WILL: Jacob W. BRECHBILL, 1868, Lurgan Township, Franklin County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Charles Peters petersc8@aol.com April 20, 2008, 8:53 am Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/franklin/ _______________________________________________ Source: Franklin County Courthouse Written: September 26, 1868 Recorded: April 4, 1903 Will Jacob W. Brechbill Franklin County Courthouse Chambersburg, Pennsylvania Jacob W. Brechbiel late of Lurgan Township deceased. Probated April 4, 1903, A.L. Shafer Register Introduction to my will. As it has pleased Almighty God to give me an existence in this world. It has also pleased Him to bring me to manhood, and in that time convinced me that Man was not to live for himself only, so brought me to know and understand my situation in this life to make ready for a day that is coming wherein to give an account of the deeds done in the body. So I was called to prepare for my leaving of this world again, so in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and forty three the grace of God so overcame me, so much so that I promised by grace Devine to do that which might tend to my future joy and happiness, and of those about me from that time onward I have tried to have a good conscience toward God and toward my fellow men. But I have to or on to this day that I did not live so careful as I could wish to have done. So I had often to renew my ways in one respect still to try with new endeavors to do better. So to this day I could earn nothing toward my future happiness. But if the good Lord will receive me to him at last, it is grace, free grace and grace only that saved me. And in this my great weakness I have tried to counsel others to get Religion and come to my assistance. Although I did not succeed to get my Beloved wife to join in with me so I concluded at last not to hinder any body from following the dictates of their own conscience. Now I sometimes feel that my mortal body may soon be put into the earth again. So I consider it a prudent part of mine to give some directions how to do with what little God has intrusted me with that it may be so done as to promote each others happiness in this life and my prayer to God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is that each may work out their souls salvation while it is called to day Amen. By help devine, I, Jacob W. Brechbiel write this the twenty sixth day of September eighteen hundred and sixty eight, my last Will and Testament which is as follows: First: I will and bequeath all that belongs to me, or would be coming to me or is possessed of me whether real or personal property, all I will to my Dearly Beloved Sarah during her lifetime or as long as she shall be my widow. But if she be married again I will her not more than the interest of the one third of the real estate which is to be appraised immediately after her marriage, of the one third of the valuation she is to have the interest during her lifetime after which the principal falls to the heirs. Second: I will that my wife shall see to that all debts legally contracted be truly and honestly paid, if there shall be one thousand dollars of a debt or more at my decease, and it can fairly be reduced one half in five years after my decease, there shall be no sale of real estate (But if at the end of five years there is no other way to pay the debts, then sell the farm or real estate I will that it is sold at public to the best advantage of the heirs). Third: I will that all income from whatever source it may come, that the said income be applied to support the family and to reduce and pay the debts. Fourth: I will that the real and personal property be for the good and benefit of my wife and family, through the lifetime of my beloved wife agreeably to the statement in Article first. After her decease I will that the property remaining shall be appraised by three disinterested neighbors according to the value of each article and the real estate included. Fifth: I will that the mechanical tools not required to carry on the farm be so divided amoung those that can use them, so that they are all satisfied on the value of those. Sixth: I will that the appraisement be made of anything or any farming implements needed on the farm whatsoever until it becomes agreeable to Article four. Seventh: I will that an account be kept of all the work that the children shall do or have done for the help of the family after they are nineteen years of age a credit being given or paid for what they do according to agreement and charged for what they get according to agreement. I will that they so made contracts be settled first at the final settlement, which I will be done as follows. The farm being appraised according to article four, then the oldest child is to have first chance to take the farm at the appraisement if he cannot see to take it, the next in succession oldest is to have a chance to take the farm if it don’t suit him, give each or several together a chance to take the farm. at the appraisement, and the one or that those that take the farm pay the rest if the heirs so as to have share and share alike from the oldest to youngest. If there shall be any minors at my wife’s decease then I will that one of those that the farm take shall be guardian for the minors or minor and his share I will to remain in the farm until those minor or minors shall be of age of twenty one years, when it is to be paid to him on them. Eighth: I will and ordain my Dear Son Moses Brechbiel to be my Executor of this my last Will and Testament. He shall aid his mother wheresoever she may need his assistance and for the so doing, all the time he shall lose from his regular engagement I will him one dollar and fifty cents a day to be drawn from income article three. Ninth: In conclusion I will ordain direct and tell to all concerned that the foregoing Will be carefully pondered and then applied and peace harmony and Love be maintained by all in a true and Christian manner, and avoid all quarrelling and contention. O! my Dear wife and you my Dear Children one and all (I could wish to have the right to will to all a share of the great inheritance which is prepared for those that love God and do his will agreeably to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. JB) The personal property mentioned in article four I will that it be divided amoung the heirs of if that does not suit it be sold at public sale and also the real estate if none can or will take it, the real estate according to article seven then I will that it be sold at public sale. In witness whereof I have to this my last Will written on one sheet of paper, set my hand and seal the date written in the beginning. Jacob W. Brechbiel In the presence of the subscribers Tobias C. Wenger Martin V. B. Hoover Pennsylvania, Franklin County ss: Before me S.A. Small, Deputy Register of Will, in and for the said County personally came David R. Long and Lincoln Sailhammer who being duly qualified according to law say they were well acquainted with Jacob W. Brechbiel and with his hand writing and especially with his signature and they verily believe the signature Jacob W. Brechbiel to said instrument attached is genuine and in his own proper handwriting. David R. Long Lincoln Sailhamer Affirmed and subscribed this 4th day of April AD 1903 S.A. Small Deputy Register This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 7.6 Kb