I Valentin Himmelberger of Bern Township Berks County and in the State of
Pennsylvania, find myself weakly in Body but thank God by my (forms) and full
understanding Considering the Mortality of my Body, make and ordain this my
last Will and Testament as follows.
I recommend my Soul in the Hands of the
Lord, of whom I have received it, accordingly (xxxx) upon my Demise on the
Earth to be Christianly Buried by my Executors. (Trusting) my worldly Estate
wherewith the Lord Blessed me in this life, I give and Bequeath to my Lawful
Heirs as follows.
Firstly I give and Bequeath to my beloved Wife Maria
Elizabeth all my moveable Estate and that shall all be appraised piece for
piece, but remain in her hand till (five) weeks after her Death, when all
the moveable goods shall be sold at Public Auction and of the money arising
therefrom,
Ten Pounds shall be paid to my Eldest Son Philip beforehand for
his first Birth Right and the remaining Money shall be distributed among my
Eight Children in eight equal shares, therein my Son Jacob Himmelberger
shall be excluded,
my Son Philip the first Born I have already paid in hand two hundred pounds in Specie,
I have already paid in hand to my Daughter Elizabeth in Specie money and the worth of money one hundred Pounds,
I have paid in hand to my Daughter Catherina Ninety Pounds Specie,
and Seventy Pounds shall yet be paid to her Children Harry Fisher, Michael and John with Lawful Interest from the fifteenth day of March one Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Five,
and Shall be Paid to each as he arrives his Age
twenty three Pounds five Shillings and eight Pence Principal except the Interest from the Time aforesaid,
I have paid in in hand to my Daughter Clara one hundred pounds Specie,
I have paid in hand to my Son George one hundred and fifty pounds Specie,
I have deducted my Son Jacob's Inheritance in full of the Consideration Money for the Land,
I have paid in hand to my Son Ulrich two hundred Pounds in Specie,
I have paid in hand to my Daughter Susanna one hundred Pounds Specie in Money and Money's Worth,
and I have also paid in hand in Money to my Daughter Eva one hundred pounds Specie,
this bequest and now paying beforehand shall be each of my Children's full Share,
two Bonds one of thirty three Pounds Five Shillings and eight Pence are yet remaining back by my Son Jacob,
one Bond of Philip (Refer) for twenty five Pounds,
and one other of Mathias Weaver for Thirteen Pounds,
these said Bonds and the Money arising from the moveable effects shall after
my beloved Wife's death be distributed in eight equal Shares, therein my Son
Jacob excluded A Bank Note whereby my Son Jacob has one thousand and seven
hundred Dollars, which is now alone in my name to Fifty Pounds Nineteen
Shillings and five pence, my eight Children Shall have twenty one pounds
part thereof.
I make and Proclaim my Son Philip and my Son in Law Abraham
(Buchs) to my only executors of this my last Will and Testament, I make Void
and Recall all former Wills and Testament, ratify and confirm this my last
Will and Testament and not other.
Published and Declared and Subscribed the
Twenty eight Day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand seven
hundred and eighty seven in the presence of us
/s/ Jost Stoud
/s/ Ulrich Bagenstoss Valentin (mark of X) Himmelberger