1835: Pike Township, Berks County, PA
Probate Records, Volume 10, page 535
In the name of God Amen. I Daniel DRUMHELLER of Pike Township in the County of Berks and State of Pennsylvania do make this my last Will and Testament to wit:
1st I commit my Soul into the hands of God who gave it.
2nd I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Elizabeth the use and occupation of the dwelling house built over a spring, back of my dwelling house (the privilege of the occupier of my Plantation to put his milk butter in the spring house under it during the summer season only excepted), also one cow of my stock, her choice, 2 stoves with the pipes belonging thereto, one bed and bedding, one secretary, one cloth press(?), one chest, one clock and case, one table, one dough trough, six chairs, one kitchen dresser(?) with all its contents, three brass ladles, one copper tea kettle, one copper kettle, one iron pot, one frying pan, bake plate, churn, small wash tub and bucking tub, fire tong and shovel, 2 buckets and pot hooks and other kitchen utensils which she may want for her use. Also all the unmade up linen. During her widowhood also the privilege of the water and bake oven (the bake oven is to be built for the use of my said wife by my son).
3rd I give and bequeath unto my said wife Elizabeth during her widowhood annually in due season and in good order sufficient firewood cut small and hauled to her door, fifteen bushels of rye, six bushels of wheat, four bushels of buckwheat to be taken to mill and returned when ground, one fat hog weighing at least two hundred pounds dressed, brought unto her house and prepared and pickled and sausages made in such way as she may direct, and also fifty pounds of good fat beef, five bushels of potatoes, five pounds of wool, ten pounds of flax and five pounds of *?*, three gallons of good apple butter and apples sufficient for her use dry and green (if there be as many on the place), also six fat chickens for her to eat. All to be delivered unto my said wife annually during her widowhood as aforesaid. Also one cow pastured and fed as good as those of the owner of my Plantation and be put in and out, stable and field, and stable cleaned in due times. also annually ten dollars in cash and 3 eggs every week and the necessary privileges to put her apples and potatoes in the cellar under the house wherein we now live also during her widowhood.
4th I give and bequeath unto my said wife Elizabeth the sum of one hundred dollars out of the first monies which may come into the hands of my Executors, for her use.
5th It is my will that in case my said wife shall become unable to do her work that the owner of my Plantation shall at his own expense nurse my said wife and give her such attendance as her circumstances and convenience shall require.
6th I give and devise unto my son Reuben DRUMHELLER and to his Heirs and Assigns forever the Plantation whereon I now reside situate in Pike Township aforesaid, and also all my other Real Estate containing together seventy two acres more or less, with all and singular appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining Subject [to] the Rights, Liberties, and Privileges herein given to my wife on my said Plantation and to build a bake oven for her use, also Subject to give and perform unto my said wife annually as mentioned in the third and fifth clause of this my will, and to pay the ten dollars unto her annually as mentioned in the third clause. And also Subject to the payment of twelve hundred dollars in the following manner to wit: two hundred dollars thereof immediately after the decease of my said wife unto my daughter Elizabeth, two hundred dollars more thereof one year thereafter unto my daughter Hannah, two hundred dollars more thereof two years thereafter unto my son Daniel, two hundred dollars more thereof three years thereafter unto my son John, two hundred dollars more thereof four years thereafter unto my daughter Lydia, and two hundred the remainder thereof unto my son Jacob five years thereafter. To hold the same to my said son Reuben his Heirs and Assigns forever.
7th I give and bequeath unto my said son Reuben my large road wagon and body, my grey horse and gear, all the grain in the ground, in the barn and in the granaries, also the hay and straw.
8th I give and bequeath unto my daughter Lydia one cow of my stock and twenty two dollars in cash to make her equal with my other daughters. I also give unto my said daughter Lydia the Right, Liberty, and Privilege to put her goods and live in the house with said wife so long as she (my said daughter) remains single and unmarried and no longer. And my said Plantation shall also be subject to the Privileges hereby given to my said daughter.
9th I give and bequeath the Remainder of my Estate unto my seven children to wit: Elizabeth, Hannah, Daniel, John, Lydia, Jacob, and Reuben in equal shares.
10th It is my will that the share hereby given to my daughter Elizabeth out of my Real and Personal Estate shall be paid unto her for her sole and separate use and benefit exclusive of her husband and that her receipt or Release alone shall be a sufficient discharge or else my Executors shall at the request of my said daughter purchase a lot of land for her use; or put the money out at *?* on Land as security and pay the interest unto her annually for her sole and separate [use] and benefit at the discretion of my said daughter.
11th It is my will that my Executors shall at the expense of my Estate procure and put up for me a suitable pair of tombstones, and also for my said wife.
And Lastly, I nominate, constitute and appoint my son Jacob DRUMHELLER and Reuben DRUMHELLER to be the Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and annulling all former wills and declaring this and no other to be my last Will and Testament.
In Witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal the sixth day of February A.D. 1835.
{Signature}
Daniel DRUMHELLER {Hand drawn Seal}
Signed, Sealed, Pronounced and Declared by the Testator as his last Will and Testament in presence of
{Signature}
John STAUFFER
I Daniel DRUMHELLER the above named testator, do hereby make this codicil in the manner following to wit: I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife in addition to what I have given her by said will during the terms within mentioned One of the gardens on my said Plantation with dung hauled in it sufficient to manure it, to be performed by the occupier of my Plantation. And I further give unto my said wife one spinning wheel and rod (?), also as many of my bibles and books as she may choose to keep. Lastly it is my will that this codicil be annexed to and made a part of my said will. Witness my hand and Seal the 17th day of April 1835.
{Signature}
Daniel DRUMHELLER {Hand Drawn Seal}
Witness present at signing
{Signature}
John STAUFFER
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