Windsor Township, Berks County
Written May 23, 1842; Recorded January 14, 1850
Heirs: Miller, Potteiger, Weidman
Others: Stitzel, Hatzfield, Roof, Ely, Shomo, Derr
In the name of God amen
I Henry Keller of Windsor township Berks County yeoman am advanced in years and sickly, but of sound & disposing mind memory and understanding, thanks be to my God for it, and considering the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death, do herby make, publish and declare, this to be my last will and testament and as such to be regarded, I revoke all wills heretofore made. and commend my soul to God through the merits of my Saviour, and my body to the earth. I dispose of my worldly estate as follows. I device and do bequeath all my real estate of which at my demise I shall be seized and possess in fee simple situate in Windsor aforesaid unto my son in law William Miller and to his heirs and assigns in fee under the following terms and conditions to wit, He my said son in law shall pay for the same one thousand and six hundred dollars in the following manner, one year after my decease he shall pay unto my son in law Daniel Potteiger, who is intermarried with my daughter Salome two hundred dollars and the interest of one hundred and fifty to my daughter Lydia the wife of Joseph Weidman, then my three children are all equalized in the advancement made to each of six hundred dollars. one thousand dollars shall remain unpaid during the lifetime of my widow of which she shall receive the interest semi annually and the remaining two hundred and fifty dollars shall be considered a part of my personal estate hereinafter to be by me disposed upon.
My real estate purchase of Henry Roof in Greenwich Township I devise give and bequeath unto my wife's sister Molly for and during her natural life, and after her decease to her now living two children, but if the said two children should die in their minority without issue, the same shall revert to my issue and their heirs and assigns as my other personal estate is divided to come,
After my decease my widow may select from my household and kitchen furniture all what she may think proper for her use during her widowhood, the rest my hereafter named executors or the survivor of them shall sell by public or private sale, and whatever shall then be the balance in their hand, after paying all due expenses and debts whatsoever out of all my personal estate including the afore mentioned two hundred and fifty dollars, shall be put by my Executors upon interest in a safe manner, and the interest thereof also paid to my said widow during her natural life.
After the decease of my said widow all what she leaves shall come to our children share and share alike, and the principal of which she drew the interest shall be divided one year after her decease as follows, of the aforementioned one thousand dollars William Miller retains as his share one third part, pays one third part in three equal annual payments with interest unto my son-in-law Daniel Potteiger and the interest of the last third part unto my daughter Lydia the wife of Joseph Weidman, but in case my said son in law Joseph should reform, become temperate and a good thrifty and industrious husband or in case my daughter Lydia becomes a widow, then the principal shall be paid over to him on proof of such reformation and consent of his said wife, or to her in case of her widowhood or to her children in case of her demise in the same order and proportions as Daniel Potteiger receives his share. The rest of my estate in the hand of my said executors shall one year after the decease of my said widow be divided share and share alike, nevertheless the share of my daughter Lydia shall be subject to the same order and regulation as above.
Lastly I nominate and appoint my two sons in law Daniel Potteiger and Wm Miller as Executors of this my will and testament the 23 day of May 1842 and set herto my hand in presence of the subscribing witnesses.
Henrich Keller
Signed, and sealed, published and declared to be the last will and testament of Henry Keller as written on the first two pages of this sheet of paper, and at the request of the said testator and in his presence, and in the presence of each other on the day and date thereof we have set our hands as witnesses thereof.
David Stitzel
Adolph Hatsfield
Berks County ss. On the 14th day of January AD 1850 appeared Daniel Stitzel and Adolph Hatzfield the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing will who being duly sworn according to law did depose and say that they were present and saw and heard Henry Keller sign, seal, publish and declare the foregoing instrument of writing as and for his last will and testament and that at the time of so doing he was of sound mind, memory and understanding to the best of their knowledge and belief.
Isaac Ely
Depty Reg.
Know all men by these presents that we William Shomo and Joseph Shomo of the Borough of Hamburg, Berks County and State of Pennsylvania are held and firmly bound unto the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the sum of one thousand dollars lawful money of the United States to be paid to the said Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (for use) to which payment will and truly to be made and done we bind ourselves jointly and severally our heirs executors and administrators and every of them firmly by these presents sealed with our seals dated the twenty first day of January AD one thousand eight hundred and fifty.
The condition of this obligation is such that [line of illegible text] William Shomo guardian of Lidia Derr and Daniel Derr minor children of Magdalena Derr deceased shall faithfully approximate the proceeds arising out of the sale of two tracts of land, (containing in the whole six acres and seventy six parches more or less the property of the said minors to be sold under proceeding in the Orphans Court by the said William Shomo for the maintenance and education of said minors) according to law then this obligation to be paid otherwise to be and remain in full force and virtue.
William Shomo
Joseph Shomo
Sealed and delivered in presence of
Israel Derr
Submitted by: Mary Alice.
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