Chester County Wills

Chester Co PA Will Book I, page 30
WILL OF JAMES BROWN

I, JAMES BROWN, of the Township of Nottingham in the province of pensilvania, yeoman being sick and weak in body but of sound disposing mind and memory Do make this last will and Testament in maner following: first my will is that there be an Invty taken of my estate both real and p'sonall and a true appraismt thereof made and that all my just Debts be pay'd and funeral charges be discharged by my Executors hereafter mentioned as soon as may be after my decease. Also I give and bequeath unto my sons WILLIAM BROWN, JEREMIAH BROWN, and MARJORY PIGOT to each and several of them Twenty Shillings to be paid a year after my decease.

Also I Give and bequeath unto my Grandchildren JAMES BROWN, the son of WILLIAM BROWN and PATIENCE and JEREMIAH BROWN, ye son and daughter of my son JEREMIAH BROWN; and to MARJORY PIGOT, ye daughter of MARJORY and JOHN PIGOT, to each and several of them five pounds, the said legacies to be pay'd unto them when they arrive to the age of Twenty years or in case they dye during the ___ time to remain in the hands of the Executors which shall hereafter be mentioned.

Also I give and bequeath unto my son DANIEL BROWN, ye lot of land lying between Dorsons and Robert Williams containing five hundred acres and my son JAMES BROWN shall help him to get up his fences and build a house.

Also my will is that my son DANIEL shall help my son JAMES to plough and sow the land whereon I now dwell and be assistant to him and his mother while such time as they shall see meet by consent to part and at their parting my son DANIEL BROWN shall have a pair of oxen and a cow with two breeding sows from the plantation stock with a bed and bedding and a pot out of the house.

Item. I do give and bequeath unto my daughter MARY BROWN twenty pounds to be pay'd unto her at the age of twenty years. Also I give and bequeath unto her, my Negro girl Hannah after her mothers decease but if her mother dyes before my daughter Mary arrives to the age of twenty years, ye surviving time until ye twenty years be expired, to be served unto my son JAMES BROWN.

Also I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife HONOR BROWN and unto my son JAMES BROWN all and singular my goods chattles and estate whatsoever and wheresoever to hold to them their heirs and assigns for ever provided that my Executors aforesaid shall well and truly pay the legacies aforesaid either in silver money or in the country produce at money price.

Also my will is that my loving wife shall have half ye produce of the plantation during her life or in case she be minded to live elsewhere that then my son JAMES BROWN shall allow her ten pounds a year during life, and lastly I constitute and ordain my said wife and son sole Executors of this my last will and testamt allowing nothing to be done or acted or disposed of without the consent of MERCER BROWN and my son JEREMIAH BROWN in confirmation whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

Dated in Nottingham this fifteenth of ye 11th month called January one thousand seven hundred and fifteen. Signed in his hand….James Browne. Witness: James Wright, William Howell, John Bruss, Mercer Brown. Recorded Chester Co. January 15, 1715.

Chester, ye first of the first month 1715/6 Then personally appeared James Bright [sic] and Mercer Brown two of the witnesses to the within written will and on their solemn affirmations Did declare that they saw the Testator within named sign seal and publish and declare ye within Writing to be his last will and Testmt. And that at the doing thereof he was of sound mind and memory to the best ot their understanding.

Corain. John Simrock. D. Reg

Be it Remembered, that on the first day of the first month Ano Dm. 1715/6 The Last will and Testam of James Brown Deced. Was proved in the form of law and probate And Letters of Administratcon was Granted to his wife Honor Brown and to his son James.

Brown sol Extrs therin named being first attested well and truly to administer and bring in an Inventory of the Deced Estate into the Reg Office at CHester on or before the Eighteenth day of the third Money next and to render a just acct. when required. Given under ye seal of the said office.

P. John Simcock. D. Reg