Copied 22 July 1998 -- Polly A. Laubach-Eckrote, Berwick, PA pale@epix.net I have tried to
copy this will exactly as it appeared, including the use of "&" for "and," and word spellings.

Wills & Deeds Office, Northumberland County Court House, Sunbury, PA
WILL:   GODHARD, John; Book 1; File 30; Date 7 Jun 1797; 
Page as listed by Index: 113; Actual page in book: 183 (Bottom) - 184

***BEGIN COPY OF DOCUMENT***

[page 183, bottom]
John Godhard's [sic] Will  [NOTE: Looks like "Goddard's" was changed to "Godhard's."]

     Know all men by these Presents that I John Godhard, Yeoman at present residing in
Mahoning Township, County of Northumberland and State of Pennsylvania, But late of
William's Township, Northampton County, in the State aforesaid, Being weak and sickly in
Body, but of sound & disposing mind, memory & understanding, Do hereby make my last Will
& Testament in manner & form following. ~~ I give and devise unto such of the Children of my
late Son in law Henry Debergler and of my late Daughter Elizabeth his Wife, as may be living at
the time of my decease, All that my Parcel or tract of Land, situate, lying and being on Cole's
Creek, in the Township of Fishing Creek, in the County of Northumberland and State aforesaid,
Containing Four hundred acres, to be equally divided between them Share and Share alike as
Tenants in Common and not as Joint Tenants, To have and to hold to them and their Heirs for
ever. I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Catherine [sic] Hess, the wife of William Hess, the
Sum of Five pounds; and I do hereby release & discharge the said William Hess of and from all
& all Manner of Contracts, Debts dues and Demands whatsoever may be due & owing to my
Executors after my decease, by virtue of any Contract or Agreement which the said William Hess
made with me, save and except every such Sum or Sums of Money for which the said William
Hess hath given and Executed his Bond, and save and except also a certain Quantity of wheat
which the said William Hess hath executed a bond to me also for the payment of my Will and
Desire being that my Executors hereinafter named shall recover and receive from the said
William Hess every such Sum or Sums of Money [continues on page 184] and such quantity of
Wheat as may be due fore [sic] upon [previous word inserted] the aforesaid bonds, anything
therein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, I give and bequeath unto John Fruchey [sic],
of Derry Township in Northumberland County & State aforesaid, my Grandson, the Sum of Ten
Pounds. I give and bequeath unto my Grandaughter [sic] Mary Laubach, Wife of Christian
Laubach, of Mahoning Township, County & State last mentioned the Sum of twenty five
Pounds. I give & bequeath unto my Grandaughter Sophia Tronsou, Wife of Abraham Tronsou, of
William's Township, Northampton County & State aforesaid the Sum of twenty five Pounds.
And as to all the rest and residue of my Estate and Effects, I give and bequeath the same unto the
said John Fruchey & Christian Laubach, and the Survivor of them, and the Executors and
Administrators of such Survivor. In trust nevertheless and to and for the intent, uses & purposes
that after my just Debts & Funeral expences [sic] are paid, the residue shall be equally divided
between the Children of Frederick Fruchey deceased begotten on the Body of my deceased
Daughter Anna Maria Fruchey, share and share alike; And with regard to that part or Share

which shall or may accrue to my Grandson Jacob Fruchey. ~~                        ~~ Who is not of
sound Mind. That the same shall be paid to the Guardians appointed him under the Will of his
Deceased Father, or to such other Guardians as may be lawfully appointed him in trust to be by
them applied to his Maintenance & support in like manner with his present property & Estate;
And with regard to those proportions or Shares of the said residue of my said Estate and Effects
which shall or may accrue to such of the said Children of the said Frederick Fruchey & Anna
Maria Fruchey, as are not yet of age, that the same shall be put out to interest by the said John
Fruchey and Christian Laubach or the Survivor of them, or the Executors or Administrators of
such Survivor, and that the Interest together with the principal of each respective share shall be
paid respectively to each of such Children, when he or she attains the age of Twenty-one Years
Provided and it is the true intent of meaning of these Presents that in case of the Death of any
such Child or Children last mentioned, during his, her, or their minority, then the Share or Shares
of such Child or Children so dying, shall be equally divided, share & share alike between the
Surviving Children of the said Frederick Fruchey & Anna Maria Fruchey in form and manner
aforesaid. My bed and bedding I give and bequeath to the person in whose House I may depart
this life. Lastly I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint the said John Fruchey & Christian
Laubach to be the Executors of this my last Will & Testament, hereby revoking all former or
other Wills at any time heretofore by me made. In Witness whereof I have to the foregoing page
of this my said Will set my Hand, and to this last page thereof set my Hand & Seal this twenty
Sixth Day of the twelfth Month in the Year one thousand seven hundred & ninety four.
                            Seal       Signed, Sealed, Published and Declared by the above and within named
John Godhard as and for his last Will & Testament, in our Presence, who in his Presence, & at
his request have Subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto ~~ Rde Nisbit, Leonard Rupert,
David Owen ~~ Northumberland County Pa [?]. Be it remembered that on the Seventh day of
June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety seven Personally appeared
before me John Simpson Esq. Register for the County aforesaid, Leonard Rupert and David
Owen two of the Subscribing Witnesses to the foregoing Will, and last Will & Testament, of
John Godhard Dec'd, and being Sworn as the Law directs did depose and say that they were
Personally Present & seen the said John Godhard sign (^ by making his mark) [sic] Seal and
Acknowledge the foregoing Will to be his last Will & Testament, and the name Rde Nisbit         
^ thereto Subscribed his name [sic] as a Witness at the same time, and that they severally
Subscribed their Respective names as Witnesses at the same time, and that Names Leonard
Rupert, and David Owen, is of their own proper Hands Writing. And further saith not Sworn the
same Day and Year Before me Jn. Simpson, Reg.

      Be it remembered   that on the Seventh Day of June in the Year of our Lord 1797, before me
was proved and approved the last Will and Testament of the said John Godhard Dec'd of which
the foregoing Record is a true Copy, and Letters Testamentary issued in due and 
Common Form of Law, to John Frutchey [sic]1 and Christian Laubach, Executors in the said
Testament named, on the same day.   Witness my Hand the same Day & Year ~~
****END****

1 Only place in will spelling is "Frutchey;" spelled "Fruchey" all previous times. -- PALE

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