LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
OF JAMES BESTWICK

In the name of God, Amen: I, James Bestwick of Township of Worth in the County of Mercer, and state of Pennsylvania, being of sound mind, memory and understanding, do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner
following: that is to say.

FIRST: I direct that all my just debts, my funeral expenses and the cost of settling my estate shall be first fully paid out of my personal estate.

SECOND: I give and bequeathe to my son James H. Bestwick all that certain tract of land known as the Sarah Bestwick lot, and containing thirty acres
more or less: also twelve acres of land lying immediately west of the Sarah Bestwick land, out of the land I received from my father, he to have and
possess said land in fee simple subject to rights necessary to take out the coal hereafter disposed of.

THIRD: I give and bequeath to my son Samuel Bestwick all that certain piece of land which I own and lying west of the public road running from the
Bradley to the Franklin Road containing forty two acres, more or less, to have and to hold the same as long as he shall live and at his death it is my
will that the same shall be divided equally among his children subject nevertheless to a right hereby granted to James H. Bestwick and Anna McKee
to take water out of a well on said land.

FOUTH: I give and bequeath to my son George Bestwick all that certain tract of land known as the Worley place as long as he shall live ant at his death it is my will the same shall be equally divided among his children.

FIFTH: I give to my daughter Anna McKee all that certain piece of land on which I now live, not already devised, containing fifty two acres more or
less, bounded on the east by land of A.G. Egbert, on the south by same, on the west by public road mentioned above, and on the north by land of James Bestwick, to have and to hold in fee simple also all my household and kitchen furniture and all the goods that are in my house at my decease.

 SIXTH: It is my will and I now declare that all the mineral coal in and under all of the above mentioned lands is expressly reserved and not given by the same, but the same shall be mined out under the existing leases or leases to be hereafter made and the royalty there from shall be divided as follows, that is to say, as hereinafter for my personal estate directed.

SEVENTH: I give and bequeath to my grand-daughter, Minnie, daughter of Samuel, the sum of fifteen hundred dollars.

EIGHTH: I give and bequeath to my son James H. and my daughter Anna McKee each the sum of fifteen hundred dollars.

NINTH: I give and bequeath to my four grandchildren, Mary Jane, Warren, Charles, and Lamont, children of my son George, the sum of fifteen hundred dollars to be divided equally among them.

TENTH: The rest, residue and remainder of my personal estate, whether now in had or to be derived hereafter from the coal royalty, it is my will shall be equally divdied into four shares of which my sons Jas. H. and Samuel and my daughter Anna McKee shall each receive one equal one fourth part, and the other or remainding one fourth shall go to the four grandchildren above named, children of my son George to-wit: Mary Jane, Warren, Charles and
Lamont, to be divided among them share and share alike.

ELEVENTH: It is my will that my sons Jas. H., Samuel and George and my daughter Anna McKee shall each pay the equal on fourth part of the dower hereafter to become due to Anne Bestwick, widow of John Bestwick, deceased, and to Austa Fisher, widow of Henry Fisher, deceased, and at the death of each of said widows to pay the principal sum of which said dower is paid to their respective heirs and I now expressly chared said payment upon the above bequests to my sons and daughters whether the same be real or personal property.

ELEVENTH: [note this is a repeat of number but how it was typed on my copy] I give and bequeath to my housekeeper Mary Steen the sum of four hundred dollars to be paid to her by my executors before paying the bequests heretofore made to my children and grandchildren and the bequest shall be in full of any claim against my estate other than her usual wages to be paid to her as soon as practicable after my decease.

TWELFTH: I nominate, constituee and appoint Wm. N. Stewart and William M. Taylor as and for the executors of this my last will and testament, hereby directing them to dispose of all my personal property as soon as practicable after my decease, and fully carry out my bequests. 

 In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty third day of October, A.D.
1889

James Bestwick
(seal)

(Source: Submitted by Nancy Wark)