In the name of God Amen, I Henry Engel of Colebrookdale Township in the County of Berks and the State of Pennsylvania yeoman, being in advanced years. And weakly in body, but sound of mind, memory and understanding, (Blessed be God for the same), but considering the uncertainty of this Transitory Life, do make and Publish this my last Will and Testimony, in manner and form following, to wit-
Principally and first of all, I command my immortal Soul into the hands of God, who gave it, and my body to the Earth to be buried in a decent and Christian like manner at the discretion of my Executors here in after named, and to such Worldly Estate, where with it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I give and dispose of the same in the following manner, to wit-
ITEM, it is my will and I hereby do order and direct, that in the first place, all my Just Debts and funeral expenses be duly paid and satisfied.
ITEM, I give and bequeath unto my beloved Wife Catharine, the following articles to be used and enjoyed by her during her life time, namely, her Bed, Bedstead and whatever there unto belongeth, the House Clock, her Saddle & Bridle, the large Case of Drawers, one Table, Kitchen Dresser, one Iron Kettle, two Iron Pots, and as much of the other Household goods and Kitchen Furniture (being of a lesser kind) as she may have occasion for, one Cow the choice of my stock, and that in Lieu of her third of my Personal Estate.
ITEM, It is also my Will and I do hereby give and devise and bequeath onto my said beloved Wife Catharine, for her Subsistence during her Natural Lifetime, to wit, the sole Occupancy and enjoyment, of the lower and upper rooms, also the Garret at the east end of my now dwelling House, together with a ten plated Stove and Pipes put in the same with liberty of the water, to the Bake Oven in the adjoining Kitchen in the Cellar, the adjoining entry, to pass freely and occupy the same as she may deem necessary without the least Hindrance or Molestation whatsoever, Sufficient firewood cut fit for immediate use, to be delivered to her Door on the Premises and tract of land where I now reside, one quarter part of the Kitchen Garden at her option, Annually sufficiently Manured, and put in order in the proper Season ready for planting, one quarter of an acre well tilled sown for her use with Flaxseed, she finding the seed, on as good ground on the place as suitably can be allowed for that purpose, one quarter of an acre, put in sufficient order for Potatoes, as much of the Fruit on the place as she may have Occasion for her own use, one Barrel of Cyder if the apples on the place will produce that much, one Cow to be kept on said premises for her use in Summer and Winter time, as good in every respect as the other Cattle on the place, A Horse to ride when she is desirous to use one, six Bushels of Buckwheat, the grain to be taken to the Mill and the Grist brought home again in proper proportions, Four Pounds of Good Sheep's Wool, Twelve Pounds of lawful money of Pennsylvania, One Fat Swine to weigh at least one hundred and thirty pounds, and Sixty Pounds of Good Beef all which is to be done and performed Annually in proper seasons, and to be a Lien on my Real Estate during her Natural Lifetime, provided she remains my Widow, and to be in Lieu of her Dower in my Real estate, but in case She should intermarry again, in that case every bequest in this Item to be Null and Void, anything herein Contained to be Contrary not withstanding.
ITEM, It is my Will and I do Impower and direct my Executors herein after named, to sell and dispose of all my Real Estate, in the Counties of Berks, or Montgomery, or elsewhere of what kind of nature soever, as soon as conveniently can be done to advantage of my Heirs, that I may be possessed of at the time of my decease, Subject to my Wives Subsistence and what is not otherwise disposed of, and do also give full power and Authority to my Executors herein named or a Majority of the Survivors of them, to sign seal and execute sufficient Deed or Deeds of Conveyance or conveyances to the Purchaser or Purchasers there in Fee Simple, which Conveyance shall be as Valid in Law as if I had done the same in my lifetime.
Whereas I have advanced to my children, as follows, to my sons namely, Jacob, Henry and John, in allowance made in the price of their Lands and other Property to the amount Two Hundred and Thirty Three Pounds each respectively, and my son Peter is yet in errears of the sum to make him even with his brothers. And to each of my Daughters, namely, Catharine now the wife of Conrad Shoeman, Sussannah now the wife of Bernhart Gilbert, Mary now the wife of Conrad Bucher, and Elizabeth now the wife of Leonard Hartranft, in money and other property to the amount of One Hundred Forty Pounds each respectively- therefore it is my Will and do hereby order and direct, that my son Peter shall receive so much in addition to what he had already received to make him even with his brothers, unless the same shall be done in my lifetime- And all the residue of my Estate to be equally divided between all my Children, Share and Share alike, that is to say, in nominal sums without Interest being allowed to either and to be paid to them respectively according to Seniority, as nearly the amount that is coming to each as can be Judged.
And lastly, I nominate, Constitute and appoint my said son Peter Engle, My Son in Law Bernhart Gilbert, and my friend Daniel Guldin Esq. to be the Executors of this my Will, hereby revoking all other Wills, Legacies and Bequests, by me herefore made and declaring this and no other to be my last Will and testament.
In Witness whereof I have unto set my Hand + Seal this Twenty Fourth day of March, in the year our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eight.
Henry Engle
Submitted by: Dave.
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