Will of John Hall Senr.

John obviously wrote his will knowing his death was near. The language
is quick and his signature extrememly shaky. Indeed, he is declared
"late" five days later in the executory statments by the register of
deeds written on the will itself. The will never refers to John's
wife; presumably, she has already died. The will reads [remarks and
some punctuation mine]:


The last will & testament of John 
Hall Senr of Seville Tn, Perry Cty 
Pa, In the name of God, I, John 
Hall, Senr., considering the uncertainty 
of this mortal life, and being of sound 
mind & memory (blessed by Almighty 
God for the same) do make and publish 
this my last will & testament..in manner 
& form following, that is to say..my 
land shall be sold & the money equally 
divided amongst all my children, my 
Mare John Hall Jr. shall keep till 1st day 
Sept next & have the colt if any & then 
said Mare shall be sold & the money 
equally divided amongst all my 
children..,  all my debts shall be paid 
out of the vendue[?] money, & then the 
balance equally divided amongst my 
children, my bed and every other article 
I have shall be sold & the money equally 
divided amongst my children.  
One wollen cover[?] bed, 1/2 doz. plates, 1/2 doz. tea 
cups & saucers, coffee mill & coffee pot, 
I will to my grand daughter Elizabeth 
Washington & they shall be kept by 
one of my Executors till she is of age.  
I hereby appoint Peter Long & Daniel 
Hall my executors in witness whereof 
I have hereunto set my hand & seal, this 
8th day of April 1836.
    [In a very shaky hand] John Hall (seal)
I further will the above to be recorded according to law, 
signed, sealed, published, and declared by the above 
named John Hall Senr., to be his last will & testament, in 
the presence of us, at his request & in his presence have subscribed
our names as witnesses thereunto.
} Furley M.D.
  Daniel Rumple
            her
  Elizabeth  X  Rumple
            mark

[page 2]
[?] B I make this day, 8th April 1836,
one exception in the division of my 
will regarding my daughter Katherine 
Hall [?] equal parts - her money shall be 
only given to her as the executors knows 
she stands in need & the Balance to be 
kept on interest for her use. 
In presence of the same witnesses.
} Furley M.D.
  Daniel Rumple
            her
  Elizabeth  X  Rumple
            mark
[again a very shaky hand, this time illegible] 
            John Hall (seal)

[Following this on the same sheet are the executory testamonies, in a
different pen.]

Perry County Ss

This 13th day of April, A.D. 1836, personally 
approved before me, Jeremia Madden, Esq, Register of 
Perry County, Charles Furley, and Daniel Rumple, 
the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing instrument of 
writing, purporting to be the last will and testament of 
John Hall, Senior, late of Saville Township, Perry 
county, deceased, who being duly 
  [the following word "sworn" is struck, and then "and affirmed" has
  been added above the line, with the "and" then struck, too.]
        affirmed according to 
Law, did depose and say, that they were present and 
saw and heard the said testator, sign, seal, publish, 
pronounce and declare the foregoing instrument of 
writing as and for his testament and last will, and 
that at the time of so doing, he was of perfect and 
sound mind, memory, and understanding to the best 
of their knowledge, observation and belief.

Affirmed & subscribed before
me the day & year aforesaid,
Jeremia Madden Register}
          Ch.s Furley[sp?], M.D.
          Daniel Rumple

[Most interesting is a two page schedule attached to the will. It is
the list of items apparently auctioned off following John's death. At
the bottom of the page the clerk writes "filed 1 December 1837".]

Nandere[?] paper by the executors of John Hall late 
of Saville Township, Perry County April the 29, 1836.

[These names are listed along with various items]

John Barkley
Jeramiah Bilman
Jim Goin[?]
Katy Hall [daughter]
Catherine Hall [wife]
Daniel Hall [son]
John Hall  [son, listed as purchasing the family bible.]
Jonathan Hall  [son]
Moses Hall  [son]
Jonas Hall
Yona Hall
John Jacobs
Benjamin Kline
Peter Long [son-in-law, husband of Rebecca]
Joseph Moyers
Ann Powel
Daniel Rumple
George Fauschman[sp?]
John Swegar
John Peck [grandson in-law]
Adam Wolf