Wills: James McKnight, written 25 February 1781, probated 15 December 1781 Washington County, Pa. Volume 1 - page 3 Contributed for use on USGenWeb Archives by Barbara Long Emery HyBy@willard-oh.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 Sate and County Table of Contents. In The Name of God Amen. I James McKnight of the state of Virginia and County of Youghagenia -- yeoman Being low and distressed in Bodey But of A sound Mind and memory thanks be to God therefore Do this twenty fifth day of february in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty one Make and Declare this my Last will and Testament in Maner and form following that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul to Almighty God that gave it and My Bodey I recommend to the Earth to Be Buried in a Christian Like and Decent Manner at the Discretion of my Executor Herafter named. Nothing Doubting But at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same again By the power of the Almighty God and as touchingmy worldly Estate Wherewith it hath pleased God to Bless me with I give and devise the same in the manner following first I order and allow that my funeral expences and all my just debts may be punctually paid........Imprimus I do give and Bequeth unto My Beloved wife Barbara her bed and bed cloths, her wheel and one Cow Black and white Couler and two Sheep and to have her maintainance off My Estate During her Lifetime and at her Death she is to Dispose of the afors'd bed and cattle as she pleaseth. Next I will and bequeath to my old Son John McKnight My Brown Coat and velvet jacoat and five shillings currency. Next I will and bequeath to my Daughter Susannah McKnight five shillings. Next I will and bequeath to my Daughter Mary M. five shillings Likewise to my Daughter Phebe I will and bequeath five shillings. Next I will and bequeath to my Daughter in law Ann McKnight forty acres of Land to be occupied by her for the full term of ten years succeeding unless she Change her Life by marriage and in Case she Change her life She is to Leave the premises the place where She is to build and improve.....to be shewn or marked out by my Executors. Next I will and bequeath to my Son Robert one brown mare, his sadle and bridle one black cow & two sheep. Likewise all my farming utentiels that I am possessed with. Likewise his bed and appertinences thereunto belonging. Likewise he is to have one of the Least palts (pelts?) and the Largest pelt. He and his sister Frances (?) is to be Equal ....and he is to have the tongs and one of the Crooks. Likewise all my Books only such as shall be after Excepted or under Written. Likewise my saddlebaggs and cloths only them that hath been and will be hereafter Excepted. Likewise I will and bequeath to My Daughter Frances (?) her bed and bed Cloths her wheel and Ch..ch.eel one of the Crooks one of the Little potts. Likewise her horse and saddle and one Cow and two Sheep. Likewise the pewter and her Chest. Likewise She is to have as her property the books herafter mentioned viz. Brown on forth Rutherford and ....Marshall on Sanctifycation. Likewise I will and bequeath that My real estate or Land Shall be Devided betwixt my afors'd Daughter and Son Robert and Frances (?) in the manner following viz. after they have live together or formerly helping Each other in Dis....... or paying the Debts already accrued. My Son Robert Shall Enjoy possession and hold two thirds of the land together with the appertinences thereunto belonging and my Daughter Frances (?) Shall Enjoy hold and possess one third of the Land and the appertainces thereunto belonging with the following Exception ........... I will and bequeath that my grand Daughter "illegible" receive when she arrives at the age of twenty five years the value of one fourth part of the above Mentioned Share as part Bequeathed to her mother the value of ....Share of Land and appertinences to be Estimated by two Men also I will and bequeath that my Daughter Frances (?) Enjoy and possess one fourth part annually of the produce of the s'd Land and appertinences. After the Debs now Contracted are paid. She paying the fourth part of the Expences that May accrue by value of their afforsd connection. Likewise I will and bequeath unto my wife if she sees Cause to Live or not live with my Son and Daughter Robert and Frances (?) the following .....and necessities of Life annually. Each of them paying the part or Dividend, viz. ten boushals of wheat & ten boushals of Corn, one hundred pound weight of Meat Such as she may choose and her Cattle bed and wheel ....as She pleaseth. The Above Written I avouch as my Last will and testament and I do .......and ....& claim all other wills and testaments and I do nominate appoint and authorise John Robb Senior and Andrew Reed to be the only and Sole Executors of this my Last will and testament in witness whereof I have herunto Set my hand and Seal this twenty fifth day of February and year above written. Signed and Sealed John McKnight (SEAL) in the presence of His signature John Reed David Reed Washington County Ss. On the 15th day of December 1781 before me James Marshel Esq. Register for the probate of Wills in and for the County aforesaid personally came John Reed and David Reed the Subscribed Witnesses within names and on their solemn Oaths did depose and saya that they wer present and saw and heard James McKnight, Testator Within named Sign, Seal, publish, pronounce and Declare the Within and foregoing instrument in Writing as and for his last Will and Testament and that at the time of doing thereof he was of .......and well disposing mind, memory and understanding to the best of their knowledge Observation and belief. Sworn before James Marshel, Reg.