The Last Will and Testament of Jacob Mohler
It was entered in Book C, page 10 on the 19th July 1771. It was proved 20 Aug 1770.
In the Name of God, Amen. The First day of April 1770, I, Jacob Mohler of Cocolico Township in Lancaster County, yeoman being very sick and weak in Body, but of Perfect mind and Memory, Thanks be Given unto God: Wherefore Calling unto Mind The Mortality of my body, and knowing that that it is appointed for all Man Once to Die, do make and ordain this my Last will & Testament. That is to say Principally and first of all I give and Recommend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave to and my Body I recommend to the Earth to be Buried in a Decent Christian Burial at the discretion of my Executors. And as touching Such worldly Estate wherewith it has pleased God to Please me with in this Life I give Demise and Dispose of the Same in the following manner and form First I ordain that my funeral charges and other Just Debts be paid out of my Real Estate and further I ordain
That my Wife together with my Son Jacob Shall have all the income Profit and Advantage of all my Real & Personal Estate So long until my Son shall have arrived to his Lawful age, and further I give to them all Debts due to me in Bond______: And from this income they shall pay all debts which I have Contracted and which shall be contracted by reason of my Burial. And the overplus Shall be divided between them thus that my son Jacob shall have two thirds of said income and my wife one third.
And further I give and devise all my Real Estate to my Son Jacob to have and to Hold all my Lands to him and his Heirs and Assigns for Ever, under the following Conditions. He shall Pay to my Eldest daughter Elizabeth and her Heirs and Assigns Two Hundred and Twenty five pounds Pennsylvania Currancy. And also he shall pay the same Sum to my Daughter Susanna her Heirs and Assigns, of all these Sums, he shall Pay off Every next year Twenty five Pounds to begin with the first term when he is Twenty two years of age he shall Pay it alternately to said my two daughters So that my daughter Elizabeth shall have the first Payment and my Daughter Susanna the Second and so forth, until the whole sum of four Hundred and fifty pounds be paid. And besides this the Said my two daughters Elizabeth and Susanna and their Heirs Shall be forever excluded from all Claims and Pretentions to all my Estate either Real or Personal.
And I ordain that my Brother Henry Mohler Shall Said my Lands by good and Lawful Deeds convey over to said my son Jacob at any time when he shall have paid all his dues to Said his sisters and his mother, or give sufficient surity for the Same. and Such Deed I hereby acknowledge as valid as if executed by my self.
Further I ordain that my son Jacob shall pay the like sum of Two hundred Pounds to my wife Anna. Every year ten pounds to begin when he is Twenty Two years old and so forth During her natural life. But if my Said wife should marry again then my son Jacob shall pay her One hundred pounds and all the residue of donations granted to her herein shall be void. Byt that many of said Two hundred pounds, my wife Shall be Prevented either by Marriage or by Death, the same shall be divided among all my Heirs in equal shares.
Further I ordain that my wife Shall have my best Feather Bedd with all the appurtences thereto belonging. Also the Bedd Stead one Chest all linen without Exception and one third part of all kitchen furniture to be Devided by two men Indifrently Chosen, and the Residue of my Personal Estate I give to my Son.
Further my wife Shall have for her Living the Small Rom above the Kitchen, one half part of the upper Room and one half part of the Lower Kitchen by the fireside or Else and my Son Shall Supply here with a Stove She Likes, and my Son Shall upon his Charges Supply her with necessary firewood and allow her one third part of the Seller and of the orchard and Garden and besides a quarter of an acre for her use.
Further he Shall Supply her Every year with twelve Pounds heckled hamp and its Dowe, ten Bushels of wheatone half of a hog no less than sixty pounds, thirty Pounds good beaf, and she Shall take from my cattle the best cow for her Property which ( or any other in her place) he shall keep summer and winter in good fodder and pasture for her use and allow her a good horse when she stands in need thereof. All these allowances Shall cease when she Should marry again. And my son shall begin when twenty two years old therewith.
Finally I constitute Executor of this my Last Will my loving brother Henry Mohler. In witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and seal this first Day of April as above written.
Signed Sealed and Acknowledged by the Testator to be his Last Will and Testament in the Presence of us underwritten wittnesses who saw him sign and seal the Same.
Jacob Mohler
Affirmed before me by Sebastian Keller, one on the Witnesses & the Executor this 25th July 1770. Inventory to be brought in two months
Sebastian Keller
Affirmed before me by Jacob Funk the other witness this 20th August 1770
Jacob Funk
ELC note: I have been unable to find the deed transferring the property to son Jacob, Jr. However, Jacob Jr. wills the land to his son John. The deed for this last transaction (C-8-235, in 1840) states "whereas a certain Henry Mohler and Elizabeth his wife, by their indenture dated 20 Dec 1756....did grant to the above named Jacob Mohler... two tracts of 162 acres and 28 acres, ...deed S-16..." It is impossible that there was only one Jacob - who received land in 1756 from Henry, Sr. and gave it to his son John in 1840. I believe there were Jacob, Sr. and Jacob, Jr. The timing does not work with only one.
