Wills: John Harter 1801 Mahanoy Twp. Northumberland Co. Pa. This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Beatrice Leemhuis, Bea69@velocity.net . USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file 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. ================ Will of John Harter Nothumberland Co. Pa. Written 18th of June 1798. Proved 6th of January 1801 I John Harter in Mahanoy Township in Northumberland county and state of Pennsylvania, farmer, am at present old and weak in body but God be thanked in sound sense and memory, having observed the mortality of mankind I therefore make this my last will and testament herein after mentioned. First. I commend my soul to the Great Meriful God who gave me the same, and my body in a Christian like manner to be buried, as for the same it was created, and my worldly goods I divide as follows after my last debts are paid by my herein after named executors who shall be named here after. 2nd. I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Anna Maria Harter, the house wherein I at present live, and my sons Andreas and Mathias Harter shall keep it in good order and repair at their own expense, and also a cow which she shall choose herself amongst my cows, and my two sons, Andreas and Mathias, shall find her good pasture in the summer and keep her in good provender in the winter. And she shall choose herself another cow yearly, amongst my sons cows, during her natural life. And also deliver her yearly and every year twelve bushels good wheat, six bushels good rye, and also twenty five pounds good pork, and twenty five pounds good beef, and also two gallons, of good honey, and a row of apple trees, she to have the choice, and one other tree near her house and a part in the cabbage garden to plant something therein and one half bushel of salt, one half pound of pepper, one pound of sugar, two quarts of whiskey, one half pound of allspice, one half pound of ginger, two pounds hogs lard, also to carry her grain to mill and deliver her the meal to the house. Also to deliver to her house a sufficient quantity of small cut firewood and also five yards flaxon, and five yards tow linen and five yards striped linsey, and one pair new shoes, one quarter yard calico, one handkerchief and one pound of wool. All the above mentioned shall be delivered my beloved wife, Anna Maria yearly and every year by my said sons during her natural life. 3rd. I give and bequeath also to my beloved wife of my household goods, one bed and bedstead, one blanket and three coverlets, three sheets, three towels, three tablecloths, three bags, one book called the True Christianity, one chest and the kitchen dresser, and my brass kettle and one iron kettle, and the middle pot, two pewter basins, and one pewter dish, six pewter spoons, and the iron ladle and flesh fork, three pans the porcelain plates, the tea kettle and the tea crockery. And if she should get sick or confined to her bed then my said two sons shall give her good attendance or pay 10 pounds for a good attendant so long as she lays sick. And after her decease shall the household good which I bequeathed her, and what is left, shall be equally divided amongst my slx children. 4th. I give and make over to my two youngest sons to wit, Andreas and Mathias Harter, the land and plantation whereon I at present live including all standing in the before mentioned township and county. I say I give and make over to my two sons, Andreas and Mathias Harter, to have and to hold to them, their heirs and assigns forever for which they shall pay the sum of 200 pounds current money of Pennsylvania as herein after mentioned. 5th. All my personal property which I have not bequeathed before, my executors, who shall be named herein after shall immediately after my decease shall make vendue and the money arising from the same shall within one year after my decease be divided into six equal shares amongst my six children. And the division shall be made by my executors who shall be named hereafter and that what each child has received of me in my lifetime shall be deducted so that to make it equal amongst them. And what each has received is clearly to be seen in a handbook which I made for that purpose. And my oldest son John Harter shall have 10 pounds besides his share of my personal property 6th. Respecting the two hundred pounds money which my two sons, Andreas and Mathias, are to pay for the before mentioned land, they shall pay to my oldest son, one year after my decease, the sum of sixteen pounds, thirteen shillings and four pence, and then the second year to my oldest daughter, Anna Maria, Peter Smith's wife, the same sum as is to be seen by her brother John. And the third year to Jacob Harter the same sum as may be seen by his brother John and the fourth year they shall pay to Catherina, John Heim's wife, the same sum of sixteen pounds, thirteen shillings and four pence and then the following four years to wit, the 5th, 6th, 7th and eighth year and each heir as they follow one another. to wit John Harter the fifth year the said sum as before mentioned and the sixth year to Anna Maria the same sum as before mentioned and then the seventh year the same sum as before mentioned and then the eighth year to Catharina, John Heim's wife, the same sum of sixteen pounds, thirteen shillings and four pence current money of Pennsylvania and so each of my children hath his portion. I appoint and nominate my son Andreas Harter and my son Mathias Harter to be my executors of this my last will and testament, and hereby make null and void all other wills and testaments by me made and I acknowedge this to be my last will and testament and no other. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the eighteenth day of June one thousand seven hundred and ninety eight. Signed, sealed and publicly John Harter declared by the above named John Harter this to be his last will and testament in our presence as witnesses at his request hereunto subscribed Jacob Bauman Michael Henninger A true translation to the best of my knowledge and abilities. Martin Withington Codicil added 13 May 1799. I John Harter having considered after my testament was sealed that if one of my daughters in the will mentioned should die before that part coming to her in the will before it is due shall not be willed to her husband, but to her children and by my executors which I have named in my will shall be equally divided amongst them. This I will add yet. This is at my request the thirteenth day of May 1799, by witness signed and sealed. George Henninger John Harter (Seal) John Harter was probably the John Harder who emigrated on the ship Fane in 1749. He married Anna Maria. By 1774 they were living in Northumberland Co. Pa. Where John Harter was a miller. His wife preceded him in death by a few months.