In the Name of God Amen. I George Shitz, of the Borough of Reading, in the County of Berks, in the State of Pennsylvania, Yeoman, being at present very Sick, but yet of Sound mind, memory and underftanding. Thanks be unto God for the same. Calling unto mind the Mortality of my Body, and knowing it is appointed for all Men once to die, do therefore make this my last Will and Testament in manner following, that is to say: First it is my Will and I do order, that in the first place all my just Debts and Funeral charges shall be paid and fatisfied, as foon as can be after my decease.
Item. It is my Will, and I do order, that my Wife Catherine shall have and take so much of my Household Goods & Kitchen Furniture, as She may want for her own use, during her life.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my Son David Shitz my Cow and Hay, for which I charge him feven pounds, to be deducted from his Legacy herein after mentioned.
Item. It is my Will, and I do order, that all the rest of my Perfonal Estate shall be fold by my Executor as foon as conveniently can be after my decease, at public fale.
Item. It is my Will, and I do order, that my said Executor, shall, as he may think best, either Let my House and Lot of Ground fituate in Prince Street in faid Borough, wherein I dwell, and also my other Lot in Earl Street in faid Borough, adjoining Michael Harft, during the natural life of my said Wife Catherine, or fell the fame at private or public fale. If the fame is not fold in the life time of my said Wife, then the fame shall be fold after her decease, and for which my said Executor shall execute Deeds or fuch other Conveyances for the same, to the purchaser or puchasers thereof his and their Heirs and Afsigns for ever, as I have and hold the same.
Item. It is my Will and I do order, that my Executor shall take my said Wife Catherine to him into his House, and shall maintain her out of the rents of my said Real Estate, if the fame is not fold, and if the fame is not fufficient, then to take of the Money arising from the fale of my Personal Estate, or of the Money which he fhall receive upon the Bonds yet due and payable to me, until it is fufficient for her maintenance tearly during her life, and in case he fells my faid Real Estate, then he is to keep so much Money in his Hands for her fupport and maintenace as shall be fufficient.
Item. It is my Will, and I do order, that the Personal Goods kept by my said Wife, fhall be fold by my Executor after her decease, at public fale, and the Money arising from the fale thereof, As also what shall be then yet remaining of my Estate, shall be equally divided among my Children Ulrich Shitz, George Shitz, David Shitz, Hannah Boyer, Margaret Krup and Susannah Shitz, but out of my Son Ulrich fhare the fum of ten pounds fhall be deducted, which the Son of my Daughter Susannah, named Jonas Baum, shall have, and out of the Share of my Daughter Hannah Boyer the like fum of ten pounds shall be deducted, which her Daughter Catherine fhall have. Provided neverthelefs, that if my Executor thinks proper to make a Division of part of my Estate, among the aforesaid Legatees, he may do the same, but ftill keeping fufficient Money in his Hands for the fupport and maintenance of my said Wife Catherine, which Division he can make in the life time of my said Wife Catherine, if he thinks proper. And lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint my Son David Shitz fole Executor of this my last Will and Testament. Hereby making Null and void all former and other Wills and Testaments by me made heretofore; ratifying, allowing, and confirming this, and no other to be my last Will and Testament. In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal, the twenty first day of August, in the year of our Lord, one thousand, seven hundred and ninety nine.
Registers Office Reading in Berks County 9th September 1799. Then appeared Jacob Gofsin and John Spyker Witnefses to the afore written Will who being duly fworn according to Law respectively did Depose and fay that they were present together and did fee and hear George Shitz the Testator therein named fign feal publish & declare the fame writing to be his last Will and Testament, and that at the time of the doing thereof he the faid Testator was of found mind Memory and understanding to the best of their knowledge and as they verily believe. And further that the names Jacob Gofsin & John Spyker is of the faid Deponents own handwriting fubscribed as Witnefses in the presence of each other and in the presence & at the request of the Testator.
A true and perfect Inventory and Conscionable appraisement of all and fingular the Goods and Chattels Rights and Credits which were of Geroge Shitz late of the Borough of Reading in the County of Berks Yeoman Decised
Appraised by us the Subscribers, on the ninth day of September one thousand, Seven hundred & ninty nine. The whole amaunting to two hundred and fifteen pounds twelve Shilling-
1799 Sept. 10th, then Appeared John Goodman & Jacob Gofsin the aforenamed Appraisers and were duly sworn to the foregoing Inventory agreably to Law