Will of Elizabeth (Fordyce) Smith


Will of Elizabeth Smith, Dec'd

The last will and testament of Elizabeth Smith (Widow of Joseph Smith) of Dunkard township in the County of Greene and State of Pennsylvania. In the name of God, I, Elizabeth Smith, considering the uncertainty of this life and being of sound mind and memory, (blessed be God for the same) do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following. First, I will and bequeath unto my niece Sarah Fordyce (of Samuel) single woman her choice of my beds bedding and bedsteads. Item. I will and bequeath unto my niece Jane Stoops one bed, bedding and bedsteads. It is my will that the residue and remainder of my estate, real personal and mixed, of what nature and kind soever, the same may be in the County of Greene or elsewhere, be sold by my Executors herein after named, and I do hereby authorize and empower them my executors to make and execute all such deed or deeds as shall or may be necessary for granting and confirming to the purchaser or purchasers of my real estate the full and free possession and enjoyment thereof, and of money arising from the sale of said property it is my will that one hundred dollars thereof be put to interest forever, at six per cent, and the proceeds thereof to be applied; four dollars thereof to pay the preachers of the Methodist Protestant Church of or on Monongahela Circuit annually, and the remainder of said interest to wit two dollars to be applied to the support of Western periodical or religious newspaper, published by the aforesaid church yearly. It is my intention and will that the two last mentioned bequests be paid and Continued by my executors or the Stewards of the Methodist Protestant Church of Monongahela annually so long as preachers of said Church continue to travel said circuit or a religious Newspaper continues to be published in the Pittsburg or Ohio Conferences for the benefit of said M. P. Church. Item. I will and bequeath the remainder and residue of my estate to my brothers and sisters residing in the State of Pennsylvania to be equally divided among them share and share alike. And lastly I nominate, constitute and appoint my Nephews James Hervy Fordyce and Joshua Headlee executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the twenty ninth day of November in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty eight.

Elizabeth Smith
her mark

Signed, sealed published and declared by the named Elizabeth Smith to be her last will and testament in the presents of us who in her presence and at her request have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.

Abner Fordyce
Thomas Bowen


Greene County SS.

Before me Reuben D. Mickle, Register for the probate of Wills and granting of letters of Administration in and for said County came Abner Fordyce one of the subscribing witnesses to the within instrument of writing who, after being duly affirmed according to law saith that he was present and saw John Fordyce sign the name of Elizabeth Smith the testatrix thereto at her request, that she at the same time acknowledged the same as and for her last will & testament and made her mark to the same. That at the time of so doing the said testatrix was of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding to the best of his knowledge observation and belief.

Abner Fordyce

Affirmed & subscribed
March 1, 1851
R. D. Mickle Register

Before me Reuben D. Mickle, Register for the probate of Wills and granting of letters of Administration in and for said County came Thomas Bowen who after being duly affirmed according to law saith that he was present and saw and heard the within named testatrix sign seal and publish the within instrument to be her last will and testament and that her signed it at her request and in her presents and at the time of so doing she was of sound mind, memory and understanding to the best of his knowledge and belief.

Thomas Bowen

Sworn and subscribed before me
17th March 1851
R. D. Mickle Reg.

April 9th 1851 Letters testimentary Ishued to James H. Fordyce and Joshua F. Headlee, the Executors mentioned in the foregoing will.

Greene County, PA Will Book 3, Page 76

Many thanks to Marie Eberle for a copy of the above will


Wills Index | Genealogy Home Page

This site hosted by

This page created and maintained by Jim Fordyce (genealogy@fordyce.org).
© 2000, Jim Fordyce