WILL: William SHAW, 1863, 1864, 1868, Blair County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Michael S. Caldwell Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/blair/ _______________________________________________ Blair County Will Book B, page 284 The Last Will & Testament of William Shaw, dec'd In the Name of God Amen, I, William Shaw, of Blair County, State of Pennsylvania, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof, and being desirous of settling my worldly affairs, and thereby be the better prepared to leave this world when it shall please God to call me henceforth, do therefore make and publish this to be my last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say: First and principally, I commit my soul to the hands of Almighty God, and my body to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors herein after named or mentioned, And after my debts and funeral charges are paid, I give devise and bequeath and dispose of such worldly estate as it has pleased God to bless me with in manner and form following that is to say: I devise and bequeath to my beloved wife Catharine Ann Shaw all the farm where I now live on South west of a straight line from Joseph Harlin's Corner to Jacob Stults' line: likewise all the grain in the ground sowed on all the farms, this above named farm to remain in the occupancy of my beloved wife during her natural life. I likewise will and bequeath to my wife Catharine Ann Shaw the following personal property, one gray horse and gears, one gray mare and gears, three cows, ten sheep with sufficient hay and straw to feed the same from the first day of December to the first day of May - likewise two hogs, all the fowls of all kinds on said farm, likewise one carriage and harness, one two-horse wagon, one side-hill plow, one shovel plow, log chain and swingletress, likewise all the grain of all kinds in the barn or mill or horse, all the apples, potatoes, and garden truck on said farm - likewise all the household and kitchen furniture consisting of beds, and bedding except one bed to be disposed of hereinafter mentioned - likewise I will and bequeath to my wife all the stoves, pipes, and cooking utensils, table cutlery, two copper kettles, one iron kettle, bureaus, tables, chairs, stands, all the carpet and queens ware, thirty yards of cloth, thirty-two of flannel, together with all the housery affairs, 1 clock, one bee-hive, one barrel of pickles - likewise all the wares belonging to the Spring-house, all the flax on said farm, one side-saddle and bridle, cupboards, chests. Item: I give and bequeath to my Daughter Margaret one cow and feed from the first day of December to the first day of May - likewise one bed and bedding. Item: I will and bequeath to my son James one gun I have now, and I will and bequeath to my son Amos one gun of the same value of the gun I will to James. It is my will and desire that my Executors hereinafter mentioned, shall as soon as conveniently can be done after my death, make sale of all my personal property that has not been willed, bequeathed or disposed of or intended to be. I likewise request my Executors to make sale within one year after my death that piece of land Known as the "McConnell Lands": and I further empower my Executors in case my Mother Mary Shaw should die, and not sufficient money in their hands to pay the balance due the Heirs of William Shaw, dec'd, then in that case it is my will and desire that my Executors shall sell that piece or parcel of Land lying East of the afore-mentioned line or parcel of land laying East of aforementioned line dividing it from the home place. I likewise empower my Executors to make a Deed to Samuel Shaw for piece of land subject to Article of Agreement dated July the 9th 1859. It is further now hereby declared to be my will that there shall be no Appraisement or Valuation of any part of my personal property or any of my Real Estate in case it can be sold legally without. I hereby declare that the estate in my hands and the legacy of my personal estate hereby devised and bequeathed to my wife Catharine Ann Shaw shall be in lieu of her dower and thirds of my Estate which she would by the rules of the Common Law be entitled to in case I should die intestate. To explain my intention more fully in regard to the Farm devised and bequeathed to my beloved wife Catharine Ann Shaw for the term of her natural life; in case she remains my widow. In case she would marry, it is my will and desire that all the farm or Interest in said farm devised to her in the foregoing Indenture shall case and determine, and the farm to be secured for my children. Lastly: I do hereby constitute and appoint my friend, Samuel Shaw, and my Wife Catharine Ann Shaw Executors of this my Last Will and Testament, and declaring this and none other to be my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this tenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and sixty three. William Shaw Signed, sealed, published, and declared, by William Shaw the above named, as and for his Last will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto. Alexander Shaw Jacob Stultz Blair County SS: Before me the Register for the Probate of Wills and granting Letters of Administration in and for Blair County personally came Alexander Shaw and Jacob Stultz, who being duly sworn according to Law, did depose and say that they were personally present and did see and hear the above named William Shaw sign, seal, execute, publish, pronounce and declare the foregoing and hereunto attached instrument of writing as and for his Last Will and Testament; that they signed their names as Witnesses thereto in the presence of each other and in the presence and at the request of the said Testator; and that at the time of signing the same the said Testator was of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding to the best of their knowledge and belief. Alexander Shaw Jacob Stultz Sworn and subscribed before me, this 27th day of January, A.D. 1864 H.A. Caldwell, Register Blair County SS: Before me the Register for the Probate of Wills and granting Letters of Administration in and for Blair County personally came Samuel Shaw and Catharine Ann Shaw, who being duly sworn according to law did depose and say, that as Executors of the Last Will and Testament of William Shaw, Deceased, they will well and truly administer the goods and chattles, rights and credits of said Deceased according to law; and further, that the real and personal property devised in said will, does not in value exceed the sum of Two Thousand Dollars to the best of their knowledge & belief. Samuel Shaw Catharine Shaw Sworn and subscribed before me this 27th day of January A.D. 1864 H.A. Caldwell, Register Samuel Shaw & Catharine Ann Shaw, Executors of the Estate of William Shaw, Deceased. Memorandum: Letters Testamentary were this day issued to Samuel Shaw and Catharine Ann Shaw, Executors of the Last Will and Testament of William Shaw, late of Freedom Township, Blair County, Deceased. An Inventory of the goods and chattels of the said estate to be filed in thirty days, and a just and true account calculation and reckoning of their said Administration within one year of the date hereof, or when thereunto legally required. Given under my hand and official seal at Hollidaysburg, this 27th day of January, A.D. 1864. Inventory of the goods & chattels (not devised) filed this 24th day of February A.D. 1864. Vendue List of the goods (not devised) filed April 6th. 1864. Acct. passed & filed June 10th 1868 certified to the Orphans Court to July Term A.D. 1868.