Person:Henry Rittenhouse (10)

Will of Henry Rittenhouse

Will of Henry Rittenhouse, written 11 December 1788, proven 1794

I, Henry Rittenhouse, bequeath to my wife Sophia £15 a year plus "the whole use of the back room downstairs in my dwelling house with unnterrupted egress and ingress of same. Likewise firewood to be hauled to the house. Also one cow such as she may choose out of my stock with pasture in the summer and hay in the winter. further I give unto her the use of my clock, one feather bed with all the furniture belonging, half a dozen chairs, a tea table, two small iron pots, teakettle, half a dozen plates and as many teacups and saucers. All of which I give unto her for the term of her natural life, or as long as she remain in my name a widow, But in case she should marry, I give her the bed and bedding and the furniture thereafter mentioned and no more.

I bequeath to my eldest son Christopher the sum of one hundred pounds which is to be in lieu of any debt or demand against me.

I Will and direct that three years after my deceae all my land and plantation whereon I now dwell with all the apputenances thereunto belonging shall be valued by three discreet men who shall be appointed in manner following viz My four younger sons or their survivors of them shall choose one man. My eldest son another and my esteemed friend Ezekial Rhoads the third. The valuation shall be equally divided between all my children share and share alike.

I will and order that my eldest son Christopher shall have the privilege of keeping my plantation at the valuation aforesaid, if it should be in his power to pay off the aforesaid legacies which will be their due to my other children. If my said son is unable to discharge the said legacies that then it is my Will that my Executors or the survivors of them shall make sale of as much of my said land as shall be sufficient to enable him to pay such legacies.

If my said son Christopher should die before the valuation then the same privilege shall be given to the next oldest son. If any of my children should die Intestate then it is my Will that their share be divided between my surviving children.

I give and bequeath to my grandson esse Rittenhouse the sum of five pounds when he attains the age of fifteen years.

appoint my said son Christopher with my said esteemed friend Ezekial Rhoads my Executors."

(signed) Henry "His Mark" Rittenhouse, 11 December 1788.

Inventory returned by Christopher Rittenhouse total value £304 7 shillings and 1 pence. [File RW 5342, Montgomery County Archives]