
"I Edward Beeson of Nottingham, being laid on a bed of sickness & not knowing how the Lord may dispose of me as to my natural Life therefore I do make this my last will & testament and does declare all other will or wills made or done by me to be void and of none effect, first my will is that I be decently buried & my funeral expenses and all debts be duly payd, 2ly. I give to my son Edward & his heirs 142 acres & a nald of Land Laying by nessamoney, 3rd I give to my son Richard and his heirs one tract of Land Laying near Southampton in the County of Bucks, containing 290 acres, 4ly I give to my son Richard and his heirs one tract of Liberty Land containing 25 acres Lying on Sculkill. 5ly I do give to my son William my west Loot Laying in Nottingham also I give unto him 48 pounds which my Executors is to lay out for him in building him a house and buying him such necessaryes as they may see most needful for him for making a plantation, also I give unto him all my wearing apparell except two great coats, which two coats I give to Edward & Richard, one coat of Carsey that is at the weavers, also my will is that if my son William should dy without ishew Lawfully begotten, then the Land is to go to the Lawful heirs. 6ly, I give to my daughter Ann Cloud Twenty pounds, 7ly, my will is that after my former wifes children have had their portions that all my personnall estate be divided betwixt my widow and my Daughter Elizabeth according to Law. 8ly, my will is that my widow shall have the plantation whereon I live with all the profits thereof during her widowhood or natural Life & after my widows marrying or decease, then I give it to my Daughter Elizabeth & her heirs. 9ly, my will is that my executors & their heirs shall have all that Land which I have purchased of Daniel Wharley & by warrant to me by the Commissioners bearing the date of 14th day of Septr, 1709, to dispose of as they see occasion, and I desire yt my wife shall give to the child yt she is now great with, if it should live when born, forty pounds and Lastly for a full and finall performance of this will I do by these presents make & ordain my dear and well beloved wife and son Richard the sole executors of this my last will and Testament as witness mu land & Seal this Twentieth of the sixth month, called August 1712.
Signed Sealed & Delivered before us
Andrew Job |
INTERESTING FACT -- The will of Edward Beeson is the first will to be recorded in Chester County. Prior to his death, all Wills from that part of the county had been recorded in Philadelphia.