Wills: Joseph Rowzer, 1817: Napier Twp, Bedford Co, PA

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Bedford Co., PA
Will book 1 page 498

In the name of God Amen, I Joseph Rowzer of Napier Township, Bedford
County and State of Pennsylvania being weak of body and unwell at
present, but of perfect mind and memory and of sound and disposing
judgement and calling to mind the mortality of the body do make and
ordain this as my last will and testament hereby revoking and
disanulling all other will or wills by me heretofore made do constitute
this as my last will and testament to be fulfilled by my executors
herein after to be named. Item I  hereby direct that my body be decently
buried and my soul I commend to God (who gave it sincerely hoping that
he through the abundance of his goodness will be merciful. Item I order
and direct that my just debts be first paid and the residue of the
worldly property that God has been pleased to bless me with  I dispose
of it in the following manner. viz  Item I order and direct that the
mansion house whereon I now reside together with the plantation and
building thereto attached farm and utensils household goods and
furniture to be retained for the use of my widow and children while any
choose to remain together and for her use as long as she remains my
widow except such parts of the personal estate as she shall think best
to dispose of and the monies arising from the sale of said property to
be applied towards getting a warrant for a tract of land I hold on the
hurricane branch. Item I give and bequeath to my two sons John and
Joseph Rowzer to them their heirs and asigns forever a tract of land
lying and being at the fork of the hurricane branch containing  three
hundred and fifty acres to be equally divided between them quantity and
quality and John is to have the lower division and if they my two sons
cannot agree to divide the said land themselves they shall choose w few
responsible neighbors who will divide it for them and they each of them
shall abide whatever the said men shall do in the said case. Item I
order and direct that my two sons John and Joseph Rowzer pay to my
personnal estate they and each of them the sum of one hundred dollars in
three equal installments annually the firs to commence ten years after
my decease and if my son Joseph Rowzer shall leave his mother and the
family before he shall arrive at the age of twenty one or go and learn a
trade then he shall p0ay at athe time and period of the payments
aforesaid an additonal hundred dollars in the same installments. Item I
give and bequeath to my youngest son Isaac Rowzer at his mothers decease
the plantation whereon I now reside to him his heirs and asigns forever
together with the buildings and appurtenances thereto belonging,
provided that the said Isaac Rowzer shall pay to my personnal estate for
the use of his sisters eighteen years after my decease the sum of one
hundred and fifty dollars . Item I order and direct that the forty acres
of land I hold adjoining John Blackburn to be sold as soon as appears
convenient and the price of said land to be equally divided between my
two elder daughters Elizabeth and Rebekah Item I will and eeem that when
my widow shall decease them all the personnal estate which shall be left
together with the aforesaid monies which is therein directed to be paid
to my two elder daughters shall be sold and the whole equally divided
between my four daughters namely Elizagbeth, Rebeca, Rachel and Hannah.
Item I hereby constitute and appoint my well esteemed friends Joseph
Black and Anthony Blackburn of __ Executors of this my last will and
testament. In witness whereof I have hereto set my name and seal this
seventeenth day of the third month March A.D. One thousand eight hundred
and seventeen.
Joseph Rouzer (seal)
Signed and sealed in presence of us
Thomas Blackburn ______ Blackburn

Bedford Co. ___  Personally appeard before me the subscribed Register
for the probate of wills and granting letters of administration in and
foresaid County Thomas Blackburn one of the subscribing witnesses to the
within instrument in writing who being only affirmed doth declare and
say that he was personally present and heard and saw Joseph Rowzer the
testator sign seal and declare the within instrument in writing as and
for his last will and testament that at the time of so doing the asid
testator was of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding.