Posted on: Venango Co. Pa Wills Forum Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Pa/VenangoWill/48 Surname: BENEDICT, PORTER, GRAVES ------------------------- Will of Aaron Benedict decÂ’d: In the name of God Amen. I Aaron Benedict of Allegheny township, Venango county and State of Pennsylvania being in good health of body and of sound and of sound and disposing memory (praised be God for the same) and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs while I have strength and and capacity so to do, do make and publish this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making [...] all former wills by me at any time heretofore made and first and principally I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God my creator, and my body to the earth from whence it came; and as to such worldly estates wherewith it hath pleases Got to intrust me I dispose of as follows.-- First I order [...] debts funeral expenses and charges of proving this my will be in the first place fully paid and satisfied and after payment this and ever part thereof I give and bequeath to my dear wife Louisa Benedict all my lands tenements and hereaditaments, whatsoever that shall at my decease remain unsold; she to have, hold, use occupy and enjoy during her natural life; giving her the liberty to sell and [...] if necessary for her comfort or support.--and, after her decease, I give and defice the same (excepting what she may deem to her advantage to sell) to the heirs that are or shall be of my son Aaron, to be equally divided among them. But my said son Aaron and his wife to have the use and occupancy of the said real estate (that remains after the decease of myself and wife) during their joint and several lives or the life of the survivor. The parsonage and the lot therewith connected is to be excepted from the above bequest, and if that is not disposed of by me, or after my decease by my wife then that shall revert to my then living children--I also give and bequeath to each of my sons Anson, Alvin & John five dollars and to my daughter Julia Porter one feather bed and the necessary bedding and to Martha Benedict, wife of my son Aaron the large clock; and my writing desk. I direct my Executor herein after named to pay the heirs of Sally West five dollars to be paid and in the care of Aaron West one of heirs of my said daughter Sally West (deceased) and likewise I direct him to pay the heirs of Lovisa Porter (deceased) five dollars all the rest residue and remainder of my personal effects, goods, chattels, [debt] demands money and effects of every kind I give and bequeath to my said wife Louisa Benedict to be at her own free use and disposal bonafiedly . And I nominate and appoint William Porter executor of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have to this my last will and testament set my hand and seal the 27th day of December AD 1858 Aaron Benedict sr Signed sealed published and declared by the said testator AaronBenedict as and for his last will will and testament in the presence of us who in his presense and at his request and in the presense of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto M C Beebe Warner Perry Venango County Pa Personally came before me N. D. Snowden, Register for the probate of wills, and granding letters of administration in and for the county aforesaid J C Beebe and Warner Perry, the subscribing witnesses to the above will who being duly sworn according to law, do say that they were present and saw and heard Aaron Benedict so the testator sign, seal, publish promise and declare the foregoing instrument of writing as and for his last will and testament, and that at the time of so doing he was of sound mind, memory and understanding to the best of their knowledge and belief. Sworn and subscribed beforem me this 2d day of April, AD 1860 by M C Beebe, and by W. Perry on the 4th April, 1860. N. D. Snowden Reg. Letters testamentary duly issued on the [...] day of April, 1860 to Wm Porter, he being first duly sworn according to law. both [...] with will. Recorded April 7 1860.