Philadelphia-Berks County PA Archives Wills.....Kerson (Kerst), John June 18, 1739
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Diana Quinones audianaq@msn.com July 16, 2007, 9:26 pm

Source: Phildalphia Wills, Copy In City Archives
Written: June 18, 1739
Recorded: June 20, 1739

In the name of God amen, I, John Kerson of Oley in the County of Philadelphia 
in Province of Pennsylvania, miller, being sick and weak of body, but of sound 
mind and memory, thanks be given unto God for same and calling to mind to 
uncertainty of this life.
Do make this my will and testament in manner and form following: hereby 
annulling and making void all other and  former wills by me made either in 
work or writing and this and no other, is and shall be taken for my last will 
and testament.
Inprimis, my will and desire is that all my debts be honestly paid by my 
executor, herein named.

Item: 
I give unto my son Henry Kerson, my mill, lands and plantation on which one 
which has millhouse to hold to him, his heirs and assigns forever imposing 
these conditions following:
viz: That when he shall at arrive at the age of twenty one years, if he so 
then living, that he and his brother George Kerson make choice of two men 
each,  to value the said mill and land, and lastly the said  Henry pay unto 
George one half, part of said value with this further proviso: that when the 
said mill and land adjacent shall be divided as aforesaid that then the said 
Henry and George pay unto their sisters Margaret* the sum of fifty pounds cash 
money of Pennsylvania and other fifty pounds to my other dau Juliana at age of 
eighteen years.  
[Henry was born in 1728 and would have been about age 11 when his father died. 
Since John names his dau Margaret first, and then Juliana, I am concluding 
that 'Mary' Margaret was older than her sister and probably born abt 1730.]  
* It is noted that daughter Margaret was probably Mary Margaret who married 
Valentine HUFF. Prothonotary files indicate Mary, and husband Valentine Huff, 
Christian MERCKEL and wife Juliana KERST, George, Henry and Francis Kerst were 
summoned to appear in a land dispute with Anthony Jaeger(Hunter) in 1765.]   
Franz/Francis KERST had requested a trial by jury, and incorporated that into 
his will in 1765 over some inheritance and land.]

Item: 
I  give unto my son Francis Kerson, his heirs and assigns all my land lying on 
Great Creek containing 140 acres with appurtenances thereunto belonging.  But 
with this proviso, that if any one or more of my said children should die 
before they arrive to their several ages as aforesaid, then such their shares 
or portions here allotted them shall be equally divided amongst the surviving 
children.   [In 1770, Christian MERCKEL [husband of daughter Juliana KERST] 
bought the 140 acres mentioned in Frantz' will from the other siblings Henry, 
George and Mary HUFF, since son Francis/Frantz had died 1765.]

Item: I give unto my beloved wife Rosina the one third part of all my estate 
as is by the Laws of England allowed a woman for her dowry.  And also a wife  
of my goods and chattels, lands, etc until such time as my children shall 
arrive to their ages as aforesaid in order to enable her to raise them up and 
educate them.
But if after my wife hath taken her 1/3 and my debts are paid, if any remains 
of my moveables, goods and chattels not before disposed of, then such money 
shall be put at interest and be equally divided among my children at their 
ages as before mentioned and so hereby nominate and appoint my wife Rosina, my 
whole and sole executor of this my last will and testament and request my 
friends and neighbors Peter Ballio[sic Ballie] and Abraham Levan[t] to be my 
trustees to see my will duly performed.

Signed, sealed, published and pronounced and declared by John Kerson to be his 
last will and testament in presence of George Boone, George Deter Holt and the 
mark of (X his mark) Diterd Lansiscus, Jun 18, 1739.  Will was filed 6/20/1739 
in Philadelphia Co.

Probation of Will: Oct 18 1739 then personally appeared Diter Lansiscus, one 
of the witnesses to the foregoing will and upon his oath did declare he saw 
and heard John Kerson the testator therein named, sign seal publish and 
declare the same will to be his last will and testament and that at the doing, 
he was of sound mind memory and understanding to the best of his knowledge and 
that he saw the other witnesses George Boone and George Deter Halt subscribe 
their names and witnesses to the same will in the presence of the testator.

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