Wills: Johannes Stauffer, 1798: Martic Twp, Lancaster County Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Rich Aungst. RICHAUN@aol.com USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. ____________________________________________________________ Johannes Stauffer son of Ulrich Stauffer (b- 2/2/1722 Grosshochstetten, Switzerland d- 11/24/1798 Martic Twp. Lancaster Co. PA. ____________________________________________________________ Will of Johannes Stauffer IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN: I John Stauffer of Martic Township Lancaster county and state of Pennsylvania being weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory blessed be God , do make and declare this to be my last will and testament in manner following , that is to say , that all my just debts and funeral charges be paid and satisfied as soon as conveniently may be after my decease . ITEM: I give and bequeath to my wife Margaret her bed and furniture and such articles of all my household furniture as she shall think proper to choose for herself and I further given unto my said wife my two cows , and two sheep her choice out of my flock and my riding mare and I further will that my wife dwell in the house wherein I now live during her widowhood and she shall have one third part of the garden wherever she may choose and likewise one third part of the cabbage garden where she may choose during her widowhood or while she remains my widow. ITEM: I give and bequeath unto my son John the plantation whereon I now live together with all the appurtenances thereuto belonging valued by me at fourteen hundred pounds. Out of which said plantation my wife is to draw one third part of all the produce of said plantation while she remains my widow and further it is my will that my son Johns shall procure and provide for my wife Margaret firewood, feed for her above mentioned cattle and stable room where she may get her grain ground and deliver it to her house . In short it is my will that my son John shall deliver or have delivered every thing necessary so that she may want for nothing while she is my widow and further my son John is to pay my wife one hundred pounds lawful money in gold or silver coin seventy five pounds of said money to be paid the first year and the remaining twenty five pounds to be paid the second year . Likewise it is my will that my son John pay to my son David one hundred pounds of like lawful money as aforesaid . When my wife and David are fully discharged then David shares alike with the remainder of my children and further it is my will that my son Peter's children draw there fathers share who will share alike with Margaret , Anna , Magdelena , John and David out of the plantation I have bequeathed to my son John . It is my will that my son John shall pay seventy five pounds lawful money in gold or silver coin yearly and every year from the first payment of his plantation until the whole is fully paid and further it is my will that my son Peter's share be divided equally among his children except his daughter Esther's share will be lodged in my son Johns hands and in case she should come to want John is to give her as much as will give her relief and the remainder if any there be is to be divided equally among her children and further it is my will that my plantation adjoining Martic Forge be sold to the best advantage as soon as conveniently can after my decease and I will one hundred pounds of the purchase money of said plantation to my beloved wife to be paid her as soon as possible after the sale and further I will one hundred and fifty pounds of said plantation to my son Peter's children to be divided among them as before mentioned and after my son Peter's children have drew there fathers share of said plantation then they shall come in for there share with the remainder of my children as before mentioned and further it is my will that my wife shall have my house clock and clock case now standing in my dwelling house and it is likewise my will that my son John shall have my large house Bible and it is likewise my will that the yearly payments of my lands be divided in manner following , first the two oldest heirs for the first payment after my wife and my son David has drew there first payments then the two next for the second payment and soon in rotation and further it is my will that all my moveable effects such as my wife may not choose shall be sold at public venue and the money divided among my aforementioned children or there heirs. LASTLY: I do here nominate and appoint my beloved wife Margaret , my son John Stauffer and John Lyne to be the whole and sole Executors of this my last Will and Testament and I do here revoke and dismiss all other and former wills and executors ratifying allowing and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament. IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty seventh day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety eight .... John Stauffer SIGNED sealed published pronounced and declared by the said John Stauffer as his last will and testament in the presence of us , who in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names Abraham Miller , Benjamin Hart LANCASTER COUNTY FS : On the 27th day of December Anno Domino 1798. Before me subscriber personally appeared Abraham Miller and Benjamin Hart the two subscribing witnesses to the foregoing will and upon there solemn affirmation according to law, did severally declare and say that they were present and saw and heard John Stauffer the Testator therein name sign seal publish pronounce and declare the foregoing instrument in writing as and for his last Will and Testament and that at the time of the doing thereof he was of sound and well disposing mind memory and understanding according to the best of there knowledge observation and belief. G. Rofs Register BE IT REMEMBERED: That on the 27th day of December Anno Domni 1798 the last Will and Testament of John Stauffer late of Martic Township in the county of Lancaster deceased was proved in due form of law and letters testamentary thereon were granted to Margaret Stauffer the widow , John Stauffer and John Lyne the executrix executors therein named they having first been duly qualified well and truly to administer the Estate of the said decedent and especially to exhibit a true and perfect inventory thereof into the Registers Office at Lancaster on or before the 27th day of January next and to render a just and true account of there Executor ship on said estate in one year or when thereto lawfully required . GIVEN under my hand and seal of my office.. G. Rofs Register