I, John Craighead of Elizabethtown in the township of Elizabeth County of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania being weak of body yet of sound mind and memory and knowing the uncertainty of this transitory life do make and publish this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making void all former wills by me at any time heretofore made and first and principally of all I commend my soul to God who give and my body to the Earth to be interred in a decent Christian like manner at the discretion of my Executors hereinafter named and as to my worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to entrust to me with after paying all my just debts and funeral expenses I dispose of the same as follows to wit; To my beloved wife Abigail Craighead, I give devise and bequeath the one third of all my personal estate to be absolutely her own property and to do with the same as she in her wisdom thinks proper also one third of the profits arising from my real estate for and during her natural life with the use of the house and lots whereon we now reside until the youngest child arrives to the age of nineteen years unless necessity should require my Executors to lease or sell a small part of my real estate to pay my just debts or enable them to discharge certain legacies hereinafter mentioned in either case my wife to receive the one third of the profits arising from the remaining part of said real estate during the time aforesaid which bequests I give for and in lieu of her right of Dower and should circumstances require my Executors to dispose of a part of the real estate of which I shall die siezed and possessed, to effectuate the same I do hereby vest in my Executors full power and authority to dispose of so much of my real estate in fee simple or for a term of years or to borrow money on legal interest and security the payment thereof to the lender by judgment against part of said real estate in as full and large a manner in every respect as I could myself do…. –To my six daughters namely Elizabeth McCann, wife of Garrett McCann late, Elizabeth Craighead, Mary Ann McElhaney wife of [Robt?] McElhany late, Mary Ann Craighead, Dianna Craighead…Craighead, Susanna Craighead and Sarah Craighead, I give and bequeath to each and every of them two hundred Dollars in the following manner that is to say one hundred dollars to each of my daughters that is now married as soon as my Executors can conveniently do the same in household goods and furniture and to each of the other daughters that may marry at anytime before my youngest child comes to the age of nineteen years and the balance so soon as the said youngest arrives to said age, which goods and furniture to be given at a fair valuation provided nevertheless should any of my daughters of age bring in a bill for services against my estate then and in that case it is my will that instead of the two hundred dollars, they or either of them so doing shall receive but one dollar as their legacy, and as my will and desire is that my family should continue to live together with their mother while they remain single, and they neither bring a charge against the estate or the estate against them I direct and charge that nothing of my personal estate be sold only such articles as can be conveniently spared without detriment to the house or farm and that the same at private sale to the best advantage my Executors can and do apply the same with all the profits arising from two thirds of said estate to the paying of my said debts and legacies aforesaid excepting so much as may be necessary for maintaining my children that are under age and my daughters that are single and desire to live with their mother and should any of my daughters decease before thy receive their legacies leaving Issue then and in that case her child or children shall receive their mother’s share and should any of my daughters decease before receiving their legacy without Issue, then her share of legacy shall be divided to and among her surviving sisters share and share alike. I further will and desire that a stock should be kept up on the farm consisting of as many as four or five cows, thirty head of sheep, a good wagon with a sufficient team and implements of husbandry for said farm and all the increase of stock over and above what I have stated to be sold as soon as fit for market and the proceeds applied as aforesaid after giving my widow her third and when my youngest child arrives to the age of nineteen years the two thirds of the cows and sheep above mentioned or the value thereof be divided to and among my six daughters above mentioned or the surviving, one share and share alike. To my son James Craighead I give and bequeath one hundred dollars for which sum I hold a note on him, which I allow my Executors to give him [the receipting] for the same, he having rec’d a proportional share of my estate previous to this. To my three youngest sons, namely John Craighead, Robert Craighead and Andrew Craighead I give devise and bequeath as soon as my youngest child arrive to the age of nineteen years all the real estate that may be then remaining with two thirds of the […….] farmland and implements of husbandry to them then their heirs and assigns to share and share alike Subject nevertheless to the said…thirds of said real estate, and should any of my three youngest sons decease before the said estate comes into their hands leaving Issue his Issue shall have hold and enjoy his or their father’s share in said estate and should either decease without Issue before the estate comes into his hands the surviving ones of the three shall receive his share to share and share alike. Respecting my youngest children and …and I do appoint my beloved wife to have the guardianship and tuition of them during their minority so long as she shall continue to be …, and in case of her death or marriage during the minority of such my children then I will and appoint that my much esteemed and loving friend, Francis C. Flannegan, shall have the tuition and guardianship of them during such their minority and in case of his refusal, renunciation or decease, I will that my other Executor, Samuel Walker shall excuse the said guardianship and I earnestly entreat their utmost care respectively in and about the morals and education of my children And I do hope and trust that my children will be obedient kind, and affectionate to their Mother or Guardian as also loving and kind to each other and I further will and desire and I do hereby order and direct that if any difference or disputes, question or controversy shall arise or happen concerning any gift bequest in this my last will given and bequeathed, expressed or contained, that then no suit or suits at law or equity or otherwise shall be brought, commenced or presented for or concerning the same, but the same shall be referred wholly to the award or order and direction of two of my esteemed neighbors chosen by my Executors with power for them to choose an umpire. And whatever a majority of the said arbitraters shall order direct or determine therein shall be binding and conclusive toward on all and every person or persons therein concerned. And lastly, I do hereby ordain constitute and appoint my beloved wife Abigail Craighead, Frances Flannegan and Samuel Walker Esq. Executors of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have thereunto set my hand seal this ninth day of April in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight.
John Craighead {SEAL}