Will of Johannes Lowrance, Somerset Co, NJ 1745 ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Twylla Teer edteer@bellsouth.net ==================================================================== JOHANNES LOWRANCE WILL OF 1745. "IN THE NAME of God Amen the twelf (sic) Day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty-five I Johanous Lowrance of Pepack in the Province of East Jersey ___- Miler [miller] being sick and weak in Body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God therefore calling unto mind the Mortality of my Body and knowing that it is apointed (sic) for all men once to Dye (sic) Do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is for to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my spirit into the hands of god (sic) that gave it and for my Body I recommend it to the earth to Be buried in a Christian like and decent manner at the direction of my Executors nothing doubting but at the general Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty pour (sic) of god (sic) and as touching such worly (sic) Estait (sic) wherewith it haith (sic) please god (sic) to bless me in this life I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and forme (sic). "IMPRIMIS [In the first place] it is my will and I dow (sic) order that in the first plase (sic) all my just debts and funeral charges be paid and satisfied "I GIVE AND bequeath unto Marget my dearly beloved wife my dwelling house that is for to say the Stofe Roof and East fire Room to gether with gardain (sic) and East orchard to gether with my part of the Barn and my fences and winter cattle gard (sic) and three Cows - and all moofabel (sic) household goods. All my Rite (sic) and titel (sic) and att (sic) deceas (sic) the house and orchard shall be Alexanders my oldest sons and for the Barn it shall be my sons Daniel at her deceas (sic) __ [Several words are illegible at this point in the will] ___ if that shall keep the persons in pease (sic) and proprieters (sic) Dew (sic) not disturb them. It is likewsie my will and I do order that there shall be twenty pounds raised out of my Estait (sic) and put out to interest for her maintenance. I give my well beloved son Alexander the sum of tenn (sic) pounds of good lawful curant (sic) money procks [Of unknown origin, but obviously a term used in such documents as wills] for to be raised out of my Estait. It is likewsie my will that Alexander shall have the indenture of my boy Fredrick Shomaker after my deceas (sic) and my wifes together with the Stabel feald (sic) along the Road as far as the orchard and is along the Post and Rail fence. " I LIKEWISE give and bequeath unto my son Daniel Lowrance the sum of ten pounds procks of money for to be raised out of my Estait (sic) it is likewise my will that Daniel shall have the house that he now Lives in and all the Cleard (sic) Land that he hath in posion (possession). " I LIKEWISE give and bequeath unto my well beloved son John Lowrance the sum of tenn (sic) pounds of good lawful currant money prock for to be raised out of my Estait (sic) together with the mill and all my Right and titel (sic) theirunto (sic) belonging and according to my bargain with Mr. Andrew Johston if the mill be prised (appraised?) that John shall have the forth (fourth) part clear and then com (come) in equal shear (sic) with the other Brothers. it is likewise my-, will that John shall have all the improvements of the mill - that is from the mill up betwixt the Road and the millbrook as far as the Lain (sic) taking in the medow (sic) feald (sic) it is likewise my will and I Dew (sic) [or here] ordor (sic) that my Great Brass cetel (kettle) stilyear [Steelyard - balance scales used for weighing purposes] and Brons [bronze] gear cokel seff [cockle sieve] shall be divided between my three sons Equaly (sic) if any chewses (sic) a thing valuabeler [may be of less value but context seems to indicate of greater value] then (sic) the others he will pay the ods [difference Odds] to the other. Vs. o. "I LIKEWISE give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Kealer my well beloved daughter the sum of tenn (sic) pounds curant Lawfull (sic) money prock for to be Raised out of my Estait (sic). "I LIKEWISE give and bequeath unto Lenah Moore my well beloved daughter the sum of tenn (sic) pounds Curant Lawfull (sic) money prock for to be Raised out of my Estait (sic). "I LIKEWISE give and bequeath unto Barbra Beshearer my well beloved daughter the sum of tenn (sic) pounds of Curant Lawfull money prock for to be Raised out of my Estait (sic). "IT IS LIKEWISE my will and I Dew ordor (sic) it as my Last will and testament that my Bible and Cobart (cupboard] and stoff [stove] shall be divided betwean (sic) my three sons Equall (sic) and all my other housegoods shall be divided Equaly (sic) between sons and daughters the bits (sic) boitds and money and noat (sic) shall be Equaly (sic) divided between the three sons after Everyone haith (sic) their part as nons [perhaps a legal term used in wills in those days] and I do hereby disallow and revoak (sic) and Disannul and every other former [testaments?] wills Legacies and Executors [appointed] by mein any ways before this time ------------ ------ --------- -------- -------- ------- [six words are illegible) and confirming this and no other to be my Last will and testament ------ ------- ----- [two or three words are illegible here] wheirof (sic) I have hearunto (sic) set my hand and seal the Day and year above written." s: Johanef Lorans s/Michael Burger [Almost unreadable] We hendrick (sic) s/Margaret "Maj" Burger (sic) her mark Smith and Jacob Eof s/Jonathan Pitney are Chosen Indeferant by Johanous Lowrance for to be Executors of My hol Estait (sic) The following was written across the left side of the document concerning the will's being proved: Johanous Lowrance's will of Somerset [County ?] Proved 3d Decem'r 1745. This was on the Certification Statement page. "BE IT REMEMBERED that on the third day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand sevenhundred and forty-five [that] Jonathan Pitney one of the within witnefses personally came before me Thomas Bartow duly authorized to prove wills and qualify Executors and he being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists Depofes [testifies under oath] that he was present and saw Johannes Lowrance the Testator within named sign & (the next two lines are illegible, but similar to the following in brackets)[testify that this was his last will and testament his oath being to that effect] and saw the will and Johanous Lowrance testator and heard him -- -- and Depofes faine [willingly testify][this] to be his last will and testament, that in so doing those wit'ns saw test'r was of sound mind and memory to the best of his knowledge and erfending [ability?] and that at his faine hine [willingness] Michal Burger and wife Margaret Burger his other witnefses were present and each signed as as a witnefs together with this Deponent in this Testatory Prefonce." s/Tho;s Bartow Thomas Bartow "Be IT ALSO REMEMBERED that at the faine hine [signor of document] Hendrick Smith and Jacob Eof the Executors within named personally came before me and were sworn to the due Execution and performance of the within will and testament according to law." s/Tho;s Bartow Thomas Bartow