In the name of God amen. I Peter Shearer of the Township of Peters in the County of Franklin and State of Pennsylvania being very sick in body but of sound mind memory and understanding but considering the uncertainty of this transitory life do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following to wit. I give and devise to my Dear wife Christina her choise of any one of my horses and her Saddle her choise of a bed and beding and it is my will that she keep the whole of my lands in her hands for the term of eight years from my Deceafe and that my children live with her and be Supported by the products of my farm at her discretion and that the younger ones are also to be schooled by her and I devise that she ask the advice and that it be by their consent of my Executors hereafter named refpecting what Schoolling may be necefsary and at the Expiration of the eight years I allow my lands to be appraised by two difenterested men, chosen by my Executors and the one third of the money to which it is appraised to be put to interest and my said wife to have the same during her natural life for her support, and the above to be considered as her Dowry in full.
It is my will and desire that my son Jonathan lives with his mother and the family during the eight years and to be careful and industrious during the same for which I allow him to be paid yearly and every year the sum of one hundred Dollars and at the end of the said term, then my son Jonathan is to take the whole of the farm into his own pofsefsion yet still to keep the younger Children untill they severally arrive to the age of seventeen years when they are to be put to trades such as my Executors may direct, and it is my will that my son Jonathan shall have and Enjoy the whole of my lands in the County afforesaid, to him his heirs and afsigns forever, he paying the two thirds of the appraisement money of my lands in the manner hereafter directed. I give and devise to my Daughter Rebecca at her marriage a horse saddle and bridle worth one hundred Dollars one fether bead beding and bedstead worth forty Dollars and as it cannot be afsertained what the appraisment may amount to, it is my will that the same be it more or lefs, shall be equally divided among my Children hereafter named, and in the manner following. To my daughter Rebecca one sixth share deducting the sum one hundred and forty dollars which was before given to her to my son Benjamin One sixth share then to my son Solomon one sixth share then to my son George one sixth share, then to my son Daniel one sixth share, and then to my son Peter one sixth share, the whole to be paid by my son Jonathan in yearly payments of one hundred pounds and beginning in one year after his taking pofsefsion of the property as before mentioned and paid in the order the other Legatees are named and it is also my will that at my wifes decease the money that will then be at Interest shall be divided in like manner as the other is divided and it is to be understood that on the appraisement of the land my son Jonathan shall have his share included or reserved to him in the appraisement allowing it to be equal with my other Children. And as touching my lands in Knoxvill County in the State of Tennessee, it is my Will that my Executors dispose of the same at this discreation and they are hereby empowered to sell and convey the same and the monies arrising therefrom to be devided as the above Including my son Jonathan to an Equal Share which will make seven shares. - and it is further my will that as soon as convenient after my deceafe my Executors make a vendue and sell so much of my personal property as the may think can be speared and the monies applied to the difcharging of my Just debts which with what money can be made during the eight years that my wife keeps the land will I think be full sufficient for that purpose and whatever of my personal property may remain unsold it is to be appraised and remain for the use of the family and my son Jonathan shall have the previlidge of raising two horses for himeself during the first eight years and at the end of the eight years so much of the property as may then be on the farm shall be sold so as to wise to the sum the unsold property may be appraised to, which money shall also be divided share and share alike.
And lastly I nominate and appoint my brother Frederick Shearer and my son Jonathan Shearer to be the Executors of this my last will hereby revoking all other wills Legacies and bequests by me heretofore made and declairring this and no other to be my last will and Testament. In witnefs whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this thirty first day of december in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and five.
Signed sealed published and pronounced by said testator as his last will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request have subscribed as witnefses.
Jacob Shearer Frederick his X mark StumAnd whereas my said Wife Christina is now pregnant ... with Child, and should she be delivered and the Child survive till it arrives to the years of maturity then it shall be Entitled to and have an Equal share with my other Children which will make a seventh share to each. In witnefs whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day & year before written.
On the eighth day of January 1805 Jacob Shearer and Frederick Stum, the witnefses to the foregoing writing, appeared before me Register for the probate of wills and granting Letters of Administration in and for the said County, and upon their solemn oaths did depose and say, that they were present and saw and heard Peter Shearer now deceased write his name unto and seal and publish the foregoing writing as and for his last will and Testament and that at the time of doing thereof he the same Peter was of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding according to the best of their knowledge and belief and that their names thereto fubscribed is of their own hands writing done at the same time.
Both Executors Sworn to file Inventory on or before one month and to Settle in a year or when legally required Edw: crawford Register.