Union Twp., Berks Co, dated 6/2/1789
In the name of God Amen, I, John Sands, of Union Townshp, Berks County, State of Pennsylvania, yeoman, being very sick and weak in body, but of sound and perfect mind and memory, and calling to mind the mortality of my body, do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in manner following and First I recommend my soul into the Hands of the Almighty God that gave it, and my Body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the direction of my Executors, hoping and believing I shall receive it again at the General Resurrection by the mighty power of God.
And as touching such wordly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give and devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form:
IMPRIMIS, I give and bequeath to Hannah, my worldly and well beloved wife, all my household goods and all outstanding debts to me due on bonds or notes or otherwise, after discharging my contracts and funeral expense.
Likewise, it is my intent that my said wife shall have all the profits of my lands and use of the stock and all moveables untill my first born son James arrives at the age of 21 years (She continuing to be my widow) at which time I give and bequeath to my said son James, all my lands and tenements, whereon I now live containing one hundred acres and upwards, with all appurtenances thereunto belonging to him, his heirs, and assigns forever, on his complying punctually with the following conditions and restrictions (that is to say): My said son James shall find a convenient room in the house for his Mother, and furnish her with a sufficient quantity of bread and meat for her use. Likewise to pay unto her the full sum of 400 pounds lawful monies, and sow half an acre for her annually, and likewise shall supply her with the keeping of two cows, winter and summer, as he doth his own, during her widowhood, which shall be by her be excepted of in lieu of her Dower. Likewise, I will and bequeath unto my said son James out of my personal estate when arrived to age, two horses, ^ two cows, waggon ploughs, harrow gears and all utensils of husbandry, suitable for carrying on the farm, and further it is my will and intent that if my said son James should marry, and it should prove inconvenient for him and his Mother to live together, that he shall build or cause to be built, a comfortable house for her on part of the land near a spring, with one acre of land appropriated to her use for garden, etc.
I further order, will and bequeath to each of my three daughters, Susana, Sarah, and Hannah, one cow and a two year old heifer apiece, out of my stock and Likewise bed and bedding for each daughter out of my personal estate.....
and further I will and charge my son James aforsd., with the payment of the following legacies out of his part, that is the just and full sum of 10 pounds lawful money to my daughter Susana in two years after the land comes into his hands, and Likewise, the sum of 10 pounds to my daughter Sarah in three years after the land is in his posession, also the sum of 10 pounds as above to my daughter Hannah in four years after the plantation is in his custody, and said James is to keep the cow and heifer for each of his sisters till they respectively call for them, reserving to him and the use of them for his trouble, and likewise it is my will and ordination that my said son James shall pay or casue to be, out of his part, the just and full sum of 50 pounds money as aforesaid unto my youngest son Michael, in five equal payments as follows, 10 pounds, part thereof in six years after the land is in his possession and ten pounds yearly after, until the aforesaid sum of 50 pounds is paid.
AND it is my will and order that my Executors hereafter named shall bind my said son Michael, apprentice to any trade that he shall choose with this mother's consent at the age of seventeen years...and if he chooses the house carpenter and joiners trade, then it is my will and order that he shall have all my tools for said business, and if any other trade should be his choice, then my tools shall be equally as may be equally divided between my two sons James and Michael....
And lastly, I do hereby constitute, appoint and ordain my beloved wife Hannah Sands afforsaid and James Sands, my son,. to be my sole executrix and executor of this my last will and testament hereby utterly disallowing and revoking all former testaments, wills and legacies ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament.
IN WITNESS, thereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, the second day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.....1789.
Signature...John Sands.........(Seal)
Signed, sealed published pronounced and declared by the said John Sands as his last Will and Testament in our presence who in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names:
Matthias Kaler
William Richards
David Roberts
In the Registers Office at Reading in Berks County 7/25/1789 appeared Mathias Kaler and David Roberts, two of the subscribing witnesses to the above written will and the said Mathias Kaler, upon his Oath, and the David Roberts, on his affirmation, did severally declare and say that they were present together with William Richards the other subscribing witness and saw and heard John Sands, the testator, therein named sign, seal, pronounce, publish and declare the above writing to be his last will and testatment and that at the time of the doing thereof, he was of sound mind, memory, and understanding as they verily believe, and that they did see William Richards subscribe his name thereto as a witness and that the names of said deponent by affirmant subscribed thereto as witnesses in each his own proper handwriting done in the presents of each other at the request and in the presence of the said testator
coram me Henry Christ, Register
the words 'two cows' interlined before the sealing thereof.
Notes:
The inventory (performed by Mathias KALER and Casper (X his mark) WOLF on 7/25/1789) consisted of 2 1/2 pages and listed these animals:
9 cows, 2 bulls, 4 heifers, 3 spring calves, 1 horse, 6 swine
rye, wheat, hay in the barn, wagon, plow, hoe, garden tools, 1 5-plate and 2 6-plate stoves, bed and bedding, furniture, plates, etc....
Also a chest of carpenter tools, farm tools, etc....
Appraised value totaled 17217s4p
Affirmed by Henry Christ, Register.
(No names, debts, or IOUs from anyone are shown in the inventory....)
Submitted by Diana.
Last Modified