Abraham Luzader's Will
In the name of God Amen, the thirteenth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty five I Abraham Luzader of Centre Township Guernsey County and State of Ohio being weak in body but of sound mind and memory calling to mind the mortality of my body knowing it appointed once for all men to die do make constitute, appoint and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following.
First I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Leah all and singular my household furniture and and farming utensils, viz. all my beds and bedding, wearing apparel pots and dresser furniture of every description tables chairs & chest all my live stock, viz. horses, meat cattle, sheep and hogs except what is herein after otherwise devised or what may be found necessary to be disposed of to pay my just debts my funeral expenses and the costs of proving and executing this my last will. I also give and bequeath to my said wife all the farm and tract of land whereon I now live being the north west quarter of section two Township Two of Range two in the County aforesaid to have and to hold the said quarter section of land during her natural life or so long as she shall remain my widow together with all and Singular the appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appurtaining.
Second I give and bequeath unto my daughter Betsy Goves in addition to what she has already got two dollars to be paid in two years after the decease of my my wife Leah Luzader.
Third, I give and bequeath unto Morgan Smith, Hannah Smith, Jane Smith, Lot Smith and Fanny Smith children of my daughter late Polly Smith deceased each fifty cents to be paid within six years from my decease.
Fourth, I do give and bequeath unto my daughter Patty Warne two dollars to be paid in six years after my decease.
Fifth I do give and bequeath unto my daughter Rachel Bonnell two dollars to be paid in five years after my decease.
Sixth, I give and bequeath unto Abraham Dougherty, John Dougherty, Charlotte Dougherty and a Young(?)a one name not known children of my daughter late Sally Dougherty deceased each one dollar to be paid when they shall respectively arrive to the age of sixteen years.
Eighth, I do give and bequeath unto my daughter Leah Smith one dollar.
Eighth, I give and bequeath unto my son John Luzader one black colt.
Ninth, I do further give and bequeath unto sons Isaac Luzader and John Luzader all that tract or quarter Section of land whereon I now live lying and being the North West quarter of Section Number two, Township Two and Range two Zanesville district to be equally divided them share and share alike to have and to hold and enjoy the said tract or quarter section of land as tenents in common with all and singular rights, profits, hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining to them the said Isaac and John their heirs and assigns forever (from and after the death of my well beloved wife Leah Luzader) provided that they shall and do keep and in a decent and suitable manner maintain and provide for on said premises my daughter Nancy Luzader who is now in a state of insanity during her natural life or so long as she may remain insane and it my will that my said daughter Nancy have her maintenance of the aforesaid premises during the time they are occupied by my widow.
It is further my will that all my Just debts together with the expense of proving executing this my last will be paid out of my personal property if the monies on hand and debts due to me are insufficient.
Lastly I do constitute appoint and ordain my beloved wife Leah Luzader whole and sole executor of this my last will and hereby revoking all former wills by me made. I do declare this and no other to be my last will and testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the day and year first herein written.
Published, pronounced and declared by the said Abraham Luzader to be his last will and testament in presence of us. James Wilson Joseph Linn Wm. Edie
Transcriber notes: Abraham Luzader was born December 20, 1757 in Somerset Co., NJ. He died December 14, 1825 (the day after the will's date) in Guernsey Co., OH. During the Revolution he served in George Rogers Clark's Illinois Regiment at the battles of Kaskaskia and Vincennes. Leah Luzader's maiden name was Hoge. She was born October 23, 1767 in Greene Co., PA and died in Guernsey Co., OH June 06, 1850.