WILL: David SPARR, 1857, Woodberry Township, Blair County, PA Contributed by Donna Thomas Dmt1951@aol.com USGENWEB ARCHIVES (tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ___________________________________________________________ Blair County Courthouse, Hollidaysburg, Blair Co., PA, Wills, Vol. A, page 427, dated February 24, 1857. David SPARR In the name of God Amen, I David Sparr of Woodberry Township in the County of Blair and State of Pennsylvania (farmer) being weak in body and of sound mind memory and understanding and considering the uncertainty of this transitory of life do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following to wit: First. It is my will and I do order that all my just debts and funeral expenses be duly paid and satisfied as soon as conveniently can be after my decease by my sons equally. Item. I give and bequeath unto my dear wife Catharine all my household and kitchen furniture, including all the ___ in the house belonging to me. Also I give my said wife Two cows to be fed and kept with the other milk cows kept on the Mansion Farm. It is my will that all firewood my said wife may burn shall be cut ready for the fire place or stove. It is my will that my said wife shall have as much as the cow allows besides the above bequeaths. Item. I bequeath unto my three sons William Sparr, Isaac Sparr and Christian Sparr, all the residue of my personal property to be equally divided between them share and share alike. Item. It is my will that at the death of my said wife the bequests given to her in this my will be equally divided between my said sons share and share alike. Item. It is my will that my three sons William, Isaac and Christian ___ together for the payment of the balance due and coming to J. K. Neff for the Farm I bought of him containing One hundred and seventy-one acres and some perches, and as soon as my said sons by working together shall pay the said John K. Neff in full for the said Farm. Then it is my will that one of my said sons take as much of the said Neff Farm as Henry Harbison Jr. now farms on the said farm being about one hundred and twenty-four acres. And it is my will that the balance of the said Neff farm being about forty-seven acres be added to this Mansion Farm (now containing two hundred acres and allowance) and after being so added, then it is my will and desire that my said three sons each choose one discreet neighbor to divide the Mansion tract of land as equally as the same can be done, and when do divided then it is my desire the neighbors put a value on the said three tracts of land viz: the Neff tract of one hundred and twenty-four acres and the two tracts of the Mansion tract when so divided. And when so divided and appraised, then it is my will that my son William Sparr get the first choice of said three farms, and my son Isaac Sparr get the second choice of said three farms, and my son Christian Sparr get the third farm of the said three farms, the difference in the appraisement of the said farms to be equally divided between my said sons. Item. And if any one of my said sons William, Isaac or Christian shall refuse at any time for to work and pay his equal share of the debt due or owing for the farm so bought of J. K. Neff in full, then and in that case it is my will and desire that my said son which shall so refuse to help to pay for the same farm so bought of said J. K. Neff shall not receive any bequest, gift or share, or any part of my real or personal estate whatsoever. And last I hereby constitute and appoint my sons William Sparr and Isaac Sparr to be the Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and annulling all former wills by me made and ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament. In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the twenty-fourth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven. David Sparr Signed sealed published and declared by the above named David Sparr as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses thereto in the presence of the said testator and at his request. E. M. Kiennan Samuel Dean H. K. Hamn--- Blair County ss: On the 12th day of March Anno Domini 1857 before me Hugh A. Caldwell, Register for the Probate of Will and granting letters of Administration in and for the County aforesaid, personally came E. M. Kiennan Samuel Dean and H. K. Hamn--- the subscribing witnesses to the above will, who, being sworn according to law, do say that they were present and saw and heard David Sparr, the Testator, sign, seal, publish, pronounce and declare the foregoing Instrument of writing as and for his last Will and Testament, and that they, these deponents did sing their names as witnesses thereto in the presence of each other, and in the presence of the said Testator, and at his instance and request and that at the time of so doing he was of sound mind and memory and understanding to the best of their knowledge and belief. Sworn and subscribed before me this E. M. Kiennan 12th day of March A.D. 1857 Samuel Dean Hugh A. Caldwell H. K. Hamn--- Register Registered the 12th day of March A.D. 1857 by Hugh A. Caldwell Register Last Will & Testament of David Sparr. Memorandum. Letters Testamentary were this day granted to William Sparr and Isaac Sparr on the estate of David Sparr dec'd. An inventory to be exhibited in thirty days from this date and a just and true account calculation and reckoning of their Administration one year from date. Given under seal of office this 12th day ( William Sparr & of March Anno Domini 1857. ( Isaac Sparr Final account passed and filed March 4th 18--.