LAST WILL & TESTAMENT of MICHAEL REITZ, 1825 Upper Mahanoy Township, Northumberland County File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Paul Deeben. jdeeben@aol.com 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. In the name of God I Michael Reitz of Upper Mahanoy Township Northumberland County and State of Pennsylvania, Yeoman, Being sick and weak in body, but of sound mind memory and understanding Blessed by God for the same, Do make and publish this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following tract: First of all I command my Immortal soul into the hands of God, Who gave it and my body to the Earch to be buried a decent and Christian Like manner at the discretion of my executors herein after named and as to such Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give and dispose of the same in the following manner-- I give and devise to my Beloved Wife during life or as long as she remains my widow the following articles, my clock,six bushels of wheat six bushels of Rye, one feed hog that weighs one hundred pound, fifty pound of beef, eight bushels of potatoes, apples and corn as much as she needs, the third part of the gardens, one cow she choose in the flock fed and pastured and milked if she is not able to do it, five pound of good____one bushel of salt, shoes as much as she needs, the linens in the house, kitchen and cellar where I now lie, kitchen furniture as much as she needs, two beds, bedsteads, and the necessary beddings and of the linen as much as she needs, one stove and _____ if she needs one, one chest and one bureau, the use of the half of the dresser which stands in the room, and table, three chairs, her side saddle, eight pound of fallow, eight pound of soap, the choice of the books she wants to take, the grain to take to the mill and the grist back again to her house, fire wood as much as she needs cut and took where she want to use it, one toe draugh[?] and Ten Dollars in cash yearly, and every year and in case if she would get sick she shall be maintained good. And if she don't like to stay on the place aforesaid she shall have the right to go to any of her children to live and the aforesaid articles shall be delivered to her by my son Daniel Reitz during life as aforesaid. Second, it is my will that Elizabeth Reitz daughter of Leonard Reitz deceased, shall have out my estate as soon as the said Elizabeth is eighteen years old, agreed approved a manner and sum is in the hands of Michael Reitz Jr. Guardian of said Elizabeth Reitz. Third, it is my will that my place shall be divided in two parts by three disinterested men of the neighborhood and it shall be so divided that the acres on the same side that is on the north side of Swaben Creek shall come to the lower part and shall be divided in equal share or parts as near as possible. Fourth, I give and dispose unto my son Daniel Reitz the upper part of my plantation for which he shall pay the just and full sum of eight dollars for every acre in the following manner, the money arising of the tract of land and plantation shall be paid to my legal heirs in equal shares beginning with the oldest two years after my death and every year one till they are all paid. He shall have no share in the payments and Jonathan shall have no share in the payments; Jonathan is considered a red in the land which he gets and Daniel's share is considered as red in the land. Further I devise unto my son Daniel Reitz one horse and harness for two horses, one plough and one Cow. Danile shall have the choice in taking his horse. Daniel shall pay yearly and every year the sum of fifty dollars beginning as aforesaid till every heir has fifty dollares and the remainder in equal shares int he same amount till the whole sum be paid. Fifth, I give and dispose unto my son Jonathan Reitz the lower or west part of my place for which he shall pay six dollars for every acre which will com to his part shall pay it in the same manner as the above tract is to be paid but the first rounds he shall only pay thirty dollars to each heir and the remainder of the whole which he has to pay shall be paid as the share in equal shares till the heirs are all paid. I give and devise unto my son Jonathan Reitz two horses and harness and one plough, one cow, the choice after Daniel to take his horses. It is my will that the lower part of my place when divided shall include the house, stable and garden where my son George Reitz now lives. Sixth, I give and devise unto my two sons Daniel and Jonathan my waggon and board and everything belonging to said waggon. Further it is my will that my son Jonathan Reitz shall have the use of that part of the orchard on the upper part of the place which lays on the west side of a ditch that runs through the orchard for ten successive years. Further is is my will that my son Michael shall not pay any penny of the note which he is indebted to me till his turn comes in for his share of the land then he shall have a credit on the note and one share shall be paid to the heir next in rank to the said Michael on his place. Further I empower my Executors herein named to make and execute such lawful deeds to my said sons Daniel and Jonathan as I might do myself in my lifetime. And as touching all the rest residue and remainder of my personal property shall be sold be public sale and shall be divided in equal shares unto my lawful heirs as soon as the same can be and after the death of my said wife the property given to her shall also be sold and divided almongst my heirs. And lastly i nominate constitute and appoint my son Michael Reitz and my son Peter Reitz to be my executors of this my will and testament witness my hand and seal this seventeenth day of October A.D. 1825. Signed sealed published and declared } by the said testator as his will and } testament in the presense of us who } Michael Reitz (seal) in his presense and at his request } have subscribed as witnesses, } Peter Brosious Daniel High I Michael Reitz the testator within named describe this codicil to be taken as a part of my Last will and testament as follows, I give and devise unto my son Daniel Reitz the stove and pipes which stands in the house where I now live and two third part of all the grain that is on my place and Daniel is to keep the family for one year of the grain, further I give and devise unto my son Jonathan reitz my other horse and one third part of all the grain on the place aforesaid and all the boards that sits in the orchard and house, and it is my will that my two sons Daniel and Jonathan after the land is divided to give each other a road to come to their fields and meadows with as little injury to each other as possible. Witness my hand and seal the fifth day of November one thousand eight hundred and twenty five. 1825. Witnesses present } his as signing, } Michael x Reitz mark Peter Brosious Daniel High