WILL: John EDWARDS, 1723, Merion, Philadelphia County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by
Anna Brown elijahf1@comcast.net

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/lancaster/
_______________________________________________ 

The Will of John EDWARDS
Dated 11 September 1723 and proved 30 October 1723.

In the name of God amen The eleventh day of September in the year of our Lord 
1723 I John EDWARDS of upper Merion in the Province of Pensilvania Labourer 
being sick and weak of body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given to 
God therefore calling unto mind the Mortality of my body and knowing that it is 
appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and 
Testament: that is to say principally and first of all I Give and recommend my 
soul into the hands of God that gave it and for my body, I recomend it to the 
Earth to be buried in a Christian-like and decent manner at the discretion of my 
Executors nothing doubting but at the General resurrection I shall receive the 
same again by the mighty power of God and as Touching Such Worldly Estate 
wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give devise and dispose 
of the same in the following manner and form, Imprimis I ordain that first of 
all my funeral Expenses and all ye charges in the time of my Sickness be paid by 
my executor hereafter named, Item I give and bequeath to my beloved Cousin Mary 
REES the wife of Thomas REES the sum of ten Shillings, Item I give to my beloved 
cousin Blandina MILLER the wife of Jonathan MILLER the sum of Ten Shillings also 
I give and bequeath the sum of five pounds Eight Shillings and Six pounds to be 
Equally divided between my two aforesaid cousins which sum is due to me from my 
said cousin in law Thomas REES. Item I give to my friend Jenkin DAVID of Radnor 
all the sum of Debt that he doth now owe me and I do hereby clearly discharge 
him therefrom, Item I give & bequeath to my friend Richard BOWAN one suit of 
Cloaths, Item I give & bequeath all & singular my Book Debts Bills Bonds good 
and Chattels unto my dear and well beloved mother Grace MORGAN and to my Sisters 
Jane EDWARDS and Margaret EDWARDS to be Equally divided between them, Item I 
appoint and ordain my trusty and well beloved friend John DAVID to be my 
Executor of this my Last will and Testament and he is to send and distribute my 
Estate according to this my will also to write to my mother & Sisters to [wallo] 
with all Speed after my decease in order that they may have and receive my Goods 
and Estate as aforesaid and I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disannull 
all and Every other former Testaments wills Legacies and Executors by me in any 
ways before this time named willed or bequeathed Ratifying and confirming this 
and no other to be my Last will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have 
hereunto Set my hand and Seal the day and year above written. John X EDWARDS 
Seal Signed Sealed published pronounced and declared by the Said John EDWARDS as 
his Last will and Testament in presence of us the Subscribers viz: Hugh HUGHES, 
Jenkin DAVID, John FORMAN, Philadia 30th of October 1723 then personally 
appeared Hugh HUGHES and Jenkin DAVID two of the witnesses to the foregoing will 
and upon their oaths did declare they saw John EDWARDS the Testator Sign Seal 
publish and declare the same to be his Last will and Testament and that at the 
doing thereof he was of sound mind memory and understanding to the best of their 
knowledge, Coram, Pet EVANS Regr Genl. Be it remembered that on the 30th day of 
8br 1723, the last will and Testament of John EDWARDS Deceased was proved in due 
form of Law and probate and letters Testamentary were Granted unto John DAVID 
Executor therein named being first Sworn well and truly to administer the said 
Deceased Estate and bring an Inventory thereof into the Register General's 
office at Philada at or before the 30th day of 9br next and also to render an 
account when thereunto Lawfully required given under the Seal of the said office 
C Pet EVANS Reg Genl.

Persons named in this will:
Mother: Grace MORGAN
Sisters: Jane EDWARDS, Margaret EDWARDS
Cousins: Mary REES, wife of Thomas REES, and Blandina {is this a correct 
spelling?} MILLER, wife of Jonathan MILLER
Friends: Jenkin DAVID of Radnor
Richard BOWAN {is this a correct spelling?}
John DAVID (named as Executor)
Witnesses: Hugh HUGHES, Jenkin DAVID, & John FORMAN
Register General: Coram Peter EVANS

Notes:
1. 8br = October; 9er = November

2. Spellings are as nearly those of the filmed document as I could make them

3. There was very little punctuation used in the filmed document; therefore I 
have used little.

4. I have chosen to capitalize last names although they were not in the document 
transcribed.

5. As of 28 August, 1996, I do not know if this John EDWARDS is related to the 
Alexander EDWARDS' family.

Transcribed by Anna Brown from FHL Film # 0021722: Philadelphia County Wills 
Books C-E; Will Book D page 372, Will # 294.