John Harper



Will of John Harper


In the name of God Amen the twenty fifth day of May in the year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty four. I Gentleman being weak in body but by the Goodness of God of sound mind and memory calling to mind the mortality of the body and knowing that it is appointed to man once to die Do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner following. That is to say; First I do resign my body to the dust to be decently buried at the definition of my executors in hope of a Glorious resurrection through the merits of Jesus Christ; at the Last Day I resign my soul to God who gave it_______Imprimes I do give and bequeath to my beloved wife Rebeccah fifty pounds New York Currency to be paid her by my executors also two cows and four sheep and all the houshold furniture which she brought with her. Also I do give and bequeath to my beloved Daughter Abigail one lott of land in Harpersfield number three containing one hundred and twenty five acres to be disposed of for her use at the definition of my executors. Also I do give and bequeath to John Tiedle and to his wife Emmie Daughter of my said Daughter Abigail one lott of land in Harpersfield containing eighty eight acres number one hundred forty six; furthermore I do give and bequeath all and singular the remainder of my Lands Interest and Estate to be Equally divided between my Sons William John Alexander and Joseph and my Daughters Mary Margaret and Miriam after the payment of the Legacy to my wife and discharge of my Lawful Debts. Lastly I do constitute and aprove my Son Alexander and my Son-in-law William McFarland my only and sole executors of this my last Will and Testament and do hereby utterly disavow Revoke and disannul all and every other will testament bequeath and legacy and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament. Witness where of I have here unto set my hand and seal the day and year for it above written and in the Eight years of Independence of the States__________ signed John Harper Signed sealed pronounced and declared to be the last Will and Testament of the said John Harper in presents of each other have here unto subscribed Daniel Earll Elihu Curtis Josiah Troop County of Montgomery Be it remembered that on the nineteenth day of December in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty five personally came and appeared before me Christopher P Yates Surrogate of the said county Josiah Throop of Johnstown in the said county Surveyor, and being duly sworn on his oath declareth that he did see John Harper Eqs sign and seal the within written Instrument purporting to be the last Will of said John Harper bearing date the twenty fifth day of May one thousand seven hundred and eighty four and heard him publish and declare the same as and for his last Will and Testament; that at the time thereof he the said John Harper was of sound disposing mind and memory to the best of the knowledge and belief of the deponent and that his name subscribed to the said will is of his proper handwriting, which he subscribed as a witness to the said will in the testators presence. And that he the deponent saw Daniel Earll and Elihu Curtis the other witness to the said Will subscribe their names as witnesses thereto in the testators presence. Signed Christopher P Yates Surrogate Written May 25 1784 Recorded December 19 1785
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