1784 Reading
In the name of God Amen, I Henry Gossler of the Town of Reading in the County of Berks in the State of Pennsylvania, Baker, a old and weak in body but of a good sound disposing mind memory and understanding thanks be to God for it, and I have considered the fallibility of my body. And I make and publish this to be my testament and Last Will in the following manner.
Firstly(?) I recommend my mortal soul in the hands of Almighty God and my body to be buried in a Decent Manner and that all my Debts shall be paid and of my Estate.
Item: I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife Dorothea Gossler all and singular my personal Estate of Each and Every Denomination without Exeplision(?) to have and to hold the some to her and to her heirs and assigns forever.
Item: My will is and I order that my beloved wife Dorothea Gossler shall have possession and enjoy all my whole Real Estate on the County of Berks so freely and fully as I had the same in my life. Given or rent it and either in part or in the whole as she may think proper and for her own benefit during the time of her widowhood and no longer. With the condition that she shall pay my just debts and pay the taxes for said real estate.
Item: My will is that if in case my wife Dorothea Gossler shall marry again of depart her natural life than and from thence forth I give devise and bequeath to my son Frederich Gossler and his heirs and assigns forever – first of all my own dwelling house and lot of ground situate on the east side of Callow Hill Street. And is marked in the general plan of said town with number four hundred I say 400 – on the northernmost (???) of the lot 401 adjoining to the former lot. And from other lots of ground situate on the Eastside of Princess Street in the town of Reading adjoining each other and one marked in the plan of the town with the numbers 409-412 and fro house on thirteen in 416 as by second deed my Appson(?) and also all in singular my bond and plantation on and lots situate in the township of Alsace near the town of Reading and known by the name of Lightponds and paths and lots combining in the whole seventy five acres of land it be the same more or less, to have and hold all the aforesaid lands and lots to him my son Frederich Gossler his heirs and assigns forever after the marriage or death of my wife Dorothea Gossler according to the true meaning of the will unless and (????) nevertheless to the condition that before the shall take possession of the same or any part thereof he shall have two reputable and impartial men and my other children to check on them four men in my three if them shall value and appraise all the said real estate and such sum or sums of money of such valuation. My son Frederich Gossler his heirs, executors administrators or assigns shall pay / well second(?)/ in the following manner that is to say on one years time after he hath taken or (???????) to hence taken possession of his bequeathen lands the sum of twenty five ponds gold or silver money to my son Henry Gossler and the sum of twenty five pounds of like money to my daughter Elizabeth Dorothea Beck – the second year the sum of twenty five pounds like money to my son John Gossler and the sum of twenty five pounds to my daughter Catherina Gossler – the third year he shall reclaim the sum of twenty five pounds in his own home and the sum of twenty five pounds to my son Andreas Gossler – the fourth year he shall begin again with my son Henry Gossler and my daughter Elizabeth Dorothea Beck and so continue until the whole sum of (???) valuation money is paid in money (???) and my son Frederich Gossler shall have one equal share with his brothers and sisters in the money according to the true intent and meaning of this my last testament and last will.
Item: My will (????) and I give deliver and bequeath to my son Andreas Gosler and his heirs and assigns for ever my house and lot of ground situate on the west side of Callow Hill Street in the town of Reading and is marked in the plan of the said town withmarkers three hundred and eighty seven 387 as by deed my appear that is to say from and after the with whom my wife Dorothea Gossler should marry again or depart her natural life as before mentioned with the condition that before he should take possession pf such house and plot of land he shall have two reputable and impartial men and my other children shall choose (??) and then four men or any three of them shall value and appraise the same and my son Andreas Gossler his heirs executors administrators and assigns shall pay such valuation money/ will second of in the following manner that is to say – in one years time after he takes possession the sum of 10 pounds in gold or silver money to my son Henry Gossler and the sum of 10 pounds to my daughter Elizabetha Dorothea Beck – the second year the sum of tem pounds to my son John Gossler and ten pounds to my daughter Catharine Gossler – the third year he shall reclaim ten pounds of like money as his own and pay ten pounds to my son Frederich Gossler - the fourth year he shall begin again with my son Henry Gossler and my daughter Elizabeth Dorothea Beck and to continue until the whole sum of such valuation money is fully paid and my son Andreas Gossler shall have an equal share with his brothers and sisters on such valuation money.
Item: And if in life my son Andreas Gossler should die in his minority and without lawful issue in (???) him, Then and in such case I give and bequeath from there forth the (??) house and lot of ground No 387 to my son John Gossler and his heirs ans assigns for ever make and subject neverthelwss to all and singular the conditions as my son Andreas Gossler his heirs executors administrators and assigns never to keep perform and fulfill in all cases whatsoever.
Item: My will is and I ordain my wife Dorothea Gossler shall buy for my daughter Catharine Gossler one good feather bed and furniture to such bed one cow and such household goods as my daughter Elizabeth Dorothea Beck received in y lifetime and to pay for the same and of my Rent or personal estate so as she may think proper all then L leave to my wifes discretion.
Lastly I nominate constitute and appoint my wife Dorothea Gossler Executrix and my son Frederich Gossler Executor of this my testament and last will in witness whereof I (hocerded?) my own hand and seal on the 8th day of April -1-Anno Domini 1783.
Henry Gossler (seal)
Signed sealed published and declared by the Henry Gossler to be his last will in his hand in the presence of
Conrad Brown
William Reeser
Registers Office at Reading in Berks County February 21st 1784 appeared Conrad Brown and William Reeser witnesses to the above written will and Conrad Brown upon his solemn oath and William Reeser on his solemn affirmation did severely declare and say that they were present and saw and heard Henry Gossler the testator therein named sign, seal, pronounce, publish and declare the above writing to be his last will and testament that at the time of doing thereof he was of sound mind memory and understanding as the verily believe and the names of Conrad Brown and William Reeser subscribers thereto as witnesses are of their own proper hand writing by them respectively thereto subscribed in the presence if each other on the request and in the presence of the testator
Coram me
Henry Christ, Register
Submitted by Michelle.
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