried without leaving lawful issue living at their death, respectively, then I do give and devise the one half of the said rest and residue of my property and estate, to my said husband, absolutely; - and I give the sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars, to my Father, and the like sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars to my Mother; and, I do give the sum of Five Thousand Dollars, to the Vestry of Christ Church in Baltimore City, to be applied for a memorial window in the church, or, if for any reason that cannot be done, then they may apply said sum of Five Thousand Dollars for such other purpose or use in connection with the church, as they may deem proper.
And, I give and devise the one half of the balance of said rest and residue of my estate and property to Mamie Ridgely Gould, daughter of my cousin, William R. N. Gould; and the other half of said balance of the rest and residue of my estate and property, to be divided between the other children of said William R.N.Gould,- and the child of my Cousin, Mrs. Carrie Phillips, and the children of Mrs. Florence Phillips, of Pittsburg, and the children of my Cousin, Mrs. Nannie Ridgely Kemp, of Baltimore.
I hereby appoint the "Safe Deposit and Trust Company of Baltimore" to be the Executor of this my last Will and Testament.
In Testimony Whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal on this thirteenth
day of December, in the year Eighteen hundred and Eighty seven, (1) I hereby revoke and cancel that part of the fifth clause of my said
Will, by which I appointed the "Safe Deposit and Trust Company of Baltimore"
to be my trustee; and in lieu thereof, I do hereby appoint my husband Frank
Brown to be my trustee for all the rest and residue of my property and
estate, in Trust to have and hold the same for the Trust purposes and uses
and in the names mentioned in the said fifth clause of my said Will, with
all the power and authority therein mentioned with reference thereto, and
I request him to carry out my will as my trustee, in the manner set forth
in said fifth clause of my Will:- his said appointment as my trustee to
continue so long as he remains unmarried,
But, in case he should marry again, then I do hereby revoke his said
appointment as my trustee; and from and after his marriage, or death, I
do appoint the "Safe Deposit and Trust Company of Baltimore" to be my said
trustee in his place and stead, with all the power and authority over said
rest and residue of my property and estate mentioned and given in the said
fifth clause of my said Will.
(2) I give and bequeath to my friend Emmeline N. Price, the sum of Twelve
Hundred dollars,
(3) I give and bequeath to Lina A. Walker, the sum of Five Hundred dollars,
(4) I give and bequeath to Kate McKenna, the nurse of my children, the
sum of Five Hundred dollars,
(5) I give and bequeath to Anna Nearaman, the sum of One Hundred dollars,
(6) I give and bequeath to my husband, Frank Brown, the sum of Ten Thousand
dollars, in Trust to invest the same in safe securities, and to apply and
appropriate the net income thereof to the education of Mamie Ridgely Gould,
during her minority, in such manner as he may deem best for her benefit;
and in further trust to pay to her the said principal sum of Ten Thousand
dollars, or the securities in which the same is invested, when she is twenty
one years of age: but in case she should die under twenty one years of
age, then I direct said trustee to divide said principal sum, of Ten Thousand
dollars or the securities in which the same is invested, between her sisters,
who may be living at her death: - and I further direct him to pay said
net income to her when she is Eighteen years of age, to be applied by her
for her education and support, as she may deem proper.
(7) I hereby revoke that part of the Sixth Clause of my said Will, which
gives and devises "the other half of said balance of the rest and residue
of my estate and property to be divided between the other children of said
William R.N. Gould, and the child of my Cousin, Carrie Phillips, and the
children of my Cousin, Mrs. Nannie Ridgely Kemp of Baltimore"- and in lieu
and stead thereof, I do hereby give and devise the other half of said balance
of the rest and residue of my estate, to all my heirs at law and next of
kind, under the laws of Maryland.
(8) I give and bequeath to my son, Frank S.R. Brown, my Monquiese diamond
ring, and my ring of brown diamonds; and I request that my silverware and
my jewelry be given to my daughter and my son when they respectively become
of legal age.
(9) I revoke the appointment of the "Safe Deposit and Trust Company
of Baltimore" as my Executor, and I hereby appoint my husband, Frank Brown,
to be the Executor of my last Will.
(11) I request my Executor to apply Three Thousand Dollars to the erection
of a suitable monument in his lot in Greemount Cemtery,
In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal on this Eleventh
day of January, Eighteen Hundred and ninety three.
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I, Mary R. Brown, being of sound disposing mind, do make, publish and declare
this Codicil to my last Will and Testament, which is dated the thirteenth
day of December, Eighteen hundred and Eighty seven.
Mary R. Brown (Seal)
Mary R. Brown (Seal)
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Copyright May 04, 2017Maryland State Archives
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