Wills: James WOODS, 1831: Elizabeth Township, Allegheny County. PA File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Rob Woods USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. Will Book 3 1822-1831 Pages 557-559 No 281 Last Will and Testament of James Woods In the name of God, Amen, I, James Woods of Allegheny County, Elizabeth Township, and State of Pennsylvania, this my last will and testament. First: I commend my soul to God who gave it and my body to the earth to be buried in a Christian manner at discretion of my Executors. Secondly: As touching my worldly estate where with it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I give and bequeath in the following manner. First: I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Elizabeth, the use of the north or upper end of my house where I now dwell,during her natural life. Also one bed and bedding, the fleece of six sheep yearly, twenty pounds of scotched flax yearly. One chest with what it contains, one womans saddle which is new, all the cloth in the house except the frilled cloth and ticking, absolutely, or in lieu of dower, also a comfortable and necessary maintenance of the table of my son William at his expense. Who is also to furnish necessary fuel and keep up a fire in her room. Secondly: I give and bequeath unto my son, William Woods all my real estate or plantation whereon I dwell, to have and to heir his heirs and assigns forever together, with one wagon,gristmill,copper kettle, subject to this reservations and bequeathments made in his will. Thirdly: I give and bequeath unto my daughter,Isabel Turner,one dollar. Fourthly: I give and bequeath unto my son, John Woods one hundred dollars, to be paid out of the real estate by my son, William Woods, one year after my decease. Also of my personal property twelve yards of frilled cloth and twenty-four yards of ticking. Fifthly: I give and bequeath unto my son, James(Woods) one dollar. Sixthly: I give and bequeath unto my daughter,Martha Turner,one dollar. Seventhly: I give and bequeath unto my son,Joseph(Woods),one dollar. Eighthly: I give and bequeath unto my two grandchildren, James and Joseph Knox, one dollar each. All the residue of my property and outstanding debts I desire to be appled to the payment of my debts and funeral expenses, also to the payment of all the legatees except John Woods. If any of my funeral estate is left after the above disbursement I give and be- queath the same unto my grandson, Vallentine Woods. Lastly, I appoint and constitute my son, William Woods and William Marshall my true and lawfull executors to this my last will and testament. And whereas disputes and contentions some- times arise respecting legacies and for to prevent the same I do appoint Benjamin Bearle,Elisha Perse, and John Gamble trust- ees to hear and decide all matters of disputes respecting the same whose judgement or any two of them shall be final decision to all intents and in case of absence or death of said men the other two my choose a suitable person in his place. James Woods seal Signed,sealed and published and declared by the said James Woods to be his last will and testament in the presence of us the subscribing witnesses this Tenth day of November, Eighteen hundred & twenty-nine. John Gamble George Thompson Samuel H Gamble Be it remembered that on the first day of November, A.D. 1831 personally appeared before me John M. Snowden, Register in and for the county, John Gamble and Samuel H. Gamble the two sub- scribing witnesses to the forgoing will who being severally and solemnly sworn did depose and say that they were present and saw and heard the testator sign, seal, publish, pronounce and declare the foregoing instrument of writing as and for his last will and testament and that at the same time so doing he was of perfect and sound mind, memory, and understanding according to the best of their knowledge, observation, and belief. Be it remembered that one the 2nd day of November A.D. 1831, Letters Testamentary one the written will were granted to William Woods and William Marshall the two executors therein names who were solemnly sworn will and timely to administer the goods and chatlels rights and credits which were of the said deceaseds to make a true and perfect inventory and app- raisment of the personal estate of the said deceased and return the same to the registers office in Pittsburgh within one month of this date and to settle the account of their administration within one year or when there unto legally required and that they would will and timly comply with the provisions of an act of assembly entitled are act relating to collateral inheritances. Given under my hand the date afore said, John M. Snowden Register