Isaac Griffith´s Will

FHL film # 0021741

Will Book 22, No 191, Pages 333-337

I Isaac Griffith of the Northern Liberties in the county of Philadelphia being in my usual health of body and of sound disposing mind, memory and understanding to make and publish this my last will and testament in manner following to wit.

First my will is and I do hereby direct all my just debts and funeral expenses be fully paid and satisfied as soon as conveniently, can be after my decease.

Item I direct my Executors hereinafter named and the survivors of them as soon as may be reasonably convenient after my decease to sell either at public or private sale all or any part of my real estate excepting the three yearly ground rents hereinafter mentioned for the best price that can be reasonably obtained therefor, and to make, execute and deliver good and sufficient deed or deeds therefor the same to the purchaser or purchasers thereof, in fee simple, without any liability on the part of such purchaser or purchasers to make to the application of the purchase money.

Item I give and bequeath to my nephew John S. Griffith the sum of two hundred dollars and to his sister in law Susan W. Burr I give and bequeath the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars for her services rendered him and his family.

Item I give and bequeath to my nephew Isaac Griffith one feather bed which I loaned him and now in his possession, also my umbrella with my name on the handle, my box of Dentists instruments and the sum of one hundred dollars.

Item I give and bequeath to my niece Susan G. Tyson the sum of thirty dollars also to her son Isaac G. Tyson I give and bequeath the sum of one hundred dollars, which said sum of one hundred dollars I direct my said Executors to deposit in the Philadelphia Savings Fund number 68 Walnut Street until he shall attain the age of twenty one years and to furnish him with a book containing a certificate of said deposit.

Item I give and bequeath to my nephews Richard Hopkins, William Hopkins and Hezekiah Hopkins one hundred dollars each.

Item I give and bequeath to Sarah Ackley and Louisa Stemple with whom I reside the use and occupation of my dwelling house and lot of ground now occupied by them for the term of five years after my decease they paying all the yearly ground rent which shall accrue and the taxes thereon, also the expenses of keeping the said premises in creditable repair during said term. I also give and bequeath to the said Sarah Ackley and Louisa Stemple all the fire wood and coal which I may have in the said dwelling house at the time of my decease.

Item I further give and bequeath to the said Sarah Ackley and Louisa Stemple the sum of four hundred dollars to be equally divided between them.

Item I give and bequeath to Ann Tinee, an afflicted poor woman, the sum of thirty dollars.

Item I give and bequeath to Ann Martin Coal and Mary Fisher, formerly my washer women, the sum of ten dollars each.

Item I give and bequeath to Sarah Bewley and Catherine Seurs colored women residing in Paschulls Alley five dollars each.

Item I give and devise to my grand daughter Elizabeth Lukens Griffith her heirs and assigns all that certain yearly ground rent or sum of thirty dollars lawful silver money of the United States of America chargeable on half yearly issuing and payable by Eli James his heirs and assigns out of and for all that lot or piece of ground situated on the westerly side of the Frankford and Bristol turnpike road at the distance of three hundred and forty four northward from Otter Street in the Kensington District of the Northern Liberties and county of Philadelphia containing in Front or breadth on said road sixteen feet and in depth westward one hundred feet altogether with the appurtenances to hold the same to the said Elizabeth Lukens Griffith her heirs and assigns forever.

Item I give and devise to my grand daughter Mary Griffith her heirs and assigns all that certain yearly ground rent or sum of thirty dollars lawful silver money aforesaid issuing and payable by Thomas James his heirs and assigns out of and for all that certain lot or piece of ground situate on the west side of the said Frankford and Bristol turnpike road at the distance of three hundred and sixty feet northward from said Otter Street in the Kensington district aforesaid containing in front or breadth on said road sixteen feet, and in depth westward one hundred feet, together with the appurtenances to hold the same to the said Mary Griffith her heirs and assigns forever.

Item I give and devise to my grand daughter, Martha Hopkins Griffith, her heirs and assigns all that certain yearly ground rent or sum of thirty dollars lawful silver money aforesaid chargeable on half yearly issuing and payable by Robert Mitchell, his heirs and assigns out of and for all that certain lot, or piece of ground situate on the west side of the said Frankford & Bristol turnpike road at the distance of three hundred and seventy six feet, northward from Otter Street in the Kensington district aforesaid containing in front or breadth on said road sixteen feet, and in depth westward one hundred feet together with the appurtenances to hold the same to the said Martha Hopkins Griffith her heirs and assigns forever.

Item All the rest, residue and remainder of my estate real and personal whatsoever and wheresoever I give, devise and bequeath unto my son Lukens Griffith, his heirs, Executors, administrators and assigns forever.

And lastly, I nominate, constitute and appoint my friends David Ellis of the District of Spring Garden, County of Philadelphia, Gentleman and John H. Cavender of the Northern Liberties aforesaid County ancu to be Executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all other wills, Legacies and bequests by one heretofore made and declaring that this instrument of writing and no other is to be regarded in fact or in law as my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have herewith set my hand and seal this fourteenth day of the sixth month in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty eight.

Isaac Griffith

Signed sealed published pronounced and declared by the said Testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence in the presence of each other & at his request have subscribed our names as witnesses.

Nat. R. Potts
Wm. T. Ellis

Codicil

I Isaac Griffith the within named Testator do hereby make and publish this codicil to be added to and taken as part of my last will and testament in manner following to wit. I give and bequeath to Sarah Ackley within named my Eight day clock and my parlor looking glass in addition to the bequests in and by any said will.

And lastly it is my will and desire that this my present Codicil be annexed to and made a part of my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have to this Codicil set my hand and seal this ninth day of the ninth month in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty eight.

Isaac Griffith

Signed sealed & published by the said Isaac Griffith in and for a Codicil to be added to, and considered as part of his last will and testament in the presence of us who have in his presence & at his request subscribed our names as witnesses thereof.

Natn. R. Potts
Wm. T. Ellis

Proof

City and County of Philadelphia
Registers Office July 6, 1849

Then personally appeared Nathan R. Potts & Wm. T. Ellis the subscribing witnesses of the foregoing will and Codicil of Isaac Griffith deceased and in their solemn affirmations did say that they were present and did see and hear Isaac Griffith deceased the Testator therein named sign seal publish and declare the same as found for his Codicil and last will and testament and that at the doing thereof he was of sound disposing mind memory and understanding to the best of their knowledge and belief.

Affirmed and subscribed
before me the date above
Theo. T. Derenger
Dep. Register

Natn. R. Potts
Wm. T. Ellis

City and County of Philadelphia SS
Registers Office July 6, 1849

We do appoint that as the Executors of the foregoing last will and testament of Isaac Griffith we will well and truly administer the Goods and Chattells rights and credits of said deceased agreeably to law and that in will comply with the provisions of the law relating to collateral Inheritance affirmed and subscribed before me the date above and letters testamentary granted unto them.

Theo. T. Derenger
Dep. Register

David Ellis
Jno. H. Cavender


Names Mentioned in the Will

Ackley, Sarah
Bewley, Sarah
Burr, Susan W.
Cavender, John H.
Coal, Ann Martin
Derenger, Thro. T.
Ellis, David
Ellis, William T.
Fisher, Mary
Griffith, Elizabeth Lukens
Griffith, Isaac
Griffith, Isaac
Griffith, John S.
Griffith, Lukens
Griffith, Martha Hopkins
Griffith, Mary
Hopkins, Hezekiah
Hopkins, Richard
Hopkins, William
James, Eli
James, Thomas
Mitchell, Robert
Potts, Nathan R.
Seurs, Catherine
Stemple, Louisa
Tinee, Ann
Tyson, Isaac G.
Tyson, Susan G.


This file was last updated on 7/14/2004.

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