Will of Adam Shafer


Schoharie County NYGenWeb Site

Submitted by Ejvor Merkley

(Note by Ejvor Merkley: Adam Shaver's two children, Johannes and Maria married to Jacob Markle, mentioned in the above will, were Loyalist and had moved to Dundas County, Ontario during the Rev. War.)

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF ADAM SHAFER

The Last will and testament of Adam Shafer.
In the name of God Amen. I Adam Shafer of the town of Cobleskill in the County of Schoharie being weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory, considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being blessed, Almighty God for the same, Do make and publish this my last will and testament, in manner and form following that is to say---
First I give and bequeath unto my eldest son, Johannes Shafer all my wearing apparel to his heirs and assigns forever. Secondly, I give and bequeath unto my son Jost Shafer his heirs and assigns forever a certain piece or parcel of land now in his possession being by estimation almost the one third part of Lot Number eight and takes its beginning at a stone marked numer Seven and eight and runs from thence South fifteen Degrees to the punch kill so called Thence up the same as it winds and turns to the Cobleskill--thence along said kill to the Division line of lot Number eight and nine Thence Southerly on the said line to the Patent line of the old Cobleskill patent, thence Easterly, along said head line till it strikes the division line of lot Number Seven and eight, thence along said line to the place of beginning, accepted and reserving the grist mill with all the buildings and lands thereunto belonging as hereafter will be mentioned; which said mill with the appurtenances I give and bequeath unto my son Henry Shafer Jun.
Thirdly I give and bequeath unto my son Dewald Shafer his heirs and assigns forever one hundred and six acres of land where he is now in his possession of.
Fourthly, I give and bequeath unto my son Henry Shafer Jrn his heirs and assigns forever a certain piece or parcel of land with the grist mill thereon now in the possession of Adam H Shafer being in Cobleskill aforesaid, being part of lot number Eight beginning at a place where the beunekill empties itself in the Cobleskill, thence to follow the said Kill westerly till where a small run of water runs down the bank- thence to the line of Number eight and nine the nearest way that can be taken, thence along said line a Southerly direction across the Cobleskill, thence to follow the said Kill to the benneKill- thence to follow the turnings and windings of the said benneKill to the line of the mill seat- thence to follow the said line of the said grist mill spot as it has been hereafore been leased to Jacob Kromer to the bridge that crossed the Cobleskill- thence along on the bank of said Coblekill on the South side of said Kill till it strikes the division line a Northerly course to the public highway, as it now runs, thence a South westerly direction to the place of beginning.
Fifthly, I give and bequeath unto Adam Shafer and David A. Shafer, sons of my son Adam Shafer Junior their heirs and assigns forever All the remainder part of my real estate in the town of Cobleskillin the County of Schoharie with appurtenances thereunto belonging. To have and hold unto the said Adam A. Shafer and the said David A Shafer and to their heirs and assigns forever.
Sixtly, I give unto Magdalene Shafer wife of my son Adam Shafer Jur deceased, the one third part of all the income and profits of that part of my farm granted to Adam A. Shafer and David A Shafer, sons of my son Adam Shafer Jun. deceased as long as she remains a widow.
Sevently, This is my will and order that my son Dewald Shafer, shall pay to my daughter Maria wife of Jacob Merkle the Sum of twenty five dollars to be paid two years after my decease.
Eightly, This is my will and order that my son, Dewald Shafer shall pay twelve dollars and fifty cents to my daughter Elizabeth wife of Jacob Frister one year after my decease. Ninthly, This is my will and order that my son Jost Shafer shall pay to my daughter Lana wife of Peter Ball the sum of twelve dollars and fifty cents two years after my decease. Tenthly, I further give and bequeath unto Chersey Shafer and Rasson Shafer sons of Adam I Shafer two acres of land on the north side of the public highway at the point of Cobleskill to be taken out of the lot or farm which I have given or granted to my son Jost Shafer, to have and to hold unto the said Chersey Shafer and the said Rassen Shafer to their heirs and assings forever. Eleventhly, This is my will and order that Adam A. Shafer and David A. Shafer, sons of my son Adam Shafer Jun shall give Peter Shafer Becker, a son of John Jost Becker a span of horses in the place of a span of horses which was left on my premice at the time of his grandfathers decease. Twelthly, This is my will and order that Adam A Shafer and David A. Shafer, sons of my son Adam Shafer Jun deceased shall pay to Lana Maria a daughter of John Jost Becker the Sum of fifty dollars at the time when she arrives to the age of eighteen years. Thirteenthly, I give and bequeath to my son Henry Shafer Jun and to Magdalene Shafer, wife of my son Adam Shafer deceased thirty dollars given to me by Henry Mann.. Thirteenthly, I will and bequeath unto Adam A. Shafer and David A. Shafer all my Residue of personal estate to equally divided between them, and also the real estate which I have granted to them to be equally to be divided between them. Lastly, I appoint my son Henry Shafer, Adam A. Shafer and David Shafer Executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal Twentieth day of December in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight hundred and seventeen and Sealed published and declared by the above named Adam Shafer to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of 
Henry Shafer
Henry Mann Adam Shafer
Jacob X(his mark) Miller 

Shoharie County. I testify that on the thirtieth day of January in the Year of our Lord eighteen hundred and nineteen appeared afore me Henry Shafer of the town of Cobleskill in the County aforesaid being duly sworn saith that he saw Adam Shafer execute the above as his last will and testament and that he did at the same time subscribe his name as a witness thereto in the presence of the testator, and likewise in the presence of the two other witnesses Henry Mann and Jacob Miller who also subscribed their names as witnesses thereto in the presence of the Testator and of each other, and that the testator appeared to be of sound mind and memory when he executed the said will, and that the said Testator resided in Cobleskill in the County of Schoharie when he died.


A Note to Researchers using this Web-site: As you use this site, please keep in mind the difference between primary and secondary sources and the importance of building a preponderance of evidence. Accept nothing without further checking. It is our hope that through this collection of data from many sources, you will find a piece of the puzzle that you are working on and that may lead you to further discoveries.

Links to external web sites are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or approval of any of the products, services or opinions contained in any external web site.

Return to the Wills Index
Welcome Page of the Schoharie County NYGenWeb Site
Page created June 30, 2001