Last Will and Testament of William Gibson
In the name of God amen, the fourth day of December, in the year
of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and seventy. I William Gibson
of Newtown Township, Cumberland County, and Province of
Pennsylvania, yeoman being very sick and weak in body, but of perfect
mind and memory, thanks be given unto God for the same, and calling to
mind the mortality of any body, and knowing, that it is appointed 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
into the hands of God, that give all, and for my body, I recommend it to
the earth, to be interned in a christian like, and decent manner at the
discration of my executors, nothing douting but at the general
resurrection, I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God,
and as touching such worldly estates, wherewith it hath pleased God to
blise, one with in this life, I give devise and dispose of the same in manner
and form following, that is to say, For the first place, I give and bequeath
to Margaret, my dearly beloved wife, the one third of all my movables,
also one third of the yearly incomes of the real estate, for her
maintainances, while she remains widow, and if she marries, again leaving
the care of the children, she shall receive nothing of or by the real estate in
the said place. I give and bequeath to my son, Robert, one hundred and
fifty acres of land, bounded by an old survey line made by Robert Gibson,
beginning on said line twenty rods east of the corner between James
Young and Andrew Gibson, and running west along the forsaid line to
the mouth of the Big Run, then bound with John Scouller on the west side
and David Harren on the north, also when the other part of the
land is sold, he is to have ten pounds in money of the first part thereof, For
the 3rd place, I give and bequeth unto my son, John, twenty pounds in
money, and unto my son, William, I give and bequeath twenty pounds,
allowing them two to work the place I now live on ( containing two
hundred and fifty acres), and maintain the widow, and young orphans, and
what they can make yearly is to be their own after all expenses is cleared,
and if they be not obedient here unto, they are to have only ten pounds and
equally share with the rest here after mentioned. In the fourth place, I give
and bequeath unto my sons, Samuel, James, George, Gedion, and
Charlls, each of them ten pounds in money, also I allow each of them to be
put to trades, as soon as maybe thought proper by the exactors. In the 5th
place, I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Jenet, six pounds in money.
In the sixth place, as my well beloved wife is now pregnant with child. I
give and bequeath the Child, if a boy, ten pounds, and if it prove a girl,
she shall have six pounds. In the 7th place, I give and bequeath unto my
daughter, Ann, the gray mare, and further she shall have no more claims to
any part of my estate. And I make and ordain her, my said wife, and
Allan Leppis, Township of Wash Pensburg, sole exactors of this my will,
and ordain them ( the exactors ) to sell and make money of the plantation,
when and at the time that they shall think it should be most proper and
advantagous for the estate and legatees, and what remains after all debts
dues and demands relative to the estate is collected and discharged,
should be divided agreeable unto each of the legatees part, unto each of the
legatees above named ( Ann excepted ) and I do hereby utterly disallow,
revoke, and disannul, each and every other former testaments, wills, and
legacy's, requests, and exectors, by me and any ways before this time
named willed and bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this and no other
to by my Last Will and Testament. In witness whereof, I have here unto
set my hand and seal, this day and year above written.
William Gibson
Signed, sealed, published, pronounced,
and declared by the said William Gibson,
as his Last Will and Testament, in the
presence of us the subscribers, that is to say
Thomas Paton, Jas. Beveare, William
Patton