Will of Christopher SHOCKEY (1773): Frederick County, MD

Contributed by Brenda Wallace <Wallace@ccia.com>

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Please be aware that there are four copies of Christopher Shockey's will at the 
Westmoreland County, PA courthouse. They all say nearly the same thing and are 
obviously copies from the original. The differences are in the probate dates and 
the recording dates. You can find the German will and an English translation in 
estate file #23. The German will bears a probate date of 4 July 1775. The 
English copy bears a probate date of 10 Dec. 1796. In Will Book A, pg. 15, there 
is a copy of the English will with no probate and no recorded date. It is 
between a will probated Dec. 1778 and one probated June 1779. Another copy of 
the English will is in Will Book A p. 363-364, this was recorded in 1815 and 
bears the 10 Dec. 1796 probate.

Will of Christopher Shockey } In the name of God Amen. I Christopher Shockey of 
Frederick County and State of Maryland knowing that it is appointed for all men 
conce to die but the house of death not knowing therefore theis eight of June in 
the year one thousand seven hundred and three & seventy in good health perfect 
mind & memory this my last will and testament formed in the manner of form as 
follows first I give my soul into the hands of God that gave it & recommend my 
body after my death into the earth to be buried in a christian like and decent 
manner. I likewise recommend that after my death all my funeral expenses and all 
just and lawful debts are to be paid out of the personal or real estate as God 
was pleased to bless me worldly estate so I leave them after my death to them 
belonging to me in the following manner first I order and recommend to my Son 
Valentine Shockey five pounds lawful and payable money of Pennsylvania value 
which sum of money I make to him in such form that it tis the price of a horse 
that I sold him further I give and order to the aforsd Son Valentine Shockey 
three pounds payable money of the same value of the aforesaid of me to the said 
mentioned three pounds I give and order to the above mentioned five pounds & the 
above mentioned three pounds and one shilling shall be his part made over to him 
by me as his share further I order and recommend that my Sons John Shockey, 
Jacob Shockey, Issac Shockey, Abraham Shockey and Christopher Shockey each of 
them shall have one shilling starling made over to them for their shares that is 
my will and order to them further I order and recommend to my Daughter Elizabeth 
Hallen and so to my Daughter Barbara for them & so to my Daughter Magtanica 
Stambach that each of them shall have one shilling starling made over to them 
from me for their shares further I order and recommend to my beloved wife Maria 
that after my death as long as she my widow do remain she shall all my property 
and estate in her hand and power remain so that she can make her living & have 
maintainance and if there should be any heirs of us come then shall her child as 
well as them we might beget together they shall be looked upon as equal heirs to 
our property or estate further I order from me that if my wife should die 
without heirs from me then shall her present child that she now before us tis by 
the name of Catherina shall be looked upon as an heir of the third part of the 
estate But from us both begotten heirs should remain by life then shall they be 
kept with us to the above will and testament which is the last for this time and 
no others for this time. I also order for the last to this my will as Executors 
Maria Shockey and give her by these presents writing power to appoint to her who 
she pleases as who she may think fit. I have also the above mentioned will 
confirmet, and with my own hand undersigned and sealed in presents of the 
witnesses

Christopher Shoke
Andrew Huber, John Huber, Henry Huber

4 July 1775 probate reads as follows: One of the witness affirmed this 4th day 
of July 1775, and exex. sworn W. T. Clary. 

10 December 1796 probate reads as follows:
Westmoreland County S.S. Personally appeared before me James Guthrie Register 
for the probate of wills and granting letters of administration in and for said 
County Henry Huber one of the subscribing witnesses to the within instrument of 
writing being duly sworn deposeth and sayeth he was presonally present and saw 
Christopher Shockey the testator therein named sigen seal and acknowledge the 
same as and for his last will and testament and at the time of doing the same he 
believes him to be of sound mind and memory and the name Henry Huber thereto 
subscribed as Witness is the proper hand writing of this deponant and that he 
also saw Andrew Huber and John Huber subscribe their names as witnesses to the 
same and this deponant says he never was called upon before to prove the same. 
Sworn before me this 10th day of December A.D. 1796 James Guthrie Regs
James Mtgomery Register Recorded February 7, 1815