EDWARD NICHOLS
LAST WILL & TESTAMENT
(Transcribed from microfilm found in the Carlisle Historical
Society Library)
Edward Nichols
Last Will and Testament
In the name of God Amen. the
twenty second day of April in the year of Our Lord 1777, I, Edward Nichols of
the Province of Pennsylvania in the County of Cumberland, a farmer being very
sick and weak of body but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be to God;
therefore calling unto men the mortality of my body and knowing that it is
apparent for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and
testament. That is to say principally and first of all; I give and
recommend my soul unto the hands of God that gave it; and for my body, I
recommend it to the earth to be buried in a Christian like and decent manner at
the discretion of my executors, nothing doubting at the general resurrection I
shall receive the same again by the Mighty Power of God. As touching such
worldly estate wherein it has pleased God to bless me in this life, I give and
dispose of the same in the following manner and form.
Emphasis - It is my will and I do
order that in the first place, all my just debts and funeral charges be paid and
satisfied.
Item, I give and bequeath to
Sarah, my dearly beloved wife, one third of all my personal estate and her
choice of one horse and two cows and her living in my old dwelling house.
During her natural life or her marriage, then she is to leave the house to
William and likewise out of my real estate and allow her ten pounds per year, to
be paid her by my sons, John and William Nichols. That is, John 5 pound
per year and William 5 pound per year to be paid by them per year during her
natural life.
Item, I give to my well beloved
sons, John and William Nichols, the place I now live on to them and their heirs
and assign forever to be equally divided between them. That is, John is to
have the upper end of my place... that is, that Place where Joseph Nichols
lives. My old dwelling place where I now live on to my son, William, and
his heirs and assign forever likewise allow that Joseph Nichols be paid out of
my movables, five pounds lawful money.
Item, it is my will that Rebecca
Nichols and Agnes Nichols, my daughters, be paid ten pounds a piece out of my
movables.
Item, I give and bequeath unto my
daughter, Agnes, the place that I live on in the mountains to be her heirs and
assign forever. Likewise, it is my will that the place that I have that
lays on River Susquehanna to be sold. Susannah, my daughter, I allow to be
paid ten pounds out of the place and the remainder to be divided between the
boys and girls, part and part alike. Likewise, it is my will that Henry,
my grandson, be paid five pounds out of my movables for to school him and it is
my will that Henry, my grandson, have his living out of the place until he
becomes of age of eighteen years and then to cease. Likewise, it is my
will that Samuel Nichols, my son, out of the movables be paid five pounds if he
comes home one year after my decease. Likewise, it is my will that my dear
daughter, Agnes, have acres on William Nichols part to have the benefit and privilege
of it for two years. Likewise, I constitute, make and ordain persons
hereafter named viz. John Sellars, John Nichols, and Joseph Knukelton, my only
and sole executors of this my last will and testament. I do hereby utterly
revoke and disallow all and every other will, legacies and Executors by me in
any wise before this time named, willed and bequeathed and I ratify and confirm
this and no other to be my last will and testament.
W. B. forget but before signed
Recollected and set down that is my will that my place in Juniata be divided
between all my children viz. John, John, William Samuel, Susannah, Rebecca, and
Agnes; be equally to share part and part alike and likewise it is my will that
the remainder of my personal estate be equally divided boys and girls and part
alike; but if Samuel Nichols comes not home in one year then his part is to be
divided among the rest equally. I likewise ordain this with the
aforementioned articles as they are divided, to be my last WILL and TESTAMENT.
In witness thereof, I have
hereunto set my hand and pen the day and year above written.
Edward Nichols
Signed, Sealed, published,
pronounces and declared by the said Edward Nichols as his last will and
testament in the presence of the subscribers; Robert Knukelton
David Parks
Cumberland County, Penna.