Wills: Thomas Hastings, 1854: Washington County, Pa., Amwell Township Contributed by Michael Hastings mike hastings <captainmikeinla@yahoo.com> Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/washington/ _______________________________________________ I, Thomas Hastings of Amwell Township in the county of Washington and commonwealth of Pennsylvania do make and publish my last will and testament hereby revoking and making void all former wills by me at any time heretofore made., and First, I direct that my body be decently interned and as to my worldly estate I dispose of the same in the following manner. First, I direct all my personal estate...I give and bequeth unto my wife Sarah L. Hastings, all my worldly goods,______,and personal property of every kind and description to be used, enjoyed, and disposed of by her, by will or otherwise, as she may think proper, but in case any of the property should remain undisposed of by her, at the time of her death, I direct my executor, hereafter named, to sell, collect and distribute the proceeds thereof as hereafter mentioned and I do also give and divise unto my said wife the use, control, and enjoyment of all my real estate during her natural life....At the death of my said wife, I direct and set my executors hereafter named to sell my realestate and make a deed of convergence to the purchaser or purchasers for the same....The money arising from the said sale, together with the proceeds of any of my personal estate which may be ______ as before mentioned, I dispose of and bequeath in the following manner.... 1. To my daughter, Margaret Hastings, wife of Robert Hastings, I give and bequeath one equal share thereof. 2. To my daughter Eleanor (Hastings) Dager, wife of Jacob Dager, I give and bequeath one equal share thereof. 3. To my daughter Matilda (Hastings) Boyd, wife of Samuel Boyd, I give and bequeath one equal share thereof. 4. To my daughter Sarah Jane (Hastings) Davis, wife of John Davis, I bequeath one equal share thereof. 5. To the children of my deceased daughter, Mary Hastings (2), I give and bequeath one equal share thereof provided however, that the money I have expended may hereafter have to expense for the maintance of Joseph, one of the said children, who is now in the custody of the directors of the poor, shall be accounted for and deducted from the share so bequeath to the children of my said daugther Mary. And I do hereby make and ordain John Meloy and George Black Executors of this - my last will and testament. In witness whereof, I Thomas Hastings, the testator, have to this my said will written on one sheet of paper set my hand and seal the 13th day of April, 1854. Thomas Hastings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ In March of of 1857, briefly after the death of Thomas Hastings, John Meloy and two witnesses (W.M. Kennan and A.W. Acheson) directed out the requests of Thomas' will. The rest of the legalities are below: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Signed, sealed and published and declared by the said Thomas Hastings as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who have signed the same as witness at his request in his presence and the presence of each other, W.M Kennan, A.W. Acheson, Washington County...Be it remembered that on the 10th day of March A.D. 1857, before one, John Meloy-Register for the probate of wills and granting letters of Administration in and for said county came W.M Kennan and A.W. Acheson ______ witnessed to the will of Thomas Hastings and who after being duly qualified according to law, dispose and say that they were present at the execution of this will and saw the testator sign the name thereto______that at his request___in his presence, and in the presence of each other. They subscribe their names as witness that the testator publish, pronounce, and declare the foregoing instrument --as and for his last will and testament --and at the time of his so doing, he was of sound mind, memory, and understanding to the best of their knowledge, observance, and belief. Sworn to and subscribed before me --- John Meloy-Register W.M. Kennan and A.W. Acheson -------------------------------------------------------------------- March 10th, A.D. 1857 Letters of Testament lay with copy the will __________issued to John Nesbit____________George Black, the executors names in the will who on same day was duly qualified.. John Meloy-Register -------------------------------------------------------------------------- March 10th A.D. 1857 Register and composed with the original. John Meloy- Register.