1793 Reading
I Jacob Kuhn the Elder, of the Borough of Reading, in the County of Berks, in the State of Pennsylvania, Miller, being weak in Body, but of sound mind, memory and understanding. Thanks be unto God for the same calling unto mind the mortality of my Body, and knowing it is appointed for all Men once to die do therefore make this my last Will and Testament in manner following that is to say.
First. It is my Will and I do so order that my beloved wife Susanna, shall have and keep in her possession during her natural life , as long as she remains my Widow, all and singular my household goods and kitchen furniture whatever as many of my books as she will have and my cow, which together with her Widow Seat, and the Interest she is to receive yearly during her natural life; or as long as she remains my Widow, as here in after is mentioned, shall be in lieu, and in full of her Dower or Thirds, out of my Estate both Real and Personal.
Item. It is my further Will and I do order, that my said wife Susanna, shall have and keep in her peaesable (?) and quiet possession and to receive the Rents, Issues and profits of my two Messuages or Tenements and lots of ground, situate in Reading aforesaid, which I bought of George Snell, as also the Southernmost Moiety of the Lot of Ground which I bought of George Hart, situate in Reading aforesaid and adjoining the aforesaid lot of ground, I bought of George Snell, during her natural Life, and my Executors shall put, and from time to time keep the sum of three hundred pounds of Gold or Silver Money out of Interest upon good and sufficient hand or security, which (word missing) Interest my said Wife Susanna is also to have and receive annually for her own use during her natural life. But should she intermarry again, then my said Wife Susanna is to quit and leave the said premises, and is not to receive the Interest aforesaid anymore, but the same shall then be divided amongst my Children, as if she was dead, and as hereinafter is mentioned. Which premises she is to keep in good repair and order.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my four sons, to wit, Jacob, John, Peter and George, before hand, the sum of three hundred pounds gold or silver money, out of the payments which is due in the month of May, one thousand, seven hundred and ninety four, from Martin Rothermel for the Plantation and Gristmill I sold to him, to be equally divided between them. That is to say, each of them or his representative the sum of seventy five pounds, nevertheless out of which shall be deducted such sum or sums of money, which I have and shall advance them respectively, and for which I have charged them in my Book and should such sum or sums of Money so advanced and charged them, or wither or any of them, as aforesaid, be more than seventy five pounds, then such a ones or hath already received more shall only have credit for said sum of seventy five pounds, and the balance then yet remaining, shall be deducted out of the two hundred pounds hereinafter bequeathed to them.
Item I give and bequeath unto each of my nine children, to wit, Jacob, John, Peter, George Anna Maria intermarried with Theobold Haberacker, Susanna intermarried with Jacob Schmeck, Elizabeth intermarried with Valentine Boyer, Catharine intermarried with Adam Gerret, and Magdalena, the sum of two hundred pounds in gold or silver money, which said sum of two hundred pounds, shall be paid to them respectively as follows, to wit, unto my sons Peter and George immediately after my decease(if not paid by me to them in my lifetime) unto my son or his representatives on the first day of June, one thousand seven hundred and ninety five, unto my son John or his representatives on the first day of June one thousand seven hundred ninety six, unto my daughter Elizabeth of her representatives on the first day of June one thousand seven hundred ninety seven, unto my daughter Catherine of her representatives on the first day of June one thousand seven hundred ninety eight, unto my daughter Magdalena of her representatives on the first day of June one thousand seven hundred ninety nine, unto my daughter Anna Marie of her representatives on the first day of June one thousand eight hundred, unto my daughter Susanna of her representatives on the first day of June one thousand eight hundred and one out of which respective sums of two hundred pounds given and bequeathed to each of my said nine children as aforesaid, shall be deducted such or sums of money, which I have advanced them respectively, and charged them in my book, and also such balances which shall be remaining from my sons Jacob, John, Peter and George or either or any of them or herein before mentioned. And I also do give and bequeath unto my said son Jacob the further sum of five pounds in specis, as and for his first birth right, which is to be deducted out of his balances, if any balance shall be remaining from as aforesaid.
Item. I is my will and I so order, that my executers or the survivors or survivor acting them for them, shall from time to time during the lifetime or widowhood of my said wife Susanna, rent out my messuage or tenement and Northernmost Moiety or the lot of Ground situate in Reading aforesaid, which I bought of George Hart, and the rent they receive for the same after the necessary reparation of said Messuage of Northernmost Moiety of said Lot of Ground are from time to time, and after as a (????) shall requires theresent paid, shall be divided between my aforesaid children share and share alike.
Item. It is my Will and I do order that what Money shall be remaining after the aforesaid several Legacies are paid off, shall be equally divided between my aforesaid children share and share alike. And that my Executors shall after the decease of my said Wife Susanna, shall sell the Household Goods and Kitchen Furniture, which my said wife into keep in her possession during her natural life or widowhood, and the Money arising from the sale thereof, as also the said sum of three hundred pounds, of which my said wife Susanna is to receive the Interest annually during her natural life or widowhood, and the Money arising from the sale of my Messuages or Tenements and Lots of Ground in Reading, aforesaid, after the decease or intermarriage of my said wife Susanna is to be equally divided between my aforesaid nine Children share and share alike. And in case any of my said children should die, before any dividend is made as aforesaid, then the representatives of him, her or them so dying shall receive such dividend. Which Messuages or Tenements and Lots in Reading aforesaid, I empower and authorize my Executors, or the survivors of survivor acting of them to sell either at public or private sale, which shall be deemed best, and to make a deed or deed or other lawful conveyance or conveyances to the purchaser or purchasers for the same. Under such encumbrances as the same may be subject to.
And lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint my said four sons Jacob, John, Peter and George to be Executors of this my last Will and Testament by me made heretofore; ratifying and confirming this and no other to be y last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I the said Jacob Kuhn the Elder. Have hereunto set my Hand and Seal, the seventeenth day of September, in the Year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and ninety three.
Jacob Kuhn |SEAL|
Signed, Sealed, Published and Declared by the said testator, as and for his last Will and Testament, in the presence of us, who at his request, and in his presence, and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names hereto as witnesses.
Johannes Printz
John Spyher
I Jacob Kuhn, the Elder, do this thirtieth day of September, Anno Domini one thousand, seven hundred and ninety three, make and publish this Codicil to my last Will and Testament, in manner following (that is to say) I give and bequeath unto to my son Jacob Kuhn, the further sum of ten pounds, besides the sum of five pounds given and bequeathed unto him, in my last Will and Testament, as and for his first birth right, which is also to be deducted out of his balance, if any shall be remaining as within said. And my will is and I do order that my four Sons who I have appointed Executors of my said last Will and Testament, are to have no commissions or other expenses for their trouble in executing the said Executorships as I have given and bequeathed unto them in my last Will and Testament the sum of three hundred pounds beforehand. And lastly it is my desire, that this my present codicil be annexed to and made part of my last Will and Testament to all intents and purposes. In witness where if I have hereunto set my hand and seal the said day and year written above.
Jacob Kuhn |SEAL|
Signed, Sealed, Published and Declared by the above named Jacob Kuhn, the Elder, as codicil to be annexed to his last Will and Testament, in the presence of us, ….
Johannes Printz
John Spyher
Registers Office Reading, Berks County 12th Nov. A.D.179- There personally appeared John Spyher and Johannes Printz witnesses to the above written Will and Codicil and John Spyher on his oath and Johannes Printz on his solemn affirmation, according to Law, did severally declare and say that they were present together and did see and hear Jacob Kuhn, the testator, sign seal pronounce publish and declare the same writing to be his last will and testament and also the codicil annexed. And at the time of the doing thereof, respectively, he the said testator was of sound mind memory and understanding, to the best of their knowledge, and as they verify believe. And further that the names John Spyher and Johannes Printz thereto subscribed are of the person and writing of the said Deposement and Affirmation respectively by them thereto subscribed as witnesses to the Will and Codicil, in the presence of each other, at the request and in the presence of the Testator.
Coram me Chris Barranstine Regr.
Submitted by Michelle.
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