The last will and testament of Conrad Rutter Jr., youngest son of Conrad Rutter, dated March 2, 1765, and proved March 13, 1769.
Source: Lancaster County Historical Society, Lancaster, PA, Lancaster County Will Book C, Vol. 1, pg. 35
Conrad Ritter
In the Name of God Amen, I Conrad Ritter of Leacock Township Lancaster County in the province of Pennsylvania Yeoman on calling to mind the Uncertainty of Time and my present Indisposition of Body yet being of Sound mind and retaining memory, I thank God and do therefore make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, and Principally I recommend my Soul to God’s Mercy and my remains to the Earth as to the house appointed for all living in hopes of Receiving the Same again at the Resurrection. And my Property in time Things I will and allow as follows. First, that all my Just debts and Funeral Charges be fully paid out of my Personal Estate (except what is hereafter willed thereof); And wherein my Personal Estate runs short in what can be spared thereof to pay as aforesaid, I allow the Profits of my Real Estate to clear the Residue. Then I will and allow my well beloved wife Catharina Ritter the full Possession and use of my Plantation on the Northern Side of my meadow and the Eastern End of said Meadow from a small swamp oak near the Run right Across to hold to her until she either Marries or dies or until my Son Henry Arrives of Age. I will and Allow that then he shall have said Northern side of my Land and Eastern End of my Meadow to the Intent she may live comfortably herself and Maintain Cloath and School my Children viz, the said Henry, Rebecca, Barbara, and George. And also Clear of my just debts above said out of the profits thereof [left?] when my Son Henry Arrives at age. I will and allow that then he shall have said Northern Side of my Land and Eastern End of my Meadow to hold to him, his Heirs and Assigns forever, Subject to the Payment of Forty pounds money of said Province to Each and Every of my said Children Rebecca, Barbara, and George as they Arrive at age Respectively and Subject to what is hereafter further Enjoyned expressly on the Same but if my said Wife should die my Widow then I allow her a decent burial off my said Real Estate and if it so happens before Henry is of Age, then I allow the said Profits still to the same purposes towards my children aforesaid. But if my said Wife should Marry then and in such case I will and allow her the Sum of Forty pounds Money aforesaid to be paid her Immediately after off my said Lands and no more and that in Lieu of her Dower or thirds of all my Lands. And as long as she remains my Widow after my Son Henry is of Age, so long I allow her a comfortable maintenance of my said Lands above willed (and no longer) and also my said Children as aforesaid until of Age as aforesaid. And in case either of my said Wife’s death or Marriage before Henry is of age, I allow my said Lands to be rented for my said Children’s Benefit as aforesaid. Item: I give and devise the remaining Western End of my Meadow and what Land I have on the Southern Side of my Meadow unto my Son William Rutter to hold to him, his Heirs and Assigns forever, with Stay of Possession until two Years now next and Subject to the payment of Forty pounds money aforesaid unto my Son in Law John Rutter in Right of my daughter Martha, payable in four years hence. I also will to my Son William a Good Horse and to my said Son in Law as aforesaid a good Colt and a Good Cow. And also, but not until my wife’s Death or Marriage the large press. And lastly I Nominate and Constitute my trusty friends Henry Skiles and Nathaniel Lightner to be my Executors of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking and disannulling all former or other Will or Wills, Testament or Testaments by me hitherto had or made, and confirming this and this alone to be my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and Seal dated this Second day of March Anno Domini one Thousand Seven hundred and Sixty five. Signed, sealed, pronounced and declared in the presence and sight of us. Line 30 ye words (above willed) interlined before Signing. Stewart Herbert, Joseph Ritter [his mark], Barbara Ritter [her mark]
Conrad Ritter [his mark] [seal]
Lancaster County On the thirteenth day of March, Anno Domini 1769, before me the Subscriber personally Appeared Joseph Ritter and Barbara Ritter, two of the Subscribing witnesses to the within will, and on their Corporal Oath did depose and Say that they were present and Saw and heard Conrad Ritter the Testator within named Sign, Seal, pronounce and declare the within writing as and for his last Will and Testament, and that at the doing thereof he was of sound and well disposing mind, memory and understanding to the best of their Knowledge, Observation and belief. Edward Shippen D Rr
Be it Remembered that on the thirteenth Day of March, Anno Domini 1769, the Last Will and Testament of Conrad Ritter late of Leacock Township Lancaster County and province of Pennsylvania, Yeoman, deceased, was proved in due form of Law and thereof was appointed Henry Skiles and Nathaniel Lightner Executors who have both by their Certain Deed of Renunciation bearing the date the fifteenth Day of March Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and sixty nine duly Executed and filed in the Register’s Office at Lancaster renounced all their Right of Executorship on the Estate of the same deceased and Letters of Administration were granted to Catherina Ritter and Andrew Little to the Uses in the said Testament mentioned. The said Catherina Ritter and Andrew Little having first given Bond with two Good Sureties According to Law well and truly to Administer the Estate of the deceased to the uses in the said Testament mentioned and to Exhibit a true and perfect Inventory of all and Singular the Goods and Chattles, Rights and Credits of the said decedent into the Register’s Office at Lancaster on or before the thirteenth day of April next and to render a true and just account of their Administration on or before the thirteenth Day of March which will be in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred seventy. Given under the Seal of the said Office of me Edward Shippen D Rr