James Ross Will

Mifflin Co., PA  -  Will Book 1 page 152 (72)

In the name of God Amen I James Ross of Wayne District Mifflin County and State of Pennsylvania being weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory / blessed God do make and Publish this my last will and testament in ( ? ) and form following Via: first I commit my body to the Earth and my soul to God who gave it and as to what worldly Estate I may be possessed of at the time of my decease to be divided as follows first I do order that next after my decease all my lawful debts and funeral expenses be first paid. Next I give and bequeath to my loving wife Martha the house I now live in and Orchards with one third part of the plantation next adjoining During her natural life with liberty of the use of the barn if required, I give and bequeath to my son James the use of the one third part of my plantation at the lower end next to Smiths ?Tract during the natural life of his mother next I give and bequeath to my son David the remaining third part during the natural life of my wife Martha also I give to my loving wife her horse two cows and saddle together with the household furniture also I give to my daughter Martha Ross her horse and one cow with her chest of Drawers. And my will is that after the decease of my with Martha my Plantation shall be appraised by four reputable ?feeholders and sold to the highest bidder or for the most that can be got and the money divided into twenty shares and each of my Daughters Via: Mary Croswell, Sarah Postlewait, Martha Ross, Elizabeth McKinstry and Jean Crosswell to have one share and the other fifteen I give devise to my two sons James Ross and David Ross to be equally divided between them provided nevertheless that if either or both of my two sons James and David shall chose to keep the land at the appraisment and paying the other legatees in one year after such appraisment then the land shall not be sold but by him or them or by his or their heirs and assigns kept and enjoyed forever and I do thereby constitute and appoint my loving wife Martha and my son James Ross and my son in Law William McKinstry my sole Executors of this my will as in this my will contained and duly executed and I do hereby revoke and dissanull(sic) all former wills by me made hereby ratifying and confirming this my last will and testament. In witness where of I have here unto set my hand and seal this fifth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred ninety seven 1797
                                                              his
                                                    James    R    Ross
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Signed sealed published and declared by the said James Ross as his last will and testament in the presents of us who in his presents and the presents of each other who have here unto subscribed our names
                                                his
Henry McCarthy John McCarthy William   X    Junkins Wm Bratton
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Be it remembered that on the twenty third day of May Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred & ninety nine the last will and testament of James Ross, decd. was duly proven of which the forgoing word is a true copy and Letters inventory with a copy of the will there unto arrived I paid to James Ross & Wm McKinstry (the widow being decd.) Executors mentioned in the said will. Inventory and amounts to be rendered and Exhibited unto the Registers office at Lewistown agreeably to Law.

                                                    Saml E. Minston, Register

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