Muhlenberg 1859
In the name of God Amen, I the subscriber John Heckman, a farmer, in Muhlenberg Township, Berks County and State of Pennsylvania as I am yet in health and having my full understanding wherefore I heartily thank God so I declare this to be my last will and testament, and what relates to me in worldly affairs consists of a small farm a plantation in Muhlenberg Township about thirty acres more or less adjoining the lands of Daniel Keller, deceased, Samuel Gring, deceased and a road leading from Reading to Kutztown:
So I give and devise my real Estate with all the buildings thereon erected and my personal estate except my carpenter tools and books to my wife Magdalena during her lifetime so long as she remains my widow but she is not allowed to contract any debts upon the Estate: after her death everything shall be sold at Public sale to the highest and best bidder the Real Estate, the money arising there from shall be divided among all my children in equal shares, the share if my deceased daughter Magdalena shall be divided among all her children in equal shares, my hereinafter named executors shall keep their shares in hand and shall pay them as they arrive at the age of twenty one years.
So I give and devise to my son Francis my large Bible, my books shall be divided among my children, my carpenter tools my sons shall divide among themselves in equal shares. To my son Lewis I give fifty dollars more than the rest of my children, my daughter Sarah shall also have what the others received in case my daughter Sarah should get married to John Snyder then she shall receive the yearly interest of her share, her share shall remain upon the land the owner of my land shall pay the interests to her, if Snyder should die before her or she gets divorced from him then she is entitled to receive her hare, if she should die before him and have children then her children shall have her share when they arrive at the age of twenty one year. If they do not arrive at the age their shares shall fall back to my other children.
If my wife should marry again then she shall leave all in sixty days and take with her what she brought to me and it shall be done with my estate as before mentioned.
Lastly I appoint my sons Henry, Nicholas, Samuel, Francis and Lewis for my executors this has been done in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty eight the 13th day of August. So I declare this again as for my last Will and Testament and subscribed with my own hand by witnesses and seal.
Johannes Heckman |SEAL|
Signed Sealed and Witnessed
Benjamin Noll
William Heckman
{The preceding is a correct translation from the German Language in which Will was written.}
Berks County SS.
On the 6th day of May appeared Benjamin Noll and o the 10th day of May 1859 appeared William Heckman the subscribing witnesses to this will they being duly Sworn according to Law, did depose and say that they were present and did see and hear the testator John Heckman sign seal publish pronounce and declare the foregoing instrument of writing as for his Last Will and Testament and that at the time of the doing thereof he was if sound mind memory and understand to the best of their knowledge observation and belief.
Daniel Potteiger Dep. Regr.
Submitted by Michelle.
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