The last will and testament of Adam Reyter of the township of Peters, County of Franklin and State of Pennsylvania. In the name of God Amen. I Adam Reyter, considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound mind and memory, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner following: viz, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Elizabeth the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars to be paid to her by my Executors, out of the first money which they may receive belonging to my estate. I also give and bequeath to my said wife the sum of five hundred dollars per annum, payable to her by my executors yearly during her life from the time of my decease. I also give and bequeath to my said wife two cows and such of my household and kitchen furniture as she may wish to keep, also my carriage and harnefs. I hereby direct my Executors hereinafter named, or the survivors or survivor of them to sell and convey all my mountain land at such time or times as they may think advisable. I hereby direct that the residue of my Estate not otherwise disposed of by this will, shall be divided equally share and share alike, amongst all my children, Viz. Mary wife of Michael Ryder; Nancy, wife of George Hoover; Eliza, wife of Jacob Stouffer; Leah, wife of Daniel Stouffer; Catharine, wife of John Frantz; and Benjamin L. Ryder. The obligations and accounts which I may have against my said children or against my sons-in-law for cash and property delivered or paid to them, and for such further sums as they may receive from me, shall be considered as part of my residuary estate and shall be accounted for by them respectively, in such manner as to make them all equal in the distribution of my estate. To each of my daughters, Mary, Eliza, Leah and Catharine, I have loaned and delivered the sum of three thousand five hundred dollars, for which I have the obligations of their husbands respectively, and to Benjamin (my said son) I have in like manner loaned the sum of four thousand dollars for which I heve his obligation. Upon all these obligations interest is to be computed at the rate of two per cent per annum commencing on the first day of July 1852, and I do hereby release all the interest which accrued on the said several obligations previous to said first day of July 1852. To George Hoover I have loaned the sum of four thousand dollars for which I have his obligation secured by Mortgage, upon the said Mortgage debt of four thousand dollars interest is to be computed at the rate of two per cent per Annum commencing from the first of July 1852, and the interest which had accrued previously is hereby released. Upon all other obligations or accounts, which I now have or which I may hereafter acquire against any of my said children or sons-in-law, interest shall be computed at the rate of five per cent per annum. If the said Nancy, wife of said George (Adam Ryter) Hoover shall die during the lifetime of the said George without having lawful Issue then it is my will that upon the death of the said George Hoover, the aforesaid Mortgage debt of four thousand dollars which I hold against him, shall be collected by my executors or the survivors of them, and divided equally amongst my other children then living and the lawful issue of such as may have died previously leaving lawful issue. If the said Nancy shall survive her said husband, I give and bequeath to her the said Mortgage debt of four thousand dollars, to be collected by my said executors upon the death of the said George Hoover, and to be paid over to said Nancy as part of her share of my estate. The obligations and accounts which I may have against my daughters son and sons-in-law, shall remain in the hands of my Executors during the lifetime of my said wife Elizabeth, and the interest which may accrue thereon at the rates hereinbefore mentioned, shall be paid to my said wife annually during her life: And if my said wife shall decline or refuse to accept said interest, it shall neverthelefs be calculated and charged upon a final settlement of my estate. It is also my will that if any of my said daughters shall die without leaving lawful issue the shares or portions of my estate hereinbefore bequeathed to them, shall at their decrease go to and be divided amongst my other children then living and the lawful issue of such of them as may then be dead leaving such issue. (Adam Ryter) I do also give and bequeath to my said wife Elizabeth for and during the term of her natural life the use and occupation of the house in which we now live, and the garden at the barn, and as much cider and fruit of all kinds growing on the farm conveyed to my son Benjamin: and also as much firewood as may be needed by my said wife: to firewood to be delivered to her, also pasture for two cows, and a sufficiency of Hay and Straw, for two cows during winter, also all the outbuildings belonging to the said house on which we now live said dwelling house, outhouses, garden, cider, fruit, firewood, pasture, hay and straw are excepted and reserved in the deed of conveyance to my said son Benjamin. It is also my will and ______________________________ by my said wife shall be deemed and taken to be in lieu of her dower at common law. It is my wish that this will may be duly proven and recorded and that an appraisement of my personal effects may be made and filed after which I prefer that no further legal proceedings may be had but that my estate may be finally settled out of court if possible. And lastly I do hereby appoint my said son Benjamin L. Ryder, and my two sons-in-law, Michael Ryder and Jacob Stouffer to be the Executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me made and vesting in my said executors or the survivors or survivor of them full power and authority to sell and dispose or my real estate, and to execute and deliver to the purchaser or purchasers thereof such deed or deeds of conveyance as may be necessary in as full (Adam Ryter) and ample a manner as I myself could do if living upon further consideration I do order and direct that the hereinbefore mentioned Mortgage debt against George Hoover of four thousand dollars shall be paid over to my said Daughter Nancy absolutely if she survives her said husband, to be at her absolute disposal as she may think best. In addition to the obligation of my son Benjamin of four thousand dollars I have his obligation for the sum of eight hundred and seventy eight dollars, and eighty one cents, upon which interest shall be computed at the rate of two per cent per annum commencing July 1, 1852. In Witnefs whereof, I the said Adam Reyter have to this my last will and testament contained on this and the four preceeding pages set my hand and seal, to wit, my hand to the bottom of each of the four preceeding pages and my hand and seal to this alst page, this 21st day of October A.D. 1852.
The writing contained in this and the four preceeding pages was signed and sealed by the above named Adam Reyter, and by him declared as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us, who have at his request hereunto signed our names in his presence and in the presence of each other.
Personally came before me the Register of Wills in and for said County Hezekiah Easton and on his Solemn oath duly administered did depose and say that he was well acquainted with John H. Wolff one of the subscribing witnesses to this will and that he believes said witnefs does not now reside in Pennsylvania, he further states that he has frequently seen said John H. Wolff write and that from his knowledge of the handwriting of said witnefs the signature John H. Wolff is in his opinion and according to his belief the proper handwriting of said witnefs.
September 16" 1856. Personally appeared before me John F. Gloper Dep. Regr. in and for said County J. S. Werdebaugh one of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing instrument of writing who being duly sworn according to law, did depose and say that he was personally present and saw the Adam Ryter now decd. write his name unto and heard him publish pronounce and declare the same as and for his last will and testament and at the time of the doing thereof the said decd. was of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding according to the best of his knowledge and belief and that his name thereto subscribed as a witnefs is in his own proper handwriting and done at the same time, and that J. H. Wolf signed it also at the same time in his presence.
Sept. 1 1856. You Benj. L. Ryder, Michael Ryder and Jacob Stouffer do each of you affirm that as executors of this alst will and testament of Adam Ryder late of Peters township decd. You will well and trult administer the goods & chattels, rights & credits of said decd. according to law and also will diligently and ....