Lorentz Reiter Will
Will and Testament of J Lorentz Reiter
Written in 1783 recorded in York Co PA in 1786
J Lawrence Reiter of Windsor Township in the County of York and State ofPennsylvania, Yeoman being sick and weak in body but of sound disposing mind and understanding , do this thirty first day of October in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Three make and publish this my last will and testament as follows-
First of all I commend my soul into the hands of All Mighty God who gave it to me and my body to the earth to be decently buried and as ---?----- all my worldly estate where of I am possesed I give devise and dispose of the same as follows. Viz. First I order that all my Oust(anding) debts and funeral charges be first paid and satisfied by my executors herein after named.
Item, I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Gertraut all such household goods and furniture which she brought to me and had all the time of our marriage. Further I give and order unto my said wife full and entire possession and use and benefit of my house and half lot of ground in York Town with the appurtenances during her natural life if she so long continue a widow. Further I give and bequeath unto my said wife during her natural life, if she continue a widow a yearly sum of six pounds, lawful money interest of one Hundred pounds principal money, which is to be paid to her by my executors out of the money arising from the sale of my plantation.
Item it is my will and I do hereby order and direct my executor herein named, to sell my dwelling plantation and other real and personal Estate not herein devised, bequeathed or otherwise ordered, by public vendue for the best price and advantage which can be had and the money arising from the sale to be equally divided between my four children. Viz. Christopher my eldest son, Lawrence, John and Catherine in equal share. Alike to them their heirs and assigns forever (except my eldest son Christopher as I give the further sum of five shillings in lieu of his birthright and no more than to be equal with the rest of my children).
Item it is my will and I do hereby order that in case my aforesaid wife should again marry then the aforesaid annuity of yearly interest above bequeathed shall cease and determine and the said hundred pounds principal money shall be equally divided share and share alike to an amongst all my children.
Item after the death of my said wife or her inter marriage which ever happens first it is my will then that my house and half lot of ground in York Town be sold at public vendue and the money arising out of the sale thereof to be equally divided amongst all my children share and share alike.
Item Incase of intermarriage again of my said wife then it is my will that she shall have no more of all my estate then what she is entitled to by the laws of the state.
Lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint my trusty friends John Mate Senr and John Meyer, blacksmith to be Executors of this my last will and testaments thereby revoking and disallowing all other and former wills and testaments by me hereto fore made.
In Witness where of I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first above written.
Signed Sealed Published and declared by the said Lawrence Reiter the testor in the presence of us;
Henry Tyson
Philip Muhlhof Lorentz Reiter
Peter Wambach
Registered and Proved before Jacob Barnitz Jan 21 1786
Inventory filed Feb 1 1786
A point of interest on the inventory is a charge from George Wanbach of 2.5.0 pounds
for making the coffin.
A petition was filed by Catherine Reider, against the estate of Lorentz Rieter, for five years service as a housekeeper the her father before his death @ rate of six pounds per year. Requesting 30 pounds in full. Dated22 March 1788
Frederick Peel and his wife Catherine, Lorentz’s daughter, were awarded 9 pounds for services rendered. 27 March 1788.
Documents are housed at York Co Archives, York PA