1859, Douglass Township, Berks County, PA
Received in Volume 10, page 597;
Proved Oct. 20, 1859
Letters of testamentary granted to: Mary Hatfield, widow, Samuel G. Hatfield, son, Executors in the will named.
Official Seal of: Daniel Pottieger, Dept. Register
In the name of God Amen, I George Hatfield of the Township of Douglass in the County of Berks and State of Pennsylvania being weak of body, but of sound mind memory and understanding, Considering the uncertainty of this transitory life, do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form as follows
1st I do order and direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid and satisfied, as soon after my deceased by my hereinafter named executors as soon as conveniently can be done.
2nd I do order and direct my hereinafter named executors to sell to the highest and best bidder that certain or part of my real estate bounded and limited as follows:
Beginning at a stone corner in the line of David and Samuel Reinerts land thence by the same, thence by my other land South forty one and a half degrees, West forty nine perches to a stone, thence by the same by land of John W. Levengood South seventy one and three quarters degrees East seventeen perches and three tenths to a stone thence by land of Henry Baker, North forty four degrees East forty three perches and six tenth to a stone thence by land of the said David and Samuel Reinerts North fifty four and a quarter degrees West eighteen perches to the place of Beginning.
Containing four acres and one hundred and thirty five perches, and apply the proceeds whereof to the payments of my funeral expenses and other first debts as aforesaid; And to effect this my will I do hereby vest in my executor full power and authority to dispose of the said above described real estate in fee simple in as full and large a manner in every respect as I could do if living and to sign seal execute acknowledge and deliver all such deed or deeds of conveyance as may be requisite and necessary for the granting and assuring the same to the purchaser or purchasers thereof.
Item: I give and bequeath unto Rachel Miles one of my grandchildren the sum of twenty dollars which shall be deducted out of the share of my daughter Sarah intermarried with John Albright one year after the death of my wife Mary and my brother Mathias Hatfield.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my son Samuel G. Hatfield the remainder of my real estate laying and being situated in said Douglass Township, Berks County for which he is to pay Eighteen hundred dollars. The whole amount is to remain in my real estate, two per cent interest of which is to be paid to my dear wife Mary annually for and during her natural life and one year after her deceased the principal to be equally divided between all my children share and share alike and the balance of the purchase money together with all my bonds notes book accounts ready money and the proceeds of the sale of my personal property (First giving to my dear wife Mary such and so much of my household furniture as she desires to take for her own use during her natural life then after her decease to go to all my children share and share alike)
And my Will is that my son Samuel G. Hatfield in addition to the amount which he is to pay for my real estate to furnish my dear wife Mary annually during the life of my brother Mathias Hatfield; via 18 bushels of rye, 9 bushels of wheat, 8 bushels of potatoes, 5 bushels of corn, 400 pounds of pork, 10 pounds of tallow, and fifty pounds of beef, wood or coal sufficient for summer and winter delivered to the door, and always the freshest cow on the premises, half a dozen eggs per week, one fourth of the garden and she is to have privilege in the kitchen and other house rooms wherever she wishes to take and to be satisfied, Also at the bake oven and cellar to _____ and ____,
And after the death of my brother Mathias Hatfield, my dear wife is only to have nine bushels of rye and the flour from six bushels of wheat, four bushels of potatoes, three bushels of corn, 200 pounds of pork, 10 pounds of tallow, 25 pounds of beef, wood or coal sufficient as before mentioned.
And if anything is left after my just debtors are paid it shall put on interest and my wife Mary is to draw the interest during her life, in case my wife should marry again, she is only to have her household furniture. In case my wife should die before my brother Mathias Hatfield, then my son Samuel G. Hatfield is to support and maintain my brother Mathias Hatfield during his life time and in case my wife should die before my brother Mathias Hatfield, my son Samuel G. Hatfield is to pay no interest and no yearly dower and no money can be shared amongst my children not till one year after the death of my brother Mathias Hatfield.
If it should happen that my wife should get sick all expenses shall be charged to my estate. Incase my son Samuel G. Hatfield should refuse to take the said property at my appraisement and then in rotation and age according to _____. And in case neither of my children their heirs and legal representatives should accept of the said real estate as valued and appraised then the same is to be sold by my executors for its reasonable value or to the highest bidder and to effect this my intention
I do again vest in my executors full power and authority to dispose of the same in fee simple in as full and large a manner in every respect as I could do if living and to sign seal execute acknowledge and deliver all such deed or deeds of conveyance as may be required and necessary for the granting and assuring the same to the purchaser or purchasers thereof.
And if my hereafter mentioned executors cannot sell the foregoing mentioned tract of land containing four acres and one hundred and thirty five perches for one Hundred and twenty five dollars then the same shall fall back to my son Samuel G. Hatfield at the same valuation as the other is valued per acre which must be paid in addition to the $1,800.00 but no money can be shared amongst my children as long as my wife is living and my brother Mathias Hatfield without interest
And lastly I nominate constitute and appoint my wife Mary and my son Samuel G. Hatfield to be the executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all other wills legacies and bequests by me heretofore made and declaring this and not other to be my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this third day of December one thousand eight hundred and fifty eight.
Signed Sealed and by the said testator as his last will and testamentary in the presence of us. Ephraim Fritz, Mathias Livingood, Daniel B. Levengood.
| George (X) Hatfield (his mark) |
NOTE: Terms were accepted by son Samuel G. Hatfield by his sworn statement.
Copyright © 1998 by: Betty Burdan. This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives.
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