Northampton County PA Archives Wills.....Kuster, Ludwig December 1786 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Marcia Connors marciacon1@gmail.com August 27, 2018, 2:39 pm Source: Northampton Co Estate File 1188 Written: December 1786 Recorded: January 1787 Last Will of Ludwig Küster Exhibited on January 29, 1787 In the name of the Holy Trinity, Amen! Because we are all mortals and nobody is spared death, I, Ludwig Küster, having been confined to my sick bed by the Almighty God, having been allowed to live a long life, I have begun to think about death and resolved to compile my last will and testament, and to determine what is to become of my earthly possessions following my passing from this world and to announce the same. This will prevent any kind of disagreements between my wife and my children. For this purpose, I have summoned the school master, Christopf Anton Petri Conrad Herrmann and Peter Antoni so that they can hear my last will and testament and record it on paper. Because we, the two men named, have acquiesced to the request of Ludwig Küster, we presented ourselves in his home on December 11, 1786 and found him upon his sick bed in the lower chamber. However, we found him in a good mental state, whereupon he informed us that he had bid us to come to hear and record on paper his last will and testament, in case God should require him to depart this world. Thus, he declared to us the following last will and testament in these words: “This is my last will and testament. When the Almighty gives the command that I shall leave this world, I shall commend my eternal soul into the hands of my Father in Heaven, the Creator, but my body into Mother Earth. Regarding my earthly possessions, however, it is my desire that my location [real estate] remain as it is currently constituted until my youngest child has attained the age of 14 years. In order for my real estate to be properly managed, however, it is my will that the same be inspected by two of my neighbors and that the property be leased to my son, Johan Nicolaus, for the period of four years and he is to transfer to my wife one-third of what is built on that property so that she can support the children. Should the lessee be unable to get along with my wife, a home must be built for and two acres of land be given her so that she can plant corn. However, the lessee must plow, plant, and fertilize the land for her. Secondly, it is my will that that my son, Johan Nicolaus, during the first year after he assumes the property, and this is my will, that he return to my heirs the yield from the corn from ten of the eighteen acres up the hill. Those ten acres shall remain with the estate. And he is to plant one-half of the new acreage in wheat. My son George is to receive one and one-half acres for himself in advance and he is to select those one and one-half acres himself and the rest shall remain in the hands of the lessee; he is to give one-third of the remainder to my wife. Thirdly, it is my will that my son shall receive in advance, in addition to the one and one-half acres, his choice of one of the four existing Gaub [?] and he should use that to learn a craft following my demise. Fourth, I hereby state and insist that my wife be given 2 cows, 4 sheep, 4 sows of average size in order to support her children, as well as three mature trees in the fruit orchard, as well as three Rechen [measures} from the apple mill and three of the existing winter apple trees in the orchard and she may choose them herself. She is to have one-third part of the flax and hemp (and this is my express desire) and it is to be cut and processed for her. In addition, the lessee is to provide her sufficient fire wood, take her crops to the mill and return to her with the flour. Should the lessee clear and plant new land (but not to exceed two acres), he shall give to her one bushel of wheat per acre. In return, my wife shall feed and clothe the children properly, send them to school and church and train them up as any wife should. As long as they bear my name, they shall be supported in a gratis dwelling with a hearth on my property. However, should she decide—contrary to my wishes—to marry again, she shall not receive any interest at all from my estate; she shall depart, taking nothing with her. Fifth, it is my will that when my youngest child attains the age of 14 years, my wife shall receive for her support 11 bushels of corn, 4 bushels of wheat, one bushel of salt, 100 pounds of pork, 4 pounds of wool, 12 pounds of flax, 4 pounds of Werk, 4 bushels of buckwheat, 1 bushel of Welsh corn, and 3 pounds in coin. In terms of household items, she is to have one iron Hafen, one tin bowl, and 4 plates, and 8 spoons. In addition, my wife shall receive 1 cow for use in Stutz. This is my last will. The owners of the estate must furnish her with the necessary straw and winter fodder. It shall be taken to where the livestock are kept. Should my wife become infirm and ill, the owner of the estate shall provide proper care and keeping. She shall retain one bed and enough to support the children. Sixth, I state and demand that should one of my daughters marry, she shall receive from the estate 1 cow, 1 bed, 1 spinning wheel, 1 iron Haffen, one-half dozen plates, 1 bowl, one-half dozen spoons, and a free dress. Seventh, should the estate need to be sold, it is my will that it shall be sold to men who are selected by my children and that an assessment be conducted. Should one or two of my children decide to retain the estate, they shall assume a lease on it and they shall pay the lease fee annually to the other children. Nevertheless, the payments should not be so high that the value held by the younger children exceeds that of the property given the lessee by me and the holdings be equal in value. It is my will that the eldest child have of the estate at least as much value as that belonging to the younger children and that the eldest have the right to claim the estate when he comes of age. Eighth, it is my will that should the time come that my eldest, Johann Nicolaus, no longer wishes to manage one-third of the estate while the others dwell thereon, or should he not manage the estate efficiently, the estate shall be leased to another man. If he [J.N.] should move away, he is to leave behind 20 acres of winter crops. The current wagon is to be assessed by experts and be left to the lessee. Should the wagon be of lesser value when he leaves the property, he must pay to the heirs the amount lost on the wagon. Ninth, it is my will that the existing supplies be used for the support of my wife and my children. Should there be more than they need, they are to transfer the excess to my son, Johann Nicolaus, who shall add it to the remaining estate. After this last will and testament has been declared in the presence of the aforementioned three men as witnesses, towit Christoph Anton Peter, Lönerd Herrmann (and this is my last will), and Peter Antoni and they have recorded my last will and testament on paper and they have read it aloud to my complete satisfaction. I hereby require that following my death, all provisions of this last will and testament be fulfilled and that its provisions be taken most seriously. This document is to be considered a fidi commiss (or under whatever legal designation) and respected accordingly under the law. I hereby commission the attending Mssrs. Conrad Herrmann and Peter Antoni the younger as executors of my last will and testament and that they are to manage the affairs and see to it that this my last will and testament be observed in all points and certify thereto. I have then added my own signature to this last will and testament and have done so on this eleventh day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-six. Ludwig Küster [seal]. This was requested and done in our presence, Christoph Anton Peter, Conrath Hermann. Sworn 22 January 1787, Peter Andony. Translated by Professor at Brigham Young University: Dr Rogert Minnert of Provo UT Additional Comments: I have the original in German if you want it. pdf File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/northampton/wills/kuster1150gwl.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 8.5 Kb