WILLS: John FLETCHER, June 1838, Berlin, Somerset County, PA

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The Will of John Fletcher Filed 15th June 1838

In the name of God Amen; I, John Fletcher of Berlin, Somerset Co., Pennsylvania, 
considering the uncertainty of this mortal life, and being in sound mind and 
memory (blessed be Almighty God for the same) do make and publish this my last 
will and testament.......in manner and form following to wit: Principally, and 
first of all, I commend my immortal soul unto the hand of God who gave it and my 
body to the earth to be buried in a decent and christian like manner at the 
discretion of my executor, herinafter named and as to such wordly estate 
wherewith it hath pleased God to bless in this life I give and dispose of the 
same in the following manner: to wit: First, I give and bequeath unto my wife, 
Susanna, the house and lot no. 22 in the edition of Berlin aforesaid, which I 
now occupy with all the oppurtenances, thereto belonging all the beds, and 
bedding, carpeting, household and kitchen furniture remaining in the house at my 
decease, together with all the stock such as cows and hogs. And also that tract 
of land containing fifteen acres and three quarters, strict measures adjoining 
land of John Rauch on the east and North and on the west the land of Philip 
Wegley, together with the sum of one thousand dollars in lawful money arising 
from the sale of the two tract of land adjoining each other now in the occupancy 
of Peter Zimmerman whichtwo tract shall be sold at public outcry at the 
discretion of my executor hereafter named.  The aforesaid thousand dollars to be 
paid to her out of the first monies arising from such sale.  And I also give and 
bequeath to my wife Susanna the sum of one thousand dollars out of the monies 
arising out of the sale of that tract of land now occupied by George Zimmerman 
situated in Somerset Twp. and County aforesaid which tract will also be sold at 
Public outcry at the discretion of the executor, said money to be paid as the 
thousand dollars aforesaid and likewise all my stock and interest in the Bank of 
Brownsville, Penna. together with three lots, numbered in the general plan of 
the town of Berlin Nos. 25, 26, and 27. And also I give and bequeath unto her my 
library together with one fourth of the money arising from the sale of a tract 
of land situated on a branch of Wills Creek below the Elk Lick in Londonderry 
Twp. county aforesaid which tract of land to be sold to the highest and best 
bidder at public sale at discretion of my executor.
And likewise, I bequeath to her the sale of certain house and two lots in 
Brownsville, Pennsylvania.  All the above legacies and bequests, all and 
singular I bequeath as above noted to my wife, Susanna forever, I bequeath to 
Isabella Parker my three lots, situated in the Borough of Somerset County 
aforesaid to have and hold forever.  I bequeath to Alexander H. Philson and 
Samuel Philson a certain tract of wood land adjoining lands of John P. Brubaker, 
William Long, and others, to be equally divided between them, out of which 
bequest each of them shall pay to the aforesaid Isabella Parker, in lawful 
money, the sum of one hundred dollars.  I also bequeath to my beloved niece, 
Margaret Patterson, the sum of fifteen hundred dollars lawful money to be paid 
out of my estate.  I bequeath to Jane Zimmerman all and singular the horses and 
cows and farming utensils which she has already received.  I bequeath to Heather 
Ankney, now residing in Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio, the sum of three 
hundred dollars lawful money.  I bequeath five hundred dollars to the Lutheran 
Sunday School to be vested in the hands of the trustees of the Lutheran Church., 
which sum shall be put out on interest secured from mortgages, which interest 
shall be annually collected and appropriated to the purchase of Bibles, 
Testaments and other religious books, exclusively for the use of the Lutheran 
Sunday School of Berlin.  Moreover, each attending aforesaid Sunday School shall 
receive one Bible as a present soon as it is able to read.
I likewise bequest five hundred dollars lawful money to the German Reformed 
Church, which sum shall be put out on interest secured by mortgage which 
interest shall be annually collected and appropriated to the purchase of Bibles, 
Testaments and other religious books, exclusively for the use of the German 
Reformed Sunday School of Berlin.  Moreover each child attending aforesaid 
Sunday School shall receive one Bible as a present as soom as it is able to 
read.  After the foregoing bequest, and legacies are well ad truelly distributed 
as above directed, the residue of balance of my estate all and singuar to be 
divided between the German Reformed Sunday School and the Lutheran Sunday School 
as aforesaid.
I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Susanna, all of my outstanding book 
accounts---and lastly, I nominate, constitute and appoint Alexander Philson of 
Berlin, Somerset County, to be the executor of this my last will and testament, 
hereby revoking all other wills and testaments, by me heretofore made and 
declaring this and no other to be my last will and testament.  I have hereunto 
set my hand and seal this twenty-first day of April, in the year of our Lord, 
one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight.

John Fletcher

witnesses:
JE Steffer
Charles Reese

Filed June 15, 1838
Typed April 11, 1936
Copied in longhand by Gertrude Philson Musser 5-20-64