Will of James DOUGHERTY (1766): Chester Co, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Betty VanLeer < Bvl54@aol.com >.

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                            JAMES DOUGHERTY

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN.  I, JAMES DOUGHERTY BEING IN A SICK & LOW CONDITION OF 
BODY, BUT IN PERFECT MIND & MEMORY.  BLESSED BE GOD FOR HIS MERCIES, BEING 
SENSIBLE OF THE POLUTION OF SOUL & BODY, AND WELL KNOWING THAT IT IS APPOINTED 
UNTO ALL MEN ONCE TO DIE.  I MAKE THIS MY LAST WILL & TESTAMENT---------REVOKING 
---------FOLLOWING ALL OTHER AND I -----CONFORM THIS AS MY LAST WILL & 
TESTAMENT.
FIRST OF ALL, I GIVE UP MY SOUL TO THE GOD THAT MADE IT & MY BODY TO THE DUST.  
NOTHING DOUBTING, BUT I SHALL RECEIVE THE SAME AT THE RESURRECTION BY THE MIGHTY 
POWER OF GOD, TO BE FRAMED & FASHIONED BY HIS MIGHTY POWER & FILLED FOR THE 
HABITATION OF THE DUST.
SECOND.  I ALLOW MY BODY TO BE BURIED IN THE CHRISTION MANNER AT THE DISCRETION 
OF MY EXECUTORS.
THIRD.  AS TO THE WORLDY GOODS WHERE WITH IT HATH PLEASED GOD TO BLESS ME WITH, 
I DO DISPOSE OF & BEQUEATH IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER.
IN THE FIRST PLACE, I ALLOW MY WELL BELOVED WIFE MARGARET THE THIRD PART OF MY 
REAL ESTATE DURING HER SINGLE STATE AND ALSO A FULL LIBERTY TO DWELL IN THE 
PRESENT DWELLING HOUSE ALONG WITH MY SON JAMES DURING HER WIDOWHOOD, BUT IF SHE 
OTHERWISE CHOOSES THERE MUST BE A HOUSE FITTED OUT FOR HER ON THE PLANTATION IN 
THE MOST CONVENIENT PLACE AT THE DISCRETION OF MY EXECUTORS.  I ALSO ALLOW HER 
THE HORSE CALLED HER OWN & SIDE SADDLE, ALSO HER BED & CHEST, STILL ALLOWING THE 
SAID HORSE TO BE VALUED IN PART OF HER THIRD PART OF MY PERSONAL ESTATE.  I 
LIKEWISE--------HER TO BE DISPOSED OF AT HER OWN DISCRETION.
2.  I ALLOW MY SON SAMUEL DOUGHERTY. I ALLOW HIM MY BEST COAT & WAIST COAT.
3.  TO MY DAUGHTER, MARY FERGUSON & HUSBAND I ALLOW THEM THE JUST & FULL SUM OF 
SEVEN SHILLINGS & SIXPENCE AT THE EXPIRATION OF ONE FULL YEAR AFTER MY DEATH.
4.  TO MY DAUGHTER, JANNET DAVIDSON & HUSBAND, I ALLOW THEM TWO COWS & TWO 
LAMBS, WITHIN ONE FULL YEAR AFTER MY DEATH AND ALSO WHEN MY SON JAMES OR HIS 
HEIRS SHALL PROCURE A TITLE TO THE PLANTATION I NOW LIVE ON, I FURTHER LEAVE IT 
IN THE POWER OF MY EXECUTORS TO CAUSE HIM THE SAID JAMES OR HIS HEIRS TO GIVE 
UNTOSAID JANNET OR HER HEIRS ANY SUM NOT EXCEEDING FIVE POUNDS.
5.  AS FOR MY SON JOHN DOUGHERTY, I ALLOW HIM TO BE PUT TO SUCH A SHARE AS HE & 
MY EXECUTORS SHALL CHOOSE AGAINST THE FIRST OF JANUARY IN THE 18TH YEAR OF HIS 
AGE, AND THEN AT THE EXPIRATION OF HIS TIME TO RECEIVE THE JUST & FULL SUM OF 
TWENTY FIVE POUNDS LAWFUL CURRANCY TO BE PAID BY MY SON JAMES OR HIS HEIRS.
6.  AS FOR MY DAUGHTER MARTHA, I ALLOW HER THE SUM OF TWENTY FIVE POUNDS TO BE 
PAID HER IN LIVESTOCK & HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, TO BE CHOSEN & VALUED BY MY 
EXECUTORS.  IF ANY DISAGREEMENT ABOUT THE VALUE SHALL ARISE THEN JUDGMENT OF MY 
GUARDIANS & EXECUTORS SHALL BE FINAL.
7.  AS FOR MY SON JAMES DOUGHERTY, I ALLOW HIM THE TWO THIRD OF MY REAL & 
PERSONAL ESTATE AS SOON AS HE IS OF THE AGE OF 21 YEARS, BUT IN CASE HIS MOTHER 
DIES OR MARRIES.  IN THE CASE OF EITHER OF THESE, I ALLOW HIM THE WHOLE OF MY 
REAL ESTATE TO BE HIS & HIS HEIRS IN FULL POSSESSION FOR EVER, ALWAYS ALLOWING 
HIM THE AFORESAID JAMES OR HIS LAWFUL HEIRS FAITHFULLY TO PAY OR CAUSE TO BE 
PAID, ALL THE ABOVE LEGACIES, BEQUEATH ----ACCORDING TO THE TERMS WITHIN 
MENTIONED.  AND FURTHER BEFORE THAT ANY DECISION IS MADE IN MY ESTATE REAL & 
PERSONAL I ALLOW ALL MY DEBTS IN DEMAND, EITHER CONTRACTED IN LIFE OR ON ACCOUNT 
OF FUNERAL EXPENSES TO BE PAID IN FULL AND FURTHER IN CASE ANY OF THE WITHIN 
LEGATEES SHOULD DIE BEFORE THEY ARRIVE TO FULL AGE ACCORDING TO LAW, THEN ALL 
THEIR PART OF PORTION TO BE EQUALLY DIVIDED AMONG THE REMAINING HEIRS AND I 
NOMINATE AND APPOINT MY WELL BELOVED WIFE MARGARET AND JAMES GLASKOW TO BE THE 
EXECUTORS OF THIS MY LAST WILL & TESTAMENT AND TO TAKE CARE THE WHOLE BE 
FAITHFULLY PERFORMED AGGREEABLE TO THE TRUE INTENT AND MEANING THEROF.  I ALSO 
DO NOMINATE & APPOINT JONATHON HARTSHORN & JAMES MAXWELL TO BE GUARDIANS OF THIS 
MY WILL & AUTHORATIVELY TO CAUSE THIS MY WILL TO BE FAITHFULY EXCUTED & WHOLLY 
PERFORMED ACCORDING TO THE TRUE INTENT & MEANING THEROF.  IN WITNESS THEROF I 
HAVE SET MY HAND & SEAL THIS TWENTY 24 OF JUNE 1766.