Will of Esther Berry

of Annville Township, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania


Will Book B, Page 368, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania
Written: 13 January 1836
Recorded: 19 February 1836

In the Name of God, Amen, I, Esther Berry of Anville Township in the county of Lebanon and in the State of Pennsylvania, Widow and Relict of Henry Berry late of the same place deceased, considering the mortality of my body, well knowing that it is appointed for all persons, once to die, and being of sound and well disposing mind, memory and understanding, Thanks be unto God for the same, therefore do hereby make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament, in the following manner: to wit.

First; I recommend my soul to God who gave it and my body to the earth to be decently interred, and as concerning my worldly estate and effects wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this world, I give and dispose of them as herein after mentioned

First; it is my Will and I do hereby order and direct that the House and lots of grounds where I now live in with the appurtenances shall be sold according to the directions in the last Will and Testament mentioned of my late husband Henry Berry, deceased and all the money arising out of such sale, I give and bequeath, after the several sums of money paid out of the same directed and bequeathed by my said deceased husband before, to John Miller, son of Frederick Miller deceased, in full; and I further also give and bequeath him the said John Miller, one acre of my woodland situate in Anville township, Lebanon County aforesaid bounded by land of Adams, Ulrich and others; also one half o lot of ground, situate in the town of Anville and county aforesaid, and bounded on the south by queen streets, on the east by an alley, on the north by king alley and on the west by my other lot; and also one bed and bedstead, one bureau, one table, and one looking-glass, but he, the said John Miller shall pay out of the above bequest given, the sum of three hundred dollars to his sister Maria Miller at the time she will arrive the age of twenty-one years; I also give and devise unto the said Maria Miller one bed and bedstead, one bureau, one table, six chairs, and one looking glass. Item, I give and bequeath unto Christian Miller brother of the said John Miller, my small stone house, situate in the town of Anville and county aforesaid, and parts of a lot of ground the breath of the said house, which is now occupied by the widow Simonton. Also, one half a lot of ground situate in the town of Anville aforesaid and adjoining a half o lot already before bequeath to John Miller.

Item; I give and bequeath unto Sophia Cassell daughter of my brother's son William Cassell, the undivided third part of my brick house and third part of the lot about four feet over the branth of said house and other improvements thereon being situate in the town of Anville and county aforesaid, bounded on the north by main street, on the west by another street, on the south by king alley and on the east by my small stone house before mentioned and now occupied by Augustus Cassel and others; also, the third part of an undivided half a lot of round situate in the in the town of Anville aforesaid adjoining the other two half lots bequeath to John and Christa Miller; also one bed and bedstead, one bureau, one table, six chairs, and one looking-glass. Item; I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Miller, sister of the aforesaid John Miller, the undivided third part of the before mentioned brick house and lot, also the undivided third part of the half a lot before mention; also one bed and bedstead, one bureau, one table, six chairs, and one looking-glass. Item, I give and bequeath unto William Miller, brother of the said John Miller, also the undivided third part of the before mentioned brick house and lot, also the undivided third part of half a lot mentioned. Item, I give and bequeath unto Robert Byer three acres of my woodlands situate in Anville township and county aforesaid and bounded by land of Adam Ulrich and others; and I do hereby authorize and empower my executor or the survivors of them to make and execute Deeds in fee simple for the land and premises herein before to them divised; and it is also my will that the executor of my brother Christian Cassel late deceased, shall make and execute a deed in fee simple to the said Robert Byer for a certain piece or tract of land situate in Anville township aforesaid which I have lately purchased by agreement from the said executor for the use of the said Robert Byer, and my executor herein after mentioned shall on the execution of the deed or on the same day pay to the said executor, two hundred and eight dollars the Remainder or balance of the purchase money out of my estate in full. Item; I give and bequeath unto Will Berry, one bureau, one chest, one bead and bedstead, one table, and one looking-glass, Besides what I have given and advanced to him already before. Item; I give and bequeath unto my brother Emanuel Cassell for his own use and benefit, the sum of eight hundred dollars. Item, I give and bequeath unto my brother Frederick Cassel for his own use and benefit the sum of six hundred dollars.

Item; I give and bequeath unto my sister Mary Leebrick for her use and benefit, the sum of five hundred dollars. Item, I give and bequeath unto the wife of Joseph Hummel, merchant in Hummelstown, Dauphin County for her use and benefit the sum of three hundred dollars, all which sums of money so bequeath above shall be paid to them or their legal representatives by my executor, hereinafter named in one year and six months time after my decease if applied for the same; and it is also my will that as soon a conveniently may be after my decease, that a true inventory and appraisement my be taken of all, my moveable and effects and property shall be sold by public vendue as soon as convenient by my Executor hereinafter named, except what articles I have herein before disposed off, and except all my wearing apparel, which shall be equally divided between the before mentioned Sophia Cassel, Maria Miller and Elizabeth Miller, share and share alike; and it is also my will and I do hereby bequeath all the remainder thereof, and of all my estate (if any.) whatsoever and wheresoever the same may be and not by me herein before otherwise disposed off, I give and bequeath unto, John Killinger, Charles Killinger and Jacob Killinger, minor children of John Killinger and Henry Shertrer minor son of John Shertrer Jr. and John Henry Cassell minor son of Augustus Cassell and minor son of Joseph Cassell to be equally divided among them, share and share alike.

And lastly; I do hereby nominate and appoint my friends John Killinger and John Miller Executors of this my last Will and Testament and I revoke and annul, all former and other Wills and Testaments by me heretofore made and ratify and confirm this and no other to by my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto, set my hand and seal the thirteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-six.

Signed, sealed, published, pronounced her

and declared by the said Esther Berry Esther x Berry

as and for her last will and testament in the presence of Us. mark

The word dispose between the twelfth and thirteenth

line where interlined before signing of this will.

John Stroks

Detrohs

Recorded February 19th A.D. 1836


Information supplied by Nancy J. Piper



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