Hughes, Thomas. Will of, Greene County, PA
January 24, 1823
Transcribed and Submitted by Bill Davison
 


Will of Thomas Hughes, Esqr. decd.

 

I Thomas Hughes of Jefferson in Greene County & State of 
Pennsylvania being of sound and disposing mind do make the 
following disp__tion of my worldly property viz. 

I will and direct that I be buried in a decent and Christian 
like manner as soon after my death as may be convenient at 
the discretion of my executors herein after named- I give & 
bequeath and will to my beloved wife Elizabeth during her 
natural life (after payment of my debts) all my stock and 
household furniture house and the land here to be by her used 
and enjoyed under the care and management of my said 
Executors unless it will be agreeable to my wife & executors 
and that my debts require the sale of a part of my land 
which lies above the rices landing road-

I also will and direct that my land in the State of Kentucky 
in Elk horn in Scotle  County be sold by my executors for 
my legatees & payment of my debts- 

I also will and direct that all my land or claim to land 
on pleasant run in Washington County in Kentucky be given 
to the heirs of John Manning & my daughter Elizabeth Manning 
to be equally divided amongst them forever- 

I will and bequeath to my son Remembrance Hughes two hundred 
dollars in money to be paid at the time the other legatees 
are paid and one hundred dollars in property or the big mare 
at one hundred dollars- 

I give and bequeath to my son John Hughes one dollar, to my 
son Thomas Hughes one dollar-

to my son James Hughes one dollar having given them 
(to the best of my knowledge) full shares)- 

I order and bequeath to my Daughter Mary Lindsey, 
Sarah Rosberry, Patty Neal & Catharine Heller equal 
shares of the residence of all my estate real, personal, 
and mixed (after the death of their mother) and my debts 
and expences are paid. 

I Will and direct that my executors 
(after the death of my Wife) sell all my real & personal 
property at their discretion and the neat proceeds thereof 
to be equally divided on Mary Lindsey, Sarah Rosberry, 
Patty Oneil & Catharine Heller after my son remembrance 
gets his three hundred in property & cash as before stated 
and willed – 

I also will and direct that Jane the black woman be 
maintained on the premises during her natural life – 

I also will and direct that Danl Ferrel (a man of colour) 
be manajed at the discretion of my Wife Elizabeth and the 
Executors of this my last Will – 

And lastly I nominate and appoint my two sons John Hughes 
and Thomas Hughes Executors of this my last Will and 
testament hereby revoking and annulling all former Wills 
and bequests by me heretofore made and declaring this and 
no other to be my last Will and Testament. 

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand & seal 
this twenty fourth day of January A.D. eighteen hundred 
and twenty three.

Thomas Hughes  seal

Signed sealed published pronounced and declared by said 
testator in presents of us who in his presents and at 
his request and in presents of each other have 
subscribed as Witnesses.  Thos. Fletcher….Wm. McCollister       

Penna Greene County  ss

Before me William F. Hays Register for the Probate of Wills 
and granting letters of Administration in and for the 
County of Greene personally appeared Thomas Fletcher Esq 
and Wm McCollister the subscribing witnesses to the within 
Instrument of Writing and on their solemn Oaths did depose 
and say that they were personally present and saw and heard 
Thomas Hughes the Testator within named, sign, seal, 
publish and declare the same as and for his last Will and 
Testament and that at the time of doing thereof he was of 
sound mind and disposing mind memory and understanding, 
according to the best of their knowledge observations 
and belief.  Thos. Fletcher    Wm McCollister

Sworn and Subscribed this 12th day of Feby. A.D. 1823    
Wm F. Hays

Registered February 12th 1823 and Letters Testamentary 
granted to John Hughes, and Thomas Hughes the same day.

[Submitter's Note: This is the last Will and Testament of 
Thomas Hughes of Jefferson Twp, Greene Co, Pa. In this Will 
are mentioned Jane the black woman 
(a slave registered in 1782 but never freed), 
and Danl Ferrel, a man of colour (never registered as 
a slave--never freed by manumission--a man of colour 
who did not exist prior to 1820, but whom was born 1798 
and lived in Greene Co., Pa. until his death in 1851. 
Danl is buried in the same cemetery as the Hughes, and 
very near the graves of Thomas and Elizabeth Hughes.)]