The Will of Mary Kindig (widow of Heinrich Kindig) written 11 Feb 1842, Will BK. "T", Vol. 1, Pg. 161, Lancaster Co. Court Archives
In the name of God Amen. I, Mary Kindig widow and relict of Henry Kindig late of Strasburg Township in the County of Lancaster and State of PA. deceased being far advanced in years and weak of body, but of sound mind memory and understanding and calling to mind the uncertainty of human life and that it is ordered for all persons once to die, I therefore make my last will and testament in manner following; that is to say I commend my immortal soul into the hands of God who gave it and my body to the earth from whence it came in hopes of a Glorious Resurrection through the merits of our redeemer Jesus Christ and a happy admission into the regions of bliss and immortality, and as to my worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me, I give and bequeath the same in manner following; Imprimis: it is my will that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid out of my estate as soon as conveniently may be after my decease.
ITEM- I do give devise and bequeath unto my daughter Leah Kindig the just and full sum of three hundred dollars lawful money of PA. to be levied out of my estate as soon as conveniently may be after my decease aforehand and over and above her equal share as and for a part compensation for the services rendered to me from the time she obtained the age of twenty-one years until my decease, but it is nevertheless my will and I order and direct that my herein after named executor shall and do take receive and detain the aforesaid three hundred dollars given and bequeathed to and for the use of my said daughter Leah Kindig, and shall place the same at interest as her trustee from time to time as the same shall be paid in or received and for the yearly interest accruing on the said principal sum of three hundred dollars he shall from time to time furnish her with a comfortable house or home and have and take due care as much as in him lies of her person and property during the term of her natural life if she remains single, so that no advantage be taken of her and her estate, but if my said daughter should at any time come to want on account of feebleness and helplessness her said trustee shall or may apply a part or parts of the sum, principal sum of three hundred dollars from time to time as may be necessary to keep her comfortable and her douchers shall be his discharge. But in case my said daughter should at any time engage in lawful wedlock with such a person in whom full confidence may be placed to keep her secure from ever coming to want, then and in such case her said trustee shall hereby be empowered to pay over unto her the said principal sum of three hundred dollars, if she should require it, unless he should have expended the same or any part thereof for her use as aforesaid but in all cases her douchers shall be his discharge, and should the said three hundred dollars or any part thereof remain in her said trustees hands until her decease, in such case the same shall be considered as her property with full power to give and divise the same to whom she pleases the same as the rest of her estate she may die possessed of.
ITEM-I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Leah Kindig as and for a further and full compensation for her services rendered unto me in my lifetime, and also aforehand and ever and above her equal share her riding mare with saddle and bridle, also my bedstead and furniture thereto belonging but she shall nevertheless have her choice among all my bedsteads and shall also have her choice to take a feather cover or blankets to my said bed and if she makes her choice to take blankets, she shall take three blankets, one comfort and one double woolen coverlit all of which shall be at her choice of these, I shall die possessed of to have and to hold the said articles and things to her and to her heirs and assigns forever.
ITEM- I give and bequeath unto my grandson Benjamin Kindig (son of Joseph Kindig) one hundred and fifty dollars lawful money of PA to be levied out of my estate, but should I die before my said grandson should arrive to the age of twenty-one years I order that a careful person be appointed by the Orphans Court as his guardian who shall take and receive the said money and place the same at interest from time to time as the same shall be placed in or received for the use of my said grandson Benjamin Kindig until he arrives at the age of twenty-one years as aforesaid when the same shall be paid over unto him with the interest which may have accrued thereon, and thereby declare that the aforesaid one hundred and fifty dollars shall be deemed and taken by my said grandson as and for a full compensation for the time he resided with me and for the services he rendered to me in my life time and shall have and hold the same to him and to his heirs forever.
ITEM-the rest, residue and remainder of my estate including therein all my monies, effects and property whatsoever and wheresoever come to the hands of my executor to me belonging and not herein before particularly bequeathed I order to be divided into eleven equal shares to and amongst my children; Benjamin Kindig, Emanuel Kindig, Joseph Kindig, Martin Kindig, Samuel Kindig, John Kindig, Abraham Kindig, Henry Kindig, Mary the widow and relict of Peter Andrews deceased, Leah Kindig and my granddaughter Mary Kindig the daughter of my son Isaac Kindig deceased, that is to say I give and bequeath to each of them and their heirs and assigns one equal eleventh part thereof forever.
And lastly I nominate constitute and appoint my son John Kindig my executor of this my last will and testament making hereby null and void all former will or wills by me made declaring this and no other to be and contain my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this eleventh day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-two.
her
Mary Kindig (seal)
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Signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared by the testator Mary Kindig as and for her last will and testament in the presence of us who in her presence and at her request have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto, the several erazures and interlinations being made before signing. Christian Herr, Pequea Twp., affirmed January 9, 1843, Jacob Miller, affd. December 7, 1842
9 JAN 1843
Letters of testamentary granted to John G. Kindig, the executor, he being duly affirmed well and truly to administer the good and chattels rights and credits of the said testatrix according to law, and also that he will diligently and faithfully regard and well and truly comply with the provisions of the law relating to collateral inheritances.
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NOTES:
Maria (Groff) Kindig was born 11 Oct 1767 and married Heinrich Kindig 1 May 1784. Heinrich died 14 Oct 1825, so at the time of this will Mary had out lived her husband by 17 years, and was 65 years old when she wrote her will.
Leah Kindig was born 8 Jan 1800. At the time her mother made this will (11 Feb 1842) Leah would have been 42 years old. Leah was to marry widower John Groff, and on 1 Apr 1845, she and her husband signed a release stating the $300 had been received by them, with interest, from the executor, John G. Kindig.
A guardian was appointed for Benjamin Kindig, as his grandmother Mary (Groff) Kindig did die before he reached 21 year of age. In Mar 1843 the orphan's court appointed his father Joseph Kindig as his guardian.
Isaac Kindig had died in May 1825 at the young age of 35. The twelfth child, Simon (Reuben) Kindig had died in childhood in 1789, at the age of two.