William Wilhelm Bushong
1765-1837
Estate Papers

The Will of William Bushong (as written) 1837, Columbiana County, Ohio In the name of the God Amen, I William Bushong of Columbiana county in the State of Ohio, being in perfect health of body, and of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding, considering the certainty of death but the uncertainty of the time thereof, and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs and thereby be the better prepared to leave this world when it shall please God to call me hence, do therefore make and publish this my last will and testament, in manner form following that is to say: First and principally, I commit my soul into the hands of Almighty God, and my body to the earth, to be decently buried by my executors herein after named, and after my just debts and funeral charges shall be paid, I devise and bequeath as follows. Item. I bequeath unto my beloved wife, Catharine Bushong in lieu of her right of dower to my estates, all the furniture in my sleeping room ___ as well as much furniture in my kitchen as she may deem fit- also one copper kettle, one history of the Bible (in German), one milch cow, three new bags, twenty bushels of wheat, six bushels of Corn, two hundred pounds of pork, the pasture for one Cow , together with a sufficiency of good hay for the winter, also the privilege of raising chickens, also the privilege and use of the Springhouse and celler- also I order that my old house where my son-in-law Joseph Heisey now lives be made comfortable for her residence after my demise- also my said wife to have the use and occupancy of one third part of the Garden and Stable room for her cow- and as much fruit of all or any description as she may want for her own use- Item. I will and devise unto my daughter Marry Ann wife of Philip Shue, the first(?) and their heirs the plantation on which they now reside, it being about sixty acres of land, out of the south west quarter of section number fifteen, township number twelve and range two, which said tract of land I estimate at the sum of nine hundred dollars together with the further sum of one hundred dollars, provided (underlined) that my book account, due bill or notes I hold against him be first deducted. Item. I bequeath unto my son Daniel Bushong one thousand dollars, in addition to four hundred dollars which I allow him for the improvement heretofore made on my farm on which I now reside, making the aggregate sum of fourteen hundred dollars, deducting however from said Sum, all book accounts, due bills, or notes I have against my said son. I also bequeath to my said son Daniel all my waring apparel- Item. I bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth and son-in-law George Grim and their heirs one thousand dollars, deducting first therefrom all book accounts, due bills or notes I may hold against him. Item. I order an direct my executors herein after named to sell to the best advantage my tract of land situate in Wood county Ohio, containing eighty acres of land, it being the West half of the South East quarter of Section number twenty seven township number three in the twelve mile Reserve, and the proceeds(?) arising therefrom after first deducting the amount due me by book account, duebill or duebills note or notes from my son-in-law George Focht that I hold against my son-in-law George Focht, and the balance of said purchase money I order and direct that my executors loan at interest for the use of my daughter Catharine and her children (wife of the foresaid George Focht) during her natural life, and after her death I bequeath the remainder that shall then be in the hands of my executors to her children Share and share alike. Item. I bequeath unto my daughter Sarah, wife of Joseph Hisey my son-in-law one thousand dollars, deducting therefrom first all book accounts, duebills or notes I hold against them- I order that all my real estate as well as personal to be sold (the real estate) after the death of my wife- and when the foregoing bequeathments shall be paid and satisfied, and should any moneys be left, my will is that the surplus so remaining shall be equally divided amongst my foregoing named children share and share alike provided that the share that may be coming to my daughter Catharine shall be disposed of in like manner as the foregoing bequeathment is ordered- I further order that my wife to have as much firewood as shall at times be necessary- And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my son Daniel Bushong and my friend J. G. Willard my sole executors of this my last will and testament, giving them or the survivor of them full and ample powers to execute all necessary due for the conveyance (conveyance) of my real estate, revoking and annulling all former wills by me heretofore made, ratifying and confirming this and none other to be my last will and testament. William Bushong (seal) In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this thirteenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven. Signed, sealed and published And declared by William Bushong the above named testor as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request, in his presence and in the presence of each other, have subscribed our name as witnesses. (signed) William A. Bushong Peter Bushong Columbiana County ss: Court of Common Pleas. November Term 1837. This will was bro't into Court and the Subscribing witnesses thereto being qualified Say that they Saw the testor Sign Said will, that they attested and subscribed the Same as witnesses in the presence of the testor, that the testor when he Signed Said will was of Sound mind and memory of full age and nor under any restraint; wherefore Said will is approved and ordered to be recorded with the proof now taken. (signed) C.D. Coffin Clk By J Gardr Coffin Deputy.