Chester County Wills

Ennion Cook, 1839

Be it remembered that I Ennion Cook of the township of Birmingham in the County of Chester State of Pennsylvania (considering the uncertainty of time in this mortal state) and being of sound disposing mind memory and understanding; do make and ortain this my last
v Will and Testament in manner following Viz Imprimis, I will and direct that all my just debts and funeral expences be first paid by my Executors hereinafter named, as soon as may be after my decease

Item, I give devise and bequeath to my beloved wife Agnes Cook during her life, all the Rents Issued and profits of my Estate, Real, Personal, and mixed, whatsoever and whatsoever, to be paid to her as they may accure from time to time (after deducting for Taxes, Repairs and Collection) under the direction of my hereinafter named Executors, they being [unin] to let lease or otherwise dispose of the Plantation on which I now reside. So that it may prduce the best income, likewise to sell or otherwise dispose of any part of my Personal Estate, and Reinvest the same in such a manner as they may deem most advantageous for my said wife.

Item, being desirous that some person, a member of the same Religious Society to which I now belong, should purchase the Plantation on which I reside, I hereby authorize my said Executors, to grant, Bargain and sell the same, at such a price as they may think proper, in order to carry out my said intention, it being expected the purchaser shall make it a Residence.

Item, I further direct that if said Plantation should not be sold as above mentioned, within one year after the decease of my said wife, then my Executors may offer the same, either at private or public Sales; together with all my Personal Estate, and out of the proceeds thereof to pay the following legacies Viz

To John Cook, son of Peter Cook the sum of Two Hundred Dollars
To Stephen Cook (fuller) the sum of Two Hundred Dollars
To Ennion Cook (Miller) the sum of Five Hundred Dollars
To Ennion J. Cook or Older the sum of Two Hundred Dollars
To Lydia Way wife of Joseph Way the sum of Two Hundred Dollars
To Mary Ann Cook daughter of Stephen Cook, the sum of Fifty Dollars
To Stephen Cook son of Stephen Cook, the sum of One Hundred Dollars
To Sarah Cook daughter of Stephen Cook the sum of One Hundred Dollars
To Isaac Cook son of Stephen Cook the sum of One Hundred Dollars
To my Executors in trust, the sum of Two Hundred Dollars, the Interest of which is to be paid annually to Jane Wilfong wife of Isaac Wilfong to commence immediately after the death of my said wife, and upon the death of said Jane the principal to be paid to her heirs . .

To the Monthly Meeting of Friends held at Birmingham and West Chester, of which I am a member, I leave the sum of Five Hundred Dollars, (the sum to be paid over by my Executors to Such Person or Persons as said Meeting may appoint to receive the same), the Interest of which, is to be appropriated toward the maintenance and support of Poor Friends belonging to said Meeting.

Item, I further direct that the Residue of my Estate, after paying the foregoing sums, be divided as follows. Viz One half of said residue to be distributed among the persons before named, who are Relations of my said Wife and myself, in the same proportion as their Specific Legacies call for, and the other half of said Residue to be paid over by my Executors to the Treasurer for the time being of the Boarding School in West Town Township Chester County (under the direction of the Yearly Meeting of Friends held on Mulberry Street in the city of Philadelphia), the said sum to be appropriated, first, to the fund for increasing the sallaries of the Teachers of said Institution, and then in any other way the Committee having charge of said School mat deem proper for its benefit . . Lastly, I nominate constitute and appoint my friends Benjamin Sharpless, James Forsythe and Aaron Sharplefs, Executors to this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former Wills by me at anytime made, and declaring this and this only to be my last Will and Testament, In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this Seventeenth day of the Twelfth Month in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty Nine. 1839.

Signed Sealed published
pronounced and declared by the Ennion Cook (Seal) Said Ennion Cook as and for his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us

James R. [unin]

Brinton Jones

Alban Seal

Be it remembered that on the eighth day of August AD 1842 the last Will and Testament of Ennion Cook dec'd was proven and approved in all forms of law in the Court of Common pleas in and for the County of Chester (See [unin] certificate) And letters Testamentary thereon were granted to Benjamin Sharpless James Forsythe and Aaron Sharpless who were affirmed well and Truly to administer the goods Chattles and Credit of said dec'd according to law also diligently and faithfully to regard and well and Truely Comply with the provisions of the law relating to Collateral Inheretancy.

Jesse Coulson Register

LAST WILL and TESTAMENT of ENNION COOK, son of Stephen and Margaret (Williams) Cook
Born - January 1, 1773, Londongrove, Chester Co., Pennsylvania
Married - Agnes Garrett, Oct. 3, 1800
Died October 1841, Birmingham, Chester Co., Pennsylvania
Buried - Unknown
Will Obtained :
Chester County Archives
West Chester, Pennsylvania
Will Book A, Vol. 18, page 192
This will was contested by Ennion's brothers Stephen and Isaac, October 20, 1841.

R. L. Cooke, III
October 6, 1997