Lawrence HAUSHALTER’s Will (1805)
Lawrence HOUSEHOLDER’s will, dated 19 Jul 1800, probated 12 Feb 1805, filed in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania — Will Book I, Volumn 1, p.202 — bequeaths the following:
In the name of God! I, Lawrence HOUSEHOLDER, of Cocalico township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, yeoman, being old and weak in body, but of sound mind, the mortality of my body and that it is appointed for once to die. First I give and bequeath to Margaret my beloved wife, the full privelege of the old room in the house we now live in and I will and order that plenty of victuals and drink sufficiently and suitable for her, be delivered to her, as also, plenty and good firewood, cut short and brought to her door, yearly and every year, during her natural life.
ITEM: I bequeath and give unto my said wife Margaret full privelege of and to the pump, kitchen cellar, and upstairs in the house for her own use, as also one third part of the kitchen garden yearly, manured and prepared for her, also twelve pound of heckled flax, and the two thereof yearly, and every year, during her natural life. I also give and bequeath unto my said wife Margaret, her bed and bedstead, one chest, one cow, her choice, which shall be gratis for her winter and summer during her natural life before hand.
ITEM: I give and bequeath unto my son Jacob, two of my horse creatures and gears for them his choice before hand, and to my two daughters Elizabeth and Susanna, unto each of them one cow.
ITEM: I will and order that all my personal estate not herein particularly bequeathed, be sold and disposed of, the full one third part thereof I give unto my said widow, which she may take at the appraisment or otherwise.
ITEM: I give and bequeath my plantation and tract of land whereon I now live adjoining the lands of Christopher OBERLIN, George WIEDMAN, John WATCHER, Christopher MILLER and others, containing about 117 acres, more or less, unto my son Jacob HOUSEHOLDER and his natural and lawful heirs, for the sum of 1,000 pounds in gold or silver coin, current lawful money of Pennsylvania payable as follows vizt I give and bequeath the sum of 200 pounds unto my said widow, Margaret, for her use both principal and interest which sum I order to remain charged on my said plantation for use aforesaid.
ITEM: I give and bequeath the remaining sum of 800 pounds unto my children to be paid to them as follows: to my said son, Jacob, the sum of 66 pound 13 shillings and 4 pence, one year after my decease; unto my daughter, Barbara, intermarried with Frederick ADAM; 66 pound 13 shillings and 4 pence in two years after my decease, to my daughter Catharine, intermarried with with George STOBER; 66 pound 13 shillings and 4 pence, in three years after my decease unto my daughter Elizabeth; 66 pound 13 shillings and 4 pence , in four years after my decease unto my daughter Susanna; 66 pound 13 shillings and 4 pence, in five years after my decease; unto the heirs of my daughter Margaret, deceased, 66 pound 13 shillings and 4 pence, in six years after my decease; the seventh payment of the like above mentioned sum unto my said son Jacob; the eighth unto my daughter Barbara; the ninth unto my daughter Catharine; the tenth unto my daughter Elizabeth; the eleventh unto my daughter, Susanna and the twelfth yearly payment of the like above mentioned sum unto the heirs under the payments and reserves above mentioned I give and bequeath unto my son Jacob, and his natural and lawful heirs forever, but if he should die without lawful heirs, then it is my will and I order that my said plantation shall fall back to the rest of my above mentioned children or their legal representatives and be divided equally between them, share and share alike, nevertheless my said son, Jacob, may by will, bequeath it to any one of them at a current rate, and I also will and order that my widow, Margaret, be not pleased with the boarding above bequeathed to her, which, together with the firewood mentioned, the owner or possessor of my plantation, shall find and provide without charge, then he shall pay her an equivalent value for the same, that she may board herself at pleasure, the remainder of my personal estate, as also what is left after the decease of my widow, I give and bequeath unto all my children, above mentioned, or their heirs, to be divided between them equally share and share alike, and lastly I nominate constitute and appoint my beloved son Jacob and my trusty friend George WIEDMAN the Executors of this my last will and testament, to whom I also give full power and authority, to execute a good and lawful deed or deeds for my above said plantation found upon this my last will and testament, which I hereby acknowledge to be as good and valid, as if I with my own voke and disannul all and every other and form wills testaments, bequests and Executors by me in any wide heretofore named willed and bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my will and testament. IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 19th day of Jul Anno Domini 1800. — The Apple mill and Cyder press on the said plantation are to be considered as part of the said plantation and appurtenances above granted.
Lawrence HOUSEHOLDER (seal)
SIGNED sealed published pronounced and declared by the said Lawrence HOUSEHOLDER as his last will and testament in presence of us (and geers for them interlined before signing).
Frederick HOCKER [Lawrence’s nephew], John W. SAUTER
Lancaster County SS: On the 12th day of February Anno Domini 1805, Before me the subscriber personally appeared Frederick HOCKER and John W. SAUTER, the two subscribing witnesses to the within will, who upon their solemn affirmations according to the law, did severally declare and say they were present and saw and heard Lawrence HOUSEHOLDER the Testator therein named, sign, seal, publish, pronounce and declare the within Instrument in writing as and for his last will and testament, and at the doing thereof, he was of sound and well disposing mind, memory and understanding according to the best of their knowledge observation and belief.
G. ROSS, Register