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James Finley Will, 18 May and 4 July 1809, Green Township, Franklin County,
Pennsylvania, Will Book C:76
In the Name of God Amen. I James Findley of the County of Franklin Green Township and state
of Pennsylvania yeoman being in my common State of health, and of Perfect mind and memory
thanks be to God Calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing it is appointed for all
men one to die, do make and ordain this my last will & Testament, that is to say, touching my
worldly Estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life I give and bequeath Demise
and dispose of the same in the following manner and form, first I give and bequeath to Jean
Findley my dearly beloved wife all my household and kitchen furniture and utensils Beds and
Beding and all thing there now belongin thereto with two of my best cows such as she may
Choose her own mare Saddles, it is my will and I do order it so, that my loving wife Jean shall
Retain peaceable possession that end of my house that we now live in with Stabling for her cattle
and hay and hay laid in to her with suficency of firewood cut to her hand with the full half of the
produce of that plantation I now live on whilst she remains my widow but if she Chooses to marry
in that case she must leave the house and get the third of the yearly Rents according to law. Item.
I do give and beneath unto my oldes son Samuel all that he or my attorney at law may or has
obtaind off and from Nimrod Dodson in the case of 250 acres of Land I bought of sad [said]
Dodson in powers valey [Powers Valley?} State of Tenacee, and since I lost it by due Cos of law.
Item. I do will and bequeath to my son John Findlay all that tenement tract or piece or parcel of
Land that he now lives on; Bounded North East By the Land I now live on it being a part of the
same and the heirs of Adam Burholder on the South West and on the North wes By Hess and
southeas by lands now of John Mire Containing accordin to a draft in my possession one hundred
and forty eight acres one half ?? and allowance of to said John Finley my son and his heirs forever
as tenants in Common. Item. I do give and bequeath to my son James Findlay of
Chambersburg to him and his heirs and assigns forever, that lot of ground No 354 with the
Brewhouse and tanyard thereon erected and other building with all and singular the appurtenances
thereunto belonging likewise the kettles Barels that is there. Item. likewise I do give will and
bequeath to my younges Son William Findlay all that plantation or tract of Land to him and his
heirs forever that plantation or tract of Land that I now live on Containing about 250 acres more
or less with the appurtenances and improvements, only such parts of said Plantation and benefits
as I have appropriated for and to the use of my wife During her Natural life and at her deceas my
son William to possess the whole him and his and assigns forever as tenants in Common; said
Lands Joins now in possession of James Riddle Esq. my son John and others, likewise I do will
William his riding horse and any other he chuses that I then have with my plantation wagon and
geers one plouhg and harow all the empty bags and smith and shop tools and so much of the cow
kin as he can claim or has raised as he is now raising Young Cattle for himself. I also order it as
my las will and testament, that as soon as convenient after my deceas that all my personal
property not here otherwise bequeathed shall be sold at vendue by my Executor, hereafter names
and my outstanding debts, accounts, or moneys due me (and all my Just debts paid) that the
moneies arising from said sales and debts as collected be aplyed to the uce and manner following
by my Executors; they shall make an equal distribution of said money so arising from sales and
debts so collected to my four daughters vz. Elizabeth mared to Stephen Duncan, Isabel
maried to James Gilbreth: Mary that is maried to Joseph Culbtson; and Jean maried to
Samuel A. Rippey that dividend added to or over what my four Daughters has alread got of my
Estate I look on as sufficient for their share of it, and I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and
disannul all and Every other former testaments Wills legasies bequests by me in any way before
willed and bequeathed. Latly I do Constitute and appoint make and ordain as sole Executors of
this my las Will and Testament my son James Findlay of Chambersburg, and my son William
Findlay now living with me; 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 this Eighteenth day of May
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hun and nine and after the 4 July the thirty fourth year
of American Indipendance 1809.
Signed, Sealed, published, and pronounced and James Findlay (seal)
declared By the sid [said] James Findlay as his last
will and testament in the presence of us who in his
presence and in the presence of each other subscribe our
names
Franklin County. On the twenty fourth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and twelve John Shryock Merchant of the Borough of Chambersburg appeared before
me the Subscriber Register for the probate of wills and granting letters of Administration in and
for the County of "Franklin who upon his solemn oath deposeth and saith that he (this deponant)
is and has been well acquainted with the hand writing of James Findlay late of Green Township in
the County of Franklin decd for many years past that he hath often seen him write his name and
other writings and that he hath now in his possession a number of receipts and orders written by
the said decd also deeds signed by the said decd which he this deponant hath compared with
signature to the Instrument of Writing and that he verely believes the whole of the annexed will is
the proper hand writing of the said James Findlay and that the names James Findlay in the first and
second part of page three in this Instrument of writing, is the proper handwriting of the said James
Findlay according to the best of his knowledge and belief.
Sworn & subscribed John Shryock
before
John Findlay, Regr
Franklin County. On the twenty first day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and twelve Thomas Kirby Esq. of the Borough of Chambersburg appeared before me the
Subscriber Register for the probate of Wills and granting letters of Administration in and for the
Count of Franklin who being duly sworn deposith and saith that he this deponant is and has been
well acquainted with the hand writing of James Findlay late of Green Township in the County of
Franklin decd for many years past that he hath often seen him write his name and other Writings
and that he hath received several Letters from him some of which he thinks he has now in his
possession and that he verely believes the whole of the annexed will in the proper hand writing of
the said James Findlay and that the names James Findlay in the first and second part of page
therein the Instrument is the proper hand writing of the said James Findlay according to the best
of his knowledge and belief.
Sworn & Subscribed Before Tho. Kirby
John Findlay Regr
A true Copy taken from the Original
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