Wills: McSHANE, Charles 1862: Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Kathryn M. Doyle kathryndoyle@aol.com USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. Pittsburgh, August 4th, 1862 I, Charles McShane, being in ill health but of sound mind, do make this my last will and testament and do hereby appoint John Hays and James McKenna my executors to carry out and execute the following bequeaths and disposal of my property real, personal, and mixed. First I will state what are my effects. I own an unexpired lease of the house in which I now live which expires at the 1st of January 1864 and on which I pay an annual grand rent of 18 dollars per year and the usual taxes besides. - I wish my executors herein named to sell the unexpired lease mentioned if they can do so at a fair value but if they consider that they cannot get a fair value for the same then they are to rent it to the best advantage in their power. If they succeed in selling I desire them to place the money at Interest for the benefit of my children or to dispose of it in the same way in which the money I now possess is to be disposed of and which I will now describe - the amount of cash which I at present possess. First I have three hundred and thirty two dollars in gold and also seventy-five dollars in paper money or currency. This seventy-five dollars I wish to be applied to the necessary expenses attending my illness and to the expenses which will be necessary for my funeral expenses if it should please the Lord now in this illness to call me from this world to one of peace and happiness among the Blessed in Heaven. If these seventy-five dollars should not be sufficient for the purpose of expenses mentioned, then my executors herein named will use or draw upon the other sum of 332 dollars for to make up the deficit if any for the expenses mentioned and others which I will hereafter mention regarding the necessary clothing which my children shall if going to their relations in the country, need. After all expenses are paid I wish my executors to deposit the 332 dollars or whatever sum may be left on hand in some one of the Banks or Trust Companies in Pittsburgh or in a Savings Bank wherever in their judgement they may think is the safest or best place or where interest may be got annually for the money and be applied to the benefit of my children who I will now mention with their names in the following order. I have four children living, their names and ages as follows: Mary Jane in her 16th year, Ellen in her 14th year, Edward about 11 years old and Charles in his eighth year. This is their ages to the best of my recollections but their baptismal records at the Cathedral will show their correct ages. When these my children above named arrive at lawful age they are each individually to get their prorated or equal share of the money which may be in the hands of or deposited by my executors but if in their judgement they think it better to withhold paying any of it out to the eldest of my children when they arrive at age then they are not, according to my request - to pay any of the heirs their portion until my youngest child herein mentioned shall arrive at lawful age. In case of the death of any of the heirs before arriving at age, or before receiving their equal portion, then the portion belonging to the deceased heir or heirs shall be divided equally among the surviving heirs. It is my desire (and I have understood it to be the wish of their relations also) that Ellen and Charles shall go to live with their Uncle Michael McGinley in Butler County, PA and if the friends or relations desire or wish that Edward and Mary Jane should go out to their friends in Butler County I have no objections but the two latters may please their own wishes in this respect or perhaps they can do better by remaining at employment in Pittsburgh. - If the executors think it necessary to purchase additional clothing for the children that may go to Butler County they have my permission to do so or to pay their fare out to their friends if necessary. I wish my daughters Mary Jane and Ellen as soon as they can provide themselves with a suitable situation or place, to do so and my executors then may sell my household furniture and effects apportioning therein at auction or as soon after my death as it may in their judgement be necessary and they are to apply the proceeds to the payment of my funeral expenses or to the money intended for the benefit of my children. In conclusion, I hereby affix my signature to this my last will and testament in the presence of the two undersigned witnesses. Signed, Charles McShane Witness, Bernard McKenna Witness Alex McGaurey August 18, 1862 ------------------------------------------------------- Allegheny County SS Be it known that on the 18th day of August AD 1862 before me Wm. J. Richardson, Register for the probate of wills as in and for said county personally came Bernard McKenna and Al McGonomy the subcribing witnesses to the foregoing instrument of writing who being duly sworn did depose and say that they were present and did see and hear Charles McShane, the testator, sign, seal, publish and declare the same as and for his last will and Testament and that at the time of so doing he was of sound mind and disposing memory to the best of their knowledge and belief and that in his presence and at his request may endorse their names as witnesses thereto. Given under my hand the date above written. Wm. J. Richardson, Register And now to wit, August the 18th AD 1862 the testamony of the above witnesses being satisfactory I do therefore admit said will to probate and order the same to be recorded. Wm. J. Richardson, Register