Will of Levi Stephens, 1808: Washington Township, Fayette Co 

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Fayette County, Pennsylvania Recorded in Uniontown Courthouse
Will of Levi Stephens, born 1744
Registered and Compared 16 January 1808

  I Levi Stephens of Washington township, Fayette County and Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania being at this time in a weak state of bodily health but of a sound mind
and disposing memory, being possessed of a portion of this worlds goods blessed by
the Supreme Ruler of the Heavens for his abundant mercies unto me calling to mind
the uncertainty of time and being desirous to settle my outward affairs and to
dispose of my earthly effects: do thereon make and ordain this my last will and
testament directing and enjoining my Executrix and Executor hereafter named to
dispose of my Estate in manner following viz.- First it is my desire that after my
decease my Executrix and Executor shall cause my body to be decently interred and
they shall carefully and justly pay my funeral expenses and all my just debts out of
the first moneys coming into their hands - Second I give and bequeath unto my beloved
wife Elizabeth during her natural life the use, rents, profits, benefits and interest
of the land, meadows orchards sugar camp and other premises which have of late been
in my immediate occupancy, also a sufficiency of timber land for the plantation to
keep the premises in complete repair also the Negro woman, named Bess, the eight day
clock, all the grain gathered or growing. Horses, Mares, Geldings, Cattle, sheep,
hogs including all my moveable property, bonds, notes, all the rent due from the
Tenants in the occupancy of Luke Beazel; Abraham Layton and Richard Makelfresh up to
the first day of April Anni Dominee Eighteen Hundred and Eight, and all personal
demands due me out of the same, except the accounts or obligations I put into the
hands of Lawyer Riddle, late of Chambersburg and Thomas Meason Esquire my Attorneys
for Collection which appears by their receipts.  Third it is my mind and will that
when my Executrix and Executor receives the money of Lawyer Riddle or Thomas Meason
Esquire my Attorneys they shall pay it over to my seven children namely Nathaniel,
Sarah, John, Levi, Ann, Elizabeth and Thomas when they severally arrive at the age
of Nineteen years share and share alike.  Fourth I give and bequeath unto my son
Nathaniel the use of the tenement and Plantation where he now resides to be tilled
by him as heretofore until the first day of April Anni Domini 1810 with privilege to
leave half of the ploughed  land sowed with winter grain for his benefit, he paying
five pounds per year rent after the first day of April next, resowing this date. 
Fifth I give and bequeath unto my daughter Sarah the use of the timberland and
plantation whereon she together with her husband Levi Maston doth now reside, it to
be tilled as heretofore to leave half of the plowed land sowed with winter grain for
their benefit rent free.  Sixth it is my mind and will that my Executrix and Executor
shall lease out my tenement and plantation whereon Luke Beazel resides after the
expiration of his lease for one year, also to lease out the tenements and Plantation
now in tenure of Abraham Layton and Richard Mackelfresh until the first day of April
Eighteen Hundred and Ten.  Seventh it is my mind and will that my Executrix and
Executor shall pay to my minor children namely John, Levi, Ann, Elizabeth and Thomas
each the sum of 48pounds when they severally arrive to the age of nineteen years or
sooner if they should marry, to be paid out of the rents which may be received of
the tenants, to be paid in stock farming utensils or household goods the remainder
of those rents together with the several legacys given to my beloved wife shall be
enjoyed by her during her natural life for which she is to maintain cloathe and
school our minor children until they arrive at nineteen years of age, the two oldest
receiving 48 Pounds each.  Eight It is my mind and will that my Executrix and
Executor shall between the first of November Eighteen Hundred and Nine and the First
of April Eighteen Hundred and Ten call for reputable neighbors to assist them in
dividing all my lands, except the part bequeath to my wife during her natural life,
equally in quality and quantity as even as the situation of the land will admit of
and after the land is so divided they shall fix the price that each of the highest
value lots shall pay to those of the lowest value they proceed to balet and dray for
the respective lots so drawn by my children, Nathaniel, Sarah, John and Levi, and the
other three lots shall be leased out until the three younger children arrive
severally at the age of nineteen years at which time then are to receive possession
of the same.  The rents arising on the same shall be enjoyed by my beloved wife, in
the legacy before mentioned.  Ninth  At the decease of my beloved wife it is my mind
and will that the land hereby bequeathed to her and also all the personal property
willed to her remaining shall be equally divided between my seven children
aforesaid, share and share alike.  Tenth  It is my mind and will that if my seven
children should die before they arrive at the age of twenty one years and not have
issue, their part or parts remaining shall be equally divided between the survivors
of them.  Lastly I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my trusty and well
beloved wife Elizabeth Stephens and my trusty and well beloved son Nathaniel
Stephens my Executrix and Executor to this my last will and Testament, revoking all
wills and testaments by heretofore made.  In witness whereof I have set my hand and
seal this fourth day of January in the year of our Lord One Thousand eight hundred
and eight.

                                                      Levi Stephens

Signed sealed and declared by the testator to be his last will and testament in
presence of: John Shreve, Edward Chambers, Sam Cope, John Brightwell