Will of John Finley of Letterkenny

Cumberland Co., PA, WB D:38, 9 August 1783

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IN THE NAME OF GOD. AMEN. I John Finley of the township of Letterkenny the
County of Cumberland and State of Pennsylvania Yeoman, being very in body
but of perfect sound and disposing mind and memory (blessed the God
therefore) and Calling to mind my mortality and being desirous of making a
disposition of Such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me
in this life do make this my last will and testament in manner following,
that is to Say, It is my will and I do order that the first place all my
just debts and funeral charges be fully paidby my Executors hereafter named
as Soon as Convenient after my decease. Item. I give and bequeath to my wife
Mary Finley one full third part of the Yearly rents and profits of my
Plantation where on I now dwell and the Negro wench called Rachel and all my
household furniture and the two lower back rooms and part of the kitchen and
firewood Cut and laid to her hand during the natural life of her my said
wife I also give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Armstrong the sum of
five Shillings lawful money of Pennsylvania I also give and bequeath to my
son James Finley the Sum of five Shillings like money aforesaid, I also give
and bequeath to my daughter Martha Jack the Sum of five Shillings like money
aforesaid. I also give and bequeath to my daughter Hannah McConnochee five
Shillings like money aforesaid. I also give and bequeath to my daughter Mary
Rippey five Shillings like money aforesaid. I also give and bequeath to by
son Joseph Finley five Shillings like money aforesaid And I give and
bequeath to my son John Finley all that plantation and tract of land whereon
I now dwell, Situate in Letterkenny township and County of Cumberland
aforesaid bounded by the respective lands of Samuel Culbertson, James
Stewart, James Finley and the heirs of William Sharp Containing about four
hundred acres and the usual allowance of six pr Cent for roads (be the same
more or less) together with appurtenances to hold to him the said John
Finley during his natural life subject to one full third part of the Yearly
rents and profits thereof herein bequeathed to my wife and payable to her
Yearly and every year during her natural life together with the priveleges
as aforesaid, And after my said son (?) if he shall die leaving lawful
issue I give and devise the same plantation and tract of land to his heirs
as tenants in Common and their respective heirs and assigns forever, but in
case my son John Shall die without leaving lawful issue I give and devise
the same plantation and tract of land to my Son James Finley to hold to him
his heirs and assigns forever. I also give and bequeath to my said Son John
my negro man named Peter and after my wifes decease my negro wench Rachel.
And I also give and bequeath to my said Son John all the Personal estate
whatsoever except what is herein before or after otherwise bequeathed. I
also give and bequeath on third part of my horned Cattle and Sheep to and
between my two grandsons John Jack and John McConnochee in equal shares and
I do by these presents nominate Constitute and appoint my Son James Finley
aforesaid to be Sole Executor of this my last will and testament hereby
utterly revoking and disannulling all other wills and testaments by me in
any wise heretofor made ratifying and confirming this and none other to be
my last will and testament. In Witness whereof the said John Finley have
hereunto set my hand and Seal the ninth day of August in the Year of our
Lord one thousand Seven hundred and eighty three. Signed Sealed Published
pronounced and declared by the Said John Finley as and for his last will and
testament in the presence of us who have hereunto Subscribed our names as
witnesses in the presence and at the request of the said testator
John Gray John Finley (seal)
Samuel Finley
Matthew Henderson

Be it remembered that on the 21st day of October A.D. 1783 the last will and
testament of John Finley deceased was legally proved of which the foregoing
record is a true copy and Letters, testamentary issued in Cannon(?) form to
James Finley the Executor therein named on the said 21st day of October
1783. Inventory and account to be exhibited into the Registers office at
Carlisle in the time appointed by law, Witness my hand, William Lyon Regr.

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