Will of Thomas Neff, Deceased
In the name of the Benevolent Father of all, I Thomas Neff being in
good bodily health and of sound and disposing mind and memory, Calling to
mind the frailty and uncertainty of human life, and being desirous of
settling my worldly affairs and to..how the estate with which it has pleased
God to bless me shall be disposed of after my decease, while I have Strength
and Capacity so to do. I do make and publish this my last will and testament
hereby revoking and making void, all other last will and testaments by me
heretofore made. And first I commit my immortal being to him who gave it and
my body to the Earth to be buried decently. And as to my worldly Estate and
all the property real personal or mixed of which I shall be seized and
possessed, or to which I shall be entitled it...of my decease, I devise
bequeath and dispose hereof in the matter following, to wit.
My will is that all my just debts and funeral charges shall, by my
Executor hereinafter named be paid out of my estate as soon after my decease
as shall by him found how much. Item first 1st, I give devise and bequeath
to my beloved wife should she survive me and outlive me a sufficient portion
of all the grain and yearly products off the farm I now reside on situated
in the County of Belmont and state of Ohio under the district of lands
heretofore subject to sale at Marietta Ohio and being a part of the North
West Quarter of section number twenty 28 eight and part South West Quarter
of section 7 number twenty 29 nine, in township of 4 range 3, containing
according to Noble Carter survey ninety 98 eight acres 3 Roods and 20
_____be the same more or less in ____of her dower.
Item 2d at the death of my beloved wife, I give devise and bequeath in fee
simple to my son William H. Neff his heirs and assigns Forever the aforesaid
real estate with all the appertances thereunto belonging.
Item third 3rd I give and bequeath to my son Conrad Neff the sum of One
Hundred and fifty dollars in cash to be paid by my executor herein after
named.
Item fourth 4th I give devise and bequeath to my son John A. Neff the sum of
One Hundred and fifty dollars to be paid to him after my decease and the
decease of my beloved wife should she survive me; by my said executor
hereinafter named.
Item fifth 5th I give and devise and bequeath to my son Peter Neff who now
resides in Kansas the sum of five dollars in addition to the amount he has
already received from me in money and outfit. Said five dollars to be paid
him after my decease and the decease of my wife should she survive and
outlive, to be paid by my said executor hereinafter named.
Item sixth 6th I give devise and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Neff now
intermarried with Jacob Gillespie the sum of seventy five dollars in case
in addition to the outfit I have already give her said seventy five dollars
to be paid to her by my executor hereinafter named and after the decease of
myself and wife.
Item seventh 7th I give devise and bequeath to my daughter Mary Ann Neff in
addition to an outfit she has already gotten the sum of seventy five
dollars, to be paid to her after the decease of myself and wife to be paid
by my said executor hereinafter named.
Item eight 8th I give devise and bequeath to my daughter Anna Marie Neff in
addition to the outfit she has already received and gotten, the sum of
seventy five dollars in money to be paid to her by my executor hereinafter
named to be paid after the decease of myself and wife.
Item ninth 9th I do hereby nominate and appoint my son William H. Neff
executor of this my last will and testament hereby authorizing and
empowering him to compromise, adjust release and discharge in such manner
upon such terms as he may deem proper debts due and owing me, I desire that
no appraisement and no sale of my personal property be made And that the
court of Probate direct the omission of the same in pursuance of the
statute. And it is my will and desire
should there be any personal property be left over and above paying the
bequests herein and heretofore named that my executor apply the same in
defraying or helping defray my funeral expenses and the funeral expenses of
my wife and I charge the products arising off the farm be____to the second
item of this my last will and testament with my support and the support of
my wife should she outlive me. And that my son William H. Neff whom I have
herein appointed my executor to remain on said farm_____and heretofore
bequeath to him in fee simple and to his heirs forever and cultivate and
control the same giving me and my beloved wife our maintenance and support
during our natural lives also paying the taxes and keeping said repair over
and above the support of myself and wife and at our death the said William
H. Neff to become vested in fee simple of said farm and all the appertances
hereon at my decease. I do hereby revoke all former wills by me made in
testimony hereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this eighth day of
October in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eight one.
Thomas Neff (Seal)
Signed and acknowledged by said Thomas Neff as his last will and testament
in our presence and signed by us in his presence:
Loman H. Greene
Abraham W. Neff
Recorded in Will Vol. P, Pages 407-409 in the Court of Common Pleas,
Probate Division, Belmont County, Ohio.