(transcribed as written)
Will dated 6/12/1810, probated 8/14/1810
In the name of God amen, I Valentine Witman, of the township of Robeson, in the county of Berks and State of Pennsylvania, yeoman, tho reduced to a low state of bodily strength, yet being of sound mind memory and understanding, and considering the immortality of this transitory life, have thought fit to make this my last will and testament in the manner following--that is to say firstly, it is my will and I order that all my funeral expenses and just debts be paid by my Executors herein after named, as soon after my decease as is conveniently may be and that as soon as possible a true inventory and appraisement may be taken of all my moveables effects and outstanding debits and further personal property which part of said effects and property are to be left in the hands of my beloved wife Barbara as having hereafter mentioned as follows: It is my will and I order that my wife Barbara shall have her bed and bedstead, two cows, four sheep, all well kept --- and ---, as her own, the house clock, one case of drawers, one table, one brace kittle, as much of the kitchen furniture as she thinks proper to take, one ten plate stove with pipe and fire wood ....fit for youse, and apples for her own youse and one barrel of cyder if apples hit, and five bushels of wheat, five bushels of rye, five bushels of buck wheat, and one hundred ... of meat - this all to be given by my sons hereinafter named annually during her natural life for a long as she remains my widow or bairs my name, and if she should marry again, then she shall have the thirds of moveables let property and no more, further is my will and I order that my beloved wife shall have all the stone and of the hous and property in the spring hours for putting in her milk and butter and such like during her life or tel she marys again and no longer, and concerning my plantation or real estate, it is my will and I order that my three suns John, Jacob and Michael shall have said plantation for the consideration sum of sixteen hundred pounds lawful money of the United States including their shears which the said three sons John, Jacob, and Michael run in equal shears in the hole of my estate real and personal and the said money araising out of my real estate shall be paid in the following manner to wit: one hundred pounds in four years after my decease shall be paid to my son Adam and one hundred pounds in five years of my decease to my daughter Mary, and one hundred pounds in six years after my decease to my daughter Elizabeth, and in seven years after my decease one hundred pounds to my youngest son Samuel, and then in expiration of one year one hundred pounds to my eldest son Adam and so annually according to the ages as above mentioned until each has received two hundred pounds, and then the residue of their shares annually til the hole be paid of my real estate and further it is my will and I order that my three sons John Jacob and Michael shall give unto my said youngest son Samuel me dring and wearing apparel lodging until he comes of age 16 and likewise give him schooling then he is to be bound to a tread such he chooses and it is my will and I order that my 5 sons shall have my wearing apparel and all my Divine books they shall take at the appraisement and not suffer them to sold at public sale, and further it is my will and I order that my son John shall have the iron gray mare sadle and bridle out and a fore hand further it is my will and I order that all my moveable effects or personal estate shall be to public sale by my executors as soon after my decease as conveniently me be excepting such articles as herein excepted of my widow and all the moneys arising out of my personal estate shall be equally divided between my seven children as before mentioned. I do here by nominate my son John and my friend Christian Treat executors and give them full power to be unto this my last will and testament and acknowledging and declaring this present writing to be my last will and testament and have signed and sealed the same with my own hand and seal this day the twelfth day of June anno domino one thousand eight hundred and ten.
signed Valentine Witman (Seal)
Signed sealed and published and declared by the said Valentine WITMAN, as and for his last will and testament, in the presence of us who at his request have subscribed their names thereto as witnesses in the presence of each other:
George Frey
Christian Treat
No#: I hereby fully impower my afore mentioned Executors, John Witman and Christian Treat, to make good conveyance to my sons.
No#: I have willed my plantation to give them a free total of all incumbrances.
signed Valentine WITMAN (seal)
In witness my hand and seal the day and date first above written in the presence of
George Frey and Christian Treat
In the Registers Office at Reading, Berks County August 14, 1810 then appeared George Frey and Christian Treat witnesses to the above written will, who were duly sworn according to law, did declare and say: That they were present and did hear and see Valentin Witman, the testator, sign, publish, pronounce and declare the same writing as and for his last will and testament, and at the time of doing, he, the said testator, was of sound mind memory and understanding, to the best of their knowledge, and as they verily believe, and further, that the names George Frey and Christian Treat are of the deponents' own handwriting thereto subscribed as witness in the presence of each other, and in the presence of and at the request of the testator.
?? Schneider, Reg'r.
filed 1813
To the Honorable Robert Porter, Esq. President and his Associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Berks County now comprising an Orphan's Court in and for the County of Berks:
The petition of Christian Treat, executor for the last will and testament of Valentine Witman, decd:
That the said Valentine Witman lately died intestate leaving a widow and seven children, one one whom to wit Samuel is a minor under the age of 14 years and hath no guardian appointed to take care of his person, therefore your petitioner prays that your honours to appoint some proper person as guardian for said minor child, and he will pray, etc:
Christian Treat
August 6 1813 order by Robert Porter and James Deimer - re petition for guardian of Samuel Witman - read, and John BOHM appointed.
filed 1813
To the Honorable Robert Porter, Esq. President and his Associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Berks County now comprising an Orphan's Court in and for the County of Berks:
That your petitioner is a minor children above the age of 14 and hath no guardian appointed to take care of her person and estate... your petitioner therefore honors him to make choice of guardian for the purposes aforesaid..And she will pray
signed Elizabeth( X her mark) WITMAN.
August 6 1813 order by Robert Porter, Esq., and James Diemer, re petition for guardian of Elizabeth WITMAN read, and John BOEHM appointed.
filed 1813
To the Honorable Robert Porter, Esq. President and his Associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Berks County now comprising an Orphan's Court in and for the County of Berks:
That your petitioner is a minor children above the age of 14 and hath no guardian appointed to take care of her person and estate... your petitioner therefore honors him to make choice of guardian for the purposes aforesaid..And he will pray.
signed Michael WITTMAN.
August 6 1813 order by Robert Porter, Esq., and James Diemer, re petition for guardian of Michael WITMAN read, and Samuel BOEHM appointed.
NOTE: Valentine WITMAN had 7 children, three of whom were minors. Besides minors Michael, Elizabeth and Samuel, there were Adam m Catharine BROWN; Jacob who died single in c8/1813 ; John, and Mary WITMAN m to John BEHM/BOEHM.
Submitted by Diana.
Last Modified