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Bedford Co., PA Will book 1 page 498 Last will and testament
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.
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. |