WILL: Peter ASHELMAN (ESHELMAN), 1754, Connery, Lancaster County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Karen Jenter jenterkar@aol.com Copyright 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/lancaster/ _______________________________________________ Source: Last Will And Testament Written: 1754 Recorded: February 21, 1754 Peter Ashelman will 1754 In the name of God Amen. The eighth of April in the year 0 four Lord, I Peter Ashelman of Connery in Lancaster County In the province of Pennsylvania Yeoman being weak in body but of a perfect mind and sound memory, thanks be given unto God therefore but calling into mind therefore the mortality of my body and hearing that it is appointed for a man once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament. And touching such world by good or estate therewith it hath pleases god to bless me within this life. I give and desire to divide of the same in the following manner. Imprime it by wills and do order that in the first place that all of my debts be paid and satisfied without any manner of fraud. Item do in the first place cuts off and disinherits my elder son Benedict Ashelman of having any part or legacy in my last will and testament. But do absolutely cut him off with one-shilling sterling money of England. Item secondly do absolutely cut off and disinherit my elder daughter Magdalene Ashelman of having any part or legacy I this my last will and testament do cut her off with one shilling sterling money of England to be paid on demand. Item It is my will [that] my Loving Wife Magdalene Ashelman shall have a child's part as a share as long as she shall live but (?) where she dyes her part shall revert to the rest of my sons and daughters excepting two that is Benedict and Magdalene. But all the rest to have equal shares or part alike. But if any of my sone s or daughters should die before hey arrive to their several ages, such shares or shears to be equally divided between survivors excepting my sone Benedict and my daughter Magdalene. Item my will is if my wife Magdalene should live after my death that her part or share may dispose of it to………. She will after my disposal . And I do hereby appoint my well-loved sone Peter Ashelman executor of this my last will and testament . And I do hereby utter by disallow revoke and demand all and every other former will or testament will and I do hereby appoint my well beloved sone Peter Ashelman executor of this my last will and testament. And I do hereby utter by disallow revoke and demand all and every other former will or information wills and ……… and ex by me in any life before this time and demand ……. And bequeath notifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. Signed Peter Ashelman Singed sealed ………… ………….and declared by the above named Peter Ashelman to be his last will and testament in the presence of with the subscriber. Jacob Gud, Christian Gud and David Gerrad Reading in the County of Berks the 21 day of February anno domini 1754 then personally appeared Jacob Gud of Brecknock Township in Lancaster County, yeoman and ……….. Jacob Gud upon his solemn affirmation according to law (He being a foreigner, who Consciencely ……. In taking an oath) did declare and affirm that he heard Peter Ashelman, the testator within named publish and declare the within writing to be his last will & testament and that the said Peter, at the signing therefore was of sound mind memory and understanding and that Christian Gud another of the witnesses as also present and subscribes his name as witness, there to, together with this affirmant, at the request and in the presence of the testator. And the said David Gerrad, upon his solemn oath on the Holy Evangelist, did ….. that he was present and said heard Peter Eshelman the testator within name sign seal publish in law the within writing to be his last will and testament the other subscribing witness not being present and that this time of doing therefore said was of sound mind memory and understanding and that this ……….. did subscribe his name as witness thereto in presence at the request of this said testator. Signed James ….. D. Creg ?????? Inventory of Estate of Peter Eshelman deceased Exhibited February 21, 1754 An inventory of the food and chattels of Peter Ashelman of Cumru Township in the county of Berks in the province of Pennsylvania declare the 21 day of December in the year of our lord anno domini 1763 Turfe and appreth 14 10 6 0 A cow and calf 3 00 0 0 A still or brandy wine kettle 12 00 0 0 Stove plates 3 00 0 0 Dresser and table 1 10 0 0 A meal chest 0 12 0 0 An iron kettle 0 15 0 0 Two chests 2 00 0 0 Two frying pans 0 10 0 0 Two jars and an iron pott 0 9 00 0 A barrel and a churn & a bucket & a tub 0 14 00 0 And three cages ? 0 6 00 0 A cabbage plane 0 4 00 0 A pestle and mortar 0 4 00 0 Schufoell and house 0 8 00 0 Mattock and ax & two hatchets 1 0 00 0 A cutting box 0 5 00 0 Sythes 0 4 00 0 Chains and ax A dung fork and dung hook 0 12 00 0 A pair of stillards 0 5 0 0 Augers and chisels & a belt 0 5 00 0 Sheep shears 0 1 6 0 Books value to 1 00 6 0 D pewter 1 10 6 0 Lamps and an iron spoon 0 4 2 0 Two cow chains 0 0 6 0 A piece of linen 1 15 6 0 A feather bedd 1 00 0 0 The ……………. To 150 00 0 0 Debts to come in 21 10 0 0 170 12 2 0 Christian Gud Jacob Gud The testator Peter Ashelman in his lifetime gave to those of his children to a vallue of sums herein mentioned namely to his son Jacob Ashelman he gave the vallue of £ 47 =19=6 And to his son Peter Ashelman he gave to the vallue of the sum of £ 27=900=0 And likewise he gave to his daughter Barbara Ashelman to the vallue of £ 17 =8=0=0 Additional Comments: The very first line of the will has in year o four