WONDERFUL news! God bless that anonymous donor!!! This is especially exciting for me as I have a Francis[2] SMITH who d: 1719/1720. His original will dtd: 18th Aug 1714 leaving 200 acres of his land, Knowlewood, Locust and Horn Points, were left to a nephew, Robert[2] EYRE, and the remaining 1000 acres of Knowlewood left to his sister, Sarah nee Smith PEIRCE. Sarah's husband was to be the Adminstrator. The Rev Richard SEWELL of St Stephen's parish contested the will, stating Francis[2] SMITH ordered a new will written just prior to his death leaving 1000 acres to St Stephen's for a school for the parish children. Evidently the estate was not settled until somewhere around 1729-1730. The matter was sent to the MD Prerogatory Court and settlement of the estate was referred to the MD General Assembly. Most, or at least a good share, of the paperwork regarding this estate have been lost (hopefully only until now w/the discovery of these new documents!). [1] MD Inventories, Lbr 4, f.6, Inventory of Francis Smith, 14 April 1720; £114/2/4; Appraisers William Olding, Adam Wallace; Creditor, George Douglas; Next of Kin, Robert Eyre (sisters son); [2] MD Administrative Accounts, Liber 3, f.530 Account of Francis Smith, Cecil County, 19 July 1721; Initial amount L114/2/4; Payments L64/15/4 Payments to: Robert Eyre, Joy Meese, Mr George Douglas, Richard Kempclone, Mr. William Boulding, John McKnitt, John Slider, William Parsons, William Cartwrite, Richard Naishe, William Bristore, Thomas Naishe, Edmund Bucher, Hohn Wallis, John Cochrain, Henry Roberts, Thomas Burges, Samuel Alexander; mentions burial for 2 coffins; Executor, Mr. Henry Pierce. [12] [3] Maryland Archives: MSA #S541, Prerogative Court Testamentary Papers, Francis SMITH, Box 26, Folder 25, 1-13-1-15 St Stephen's Parish, Cecil County, Jun: 1: 1720 (Rev Richard SEWELL, et al. depositions) Vol. 24, f.219; 16 Aug 1720, returns from Cecil County; estate of Francis Smith, bond to Henry Pierce, his executor; sureties, George Douglas, Samuel Alexander, £200; 12 April 1720 Vol 24, f.377; Cecil County, account of Henry Pierce for estate of Francis Smith, passed (approved) 12 May 1721 Vol. 25, f.28; Henry Pierce's account, estate of Francis Smith.