WILL: William CESSNA, 1827, Buffalo Run, Napier Township, Bedford County, PA
Surname: CESSNA
Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Bedford County, PA, Archives by Mary Cessna
<familysleuth@earthlink.net> and Jean Klein
Copyright 2003. All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
Transcribed from SAMPUBCO copy by Mary Cessna and Jean Klein, 26 Jan 2002
Bedford County, PA, Will Book Vol. 2, page 263
Will of William Cessna
In the name of God, Amen. I, William Cessna of Buffalo Run, Napier Township,
Bedford County and State of Pennsylvania being of sound memory and
understanding, but weak and feeble in body and considering the certainty of
death and of the uncertainty of the time thereof - do make this my last will and
testament hereby revoking and annulling all or any other will or wills by me
heretofore at any time made and confirming and ratifying this. In manner and
form following to wit it is my will and desire that all my just debts shall be
paid as soon after my decease as conveniently can be. I leave to my dearly
beloved wife Anna, one third part of my personal property with the exceptions
hereinafter named. It is my will and desire that all the grain both threshed and
in the barn, hay, oats and corn together with whatever grain that may be seeded
or growing. Together with all the grain that may be stacked out and the meat in
the house at the time of decease may be kept and remain for the use of the
members of my family that may be unmarried at the time of my decease for their
general or mutual support while they remain together with my wife except as is
hereinafter excepted. It is my will and desire that each of my three daughters
Peggy, Rachel, and Eliza Ann may receive each out of my personal property the
share or to the amount of thirty dollars in order to equalize them to my other
two daughters Polly and Sarah. It is my will and desire that my sons John Cessna
and Jonathan Cessna may keep the two horse creatures that are now known to be
theirs and also that my sons James Cessna and Joseph Cessna may receive each of
them the sum of fifty dollars out of my personal property when sold in place and
stead of one horse creature for each of them. It is my will and desire that the
wheat now in my barn, that grain on new ground shall be threshed out and when
threshed that my son John Cessna shall have one half of it at his own will and
disposal and that the other half shall be equally divided between my sons James
Cessna and Jonathan Cessna to be and remain at their sole will and disposal. It
is my will and desire that my plantation situate on Buffalo Run in the township
and County aforesaid be sold as soon after my decease as conveniently can be and
that one third part of the amount arrising from the sale thereof be put to
interest, which interest shall be and remain for the use of my dear wife Anna as
long as she remains a widow. And also that until my property aforesaid may or
can be sold that the one third of the grain and hay may be raised on the same
may be and remain at the disposal of my dear aforesaid as long as she remains a
widow. It is my will and desire that the money arising out of the sale of my
plantation aforesaid after the one third part thereof should be put to interest
for the use of my dear wife aforesaid, shall be divided between my sons and
daughters in such manner as that the shares or part of each of my sons shall be
twice as much as the shares or part of my daughters that is to say that as often
as my sons John, James, Jonathan and Joseph shall or may receive two dollars,
each of my daughters Polly, Peggy alias Margaret, Sarah, Rachel and Elizabeth
Ann shall receive one Dollar that is the proportion of Two to one and also that
the share or part appropriated to and for the use of my dear wife aforesaid, In
case of her death or remarriage shall be divided between my sons and daughters
aforesaid in the manner herein before stated. And I do hereby appoint nominate
and constitute William Cessna of Friends Cove, Colerain Township, Bedford County
and Josiah Miller Esq. of Buffalo Run, Napier Township and County aforesaid my
true and lawful Executors of this my last will and testament. In testimony
whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twentieth day of December in
the year of the Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty seven.
William Cessna (seal)
Signed, sealed, published and declared
As the last will and testament of William
Cessna who is in our presence of each other
Set our names the day and year above written
James Henry, William Drenning, Edward Joseph Cotten
It is my will that my two sons, James and Jonathan may not be bound out to
trades without their own consent but remain and be farmers and receive their
education from the persons they may reside with and as my son Jonathan is yet
two young it is my will that he should have two years from this date so make his
choice and also that if it is their will to learn trades that the choice may be
left to themselves regard being had by my Executors to the terms to be agreed
upon and I will that this may be taken as full and firm as my will and wish as
the above noticing the word Joseph Cessna therein interlined.
William Cessna (seal)
Pennsylvania Bedford County SS Personally appeared before the subscribed
Register for the probate of wills and granting Letters of administration in and
for said County, James Henry and William Drenning two of the subscribing
witnesses to the aforegoing instrument of writing, who being duly sworn
according to Law, depose and say that they were personally present and heard and
saw the testator William Cessna sign, seal, publish and declare the aforegoing
instrument of writing as and for his last will and testament and that the
codicil thereto annexed was thereto at the time they signed the same as
witnesses. That at the time thereof the testator was of sound and disposing
mind, memory and understanding according to the best of the deponents knowledge
and belief and that the name Edward Joseph Cotten thereto subscribed as the
other witness is the proper signature of the said E.J. Cotten.
Sworn & subscribed the 5th day of March A.D. James Henry
1828, Before me Job Mann, Register William Drenning
Written on left margin are the following 2 notes:
1. The widow declines taking under this will and accept her dower at common law.
See Orphan Court, docket 387.
2. Be it remembered that on this 5th day of March, 1828 Letters testamentary
were granted to William Cessna and Josiah Miller, Esq, executors in the
aforegoing will named, They having first been duly sworn according to law.
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