William Wright, Sr. Will William Wright, Sr. Will
Written 13 NOV 1765, Proven 12 FEB 1766
William Wright} deceased} In The Name of God Amen I William Wright of the Township of Mannor in the County of Lancaster and Province of Pennsylvania, Yeoman being of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding (blessed be God) do make this my last Will & Testament in mannor following this is to say First I commend my soul into the Hands of Almighty God hoping and believing a remission of my sins in and through the merits and mediation of my blessed Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ and my Body I commit to the earth to be buried in a decent mannor at the discretion of my Executors herein after named and as to my worldly Estate I give devise & dispose of the same as follows, to wit,
Imprimis, It is my will and I do order and direct that my just debts and funeral charges be paid off and discharged as soon as conveniently may be done after my decease.
Item, Whereas I have appropriated the Sum of two hundred pounds which is lodged by me in the hands of Adam Simon Kuhn, Esquire in Lancaster and the sum of fifty pounds or thereabouts which is due to me by Messes Hambright and Musser in Lancaster for and towards paying off clearing and obtaining a deed of or conveyance for my plantation and lands in the Township aforesaid where I reside. It is therefore my will and I do order and direct that my Executors hereinafter named or the survivor of them do immediately after my decease with the said Moneys or so much there of as shall be necessary pay unto William Logan, Esquire and to the Heirs of James Logan, Esquire deceased all such sum and sums of money as are still due and payable to them or any of them for my said plantation and lands and that my said Executors or the Survivors of them then take & received a Deed or Conveyance to them or the survivors of them for the same lands and plantation with the appurtenances in Trust to and for the uses intents and purposes hereinafter mentioned in respect of the same and to be by them or the Survivor of them granted and conveyed according them the residue of my personal Estate (after paying for and clearing all moneys due upon my lands) I give and bequeath as follows, to wit,
I give and Bequeath unto my beloved wife Mary one of my riding Creatures such as she shall choose, one cow at her own choice, her Bed Bedstead and Furniture thereto belonging, all my Silver plate and China Ware of what kind so ever and my servant Girl named Mary Merris with her time yet to come & unexpired to and for her own proper use and behalf. I also give and bequeath unto my said wife Mary (exclusive of the above Articles) one full third part of the said residue of my personal Estate (after paying for my Lands as aforesaid) to be allotted to her my said wife Mary before any of the Legacies here in after given and bequeathed out of my personal Estate are deducted or paid which said bequests to my said wife together with the privileges and allowances herein after mentioned and given to her are hereby declared to be for & in lieu of her dower or thirds of and in my whole Estate.
I give and bequeath unto my son-in-law John Postlethwaite who intermarried with my daughter Hannah the Sum of one hundred & thirty pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania to be paid to him out of the said residue of my personal estate in twelve months after my decease which sum with sundry articles already given him to the value of one hundred and twenty pounds makes up the Sum of two Hundred and fifty pounds, designated by me for his portion.
I give and bequeath unto my son John Wright my negro woman named Daphine Falso give and bequeath unto my son John Wright the Sum of twenty nine pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania to be paid to him out of the said residue of my personal Estate in twelve months after my decease on his executing a release of all demands against my Estate. But in case my said son John shall make any claim or demands against my Estate for any other matter or thing whatsoever or shall refuse or neglect to give and execute such release, then & in that case the Bequest hereby made to him shall be void & the said Negro Women & sum of money shall be deemed and taken as part and parcel of my personal Estate not herein before given or bequeathed And in such case I give and bequeath unto my said son John Wright the Sum of five shillings lawful money of Pennsylvania and no more for his part or share of my Estate.
I give and Bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Wright the Sum of two Hundred and fifty pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania to be paid to her out of the said residue of my personal estate within twelve months after my decease.
I give and Bequeath unto my son James my riding Saddle & Bridle and my Silver Shoe Buckles.
I give and Bequeath unto my son Joseph my blue Great Coat, my plush waist coat and Breeches and my New Boots.
I give and Bequeath unto my son Thomas my Silver Watch & Silver Chain and the little Mare commonly called Tommy's mare with the Saddle and Bridle he commonly uses with her.
I give and Bequeath unto my daughter Mary Wright the Sum of two Hundred and fifty pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania to be paid to her when she shall attain her age of eighteen years or day of Marriage which shall first happen and of my Real Estate by my sons William, James, Joseph & Thomas in such manner & in such parts & portions as are herein after directed. I also give and Bequeath unto my said daughter Mary my gold Sleeve Buttons.
As to my plantation and lands for which I have directed my Executors to pay and receive a Deed I do give devise and dispose thereof as follows, to wit,
First I give devise and bequeath unto my son William the New House at the North End of my plantation together with one equal fourth part of my said plantation and lands to be laid off to my said son William adjoining to and about the said house in the manner hereafter mentioned to Hold to him my said son William his heirs and assigns forever he or they paying or causing to be paid unto my said daughter Mary the sum of one hundred pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania at her age of eighteen years or day of Marriage which shall first happen with which Sum I do hereby charge the said premisses devised to him payable to here as aforesaid.
Then I give and bequeath unto my son James Wright one other equal fourth part of my said Lands & Plantation to be laid off to my said son James in the manner herein after mentioned To hold to him my said son James his heirs and assigns forever he or they paying or securing to be paid unto my said daughter Mary the sum of fifty pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania at her age of eighteen years or day of Marriage which shall first happen with which Sum I do hereby charge the said premisses devised to him payable to her aforesaid.
Then I give and bequeath unto my son Joseph Wright one other equal fourth part of my said plantation and lands to be laid off to my said son Joseph in the mannor herein after mentioned to Hold to him my said son Joseph his heirs and assigns forever he or they paying or causing to be paid unto my said daughter Mary the sum of fifty pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania at her age of eighteen years or day of marriage which shall first happen with which sum I do hereby charge the said premisses devised to him payable to here as aforesaid.
Then I give devise and bequeath unto my son Thomas Wright one other equal fourth part of my said plantation and lands to be laid off to my said son Thomas including my personal dwelling house and out houses belonging thereto in the manner herein after mentioned to hold to him my said son Thomas his heirs and assigns forever. He or they paying or causing to be paid unto my said daughter Mary the sum of fifty pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania at her age of eighteen years or day of Marriage which shall first happen, with which sum I do hereby charge the said premisses devised to him payable to her as aforesaid.
And to prevent any disputes with respect to the division of my said lands and plantation amongst my said four last mentioned Sons I do hereby direct and empower my Executors of this my last Will and Testament and the Survivors of them as soon as conveniently may be done to choose and appoint Six indifferent men to make partition of the same in equal Quantities to and amongst my said four sons agreeable to this Will which partition by them made I will and ordain shall be firm and stable forever and my said Executors or the survivors of them or the Heirs or assigns of such survivors shall and are hereby directed to execute deeds to each of my said Children for the share or part which shall be to them respectively allowed as aforesaid excepting the upper Spring which will be in my son William's allotment & half an acre of ground thereto which it is my will shall be & in remain open and uninclosed forever as a watering place for the Benefit of my said Children, the Neighbors and Travellers.
Then to the intent that my youngest children who are in their minority maybe kept together and properly taken care of I do will and order that my said wife Mary shall and may have the use and Benefit of my present dwelling House to reside in and shall provided she continues a Widow have the use & occupation of the several pieces of Land which I have devised to my three youngest sons until such times as they shall respectively attain their ages of twenty one years, she my said wife in the mean time finding and providing for my four younger Children good and sufficient meat, drink, clothing, schooling and all other necessaries during the said term and in case my said wife shall continue unmarried at the time my youngest son Thomas shall arrive at the age of twenty one years, then and in that case it is my will that my said four sons William, James, Joseph and Thomas do pay unto my said wife the sum of fifty pounds yearly and every year during her natural life for her support and maintenance in equal portions of twelve pounds & ten shillings each with which sums I do charge the Lands devised to them payable as aforesaid. But in case my said wife Mary do or shall marry again at any time during the minority of my said three sons or any of them then & in that case my will is that my other Executor or in case of his death the Guardian or Guardians of such of my children as shall then be in their minority do take possession of such parts of my said Lands as she shall then have the use and possession of and that the same Lands be then rented out for the bringing up of such of my Children who shall be in their minority until such times as my sons to whom I have devised them respectively arrive at age to take their possession and then and in that case my said wife after leaving and giving up possession of such Lands shall have and receive the Sum of fifty pounds yearly for her support as above mentioned payable by my said four sons in equal portions of twelve pounds and ten shillings each with the payment whereof I do charge their respective pieces of Land and my will is that after my said wife shall have left the possession of my Lands or aforesaid my said four sons shall equally contribute towards the support and maintenance of my said daughter Mary until such time as the Legacy bequeathed her is payable with which I charge their Lands.
Then in case of the death of either of my daughters under age and unmarried then my will is that the share of the one so dying be paid & equally divided to and amongst my surviving daughters.
And in Case of the death of either of my said sons James, Joseph or Thomas under age and unmarried & without issue then and in that case the share or part of the one of them or them so dying shall be equally divided to and amongst my surviving sons, my son John excepted, who it is my will shall receive no part of my estate than what is herein before bequeathed him and I devise the same accordingly all the rest residue and remainder of my Estate, Real and Personal not herein before particularly given devised and bequeathed I do give devise and bequeath to my said wife Mary and my seven Children William, Elizabeth, James, Hannah, Joseph, Thomas & Mary to be equally divided amongst them share and share alike.
And I do hereby nominate constitute ordain and appoint my said wife Mary and my trusty Friend James Burd, Esquire of the Borough of Lancaster and the survivors of them Executors and executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former Wills by me made and declaring this only to be and contain my last Will and Testament.
Witness my Hand and Seal the Thirteenth day of November A.D. one thousand seven Hundred and sixty five.
William mark Wright {seal}
Signed sealed published pronounced and declared by the Said William mark Wright as for his last Will & Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request have signed our names hereto
Christian mark Stouffer William Atlee Edwd Shippen
Lancaster County - On the twelfth day of February Anno Domini 1766 before me the Subscriber. Personally appeared William Atlee and Christian Stouffer two of the subscribing Witnesses to the annexed Will and on their Corporal Oaths did favorably depose and say that they were present and saw and heard William Wright the testator in the annexed will named, sign, seal, publish pronounce and declare the annexed writing as and for his last Will and Testament and that at the doing thereof he was of sound and good disposing mind, memory and understanding to the best of their knowledge observation & belief.
Edwd Shippen D.Rr.
Be it Remembered that on the twelfth day of February Anno Dom. 1766. The Last Will & Testament of William Wright late of Mannor Township in the County of Lancaster Yeoman deceased was proved in due Form of Law and Letters Testamentary were granted to Mary Wright and James Burd, Esquire the executors therein named, they being first duly qualified well and truly to administer the estate of the said Decedent and to exhibit a true and perfect Inventory thereof into the Register's Office at Lancaster on or before the twelfth day of May next and to render a true and just account of their Administration on the said Estate when thereto lawfully required. Given under the Seal of the said Office
Edwd Shippen D.Rr.
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