Schoharie County NYGenWeb Site
Submitted by Peter Ann Stenberg
LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF SEBASTIAN FRANTZ
This is a photo I took in 1989 of Sebastian's will. It was handwritten on
both sides and is under glass. As you can see it has been taped with
cellophane tape where the folds were tearing. This is the backside and you
can see Sabastian's dark signature on the right side just below the wire for
hanging and above the tape. Click here for Full-size image In the name of God Amen. I Sabastian Frantz of Sharon in the county of Schoharie and the state of New York being weak in body of sound mind and memory do this day on the seventh day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and one make and publish this my last will and testament in manner following. That is to say first and above all I give and bequeath my dear soul into the hands of Almighty God who first gave it me, and my body I recommend to the earth from whence it first was taken, to be buried in a Christian like descent burial at the descretion of my Executor herein after named, there to rest in full assurance to rise again in the general resurrection, through the merits of Jesus Christ our lord in the last day.
Secondly I will and order that all my lawful debts and funeral charges be
paid and adjusted and as to such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to
bestow on me in this world I will give and dispose of in manner following.
Viz - I give and bequest unto my son Christopher Frantz and to his heirs and
assigns for ever all that certain westerly part or tract of land of lot
No.seven whereon he now dwells-lying and being in Sharon on the west side of
stone set upon the north line of said lot marked S.B.F. and from there south
easterly to the nearest [?]of the middle of the crick then down keeping the
middle of the crick to the division line of the said lot No.seven-Subject
never the less to the rents and reservations thereon contained.
Item - I also give and bequeath unto my son Christopher Frantz his heirs and
assigns for ever the just and equal full half of a fifty acre lot of land
situated lying and being in Sharon in a patent granted to William Spurnheyer
and William Heintz better known and distinguished by the most southerly half
of the most westerly fifty acres of a lot in said patent conveyed formerly
to Elijah Babbit and a survey and map thereof made by John Melich surveyor.
Item - I will that my son Christopher Frantz pay or cause to be paid unto my
daughter Anna the wife of Lodwick Kling or to her respective heirs of my
daughter the just and full sum of twenty dollars and to the respective heirs
of my daughter Eva wife of Wilhelm Sommer deceased the sum of twenty five
dollars to be divided amongst them share and share alike.
Item - I give and bequeath unto my son Henry Frantz and to his heirs and
assigns for ever the easterly part and full half twenty four whereon the
said Henry Frantz liveth.
Item - I also will and order that he shall pay or cause to be paid unto my
son Jacob Frantz or his heirs the just and full sum of one hundred and two
dollars and fifty cents.
Item- I give and bequeath unto my son Lawrence Frantz and to his heirs and
assigns for ever the easterly part of lot No.seven whereon he and I now
dwell and live together-Subject never the less to the rent reservation
therein.
Item -I
also give unto my son Lawrence Frantz his heirs and assigns for ever the
just and full equal northerly half of the fifty acre lot in the patent
granted to William Spurnheyer and William Heintz, afor described.
Item - I also will and order that my son Lawrence Frantz pay or cause to be
paid unto my daughter Elizabeth wife of Paul Shank or her respective heirs
the sum of twenty five dollars and to my daughter Catharine twenty five
dollars or to her respective heirs as also to my Lana wife of Adam Shafer or
her respective heirs the just sum of twenty five dollars.
Item - I give and bequeath unto my son David Frantz and his heirs and
assigns for ever the just and full westerly half of lot No.twenty four
whereon he now dwells.
Item - I also will and order that the said David Frantz pay or cause to be
paid unto my son Jacob Frantz or his heirs the just and full sum of one
hundred and two dollars and fifty cents.
Item - I also will and order that my son Lawrence Frantz pay or cause to be
paid unto my daughter Margaret or her respective heirs the full and just sum
of twenty five dollars.
Item - I give and bequeath unto my dear and loving wife for and during her
natural life the full and equal one third of all my real estate [ thus ]
making no wants or des[?]ton thereof as also her bed and bedding cloth,
linen woolen her wearing apparel and also my household stuff and furniture
to her own proper use and behalf for ever.
Item - I give unto my son Lawrence Frantz and to his heirs my potash kettle
all my hogs horses all my farming utensils of whatever name that may be to
his own proper use benefit and behalf forever.
Item - I will that all my cattle and sheep shall be equally divided into six
equal shares and be distributed amongst my six daughters or their respective
heirs share and share alike. Item - I
will and positively order and it is hereby reserved that each of my sons
shall fully grant and allow unto the other free and open roads to their
lands to the wood and to the public highway. And lastly I make and ordain my
trusty and well beloved sons Christopher Frantz, Henry Frantz, Lawrence
Frantz and David Frantz my sole executors of this my last will and testament
and trust for the intents and purposes therein contained to take care that
the same be punctually performed according to my true intent and meaning and
I do hereby revoke all former wills gifts and grants whatsoever by me made
heretofore in witness whereof I the said Sabastian Frantz have hereunto set
my hand and seal the day and year first above written. Sabastian Frantz
Signed sealed pronounced and declared by the said Sabastian Frantz as and
for his last will and testament in the person of us who were present at the
signing and sealing thereof and set our names as witnesses at his request at
Cobuls Kill at the home where he then was. Mary x Brown (her mark) Henry Sisson
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