In the name of the benevolent father of us all, I Henry Handshy of the Township of Perry, and County of Muskingum, and State of Ohio being of sound mind and memory, blessed be Almighty God for the same, do make and publish this my last will and testament.
Item 1st It is my will that my personal expenses and all my just debts be fully paid if there be any at my death.
Item 2nd It is my will that my sons Frederick Handshy and David Handshy shall within six months after my decease put or cause it to be put around my family burying ground a good and substantial post and rail fence forty feet square and I do reserve said burying ground and the right of way to and from it forever, the said burying ground being on the farm I now occupy.
Item 3rd I give, devise and bequeath to my beloved wife Mary Ann Handshy in lieu of her dower, the items herein named, fifty dollars in cash to be paid out of my money, that may be on hand after my decease at any time she may need it, also the use and full privileges of the east end of my house I now occupy as long as she lives and also all the household and kitchen furniture and the one half of the garden and a ______ patch where she may choose it to contain one acre and all the fruit that she may need from the orchard, and two cows and their offspring on the farm winter and summer without charge or hindrance and there shall be furnished to her as as she may need it wood and coal for her own use and comfort, and also the interest on one thousand dollars as I shall hereafter mention.
Item 4th I give, devise and bequeath to my two sons Frederick Handshy and David Handshy the farm I now live on containing about one hundred and sixty acres they paying the sum of three thousand dollars including their shares they are to take the place within three years after my decease and if my sons Frederick Handshy or David Handshy or either of them do not take said farm on said terms as aforesaid, then it shall be sold at public sale to the highest bidder within six months after the expiration of three years as aforesaid by advertisement and the terms and conditions of said sale shall be in proportion as if they take said farm
Item 5th I give and devise to give of my children namely Frederick Handshy, Jacob Handshy, David Handshy, Catherine Handshy and Susan Handshy and equal share out of the two first thousand dollars on the sale of my said farm, My son Henry Handshy and daughter Mary Ann Smith having received their share in money and stock in the first divide.
Item 6th I give, devise and bequeath to by beloved wife Mary Ann Handshy as aforesaid the interest of one thousand dollars it being the deferred payment of one thousand dollars which is to remain on the place as long as my wife shall live, and the interest shall be at the rate of sixty dollars per annum to my said wife as long as she lives, and after her death her funeral expenses are to be paid
out of said money or any other money on hand and the remainder of the one thousand dollars shall be divided as follows to by two sons Frederick Handshy and Jacob Handshy two hundred dollars each and to my son David Handshy three hundred dollars, to my daughter Mary Ann Smith one hundred dollars and to my daughter Catherine Handshy one hundred dollars and to my daughter Susan Handshy one hundred dollars.
Item 7th I give, devise and bequeath to my son Henry Handshy a note I hold against him with the interest thereon.
Item 8th I leave my beloved wife Mary Ann Handshy in the care of my two sons Frederick Handshy and David Handshy to see that she is properly taken care of and provided for during her natural life.
Item 9th I have also rented my said farm to my son David Handshy for one hundred dollars per annum by his paying the aforesaid interest of sixty dollars per annum with the taxes on said farm and the balance to keep a strict account of and make actions at the expiration of three years as aforesaid.
Item 10th After my death I bequeath to my two sons Frederick Handshy and David Handshy all my chattel property not herein disposed of to be equally divided between them.
Item 11th I give and bequeath to my son Jacob Handshy one hundred and twenty acres of land being and lying in the State of Indiana in the County of Randolph and Township of Jackson in fee simple which will be more fully showed on the records of that county in the recorders office.
Item 12th After the death of my wife Mary Ann Handshy the balance that may be left that is not heretofore been disposed of to the equally divided with all of my aforesaid children namely Frederick Handshy, Jacob Handshy, David Handshy, Catherine Handshy, Susan Handshy, Henry Handshy, and Mary Ann Smith.
Item 13th I hereby constitute and appoint my said two sons Frederick Handshy and David Handshy to be the executor for this my last will and testament and ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this
seventy day of June in the year AD 1857 Henry Handshy
{seal}
Signed and acknowledge by said Henry Handshy as
his last will and testament in our presence & signed by
us in his presence Thomas Taylor
Wm. J. E . Byers