Late does not mean Dead

Remember that the use of the word "late" on a document does not necessarily mean that the person was dead. In many legal documents, the use of the word late only indicates that the person was formerly of that location.

the phase "John DeMoss, late of Harford County, Maryland" means that John DeMoss used to live in Harford County, Maryland and now lives elsewhere. Of course, he could be dead, but not necessarily.