I, George RITTER, of the township of Exeter in the county of Berks and Province of Pennsylvania, yeoman, being in bodily health and of sound and perfect mind and memory, but considering the uncertainty of this mortal life, do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following:
First, my will is that my just debts and funeral expenses be paid out of my estate by my executors hereinafter named.
I give and bequeath to my daughter Eva Rosina GERST[sic KERST], widow, the sum of one hundred pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania
I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth REIS, widow, the sum of one hundred pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania
I give and bequeath to my son Henry RITTER the sum of twenty pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania and I also give and bequeath to my said son Henry Ritter my copper still.
I give and bequeath to my two daughters the said Eva Rosina GERST and Elizabeth REIS all my household furniture of what kind soever to be equally divided between them, share and share alike
I give and bequeath to my son Francis RITTER the sum of eighteen pounds being money I lent him some time ago. I also give and bequeath to my said son Francis RITTER the two horses I gave into his hands some time past.
All the rest and residue of my estate both real and personal of what kind forever I give and bequeath to my son Henry RITTER and to my daughters Eva Rosina GERST and Elizabeth REIS to be equally divided between them share and share alike.
But if the sum of one hundred and thirty pounds which my son Francis RITTER owes me can be recovered of him by my executors or if he pays it vountarily to them, then my will is and I do hereby give and bequeath out of the residue of my Estate above mentioned, the sum of twenty pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania to the Society of Germans, commonly called first day or Sunday Dunkers to be by them distributed to such poor persons of all denominations in religion and in such proportions as they think suitable.
And lastly, I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint said son Henry RITTER and my esteemed friend John TUERCK[DeTurk] of Oley to be the executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all other and former will and wills by me made-ratifying and confirming this to be my last will and testament.
IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the fourth day of the sixth month in the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty.
George RITTER (X his mark)
Sealed and Delivered in the presence of us signed sealed published and declared by the said testator as this Last Will and Testament in the presence of us:
William REESER
Benjamin LIGHTFOOT
Reading Berks County Pennsylvania the 5th day of December anno domini 1761 - then personally appeared William REESER and Benjamin LIGHTFOOT, the witnesses to the aforewritten will and upon their solemn affirmation according to law did declare and say that they were both of them personally present and saw and heard George RITTER, the testator in the same will named, sign (with his mark), seal, 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 William REESER and Benjamin LIGHTFOOT thereto subscribed are of the proper hand writing of the said affirmant respectively by them thereto subscribed as witnesses in the presence of each other and at the request and in the presence of the said testator.
James READ, D Reg
TO James READ, Esq Deputy Register for the probate of Wills and granting Letters of Administration in and for the county of Berks in the Province of Pennsylvania, GREETINGS:
WHEREAS I am nominated and appointed an Executor of the Last Will and Testament of George RITTER, late of the Township of Exeter in the County aforesaid and as by the same will proved and remaining in the Register General's Office at Reading appears; but for certain causes, I do hereby refuse the Executorship of the same will and relinquish and renounce the burthen thereof
IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twelfth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand and seven hundred and sixty-one,
signed: John TEURCK
SEALED and DELIVERED in the presence of us
John PRICE
Lanfort RUPPART(sp?)
To James READ, Esq., Deputy Register for the Probate of Wills and granting Letteres of Administration in and for the County of Berks in the Province of Pennsylvania, GREETING
WHEREAS my father George RITTER of the township of Exeter in the county aforesaid lately died having in his lifetime rightly and duly made his Last Will and Testament in writing under his hand and seal and therein nominated and appointed his son Henry RITTER (who is since deceased) and John TEURCK (who hath renounced the Executorship) Executors of the same Will and WHEREAS my brother Francis is indebted to the estate of the said decedent and therefore for other good causes he could not obtain the Administration (with the will annexed) of the said Estate_ WHEREBY the Administration thereof, aforesaid, by law devolves on my Sister Eva Rosina GERST(KERST) and me, but for divers good causes me hereunto specfically moving, I do hereby renounce my right to the Administration (with the Will annexed) of the Estate of my said father and desire the same may be committed to my sister, the said Eva Rosina GERST(KERST).
IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the twenty-third day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-two.
Elizabeth REIS (X her mark)
Sealed and Delivered in the presence of us
John PRICE
CHRISTIAN MERKEL
KNOW all men by these presents that we Eva Rosina GERST(KERST) of the Township of Oley in the County of Berks, widow, eldest daughter of George RITTER late of the Township of Exeter in the said County, yeoman deceased, John LESHER of the Township of Oley aforesaid, yeoman, and Christian MERCKEL of the Town of Reading in the said County, blacksmith, are held and firmly bound unto William PLUMSTEAD, Register General for the Probate of Wills and granting Letters of Administration in and for the province of Pennsylvania in the sum of one thousand pounds lawful money of the said province to be paid to the said William PLUMSTEAD, Register his certain attorney, executors Administrators or assigns to which payment will and truly to be made, we do bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators and every of them jointly and severally for and in the whole firmly by these presents. Sealed with our seals dated the twenty-third day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand and seven hundred and sixty-two.
WHEREAS the above named George RITTER did on the fourth day of the sixth month in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty, rightly and duly made his Last Will and Testament in writing under his hand and seal and did publish the same before witnesses whose names are thereto subscribed and did nominate his son Henry RITTER and his friend John TEURCK, Executors thereof and the said George RITTER is since deceased (as is alleged) which Last Will and Testament was on the 5th day of December last, duly proved in the Register General's Office at Reading in and for the county of Berks aforesaid and the said Henry RITTER dyed before the death of the testator and John TEURCK hath renounced the executorship of the said last Will and Testament and Elizabeth REIS, widow, a daughter of the said testator, hath renounced all right she might have to the Administration of the estate of the said George RITTER dec'd- AND WHEREAS Administration of all and singular the goods, chattels, rights and credits which were of the said deceased (with the Last Will and Testament Annexed) is granted to the said Eva Rosina GERST, one of the daughters if the said deceased George RITTER. NOW the condition of the forgoing obligation is such that if the above bounden Eva Rosina GERST, Administratrix (with the Last Will and Testament annexed) of all and singular the goods, chattels, rights and credits which were of the above named George RITTER deceased do make or cause to be made a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the goods, chattel, rights and credits which were of the said deceased within the said province which have or shall come to the hands, possession or knowledge of the said Eva Rosina GERST or into the hands possession on or knowledge of any other person, persons for her and the same so made to exhibit or cause to be exhibited unto the Register General's Office at Reading in and for the county of Berks at or before the twenty third day of September next and the same goods, chattels, rights and credits which were of the said deceased at the time of his death or which at any time hereto have come or hereafter shall come to the hands, possession, or knowledge of the said Eva Rosina GERST or of any other person or persons for her do well and truly adminster according to law_ AND further do make or cause to be made a true and just accoumpt, calculation or reckonings of the said administration at or before the twenty-third day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-three_ AND shall first pay the debts due from the said estate according to their rate and order of law, sofarforth as the said goods, chattels, rights and credits shall extend, and shall (if the same good, rights and credits shall be found sufficient) pay the legacies in the said Last Will and Testament specified, and shall in all respects do and perform in the premises whatsoever shall be just and lawful according to the laws of that part of Great Britain called England and of this Province of Pennsylvania. And if it shall hereafter appear another Last Will and Testament or Codicil of a later date than that hereinbefore recited was made by the said decedent and the executor or executors therein named do exhibit the same into the said office making request to have it allowed and approved accordingly; if the said Eva Rosina GERST (being thereunto requested) do render and deliver up the said Letters of Administration (with the Last Will and Testament annexed) approbation of such testament or codicil being first made in the said office, then this obligation to be void and of none effect, otherwise to be and remain in full force and virtue
signed: Eva Rosina GERST (X her mark)
witnesses: John LESHER
Christian MERCKEL
Sealed and Delivered in the presence of
Elizabeth REIS (X - her mark)
John PRICE
Submitted by Diana.
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