Last Will and Testament of Adam Hetrick decd
Filed July 21 1865
Recorded in Will Book Y Page 42
I Adam Hetrick of East Hanover Township in the County of Dauphin and
State of Pennsylvania, ...being of sound mind memory and understanding do make and publish
this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making void all former wills by me at
any time heretofore made.
As to such estate as it hath pleased God to entrust me with I dispose of
the Same as follows, Viz
I give and bequeath to my son William J. Hetrick my farm whereon I now
reside situated in East Hanover Township Aforesaid Containing One hundred and forty acres
more or less with the appurtenances to have and to hold the said farm to him his heirs and
assigns for ever. And I order that my son William J. is to pay out of the farm thirty five
hundred dollars in manner following. One thousand dollars is to remain in said farm until
after the death of my beloved Wife Margret in lieu of her dower and six per cent interest
is to be paid annually unto her during her natural life and the remaining twenty five
hundred dollars in such yearly payments from one hundred to five hundred dollars per year
as he can make it out of the said farm without interest.
I give and bequeath to my son John H. Hetrick my farm whereon he resides
now situate also in East Hanover Township aforesaid containing One hundred and thirty one
acres more or less with the appurtenances to have and to hold the said farm to him his
heirs and assigns for ever. And I order that my son John H. is to pay out of the farm
three thousand dollars in manner following. One thousand dollars is to remain in said farm
until after the death of my beloved Wife Margret in lieu of her dower and six per cent
interest is to be paid annually unto her during her natural life and the remaining two
thousand dollars in such yearly payments from One Hundred to five hundred dollars per year
as he can make it out
(2)
of the said farm without interest.
I give and bequeath to my son Adam Hetrick my farm whereon he resides
now situate in Middle Paxton Township Dauphin County Containing One hundred and nineteen
acres more or less with the appurtenances to have and to hold the said farm to him his
heirs and assigns for ever. And I order that my son Adam is to pay out of the farm two
thousand dollars in manner following One thousand dollars is to remain in said farm until
After the death of my beloved Wife Margret in lieu of her dower and six per cent interest
is to be paid annually unto her during her natural life And the remaining one thousand
dollars in such yearly payments from one hundred to five hundred dollars per year as he
can make it out of said farm without interest.
In case my son William J. refuses to take the farm bequeathed unto him,
then my son Adam may take it at the same chance I bequeathed it unto my son William J. And
my son William J. shall have his equal share in money And my hereinafter named Executor
shall then sell the farm I bequeathed unto my son Adam to best advantage either at Public
or Private Sale. And I do hereby give full power and authority to my hereinafter named
executor to sign, seal & deliver the deed in as full and large a manner in every
respect as I could myself do if living.
I do hereby reserve one acre of land whereon a saw mill is erected on
the farm I bequeathed unto my son John H. for the use of my son Samuel Hetrick and after
his death it shall fall again to the farm of my son John H. absolute.
And I futher order that my three sons, William J. John H. and Adam shall
farm for the shares for my said executor until my debts are all fully paid and then they
shall have possession of the farms for their own use. I also reserve the priveledge the
West end, the new part attached to my dwelling house, where I reside now for the use of my
(3)
beloved wife Margret and my son Samuel during their natural life time,
and also priviledge in the spring house and smoke house during their life time.
I give and bequeath unto my son Samuel Hetrick three hundred dollars.
I give and bequeath unto my grand sons John H. Eckert and Samuel Eckert
each five hundred dollars at the age of twenty one years, being the children of my late
daughter Caroline.
I give and bequeath unto my wife Margret all the house furniture
whatever she selects, and also all the provisions whatever she selects, and she may also
selects two cows out of my stock for her use.
I also order that my son William J. shall select and have for his use
two horses, one cow, two hogs, two sheep, one buggy, one waggon or the value thereof, one
plough, one harrow, and one corn plow and horse gears, all of about the same value as I
have given unto my two other sons John H. & Adam. I further order that my said
executor shall give a good house furniture, two cows, two hogs, and two sheep unto my
daughter Catharine A. Hetrick as good as I had given unto my late daughter Margret out of
my estate.
I further order that my son William J. is to keep two cows along with
his cows for my said wife during her natural life and also give her fire wood, cut it and
haul it home, and bed in the garden and a potatoe patch, and apples and cider and fifty
pound of beef yearly during her natural life. And I also order that my son John H. is to
give yearly a fat hog not weighing less than four hundred pounds during her natural life
unto my said wife Margret, and I order that all my personal property remaining shall be
appraised and sold at Public Sale, and the grain at private Sale. And I order that after
three hundred dollars
(4)
so bequeathed unto my son Samuel, and also the One thousand so
bequeathed unto two grand children are paid and then the rest of all the moneys coming out
of my three farms shall be divided equally among my son Samuel and daughter Catharine A.
Or if my son William J. refuses to take the farm aforesaid, then the moneys shall be
divided equally among my son William J., Samuel and my daughter Catharine A.
Lastly I appoint my esteemed friend John Lingle of East Hanover Township
aforesaid to be the executor of this my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I Adam Hetrick the testator have to this my will
written on one sheet of paper set my hand and seal this thirtieth day of March A D One
thousand eight hundred and sixty five.
Signed sealed published and declared by the above named Adam Hetrick as
and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our
names as withnesses thereto in the presence of the said testator and of each other.
John L. Gerberich
Amos Walmer
[ Transcription notes-- this document was transcribed from a photocopy
of a photocopy of the microfilm copy. Even though at least three steps removed from the
original, the copies were clear and I believe that this is a faithful and accurate
transcription. The biggest problems were in deciphering the handwriting, and in deciding
whether a word was meant to be capitalized, or whether it was just the handwriting style.
This copy of the will was kindly provided to me by Beverly Wyld, a
fellow Hetrick researcher. Beverly can be emailed at bwyld@aol.com. I will be happy to
answer any questions about this document. Write or email me at: George Nagle, 6431 Shatto
Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17111; gnagle2919@aol.com.]

Transcribed by George Nagle