Last Will and Testament of John Wildman

Date: 17 Feb 1842 [unknown]
Location: Bensalem Township, Bucks, Pennsylvania, United States

Last Will and Testament:
Be it known that I John Wildman of Bensalem Township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania have made this my Last Will and Testament the sevntenth day of the second month in the year of one thousand eight hundred and forty two. First, I give and bequeath unto my wife Mary Wildman, all my wearing apparel, my riding carriage, riding chair and harness one horse and two cows, her choice and one hundred and twenty dollars worth of household goods, such as she may choose. all of which (except the wearing apparrel) after the termination of her widowhood shall descend to. I hereby give the same to my four daughters, now at home, namely Ann, Mary, Jane and Rachel, or the survivors of them, share and share alike. I also give to my said wife such quantity of meat and meal as she may want for her own use during the term of nine months next after my decease. I further give and bequeath to my said wife, all my lands on the southeast side of the Milford road, with all the buildings and appurtenances and the threshing machine and horse power thereunto belonging to be held by her for her use and profit as long as she remains my widow unmarried, with this proviso. That all my daughters now at home, namely Ann, Mary, Jane and Rachel, shall have the privilege of a home and boarding in the house with my said wife during the said term, if they remain in a single state, or such of them as so remain. Item. I give and bequeath to my son Ellwood Wildman in consideration of work done him for me, since he was twenty one years of age the sum of One thousand dollars. I also give him one horse (in addition to one I have already given him) one wood wagon with harness and two cows. Item. I give and bequeath to my son John Wildman in consideration of work done by him since he was twenty one years of age, the sum of seven hundred dollars and one wood wagon, second choice. Item. I give and devise to my son Ellwood Wildman, all that tract or parcel of Land situate in Bensalem Township aforesaid being one half part of my lands lying on the Northwest side of Milford road, beginning at a stone in the middle of said road and extending along a division line between this and lands hereinafter devised to my son Edward, North eight degrees west about one hundred and fifty six perches to a stone set in a line of Thomas Garrack's land, thence along said line to William Vandegrift's land thence by said Vandegrift's to a stone in the middle of the Milford road aforesaid, and thence to the middle of the said road, one hundred and eleven perches and eight tenths of a perch to the place of beginning containing forty four acres and a half and thirty two perches, be it more or less, to hold the same with the appurtenances to him the said Ellwood Wildman and his heirs and assigns forever, subject to the payment of three hundred and fifty dollars into my personal estate, and subject also to the payment to be made to my son Joshua K. Wildman in one year after my decease of one half the amount of said tract or parcel of land at the rate of eighty dollars per acre. But if my son Ellwood should not be satisfied with that sum per acre, he may have it valued by three reputable disinterested freeholders to be chosen by him and his brotherJoshua K. and their decision to be conclusive. I give to my son Edward Wildman, the other half part of my lands lying on the northwest side of the Milford road bounded by the aforesaid division line next the part devised to Ellwood, the middle of Millford road, Levi Vandegrift's land, Charles Knight's land and lands of William Vandegrift and Thomas Danach containing forty four acres and a half and thirty two perches , be the same more or less, to hold the same with the appurtenances unto him the said Edward Wildman and his heirs and assigns forever subject to the payment to my son John Wildman in one year after my decease of on half the amount thereof valued at eighty dollars an acre or the valuation to be made by three judicious disinterested men mutually chosen by the parties, and their Judgement to be conclusive. Item. I give and bequeath to my son Charles Wildman, a sum of money to be paid him out of my personal estate in one year after my decease, equal in amount to one fourth part of the valuation of my lands lying on the northwest side of the Millford road at eighty dollars and acre, or to be made by disinterested men as above mentioned.
Item. I will and direct that my five sons, Charles, Ellwood, John, Edward and Joshua K out of what I have hereinbefore willed to them, shall each pay an hundred dollars, making in the whole five hundred dollars, in one year after my decease which I give and bequeath to my five daughters namely Martha Smedley, Ann Wildman, Mary Wildman, Jane Wildman and Rachel Wildman, to be equally divided among them share and share alike. Item. After the expiration of my wife's widowhood, I authorize and direct my Executors herein after named, to sell all my lands on the southeast side of Millford road, with the buildings improvements and appurtenances belonging thereunto and to execute good and sufficient deed or deeds for the same , to the purchaser or purchasers thereof. and the monies thence arising I give and bequeath to be equally divided among all my children or the legal representatives, share and share alike.
For the faithful execution and fulfilment of this my last will and Testament, I nominate and appoint my three sons Charles Wildman Ellwood Wildman and John Wildman as my Executors allowing each of them one hundred dollars as compensation for their care and trouble in settling my estate, and all my books in the bookcase or wherever found (after payment of my debts and funeral expences) I will and bequeath to be equally divided among all my surviving children, share and share alike. I do also nominate and appoint Jesse James and James Townsend to audit the accounts of my executors above named (if thought needful). In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal. dated as first before written.
Signed sealed pronounced and declared by John Wildman as and for his Last will and Testament in the presence of us - James Townsend, Jesse James. John Wildman and seal.
Codicil
I John Wildman of Bensalem, do make this codicil to my foregoing last will and Testament as follows if my personal estate shall be found insufficient for the payment of my debts, funeral expenses and the Legacies mentioned in my said will to be paid therefrom, my will is and thereby direct that all my land on the northwest side of the Millford, be let out by my executors above named, for such length of time as that the rents thereof will make up the deficiency, and then to go to my two sons Ellwood and Edward as in said will devised to them respectively, and subject to the payments therein mentioned; excepting they each of them have three years to pay the monies to their brothersJoshua K. and John, respectively, as directed by my said will. The same to be made in three equal annual payments, in each case without interest. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, confirming all the other parts of my said last will, this twenty eighth day of the third month in the year 1842 in the presence of us as witnesses thereto
James Townsend, Jesse James } John Wildman (seal)
Bucks County fs. On the twentieth day of June AD 1842 personally appeared before me David Marple Register of Wills in and for said County Jesse James and James Townsend the subscribing Witnesses to the annexed instrument of writing purporting to be the Last will and testament and a codicil to the last will and Testament of John Wildman deceased and being first duly affirmed did depose ans say that they were present and saw and heard John Wildman the Testator sign and seal publish and declare the annexed paper writings, as and for his Last will and Testament and that at the time of his so going he was of sound minds and memory and of disposing understanding to the best of their knowledge and belief. David Marple.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Probate: "Pennsylvania, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993"
   Wills, 1713-1906 ; General Index to Wills, 1682-1939; Author: Bucks County (Pennsylvania). Register of Wills; Probate Place: Bucks, Pennsylvania
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8802 #1665345 (accessed 7 June 2022)
   John Wildman will dated 17 Feb 1842, John Wildman codicil dated 28 Mar 1842, probate on 20 June 1842.