Chester County Wills

THE WILL OF HANNAH PEARSON
Chester County Will # 3165 Registered in Book F, p.314.

Hannah Pearson of Darby in the County of Chester in the province of Pennsylvania Widow and relich of Thomas Pearson late of Darby aforesaid deceased being far and advanced in years and in a Weak and Infirm state of Body but of a sound and well disposing mind and memory praise be humbly given to almighty God for the same and all other his mercies and favors towards me and considering the Certainty of Death and the uncertainty of the time thereof do for the settling such Temporal Estate wherewith the Lord has been pleased to bless me think fit while strenghth is afforded to make this my last Will and Testament which I do in manner and form following that is to say...

Imprimis My Will and Mind is that all my just debts and funeral Expenses be duly paid and discharged as soon as conveniently may be after my decease by my Executors herein after named

Item I give and desire unto my Son James his Heirs and assigns all the Extate Right or Title which I now have of in or to any Lot or Lots of ground within the City of Philadelphia to Hold to him my said son James his Heirs and assigns forever.

Item I Give and Devise unto my son John his Heirs and assigns the one equal Moiety or Northeasternmost half part of All that Lot or piece of Land situated lying and being in the Towship aforesaid. Bounded by the Kings Road, by Lands of Thomas Swayne and Isaac Pearson and Land late Joseph Fordham’s To Hold to him my said son John do pay unto my Executors herein after named or the Surviror of them within the space of one year next after my decease for that benefit of my Estate such sum or sums of Money as the said Lot desired to him as aforesaid shall be three or more disinterested men chosen by the Legatees herein after named or the Survirors of them be valued and appraised at.

Item I give and devise unto my son Thomas his heirs and assigns the remaining equal moiety or half part of the above described Lot To hold to him my said son Thomas his Heirs and assigns forever. On Condition nevertheless that my said son Thomas do pay unto my Executors herein after named or the Surviivor of them for the benefit of my Estate when he arrives at the age of twenty one years such sum or sums of money as the said Lot devised to him as aforesaid shall by the appraisers aforesaid be Valued and appraised at.

Item I give and devise unto my daughter Hannah the Wife of Jacob Serrill and to her Heirs and assigns a Certain Lot or piece of Land situated in the Township aforesaid Bounded by a lane leading from Josiah Buntings to Samuel Buntings by Land of Sarah Bonasall Joh Paschall and others To Hold to her my said Daughter Hannah her Heirs and assigns forever On Condition nevertheless that my said Daughter Hannah do pay unto my Executors herein after named or the Surviivor of them within the space of one year next after my decease for the benefit of my Extate such sum or sums of money as the said lot devised to her as aforesaid shall by the appraisers aforesaid be Valued and appraised at provided always and it is my said intent and meaning that if my said sons John or Thomas or my said daughter Hannah shoud refuse to accept of their respective Lots devised to them aforesaid at such appraisment or be deceased before the time of payment respectively mentioned that then and in such ? it is my will and I do order and Impower my Executors hereinafter named or the survivor of them to sell and by a good and sufficient Deed Convey in fee simple the Lot or piece of Land devised to him or her refuring or dying as aforesaid and the monies arising therfrom to apply to the benefit of any Estate as aforesaid.

Item I give and bequeath unto each of my Daughters Ann, Sarah, Susanna, Mary, Hannah and Elizabeth one large Silver Tablespoon. Item I give and bequeath unto my said son Thomas an old Silver Tablespoon formerly my grandfathers

Item I give and bequeath unto my said daughters Ann, Sarah, Susanna, Mary, Hannah and Elizabeth all my Household furniture and wearing apparel (except the Spoons aforesaid) to be equally divided between them share and share alike.

Item As for and concerning all the rest residue and remainder of my Extate Without real personal or mixed of what kind nature or quality so ever or where so ever the same ? I give devise and bequeath the same Together with the monies arising from the appraisement or sale of the Lots devised as aforesaid to my Children James, Ann, John, Sarah, Susanna, Mary, Hannah, Elizabeth and Thomas to be evenly and equally divided to and amongst them share and share alike. Provided always nevertheless that if my said son Thomas shall happen to die in his minority unmarried and without heirs that then and in such care the part or share devised to him as aforesaid shall be equally divided to and amongst the surviving Legatees or their representatives such representatives taking only such part as would have been the share of their ancestor.

Lastly I do hereby Nominate constitute and appoint my son John and my sons in law Hugh Lloyd and Jacob Serrill to be Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and annulling all former and other Wills by me heretofore made. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this Fifth day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and Seventy five. 1775

Signed, Sealed, Published, pronounced and declared by the said Hannah Pearson as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have subscribed our names hereunto in her presence & at her Request.

William Parker
John Sellers
Nathn. Sellers

Hannah Pearson of Darby, in the County of Chester and in Pennsylvania Widow do this Nineteenth day of December in the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven hundred and Seventy Seven make and publish this Codicil to my last Will and Testament in manner hereon after expressed Whereas I have Certain ground rents payable yearly to me arising out of Three certain Lots or pieces of Land in Darby aforesaid One of which Lots is now in the possession of Jacob Rudolph lying on the South West side of High Street or Haveford road and on other of the said Lots is Situate on the North East side of the same Street or Road with the Third or other Lot of ground called the back Lot joyning on a lane leading to a certain back Lot both which last mentioned Lots are now in the possession of Sarah Bonsall and whereas by my last Will and Testament bearing date the fifth day of January in the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven hundred and Seventy five I have (after divers Legacies and bequests thereon contained) given devised and bequeathed all the Rest residue and remainder of my Estate whether real personal or mixed of what kind or quality soever to and amongst all my children to be even and equally divided to and amongst them share and share alike With a provision respecting the part given to my Son Thomas he being then under age in Case of his decease while in his minority unmarried and without heir as by my said last Will more fully appears and whereas by the general and Extensive Words used in the said residuary devise is Comprehended and Included the ground rents aforesaid which on further consideration thereof it is my mind and will by this Codicil to give to my said Thomas he having now attained to his full age of Twenty one years.

Therefore it is my Will and mind and I do hereby give devise and bequeath unto my said Son Thomas Pearson his heirs and assigns all the yearly ground Rents arising out of the Three Lots aforesaid and all and Singular my Estate right and Interest in and to the same and all ways means and Remedies for Recovering the said Rents as fully and amply as I my self now my or can do To hold receive and take to the sole use and behoove of my said Son Thomas Pearson his heirs and assigns forever.

And Lastly it is my desire that this my present Codicil be that this my present Codicil be annexed and made a part of my last will and Testament to all Intents and purposes. In Witness whereof I Hannah Pearson have hereunto Set my hand and Seal the day and year first above written.

Signed Sealed published and declared by the above named Hannah Pearson as a Codicil to be annexed to her last Will and Testament in the presence of Us...

Richard Humphreys
George Pearson
Ja Pearson