2 Nov 1768:  Will signed  Doc1906.pdf page 4  - 
23 Oct 1771:  Death of William 
25 Nov 1771:  Will Witness Statement - Doc1907.pdf page 2 -
21 Dec 1771:  Inventory - Doc1907.pdf page 3-7 -
10 Oct 1774:  Disbursement Statement - Doc1907.pdf page 8-9 -

I William Fischer of Heidelberg Township in Berks County
in Pennsylvania and at present weak and sick in Body, yet God be
thanked in good Understanding and Memory    I have considered
the mortallity of Men and I make herewith my Last Will
and Testament in the following Manner

First I commend my immortal Soul in the Hands of the great and
merciful God which gave me the same and my Body to the Earth
whence it was taken, to be buried in a Christian-like
Manner.  And that all my just Debts shall be paid
out of my perfonal Estate by my Executors herein after
named. 

2dly  I give and bequeath, or to say I give Devise and Bequeath
to my Son Peter Fischer, as the eldest of my Sons, four several
pieces of land which are contiguous together [rest of line unreadable]
[Next line unreadable]
at present ??? adjoining ??? and George
Hahn's Land and is distinguished in a general Draught or Plan
Which I have cause to be made for this Purpose and signed with
my own Hand the fifteenth Day of January in the Year
of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty three in
which Draught or Plan the said four Pieces of Land are distin-
guished with the Letter A.  I say I give and bequeath the same
Land to him to have and to hold to him my Son Peter
Fischer and his Heirs and Afsigns for ever for which he
shall pay to my Executors hereafter mentioned or the Survivor
of them the Sum of two hundred and seventy Pounds current
Money of Pennsylvania within the Time of twelve
Months after my Decease.

3thly  I give and bequeath to my Son Philip Fischer
three several Pieces of land which are contiguous lying in Heidelberg
aforesaid

aforesaid, whereon he at present dwells and all these Pieces of land
are distinguished in my general Plan with the Letter B.  I say
I give and bequeath the fame Lands to my Son Philip
Fischer to have and to hold to him and his Heirs and
Afsigns for ever upon Condition that he and his Heirs
and Afsigns shall from Time to Time and at all
Times Spring and Summer offer the Water to pafs in the
Run or Creek two Days and two Nights succefsively in every
Week for ever for the use and Benefit of his Brother's Land
Which joins him.  And shall pay to my Executors
the Sum of one hundred and fifty Pounds current Money of
Pennsylvania within twelve Months after my Decease

4thly  I give and bequeath to my Son John Fischer three several Pieces
of Land in the Township of Heidelberg aforesaid which was
Distinguished in my general Plan with the Letter C  I say I
[This line unreadable]
have and to hold to him & his Heirs and Afsigns for ever
Upon Condition that he & his Heirs and Afsigns shall not
divest or convey the Run or Creek, and shall not ??? C??? or stop the
Dam and Watercourse which is made and digged on the said
Land and is in use, but my Son Michael Fischer and his
Heirs and Afsigns for ever shall have full Privilege of
the Faid Run Dam Watercourse or Drain to his and their
own use and Benefit for the watering of his and the
adjoining Meadow therewith and as and whereto they shall
beneficial and shall have full Liberty at all times to repair
and cleanse the said Dam Watercourse and Drain and to pafs &
???  down thereby with Carriages and Beasts and Men
without Hindrance as often as they shall find beneficial according to
the true Intent and Meaning hereof  And my Son John
Fischer shall pay to my Executor for the same the Sum of two
hundred and ninety Pounds current Money of Pennsylvania
within twelve Months after my Decease

5thly I give and bequeath to my Son Henry Fischer a piece of Land in
Heidelberg aforesaid where he at present dwells adjoining Henry Hähns
Land and in distinguished in my general Plan of Draught with
the Letter D I say I give and bequeath the same Land to my Son
Henry Fischer to have and to hold to him and his Heirs and
Afsign for ever for which he shall pay to my Executors the Sum of
two hundred and eighty Pounds current money of Pennsylvania within
twelve Months after my Death

6thly I give and bequeath to my Son Michael Fischer three several pieces of
Land which are distinguished in my said Plan with the Letter E it
is my present Dwelling Place and adjoins to Christian
Hähn's Land with all the Buildings I give and bequeath to my Son
Michael Fischer to have and to hold to him and his Heirs and Afsigns for ever upon Condition
that my Son Peter Fischer and his Heirs and Afsigns for ever
shall have the privilege to lead the water, dammed up with a Dam
not very far from my Dwelling House, along a Watercourse as
Drain to water his Meadow lying down the said Stream yet

[Next Three Lines unreadable]

his Heirs and Afsigns shall be bound [unreadable] as in Common the said Dam
and Watercourse as Race from Time [unreadable] so often as shall be necefsary.
And my Son Michael Fischer shall pay to my Executors the Sum
of six hundred Pounds current money of Pennsylvania within twelve
Months time after my Decease

7thly And it is my Will and I order that my Executors as soon as  pofsibly
may be after my Decease shall sell all my personal Estate by public Vendue
and shall divide all the Money thence arising with all such Sums of Money
as my Sons shall pay for their Land into eleven equal Shares among my
Children, to wit, one eleventh part to my Son Peter and so forth to
Philip, John, Henry, Michael, Frantz, Frederich and George Fischer
and to my Daughters Elisabeth, Susannah and Rosina or to their
Heirs in Case one of my Children shall then be deceased and as
much as each Child hath received from me in my Life Time so much they
shall receive left in the Distribution. My eldest Daughters shall have
their Shares first. All such sums they will find regularly set down in my
Memorandum Book
 

8thly I hereby give full Strength Power and Authority to my Executors here-after

after named or to the Survivors and Survivor of them to sign seal and acknowledge
each of my above named Sons to whom I have bequeathed Land, as soon as they
have paid the full Sum for their Land, according as they pay, a good Deed for
their bequeathed Land to them their Heirs and Afsigns for ever
agreeable to such Plan or Draught as is annexed to this Testament, if
the same shall be necefsary And if at any Time it shall be found that the
Surveyor has committed an Error in describing the Lines, Corners or
Marks in my general Plan, yet the Deed shall be made according to the
Corners Lines and Marks that were Furveyed to each of my Sons and as they
have the same in Pofefsion according to the true Intend and Meaning hereof.

Lastly I ordain nominate and appoint my Son Peter Fischer and by Son in Law
John Heckert of Heidelberg to be Executors of this my Last Will and Testament
and I herewith make null and void all and singular Wills and Testament
by me heretofore made and ratify this and no other to be my Last Will and
Testament. In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the
second Day of November 1768.

Signed sealed and by William (Signature) William Fischer (S)

Fischer as his Last will openly

acknowledges in our presence and

at the request as Witnefses hereto

Subscribed

Michael Schmöhl
Peter Ruth
Friedrich Weitzel

[At the top of the page is a drawing with the various parcels of land marked with letters "A" to "E"]

Be it ??? and I do hereby order that all the Pieces of Land in the above
Draught marked with the Letter A I bequeath unto my Son Peter and to his Heirs:
forever.  Likewise the Letter B to my Son Philip.  Likewise the Letter C to my Son
John, likewise the Letter D unto my Son Henry.  and the Letter E unto my Son
Michael for each adn every of them & their Heirs or Reprefentatives to hold for ever ???
to the above Plan.  Witnefs my Hand the 15th Day January 1763.
Signature:  William Fiscfer
Signed in the presence of Us.
[Three Signatures]

Another Draught with the letters "A" to "E"
The following names of adjoining land owners:
1.  John Christ Hean
2.  Michael Schimchls

Reading,

Register General's office, Berks County, This Twenty Fifth Day of November in the Year of our Lord on Thousand Seven hundred and Seventy one Personally appeared Peter Ruth and Frederick Weitzel two of the subscribing witnefses to the aforewritten Will and on their Oath on the Holy Evangelis?? of Almighty God did Severally Declare and say that they were present together and saw and heard William Fischer the Testator therein named Sign (that ?? they remember the Seal was there asfigning, they don't remember the Sealing) pronounce publish and declare the said aforewritten Will is and for his Last Will and Testament and that he Said Testator at the Time of the Doing thereof was of sound Mind Memory and Understanding to the best of their Knowledge and aas they verily believe – and further that the respective Names of the Deponents thereto published are all of their own Hand Writing respectively by them subfcribed thereto as witnefses (Michael Schmele as the same time subfcribing also as a Witnefs) in the p?? of each other and in the Defence and at the Request of the said William Fischer the Testator –

Cor???

James ??? D. Reg.

Inventory 1771
of the Estate of
William Fischer deced

Filed 23d Day of Dec 1771

Berks County

Be it Remembered
that the Son Michael
Ruth and Michael
Beesch appeared before
me the Subscriber and
on their solemn oath
on the Evangelists of the
Allmighty God has to certify
Dclared that they have
made the ??? ???
Appraisment f??? fully
according to their best
judgment
Sworn before me
on the 21th Day of
December 1771
Signature: William ????
 

A true and perfect Inventory and Consionable Appraisement of all
and Singular the goods & chattles Rights and Credits which were of
William Fischer Late of the Townfhip of Heidleberg in the County of Berks
Yeomen Deceased

[Column Headings at Right:  Pounds - Shillings - Pence  (I will transcribe as 10-2-3)]

Wearing Apparal:   5-0-0
Books:   1-5-0
Roan gelding:   18-0-0
ditto:   18-0-0
Black gelding:   14-0-0
Young Black Mare:   18-0-0
an old Black Mare:   16-0-0
7 Cows:   23-10-0
5 Heifers:   8-15-0
a Steer:  1-10-0
Bull:  1-5-0
3 Calves:  2-10-0
Waggon:  7-0-0
??? and 2 old wheels:  1-10-0
Block waggon & 2 pare of Latters:  0-7-6
2 Harrows:  1-5-0
3 ploughs:  2-10-0
8 sheep:  4-0-0
??? waggon:  6-0-0
2 sledges:  0-5-0
Six fat Hogs:  15-0-0
4 little pigs or Schoats:  3-0-0
140 Bushels of wheat at 5"6 PB:  38-10-0
8 Bushels of Rye at 3"6 PB:  1-8-0
30 Bushels of Oats at 1"8 PB:  2-10-0
oats in the straw:  4-15-0
Hay:  30-0-0
8 Conv. Chairs:  1-2-6
8 Sickles:  0-10-0
Horse ???:  3-0-0
Hemp and flax:  4-0-0
a grind stone:  0-7-6
three old saddles:  1-5-0
3 axes 3 Hatchets 1 adds:  0-13-0
7 Sighs:  0-2-6
5 augers; 6 chisels 1 drawing knife:  0-7-6
hand screw:  0-7-6

 

3 tubs 1 churn:  0-10-0
23 little cask:  0-15-0
2 Kittles:  2-10-0
5 butter tubs:  0-5-0
Big chain one drag chain & one bell and old Iron:  0-10-0
2 dung forks 2 pitch forks 2 dung hooks one shovel:  0-8-0
a guting box and knife:  0-5-0
wind mill:  2-0-0
Iron ???:  0-50-0
Copper Still and one ???:  3-2-6
Old Iron and Sundrys:  0-12-6
Iron Stove:  2-10-0
2 tubs with fome sault:  0-3-0
a Big wheel:  0-3-0
Wool and Sundrys:  0-9-0
Meal chest:  0-7-6
Bead and Beadstead:  2-10-0
One ditto:  2-15-0
one ditto:  3-5-0
chest:  0-10-0
one ditto:  0-15-0
15 lb flaxen yarn 50 lb toe yarn 12 lb wollen yarn:  4-0-0
shoemaker tools and sundrys:  0-6-0
an old chest:  0-7-6
gun:  0-10-0
a Riffle gun:  1-0-0
4 ?ives:  0-5-0
18 old bags one waggon cover:  1-0-0
some ??? feed an half Bushel:  0-3-0
a dough trough 2 Baskets one Springling can a small rag:  0-4-0
5 earthen Pots:  0-7-6
5 Iron Pots:  1-5-0
3 Buckets:  0-2-0
9 Pewter Dishes:  1--15-0
2 Peber mills:  0-5-0
3 pots and 9 Pewter Plates:  0-13-0
20 Pewter Spoons, one Tea Kittle:  0-5-0
Pewter flask and Sundrys:  0-2-0
??? ???:  0-2-0
Drefser:  1-10-0
Little Kittle:  0-5-0
Potrack and tongs and antiron:  0-12-0
4 Bottles:  0-20-
Pewter Tankard a tin quart and Tea Pot:  0-5-0
Cloth prefs:  3-10-0

a hamer and Sundrys:  0-20-0
a Bead and Beadstead:  3-0-0
one ditto:  5-0-0
2 Spinning wheels:  0-5-0
an old chest:  0-5-0
2 chairs:  0-3-0
a block and base:  2-0-0
a Hatchel and Sundrys:  0-11-6
28 yards flax linen at 2"3 PY:  3-3-0
28 yards hemp Linen at 1"10 Py:  2-9-8
18 yards top linen at 1"4 Py:  1-4-0
14 yards woolen cloth at 4"6 Py:  2-9-6
1 yard ditto:  0-4-0
6 table cloth and 11 hand towels:  1-0-0
9 sheets 2 table cloth:  1-10-0
3/4 Chack Linen:  0-2-0
2 1/2 lb blue woolen yarn:  0-7-0
1 1/4 lb of flax:  0-10-
a little chest  2 Dozen of Button  2 raisers:  0-2-0
Button and wollen yarn and Sundrys:  0-2-6
a tin Box and Sundrys:  0-3-5
an ?? Jack and Sundrys:  0-2-0
one ?atchel and Sundrys:  0-3-0
3 lamps  2 candlesticks  one hand saw:  0-3-0
one table and 2 Benches:  0-7-6
fox trap and Sundrys:  0-15-0
in Cash:  68-8-0
Baskets:  0-3-0
A Bond from Isaac Levin in 25 Pound to a  half a years In= west 15:  25-15-0
a C???ing hoe and Sundrys:  0-8-0
a pair of stillyards:  0-6-0

Total:  422-3-8

Taken an appraisment the thirtieth Day of November
in the year of our Lord on thousand seven Hundred and
Seventy one, amounting in the whole to four hundred and
Twenty two Pounds three Shillings & eight Pence of Lawful
Money of Pennsylvania
 

2 signatures

The Accompt of Peter Fischer and John Heckert Executors of the Testament & Last
will of William Fischer late of the Township of Heidelberg
Viz:

[Left Column]
The said Accomptants charge them-
selves with all and singular the Goods
and Chattels Rights and Credits which
were of the said Deceased according to
an Inventory and Appraisement
thereof exhibited into the Register Ge-
neral's Office at Reading amounting to 422-3-8

Item.  With advance on the Sales of
the said Goods at Public Vendue   136-16-4 1/2
     Total:  559-0-1/2

Reading October 10th 1774
Errors Accepted

[Right Column]
The said Accomptants ??? Allowance
for their several Payments & Disburse-
ments made ??? of the said Estate in the
Execution of the Will aforesaid as follows
to wit as ??? ??.

1771
Nov 25.
For Cash paid James ??? ?? Deputy Reg
for proving ??? Will & Letters Testamentary  1-10-0
Several Expenses ???  2-17-7
Gertrude Renner   -5-6
Leonhard ???   -16-9
Philip Gilbert  1-4-8
Thomas D???  -12-4
Henry Printz  -13-6
John Price Esq  1-5-
30.  Michael Schmöhl:  -7-6
Dec 27.  Jacob Egle  1-8-8
1772 Jan 14.  William S??? -9-
Magdalena Lash  -2-

April 6  Henry B???  -18-

 

[Left Column]
???
Peter Fischer
John Heckart

[Right Column]
July 28.  George Hudson  -10-10
1773.  Mar. 17.  Sampson ???  -7-6
April 5.  Peter Eberle  -7-6
May 31.  Henry Hähn  -3-9
Dec 6.  Michael Ruth  -4-
Fredrick Weitzel  -3-
William R???  -12-6
1774 Oct. 10.  Michael ???  1-5-
Baltzer ???  2-8-
George Hehn Jun  -9-4
Item for a Debit due to Peter Fischer
one of the accompt:  -14-10
Do. due to John Heckert  -10-
Collision Read for draug out this acct  -7-6
James Reed Esq for ???? 
this account far Copy & Seal   -12-6
     [Total]     21-6-9

C??? on receipts 559 pounds at ???
Ditto on paying 21-6-9    1-1-4     26-10-4
     [Total'  47-17-1

Ballance in the Hands of the Accomptants
to be distributed accounty to ????? will 511-2-11 1/2

     [Total]  559-0-0 1/2