WILL: William WILLIAMS, 1875, East Providence Township, Bedford County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Michael S. Caldwell

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Bedford County, Pennsylvania Will Book 5, p. 234-235

WILLIAM WILLIAMS LAST WILL

Know all men by these presents that I, William Williams, of East Providence 
township County of Bedford and State of Pennsylvania, farmer, being in ill 
health, but of sound and disposing mind and memory, do make and publish this my 
last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me at any time 
heretofore made. And as to my worldly estate, and all the property, real, 
personal, or mixed, of which I shall die seized and possessed, or to which I 
shall be entitled at the time of my decease, I devise, bequeath, and dispose 
thereof in the manner following, to wit: First, my will is that all my just 
debts and funeral expenses shall by my executors hereinafter named be paid out 
of my estate, as soon after my decease as shall by them be found convenient. 
Item. I give, devise and bequeath to my beloved Wife Sarah Ellen Williams, the 
use of all my house-hold furniture together with the grain in the barn, the 
crops now growing, horses, cattle, and all other stock now in my possession, 
also the lumber at the saw mill of Joseph Williams and other piles of lumber by 
me now possessed in this vicinity, the use of the farm and farm implements, and 
any and every species of property of which I may stand possessed, after as above 
stated, paying my just debts and funeral expenses and procuring and erecting 
tombstones over the graves of my daughters Margaret and Matilda and my son 
Franklin Abia all to be of a good quality and suitable to their several ages, 
the above bequests to be restricted by the following restrictions, to wit: that 
she remain on and properly care for the farm, raise and educate my two sons 
William Grant and Thomas Jefferson so far as may be in her power, by the means 
thus afforded. But in case she should elect to remove from the farm or enter 
into a second marriage, then my will is that my Executor dispose of all my 
property real and personal, and after defraying the expenses hereinbefore named, 
Court charges and all others necessary to executing this will, that my wife be 
paid her proper dower in accordance with the laws of this commonwealth, and the 
balance then on hand to be disposed of in the following manner, to wit: each of 
my elder sons Samuel and George to receive two hundred dollars a piece, and each 
of my daughters, Elizabeth Ritchey, Lucinda McDaniel, and Amanda Kegg, one 
hundred dollars, and my daughter Mary Ann Akers, two dollars, and to my two 
younger sons William Grant and Thomas Jefferson I give and bequeath one thousand 
dollars, to be put upon interest as soon as practicable, said interest to be 
expended jointly in educating them and the principal to be divided equally 
between them at such time as my said son Thomas Jefferson shall arrive at twenty 
one years of age, but in case of the death of either or both of said sons, his, 
or their part of said legacy to be equally divided amongst all the living heirs, 
the aforesaid Mary Ann Akers excepted, who has already been bequeathed such 
amount of my estate as I desire her to have, and in case my wife should live and 
remain on the farm until my son Thomas Jefferson Williams arrives at his 
majority I will that all my property real and personal be then sold, and the 
proceeds be divided strictly in accordance with the foregoing requests and if 
any remains the balance to be equally divided between my two sons Samuel and 
George Williams. And lastly I do nominate and appoint Wilson McDaniel and Hiram 
Felten as executors of this my last will and testament and Guardian of my two 
minor sons William G. and Thomas J. Williams provided McDaniel serve as 
executor. I desire Felton to become Guardian and if so be that McDaniel refuse 
to act as executor my desire is that Felton is hereby constituted my legal 
executor and McDaniel Guardian of said minor children. In testimony whereof I 
the said William Williams, have to this, my last will and testament, contained 
on one sheet of paper, subscribed my name and affixed my seal this twenty day of 
August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy five.

William Williams {Seal}

Signed, Sealed, published, and declared
by the said William Williams as and for
his last will and testament, in the presence
of us, who, at his request and in his presence
and in the presence of each other
have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto

Joseph F. Triplett
John Triplett, Bedford township
Asa Williams

Interlining done before signing
Attest A.W.

Bedford County SS.

Before me the Register of Wills &c, in and for said County, personally appeared 
Joseph F. Triplett and Asa Williams, two of the subscribing witnesses to the 
within instrument of writing or last will and testament of William Williams and 
they being duly sworn according to law depose & say that they were present and 
saw and heard the said William Williams sign, seal, pronounce and declare the 
said instrument as and for his last will and testament, that they signed their 
names as witnesses thereto in his presence and at his request and that at the 
time of so doing he was of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding to 
the best of their knowledge and belief.

Jos. F. Triplett
Asa Williams

Sworn & Subscribed this
13th day of October A.D. 1875
Before me James Cleaver, Regr.

Filed, proven & Letters Testamentary issued to William McDaniel the 13th day of 
Oct. 1875. Testator died on the 22nd day of September 1875 about 5 o'clock A.M. 
per affidavit of Asa Williams. Filed.

James Cleaver
Regr.