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Jacob Henricks Godshalk was born in 1666, died 1763, and is my 6 great-grandfather. The source
for this will is:
Jacob Godshalk will (26 December 1760, probated 3 June 1763) Will Book M: 532-533, number 229,
City Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107. Microfilm 0021725, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
The transcript of the Will read:
In the Name of God Amen. Whereas I Jacob Godshalk senr of Towamencin Township in the County of
Philadelphia (formerly while I was able) Turner having considered in my old age and the Certainty of my Death
and being desirous that my wordly Estate hereafter may peaceably be shared among my Heirs after my Decease
after my Decease therefore I do hereby this 26th Day of December in the Year of the Lord One thousand seven
hundred and sixty make my Last Will and Testament as follows Viz. Imprimis. I give and bequeath unto my Son
Herman all that Tract of Land or Plantation whereon I and him now dwell Containing One hundred and twenty two
Acres and one half an Acre of land (be it more or lefs) according to the metes and Bounds conveyed to me
together with all and singular the Appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaing to the only
Ufe and Behoof of him the said my Son Herman his Heirs and Afsigns forever for which said my Plantation or
Tract of Land he is to pay One hundred and twenty five Pounds in Manner following, that is to say twenty five
Pounds lawful Money unto every one of my Children or their Heirs at the Expiration of one Year and one Day
after my Decease Viz unto all the Children of my deceased Son Godshalf Twenty five Pounds thereof in equal
Shares and unto all the Children of my deceased Son John twenty five Pounds thereof in equal Shares and unto
the Children of my deceased Daughter Magdalena twenty five Pounds thereof in equal Shares and unto my Daughter
Ana married to Peter Custard twenty five Pounds thereof and the Residuary twenty five Pounds my Son Herman
reserves for himselve as his Portion thereof equal with his Brothers and Sisters. All the Residue of my
Personal Estate shall likewise be equally divided into five Shares and every one of my above named Children
is to have one Share thereof but whereas three of my said Children are deceased their Share or one Fifth Part
of my whole Estate as aforesd shall again be equally divided among them according to their Number
and paid to them if ye are twenty one Years of Age or upwards within two months after my Decease what is left
of my personallities but their Share of my Real Estate at the Time of the above mentioned payment to be made
by my Son Herman. But whereas the most of my deceased Childrens Children are yet Minors their proportionable
Share shall be reserved for them by my hereafter named Executor until the attain their lawfull Age but in Case
of Death as Minors their Share shall be equally divided unto such Minors Brothers and Sisters or their Heirs
of or from their Body And I do hereby constitute and appoint my loving Son-in-Law Peter Custard sole Executor
of this my Last Will and Testament and I do hereby make void and anull all my former Wills and Testaments and
declare these Presents to be my only Will of Force after my Decease.
In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto
set my Hand and Seal the Day and Year above written.
Jacob Jhis X mark Godshalf (SEAL)
Signed Sealed and Declared in Presence of us
Jsaac Croll
Abraham Heiderich
Philada
3d June 1763 then personally appeared Abraham Heidrich one of the Witnefses to the forgoing Will
and on his solemn Affirmation according to Law did declare he saw and heard Jacob Godschalf the Testator therein
named sign seal publish and declare the same Will for and as his Last Will and Testament and that at the
doing thereof he was of sound mind memory and understanding to the best of his Knowledge, and that he together
with Isaac Croll (now abst being disabled) did subscribe their names as Witnefses thereto at his
Request. Coram Wm Plumsted RegE Genl.
Be it remembered that on 3d
June 1763 the Last Will and Testament of Jacob Godshalf deceased in due Form of Law was proved and Probate
and Lres Testamentary were granted to Peter Custard Executor in the said Will named being solemnly affirmed
well and truly to administer the said Deceased's Estate and bring an Inventory thereof into the Register
General's Office in Philada on or before the 3d July next and render a true and just
Accompt when thereunto legally required. Given under the Seal of the said Office.
Wm Plumsted.
RegE Genl.
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