Will of James Wilson

The Last Will and Testament of James Wilson

In the name of God Amen. I James Wilson of Canton township in the county of Washington, being in health and of sound and disposing mind and memory, and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs, whilst I have strength and capacity so to do, do make and publish this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me at any time heretofore made. And first and principally I commit my immortal soul into the hands of my creator who gave it; and my body to the earth-and as to such worldly estate, wherewith it hath pleased God to entrust me, I dispose of the same as follows.
In the first place-To my son Robert Wilson I give and devise all that plantation and tract of land in Canton township aforesaid and on which I now reside, subject however to the payment of the following legacies, and the said land is hereby made chargeable with the payment thereof in the manner hereinafter mentioned.
2nd to my son Douglass Wilson I give and bequeath the sum of two hundred dollars, to be paid to him by my son Robert, within two years after my decease.
3rd to my stepson Josias Johnson I give and bequeath the sum of one hundred dollars, to be paid by my son Robert, in the manner and at the time last above mentioned.
4th to my daughter Mary Braddock I give and bequeath the sum of one hundred dollars, payable in like manner.
5th to my daughter Elizabeth McMurry I give and bequeath the sum of one hundred dollars, to be paid in like manner.
6th to my daughter Euphene Ely I give and bequeath the sum of one hundred dollars, payable in the same manner.
7th to the children of my daughter Jane Ross deceased, I give & bequeath the sum of one hundred dollars, payable in like manner. 8th to my daughter Margaret Sweeny I give and bequeath the sum of one hundred dollars, payable in the same manner.
9th to my daughters Agness and Sarah I give and bequeath the sum of one hundred dollars each, payable in like manner, and also all the household and kitchen furniture, beds and bedding, horses, cattle, sheep, and hogs that remain on hand at the time of my death. And so long as they or either of them shall remain single and unmarried, my son Robert is to provide them a comfortable dwelling house on the mansion place, and pasture for a cow, so long as they may require it. 10th to my son Robert I give and bequeath all the residue of my estate of whatsoever kind for the payment of my just debts and funeral expenses.
Lastly-I nominate and appoint my sons Douglass and Robert to be executors of this my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I the said James Wilson have hereunto set my hand and seal the 9th day of May in the year of our Lord 1827.

James Wilson seal

Signed, sealed, published & declared by the above named James Wilson as and for his last will and testament, in our presence, who at his request & in his presence, have subscribed our names as witnesses.

Alex Sweeney
John Mauhil

Know all men by these presents that I Douglass Wilson of Stark county Ohio, one of the executors named in the last will and testament of James Wilson late of Canton township in the county of Washington Pennsylvania deceased, has renounced released and for ever quit claimed and by these presence do renounce release and forever quit claimed all my right and title to the said executorship and to the administration of the goods and chattels which were of the said deceased and desire that the same may be committed to my brother Robert Wilson who was named a co-executor along with me.
In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal the 22 day of October 182[7].

   Douglass Wilson
   Attnt
   John Mauhil

Will Book 4, pg. 623
Washington County, Pennsylvania

Comments:

The date of Douglass Wilson's relinquishment of his appointment as coexecutor appears to be written "1821" but the will date is clearly 1827. Because Douglass refers to James as deceased, we assume the 1821 date is either a mistake or unreadable on our copy.

Our knowledge of James Wilson is very limited. He is most likely the immigrant ancestor having been born in England. Our Wilson Family line descends through his son Douglass (1778-1846).

The names Douglass, Ross and Agness uses the old form of "ss", the sharp S.