WILL: Benjamin BENDER, 1777, Rapho Township, Lancaster County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by
Mark S. Painter benderpainter@gmail.com October 1, 2010, 8:34 pm

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_______________________________________________

Source: Lancaster Will Book C-1-424
Written: April 20, 1777
Recorded: May 24, 1777

In the name of God, Amen.
I, Benjamin Bender of Rapho Township in the County of Lancaster in Pennsylvania 
being sick and weak and therefore thought proper to make my Last Will and 
Testament in manner Following;

Firs, I recommend my immortal Spirit in the hands of Almighty God in hopes for 
the remission of all my sins through the Mercy of my Saviour and an admission 
into the Regions of Bliss, and my body to the earth to be buried in a Christian 
manner at rest until the Great Day of Resurrection.

And as to my worldly affairs, with which the Lord has blessed me I bequeath in 
manner following. First I order all my just debts be paid after my decease. 
Then it is my will that my Widdow shall carry on the husbandry with my children 
until the eldest son attains his age, but if my Executors shall see that the 
housekeeping would not do and that she could not agree with one another then 
the plantation shall be appraised, and let out upon rent. And when my eldest 
son has attained his age then my land shall be sold at vendue, and my eldest 
son shall have five shillings over and above his equal share with the rest of 
my children.

And further it is my will that my Widdow when the plantation is sold shall have 
and receive yearly the interest of the one-third part of the money raised by 
sale & coming to her and as long as she lives she may remain my widow or not, 
but at the time of her decease the said third part of which she received the 
interest yearly shall devolve and fall back to my children share alike.
And further it is my will that the movable goods of what name soever, shall 
remain together as long as she carry on the housekeeping, but if my Executors 
should find that they could not carry on the housekeeping together, then I 
order that my movable goods be sold at vendue.

And the third part of the money raised by the sale of said movable goods I give 
unto my Widdow and to her use and she may remain a Widdow or not. And I also 
give unto my said wife my bed, so that I do not allow the same to be sold and 
it is my will that if any small debts should be paid then she shall first sell 
some of my moveable goods to pay the same.

And it is my will and I do hereby nominate and appoint John Sherrer and Stephen 
Wenger Executors and administrators over my said Widdow and minors trusting 
that they will act as parents toward them.

And I further authorize and empower my said executors to make a good title in 
my stead for said plantation and the same to be as sufficient if I had made it 
myself.

And I do hereby make null and void all former and other wills verbal or written 
by and heretofore made declaring this and no other to be my Last Will and 
Testement.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal in good understanding the 
20th April 
1777.                                                                           
                  Benjamin (X) Bender  seal

Signed, sealed, & pronounced by Benjamin Bender in the presence of us as 
witnesses: David Nickey, John (O) Seiber. [Translated from the original will 
written in German]

Lancaster County ss
On the 14th day of May Anno Dom. 1777 before me the subscringer personnaly 
appeared David Nickey one of the subscribing witnesses to the within will on 
his solomn affirmation according to law did declare the within writing as and 
for his Last Will and Testament and that at the doing thereof he was of sound 
and well diposing mind, memory and under standing to the best of his knowledge, 
observation and belief.                                       Peter Hoofnagle, 
Register.

Be it remembered on the 14th day of May Anno Dom. 1777 the Last Will and 
Testament of Benjamin Bender, late of Rapho Township in the County of 
Lancaster, Yeoman, deceased, was proved in due form of law and Letters 
Testamentary thereon were granted to John Sherrer and Stephen Wenger, the 
Executors therein named they being first duly qualified well and truly to 
administer the estate of the decedent and to exhibit a true and perfect 
inventory thereof into the Regoister Office at Lancaster on or before the 14th 
day of June next and to render a true and just account of their administration 
on the said estate when thereto lawfully required.. Given under the seal of the 
said office.                                                 Peter Hoofnagle, 
Register.

Lancaster County ss
On the 24th day of May Anno Dom. 1777 before me the subscriber personally 
appeared John Sieber the other subscribing witness to the said will and on his 
solemn affirmation according to the law did declare and say that he was present 
and saw and heard Benjamin Bender, the Testator, within named, sign, seal, 
publish, pronounce and declare the within writing as and for his Last Will and 
Testament and that at the time of doing thereof he was of sound and of well 
disposing mind, memory and understanding to the best of his knowledge 
observation and 
belief.                                                                         
                                       
                                                                                
                           Peter Hoofnagle, Register.