Last Will & Testament of Joseph Christian Speicher, Sr. (1738-1797)

Posted By
Nancy Hallberg
October 13 2002
(Some names in bold to emphasize Miller-Pearce line)

In the name of God, I Christian Speiger, in Stoney Creek Township, Somerset county and State of Pennsylvania, Farmer, being sick and weak in body, but of sound mind and memory and understanding – Do make this my last Will and Testament this twenty ninth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six, as follows:

1. I commend my soul into the hands of God, and my body to the earth, from which it was taken, and to be buried in a Christian-like manner.

2. I request that all my just debts be paid.

3. I give and devise to my beloved wife Christina the sum of one hundred pounds, good lawful money to be paid to her out of my estate by my son Joseph, he is to give her bonds or notes for the same as she requests it to be paid to her. Further she is to have the young Mare with her own saddle and bridle, further two cows and three sheep which my son Joseph is to feed as he does his own cattle, further she is to have a right to take of the housen goods as many as she needs, or as many as she pleases, further, I give her a right on the plantation and in the house and garden, as she had heretofore, for her dwelling as long as she lives. Further, I order and direct that if she should not like to live in the house with my son, he is to give her a good dwelling. Should she remove from the plantation, then he is to give her feed for the above mentioned cattle, further she shall have yearly and every year, as long as she lives, ten bushels of wheat, five bushels of rye, ten bushels of oats, one hundred weight of pork, fifty weight of Beef, twenty pounds of Hackled flax and twenty pounds of tow.

Item, I give and devise to my eldest son Samuel the sum of twenty pounds money.

Item, I give and devise to my son John the sum of twenty pounds in money.

Item, I give and devise to my son Christian the sum of twenty pounds in money.

Item, I give and devise to my daughter Barbara the wife of Joseph Miller, the sum of one hundred pounds in money.

Item, I give and devise to my daughter Anna the wife of John Stutzman the sum of twenty pounds in money – which my son Joseph is to pay to them for their shares out of my estate, to be paid as follows, one year after my decease he is to pay to my daughter Barbara Miller, the sum of fifteen pounds, two years after my decease he is to pay to my daughter Anna Stutzman the sum of fifteen pouunds, and so on yearly as above mentioned, till each has received the sum to them devised. In one year after my daughters have received their shares my son Samuel Speiger is to have his sum of twenty pounds to him devised as aforesaid, and one year after that, my son John Speiger is to have his sum of twenty pounds to him devised as aforesaid.

And further I devise to my son Joseph Speiger, my whole plantation whereon I now live, together with one hundred and four acres of mountain land in Brothers Valley Twonship, further my movable goods and chattels, horses, cows, sheep, swine, waggon, plough, and all and singular whatsoever I am now in possession of, except what I have heretofore devised to my beloved wife Christina and after my decease my son Joseph is to have the foregoing devised premises for his own.

And further I do hereby nominate and appoint my loving friend John Croner (?or Groner?), and my son Joseph Speiger, Executors of this my last will and testament, to do and order as I have ordered above, and are hereby empowered; and this my last Will and Testment shall stand; and all Wills and Testaments by me heretoefore made are to be null and void, and declare this and no other to be my last Will and Testament.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed the same with my own hand and seal, the day and year aforesaid.

Christian ( C.P. ) Speiger [initials were his mark]

Signed, sealed, and declared as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us…
John Mosser, Jacob Gindelsperger

Recorded, October 16th, 1797. Josiah Espy, reg.

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