In the name of God, Amen, this eighteenth day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand, six hundred, eighty and four, I, Samuel Maddox of S^t Maries County, being sick of body but of good and perfect memory thanks be to Almighty God and calling to remembrance y^e uncertain Estate of this transitory life and all flesh must yield unto death when it shall please God to call, do make, constitute, ordain and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following, revoking and annulling by these presents all and every testament and testaments, will and wills heretofore by me made and declared either by word or writing and this to be taken only for my last Will and Testament and no other. And first being penitent and sorry from y^e bottom of my heart for my sins past, more humbly desiring forgiveness for y^e same, I give and commit my Soul to Almighty God my Savior and Redeemer in whom and by y^e merits of Jesus Christ I trust and believe assuredly to be saved and to have All remission and forgiveness of all my Sins and that my Soul with my body at y^e general day of resurrection shall rise again with joy and through y^e merits of Christ’s death and passion possess and inheritt y^e Kingdom of heaven prepared for his Elect and chosen and my body to be buried by my wife. And now for the settleing of my temporal Estate and such goods, Chattells and debts as it hath Pleased God far above my deserts to bestow upon me I do order give and dispose of y^e same in manner and forme following:
     First, I will that all those debts and dutyes as I owe in right of conscience to any manner of person or persons whatsoever shall be well and truly contented and paid or ordained to be paid within convenient time after my decease by John Hilton.
     Item, I give and bequeath to my eldest son Notley Maddox three hundred acres of this land I now live upon and an equal share of all my Goods and Chattels (that is to say) a fourth part of all my household goods, it being fourteen thousand pounds of Tobacco that was given by Governor Notley. And it is my desire that he should enjoy y^e same at 16 years of age.
     Item, I give and bequeath to my second son Samuell Maddox one hundred acres of land called Indian Fields joining upon John Hilton’s land and a fourth part of all my cattle, horses and hoggs and a fourth of all my movable Goods.
     Item, I give and bequeath unto my third son, William Maddox, an fourth part of my cattle, horses and hoggs and a fourth of all my moveable Goods.
     Item, I give and bequeath to my youngest son John Maddox fourth part of my cattle horses and hoggs and a fourth part of all my moveable Goods.
     Item, I give and bequeath one negro woman and a child and three English hands unto my four sons aforenamed (that is to say) that each of them shall have an equal share of their labours. And furthermore, it is my will and desire that Captain Justinian Gerrard John Hilton Ralph Foster and John Smith do look after my children in their minority that they may be brought up to learn to read and write if possible and to see that they live in y^e fear of God and to look after their estate that it be not molested or made away.
     In witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale y^e day and year above written.
Signed, sealed and delivered in y^e presence of us:

his Edward X Smoote mark Richard Hogane

his Richard X Fletcher mark his Lawrence X Bedingfield mark

Notes:
     The Will of Samuel Maddox, immigrant (ca 1640 -1684) is an early connection between the Maddox and Smoot families. There are other connections, though sometimes just peripheral involvments with land and witnesses.
     There is some conjecture that Eleanor ___, mother of one Thomas Smoot (1742-1783), may be a Maddox. Unfortunately, we have yet to see any definitive documented proof that substantiates that conjecture. (See Page 64, The Smoots of Maryland and Virginia, also see: Will of Thomas Smoot.)