Berks County Court House, Reading, Pa.
December 2, 1751
In the name of God, Amen. I, Christopher Beightle, of the Township of Exeter in the County of Philadelphia, in the Province of Pennsylvania being aged seventy one years, declining in this my earthly tabernacle yet by the mercy of Good Providence favored with sound mind and memory and calling to mind the mortality of my body desiring to be resigned to the Almighty's will and to whose aid and power I commit my immortal part. And after my decease my body to be decently intered at the discretion of my herein after named and appointed executor of my last will and testament. And as to such real and personal estate which I am blessed with, seized and possessed of I dispose of in manner following. That is to say whereas farm seized of three hundred acres of land in Exeter aforesaid, being all in one entire tract, part whereof improved, whereof I dwell with Susanna my well-beloved wife who is also far advanced in years and advancing age, incapable of earning or promising further maintenance by labor. therefore considering and re much in my well-beloved and most affectionate son, Jacob Beightle who abides with me, hoping, as hitherto he hath, will whilst we of mine and Susanna,, my said wife's, natural life, will maintain and provide succor and attendance on us and every of us and as I desire afore he shall decently inter my body after my death so I desire he will likewise decently inter my wife after her death. thereby will I devise and bequeath unto him, my said well-beloned son, Jacob Beightle, and to his heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, 225 acres of land, part of my said 300 acres and the allowance of 6 acres for roads. Together with all and singular the buildings, improvements, herediments, rights, ____, privileges, advantage, rents, issues, and profits whatsoever therewise belonging or appertaining to them. Also I bequeath all my personal estate good to him. Item: I will devise and bequeath unto my son John Beightle all the residue of my said tract of 300 acres of land aforesaid being 75 acres of land out fairly of the end of the tract, adjoining lands of James Thompson, Mordicai Lincoln, and Christopher Bowyin with the allowances proportionately as aforesaid, together with all and singular the apputenances of the foresaid unto John Beightle my said son and to his heirs and assigns forever. and whence according to my ability I have already given, paid and ordered my said well-beloved son, Jacob Beightle, to pay several sums of money and value thereof to all and evervone of the remaining children herein afore named. All which my order to him _________ son Jacob Beightle hath fulfilled and performed. Therefore whereas my eldest son named John Jacob Beightle at and ______________ within the year last ____________ in value thereof amounting to seventy pounds. Item: I give and bequeath unto him my said son the money within twelve months after my decease. And whereas my son Peter hath had to the value of 80 pounds money aforesaid I give and bequeath unto my said son, Peter Beightle, also 5 shillings money aforesaid payable the other aforesaid. And whereas Mary, my daughter, the eldest of my children, now wife to Joseph Oldhans who when they were inarried were esteemed able within my estate and law which since by the labor of my other children and blessing of God in to what it is, had of the same about 30 pounds. I give and bequeath unto her, my said daughter, Mary Oldhans, 5 shillings money aforesaid. And whereas my daughter Rosanna, now wife of Michael Lodowick has had to the value of ____ teen pounds and upwards of money aforesaid Item: I give and bequeath unto her, my said daughter, Rosanna, 5 shillings like Maiy aforesaid, And finally all the residue of my estate, real and personal, goods, chattels, stock, grain, moveables of whatever I had I give, devise, will, and bequeath unto my said well-beloved and most dutiful son Jacob Beightle and to his heirs and assigns forever as aforesaid. I appoint, nominate, make and ordain him, my said well-beloved son Jacob Beightle, to be my late executor and trustee of my last will and testament, revoking and disannulling all and every other older and former will by me made. Ratifying and confirming this only to be my effevocable will and testament of which whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the second day of December, Anno Domini One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty One.
Signed, sealed, delivered, pronounced, published, acknowledged by the saidChristopher Beightle the testator testament to be the absolute will, act, and dced done and executed in the presence of us: James Thomson, George Hinton, Johannes Bischoff Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania.
The 25th day of August Anno Domini 1762. then personally appeared James Thomson with George Hinton, Two of the subscribing witnesses to the forewrittcn will and upon their solomn oath on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God did depose and say that they were both of them present and saw and heard Christopher Beightle, the testator therein named, sign, seat publish, and declare the same to be his last will and testament and that at the time of the doing thereof he was of sound mind, memory and understanding as they verily believe; and further that the names James Thomson and George Hinton thereto subscribed are of the proper hand writing of them the said deponents respectively by them thereto subscribed (together with Joharmes Bischoff the other subscribing witness) as witnesses thereto in the presence of each other and at the request and in the presence of the said testator.
Contributed by Beatrice.
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