Henry Lawshe’s Will
I
Henry Lawshe of the township of Amwell
in the County of Hunterdon and State of New Jersey being of sound mind and
memory do make and publish this for my last will and testament.
First:
I give and bequeath unto my dear wife Mary the use and occupancy of all my
personal estate after the payment of debts in trust for and during the time she
remains my widow or until the time that my son Henry D. Lawshe
and my daughter Mary E. Lawshe arive
at the age of twenty one should she remain sin- (sic) until that time; I also
give and bequeath unto my wife Mary the full use occupancy and possession of my
homestead farm whereon I now live situate in Amwell af’d during her widow hood or until my said son Henry D. Lawshe and my daughter Mary E. Lawshe
arrive at the age of twenty-one years.
Second:
at the end of her widowhood or at the time of my said children arriving at the
age of twenty one years which first happens, I order and direct my executors
herein after named to sell all my personal estate at public vendue,
I also order and direct them my said executors at the time af’d
to sell my homestead farm whereon I now live situate in the township of Amwell aforesaid bounded by lands of Gideon Moore David
Moore and others containing ninety six acres be the same more or less and is
the same I purchased from Isaac Poulson and Hannah his wife, at public or
private sale, as they may think the most proper method to obtain the best price
that can reasonably be obtained for the same, and make good and sufficient deed
or deeds of conveyance to the purchaser or purchasers for the same.
Third:
I bequeath to my executors and the survivor their executors or administrators
one thousand eight hundred dollars in trust, nevertheless to place the same at
interest, and to pay the interest thereof coming due annually, to my said wife
Mary during her life and in the case of her marriage to pay the same
notwithstanding, into her hands or to her order only, my intent being, that the
same shall not be payable to or liable to the order of her said husband, which
annuity I give in lieu of dower out of my estate and if not esccepted
(sic) as such within thirty days after being thereunto required so to do by my
executors to be void.
Fourth:
I hereby exhonourate (sic) and discharge my sons
Isaac Lawshe, David Lawshe and
Abraham Lawshe from the paymen
(sic) of any charges which I have in my books of account against them or either
of them for outfits or advances.
Fifth:
I give and bequeath unto my son Henry D. Lawshe the
sum of three hundred and seventy four dollars to be paid to him as soon as the
money can reasonably be collected after the sale of my property as before
ordered.
Sixth:
I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary E. Lawshe
the sum of three hundred and seventy four dollars to be paid to her as soon as
the money can reasonably be collected after the sale of my farm and personal
estate ordered to be sold as aforesaid.
Seventh:
I give and bequeath unto my daughter Rachel A. Lawshe
the sum of three hundred and seventy four dollars to be placed at interest by my
executors as soon as the money arising from the sale of my property ordered to
be sold can be collected, and paid to her on her ariving
at twenty one years of age or on her widing (sic) day
which first happens. Those three sums as herein given to my three youngest
children is is (sic) intended to make my said childrens shares equal in value with my three other
children that have had advances to that amount.
Eighth:
All the residue of my estate as soon as it can be collected I give and bequeath
to my six children viz: Isaac Lawshe,
David Lawshe, Abraham Lawshe,
Henry D. Lawshe, Mary E. Lawshe
and Rachel A. Lawshe to be divided among them my said
children share alike.
Ninth:
as soon as is convenient after the decease of my wife Mary, my will is that the
one thousand eight hundred dollars put at interest for her use together with
what interest may not be paid over be collected in and divided among my six
children herein before named share alike, and in case of the death of any of any (sic) of my children
before me leaving children the child or children to take their parents share as
the law would divide it had it been in possession of the parent and aging
intestate my wearing apparel I give to my four sons to be divided share alike
among them.
Tenth:
I hereby appoint my three sons Isaac Lawshe, David Lawshe and Abraham Lawshe executors
of this my testament and last will. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal
the twenty seventh day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and thirty one.
Henry Lawshe
Signed
sealed published
and
declared by the said
Henry
Lawshe to be his
testament and
last will
in the
presence of us
Israel
Paulson
Jane
Farley
James
I Fisher