Tulpehocken Twp 1775
In the name of God Amen, I Peter Heckman of Tulpehocken Township the County of Berks in the Province of Pennsylvania, yeomen being at present sick and weak of body, but of perfect and disposing mind memory and understanding thanks be to God, therefore calling in 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 just of all I recommend my soul in the lands of God who gave it humbing(?) through the merits of our Savior Jesus Christ to, have (????) of all my sins and an happy (????) into the (????) of Bliss and Immortality and as to my Body I recommend the same to the Earth to be buried in a Christian like and decent manner, and as to (???) such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life. I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form. Imprimis it is my Will and I order in the first place that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid off and satisfied as soon as conveniently may be after my decease. Item my further will and I do hereby order that my beloved wife Eliza Margaretha shall with such of my children as now live with work my plantation and land keeping my estate together, until two years after my decease and the profits arising thereof shall be equally divided to and among my children.
Item I give and devise all that my plantation and lands situate in Tulpehocken Township in the County of Berks, bounded or adjoining the lands of David Brown, Baltzer Noll, Christian Newcommer and Casper Shaever containing about two hundred and twenty four acres and allowance unto my son Peter Heckman, his heirs and assigns to hold to him the said Peter Heckman his heirs and assigns forever the paying for the same unto the other children hereinafter named the sum of nine hundred pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania in yearly payments of fifty pounds. The first payment to be made in four years after my decease unto Anna Mary wife of John Fite. The second payment unto Eliza Margareth, the third payment unto Rebecca the fourth payment unto Hannah, the fifth payment unto John the sixth payment unto Salome and the seventh payment unto Joseph and the eighth payment unto Anna Mary and so on as they succeed each other in names above mentioned So that each of my children above named shall first have one hundred pounds to make them nearly equal with my three sons John Jacob, Frederich and Andrew, they and each of them having already received upwards of one hundred pounds. And as to the remaining two hundred pounds which my son Peter has to pay upon the lands, the same shall be equally divide to and among ten of my children (Peter having no part therein), and I do further give unto my son Peter the apple mill (????) with the appurtenances, my best and newest wagon and two horsey creatures allowing him his choice, which he is to have with my plantation without paying anything further for the same. And I do hereby order that my said son Peter shall to be possession of my aforesaid lands in two years after my decease. And I do hereby give unto my beloved wife Eliza Margareth the spring house on my plantation for her to live in during the time and as long as she shall remain my widow. And I do hereby order my said son Peter to fence three quarters of an acre of ground for a garden near her said house and to build her a stable near said house if she requires it, my said shall have the use of the meadow which be up in the field, and my son Peter shall haul the hay and second crop home for my said wife after he has made and dried the same. And that he my said son Peter shall give unto my said wife ten bushels of good wheat, ten bushels of rye, one hundred and fifty pounds of hog meat, sixty pounds of beef, ten pounds of hatchheld(?) flax or hemp. Ten pounds of (???), four barrels of good cider which he the said Peter is to give unto my said wife yearly and every year as long as she remains my widow and to provide her with as much firewood to the doar(?) cut small as she shall have and of, and to pasture two cows for her and to give her as much straw as she shall from time to time have need of, and the liberty for my said wife to take and use as many apples as she shall want without hindrance and my said wife shall have the liberty of cutting grass for her cows, in the fence corners and grass spots on my premises without hinderence, with all thr above bequeathment and what I have heretofore ordered to be given unto my said wife I charge my plantation therewith that the possessor thereof shall honestly and faithfully perform the same.
Item I do further give unto my wife two cows allowing her to choose, my bed, bedstead, chest of clothes, spinning wheel and such kitchen furniture as she shall have need of together with a bond for one hundred pounds which I have of my son Frederich in full for her thirds and dowry of and in my personal estate. But nevertheless my will so that if my said wife should marry again that then she shall immediately leave my plantation and have no further subsistence therefrom, taking with her one cow, bed & beadstead, chest of clothes, spinning wheel, kitchen furniture and ten pounds of the money, the remaining ninety pounds and cow to be divided equally among my children. But if she my said wife should happin to survive such other husband and no provisions being made for her livelihood for her that then my will is that she my said wife shall again live on my lands in the house aforesaid and enjoy the livelihood above mentioned as if she was yet my widow anything herein before contained to the contrary thereof in any wise not withstanding.
Item I do give and bequeath into my eldest son John Jacob the sum of ten pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania and no more, for his first (???? ??) to be paid to him out of my personnel estate.
Item as to my personnel estate it is my will that in two years after my decease my children amongst themselves shall divide the same and not making vendue thereof so that all my children eleven in number shall be made equal in the personal estate, and what my sons Jacob, Andrew and Frederick and each of them have got from me over and above one hundred pounds they shall (???) for the same dividing of my personnel estate, and what my daughter Anna Mary has got she shall also (????) for the same.
And lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint my beloved sons John Jacob and Frederich, to be the Executors of this my last will and testament hereby empowering and ordering them my said executors to execute a deed for my plantation unto my said son Peter so as to (V??) in fee simple estate in him the said Peter. And I do hereby make void all former and other wills and Executors by me heretofore made Ratifying and comprising this and no other to be my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I the said Peter Heckman have hereto set my hand & seal this twenty seventh day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy four.
Peter Heckman |SEAL|
Signed Sealed Published Pronounced and Declared by the said testator as his last will and testament in the presence of us.
Wendel Siebert
Christian X (her mark) Newcommer
Register Generals Office, Reading Berks County, February 10th 1775 There personally appeared Wendel Seibert and Christian Newcommer the witnesses to the afore written Will and Testament (being German Protestants who declare themselves conscientious (????) of taking an Oath) upon their solemn Affirmation according to Law did respectively declare and say that they were present together and saw and heard Peter Heckman the testator herein named sign, seal, publish pronounce and declare the same as and for his Last Will and Testament and that at the time of the doing thereof 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 name of Wendel Seibert and mark of the said Christian Newcommer are of the affemark(?) propert(???) a respectfully by them set as witnesses be in the presence pf each other and the presence and at the request of the said testator.
Coram me Minnon Read Dep. Reg.
Submitted by Michelle.
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