Last Will and Testament
of
Hermanus Ow
In the name of God, Amen. I, Hermanus Ow, of Green Township, Indiana County, in the State of Pennsylvania, Minister of the Gospel of the United Brethren in Christ, being in good health of body, and sound and disposing mind and memory, (Praised be God for his Mercy), and being admonished by my advanced age to settle my worldly affairs, while I have time, thought, and capacity to do so, I make and publish this my Last Will and Testament, hereby revoking and making void all other wills heretofore by me made, and first and principle commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator, hoping for pardon and remission of all my sin, and to enjoy everlasting happiness in His Heavenly Kingdom, through Jesus Christ my Savior; my body I commend to the earth from which it came, and as such worldly estate as it has pleased God to interest me with, I dispose of them as follows to wit: and first I will that all my just debts as shall be by me owing at my death, together with my funeral expenses shall in the first place be fully paid and satisfied out of the first money, which shall come into the hands of my Executor hereinafter mentioned. Item: I order and direct, that my wearing apparel shall be parted and divided equally between my two sons, Henry, and Joseph Ow. Item: I order and direct, that my books shall not be sold, but be equally divided among all my children, and the heirs of my departed daughter, Lydia Hanawalt, as the share of their mother. Item: I order and direct, that one hundred and fifty dollars be charged to my son, George Ow, and deducted from his share of my estate, that being in full of all demands. Item: I order and direct, that one hundred dollars be charged to my son, Henry Ow, and deducted from his share of my estate, that being in full of all demands. Item: I order and direct, that one hundred dollars be charged to my son, Joseph Ow, and deducted from his share of my estate, that being in full of all demands. Item: I order and direct, that one hundred and twenty-five dollars be charged to my daughter, Anna Kessler, and deducted from her share of my estate, that being in full of all demands for a house sold to her. Item: I order and direct, that the Lot or Parcel of Land, containing forty acres, more or less, in Green Township, Indiana County, that is now my present place of residence, shall be and remain the home of my beloved wife, Rebecca Ow, during her natural lifetime, and shall be entitled to full use and benefit therefrom with all the appointments, and if it should so happen, that at any time she should want to remove and leave the said premises, she shall be privileged so to do, and may rent it to whom she may please, and be entitled to all rent or income of the same. Item: I order and direct, that all the money due me in the hands of my son, Joseph Ow, unpaid, shall remain in his hands and he shall be bound to pay the interest due from the same from year to year, also to my beloved wife, Rebecca Ow, during her lifetime. Item: I order and direct, that the following articles of Personal property, immediately after my decease, shall be appraised: one cow, one bed and bedstand, one bureau and bookcase, one clock, one desk and stand, one chest, and my son, Henry Ow, and my son, Joseph Ow, and my daughter Anna Kessler, and my beloved wife, Rebecca Ow, shall have the privilege to take any of the above articles, they may see proper at the appraisement, payable a month after date to my executor, and if they should not dispost to take all the above articles, they shall be at the disposal of my Executor to dispose of them in the best way he can. Item: It is my Will, and I order direct after the decease of my beloved wife, Rebecca Ow, my mention place or farm be sold to the highest and best beater, and all moneys due me that may be in the hands of my Executor shall be ( if it will amount to six hundred dollars ) be divided equally among my following heirs or their heirs as the case may be namely: my daughter, Mary, intermarried with Hambright Rhees; and Eva, intermarried with Benedic Stevesen; and Cathrina, intermarried with James Bowers; and Hanah, intermarried with Michael Ikis; Lydia Hanawalt, dec'd, heirs to have their mother's share among them; and Samuel Ow. Item: I order and direct, that as my son, Samuel Ow, residing in the State of Missouri, whom the Lord hath blessed with plenty of riches of this world, it may be that his share will not be demanded, and in that case, after the dec. of my wife, there will be no demand made of his share, it shall be the duty of whomsoever it may be to divide his share among the rest of my heirs. And Lastly, I nominate and constitute and appoint my son, Joseph Ow, Executor of this my Last Will and Testament, with power to execute any deed or deeds necessary to the fulfillment of this my Last Will and Testament.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 2nd day of March, Ano Domini, one thousand eight hundred and sixty one. Signed sealed and declared by the testator to be his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us,
John P. Kessler, David Beringer
( This copy of Hermanus Ow's will has been edited for spelling--gtg. )
Indiana County SS: Be it remembered, that on the twenty-seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and sixty one, before me John H. Lichtenberger, Register for the Probate of Wills, and granting Letters of Administration, and for said county, was duly proved and therefore approved the foregoing instrument of writing as and for the Last Will and Testament of Hermanus Ow, late of Green Twp., said county, deceased, by the oaths of John Kessler, and David Beringer, the subscribing witnesses there to. Same day, Letter Testamentary issued to Joseph Ow, the Executor in said Will named here having first been duly sworn according to Law.
Jno. H. Lichtenberger, Register