Will of Adam Hammacher 1783
Dated 29 August 1783 in Derry Township, Lancaster County, PA
Probated 16 January 1784 at Lancaster County Courthouse, Lancaster, PA
Will Book X, Volume 2, page 288
In the name of God Amen the 29th August 1783. I Adam Hamacher of Derry Township Lancaster County being sick in Body but of sound understanding And as it is appointed for all Men once to die, I recommend my soul into the Hands of my faithful Creator, and my body to the Earth to be buried in a Christian-like manner And touching such temporal Estate where with God had blessed me, I order in the following Manner.
First it is my last Will and Testament, that my wife Ann Anna shall have Two Hundred Pounds in good Money, when the Place is sold then she shall have the aforesaid Sum in yearly Payments of Twenty-five Pounds until it is paid. And she shall have the Bed, and as much Household Furniture as she has occasion for, and her Saddle, and a Horse Creature and a Cow, to be kept fed and pastured for her like their own Creatures and she shall have aright to live in the house, but is she cannot live with them, they shall provide another Place of Habitation for her, and she shall have as much room in the Cellar as she has occasion for, and the half of the Garden, and as many apples she may use, and they shall give unto her 60 Pounds of fat Pork, 40 Pounds of Beef, 14 Bushels of Wheat, ad 6 Bushels of Rye, and sowone quarter of an acre with Flax-seed for her where they sow their own, and deliver her six Pounds of Wool, all which she shall have every year and also have Firewood brought home and made small, and she shall have 50 Pounds in Money, which he shall have as long as she remains a Widow and no longer, the said sum shall be paid as follows, 5 pounds yearly till the whole is paid, that she shall have and no more than is mentioned above, the sum to be paid out of the whole Estate, and she shall have a Chest which she may choose.
And my sons Adam and Christian shall have the Plantation where on they dwell, and shall pay every year 60 Pounds in Good Money and that for the space of three years, after which Time the Plantations shall be appraised by disinterested Men if they can keep them, but if they should not be able to manage them, then the Executors shall have a Right to sell, and to divide among the Heirs and whatever they shall have paid in part for the Plantations within the three years shall be refunded to them. When the Plantation is appraised the first Payment shall be Two Hundred Pounds and 50 Pounds every year in good Money till it is paid.
And my Sons Philip and Samuel shall have the Planation as is above mentioned, and shall pay 60 Pounds good Money every year for the space of three years, after which the Plantation shall be appraised by Men, and if they cannot manage it, then the Executors shall have a Right to sell and divide it among the Heirs, and whatever they shall have paid within the three years shall be repaid to them when the Plantations are sold. When the Plantation is appraised the first Payment shall be Two Hundred Pounds and the Rest in yearly Payments of 50 Pounds good Money. And my son John shall have 5 Pounds in Money aforehand, and no more than any of the others. And I do appoint my sons John Hammacher and Adam Hammacher tobe Executors of this my last Will and Testament, and Martin Brandt Guardian.
Witnesses were George Minich and Henry Etter (Signed) Adam Hamaker (seal)
To James Jacob Esquire REgister for the Probate of Wills and granting Letters of Administration in and for the County of Lancaster, I David Hammacher one of the sons of Adam Hamacher late of Derry Township, in the County aforesaid, yeoman deceased, do hereby enter a caveat against the proving a certain writing said to be the Last Will and Testament of the said Adam Hamacher deceased and also against grating Letters of Administration on the said Estate until I am hoard thereon. Witness my hand and seal this the 7th of November 1783.
Test, P. Hoofnagle (Signed) David Hamacher
I David Hamacher one of the sons of Adam Hamaker, late of Derry Township, Lancaster County, deceased, the within Caveator do upon mature Consideration withdraw the said Caveat being convinced I had no just reason for the same and also allow the writing porporting to be the last Will and Testament of the said Adam Hamacher deceased to be proved according to law. Witness my hand and seal this 16th day of January 1784.
Witness present, Philip Gloninger (Signed) David Hamacher(Seal)
Lancaster County ss On the sixteenth day of January, anno domini 1784. Before the subscriber personally appeared George Minich one of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing or within German Will, and on his solemn affirmation according to Law did declare and say that he was present and saw and heard Adam Hamacher the TEstator in the within will named, sign seal publish pronounce and declare the within writing as and for his last Will and Testament, and that at the doing thereof he was of sound and well disposing mind memory and understanding to the best of his knowledge observation and Belief, and also all that he saw henry Etter the other subsribing witness to the within Will sign his name as a witness thereto at the same time.
Lancaster County ss On the second day of February Anno Domini 1784 Before me the subscriber personally appeared Henry Etter the other subscribing witness to the within German Will and on his solemn affirmation according to Law did declare and say that he was present and saw and heard Adam Hamacher the Testator in the within will name, sign seal publish pronounce and declare the within writing as and for his last Will and Testament and that at the doing thereof he was of sound and well disposing mind memory and understanding to the best of his knowledge observation and Belief.
Be it remembered that on the sixteenth day of January Anno Domini 1784 the Last Will and TEstament of Adam Hammacher later of Derry Township, in the County of Lancaster yeoman deceased was prven in due Form of Law and Letters of Testamentary thereon were granted to John Hammacher and Adam Hammacher the Executors therein named they being first duly qualified well and truly to adminster the Estate of the said deceased and especially to exhibit a true and perfect Inventory thereof into the Register's Office at Lancaster - on or before the sixteen day of February next and to render a just and true account of their administration on the said estate within one year from the Date hereof or when thereunto lawfully required. Given under the seal of said Office
(Signed) James Jacobs, Regr.