WILLS: Will of Andrew KECK, 1826, 1828, Salisbury Township, Lehigh County, PA Surnames: KECK, KNAUSS, HORLOCHER, HORLACHER, BETZ, RHOADS, SCHUTZ Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lance Ware Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/lehigh/wills.htm ________________________________________________ Will of Andrew Keck Lehigh County, Pennsylvania - Wills vol. 2, p. 63-64 In the name of God Amen I Andrew Keck of Salisbury Township in the County of Lehigh in the State of Pennsylvania being of good health of body and of sound and disposing mind and memory (Blessed be GOD for the same) and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs whilst I have Strength and capacity so to do, do make and publish this my last will and Testament hereby revoking and making void all former wills by me at any times heretofore made And first and principally I commit my Soul into the hands of my Creator who gave it, and my body to the earth to be burried in a decent and christian like manner at the discretion of my executors hereinafter named And as touching such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life I dispose of the same as following to wit First I give and bequeath unto my dear wife Susanna all that my Stock of Horses and cattle and farmer utensils, household goods and Kitchen furniture whatsoever the same may be after my decease to have and enjoy the same during the term of her natural life or so long as she remains my widow and after her decease or her marriage my executors or the Survivors of them shall sell the same by public vendue and distribute the proceeds thereof among my eight children or their heirs in the same manner as will be directed for the distribution of my other estate and herein after mentioned. I also do give and devise unto my said wife Susanna all that my messuage or tenement and lot or piece of land thereunto belonging on which I at present live, containing sixteen acres and twelve perches strict measure with the appurtenances to hold the same to her for and during the term of her natural life or as long as she remains my Widow she keeping the same in good and tenantable order and repair. I further will order and direct that my said wife shall also have and receive the Interest of One thousand Dollars during her natural life which said Sum of one thousand dollars shall remain in the hands of my Son Jacob during the said Term, and the interest thereof by him annually and regularly paid to my said wife for the term aforsaid. And whereas I have lately purchased a certain Tenement and lot of land situate in South Whitehall Township in the County of Lehigh, Containing five acres and sixty nine perches which is at present occupied by my Son David which said Tenement and lot of land with the appurtenances I do give and devise unto my hereinafter named Executors, to hold the same in trust for the use of my said Son David during the term of his natural life and after his decease I will order and direct that the same shall be sold by my Executors and the proceeds thereof divided among my Children as hereinafter is directed. And as to all such other Real Estates or of my lands and tenements wheresoever the same may be situated and I shall die possessed of I will order and direct that the same shall be sold by my Executors hereinafter named and that by public vendue for the best price which may be reasonably begotten for the same and for that purpose I do hereby authorize and empower my Executors or the surviver of them, to make sign, seal, execute and acknowledge all such Deed or Deeds of Conveyances as may be requisite and necessary for the granting and assuring the same to the purchaser or purchasers thereof in fee simple And it is my will and I do order and direct that all and every of my estate whatsoever the same may be not otherwise disposed of that the same shall be divided into eight equal shares and portions, And I do give and bequeath the same unto such of my Children herein after named in manner following to wit. Unto each of my Sons George Salomon Andrew Jacob and Charles or to their heirs, I give and bequeath one Share thereof unto my daughter Polly (wife of Salomon Knauss) or her heirs, I give and bequeath one Share thereof, unto my daughter Elizabeth (wife of Wm Horlocher) or her heirs, I give and bequeath one Share thereof upon trust and for the following uses that is to say, that he the said George Keck his Executors or administrators, shall and do regularly and annually pay the Interest thereof unto my Son John Keck during the term of his natural life, and the principal of said Share to be paid within three month after his decease unto the lawful Children of my said Son John in equal shares, and in order to make a fair and equal distribution among my said children I will order & direct that such of my children to whom I have made advancements and against whom I have Bonds or notes for the same and which are made payable on demand Interest thereon shall be calculated from the date of the respective Bonds or Notes and the amount thereof added to the principal of such Bonds or Notes. And lastly I nominate constitute and appoint my living Sons George Keck and Charles Keck to be the executors of this my last will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the twenty fourth day of April in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty Six 1826. Andrew Keck Signed Sealed and delivered by the said Testator as his last will and Testament in the presence of us Godfrey Betz George Rhoads Lehigh County On the 16th day of May AD 1828 before me the Subscriber Register for the probate of wills and granting letters of administration in and for the County of Lehigh appeared Godfrey Betz and George Rhoads, the subscribing witnesses to the within will and being duly sworn according to Law did depose and say that they were present and saw and heard Andrew Keck the Testator sign, seal publish pronounce and declare the within Instrument of writing as and for his Testament and last Will and that at the time of so doing he was of perfect and sound mind memory and understanding to the best of their Knowledge Observation and belief James Hall Register Entered May 16th 1828 NB. Geo. Keck renounced his Executorship as per renunciation filed