To the HALL List: Following is the 1791 will of JOHN HALL of Fayette County PA. This 9th day of Setember in the Year of Our Lord 1791, I JOHN HALL of Union Township, Fayette County and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, yoeman, being under heavy affliction of body but of disposing mind, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in the following manner. First, I recommend my soul to the mercy of Almighty God who gave it and my body to the earth its original. Secondly, Those worldly goods and estate with which it has pleased God of his mercy and goodness to endow me, I give bequeath and devise in the following manner. I give and bequeath unto my dearly beloved wife, ELIZABETH, my mansion plantation, that is to say that part of all the tract of land I now live on and which I have not sold to my son, HUGH to be held and enjoyed by her with its profits and advantages during her natural life. I also bequeath unto her all my household goods and furniture to be exposed of amongst the children as her prudence and judgment may direct, reserving for her own use so much as she may think necessary. It is my further will and pleasure my Negroes shall be disposed of as follows. My dearly beloved daughter, MARGARET, to have PHILIS my Negro wench to her and her heirs or assigns. My Negro wench named JUDE I give and bequeath to my daughter, ELIZABETH, and my Negro boy named SAUL I give and bequeath unto my daughter, ROSE. To them and their assigns, my stock and implements of husbandry and all the residue of my personal estate, I allow to be appraised and sold as soon as convenient after my decease and the one-third of the amount thereof I bequeath to my beloved wife aforesaid. My Negro man DICK excepted, who I bequeath unto my wife during her natural life and then viz at her decease to be disposed of at auction or the best advantage and the money therefrom to be equally divided amongst all my children. It is my further pleasure that my son, HUGH, after his mother's decease shall hold and enjoy the whole of the tract of land I now live on with all the buildings and improvements thereon to him his heirs and assigns forever he paying unto NANCY, daughter of my son THOMAS HALL, when she arrives to the age of sixteen years the value of fifty pounds in such property or articles of produce, stock or clothing as she may stand in need of. I give and devise my two tracts of land in Franklin Township near JOHN CARMICHAEL's to my two daughters ELIZABETH and ROSE to be held and enjoyed by their heirs and assigns forever, they paying thereout unto my daughter, MARGARET, or her heirs or assigns the value of 100 pounds in stock or produce such as may best suit her or them. And that within the space of five years years from my decease, I further give and bequeath unto my daughter, SARAH BOYLE, four sundry bonds on HENRY FITZ thereof which are for 11 pounds, 13 shillings each and the other for seven pounds. Also two years rent of the lands in Franklin Township deducting therewith so much as will patent the same. I further order and direct that out of the estate before devised to my son, HUGH, that he pay unto my son, THOMAS, or his heirs or assigns within the space of two years after my decease the sum of 10 pounds lawful money or the value thereof in produce such as may best suit him viz. THOMAS or his assigns. I allow and direct that before distribution of the moneys arising from the sale of the personal estate be made that so much thereof as may be necessary shall be applied to procure a patent for the land and discharging the debts that may appear and then the residue be divided as before mentioned. Lastly, I hereby constitute my son, HUGH HALL, executor of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former or other will or wills by me made. In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal the day and year first before written. Note the words "and discharging the debts that may appear" was entered before signing. JOHN HALL (Seal) Sealed and delivered pronounced and declared in the presence of ROBERT JACKSON, HUGH HALL. Fayette County. The 18th day of October anno domini 1791. Before me Alexander McClean, Esquire, Register for the probate of wills and granting letters of administration in and for said county aforesaid, personally came ROBERT JACKSON and HUGH HALL the signing witnesses to the foregoing last will and testament. And on their solemn oaths declared that they saw and heard the testator acknowledge the same to be his act and deed. That to the best of their knowledge he was at the time of during thereof in his right mind that they know of no undue unfluence used in making thereof, neither had he made any other later will to their knowledge. Sworn under my hand. Alexander McClean, Register. Memorandum that Letters Testamentary were granted in common form into the executors therein named. Inventory to be exhibited the 18th day of November and an account calculation and reckoning on the 18th day of October 1792 or when thereunto lawfully required. Submitted by Marilyn Schmidt miwi2@hotmail.com _______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com