|
|
Last Will
and Testament of Joseph Rowzer
Bedford Co., PA
Will book 1 page 498
In the name of God Amen, I Joseph Rowzer of Napier Township, Bedford County
and State of Pennsylvania being weak of body and unwell at present, but of
perfect mind and memory and of sound and disposing judgement and calling to
mind the mortality of the body do make and ordain this as my last will and
testament hereby revoking and disanulling all other will or wills by me
heretofore made do constitute this as my last will and testament to be
fulfilled by my executors herein after to be named. Item I hereby direct
that my body be decently buried and my soul I commend to God (who gave it
sincerely hoping that he through the abundance of his goodness will be
merciful. Item I order and direct that my just debts be first paid and the
residue of the worldly property that God has been pleased to bless me with I
dispose of it in the following manner. viz Item I order and direct that the
mansion house whereon I now reside together with the plantation and building
thereto attached farm and utensils household goods and furniture to be
retained for the use of my widow and children while any choose to remain
together and for her use as long as she remains my widow except such parts
of the personal estate as she shall think best to dispose of and the monies
arising from the sale of said property to be applied towards getting a
warrant for a tract of land I hold on the hurricane branch. Item I give and
bequeath to my two sons John and Joseph Rowzer to them their heirs and
asigns forever a tract of land lying and being at the fork of the hurricane
branch containing three hundred and fifty acres to be equally divided
between them quantity and quality and John is to have the lower division and
if they my two sons cannot agree to divide the said land themselves they
shall choose a few responsible neighbors who will divide it for them and
they each of them shall abide whatever the said men shall do in the said
case. Item I order and direct that my two sons John and Joseph Rowzer pay to
my personnal estate they and each of them the sum of one hundred dollars in
three equal installments annually the first to commence ten years after my
decease and if my son Joseph Rowzer shall leave his mother and the family
before he shall arrive at the age of twenty one or go and learn a trade then
he shall p0ay at athe time and period of the payments aforesaid an additonal
hundred dollars in the same installments. Item I give and bequeath to my
youngest son Isaac Rowzer at his mothers decease the plantation whereon I
now reside to him his heirs and asigns forever together with the buildings
and appurtenances thereto belonging, provided that the said Isaac Rowzer
shall pay to my personnal estate for the use of his sisters eighteen years
after my decease the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars . Item I order and
direct that the forty acres of land I hold adjoining John Blackburn to be
sold as soon as appears convenient and the price of said land to be equally
divided between my two elder daughters Elizabeth and Rebekah Item I will and
deem that when my widow shall decease them all the personnal estate which
shall be left together with the aforesaid monies which is therein directed
to be paid to my two elder daughters shall be sold and the whole equally
divided between my four daughters namely Elizabeth, Rebeca, Rachel and
Hannah. Item I hereby constitute and appoint my well esteemed friends Joseph
Black and Anthony Blackburn of __ Executors of this my last will and
testament. In witness whereof I have hereto set my name and seal this
seventeenth day of the third month March A.D. One thousand eight hundred and
seventeen.
Joseph Rouzer (seal)
Signed and sealed in presence of us
Thomas Blackburn ______ Blackburn
Bedford Co. ___ Personally appeard before me the subscribed Register for the
probate of wills and granting letters of administration in and foresaid
County Thomas Blackburn one of the subscribing witnesses to the within
instrument in writing who being only affirmed doth declare and say that he
was personally present and heard and saw Joseph Rowzer the testator sign
seal and declare the within instrument in writing as and for his last will
and testament that at the time of so doing the said testator was of sound
and disposing mind memory and understanding.
Source: Larry Thompson's Website
http://home.epix.net/~lt0168/wills/jrowzer2.htm |
