In the name of God Amen, I, Benjamin F. Moll of Perry Twp. In the County of Berks and State of Pennsylvania, being at this time weak of body, but thanks be to God, of sound mind, memory and understanding, do make and publish this my last will and testament, in Manner and form following to wit:
First; It is my will and I do order and direct that my just debts and funeral expenses be duly paid and satisfied as soon as conveniently can be after my decease.
Item; I give and bequeath unto my dear wife Elizabeth Moll (after paying thereout as above directed) the occupation and use of the whole of my personal estate, of whatever description the same may be or consist of, until all my children having arrived to the age of twenty one years, (if she remains single and unmarried).
Item; I give and bequeath unto my said wife Elizabeth the rents, issues, profits, use and occupation of my real estate, to wit: all that certain messuage and tract or piece of land situate in Perry Twp., Berks County adjoining land of Benjamin Seidel, Jacob Engel, David Z. Becker, Henry Weber, Joshua Reber and David F. Moll containing one hundred and twenty acres more or less, until all my children having arrived to the age of twenty one years, (if she remains my widow) if she chooses to have the same so long, if not, with the privilege to let and lease the same, to whom and upon such as she my said wife Elizabeth and my Executors hereafter named shall see proper, and my said wife Elizabeth or my Executors (in case she should not remain my widow and not wish to have the same so long) shall order, until all my children have arrived to the age of twenty one years, and shall send my minor children every winter to school and to the minister to have religious instruction, and at their arrival to the age of twenty one years they shall have their furniture the same as my other children did get.
Item; It is my will that after all my children having arrived to the age of twenty one years my Executors hereafter named or the survivors of them shall sell my personal property (or a part there of sooner if she my said wife desires to have it sold) and my said land or real estate at public sale or outcry, to the highest bidders, and for that purpose I do hereby authorize and empower my said Executors hereinafter named or the survivors of them to sign, seal, execute and acknowledge, all such deed or deeds of conveyance as may be requisite and necessary for granting and assuming the same to the purchase or purchases thereof in fee simple. And of the proceeds arising from such sale (after deducting necessary expenses and changes) my said wife Elizabeth, shall have one third of my personal estate (if any remains) absolutely, and the interest of one third of my real estate during her natural life, and the remainder of my estate shall be divided among my six children as follows: the share of my son Samuel Moll shall remain in the hands of my Executors and they shall buy a suitable house and piece of land, or in case they cannot buy a suitable house and piece of land for his share then my Executor shall put and place out the money of his share on interest on good security, and my said son Samuel Moll shall have the use and occupation of the house and piece of land (so bought or the interest of the money of his share, if no suitable house or piece of land could be bought by my Executors for and during his natural life time, and after his decease, the same shall be equally divided among all the children of my said son Samuel Moll, or the survivors of them, or their heirs, share and share alike, and the remaining five fifths or shares shall be divided among my other five children, to wit: Sarah Mertz intermarried with William Mertz, Franklin B. Moll, Catharine Moll, Amanda Maria Moll and James H. Moll in equal shares, share and share alike.
Lastly; I nominate, constitute and appoint my son Franklin B. Moll and my friend Solomon H. Lesher of Perry Township aforesaid to be the Executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all other wills, legacies and bequests by me heretofore made and declaring this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof, I the said Benjamin F. Moll have hereunto set my hand and seal the Seventh day of May in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty Eight.
Benjamin F. Moll (seal)
Signed, Sealed, published and declared by the above named Benjamin F. Moll, as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us, who have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto in the presence of the said testator and each other
Benjamin Seidel
Samuel Hoffman
Berks County ss:
This 13th day of June 1868 before J.D. Wanner, Register for this probate of Wills, in and for the said County of Berks, personally came Benjamin Seidel and Samuel Hoffman, the subscribing witnesses to the above will, and being duly sworn according to law, did dispose and say that they were present and saw and heard Benjamin F. Moll, the testator, sign, seal, publish, pronounce and declare the foregoing instrument of writing as and for his last will and testament, and that at the time of so doing he was of sound mind, memory and understanding, to the best of their knowledge, observation and belief.
J.D. Wanner
Registrar
Contributed by: Michelle.
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