Bern Township, Berks County PA
Written March 20, 1780; Recorded June 7, 1780
Heirs: Heister
Others: Zumbroh, (adjacent land owner), Lupp and Hiester (witnesses)
In the name of the Holy Trinity Amen.
Because I Yost Hiester in Bern Township, Berks county, am old and weak, but thanks be to God, yet of good understanding but considering my mortality, therefore I, this 20th March in the year of our Lord 1780, will make an ordination in my Family how it shall be managed with my worldly effects after my decease agreeable to my will.
Firstly I bequeath by body to the earth, my soul, God through his mercy will take to him. Further my will is that all my just debts shall be paid out of my estate. Further I give to my son John my dwelling place in which I now live, together with the half of the land, more or less, because it is not yet divided to him & his heirs for ever. My son Joh Christ. Shall have the other half of the land, more or less, to him & his heirs forever, and the lower race shall be the line, but yet not quite to the upper end, and the one shall give the other a right to the water and room for a road.
Further I give to my son Daniel the land in Tulpehoccon Township , to him & his heirs forever. To my son Yost I give the land in Bern, by Joseph Zumbroh, to him & his heirs forever. My son John shall pay to his brothers or sisters 750 pounds that have received no land, the sum of fifty pounds every year, and I bequeath to him the best horse and my large Bible, for the time that he stayed above his age with me and behaved well. Further my son John Christ shall pay to his brothers or sisters the sum of two hundred pounds to them that received no land and shall have time eight years from this date until he pays the first payment every year, fifty pounds. And my son Daniel shall pay to his brothers or sisters that have received no land the sum of three hundred pounds and shall make the beginning in four years from this date, and pay the same in eight payments, every year one payment. Further my son Jost shall pay his brothers & sisters which have received no land the sum of one hundred pounds, the first payment of fifty pounds to be in fifteen years from this date. And if one of my children shall die without issue then those remaining in life shall be heirs, the one as the other. But if one of my sons that have land should die without issue, then my son William shall have the same land. Because my son Wm. has no land, therefore he shall have twelve hundred pounds lawful money of Penna. My daughter Catharine shall have six hundred pounds, and my daughter Annalissa shall have six hundred pounds lawful money of Penna. And each of my daughters shall have a good cow and a bed and all belonging thereto, but in case the money at such time should be too scarce, as we aforehand do not know, that such money could not be made up, then each ones farm shall be made something lower, but if it is as at this present time then they shall have more. And my family business shall be continued by the mother as yet four years from this date and during the same time my son John shall pay nothing.
My books shall not be sold but divided among them equally. My personal estate which will be sold and the cash, when all this is done, & those that are to receive money have their share that they ought to have and there be some remaining then it shall be divided among them all in equal shares. Except my son Willm shall have two shares therefrom. Further I bequeath my wife Annalisa two hundred fifty pounds lawful money of Penna and one cow which shall be fed well on the place and to go in the summertime in the field with the other milk cows where they feed and shall have the choice in the stable yearly if she is not well or if the cow should be unhealthy then they shall give her another one in the state of health and shall give her yearly 12 bushels of wheat or rye which she will have and six bushels of buck wheat and one pair of shoes and get them soled and patched as much as they want, and 12 W. of flax and 12 W. of good tod each cleaned well and every year three or four pounds of wool for linens and stockings. And my son Daniel shall weave it for her for nothing, and every year one hundred and twenty five pounds of meat half beef & half pork, salt & _ and household goods they shall give to her as much as she wants and if she cannot do her business anymore in spinning then each of my children shall spin her share, and if she cannot live with my son John in the house, then he shall build her a good dwelling house on his land, at his cost well finished and to have the firewood before the door, cut the same small & carry it into the house and if she gets old & sick, then he shall hire a person to wait upon her, if she has occasion for it and shall pay the same. And my wife shall have the liberty if there is any apples to take as many as she wants. And my son John shall give her two barrels of cider yearly, if there is fruit. Those that have received land shall give their share towards the flax, tod and grain as soon as they plant the same on their land. My son John shall get the grain ground & bring her the meal in the house and give her a good horse to ride with saddle & bridle when she has occasion therefor and when it is at the time that those who received land shall pay their payments, then my daughter Catharine shall have the first payment, Annalissa the second. Wm my son the third and then Catharine again the fourth & so in the turns along. And my son John & my son Daniel shall help my son John Christ to clear 20 acres of land & to build a house and barn all that they can help him with their hands and help him to make a road that he can easy haul from the meadow to his dwelling place. In order that all this as my last will shall be & managed, I appoint as executors my wife Annalissa & my son John this as a testament fully to fulfill. Witness my hand by witnesses & seal.
Yost Hiester (seal)
Ludwig Lupp
Gabriel Hiester
Contributed by: Kathy & Mary Alice.
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