Philadelphia, Will Book M, page 165.
Moreland Manor, Philadelphia County
Joshua & Ann Borden Potts
In the Name of God Amen this Ninteenth day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty seven I Joshua Potts of the Manner of Moreland in the County of Philada and Province of Pennsylvania Yeoman being sick and weak in body but of Perfect mind and memory for which I desire to be thankful to Almighty God and taking to mind the mortality of this my Body and knowing that it is appointed for man once to die and after that to appear in Judgment do make and ordain this my last Will & Testament in Manor following that is to say Principally and first of all I Recommend my precious and immortal soul to God firmly Relying and Trusting for mercy & forgiveness of all my sins for the sake of Jesus Christ according to the Riches of free and undeserved Grace and my Body to the Earth to be therein Buried in Christian like and decent manner at the Direction of my Executors hereinafter Named Nothing doubting but I shall reserve the same again at the general Resurection by the mighty power of God and as Touching such worldly Estate as wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life Too give order Devise and Dispose thereof in Manner following - Imprimis my will is and to ordain that my Just debts and funeral Charges be duly and fully paid and defrayed by my Executors
Item I Give and bequeath all my wearing apparel unto my two Brethern Nathaniel Potts and William Potts to be equally divided between them share and share alike
Item I do give and Bequeath unto my well beloved Wife Ann Potts four feather beds and all the appurtenances unto the P. beds belonging and all my Table Cloathes and Napkins and the best Case of Drawers and one desk and two Black Walnut Tables and one large Looking Glass and all my Pewter ware and all my Brass ware Except the bigest Kettle and all my Iron ware belonging to house & Kitchen uses and and all my Delf and China ware and all my Silver utensils and my Clock and my Tea Chest and one white Servant Maid Named Magdalena Slowgar and To give unto my said Wife the Side Saddle and bridle and one young Sorrel riding Mare and I give unto my said Wife also one dough Trough and one pine Table and one Dozen of the best Chairs and all my spinning wheels
Item my Will is that all my books be left in the Custody of my wife and be equally Divided Between my said Wife and my Children Share and Share alike and that Each of my said Children shall Receive his or her proper share when of age and I do Nominate Constitute and appointe my said beloved Wife Ann Potts and my good friend Joseph Hart to be Joint Executors of this my last Will and Testament and I do impower and authorize my said Executors to Sell and dispose of all and Singular my Goods and Chattles whatsoever except what is hereby above Specially otherwise bequeathed and to Entrust authorize and empower my said Executors also to sell and dispose of all and Singular my Messuages Lots Lands Tenements whatsoever and wheresoever to be found and under their hands and Seals to Convey assure and Confirm all or any of the said Messuages Lots Lands and Tenements unto Such Person or Persons or all of them Purchase the same To hold to Such Purchaser or Purchasers for their heirs and assignes in as full and ample a manner to all intents and persons whosoever as I myself could do if alive and personally present and my Will is and I do hereby Ordain that my said Executors out of them or arising by the Sale of all the Goods Chattels Lands Tenements here above ordered and willed to be sold shall pay my just debts and Charges above mentioned and the Residue of the said money whatever sum it shall amount to over and above the payment of debts and Charges as aforesaid Shall be divided into seven equall parts or portions one of which Seventh parts or portions I give unto my said Wife and I do give one other Seventh part thereof unto my son Thomas Potts and out of the other five Seventh parts I do Will and Ordain that the sum of one hundred Pounds be deducted for my said son besides the aforsaid Seventh part which sum of one hundred Pounds with Interest thereof shall be to bring in my said to Good and ample Education and Learning and the remainder or Residue of the said five Seventh part after the deduction of the same sum of one hundred pounds I do will give and bequeath unto my five daughters by Name Mary Potts Anne Potts Abigail Potts Rebecca Potts and Hannah Potts the same to be equally Divided between my said daughters share and share alike and their Respective shares to them to be respectively paid at the age of eighteen Years And my Will further is that what sum soever shall Happen to be the Portion of my Children that such sums are soon as Possible they can be Collected shall be put to interest during their Minority and the better to enable my said Wife to bring up and Educate my said Children I do Give all the Interest arising or accruing for or from their Several Portions unto my said Wife during their Several and respective Minorities And it is my Will that if any of my said Children Shall happen to die during Minority then his her or their Share so dying shall be equally divided between my Surviving Children and I do Nominate and appoint my Brother William Potts and my Father in Law Joseph Borden to be Guardians over my Children and I do Revoke and disanull all and every other Wills and Testaments by me at any time before this made or Willed Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have set my hand and Seal hereunto the day and Year aforesaid Joshua Potts (Seal)
Signed Sealed and Declared by Joshua Potts Testator as his last Will and Testament in the Presence of us
David Rees
William Hancock
Benj Griffith
Philada 11th August 1761 Then personally appeared David Rees and Benja Griffith two of the wittnesses to the foregoing will and Testament and Declare they saw and heard Joshua Potts the Testator therein Named Sign Seal publish and declare the same Will for and as his Last Will & Testament and that at the doing thereof he was of Sound Mind memory and understanding to the best of their knowledge.
Coram Wm Plumsted Regs Genl
Be it Remembered that on the 11th of August 1761 the Last Will and Testament of Joshua Potts decd in due form of law was proved and Probate and Ltrs Testamentary were granted to William Potts and Joseph Borden Executors in the sd Will named being duly sworn well and truly to administer the decds Estate and bring in an Inventory thereof into the Register generals Office at Philada at or before the 11th of September Next and Tender a true account when Required Given under the seal of the said Office
William Plumsted Regs Genl.
Names Mentioned in the Will:
| Joseph Borden | father-in -law and co-executor | |
| Benj Griffith | witness | |
| William Hancock | witness | |
| Joseph Hart | friend and co-executor | |
| William Plumsted | Register General | |
| Abigail Potts | daughter | |
| Ann Borden Potts | wife | |
| Anne Potts | daughter | |
| Hannah Potts | daughter | |
| Joshua Potts | testator | |
| Mary Potts | daughter | |
| Nathaniel Potts | brother | |
| Rebecca Potts | daughter | |
| Thomas Potts | son | |
| William Potts | brother | |
| David Rees | witness | |
| Magdalena Slowgar | servant maid |
This file was last updated on 7/14/2004.
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