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WILL OF JOHN EVANS, SR.
In the name of God Amen. The thirteenth day of September in the year of our Lord God 1738, I, John Evans, Sr., of London Britain Township, in the County of Chester and Province of Pennsylvania, Yeoman, being ancient and much decayed in body but of perfect mind and sound memory, thanks be to God for the same, therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this for it is my last will and testament (irrevocably). That is to say first and principally I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it, and my body I comment it to the earth to be buried in a Christian-like manner after the discretion of my executrix herafter to be named, and as touching such temporal estate where with it has pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give, bequeath and dispose of the same in manner and form following, viz.:
Imprimus. I will that all debts which I owe or may herafter owe at the time of my death, together with my funeral expenses, to be duly paid in convenient time after my decease.
- Item. - I give and bequeath to John Evans, Jr., my grandson, Twenty-five pounds present currency to be paid him by my executrix when he is of full age.
- Item. - I give and bequeath my grandchild, Evan Evans, the sum of Twenty-five pounds when of full age.
- Item. - I give and bequeath to my grandchildren, George and Peter Evans, Thirty-five pounds to each of said sons, to be paid them when of full age, and if it shall happen that any of the said sons may happen to die in their nonage, the portion or portions to be equally divided betwixt the survivor or survivors of the said sons.
- Item. - I give and bequeath to my granddaughters, Mary and Lydia Evans, the sum of Twenty-five pounds to each of them, and likewise all my household stuff and furniture of my house to be equally divided betwixt said daughters when of age or married. If so be that any of them should happen to die in their nonage, the survivor to enjoy the whole.
- Item. - I give the filley of my sorrel mare to the said John Evans, Jr.
- Item. - I give the said sorrel mare to my grandson, Evan Evans.
- Item. - I give and bequeath unto my daughter-in-law, Jane Evans, all the remainder of the purchase money due to me from the estate where Peter McCathers now dwelleth thereon, and likewise I give and bequeath unto said Jane Evans, one ox-cart, four cows and a black horse called Rock, and I also give and dispose all the rents, profits and demands of another tract or farm, now in the tenor and occupancy of one Patrick Hamilton, to hold to her the said Jane, until such time as that they and the said Evan, George and Peter attain to their full age, and then I will that the said farm or tract of land be sold to the best advantage and the price or sales thereof to be equally divided betwixt them.
- Item. - I give to my well beloved friend Owen Thomas, Three pounds soon after my decease.
- Item. - I give my best suit of clothes to John Robinson and Five shillings apiece to Samuel Rankin and John Sliver and lastly I do hereby nominate appoint constitute and ordain my said daughter-in-law, Jane Evans, my only and sole executrix of this my last will and testament, of all and singular the remainder of my goods, chattels and credits, by her fully to be enjoyed and possessed forever, and likewise I do nominate and appoint my trusty friend, Reynold Howell to be as supervisor and trustee of this my last will and to see it regularly perfected and fully accomplished, revoking and disannulling all other wills by me heretofore made, ratifying and confirming this and none other to be for my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the day and year first above written.
JOHN (his X mark) EVANS, SENR. Seal
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[Identifies Jane as the daughter-in-law of John Evans, Sr. and likely mother of John, Evan, George, Peter, Mary and Lydia Evans.]
