Wills: Joseph Caldwell, 1850: Carroll Twp, Washington Co Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Michael Caldwell. msc@juno.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. ____________________________________________________________ Will of Joseph Caldwell: I Joseph Caldwell of Carroll Township County of Washington and State of Pennsylvania make this my last will and testament in manner and form following to wit: first I will and bequeath to my beloved wife Catherine all my messuage or tract of land with the house and tenements, on which we now reside it being about two and three quarter acres be it more or less, to her her heirs and assigns forever. Item Second I authorize my Executors to rent out to the best advantage my two houses and lots in Monongahela City, to pay all my just debts and funeral expences, after they are paid if my wife Catherine still lives then I will and bequeath to her the rents and profits of same during her natural life and at her death the property to be sold and divided as follows, to wit, I give and bequeath to my son John, my daughter Margaret McFadden, my son Joseph, my daughter Catherine Gregg, and my sons Charles, William H. and George J.; equal shares, share and share alike. Item the balance of my property real personal and mixed, I will and bequeath to my wife Catherine; I hereby constitute and appoint O.B. McFadden and Samuel Becket my Executors of this my last Will and Testament; hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal this 16th day of January A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty, 1850. Joseph Caldwell {Seal} Signed sealed published and declared by the above named Joseph Caldwell to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request & in his presence have subscribed as Witnesses our names thereunto. Samuel Hill Samuel C. King Hugh McCain. This is a codicil to be added to the last will and testament of me Joseph Caldwell of Carroll Township, which bears date on the 16th January day of 1850 First I do hereby ratify and confirm my said will in all respects, save so far as any part therof shall be revoked or altered by this present codicil, and in particular whereas I have by my said will given to my son John Caldwell an equal share with my other children. Now I do hereby revoke and make void the said legacy to my son John, and I do hereby give and bequeath the interest so revoked to the children of the said John Caldwell, they to receive the share which their father John Caldwell would have been entitled to receive under my last will, if the said bequest had not been revoked. In witness whereof to this present writing which I hereby acclaim to be a codicil to my last will and testament, and which I direct to be added thereto and to be taken as a part thereof, I have set my hand & seal this 22nd day of May AD 1851. Signed sealed published and declared by the above named Joseph Caldwell as and for his last will & testament in the presence of us who have hereto Subscribed our names as witnesses thereto in the presence of the said testator and of each other. Sam G. Hill Samuel C. King Joseph Caldwell Hugh McCain Washington County SS: Be it Remembered that on 20th day of December A.D. 1855 Before me John Meloy Register for the Probate of Wills and granting letters of Administration in and for said County came Samuel Hill esq. one of the subscribing witnesses to the will and Codicil of Joseph Caldwell decd. who after being duly qualified according to law deposeth & saith that he was present at the execution of the foregoing Will and Codicil, and saw the testator subscribe his name thereto, and at his request and in the presence of the testator and the presence of each other he and Samuel C. King and Hugh McCain the other witnesses subscribed their names as witnesses, and at the time thereof the said testator published pronounced and declared the foregoing instruments as and for his last will and testament and at the time thereof the said testator was of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding to the best of his knowledge observation and belief, and further deponent says that Samuel C. King is now dead and Hugh McCain is lying under a paralytic stroke. Sam Hill and sworn to & subscribed before me John Meloy Reg. Washington County SS Be it Remembered that on the 20th day of Dec. A.D. 1855 before me John Meloy Register for the Probate of Wills and granting letters of Administration in and for said County came William Smith and upon his solemn oath says that he is well acquainted with the hand writing of Samuel C. King & that the signature attached to the will and codicil of Joseph Caldwell Decd. purporting to be his is the genuine and proper signature of Samuel C. King, to the best of his knowledge and belief. William Smith And Sworn to & subscribed before me John Meloy Reg. Dec. 21st 1855 Letters Testamentary issued to Samuel Becket Esq. one of the executors named in the will who on same day was duly qualified. John Meloy Reg. Dec. 25th A.D. 1855 Registered and compared with the Original John Meloy Reg. Aug. 25th 1863 Letters issued to David Riddle Esq. who was duly qualified by H. A. Mickey, Reg. Dec. 24th 1863 Letters to Jas. H. Lockhart who was sworn by H. A. Mickey, reg.