Northumberland County   Wills

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Peter Smith's Will                      Translated

                In the Name of God, Amen.  I Peter Smith of Mahonoy Township in the County of 
Northumberland, being weak in body but of perfect mind and Memory do ordain and Constitute this to be 
my last Will and Testament.  1st herewith to let my Heirs Know after my Death how my Estate is to be 
divided and principally and first of all I give and recommend my Soul to God and my Body I recommend 
to the Earth to be buried in a decent Christian Manner at the discretion of my Executors.  2nd I give and 
bequeath unto my son John George or his Heirs and assigns all that tract of Land which lays on the South 
side of Swova Creek part of the Land that I live on, Except eight Acres of Wood Land joining Henry 
Kreb's, and he shall have one acre or what is on the Island of Meadow Ground, on this side of the creek, I 
do ordain that my son John George shall have the use of my New Waggon  which belongs to my son Peter.  
3rd I do give my son Peter and his Heirs and assigns the remainder of my Land that I live on wherefore he 
shall pay the sum of three hundred pounds current Money of Pennsylvania to my three Children namely 
Andrew, Maria Elizabeth & Mary as is herein after mentioned (that is to say) the sum of twenty five 
pounds yearly viz. The sum of twenty five pounds to my Son Andrew one year after my Decease , and as 
soon as he has his age, of twenty one Years, and the sum of twenty five pounds to my Daughter Maria Eliz. 
The year following and the sum of twenty five pounds to my Daughter Mary, the Sum of twenty five 
pounds the third Year after my decease and so on till the three hundred is all paid,  4th I do Give to my 
Two Sons John & Jacob and to their Heirs and Assigns the Remainder of my Lands three tracts Viz. One 
hundred and fifty seven acres joining Jacob Oxenrider and John Cophenhoven at Swova Creek and Seventy 
five Acres joining the same, besides one hundred and fifty acres adjoining the above mentioned that my 
afsd John and Jacob or their Heirs or Assigns to be divided share and share alike as Tenants in Common, 
and I do give likewise my old Waggon  between the two.  5th I do give my son Peter my New Waggon with 
two of my best Horses & all my Smith Tools  that I have,  6th and it is my Will that my son Peter shall 
give my son Andrew as soon as he comes to his age one Cow, and to my two Daughters Mary Eliz. & 
Mary. Each of them one Cow.  7th and it is my Will that all my Moveables Shall be divided Share and 
Share alike amongst all my Children or their Heirs and Assigns, namely John George. Peter, John, Jacob, 
Andrew, Maria Eliz. & Mary.  8th  I do also  order and direct my Son John George & Peter Ferster 
Executors of my last Will & Testament, and I do hereby Revoke and disanull all Wills by me made 
Rectifying and Confirming this & no other to be my last Will and Testament.  In witness whereof I have 
hereunto set my Hand & Seal the 18th day of June in the Year 1795.  Peter (X his mark) Smith  [Seal]   
Signed Sealed and Signed as his last Will and Testament by the said Testator in presence of us; Andrew 
Emery, Nicholas Shutter. 

Northumberland County; Be it remembered that on the Seventh day of March An. Dom.  1796.  Andrew 
Emery and Nicholas Shutter two of the Subscribing Witnesses to the foregoing Will who being duly 
sworn according to Law, did depose and say that they were Personally present and did see Peter Smith the 
Testator sign (by making his Mark) Seal & declare the foregoing Writing to be his last Will & Testament, 
and that at the time of his so Publishing the said Will, he was of sound & disposing mind & memory, as 
the deponents do believe according to the best of their Knowledge & Understanding, that the deponents 
respectively wrote their names as Witness in the Presence of each other, and saith not Sworn & 
Subscribed the same day and Year before.          Jn. Simpson Reg.


Be it remembered that on the Seventh Day of March in the Year of our Lord 1796.  The last Will and 
Testament of Peter Smith deceased written in the German Language was duly proved and approved before 
me, of which, the foregoing record is a true Translation as on the Oath of James Smith as appears on said 
Translation, and Letters testamentary ifsued in due and Common Form of Law to John George Smith and 
Peter Ferster, Executors therein named, on the same day.  Witness my Hand the same day & year.
                                                                Jn. Simpson Reg. 

Northumberland County Courthouse
Will Bk. 1, page 165