In the name of God Amen, I James McCray of the Township of Concord, Erie County, State of Pennsylvania being sick and weak in body, but of sound mind, memory, and understanding (praise be God for it) and considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof and to the end I may be better prepared to leave this world whenever it shall please God to call me home do therefore make and declare this my last will and testament in manner following that its to say first and principally I command my soul into the hands of Almighty God my master hoping for free pardon and remission of all my sins, and to enjoy everlasting happiness in the heavenly kingdom through Jesus Christ my savior my body I commit to the Earth at the discretion of my executors herein after named, and as to my earthly possessions first do will and bequeath unto my wife Nancy one bed, bedstead, and bedding, one stand, one table, one chest, and two hundred dollars, good and lawful money which I deposit into the hands of my son Robert for her to call for and receive lawful interest on the same annually, and also call for and receive the amount of two hundred dollars in case it should be needed for her support in sickness or otherwise the sum of (???????) dollars the interest above mentioned yearly to her own proper end and benefit and the two hundred dollars above mentioned if needed for sickness or otherwise the above provisions to remain for her while she remains my widow if the said two hundred dollars should not be expended fully or any part thereof at her decease or marriage then the remainder to remain with my son Robert to his own purpose and benefit forever and she my wife Nancy is to live with my son Robert if she chooses free from all expense except that of sickness and further I do will and bequeath unto my two daughters Eleanor Heath and Betsey Blakeslee fifty-dollars each to be paid by the executors of this my last will and testament in two years from the execution of this instrument and unto the children of my son James deceased the sum of one dollar each and the children of my son William deceased one dollar each, and unto Mary McCray I do will and bequeath one thin year old cow, one bed, bedstead, and bed clothing suitable for said bed and unto my son Robert I do will and bequeath my farm on which I now live containing sixty acres of land to the same (????) together with appurtenances there unto belonging to have and to hold the same forever provided that the said Robert shall pay or cause to be paid to my sons Joseph, John, George the sum of three hundred dollars in (????) following (?????????) six annual payments at fifty dollars each the first payment to be made one year from the commencement of the execution of these presents and fifty dollars yearly at the expiration of every year until this sum of their hundred dollars shall be paid, and the remainder of my property after paying debts and expenses I do will and bequeath unto my sons Joseph, George, and John to be equally divided between the three this is my last will and testament and further I do constitute and appoint my sons George McCray and John McCray executors of this my last will and testament and further I do will and bequeath unto the children of my daughter Jane deceased One dollar each.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this ninth day of December in the year of our lord One thousand eighty hundred and thirty-nine.
James McCray
(his X mark)
Signed Sealed in the presence of
Robert Heath
Hiram Cook
Registers Office Erie County PA
Before me Thomas Moorhead Jr Register for the probate of wills and granting letters of administration in and for said County personally appeared Robert Heath and Hiram Cook the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing will of James McCray who being duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith that they were present and heard and saw the said James McCray publish pronounce and declare the within and foregoing instrument of writing to be his last will and testament and at the time of his doing so he the said James McCray was of sound mind memory and (??????????)to the best of their knowledge observate on and belief and that we saw the said James McCray make his mark he being so ill as to be unable to write his own name and that we signed the same in our proper hand writing as witnesses in the presence of the said James McCray and at his request.
Sworn and subscribed before me this 10th day of January A.D. 1840.
Thomas Moorhead Jr Register
Robert Heath
Hiram Cook
Registers Office Erie County PA
George McCray and John McCray being duly sworn according to law doth depose and say that as executors of the last will and testament of James McCray deceased they will well and truly administer the goods and chattels rights and credits of said deceased according to Law and diligently and faithfully regard and will and truly comply with the provisions of the law relating to collateral inheritances.
Sworn and Subscribed before me this 10th day of January A.D. 1840
Thomas Moorehead Jr. Register
George McCray
John McCray
Inventory bill of property of James McCray deceased.
Sixty acres of land $1100.00
3 three cows $55.00
2 too two year old heifers $24.00
4 four one year old cattle $36.00
2 horses $70.00 (possibly $10.00)
6 six sheep $10.50
1 two horse wagon $50.00
2 old plows $6.00
1 set of hanson beth? $4.00
1 logging chain $2.00
2 pitch forks $1.00
1 mattlock .75
1 shovel $7.50
1 two horse sleigh $8.00
1 set of two horse harnesses $9.00
4 sugar kettles $70.00
1 mow of hay $5.00
wheat in the mow
oats in the mow $1.25
2 axes $1.00
1 woman saddle $10.00
1 man saddle $6.00
4 bushels of corn $2.00
¾ barrel salt $2.50
6 meal bags $2.50
leather $3.00
1 old clock $2.50
1 chest $1.50
2 spinning wheels $4.00
a number of dry casks .87
1 table $4.00
1 light stand $1.75
1 old bureau $4.00
1 table $2.00
2 bedstraw beds and bedding $25.00
$1544.99
1 one bedstand bed and bedding $25.00
1 one bedstand bed and bedding $15.00
8 chairs $1.50
cooking utensils and tableware $10.00
1 rifle $5.50
40 bushels potatoes $8.00
1 barrel pork $8.00
1 pair boots $1.50
1 pair shoes .75
$75.25
Hiram Cook
Simon Stewart
Personally appeared Hiram Cook and Simon Stewart before me the subscribes a justice of the peace in and for the county of Erie and made oath in the form of law that this above list of property of James McCray lat of concord Erie County Deceased that they the said Hiram Cook and Simon Stewart appraisers of said estate have valued and appraised the same according to the best of their judgment and abilities of which they have ad within is the list as appraised this 28th day of January A.D. 1840. Given under my hand and seal the day and year above written.
Robert Heath
Justice of the Peace
In the name of God Amen,
I Jesse Triscuit of Wayne Township, Erie County, State of Pennsylvania (Farmer), Being in good health of body, and of sound and desposing mind and memory, Do make and declare this to be my will and testament in manner following. That is to say, I (????) that all my just debts, funeral expenses, and changes of (?????) this my will be in the first fully paid, and satisfied. And after payment thereof, and every front thereof, I give and bequeath to my dear wife Percy Ann Triscuit, one third of the net profits arising from the use of the homestead farm, to be paid to her annually on the first day of January in each and every year as long as she shall remain my widow, and no longer. I give and bequeath unto my son Jefferson Triscuit, and my daughter Maria Merchant each five hundred dollars, I give and bequeath all my household furniture consisting of beds, bedding, &C, to my daughters Maria, Sophia, and Harriet Jane, to be divided equal between them, or their heirs, according to its value, and all the rest, residual, and remainder of my goods, Chattels, Debts, Ready Money, Effects, and other my estate whatsoever, and wheresoever both real and personal I give and bequeath unto my sons George, Jefferson, Anson, and daughters Julia Ann, Maryette, Sophia, and Harriet Jane, to be divided equal between each and every one of them, or their heirs. I also order that the homestead arm on any front thereof shall not be sold, as long as my wife Percy Ann Triscuit shall remain my widow. And I do hereby nominate, constitute, and appoint my son Jefferson Triscuit of Union Township and Alfred Messenger my son in law of Wayne Township, County and State aforesaid, executors of this my will, and I declare this the only to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I Jesse Triscuit the said testator have to this my last will and testament, set my hand and seal the twenty ninth day of June A.D. 1865.
Jesse Triscuit
Signed Sealed Published and declared by the said testator Jesse Triscuit as and from his last will and testament, In presence of us, who in his presence, and at his request, and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.
David R. Baker
L.A. Raymond
Henry S. Holdridge
Will of Mary Jane Heath Triscuit
I Mary Jane Triscuit of Union Twp, Erie County, and State of Pennsylvania do make and publish this, my last will and testament.
I give to my daughter Carrie Whieldon the black couch now in my parlor and all of my silver and plated ware except the three large solid silver spoons.
I give my son George H. Triscuit thirty yards of new rug carpet, two bedsteads, two pair pillows, one feather bed, two pair of sheets, four quills, two comforters, and a new bible to cost six dollars ($6.00).
I also will to my son George H. Triscuit and his heirs my twenty five acres of land in Union Twp. Erie Co Pa. laying on the north side of public road running from Elgin to Union, said 25 acres is known as the Eastman lot; this twenty five acres of land is willed to my son George H. Triscuit and his heirs subject to the division made on March 12th 1888 by Henry Stowe and P.C. West executors of the will of George Triscuit deceased.
The balance of my property after my lawful debts is paid I give to my three sons Daylin, Elmer, and George to share and share alike.
I hereby nominate constitute and appoint Jefferson Triscuit of Union Twp Erie County Pennsylvania to be the executor of this my last will and testament. In witness where of, I have here unto set my hand and seal the third day of April 1888.
Mary Jane Triscuit
Signed Sealed Published and declared by the said Mary Jane Triscuit as and for her last will and testament. In the presence of us who at her request and in her presence and in the presence of each other we have here unto Subscribed our names as witnesses there to.
W.E. Farrell
Jas. L. West
In the name of God Amen. I George Triscuit of the township of Union in the County of Erie and State of Pennsylvania being of sound mind and memory and considering the uncertainty of this frail and transitory life do therefore make ordain publish and declare this to be y last will and testament. That is to say first after all my lawful debts are paid and discharged the residue of my estate real and personal I give bequeath and dispose of as follows to wit; To my beloved wife Mary J. I give the land on the north side of the road containing twenty five acres of land situate in Union township Erie County Pennsylvania known as the Eastman lot. Also all my personal property I give to my wife Mary J. with all the house hold furniture. Also one other piece or parcel land situate in said Union Township containing thirty five acres of land known as the Mitchel lot I give and bequeath to my wife Mary J. the share that I hold in a certain piece of land in Pleasant Mills Venango County Pennsylvania owned by me and Samuel Kincaid and others I authorize my executors herein after chosen to sell lease or dispose of my share in said land and deed or lease the same as they shall think best and the proceeds there from to be equally divided betwixt my wife and my heirs each to share and share alike.
I give bequeath and devise all the rest residue and remainder of my real estate the use of the same to my wife Mary J. until my youngest heir shall become twenty years of age and after said youngest child shall become twenty years of age then after that my wife to have the use of one half of the use of said real estate besides the use of the house. If my wife should marry again she is not to have the use of but one third of said real estate after my youngest heir shall become twenty years of age. After my wife’s decease then said real estate to equally divided betwixt my heir each to share and share alike.
My wife Mary J. is to have the right to cut the timber on the lot called the Lindsey lot and sell the same. The sawmill on A. White sound known as the Harris mill my right to the same I give to my wife.
Likewise I make constitute and appoint my wife Mary J. and my brothers in law P.C. West and Henry Stowe to be my executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made.
In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal the twenty third day of January in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy two.
George Triscuit
The above written instrument was subscribed by the said George Triscuit in our presence and acknowledged by him to each of us and he at the same time published and declared the above instrument so subscribed to be his last will and testament and we at the testators request and in his presence have signed our names as witness hereto.
L.O. Lindsey
Wm Gray
Louisa J. Gray
All Pages © Carlson Craft 2008