1821: Maxatawny Township, Berks Co., PA
In the name of God, Amen. I David Klein of Maxatawny Township in the County of Berks and State of Pennsylvania, Yeoman; being sick and weak in body, but of sound and perfect mind, memory and understanding, and taking into consideration the uncertainty of this Life, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following; that is to say:
First and principally, I commend my Soul into the hands of God my creator hoping through the merits of a blessed Redeemer to be made partaker of Life everlasting, and my body to the Earth to be interred in a decent and christianlike manner, at the discretion of my Executors, hereinafter named; And as to the worldly Estate with which it has pleased God to bless me in this Life, I dispose thereof as follows viz
Imprimis, I give and bequeath unto my wife Catharine the one half of the house in which I now reside for her sole use and occupancy during her life, also my best bed and bedstead with the furniture, Two chairs, one Table, one chest and such other Household and Kitchen Furniture as may be considered necessary for her use the necessary Firewood and the sum of Thirty six pounds Pennsylvania Currency per annum for her support and maintenance during her Natural life to be paid to her by my executors, regularly as the same shall become due.
Item It is will and desire that the remainder of my personal property shall be sold as soon as conveniently may be after my decease, and my Bonds, Notes and outstanding debts, collected, and the proceeds thereof appropriated to the payment of my just debts and Funeral Expences, and as I have reason to suppose that my Personal Estate will not be sufficient for that purpose, it is my will and I do hereby direct that my Real Estate be rented out to the best advantage for ten years after my decease saving only the right of my wife to the one half of the house as aforesaid and the proceeds thereof appropriated to the liquidation of the residue if any of my just debts, and if any overplus remain after the payment of my just debts as aforesaid, the same shall be placed out at Interest, until the expiration of the said Ten years.
Item I give and bequeath unto my Son Jonathan the following Tracts of Land with the appurtenances viz One tract of one hundred and fourteen acres, on which I reside, One tract of sixty six acres adjoining the last mentioned, One tract of Twenty eight acres and a half also adjoining the first mentioned tract, One third of a Tract of sixty acres of woodland also adjoining the aforementioned Tracts, and One Tract of nine acres adjoining Lands of Benjamin Klein, Jacob Scharadin and others, to have and to hold the said Tracts of Land aforementioned with the hereditaments and appurtenances, unto my said son Jonathan and to his heirs and assigns from and after the expiration of the Term of ten years as aforesaid, for ever, he paying thereout and therefrom yearly, from the time he shall obtain possession of the same, unto my other Children, the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds, until the same shall amount to Two thousand five hundred pounds, and no more.
Item It is my will and I do hereby direct that the remainder of my Real Estate be sold at the expiration of Ten years from the time of my decease as aforesaid and the proceeds thereof, as well as any overplus rent that may be remaining after the payment of my just debts as aforesaid, equally divided amongst my six remaining children viz Catharina, David, Christiana, Benjamin, Gideon and Leah and their Heirs ~~And I do hereby ordain, constitute and appoint Christian Lookenbill, Frederick Bobbmoyer and Jonathan Klein to be Executors of this my last will and Testament.
And lastly I do hereby revoke and annul all Wills by me heretofore made, allowing and confirming this and no other as my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this twelfth day of March Anno Domini One thousand eight hundred and twenty one.
David Klein
Signed Sealed and acknowledged as his Last Will and Testament in paerance of us Interlined before signing
Jacob Graeff
Reuben Kline
James Donagan
Submitted by: Barbara.
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