Chester County Wills

Written 17 Sep 1776 John DUNWODY will registered in Book F Page 339 Proved June 18 AD 1777 No 3086 from the collection of Betty Turner

In The Name of God, Amen This Seventeenth Day of September in the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and seventy six I John Dunwody of West nantmel Township Chester County and Province of Pensylvania being Sick and weak of Body But of perfit Mind and Memory Blessed be God for the Same and Calling to mind That is appointed for all men to Die and finding myself Approaching near to the Time of my Departure of this present Life by the Disolution of my Soul from this frail Body Do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in the maner and form as followeth Viz: First of all I give and resign my Soul up to God Through Jesus Christ who gave it, in hope of a full pardon of all my Sins Through The Merits of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the Son of God and my Body to be Buried in the Earth in a Desent Christian manner at the Discretion of my Executors in the Blessed hope of a Ressurection to Eternal Life by the power of Almighty God and as touching what Little of this worlds Goods I may Leave behind me I give and Bequeath in manner and form as followeth and First I appoint and order that all my Lawful Debts and Funeral Charges be paid by my Execetors

Item I give and bequeath unto my Dear and Loving Wife the sum of one Hundred pounds together with a Horse and Saddle one Bed and Bed Clothes and one Milch Cow to be kept for her and her Choice of a room in The House

Item I give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Margret Maghan the wife of Archibald Maghan the Sum of five Shillings

Item I give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Mary Euart the wife of John Euart the sum of five Shillings

Item I give and Bequeath unto my Son James Dunwody the sum of five Shillings

Item I give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Susanna Hamel the Wife of William Hamel the sum of five Shillings

Item I give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Rebecca McWilliams, the wife Hugh McWilliams Deceased the sum of five Shillings

Item I give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Sarah Dunwody the sum of fifty pounds and a Horse and Saddle and one Bed and Bed Cloths and one Case of Drawers and two Milch Cows providing She pleases her Mother and Brothers in Marriage and if not I leave it at their Disposal to Deal it to her as they Shall think fit.

Item I give and Bequeath unto my two Sons Robert Dunwody and John Dunwody all the Remainder part of my Estate Both Real and personal to be equally Devided between them as The Shall think to the best advantage--- I Do Hereby ordain and appoint my two Sons Robert Dunwody and John Dunwody to be my sole Exacutors of this my Last Will and Testament and I Do herby Revoke Disalow and Disanull all and every other former Wills and Testaments whatsoever heretofore made or Mentioned and Do hereby Ratify and Confirm This and know other to be my Last Will and Testament in Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand Seal this Day and year above Writen

Signed Sealed Published Pronounced and Declared by the said John Dunwody as his Last Will and Testament in the Presence of us the Subscribed---

[a cover page has been taped over the witnesses' signatures]

Personally appeared before me Ann Craig and Upon her Solumn Oath Doth Say That She Saw on the 18th Day of September 1776 a Will that Was Signed and Sealed with John Dunwoody Named; Which was Signed by James Anderson and James Legett as Evidences And that the above is the true purport of y Said Executed Will. Except y fourth Bequest Which this Deponant sayith was not in that Writing which was so Executed and further Saith not

Ann Craig (signature)

Before me Thomas Taylor

June 18, 1777 Personally Appeared before me James Anderson and Upon his Solumn Oath Saith that as Near as he Can Remember About y 15th or 16th of September John Dunwody Sent for him and y said John Dunwody ordered his wife to tell his Son Robert Dunwody to fetch his will he then had wrote. And that y said John Dunwody took the said Writing And -xxx two illegible words xxx- and this Deponant then askd him if he Could Read it Which the Said Dunwoody Said he Could as it Was a Very Legable hand Writing: And this Deponant then Asked him if it was to his mind. Which y Said Dunwoody then Answerd him it Was: then the Said John Dunwoody took the Said Writing and signd and Sealed it and Declared it to be his Last Will & Testament and desires this Deponant to be a Witness to the Same. Declaring that to be his Will and no Other: This Deponant Signed y Said Writing as an Evidance therunto And that y Said Deponant Saith y Said Dunwoody was in Perfect Disposing Mind & Memory at this time of his Executing of Same and further Saith not

James Anderson (signature)

Before me T. Taylor L.S.