The following will was transcribed by Sharon
McConnell of Coto de Caza, CA and submitted for inclusion at the Genealogy
in Washington Co., PA web site in August 1997.
WILL OF MATTHEW ) In the name of God Amen, I Matthew McConnell
Senr ) of Cecil Township, Washington County and Common-
) wealth of Pennsylvania, admonished by the infirmities
McCONNELL ESQ DECD ) of age, and otherwise of my approaching dessolution
yet being in the full exercise of my mental faculties and anxious to
direct in what manner that portion of temporal good things, with which
it has pleased God to bless me, shall be disposed of after my decease,
commencing my soul into the hands of most gracious redeemer, and by body
to the ground, from whence it shall enjoy I trust a glorious
resurrection. Do make, ordain and publish this my last Will, hereby
revoking and setting aside, all other wills which I may have made.
First I direct, that all my just debts and funeral expenses shall be
paid, without delay out of such monies as may be on hand, at the time of
my decease, if sufficient, and if not sufficient, so soon as money can
be made out of my personal estate, the sale whereof I hereby direct, to
be made without delay, with the exception of such parts of it, as may
hereafter be specifically devised. Secondly; It is my will, that my
beloved wife Mary McConnell shall enjoy during her natural life the use
of my kitchen and the two rooms below stairs; that fuel both wood and
coal be provided free of expence to her: That she shall enjoy by the
judgment of two disinterested men, a sufficiency of meal, meat, and all
other things necessary for her comfortable subsistence, these things are
to be provided by my son James McConnell; he is also to provide pasuter
fodder, and feed for a cow, and I more over direct, that she shall have
any one of my cows which she may chose. I also bequeath to my said
wife, my kitchen furniture and the chest of drawers which stands in the
kitchen, her bed, bed cloaths, her saddle and bridle, and the use of an
horse when she may choose to ride. It is also my will, that my said
wife, shall enjoy two hundred dollars, and if my personal estate does
not reach it, and the other monies to be hereafter bequeathed. I direct
that whatever may be lacking shall be made up by my son James McConnall.
Thirdly I bequeath to my said son James McConnall, the farm on which I
live, with the farming utensils, as also the horse, which is considered
his own, with his saddle and bridle. Fourthly, I bequeath to my son
Francis McConnall, the quarter section of land, which I own beyond
Mansfield. Fifthly, I bequeath to my son John McConnall, five dollars.
Sixthly, I bequeath to my son-in-law John Dunlop, and his wife Prudence,
fifty dollars. Seventhly, I bequeath to my son William McConnall, the
quarter section of land on which he resides in the state of Ohio.
Eighthly, I leave unto my son-in-law William Alexander and his wife
Margaret one hundred dollars, to be paid in one year after my decease.
Ninthly, I bequeath to my son-in-law William Barry, and his wife Jane,
fifty dollars, to be paid after the expiration of two years after my
decease. Tenthly, I do bequeath to my son-in-law Robert Patterson and
his wife Mary two hundred dollars one half to be paid at the expiration
of one year after my decease, the remainder, at the expiration of two
years after my decease. Eleventhly, I bequeath to my son Matthew
McConnall, fifty dollars, to be paid at the expiration of three years
after my decease. Again, I bequeath to my daughter Martha McConnall,
two hundred dollars, an horse, value fifty dollars saddle and bridle, a
feather (bed) and bedcloaths, the money to be paid at the expiration of
three years after my decease, I also bequeath to Martha Bell the child
of my daughter Martha, the judgements in my favour against George Bell,
on the docket of Esq. Ritchie, together with one hundred dollars of the
same loaned lately to William Barry, Esqr., and provided my said
grandchild Martha shall die in her minority or unmarried, it is my will,
that my daughter Martha shall enjoy the money, amounting to three
hundred dollars. It is also my will, that the interest which may accrue
on the said three hundred dollars shall be given to my daughter Martha,
to assist in schooling and raising her child Martha. It is also my
will, that my daughter Lettie McConnell shall have two hundred dollars,
an horse value of fifty dollars, her saddle and bridle, feather bed
cloaths the money to be paid, if called for, in one year after my
decease. Moreover, it is my will, that so long as they are unmarried,
or choose to remain here, my son James who is to pay all the above
mentioned bequests, in consideration of his enjoying my farm shall also
furnish my two daughters Martha and Letty, their boarding and lodging.
I also direct, that my books be equally devided betwixt my children,
Finally, I constitute and appoint, my son-in-law William Barry, and my
son James McConnall joint executors of this my last Will. In witness
whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed my seal this
Seventeenth day of June in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight
hundred and twenty-four.
Witness: John Irwin, David Irwin Mathew McConnall
I Matthew McConnall of Cecil township, County of Washington, and State
of Pennsylvania, do make this Codicil to the within being my last Will
and testament, dated the seventeenth day of June in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and twenty four, in said Will I did bequeath
unto my son-in-law, John Dunlap, and his wife Prudence, fifty dollars, I
do hereby alter said bequeathments, and do authorise my executors to
purchase land with said fifty dollars, and now I do give and bequeath
unto the children of my daughter Prudence Dunlap, said lot of land that
is purchased with the said fifty dollars which they are to enjoy at the
decease of John Dunlap, and Prudence Dunlap said John Dunlap and
Prudence Dunlap is to live on said lot of land, and enjoy the profitts
thereof, during there life. Then the above mentioned children is to be
the heirs forever of said lot of land, which I give and bequeath unto
them. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this
sixteenth day of December, one thousand eight hundred and
twenty-four.
X Matthew McConnall
In Presence Alexander McConnell
X
John Hubert
Washington County ss: Be it remembered that on the 27th day of January
A.D. 1825, before me Robt Colmery, Register for the probate of Wills and
granting letters of Administration in and for said County, cam John
Irwin and David Irwin, the subscribing witnesses of the above and
annexed last Will and Testament of Matthew McConnell decd. who being
duly sworn, saith that they were personally present, and did see and
hear the testator thereof, sign, seal, publish, pronounce and declare
the same, as and for his last Will and Testament. That at the time of
his executing the same, he was of sound and disposing mind, memory and
understanding to the best of their knowledge observation and belief.
John Irwin, David Irwin.
And sworn to and subscribed before me
R. Colmery, Register
Washington County ss: Be it remembered that on the 27th day of January
A.D. 1825, before me Robt. Colmery, Register for the probate of Wills,
and granting letters of Administration in and for said County came
Alexander McConnell and John Hubert, two of the subscribing witnesses to
the above Codicil to the last Will and testament of Matthew McConnell
decd, who on their solemn oaths sayeth that they were present and did
see the testator, make his mark to the said Codicil. That at the time
of his so doing, he was of sound and disposing mind, memory and
understanding, to the best of their observation knowledge and belief.
X
John Hubert Alexander McConnell
And sworn to and subscribed before me
R. Colmery, Register.
January 27th 1825, Letters testamentary with copy of the will and
probate annexed, issued to James McConnell, and William Berry Esq.
Executors named in the annexed Will who on same day were duly sworn.