Chester County Wills

Last Will and Testament of Benoni Griffith, Yeoman
Willistown Twp., Chester Co., PA

In the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Nine the Fifth Day of the Third Month called March I Benoni Griffith of Willistown in the County of Chester in the Province of Pensilvania Yeoman: Being in Tolerable State of Health, and of a Sound and Perfect Mind and Memory: Thanks be given unto Almighty God therefor: Calling into Mind the Mortallity of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Dye: do Make and Ordain this my Last Will and Testament: That is to Say, Principally and First of all I give and Reccommend my Soul into the Hands of God that gave it, Beseeching him; of his abundant Mercies Graciously to receive it, and as for My Body I reccomend it to the Earth, to be buried, in a Christianlike and Decent Manner at the Discretion of My Executors (herein after named) and as touching Such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this Life: I Give, Devise, and Dispose of the Same in the Following Manner and Form---

In primis It is my Will and I do order, that in the First Place; all my Burial debts and Funeral Charges be fully Paid and Satisfied---

ITEM - I give and bequeath unto my eldest son Nathan Griffith the full and just sum of five pounds lawful currency to be levied out of my estate; and to be paid unto him or his order, in two years next after my Decease---

ITEM - I give and bequeath unto my daughter Hannah Griffith the full and just sum of twenty pounds of the money of Pensilvania, to be levied out of my said estate, and to be paid unto her or her order in one year next after my decease. I do also Will and order that she shall have her rideing horse Saddle and bridle, her feather-bedd, bedding and Furniture thereunto belonging: and what other things she may claim as her own property. Also I do hereby order that she have unmolested priviledge of the House etc. and Diet for herself wihtout being charged therefore, during the time of her continueing single or unmarried--without being charged therefore as aforesaid---

ITEM - I give and bequeath unto my youngest son Ezekiel Griffith one Piece or Parcel Land: being part of the land I now live on, containing seven acres lying and being at the south-east part thereof, which joyns to Abraham Croxson's, and Jesse Garratt's Land; being hereby devised by me, to my said son and his heirs and assigns forever under the Proportional Part of Quitrent hereafter accrueing his receiveing possession thereof to the Cheif Lord of the Fee; and also under the reservation of the priviledge of the watering places thereon; for my son John's or his order's creatures as may be most convenient and least detriment to either of them, their heirs, and assigns--

LASTLY: I give and bequeath unto Catherine my Dearly Beloved Wife, and to my said loveing son John Griffith, all the residue of my estate both real and personal, Lands Tenements Goods, Chattals etc. the Proffits of which (so long as they agree to live together thereon) to be equally divided between them: after the arrears of incumbrance, on said estate is discharged by them; but and if it shall happen that they may not content themselves to live together thereon until the incumbrance shall be done away as above said, that then my said loveing wife Catherine Griffith shall have full power to devise or lease out the estate towards the dischargeing of the same during her natural life or so long as she shall continue a widow and in my name together also with the full disposal of all the moveables in the house or household furniture (excepting my said daughter Hannah effects) as she may think proper; nor is she to be deprived of the priviledge of the house during her natural life provided she continues a widow and in my name; that it is likewise Ordered and willed by me that if either of my said sons John Griffith or Ezekiel Griffith shall happen to depart this life, unmarried, and without lawfull Issue that then the survivor of them is to enjoy all the estate of his deceased brother which is by me herein bequeathed and devised to them or either of them; and if my said loveing wife after my decease shall marry and so alter her condition that then she may only claim her thirds of proffits of my estate: anything recited herein to the contrary hereof in any wise notwithstanding And at my said loveing Wife Catherine Griffith's and my said Loveing son John Griffith's discretion I order that my Grand Daughter Hannah Morgan at her departure from them shall have one good milch cow and what more they shall see proper. And after the decease of my said loveing wife my said son John Griffith, or Ezekiel Griffith of the survivor of them will and may for them their heirs executors and assigns (under the above limitations) enter and take possession of my said real estate, and the brass kettle of the size of about half a barrel which I order to be kept on the premisses for family use and I do hereby constitute make and ordain my said dearly beloved wife Catherine Griffith and my said loveing son John Griffith to be my only and sole executrix and executor of this may last will and testament other former testaments, wills, legacies and executors, by me in any wise before this time named, Willed and Bequeathed, Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seal the day and year first above written -------------

his

Benoni B Griffith

mark

Signed sealed published pronounced and declared by the said Benoni Griffith as his last will and testament in the presence of us the Subscribors

Caleb Atherton, Henry Atherton Junior, Henry Atherton Senior