Last Will and Testament of Casper Lerch

Heidelberg Twp 1766

In the Name of God Amen, the Eight Day of September A.D. One Thousand Seventeen Hundred and Sixty Six, I Casper Lark of the Township of Heidelberg in the County of Berks and Province of Pennsylvania, yeoman, being very sick and weak of body but sound of mind and memory. Thanks be to God. Do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say;

First I give my Soul unto the hands of God hoping for Salvation through the Merits of Jesus Christ and my Body to the Dust to be buried in a Christian Like and Decent manner at the discretion of my Executor.

Item I give and bequeath unto Margaret my dearly beloved wife the sum of twenty pounds together with one bed and bedding, one chest and all that is in it, two iron pots and what other household goods she shall want, one cow, one mare and half the grain in the barn, but if she should marry then she is to have nothing but the bed.

Item I give and bequeath unto my son William Lark the sum of twenty five pounds current money of Pennsylvania to be paid within eleven years after the date of this Will and Testament.

Item I give and bequeath unto my son Nicholas Lark the sum of twenty five pounds money as afore said to be paid in ten years as afore said.

Item I give and bequeath unto my son John Baltzer Lark the sum of twenty five pounds money as afore said to be paid in nine years as afore said.

Item I give and bequeath unto my son Jacob Lark the sum of twenty five pounds money as afore said to be paid in seven years as afore said.

Item I give and bequeath unto my son Jost Lark the sum of twenty five pounds money as afore said to be paid in six years as afore said.

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Lark alias Fox the sum of twenty five pounds money as afore said to be paid in five years as afore said.

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Margaret Lark alias Lower the sum of twenty five pounds money as afore said to be paid in four years as afore said.

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Caterina Lark alias Fey the sum of twenty five pounds money as afore said to be paid in three years as afore said.

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Rachael Lark the sum of twenty five pounds money as afore said to be paid in two years as afore said.

Item I give devise and bequeath unto my beloved son Christifor Lark, whom I likewise constitute make and ordain my only and sole executor of this my last Will and Testament all and singular the lands, Mesuages and tenements to him his heirs and assigns forever together with one iron harrow and the dresser.

And it my Will that the remainder of my personal estate that is not already bequeathed should be sold as soon as convenient and the amount there of to be divided one part to my wife two part to be equally divided amongst the children.

Ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament. In Witness where of I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.

Casper Lark |SEAL|

Signed Sealed Published Pronounced and Declared by Casper Lark as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us the Subscribers

Amos Richschart
Michael Staudt
Thomas Jones Junior

Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania, the eighteenth day of October in the year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty six. Personally appeared Amos Richschart &Thomas Jones Junior, two of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing Will and being solemnly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of the Almighty God, did severely depose and say, on their oath aforesaid, that they were present together and saw and heard Casper Lörch the testator therein named, sign, seal, publish, pronounce and declare the same to be his Last Will and Testament and that at the time of the doing thereof he was of sound mind memory and understand as they verify and believe; and further that the names of them the said deponents thereto subscribed were by them subscribed as Witnesses thereto (Michael Staudt the other witness also subscribing at the same time) in the presence of each other, and in the presence and at the request of the said Testator.

Coram me
James Read
D. Regr.

Submitted by Michelle.


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