Last Will and Testament of Conrad Weiser (1759)
In the name of god amen I Conrad Weiser of the Town of
Reading in the county of Berks in the Province of
Pennsylvania gentleman being of perfect health of body and
of sound and disposing mind & memory (blessed be god for the
same) yet considering the uncertainty of human life and
desiring to quit myself as far as I may of the cares of this
world do make this my last will and testament hereby
revoking and making void all other and former wills by me
heretofore made. Imprimis (sic) I do will and order that
such just debts as may be owing by me at the time of my
decease with my funeral expenses be paid by my executors
herein after named as soon as conveniently may be after my
decease. Item: I give devise and bequeath unto my beloved
wife Ann Eve the messuage and lot whereon I now live in the
town of Reading to hold to her my said wife during the term
of her natural life and after my said wife’s decease, I will
and order the said messuage and lot to be sold by my
executors or the survivors or survivor of them for the best
price can be had for the same and the moneys arising from
the sale thereof to be divided among all my children or
their representatives share and share alike. Item: I give,
devise, and bequeath unto my said wife Anna Eve and to her
heirs forever my lot of ground situate on Callowhill Street
in the said town of Reading mark`d (sic) in the plan of the
said town no. 72. Item: I give and bequeath unto my said
wife an annuity or yearly sum of twenty pounds for and
during her natural life or until she marry again to be paid
as hereinafter is directed. Item: I give and bequeath unto
my said wife two of my best feather beds of her own choice,
all my kitchen utensils and the sum of fifty pounds current
money of Pennsylvania to be paid to my said wife by my
executors within one month after my decease all which I do
declare to be in lieu of her dower and full discharge of all
demands she may make on my estate. Item: I give devise and
bequeath unto my four sons Philip, Frederick, Samuel, and
Benjamin, that is to say to each of my said sons and his
heirs forever the part or share to him allotted in a draught
or plan sign`d (sic) with my own proper hand and to this
will annexed of all that my plantation in Heidelberg in the
said County of Berks and my several tracts of land lying
contiguous containing in the whole about eight hundred and
ninety acres they my said sons paying each of them the sum
of two hundred and fifty pounds lawful money of the said
province unto my executors for the use herein after
mentioned within one year after my decease. Item: I give
devise and bequeath unto my aforesaid son Benjamin and his
heirs forever the Lordship of the Manor of Plumton with all
of the rights thereto belonging or appurtaining (sic) to
hold the same together with that part of the said manor
which by the aforesaid draught or plan is to him allotted.
Item: I give devise and bequeath unto my son Peter and to
his heirs all that piece of meadow ground and premises
situate in Cumry (Cumru) Township in the said County of
Berks purchas`d (sic) by me of Jacob Kern my said son Peter
paying unto my executors the sum of five pounds to the use
herein after mentioned within one year after my decease.
Item: I give devise and bequeath unto my children Philip,
Frederick, Peter, Samuel, Benjamin, Maria Mühlenberg and
Margaret Fricker all those my lands lying beyond Kittochtiny
(sic) mountains and all my grants or rights to lands lying
beyond the same mountains to be divided in manner following
that is to say to my son Philip two eight parts or shares of
the whole and to each of my other children one eight part or
share. Item: of my brother John Frederick Weiser do pay unto
my executors within three years after my decease the sum in
which he may be indebted to me at the time of my decease
without interest I do in such case order and impower (sic)
my executors to grant and convey unto my said brother all
that track of land situate on Swetaro (sic) Creek now in his
occupation and on nonpayment there of at the expiration of
the said term I do order and direct my executors to sell the
said land for the best price can be had for the same and
that the money be divided among my children or their
representatives share and share alike and whereas it is my
intent and purpose that such my children as have been or may
be advanced by me in my lifetime shall receive less in
proportion of the residuary part of my estate in the
distribution thereof than those of my children who have not
been so much advanced therefore it is my will and I do order
and impower (sic) my executors to sell off as soon as
conveniently may be done after my decease all my lands
houses and lots whatsoever and wheresoever not before
disposed of by this my will for the best price that can be
had for the same and to make good and sufficient deeds in
fee simple to the purchasers thereof and that the monies
arising from the sales thereof together with the one
thousand pounds to be paid by my sons Philip Frederick
Samuel and Benjamin and the five pounds to be paid by my son
Peter and all and singular the rest and residence of my
goods chattels ready money debts and securities for money,
household goods, stock and all other my personal estate
whatsoever or wheresoever or of what nature kind or quality
soever (sic) not otherwise by this my will given or dispos`d
(sic) of shall be divided and shared into seven parts or
shares for my seven children. In such manner and ---- that
the shares and purpards (sic) be less or more of each child
according as they shall appear to have been more or less
advanced by me in my lifetime, the computation whereof shall
be taken from a memorandum book kept by me wherein the same
will appear Nevertheless before any distribution be made
thereof I do order and direct my executors to secure out of
the whole capital the annuity or yearly sum of twenty pounds
hereinbefore bequeathed to my said wife in such manner as
shall be agreeable to her and correspondent to this my will
and I do will and order that the shares of my children
Philip Frederick, Samuel, Peter and Maria Mühlenberg and of
my son Benjamin if he be arrived at his full age be paid to
them respectfully within twelve months after my decease or
sooner if the same can conveniently be done but if my son
Benjamin should then be under age its my will and order that
his brethren put the same to interest and manage it to his
best advantage during his minority. Item: I give and
bequeath unto my grandson Israel Heintselman one hundred
pounds out of the share allotted to his mother which sum
shall be put to interest and manag`d (sic) for his best
advantage by my sons Philip Frederick Peter and Samuel until
he arrives at the age of twenty one years and then be paid
to him with the profits thereof and as to the remaining part
of my said daughter Margaret’s share of the residuary part
of my estate I do order and direct my executors to put the
same to interest on good security and pay her yearly by the
interest thereof during her natural life provided
nevertheless if my daughter doth educate her children in the
principles and according to the rites of the Roman Church in
such case (or after the death of the said Margaret) it is my
will and I do order and direct my executors or the survivors
of them with the consent of my other children as soon as the
same is manifest to them to retain the interest money of my
said daughter’s share and manage the same to the best
advantage for the use of her children to be paid to them in
equal shares together with the principle as they shall
respectively attain the age of twenty one years and I do
constitute and appoint my wife Anna Eve and my sons Peter
and Samuel executors of this my last will and testament In
witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this
twenty-fourth day of November in the year of our Lord one
thousand seven hundred and fifty nine.
CONRAD WEISER
Conrad Weiser Homestead
28 Weiser Lane
Womelsdorf, PA 19567
610-589-2934
info@conradweiserhomestead.org
The site is administered by
the
PHMC and aided by the Friends of the Conrad Weiser
Homestead.
Site design and hosting by
Reading Eagle Company Internet Services |
