Will of John W. Trout

In the name of God amen, I John Trout of Delaware township in the county of Northumberland & State of Pennsylvania, farmer, being frail in body but of sound & disposing mind & memory & desirous of settling my worldly affairs while I have strength and capacity so to do, do make and publish this my last will & testament, hereby revoking and making void all former wills by me at any time heretofore made, and First I direct that my body shall after my decease be decently buried or interred according to the usual rites & ceremonies of Christian burial or internments & that my funeral be conducted in a manner corresponding with my estate & situation in life.

Secondly, I direct that all my just debts and financial expenses be paid as soon after my decease as possible out of the first monies that shall come into the hands of my Executor from any portion of my estate real or personal. Thirdly, subject to the payment of my debts & financial expenses and the payment of one dollar, and no more, to each of my brothers and sisters who may be still living after my decease, I do hereby bequeath and devise all my personal estate as follows; to wit, to Henrietta Shatter wife of Jacob Shatter for and during the term of her natural life and after her death to Samuel Shatter her son, and to his heirs and assigns forever, the said Henrietta however is, in consideration of the said bequest and devise, to remain with me, and keep my house for me, and do all my cooking, washing & mending and the like faithfully & during my life both in sickness and in health, as she has hitherto done. My only brothers and sisters living or supposed to be living are as follows to wit, Abraham Trout of Milton in this county, Magdalena Trout, wife of George Dewalt of Lycoming County, Catherine Trout wife of Peter Yoder in Sckuykill County, and George Trout of Colebrookdale township in Berks county, all in Pennsylvania. And lastly, I do hereby nominate and appoint John F. Wolfinger Executor of this my last will and testament, who shall proceed to settle & collect all my outstanding claims of whatsoever kind or nature and dispose of all my monies which he may receive as herein before described and directed. In witness whereof, I John Trout the testator aforesaid have to this my will written upon one sheet of paper set my hand and seal this first day of January in the year of our Lord one Thousand eight hundred and fifty three.

(signed) Jajonnes Trout (seal)

(Witnessed by Joseph P. Bound and William. C. Willson, standard endorsing statements follow, will is proved and recorded on 23 Jul 1862)