Wills: Will of Charles Bell (1725); Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Liz Harrison LHTravelerkings@aol.com *********************************************************************** * USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** Will of Charles Bell In the name of God Amen I Charles Bell of Amity in the County of Philadelphia being weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given to God therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say principally & first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of the almighty God that gave it and my body to the Earth to buried in a Christian Like manner @ the direction of my executors herein after mentioned and as touching such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life I give devise and dispose of in the following manner. Viz first I will that all my funerall charges and other just debts be paid out of my estate by my Executor here after named. In promises I give and bequeath to my father Henry Bell my young grey horse for him freely to have and dispose of. Item I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife Mary all that mony now in the hands of Henry Bell Junior together with the household goods and other goods and chatles whatsoever is belonging to me as also the use of the Plantation for & during the ------- sixteen years (only excepting my wearing cloth I give to my father ----------.) I give an bequeath to my daughter Rebecca the plantation which I live on being in the Township of Amity confirming 100 acres of land or thereabouts with its appurtances for her freely to have enjoy or dispose of when she is arrived to the age of seventeen years but if in case my said wife Mary or my daughter Rebecca should die before my daughter should arrive to the age of seventeen years as aforesaid then the use and properties thereof to be and remain to the survivors of them for ever freely to enjoy and dispose of I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my wife Mary and my friend Jonathan Robeson of the Township of Amity in the County of Philadelphia yeoman my sole executers and trustees and do hereby impower them to make release and confirm a certain tract of land and on all other actions whatsoever by signing sealing delivering of any instruments in writing shall be as firm and good to any purchasers as I myself mought or could have done in my lifetime. I do hereby revoke disanull any former wills & testaments by me heretofore made ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will in witness whereof I herewith set my hand and fixt my seal in the presence of the subscribers this Eleventh Day of November Anno D one thousand seven hundred and twenty five Ch (his mark) Bell signed sealed and delivered pronounced as the last will testament in presence of us Israel Robeson Mary Rumford m her mark John Bell, Philadelphia November 25, 1725. Then personally appointed Israel Robson and John Bell two of the witnesses to the within written will and on their oaths respectively did declare they saw & heard Charles Bell the testator therein named sign seal publish & disclaim the same to be his last will and testament and that at the doing thereof he was of sound & disposing mind memory & understanding to the best of there knowledge and that they said Mary Rumford make her mark as a witness to the execution of the same will. Coram Moore Dty rgister. Be it remembered that on the 25th day of November 1725 the last will and testament of Charles Bell decd was proved in due form of law and probats and letters testamentary were granted unto Mary Bell & Jonathan Robson Executors herein named the said Mary being the first sworn and Jonathan being first solemnly affirmed well & freely to administer the decd estate and brong and inventory thereof into the register general's office at Philadelphia at or before the 25th day of February next and also to render an account when thereunto lawfully required. Given under the seal of the said office. Per Moore Dty rgist.