Chester County Wills

Sebastian Roote, 1793

1) Transcription of Last Will and Testament of Sebastian Roote proven Dec 7, 1793 (taken from copy of original):

In the name God Amen. I Sebastian Roote of Coventry township Chester County and State of Pennsylvania being weak of body but of sound mind understanding and good memory do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form as follows. First I do order and desire that my funeral expenses and just debts shall be fully satisfied and paid by my executors hereafter named and appointed, as soon as convenient may be done....

Item it is my will and I do hereby give and bequeath to my son Yost ten pounds in consideration of his being my eldest son....

Item it is my will and I do hereby give and bequeath to my youngest (but then "youngest" it is scratched out) son Jacob Roote and his heirs forever the plantation and tract of land with all the apurtenances thereunto belonging whereon I now dwell situated in Coventry Township aforesaid containing three hundred and fourteen acres be the same more or less. He paying to my executors the sum of two thousand pounds in good and lawfull money of Pennsylvania in manner following that is to say six hundred pounds in one year after my decease and the remainder and residue to be paid in annual payments of one hundred pounds untill the whole sum of two thousand be fully paid. And I do hereby will and ordain that my lots and messuage in Pottstown shall be sold by my executors as soon as convenient may be and the money ariseing therefrom, shall be consider'd as part of my estate, to be accounted for by my executors, whereas it is my intention and desire to do equal justice to each of sons in the disposal of my wordly property still having regard to what I have bequeath my sons Yost and Jacob as before mentioned. And whereas I have given to each of my sons sundry sum of money and other valuable property that is to say to my son Yost the sum of six hundred & fifty six pounds. To my son John the sum of two Hundred pounds. To my son Daniel the sum of six hundred pounds. To my son Sebastian the sum of five hundred pounds and to my son Jacob the sum of one hundred pounds. Which several sums it is my will and I do order and ordian shall be considered as part of the legacies bequeathed them.

Item I give and bequeath the sum of one hundred pounds to the Lutheren and Calvin Congregations Established at Pottstown in Montgomery County to be paid by my executors as soon as there shall be a new church built with brick or Stone on the lot where the old church now stands and I do order my executors to pay the said sum of one hundred pounds as soon as the walls are raised and covered with a roof to such person or persons properly authorize and impowered to receive the same but in case the congregations should part and seperate it is my will that each of them shall have fifty pounds to be under the same limitations and restrictions as the hundred pounds was given....

And further it is my will and I do order that all such money as shall be due to me either on mortages, bonds, notes or other securities shall be collected in ________ year after my decease and when my funeral expences just debts and legacies are full paid agreeable to this my last will and testament the residue and remainder shall be equally devided between my said sons Yost Roote, John Roote, Daniel Roote Sebastian Roote and Jacob Roote share and share alike. Lastly I do hereby nominate constitue and appoint my sons John Roote Daniel Roote and Sebastian Roote......... executors of this my last will and testament revoking annulling and making void all other wills by me heretofore made and executed. And is my will that if the mentioned church or churches shall not be built in ten years from this date that they shall forfeit all right and claim the above legacy or legacies as the case maybe.

And further for the prevention af all Cavils (?) and dispute __ to this my last will and testament it is my will and pleasure and I do ordain that if either or any of my sons shall dispute Cavil and endeavor to set aside this my last will or any part of it shall be deprived from any advantages from my will giving and bequeathing to such son or sons one english shilling and no more excepting what they are already in possession of.

I do further give and bequeath to my friend James Hockley the sum of three pounds to be paid by executors in as an acknowledgment of my satisfaction of his conduct. I witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this sixteenth day of November in the year of one thousand seven hundred and ninety two. 1792

Signed sealed published and declared by the testator Sebastian Roote for this his last will and testament in the presence of us the subscribers who at his request and in his presence have hereunto pute our names.

Samuel Hockley>BR> Henry Botenten

2) Note: There was an inquiry for verification of the witnesses since it seemed that Jacob Root was the only person in the room most of the time while this will was being written. In the inquiry we find that Sebastian Root, the testator, was blind. Apparently Sebastian Root told his son, Jacob Root, to put the said will in his chest and not to let any person have it and that it might be recorded. He said he had made one or two will before but that was his last. This information comes from the statement by Samuel Hockley, one of the witnesses to the will.

Henry Botenten mentioned in his statement that Mr. James Hockley directed his (the testator's) hand (he being blind)..that he lived about one year after he made his will...