In the name of God Amen. I David Schitz of The Township of Conowago in the County of Adams in the State of Pennsylvania being in tolerably good health and of sound mind memory and understanding praised be God for the same and knowing the certainty of death but the uncertainty of the time thereof and being anxious and desirous of setting my worldly affairs whilst I have strength and capacity so to do, do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following to wit,
First and principally I commit my soul into the hands of my Creator who gave it, and my body to the earth to be enterred in a deacent and becoming manner. And as to such worldly goods wherewith it hath pleased God to entrust me, I dispose of the same as follows,
My Will is that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid afsoon after my decease as conveintly can be.
My Will further is my whole estate real personal and mixed, shall be sold by my hereinafter named Executor afsoon after my decease as can be advantageously to my estate and after the payment of my just debts funeral expenses a site of Gravestones for myself and the cost and charges of settling my estate the surplus or ballence shall be divided into nine parts as follows - into eight equal parts or shares, the ninth share to be one hundred and fifty Dollars, more than either of the first eight shares (in principle) and interest is to be allowed on the said one hundred and fifty Dollars from this date until paid, in manner following - viz
One share I give and bequeath unto my son John or his heirs
One share I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary intermarried with Barney Reiley or her heirs
One share I give and bequeath unto my daughter Sarah intermarried with Peter Keffauver or her heirs
One share I give and bequeath unto my son Daniel or his heirs
One share I give and bequeath unto my daughter Eliza intermarried with Henry Staulsmith or her heirs
One share I give and bequeath unto my son David or his heirs
One share I give and bequeath unto my daughter Susannah intermarried with Isaac Snyder or her heirs
One share I give and bequeath unto my daughter Catharine intermarried with Isaac Neely or her heirs
One share (the ninth) I give and bequeath unto my son George, the said share together with the interest that may have accrued on the same up to the time of payment shall be placed or paid by my Executor into the hands of my son John who shall place the same at interest and the Yearly interest arising from the said sum shall be paid annually by my said son John unto my said son George - and should the interest at any time not be sufficient for the wants and necefsities of my son George (in the opinion of my son John) then I order and direct him my son John to pay him my son George from time to time so much of the principle as he my said son John may think nefsisary for his wants and comforts -
My intention is to make my children all equal in the distribution of my estate, they all having received about one hundred and fifty Dollars more than my son John including the use of five hundred Dollars they all had one Year longer than him is the reason of my leaving him that amount herein more than the rest with interest on the said sum -
Lastly I nominate costitute and appoint my son Daniel Executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and making null and void all former Will heretofore by me made, and giving and granting to my said Executor full power and authority to carry out and execute the provifsions of this my last Will and Testament as fully as I might or could do if living.
In Witnefs whereof I the said David Schitz have hereunto set my hand and seal this seventh day of September A.D. 1854.
Adams County S.S. The 13th day of November A.D. 1854 Before me Daniel Plank Register for the probate of wills & granting Letters of Administration in & for Said County personally appeared George W. McClellan and Joel B. Danner, the subscribing witnefses to the above will and being duly sworn according to Law, did depose & say that they were severally present and saw & heard David Schitz the Testator Sign, Seal, publish pronounce and declare the foregoing instrument of writing as and for his Testament & Last Will and that at the time of so doing he was of perfect and sound mind memory & understanding, to the best of their Knowledge observation & belief.
An Inventory of all and Singular the Goods and chattels rights and credits of David Schitz Senr taken and appraised this 22 day of November A.D. 1854 by
Adams County SS
Before me one of the Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Adams, Came Thomas McKinney and George Heagy, and being duely sworn according to Law, do say that they have appraised and made out a true return of all the goods & chattls belonging to David Sheetz Dec.