deceased
IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN I William Steele of the Township of Drumore and the County of Lancaster (?) I onner being weak in Body but sound of disposing Mind and Memory Thanks be to God caling to Mind my Mortality and knowing that is appointed for all Men to die do make my Last Will and Testament in Manner following that is to say First I recommend my soul to God who gave it, and as for my Body I recommend it to the Earth to be buried in a decent Manner at the Discretion of my Executors herein after mentioned. And as for such worldly Estate as it has pleased God to Bless me with in Life I gave and dispose of it in the following Manner and form Viz: Imprimis I order that all my just debts and Funeral Charges be fully paid.
I gave and bequeath to my beloved Wife Rachel one seventh part of all my Personal Estate as also her Bed and Bed Cloathes and what Pewter shall be nessary for her use. which shall be at her disposal.
Item I give and bequeath to my son Archibald and his Heirs one seventh part of my Personal Estate
Also I gave and bequeath to my daughter Ann wife of Thomas Jordan and her Heirs a one seventh part of my Personal Estate
In like Manner I gave and bequeath to my son William and his Heirs a one seventh part of my Personal Estate.
Item I gave and bequeath to my daughter Rachel wife to Jacob Bailey and her Heirs one seventh part of my Personal Estate.
Also I gave and bequeath to my son John one seventh part of my Personal Estate.
Item I gave and bequeath to my son James one seventh part of my Personal Estate together with one years schooling to be paid out of the Rents or Profits arising from the Real Estate. But if he die before he arrive at full age then shall be equally divided amongst his Brothers and Sisters Share and Share alike.
And it is my will that the Legacies above Specifyed be paid at the expiration of one year after my Personal Estate can be sold. And I do order that my wifeRachel be furnished with a sufficient Quanity of good and wholesome Food arising from the Land and Improvements whereon I now live during her natural Life provided she continues a Widow, but if she marrey her Right to said annual Provision shall immediately cease and be void. And I order that said Land and Improvements be sold and the Monies arising from the Sale equally divided between my Sons Archibald William, John and James And I leave it to the Discretion of my executors to judge what Time the land may be sold for the best Advantage of the Legatees and Widow And I do constitute and appoint my Sons Archibald Steel and William Steel to be Executors of this my Last Will and Testament, revoking and disanulling all other and ratifing this to be my Last Will and Testament. In Evidence where of I have here unto set my Hand and Seal this Twentyith Day of April in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and Eighty+N.B. I allow that the yearly Income of the Real Estate, until sale be made there of above what maybe necessary for the widows Mantenance and James Schooling be equally divided among LegatiesdSigned Sealed published and declared in Presence of us
William Steel SEAL this Twentyeth Day of April in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and EightyJames Porter John Caldwell LancasterCounty SS On the Twenty ninth Day of Nov. Anno Domini 1780 Before me the Subscriber personally appered Jam's Porter and John Caldwell the two Subscribing Wittnesses to the foregoing Will and on their Corporal Oaths according to Law did respectively declare and say that they were present and saw and heard William Steel the Testor above named sign seal publish pronounce and declare the above and foregoing Writing as and for his Last Will and Testament and that at the doing there of he was of sound Mind Memory and Understanding to the best of their observation Knowledge and Belief (signed) M Hubley D.R.+
Be it be remebered that on the Twenty Ninth Day of November Anno Bomini 1780 The Last Will and Testement of William Steel late of Drumore Township in the County of Lancaster Yeoman deceased was proved in due form of Law and letters Testementary thereon were granted to Archibald Steel and William Steel the Executors therein named they being first duly qualified well and truley to administer the Estate of the said Decedant and to exhibit a true and perfect Inventory there of into the Register's office at Lancaster on or before the twenty ninth Day of December next and to Render a just Account of their Administration of the said Estate when thereto lawfully required Given under the seal of the said office M. Hubley D.R.examined by John Hubley Reg'r