The Will of
John Dodson


Will Book "C", p. 309


I John Dodson of Salem Township in the County of Luzerne, farmer do make and publish this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making void all forner wills by me at any time heretofore made.

And first, I direct that my body be directly interred and that my funeral be conducted in the manner corresponding with my estate and situation in life; and as to such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to entrust me with. I dispose of the same as follows:

First, I direct that my debts and funeral expenses be paid as soon after my decease as possible out of the first moneys that shall come into the hands of my executors.

Second, the bond bearing even date herewith given by my son Jesse B. Dodson to me, for the Sum of One Thousand eight hundred and eighteen dollars and nineteen cents. payable after my death in yearly payments of three hundred dollars each. The first payment to be due in one year after my death. I dispose of as follow.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my daughter Lydia intermarried with D. S. Sutliff to be paid therout the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars: to be for her separate use.

Item. I give and bequeath the further sum of One hundred and fifty dollars, to be equally divided among the children of my deceased daughter, Abigail intermarried with Warren Benscoter.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Susanna intermarried with Caleb Williams the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars for her separate use.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mabel intermarried with William Denison, the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars for her separate use.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Esther intermarried with Dorrance Harvey, the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars for her separate use.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Rachel intermarried to Giles Wedger, the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars for the separate use.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my daughter Hannah intermarried with Stephen Stiles, one hundred and fifty dollars for her separate use.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my son John Wesley the sum of two hundred and fifty six dollars and six and one third cents.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Asbury two hundred and fifty six dollars and six and one third cents

Item. I give and bequeath unto my son George Washington the remaining sum of two hundred and fifty six dollars and six and one third cents.

I direct all the above items or Legacies to be paid out of the said bond given by my son Jesse B. Dodson to me as aforesaid.

As to the residue of my property consisting entirely of personal property the real estate having all been conveyed by deed to my son Jesse B. Dodson, I dispose of as follows.

First. I give and bequeath unto my son John Wesley to be paid out of the said residue of estate one hundred dollars.

Second. All the remainder of the said resdue I direct to be divided equally among all my sons, and I hereby direct that my son Jesse B. Dodson be the sole executor of this my last will and testament and hereby make and ordain him my said son Jesse B. Dodson executor of this my last will and testament.

In witness whereof I John Dodson, the testator, have to this my will written on three sides of one sheet of paper set my hand and seal this first day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty eight.

John Dodson

Signed sealed declared & published by the above named John Dodson to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names in as witness in the presence of the testator:
E. H. Little
Aaron Clayton



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