Chester County Wills

Richard Woodward, 1748

I, Richard Woodward of West Bradford in the County of Chester, Province of Pennsylvania, yeoman: being but weak of body yet of a sound mind and memory and calling to mind the uncertainty of human life do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it and my body I commit to the earth to be buried after a Christian like decent manner at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named and as for such worldly goods as it hath pleased God to bless me withall in this life I give and dispose as followeth this thirtieth day of the sixth month Anno Dom 1748.

Imprimus my will is that all my just debts and funeral expenses be fully payed and discharged by my Executors hereafter named.

Item I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife Martha during her natural life one room in the manshon house to dwell in with liberty to pass and repass in and out of the same and also one bed with furniture belonging unto it and the use of a large Bible during her natural life and then to return to my son John and likewise the use of the warming pan during her life and then to be returned to my Executors and also a small iron pot I give to her during her natural life then to return to my Executors and my will is that my said wife shall have firewood delivered her at the house cut fit for her fire and also twelve bushels of wheat yearly and every year to be provided for her and if she dwells upon the said premises to be ground and bolted and brought home to supply her with bread. And I also give her one horse & one cow and six sheep and likewise pasturing for them in the summer season, and hay sufficient keeping for them in the winter season; and also the free use of one half the garden and the privelege of the orchard for fruit for her own use and also to be paid unto her in cash yearly and every year the sum of Eight pounds in two equall distinct payments one upon the sixteenth day of May and the other on the Sixteenth day of November annually yet with this proviso that at the time of my decease she shall have payed her the sum of five pounds at the time when it may which be allowed to be a part of the eight pounds per annum making the other payment that year to be the sum of three pounds and also my will is that if the horse she may chuse for her use do not suit her conveniency to ride my son John who I leave in possession of said plantation shall lend her one for her necessity while she dwells on the premises all which privileges and sums of money by me bequeathed to my said wife shall be levied and raised out of that part of my estate in Bradford where I now dwell.

Item I give to my son William the Sum of Five Shillings.

Item I give to my daughter Esther Wilson the wife of Thomas Wilson the Sum of Five Shillings.

Item I give to my daughter Jane Hayes widow the sum of five shillings. I give to my daughter Sarah Jones, the wife of Evan Jones, the sum of five shillings.

Item I give to Elizabeth Young the wife of John Young the sum of five shillings. I give to my daughter Mary Entrikin the wife of George Entrikin the sum of five shillings. I give to my daughter Hannah Underwood the wife of Joseph Underwood the sum of five pounds. I give to my daughter Grace Millison, the wife of James Millison the sum of five shillings. I give to my daughter Deborah the sum of twenty pounds.

Item I give and bequeath to my son Richard a tract of land adjoining to the land where I now dwell butted and bounded by lines supposed to be about two hundred and thirty acres more or less which I give to him his heirs and assigns for ever if he lives to have heirs of his body lawfully begotten and for want of such after his decease my will is that the said land shall be sold and if he leaves a widow one third part of the value thereof shall be payed to the said widow and the remaining part to be equally divided amongst all my children that are then living share and share alike Also I give a large wainscot chest that stands in the house.

Item I give and bequeath to my son John a tract of land and plantation in West Bradford aforesaid where I now dwell to him his heirs and assigns forever if he lives to have heirs of his body lawfully begotten and for want of such after his decease my will is that the land and plantation shall be sold and if he leaves a widow one third of the value thereof shall be payed to her and the remaining part shall be equally divided amongst all my children that are then living share and share alike.

Also I give to my son John one table a cloathes press, a pare of bedsteads, and an elbow chair.

Also I give to my son John three horses with a cart plow, and harrow, with horse harness and gears belonging to them. Item I give a cross cut saw to my three sons and my will is that after all my debts are fully payed and discharged all the remaining part of my personal estate if any there be shall be equally divided amongst all my daughters share and share alike.

And I nominate, constitute and appoint my two sons William & John my Executors to perform this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills and testaments by me made and do confirm this and only this and no other to be my last will and testament.

Signed, sealed, published and declared by Richard Woodward the testator to be his last will and testament in the presence of Susanna Worth, Ebenezer Worth, Thomas Worth. /s/ Richard Woodward (seal)
17th November 1752 Affirmed and proven.