Wills: Christian Wertz, 1851: Harrison Twp, Bedford Co, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Jeff Rinscheid, Mary Crisman, 
Rhonda Neibauer, Nancy Peche, Margo Knepp, Carson Brown, Eilene Moore, 
Charlotte Armour, and other Wertz researchers.
 jrinscheid@lucent.com

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CHRISTIAN WERTZ WILL
Harrison Twp

Bedford County Court House
Will Book 4, Page 51

"In the name of God Amen. I Christian Wertz, or Harrison Township,
County of Bedford, and State of Pennsylvania, being weak of body, but
sound of mind, memory and understanding (praised be God for it) and
considering the certainty of death, and the uncertainty of the time
thereof, and that to the end I may be better prepared to leave this
world whenever it shall please God to call me home, do therefore make
and declare this my last will and testament, in manner following: viz.
First and principally I commend my soul to God my Creator, hoping for
pardon and remission of all my sins and to enjoy everlasting happiness
in the heavenly kingdom through Jesus Christ, my Savior, my body I
commend to the earth at the discretion of my Executors, herein after
mentioned, and I Will that all my just debts as shall be me owing at my
death, together with my funeral expenses and all charges touching the
proving of or otherwise concerning this my will shall in the first place
be paid out of my personal estate, and effects, and from and after
payment thereof, I will that my beloved wife Elizabeth have the
possession of the house wherein we now reside, together with the garden
and stable during her lifetime and also she is to keep whatever
furniture and bedding she may require, and I will that my personal and
real property shall be impartially appraised and after such appraisement
to be sold at a public sale or at a private sale, and the thereof to be
divided between my children - Viz. Mary, Susana, Catharine, David, Amos,
Nancy, Hetty, Lydia, and Sarah, I will that all may have share and share
alike with the exception of Hetty Sullivans children, Susan Sullivan and
Joseph Sullivan are to have each one hundred dollars out of their
mother's legacy and in case one of the said children should die, the
surviving one is to draw both shares, and in case both die their mother
shall be entitled to their share.

N.B. I will that my wife Elizabeth have a sufficiency of furniture of
the place during her lifetime and I make and ordain my Sons, David Wertz
and Amos Wertz my Executors of this my last Will and Testament and
further I Will that my wife Elizabeth draw one third of the interest of
the whole amount.
                                                (Signed in German Script)
                                                        Christian Wertz

Signed, Sealed and acknowledged by the testator in the presence of the
Subscribers as his last Will and Testament.
N.B. It is my will that no interest be charged on anything that any of
my children may have gotten during my lifetime excepting Vendue Notes.

N.B. I do certify that it is my desire to have the clause giving Susan
and Joseph Sullivan each one hundred dollars out of their mother's share
erased out of the within will and so that all my children may have equal
shares, in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the 11th
day of January A.D. 1851.
                                                (Signed in German Script)
                                                        Christian Wertz
Witness Present
William Barrick
Josiah Shafer
Isaac Filson

Be it remembered that on the 11th day of March A.D. 1851, Letters Test.
Were issued to David Wertz and Amos Wertz, Executors in the forgoing
Will named, they having been first duly affirmed according to law.
                                                John Reed,
                                                        Register
Notes on the Christian Wertz Will     (Given by Jeff Rinscheid,
NJ--his source unknown)

There is no date showing when Christian Wertz made this will, but
evidently it was previous to 1845 - as his beloved wife Elizabeth died
December 17, 1845. The clause willing $100.00 cash each to the two
Sullivan children (children of Hetty) has been scratched over in a
recorded copy, also in the original will which is to be in File Box W,
No. 2. The latter portion of this will is sort of a codicil and is quite
different handwriting than the first portion. I imagine Elizabeth had
passed away about that time and Christian was making some changes. This
portion that is crossed out follows the clause "that the children are to
have share and share alike."

There is no will of Elizabeth Wertz. Nor any Orphan's Court settlement
of her estate. But in Notes and Reports on Estates, Vol. 2, is an
inventory of the Estate of Christian Wertz, very long and minute.

In a deed, Christian Wertz's heirs to Lewis N. Fyan. Book A & B. Page
290, are the names and to whom married all of the heirs. "Deed between
John Didy and Mary, his wife, John Rock and Susana his wife, Eneas
William, David Wertz, Amos Wertz and Nancy, his wife, John Rider and
Lydia his wife, Dewalt Kinsey and Sarah his wife, all of Bedford and
Somerset County, PA, except the said John Rock and Susana his wife, and
John Rider and Lydia his wife, of Iowa."

The above named all signed this deed. Deed made March 16, 1854. Witness,
Joseph Dull and George Rock.