Wills: Christian Wertz, 1851: Harrison Twp, Bedford Co, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Jeff Rinscheid, Mary Crisman, Rhonda Neibauer, Nancy Peche, Margo Knepp, Carson Brown, Eilene Moore, Charlotte Armour, and other Wertz researchers. jrinscheid@lucent.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. _____________________________________________________________________ CHRISTIAN WERTZ WILL Harrison Twp Bedford County Court House Will Book 4, Page 51 "In the name of God Amen. I Christian Wertz, or Harrison Township, County of Bedford, and State of Pennsylvania, being weak of body, but sound of mind, memory and understanding (praised be God for it) and considering the certainty of death, and the uncertainty of the time thereof, and that to the end I may be better prepared to leave this world whenever it shall please God to call me home, do therefore make and declare this my last will and testament, in manner following: viz. First and principally I commend my soul to God my Creator, hoping for pardon and remission of all my sins and to enjoy everlasting happiness in the heavenly kingdom through Jesus Christ, my Savior, my body I commend to the earth at the discretion of my Executors, herein after mentioned, and I Will that all my just debts as shall be me owing at my death, together with my funeral expenses and all charges touching the proving of or otherwise concerning this my will shall in the first place be paid out of my personal estate, and effects, and from and after payment thereof, I will that my beloved wife Elizabeth have the possession of the house wherein we now reside, together with the garden and stable during her lifetime and also she is to keep whatever furniture and bedding she may require, and I will that my personal and real property shall be impartially appraised and after such appraisement to be sold at a public sale or at a private sale, and the thereof to be divided between my children - Viz. Mary, Susana, Catharine, David, Amos, Nancy, Hetty, Lydia, and Sarah, I will that all may have share and share alike with the exception of Hetty Sullivans children, Susan Sullivan and Joseph Sullivan are to have each one hundred dollars out of their mother's legacy and in case one of the said children should die, the surviving one is to draw both shares, and in case both die their mother shall be entitled to their share. N.B. I will that my wife Elizabeth have a sufficiency of furniture of the place during her lifetime and I make and ordain my Sons, David Wertz and Amos Wertz my Executors of this my last Will and Testament and further I Will that my wife Elizabeth draw one third of the interest of the whole amount. (Signed in German Script) Christian Wertz Signed, Sealed and acknowledged by the testator in the presence of the Subscribers as his last Will and Testament. N.B. It is my will that no interest be charged on anything that any of my children may have gotten during my lifetime excepting Vendue Notes. N.B. I do certify that it is my desire to have the clause giving Susan and Joseph Sullivan each one hundred dollars out of their mother's share erased out of the within will and so that all my children may have equal shares, in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the 11th day of January A.D. 1851. (Signed in German Script) Christian Wertz Witness Present William Barrick Josiah Shafer Isaac Filson Be it remembered that on the 11th day of March A.D. 1851, Letters Test. Were issued to David Wertz and Amos Wertz, Executors in the forgoing Will named, they having been first duly affirmed according to law. John Reed, Register Notes on the Christian Wertz Will (Given by Jeff Rinscheid, NJ--his source unknown) There is no date showing when Christian Wertz made this will, but evidently it was previous to 1845 - as his beloved wife Elizabeth died December 17, 1845. The clause willing $100.00 cash each to the two Sullivan children (children of Hetty) has been scratched over in a recorded copy, also in the original will which is to be in File Box W, No. 2. The latter portion of this will is sort of a codicil and is quite different handwriting than the first portion. I imagine Elizabeth had passed away about that time and Christian was making some changes. This portion that is crossed out follows the clause "that the children are to have share and share alike." There is no will of Elizabeth Wertz. Nor any Orphan's Court settlement of her estate. But in Notes and Reports on Estates, Vol. 2, is an inventory of the Estate of Christian Wertz, very long and minute. In a deed, Christian Wertz's heirs to Lewis N. Fyan. Book A & B. Page 290, are the names and to whom married all of the heirs. "Deed between John Didy and Mary, his wife, John Rock and Susana his wife, Eneas William, David Wertz, Amos Wertz and Nancy, his wife, John Rider and Lydia his wife, Dewalt Kinsey and Sarah his wife, all of Bedford and Somerset County, PA, except the said John Rock and Susana his wife, and John Rider and Lydia his wife, of Iowa." The above named all signed this deed. Deed made March 16, 1854. Witness, Joseph Dull and George Rock.