Frantz Witamyer owned considerable land in South Annville Township, and sons Cyrus and Adam lived on various parts of this land. Eight-one acres of land were given to each son, Cyrus and Adam, for the price of eighty dollars per acre, to be paid over several years. It would appear that Frantz had only three children. His wife is not mentioned in the will.
I Frantz Witamyer of South Annville Township, Lebanon County and State of Pennsylvania being of Sound mind memory and understanding do make and publish this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making void all former will by me at any time heretofore made. As to such estate as it hath pleased God to intrust me with, I I dispose of the same as follows to wit.
Item. I order and direct that all my personal property shall be sold by my herin named executors and the proceeds of such sale or sales shall be applied to the payment of my funeral expences, and if any balance remain to the payment of my debts.
Item. I give devise and bequeath unto my son Cyrus Witamyer his heirs and assigns all that plantation and Tract of land on which he now resides situate in South Annville Township Lebanon County adjoining lands of David Westenberger, Henry Hostetter, Samuel Kittering and others and containing eighty one acres more or less.
Item. I give devise and bequeath unto my son Adam Witamyer his heirs and assigns the plantation and tract of land also situate in South Annville Township aforesaid adjoining lands of John Ensminger, Peter Gingrich, Jacob Sing, and others and containing eighty one acres more or less on which he now resides his heirs and assigns.
Item. I do hereby order and direct that each of my two sons Cyrus and Adam Witamyer shall pay the sum of eighty dollars for each and every acre of said land bequeathed to them respectively to be paid by them as follows, to wit. That each of my said sons Cyrus and Adam Witamyer to pay each yearly the sum of five hundred dollars on the first day of April of each year. Said yearly payments amounting to one thousand dollars yearly shall be applied to the payments of any debts until the whole amount of my debts shall be paid and satisfied. And I do hereby further order and direct that after my debts are paid and satisfied as aforesaid that each of my two sons Cyrus and Adam Witamyer shall pay yearly the sum of six hundred dollars until the whole of said purcheise money of eighty dollars per acre shall be paid and discharged.
Item. I do hereby further order and direct that the said yearly payments to be made by my two sons Cyrus and Adam Witamyer after payment of my debts amountng yearly to the sum of twelve hundred dollars shall be yearly divided between my three children Cyrus Witamyer, Adam Witamyer, and my daughter Catharine, intermarried with Felix Light, and I do devise and bequeath the same unto my said three children share and share alike to their heirs and assigns.
Item. I do hereby order and direct my son Adam WItamyer one of the executors of this my last will and testament. Execute and deliver a propoer conveyance of the aforesaid tract of land with the appurtenances containing about eighty one acres for the sum of one dollar to my son Cyrus Witamyer, devised to him, as aforesaid and to his heirs and assigns forever, subject to the yearly payment as hereinbefore mentioned until the whole shall be paid at the rate of eighty dollars per acre.
Item. I do also order and direct my son Cyrus Witamyer the other of my hereinnamed executors shall execute a proper conveyance to my son Adam Witamyer for the sum of one dollar of tract of land with the appurtenances devised to him said Adam containing about eighty one acres and to his heirs and assigns forever subject to the yearly payments hereinbefore mentioned until the whole of said purchase money shall be paid at the rate of eighty dollars per acre.
Item. I do hereby constitute and appoint my two sons Cyrus Witamyer and Adam Witamyer executors of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I Francis Witamyer the testator have to this my will written on one sheet of paper set my hand and seal this tenth day of June AD one thousand eight hundred and seventy one.
Frantz Wittamyer
Signed sealed published and declared by the above named Frantz Witamyer as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnessess thereto in the presence of said testator and of each other ...
Isaac Boyer
John H. Kinposts
The Last Will and Testament of Frantz Witameyer, late of the township of South Annville, County of Lebanon, deceased. Filed Oct. 30, 1876.
Lebanon County, ss. On the 30th day of October AD 1876 Before me Wm. Behmy Register of Wills and c in and for said county personally came Isaac Boyer and John H. Kinports the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing and hither will who being duly sworn according to law do dipose and say that they were present heard and saw Frantz Witameyer the testator sign seal publish pronounce and declare the foregoing within instrument of writing as and for his last will and testament and at the time of doing he was of sound mind memory and understanding to the best of their knowledge and belief.
Wm. Bhmy Register