Family Search has added images of Wills to their Columbia County Pennsylvania records. It does take some time to get through them since they are not searchable but persistence pays off. I was able to locate the will for James Everitt. James had a daughter named Sarah M. L. Everitt who married John Welsh. (Sarah and John are my husband Jason's 3rd great grandparents). I was having a hard time connecting Sarah to her parents. I thought they were James and Mary Everitt but I did not have any concrete evidence.
Once I found out about the wills being online I took a chance and looked for James' will and there it was!
In his will he states that his wife, Mary, may have whatever she wants to allow her a comfortable living as long as she remains his widow. His daughter Elizabeth (wife of Henry Delong) gets $250.00. His son Asa gets $250.00. He leaves to the heirs of his daughter Susan (wife of John Auten) he leaves Casper Newton Auten $20.00, Francis Marion Auten $20.00, and Allen Cotner Auten $20.00 which they cannot have until they are 21 years of age. His son Moses gets $50.00. His daughter Sarah (wife of John Welsh) is given 10 acres of land off the northwest end of his farm which he values at $120.00 and $130.00 in cash. His son Elijah's heirs, William Henry Everitt and Francis Marion Everitt get $150.00 each but not until they turn the age of 21. His son Andrew Jackson gets $250.00. His son Enos gets $10.00. His son Enoch gets $200.00. His son Hiram gets $150.00. His daughter Louisa Anne gets $250.00. He names his executors as Moses Everitt and Andrew Jackson Everitt. [Andrew dies before his father James]. He goes on to state that after his death or the death of his Mary (whoever survives the longest) that they are to sell his real estate and any personal property and it is to be split equally by Elizabeth Delong, Asa Everitt, Moses Everitt, Sarah Welsh, Andrew Jackson Everitt, Enos Everitt, Enoch Everitt, Hiram Everitt, and Louisa Anne Everitt.
If my calculations are correct he gas given $1,750.00 to his children and grandchildren and 10 acres of land. In 1863 that was a lot.
I now have more people to add to my tree and to search for information about them. Finding this will was like hitting the jackpot for me!
I'm off to enjoy my Sunday of ancestor hunting!
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