Last Will and Testament of Michael Rith

Bethel Township, Berks County
Written: November 22nd 1806
Recorded: November 16th 1810
Heirs: Rith, Michael, Emrich
Others: Klar, Christ

In the Name of God Amen, this Twenty Second day of November in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and Six. I Michael Rith of Bethel Township Berks County and State of Pennsylvania being at present Sick and Weak in body, Nevertheless of Sound and disposing mind, memory & understanding, thanks be unto God, Calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, Do make and Ordain this my Last Will and Testament. that is to say principally and first of all I recommend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God who gave it me and my body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in a Christian like and decent manner and as touching Such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this Life, I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.

Imprimis this is my will and I do hereby order in the first place that all my Just debts and funeral expences Should be paid off & Satisfied out of my Estate as soon as Conveniently may be after my decease.

Item this is my Will and I do hereby Order that all my Effects Shall be Sold at Public Sale by my hereafter Named Executor at any such convenient time as he shall think proper after my decease.

Item this is my Will and I do hereby give and bequeath unto my seven Grandchildren, to wit, Catherine now the wife of Christian Michael, John, William, Michael, Magdalena, Ludwick and Mary Rith, they being the Children of my Son Michael Rith deceased, the sum of Ten Pounds Lawful Money of Pennsylvania, equally to be divided to and among them, share and shares alike, the same to be in full for my said Seven Grandchildren for all their Share or Portion of into and out of my whole Estate and no more forever. And all the remainder & residue of my whole Estate I give and bequeath the same unto my hereafter Named three Children, to wit my sons Henry Rith and William Rith and my Daughter Catharine now the wife of John Emrich, equally to be divided to and among them or their respective Heirs or representatives, Share and Shares alike, without any deduction of their Shares for the Sundry Goods or Cattles which I have given to any or either of my said three Children in my Lifetime. And Lastly I do hereby Nominate Constitute and Appoint my trusty Son Henry Rith to be the Sole Executor of this my Last Will & Testament, hereby Revoking Disannulling and making Void all former and other Will and Wills and Executors by my heretofore made, Ratifying and Confirming this and no others to be my Last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I the said Michael Rith have hereunto Set my Hand and Seal the Day and Year first above written.

Signed Sealed Published pronounced & Declared by the above Named Michael Rith the Testator for his Last Will & Testament in the presence of us

Jacob Klar
Conrad Christ

Registers office Reading Berks County 16th, Nov'r AD 1810

Then appeared Jacob Klar and Conrad Christ, Witnessed to the afore written Will, who being duly sworn respectively, did Depose and say that they were present together and did see and hear Michael Rith the Testator sign (by making his mark) seal publish pronounce & declare the same writing, as and for his Last Will and Testament: And that at the time of the doing thereof, said Testator was of sound mind memory & understanding to the best of their knowledge and as they verily believe, And further that the names Jacob Klar & Conrad Christ are of said Deponants own proper handwriting respectively, thereto subscribed as Witnesses, in the presence of each other and in the presence and at the request of the Testator.

Coram Me

Chrisn Barranstine Regr

Submitted by: Mary Alice.