WILL: Christian MILLER, 1828, Napier Township, Bedford County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Michael S. Caldwell Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/bedford/ ________________________________________________ CHRISTIAN MILLER of Napier Twp. 1828 Bedford County, Pennsylvania Will Book 2, pp. 270-271 In the name of God Amen, I Christian Miller of Napier Township Bedford County and state of Pennsylvania farmer, being sick and weak in body but of sound mind memory and understanding (praised be God for it) and considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof and to the end I may be the better prepared to leave this world when ever it shall please God to call me home do therefore make and declare this my last will and testament in manner following, that is to say; first and principally I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping for free pardon and remission of all my sins and to enjoy everlasting happiness in the heavenly kingdom through Jesus Christ my Saviour, my body I commit to the earth at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named. And I will that my beloved wife Charlotte shall have all the Income and privilege of all my houses land and tenements to her own proper use so long as she shall remain my widow with as much of my household and kitchen furniture and beds and bedding as she may think necessary for her convenience, the choice of as many cows & young cattle as she may deem proper one horse Creature six sheep and as maney hogs as she may think necessary with all my share of the grain in the ground. And I will that my son Jacob Miller & John B. Miller shall each have two horses of my stock with the necessary Gear two ploughs and one harrow, but all horses and Gears they have or may receive in my lifetime shall be taken and counted as part of the above Legacy. And I will that my Daughter Eve shall have one horse sadle and bridle and be furnished with houshold and kitchen furniture two sheep two hogs being the same as I furnished my daughters heretofore married, and I wish the aforesaid legacy to be considered as such and all articles she may receive from me in my lifetime in whole or part of the above legacy shall be deducted. And I will that after the decease of my beloved wife that all the remaining personal property to be sold and the real estate to be appraised according to law, and should none of my children be able to take the same then the same to be sold for the best price that can be gotten and the proceeds thereof to be Equally divided among my Eight Children viz Catharine - Anna - Elizabeth Susannah - Maria Magdelane - Rebecca - Jacob - Eve & John Bernhart - share and share alike and also what is left of the personal Estate at my Decease after the foregoing bequest, my funeral Expences and just debt are paid to be divided as aforesaid as soon as the same can be done. And I will that the House and lot that formerly belonged to my Soninlaw George Hull be appraised as aforesaid that is to say as my other C***ds & are on division of my Real Estate shall be considered as so much of my Daughters Susanahs share the same Susanah shall have the same as her own property during her lifetime and after her decease to be vested in her three children viz. Anna Charlotte, Eve, and Catharine and their heirs for ever. And Lastly I make and ordain My two Sons Jacob & John B. and my soninlaw Joseph Nicodemus Executors of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I Christian Miller have hereunto set my hand and seal the thirteenth day of April one thousand eight hundred and twenty eight. Before signing the testator requested that part of the bequest of the lot formerly belonging to George Hull should be so altered as to read so as not to be charged to her the said Susanahs share or portion but, to be considered as over and above her equal share this is to say on deduction to be made of her share on account of said lot. Christian Miller {Seal} Signed Sealed and acknowledged by the testator in the presence of the subscriber the 12th day of April A.D. 1828. Michael Reed, Peter Hillegas Bedford County SS, Personally appeared before the subscriber Register for the probate of Wills and granting letters of administration in and for said County, Peter Hillegas one of the Subscribing witnesses to the foregoing instrument of writing who being duly sworn according to Law, deposeth and saith that he was personally present & heard & saw the testator Christian Miller sign, seal, publish, pronounce & declare the within instrument of writing as and for his last will & Testament, that at the time thereof the testator was of sound and disposing mind memory & understanding according to the best of his deponents knowledge & belief & that he subscribed his name thereto as a witness in presence of the testator & at his request - and that the name Michael Reed thereto subscribed as the other witness is the proper signature of the said Michael Reed. Peter Hillegas Sworn & subscribed the 27th day of May A.D. 1828. Before me Job Mann Register. Also on the 2nd day of June 1828 Came Michael Reed Esq., the other subscribing Witness the foregoing instrument of writing who being duly sworn according to Law Deposeth and saith that he was personally present and heard and saw the testator Christian Miller sign, seal, publish, pronounce, and declare the foregoing instrument of Writing as and for his last will & testament, that at the time thereof the testator was of sound and disposing mind memory & understanding according to the best of this deponents knowledge and belief, and that he subscribed his name thereto as a witness in presence of the testator and at his request - and that the name Peter Hillegas thereto subscribed as a witness is the proper signature of the said Peter Hillegas. Michael Reed Sworn to & subscribed the 2nd day of June A.D. 1828 Before me Job Mann Register. Be it remembered that on the 2nd day of June A.D. 1828 Letters testamentary were granted to Jacob Miller, John B. Miller and Joseph Nichodemus Executors in the foregoing will named, they having first been duly sworn according to law.