Wills: Adam Heckman, Berks, 1776: Alsace Twp, Berks County

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          Adam Heckman, Berks, 1776 (official translation)

I Adam Heckman in Alsace Township in Berks County in Penna am Weak
and Sick in Body, by thanks be to god, yet of good Understanding and
Memory, but having considered the mortality of Men, therefore do make
hereby my Last will and Testament and Dispose of my worldly Estate in
manner following that is to say

But in the first place I Commend my Immortal Soul in the Hands of the
Great and Merciful God, who hath given me the same and my Body to be
buried in the earth in a Christian Like manner out of which he was
taken and that all just Debts and funeral Expences shall be paid
through my Executors.  Which shall be named hereafter

2d. I give and bequeath to my son Jacob Heckman the sum of one
shilling sterling, and to my son George Heckman the sum of one
shilling sterling, all their full Legacies of my Whole Estate
Moveable and immoveable goods, because each of them hath received of
me other assistance of me.

3d.I give and bequeath to my son Peter Heckman the sum of Five pounds
Lawful money of Penna and to my Daughter Mary Margaretta hamsher the
sum of Five pounds to be paid to them first of all

4th My will is that my Executors shall after my Death sell all my
Estate, and shall Dispose of the money arising from the same among my
children as follows, one sixth part thereof (when the whole is Divided
into six equal shares) to my son Peter Heckman, one sixth part to my
son Adam Heckman, one sixth part thereof to my Daughter Maria
Margretta hamsher, one sixth part thereof to my Daughter Mary
Elisabeth Clements and one sixth part thereof to my Daughter
Catherine Kuntsman, and one sixth part thereof to my Daughter
Christina Heckman, or their Heirs, in case one of my said children
should have Died before me and Left any Heirs

And I make and Nominate to Executors over this my Last Will and
Testament my sons in Law Adam hamsher and Chrstr Kuntsman, and make
herewith void all wills and Testaments by me heretofore made and
acknowledge this to be my Last will and Testament and No other, as
witness my Hand and seal June 15th 1776

Signed Sealed and by Adam Heckman as his Last will Publickly
Acknowledged in the presence of us

Henrich Hahn
Georg shultz

Adam (H) Heckman (his mark)

A true Translation of the German original