Person Page 692

Will of John Price

Dated June 1, 1822 Proved Sept. 30, 1829

Norristown, Pa., Will Book No. 6, page 568.

Be it Remembered that I, John Price of Lower Salford township, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, Yeoman, being far advanced in years but of sound disposing mind, memory and understanding taking into serious consideration the uncertainty of this life and knowing that it is appointed unto all men to once die, have thought it necessary to make my last will and testament in manner and form as follows, that is to say First I direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses be carefully paid by my hereinafter named Executors. Secondly I give and bequeath unto my beloeved wife, Barbara, the use and possession of the lot or tract whereon I now dwell situate in said township of Lower Salford bounded by lands of Abraham Harley and others Containing about 22 acres with all the buildings and appurtenances thereunto belonging so long as she remains my widow; she to have the right of sowing or Planting one of the fields on said lot each year in regular rotation with some of those small pieces around the meadow with such grain as she chooses and upon such terms as she may find most advantageous either by hiring or upon shares and the right of getting the Grass in the Meadows made into hay in the like manner she shall have the right to cut (under the direction of said Executors) as much timber on said lot as will be sufficient for her firewood and to keep the fences and buildings on said premises in repair; also to take in as a tenant a Single Woman or Small family to reside with her but not to furnush such tenant with separate firewood off of said Lot without the consent of my said Executors. I do further give unto my said wife so long as she remains my Widow the use of the following articles (to wit): my clock, Cloaths, press, Dresser, the new Stove, Windmill, half bushel, Cutting box & Knife, flax brake, a wooden and Iron shovel, Spade, weeding and grubbing hoe, a large Copper Kettle. I aslo give and bequeath unto my said wife the following specified Articles and Items to be at her entire and absolute disposal forever (to wit): her bedsteads with as much bedding thereto of her choice as will make it in Comfortable and complete order and all such other goods as may then be found of those which she brought to me at the time of our marriage, also one cow at her choice out of my flock and half the swine, all of the grain that may be sown on said premises and also one half of what may be thereon whether threshed or unthreshed; all the straw and one-half the hay and second crop with all the meat meal and vegetables that may be on hand at the time of my decease; also all the Yarn, flax, and tow whether dressed or undressed; I also give in like manner one third of all the other or remainder of my household goods and Kitchen furniture to be taken by her choice of them after the same has been appraised in order to shew the equal third part thereof in value. I also give unto my said wife the sum of fifty Pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania to be paid her by my said Executors out of the first monies that may be at their command after my decease. It is further my will that my hereinafter named Executors shall place at interest the sum of three hundred pounds money aforesaid (to be drawn from my personal estate), the interest of which sum they shall pay to my said wife yearly and every year so long as she shall remain my widow and all the bequest given and provisions made for the support of my said wife as hereinbefore mentioned are instead in liiew of her right of dower.

Thirdly. It is my will that my hereinafter named executors shall as soon as it can conveniently be done after my decease, sell all the residue of my moveable effects (not herein otherwise disposed of) at public Sale.

Fourthly. It is my will and I do hereby direct that my hereinafter named Executors as soon -- they shall have paid all my just debts and other reasonable expenses also the aforesaid Legacy to my wife and provided for the payment of the said annuity to her out of my estate that they shall proceed to make a division of all the residue of my estate whether arising from the sale of the moveables or from any and all monies due or or to become due on bonds, notes, books, debts or otherwise to and among my children, namely: Daniel, John, William, George, Susannah, and Elizabeth, their heirs or legal representatives, share and share alike. Nevertheless it is my will that in the aforesaid division or distribution of said residue each of my said children shall be charged with the amount of what I have advanced to them in my lifetime an account of which will be found in my family book kept for that purpose and the division of the first monies that may come to be made by my said Executors after fulfilling the foregoing provisions of this will shall be made in such manner as to make all my children or their heirs equal as far as practible taking into each ones Account what he or she might have had in advance as aforesaid and afterwards each one to take an equal share of the monies as they shall become due from the persons to whom I may have sold land. Nevertheless it is my will that if the dividend of my son John or in case of his decease of what would descend to his children shall not amount to so much as the bond or bonds that may remain in my hands against him that in that case my said Executors shall not demand the balance that might appear to be due to my estate but the same shall be cancelled and forgiven.

Fifthly. It is my will that my hereinafter named Executors to take charge of the division which becomes due to my Daughter Susannah and I do hereby give and bequeath unto my two sons Daniel and William and to the survivor of them all monies that may become due to my said daughter in case she shall survive me in trust and with full confidence thta they or the survivor of them shall and will well and truly pay and apply the interest thereof at the rate of five per cent per Annum for her use and for the use and Suport of her family as the case may require and if in the judgment of said Trustees or the Survivor of them it shall appear necessary at any time they or he shall have the right to apply from time to time any part or the whole of the prinicpal sum or dividend to the use and support of my said daughter as her Circumstances may require and Shall pay over after her decease any balance of said dividend that may remain in her hands or in the hands of the survivor of them to the children of my said daughter share and share alike and it is further my will that if my said Executors shall be called upon to pay any money for which I have become Security for my Son-in-law Henry Moyer that they shall deduct the amount of the monies so paid out of my daughter Susannah share of my estate.

Sixtly. I do hereby order and direct my herinafter named Executors without any unnecessary delay after the decease or marriage of my said wife to sell at public vendue to the best bidder as well all the moveable effects hereinbefore bequeathed to her during her widowhood as the before mentioned lot of land bequeathed to her use with all the buildings and appurtenances thereunto belonging and I do hereby impower my said Executors or the survivor of them to execute a good lawful deed of Conveyance to the purchaser of the same and in case that one of the said Executors shall become the purchaser of said land I do hereby impower the other Executor to make & execute a deed for the same to the one so purchasing, hereby declaring that it is my will that the deed so made shall be held and taken to be as valid in Law as if made by both Executors under the first provision of this item.

[ Seventhly. It is my will that the monies arising from the Sale of the before mentioned lot of land and its appurtenances and the moveable goods left to the use of my said wife together with the before mentioned three hundred pounds which was placed at interest for her use shall be equally divided between all my before named children their heirs or legal representatives share and share alike nevertheless my daughter Susannah's share to be held by my said Executors in trust in the same manner for the same purposes and with the same discretionary power as is before mentioned in the fifth item of this Instrument of Writing with respect to her first dividend.

Lastly. I do hereby Nominate, Constitute, and Appoint my two sons Daniel and William to be Executors of this my last will and testament (desiring that they do not charge any more Commissions for executirng the same than will be a reasonable compensation for their risk and trouble) and I do hereby revoke all other will or wills by me heretofore made verbally or in writing, declaring this to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the first day of June in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-two. John Price, Sr. (SEAL)

Witnesses:

Jacob Price

John Harley.

Ceremony by Rev. Christopher Sower

Wanger book says "eight children" and mentions a son William, on p.241, but there is no further description of this William Price, son of William and Catharine (Reiff) Price. DLB 2008.¹

From "Price Genealogy", pp. 234-236:

To William Price was deeded by his parents, July 12, 1787, the old homestead and 165 acres of land in three tracts, for 1400 pounds; one tract with the buildings contained 120 acres; another adjacent, containing 8 acres was on the Upper Salford side of the township line and the third, also adjacent, contained 37 acres. (Vidi Deed Book 16, page 5.)

On Aug. 2, 1790 he purchased from Catharine Greenleaf, widow, and Samuel Morris and his wife Rebecca, 131 acres and 26 perches, the other 10 acres and 4 perches, for 1015 pounds (Vidi D. B. No. 5, page 405), part of this was in and on both sides of the Branch Creek. On the same day in 1790 the same grantors conveyed to Jacob Alderfer 25 acres and 100 perches and two years later, May 28, 1792 the latter and his wife Elizabeth granted the same tract to William Price.

He afterward sold the 37 acre tract to Jacob Kolp for 222 pounds (Vidi D. B. 6 p. 574) and on April 27, 1791, conveyed the 10 acre and 4 perch tract to his father for 90 punds (Vidi D.B. 9, p.208).

He built the first saw-mill on the property, says Heckler; he purchased a water right, dug the race and built a dam in his brother John's meadow in 1790 and received a deed from him dated Aug. 24th of that year, for a consideration of 8 shillings (Vidi D. B. 16, p. 1). He also received another deed from John, dated Sept. 24, 1791 for 76 perches of land for and in consideration of 2 pounds, 5 shillings or 6 Spanish Dollars (Not recorded).

He took an active part in the affairs of the township, being one of the Auditors in 1784, 1786, 1787, 1788, 1792 and then every year until 1804.

William Price died intestate and at an Orphan's Court held at an Orphan's Court held at Norristown, Nov. 18, 1811, his property then consisting of 283 acres, with buildings, improvements, valued at $14,716 was confirmed to his oldest son Jacob, although he was not yet of legal age.

The old burying ground on the property was a part of the 120 acre tract and in order to dedicate it to such uses and to set it apart, William Price gave the following deed to his father:

Deed

William Preiss et Catherine ux Dated Aug. 30, 1803

to Consideration 5 pds.

Daniel Priess

(his father) Deed Book 17, page 287.

For a certain Grave Yard lot of piece of land lying and being in the township of Lower Salford for an Internment of Burying ground forever.

Beginning at the Gate Post of said Grave Yard for a corner thence by William Preiss' other land the four following courses and distances, to wit; N. 53-15 W. 6.4 P. to a post for a corner; thence N. 35-45 E. 6.4 P. to a post; thence S. 53-15 E. 6.4 P. to a post; thence 2. 36-45 W. 6.4 P. to the place of beginning. Containing 40.9 Perches.

Part of 120 A. which Daniel Price et ux by deed dated July 12, 1787, granted and conveyed to their son William Price.

"For the use of a Burying Place or Grave yard forever in Trust never the less to him the said Daniel Preiss for the use of a grave yard for his Relations and Kinsfolks to Bury their Dead. And as it had hither to been for the use aforesaid only on suffering without any conveyance or confirmation being made to them that said privilege should remain firm and stable forever. Therefor Know Ye that whom it may concern that the said described lot of ground by these presents granted and confirmed to the said Daniel Preiss his heirs and assigns to and for the use of said Relation and their Posterity forever and also to have free agress and regress in Traviling to and from the said Grave Yard and at such places as the said Preiss or his successors shall direct."

The following graves are marked with tomb stones, no doubt there were other graves which possibly had ordinary field stones that have now disappeared. * (Published in the National Genealogical Society's Quarterlies, January and April, 1920.)²

Pennsylvania, Church Records - Adams, Berks, and Lancaster Counties, 1729-1881 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.

HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA, PG. 294, 295, & 296.

Was elected minister of the Brethren Church in 1814 and advanced to the Bishop's office about 1830.¹