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Return to Abraham & Mary Hunt Marshall Page Will of Abraham MarshallAbraham Marshall's will was written 4th month 12 day 1760 in Chester County, Pennsylvania. It was proved 24th day of February 1768. It is recorded Book E, Volume 5, page 51 of Chester County Records."I Abraham Marshall of West Bradford in the County of Chester and province of pensilvania Yeoman being weak of body but of perfect mind & memory and Considering the uncertinty of life in this world, Do make this my Last will & testament this twelfth Day of the fourth month in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty, in Manner and form following: first it is my will and order that all my just Debts & Funeral Charges be fully paid & satisfied. Item, I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Mary Marshall the use of that room in which I now Liveth During her Nateral Life also I give & bequeath unto her all my Personal estate, excepting a bond that is Due at my Decease Given to me by my son Humphrey Marshall in Consideration for the place I now liveth on, which Sum mentioned in that Bond. I Give unto my other Children, and order him to pay it in Manner & form following first I Give unto my son Isaac Marshall the Sum of ten pounds, as also unto my Son James Marshall the sum of five pounds, also unto my Daughter Hannah Gibbons the sum of fifty pounds, also the remainder being fifty pounds unto my Son in Law William Woodward for him to Divide amongst his Children as he sees Cause, I also Give unto my eldest son Samuel's Daughter the Sum of five Shillings. I also Give unto my son John's widow the Sum of five shillings, I also Give unto my Son Abram's widow the sum of five shillings. I also Give unto my Wife all the rest of my personal Estate to her & her heirs to Dispose of as she sees fit, after the above mentioned Legacies and Debts & funerall Charges are fully paid, and I appoint nominate & ordain my sons Humphry Marshall & James to be my Executors of this my Last Will and testament revoking & Disanulling all former will or wills, and allowing this only to stand, in witness whereof I the sd Abraham Marshall have hereunto let my hand & seal the Day and Year above written. /s/Abraham Marshall (his mark) signed sealed & published in the presence us Richard Baker Joel Baily Faithfull Steuart (?)" Chester 24th Feb 1768 Then personally appeared Richard Baker and Joel Baily two of the witnesses to the within Will and on their solemn Affirmations according to Law did declare affirm and say that they were personally present and did see and hear Abraham Marshall the Testator within named sign seal publish pronounce and declare the within writing as and for his last Will and testament and that at the doing thereof he was of a sound & well disposing Mind & Memory to the best of their Understandings Ceram H. H. Graham dy Reg,r. Chester The 30th day of the first month Called January Anno Dom 1768 personally appeared Evan Jones and George Carter before me the Subscribor for one of the Justices Assigned to keep the peace for the County of Chester and did Solemnly Sincerely and duly declare and Affirm that they Would well and truly appraise all the personal Estate Goods and Effects of Abraham Marshall Late of west bradford in the County of Chester Yeoman (deceased) that was produced to them or Came to their knowledge to the best of their Understanding Evan Jones, George Carter Affirmed before me Thos. Worth Inventory of Abraham MarshallAn Inventory of the Goods & Chattles Rights & Credits of abraham Marshall Late of West Bradford Deceas'd (note, money is pounds,shillings, pence)To purse and apparel 37,20,0 To one Bed & furniture 10,5,0 One Chair Table Chest & Spinning wheel 1,2,6 One Table 1 Bench & half dozen chairs 1,10,0 One Case of Drawers Couch &c 4,10,0 One Close Stool 0,5 One Dressing Box &c 0,4 To Sheets & Table Linnen 3,15 To Sundry Pewter dishes plates &c 2,6 To Three Brass Kettles 1,0 To one Tea Kettle &c 0,12,6 To Two Small Iron Potts Gridle &c 0,18,6 To some Pine Wooden & Earthen Ware &c 0,15 to Small table warming Pan &c 0,11,6 To a small looking glass and Iron Shove &c 0,12,6 To Sundry Books 1, 18,6 To one Bed & furniture 6,0 To one Pine box one hackel &c 0,10,6 To one Dough trough cheese press &c 0,10,6 to One Cow One Calf 8,0 To Bills & bonds &c 202,14,9 appriased the 30th of 1st mo 1768 by us Evan Jones, George Carter ------ Compared to other Chester County inventories of the time one might be tempted to say that Abraham Marshall lived a very simple life and had few possessions but this is a case of all the personal estate being left to his wife of many years and of cash bequests to his children, hence the estate appraisal would have been almost cursory and done simply for the letter of the law, so it is difficult to judge what Abraham's status really was. Inventory of Humphrey Marshall, West Bradford 1801Humphrey Marshall's inventory is included in Chester County, Pennsylvania Inventories, 1684-1850 by Margaret B. Schiffer.The total value of Humphrey's estate was 428 pounds. In listing the contents of his house it mentions a Parlour, Front Room, 2 Back Rooms (one upstairs, one below stairs), Long Room, Little Room, Garret, Cellar and Kitchen. Some interesting items: the front room contained a bed and furnishings, 6 windsor chairs, a large looking glass and quite a bit of china and glass ware in cupboards. The back room contained two beds with accompanying bedding including flaxen sheets. The little room (upstairs) contained only a bed and looking glass. The long room (upstairs) contained a bed and bedding and apparently was storage for all the household linens and yarn and yard goods probably waiting to be made into clothing and other household articles. Humphrey's observatory was in the long room and included a number of old maps, a telescope, and microscope. The garrett was used for storing Indian corn, wheat and lumber. In the cellar were five kegs of wine, a barrel of vinegar, cider vessels, cheese vats, tallow, soap and tub and about 100 bushels of potatoes. In the kitchen were all the kettles, pots, pans, table and dough trough, coffee mills and also two beds and bedding. Also a number of green house plants were kept in the kitchen. ------------ It is interesting to note that though Humphry had no children by either of his wives there were several beds in the household. Humphry did raise some orphan children and also took in anyone in need of a place to stay. |