In The Name of God Amen

I, John Hilman of Codorus Township in the County of York and the State of Pennsylvania yeoman being sick in body, but sound mind and memory, do make, ordain and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following; that is to say. first of all things I recommend my soul in the hands of Almighty God who gave it and my body to be buried in a Christian and decent like manner by my executors hereafter named.

Item, It is my Will that my just debts and funeral charges be paid and satisfied, I give and bequeath unto Anna Mary my beloved wife the bed, bedstead and bed clothes thereunto belonging, one chest, all my Flax, hemp and cloth, a kitchen treasurer, all my pewterware, a crafts bucket, a coffee mill, one iron pot, a coffee kettle and two pans, two cows, two sheep, her spinning wheel.

Item, I give and devise unto my eldest son Philip Hilman, his heirs and assigns all that plantation situate in Codorus Township, adjoining George Emig and Anthony Lehman containing the whole tract I bought of Mathis Trotback for which said land he shall pay one hundred and twenty-four pounds, in real specie(?) to pay ten pounds yearly and every year after my decease until all is paid beginning with my eldest daughter until the youngest. Provided he the said Philip Hilman gives a mortgage to my son Michael Hilman, to my son in law Godfrey Klindiens, Christian Hasler and Henry Klatfelder immediately after me decease or else the above devise to be void and of none effect.

Item, I give and devise unto my second son Michael Hilman and to his heirs and assigns, my now dwelling Plantation with contiguous tracts of land situate lying and being in Cordorus Township, adjoining Peter Law, Henry Shank and others, for which he shall pay the sum of One hundred and twenty-four pounds in yearly payments, ten pounds every year beginning with my eldest daughter until the youngest till all is payd.

Item, my two sons shall yield and pay to my said wife yearly and every year during her natural lifetime, Eleven bushels of good wheat, eight bushels of of good rye, the third part of the second crop of hay, from the meadow, but in her case my wife should not use all the hay, then my two sons shall divide the same share and share alike, every year my said sons shall give yearly and every year, as aforesaid sixteen pounds of hemp or flax, fifty pounds of pork, and twenty-five pounds of beef each of them. The same shall find sufficient firewood ready cut and delivered to her door. my said son Michael shall find a room in his house for my said wife and stables for two cows and two sheep and them keep in repair as aforesaid, and find leather for shoes as much as she wants and a creature for ride when she chose it. The said Michael shall give and allow my said wife the third part of the garden for her to grow cabbage and potatoes yearly and every as aforesaid. further my wife shall have my wash kettle.

Item all the residue of my estate shall be sold by public venue and the money therefrom arising shall be equally divided amongst all my children share alike, and Peter Kuntz who was intermarried with my daughter Kathrina shall be decluted(?) and debarred of all my estate. All the debts due in my book my wife shall have except what is due against my children.

Item, my son Michael Hilman shall have my loom and all the utensils belonging to it and my stilliarts(?) for which he shall all what his mother spins, also she shall have my mare. also my wife shall shall have the third part part of all the fruit of the two places.

Lastly I nominate and appoint my trusty friends Bernet Ziegler and John Kroll to be my executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and disanulling all other and former wills by me hereunto intorcheanable(?) set my hand and seal this twenty seventh day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty six.

signed, sealed, published pronounced and declared
by the above named John Hilman to be his last Will and
Testament in the presence of us, who have subscribed our
names as witnesses in the presence of the Testator
<illegible name> & Michael Law(?)

Note: According to the book "York County Will Abstracts" this will should have been for John Helman. My copy is not of the actual will itself, but of the recorders copy, handwritten by her.

submitted by Debbe

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