Chester County Wills

Last Will and Testament of Peter Stiteler

I, Peter Stiteler of Uwchlan Township in Chester County and State of Pennsylvania, weaver, being weak in body but of a sound disposing mind and memory do make this my last will and Testament in manner following, viz

First, it is my will and I order my Executors herein after named to pay all my just debts and funeral expenses.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Eve Stiteler, ten bushels of wheat, thirty bushels of rye, fifteen bushels of Indian corn, twenty bushels Buckwheat, two hundred weight of pork, one hundred weight of beef, two bedrooms of bedding, one table, one case of drawers, one dough trough, the pewter, and such iron pots and earthenware as she thinks necessary for her own use, and also one cow of her own choice. I also give unto my said wife all the Plantation whereon I now live with the appurtenances to use and occupy as long as she lives provided she remains my widow and from thence to receive the rents issues and profits thereof to her own use she to put or cause to be put upon the said land two hundred bushels of lime yearly and every year during her using the same and to pay all taxes that may arise thereon. But if she marries then she is to leave my dwelling house and Plantation and from thence forward for and during her natural life, she shall only receive one third of the rents, issues and profits of my said real estate. I likewise give her my clock, the tin plate stove, six chairs and one loom and such geers as may be needful for her to use therewith, the clock, stove, chairs, loom and geers to be left in the house upon her marriage or decease to be divided as is herein after directed.

Item, I give and devise to my son, George Stiteler, his heirs and assigns, the mansion house and Plantation on which I live (except such part as is herein after devised to my son David) making about one hundred and one acres of land with the appurtenances thereunto belonging. The said estate to be valued by disinterested men mutually chosen by all my children and my son, George, to have the first choice of taking the said estate at such valuation and if he refuses to accept of it upon the term aforesaid then my son David shall have the next choice and after him my son Isaac and if neither of them will have it at the price it may be appraised at as aforesaid then each of my other children shall have the refuse of it due regard being had unto their ages the oldest to have the first refuse and so on in regular succession until the youngest. But if neither of them will have it at the valuation as aforesaid then I do hereby empower and otherwise my Executors herein after named or the survivor of them to sell and convey by deed in fee simple my aforesaid real estate unto the person or persons who will give the highest price for the same. And the price or valuation to be divided as is herein after directed the valuation to be made as soon as conveniently may be after my decease subject to the bequest to my wife as aforesaid.

Item, I give and devise to my son David Stiteler, his heirs and assigns, thirty acres of my land to be divided off along Gideon Garrett's line to the road leading from John Bridler's sawmill towards the Methodist Meeting House so as to include the house where Hiram Hunter now lives with convenient room on the west side of it and two acres of meadow land adjoining Gideon Garrett on the north side of the run and to begin at a mulberry tree and to extend to John Bridler's line together with the appurtenances thereunto belonging with privilege to pass and repass to and from the same. The said estate to be valued as is directed in the devise to my son George and my son David to have the first choice but if he refuses to accept it upon the terms aforesaid then my son Isaac shall have the next refuse of it but if neither of them will take it at the price it may be valued at as aforesaid then each of my other children shall have the refuse of it due regard being had unto their ages the oldest to have the first refuse and so on in regular succession unto the youngest but if neither of them will have it at the valuation as aforesaid, then I do hereby empower my Executors herein after named or the survivor of them to sell and convey by deed in fee simple my aforesaid real estate unto the person or persons who will give the highest price for the same and the price or valuation to be divided as is herein after directed subject to the bequest of my wife.

Item, I direct all my personal estate of whatsoever nature or kind (except what is herein before given to my wife) to be appraised soon after my decease and after my debts and funeral expense is paid to be equally divided between and among my children share and share alike having due regard to what they have already received and deducting out of their shares respectively what I may have them charged with by book account bond or otherwise. But if either of my sons or daughters shall die before me leaving lawful issue, then their share shall be equally divided among their heirs.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my children, viz, John, Peter, Jacob, George, David, Isaac, Eve, Rebecca and Catharine all the amount of valuation of my said real estate (herein before devised to my sons, George and David) if taken at the valuation, but if sold then at what it shall sell for, to be divided in the following manner, viz, my sons to have share and share alike and my daughters to share equal with each other, but so as each to have fifty pounds less than my sons, but if either of my sons or daughters shall die before me leaving lawful issue then such issue shall have their father or mother's share. It being my intention that my sons George and David shall pay the valuation of their places respectively to my other children or to their heirs in six months after my wife's decease. The clock, stove, chairs, loom and geers to be valued soon after my wife's decease if she should not marry but if she marries then soon after her marriage and to be equally divided amongst my children, but if either of my children should die before my wife or before her marriage leaving lawful issue then such issue to have their father or mother's share.

And lastly, I nominate, constitute, and appoint my said wife, Eve Stiteler, and my son, George Stiteler, Executors of this my last will and Testament hereby revoking and disannulling all other wills and dispositions by me made ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty seventh day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and one, 1801.

Signed, sealed, and pronounced by the said Peter Stiteler as his last will and Testament in the presence of us Peter Stiteler (Seal)

(signed in German)

Thos. Downing
Joseph Harvout

WEST CHESTER, March 23rd, 1811. There personally appeared Thomas Downing, Esq, and Joseph Harvout, Jr. and on their solemn affirmations did say that they were personally present and did see and hear Peter Stiteler, the testator in the within instrument of writing named, sign seal publish pronounce and declare the same as and for his last will and testament and that as the doing thereof he was of a sound and well disposing mind and memory to the best of their knowledge and belief.

Affirmed: Charles Kenny, Register

Peter Stiteler's Will proved March 23, 1811, No. 5706
Reg'd in book L, page 377
Chester County, Pennsylvania Archives