Reading 1863
In the name of God amen, I Charlotte Heckman, of the city of Reading, Berks County, widow woman, being of a sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding and considering the uncertainty of this transitory life. Do hereby make & publish this as and for my last will and testament as follows to wit;
First; It is my Will and I do order and direct that all my just debts, and funeral expenses to be duly paid and satisfied as soon as conveniently may be after my decease.
Item; I give and devise unto my son in law David Hollenbach and this wife Elizabeth, the House and Lot of ground on Fifth Street in Reading, in which they now live, with all and singular the appurtenances thereto belonging, for and during their natural life and the longest lived of the two, and after their decease then to their children, heirs or representatives, or their assigns forever accordingly as in estates of Intestacy.
Item; I give and devise the House and Lot of ground with the appurtenances, situate on Fifth Street in the city of Reading now occupied by me, to my granddaughter Charlotte Heckman (the daughter of my deceased son William) for and during her natural life, and after her decease to her children (if any) their heirs and assigns forever; and in case she the said Charlotte should die without issue, then my Will is that the said property shall revert and was as follows six shares thereof to the children of my daughter Elizabeth; two shares to the children of my daughter Catherine Homan and one share to Deborah Ann, a daughter of my son William Heckman deceased and to their heirs and assigns my said granddaughter Charlotte, is not to have actual possession of said premises until she shall arrive at the age of twenty one years or the day of marriage, which so ever may happen first, and in the mean time I direct that the said property shall be in the care of my executor hereinafter named, and the rents issues and profits be applied towards the use and support of said Charlotte. The said Executor to be the Trustee for the said Charlotte, as well also to receive all other property and affects herein devised or bequeathed to her.
Item; I give and bequeath unto my two granddaughters to wit; Charlotte Heckman (daughter of my late son William) and Charlotte Hollenbach (daughter of David Hollenbach) in two equal shares to be divided, all my household goods, furniture, clothing and books which shall remain upon my decease.
Item; I give and bequeath to my granddaughter (a daughter of my deceased son William) the sum of fifty dollars out of my estate to wit Catharine Ann Heckman.
And as touching all the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, real and personal, or whatsoever the same may be after the same shall have been converted into money, I give and devise as follows in ten equal shares to be divided to the children of my daughter Elizabeth Hollenbach six shares, to the children of my daughter Catherine Homan two shares and to the two daughters of my deceased son William, to wit, Charlotte and Deborah Ann, each one share. The share or shares given to Charlotte and Deborah Ann are not to be paid until they be the age of twenty one years or on the day of marriage which so ever may happen first and the Executor of this my Will is to have the charge thereof in the mean time for their benefit.
And lastly; I nominate constitute and appoint my friend Jonathan Eirich, of the city of Reading to be Executor of this my last will 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 have hereunto set my Hand and Seal, the twenty fifth day of November in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty six.
Charlotte X (her mark) Heckman |SEAL|
Signed, Sealed, & declared by the said testatrix as and for her last will and testament in the presence of us.
Matthias S Richards
John Wolf
Berks County SS.
On the fifth day of February 1863 appeared John Wolf one of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing will he being duly qualified did dispose and say that he was present and did see and hear the testatrix Charlotte Heckman sign by making her mark seal publish and declare the foregoing instrument of writing as and for her last will and testament and that the time of then doing thereof she was of sound mind memory and understanding to the best of his knowledge observation and belief and that the other witness who is now deceased did see and hear the same as he the said witness did. Same day appeared Jeremiah Hagerman who being duly sworn did dispose and say that he was well acquainted with the hand writing of said witness Matthias S Richards now deceased and that he ha frequently seen him write and that he verily believes that the signature to said will and also the body of said will is in the proper handwriting of himself the said witness now deceased.
Daniel Potteiger Dep. Register
Submitted by Michelle.
Last Modified