The following is copied from a hand-written will witnessed by Abrm. H Vanderslice and John W Hartranft: (on file at Berks Co Register of Wills in Reading,PA) dated 6/1/1864:
I, Elias N MOHR, of Union Township, Berks County and State of Pennsylvania, gentleman, being of sound mind memory and understanding but considering the uncertainty of this transitory life, do publish this my Last Will and Testament in manner following to wit:
1. It is my will and I do order that all my just debts and funeral expenses be duly satisfied as soon as conveniently can be after my decease.
2. I give and bequeath unto my dear wife Mary during her natural life, the house at present occupied by John MILLER, along side the shop and the garden attached to the same, and one third of the rent of the property whereon I at present reside and if that should not be sufficient, my hereinafter named executors are to give her sufficient to keep her, and further, I give her as much of my house and kitchen furniture as she shall want for her own use and two cords of firewood or as much as she shall want for her own use, yearly, and every year during her natural life, six bushels of cooking potatoes yearly and apples and cider as much as she shall want for her own use delivered by my hereinafter named Executor yearly and every year during the natural life of my said wife are to be in lieu of her dower and the three hundred dollar law.
3. It is my will and I order that none of my real estate is to be sold until the decease of my wife, and my hereinafter named executors or the survivors of them are to rent out the said property during the natural life of my said wife, they paying yearly first the above legacies to my said wife and the balance to be divided as hereinafter named, and after the decease of my said wife it is my will and I do order that my hereinafter named Executors or the survivors of them, shall as soon as conveniently can be, sell, at public sale, all my real estate wheresoever the same may be situated in the county of Berks or elsewhere and for that purpose I do hereby authorize and empower my said executors or the survivors of them, to sign, seal, execute and acknowledge all such deeds of conveyance as may be necessary for the granting and assuring the same to the purchases thereof in fee simple.
4. And as touching the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, real and personal, whatsoever the same may be in the county of Berks or elsewhere not herein before disposed, I do give and bequeath the same to my eight children to wit: Hannah, Levi, Harriet, Charlotte, Mahlon, Mary, Daniel and Esther to be equally divided between them share and share alike, and to their heirs and assigns forever.
5. It is my will and I do order that my Executors shall get tombs for me and my wife to be paid for out of the proceeds of my estate;
6. And lastly, I nominate constitute and appoint my two sons, Daniel and Levi, executors of this my last will and testament reposing confidence in them to perform the trust committed to them by hereby revoking all other wills 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 this first day of June AD 1864.
Elias N MOHR (signature)
signed sealed and declared by the said testator to be his last will and testament in presence of
Abm. H VANDERSLICE and John W HARTFANFT
On the 27th day of August 1864 appeared Abrm H Vanderslice and John W Hartranft, the subscribing witnesses to the within will and being duly sworn, did depose and say that they were present and did see and hear Elias N MOHR, the testator, sign, seal, publish and declare the said instrument of writing to be his last will and testament and that at the time of the doing thereof, he was of sound mind, memory and understanding to the best of their knowledge, observation and belief. M. L. Thirwechter, Register of Wills.
Submitted by Diana.
Last Modified