CRAWFORD COUNTY OHIO - John Stough, will, August 5, 1840 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Donna Booth DJBOOTH@worldnet.att.net October 28, 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ In the name of God - Amen I, John Stough, of Crawford County in the state of Ohio, being of sound mind and understanding, but calling to mind the uncertainty of life, and wishing to have my business and all my temporal affairs settled and arranged in such manner as to me seems just and equitable - do therefore make and publish this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and making void all former wills by me at any time heretofore made - that is to say - I do hereby commit my soul to God who gave it and my body to the dust, to be interred in such manner as to my wife and children shall deem proper - and as touching the worldly estate which it has pleased God to intrust me with I do hereby dispose of it as follows - First - I direct that all my debts and funeral expenses be paid as soon after my decease as possible. Second - I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Catharine one half of the personal property of which I may die possessed, or the proceeds thereof, to be by her enjoyed during her life time, excepting such articles are are hereinafter disposed of otherwise. Third - I give and devise to my son John Godfrey Stough the farm on which I at present reside, containing one hundred acres of land more or less, to be held by him, his heirs and assigns forever in fee simple subject however to the following payments - to wit my said son John Godfrey Stough shall pay to my beloved wife Catharing in money, in each and every year during her natural life the price of seventy five bushels of wheat, which shall be ascertained and taken to be the price which wheat bears at Sandusky City on the first day of November in each year - and he shall also give to my said wife on account to her for one third of the fruit annually growing on said farm. And my said son John G. Stough shall also pay to Ann Stough widow of my son Jesse Stough deceased annually and each year for the term of three years from this time, the price of seventy five bushels of wheat, to be ascertained as hereinbefore stated - And my said son John G. Stough shall also pay to any child or children of my said son Jesse, which may live to attain the age of eighteen years, the price of two hundred bushels of wheat to be ascertained as before stated, and to be paid to each of such children when they or either of them shall attain the said age of eighteen years. Fourth - I give and devise to the said Ann Stough widow of my son Jesse deceased, the one half of the personal property of which I amy be possessed at the time of my death, or the proceeds arising from the sale thereof. Fifth - My wife Catharine shall have ten volumes of my books to be selected at her discretion, and the remainder of my books shall be divided equally among my twelve children who are now living, to wit my sons Samuel, Jehu, Jonas, John G., and George T. and my daughters Charlotty Bowman, Mary M. Hester, Susan Gearhardt, Elizabeth Kuhn, Catharine Minish, Margaret Fugate and Rachel Howenstein. Sixth - I will that after the decease of my wife Catharine her bed, bedding and clothing shall be qually divided among her four daughters Elizabeth, Catharine, Margaret and Rachel, and that all other personal property of which my said wife shall be possessed at her death shall be disposed of at her discretion and according to her own will. Seventh - Having endeavored according to my understanding to act equitably and impartially towards each of my children and having made such provisions for them during my life as my circumstances would admit of, it is my will and direction that none of them or their representatives shall attempt to break alter or misconstrue this my last will & testament either by craft or legal proceedings and should either of them make such attempt they shall thereby forfeit their share or shares of my estate herein bequeathed excepting their share as aforesaid. Lastly - I hereby constitute make and appoint my son John G. Stough Executor of this my last will and testament. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fifth day of August A.D. 1840. John Stough Signed sealed and declared by the testator to be his last will and testament in our presence, who at his request have subscribed our names as witness thereto John Strong Abraham Gragg (?)