Martin Varner's Will
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Martin Varner's Will
Martin Varner Sr. died in December 1788 and his will is recorded in Fayette County, Will Book No. 1, page 160 as follows:
"Memorandum"—William Frame on his solemn oath declareth that on the 23rd day of December [1788] that he was called upon by Martin Varner who was then in his last sickness to hear his last will and testament, which was as follows viz.
I allow my wife to be heir of all I have during her life and to dispose of it at her death as she may think fit. I allow all my personal Estate to be appraised and sold except one cow and have notes taken with security. The cow I allow for my wife & looking to a quantity of yarn that was hanging by the bed he said that all that yarn and flax that was then in view was hers and a piece of cloth or lindsey at the fulling mill he allowed for her. [Fulling is the thickening of woolen cloth by moistening, heating and pressing.]
Also being asked if he would leave any person to take care of his wife he answered, putting out his hand, John may and added something more not recollected—he being ask by the witness respecting the land, he allowed it to be rented out and converted to his wives use, "if it was lost it was lost, if it gained it was gained." [This comment probably refers to John Patterson's suit for ejectment.] James Cummins on oath declareth in substance as above but further says he understood Martin Varner when the question as above was proposed respecting some person having charge of the estate that it was his desire that his son John Varner should have the care thereof.
Fayette County—On the seventh day of January Anno Domini 1789, Before me Alexander McClean Esquire, Register for the probate of wills and granting Letters of Administration in and for the County aforesaid personally came William Frame and James Cummins and on their solemn oaths being separately examined declared that the above is the purport of the last will and testament of Martin Varner deceased and that they were in his last sickness requested by him to take notice to the same and bear testimony thereof he being there in a weak state of body but sound mind and repeated the contents above said given under my hand the twenty fifth day of January Anno Domini 1789. Alexander McClean, Register.
Copy will—Martin Varner Deceased as Certified and annexed to the letters granted to Martin Varner Junior 25th Jany. 1789. I allow my wife to be heir of all I have during her life and to dispose of it at her death as she may think fit. I allow all my personal estate to be appraised and sold except one cow, and have notes taken with security. The cow I allow for my wife and the yarn and flax that is now in the room hanging by the bed. I allow for her also a piece of cloth or lindsey now at the fulling mill. I allow for her my son John Varner may take care of my wife. I allow the land to be rented out and applied to my wives use.
Martin Varner Jr. was granted letters of administration for Martin Varner Sr.'s estate in Fayette County Wills and Bonds, Book 1, page 52 as follows: "Martin Varner. Letters granted 5 January 1789 to Martin Varner Jr. [signed in German] of German Twp, yeoman. Bond 200 pounds. Sureties: John Varner and William Haney of German Twp, yeomen. Witnesses: James McConnel and John Wood. An entry is found in the Fayette County, Orphan's Court Abstracts, Docket No. 1, page 8 as follows:
March 12, 1790—At an Orphan's Court held at Uniontown, Pennsylvania, before Alexander McClean, John Gaddis and Hugh Laughlin Esquires, justices of the same Court: Martin Verner, administrator of the estate of Martin Verner, late of Fayette County, yeoman, dec'd, produced the account of his administration, whereby there appears to be a balance in his hands of 106 pounds, 17 shillings. Ordered by the Court that this balance (less 12 shillings, the expenses of this Court) remain in the hands of the administrator until such time that he may be legally called upon to produce the same.
"Memorandum"—William Frame on his solemn oath declareth that on the 23rd day of December [1788] that he was called upon by Martin Varner who was then in his last sickness to hear his last will and testament, which was as follows viz.
I allow my wife to be heir of all I have during her life and to dispose of it at her death as she may think fit. I allow all my personal Estate to be appraised and sold except one cow and have notes taken with security. The cow I allow for my wife & looking to a quantity of yarn that was hanging by the bed he said that all that yarn and flax that was then in view was hers and a piece of cloth or lindsey at the fulling mill he allowed for her. [Fulling is the thickening of woolen cloth by moistening, heating and pressing.]
Also being asked if he would leave any person to take care of his wife he answered, putting out his hand, John may and added something more not recollected—he being ask by the witness respecting the land, he allowed it to be rented out and converted to his wives use, "if it was lost it was lost, if it gained it was gained." [This comment probably refers to John Patterson's suit for ejectment.] James Cummins on oath declareth in substance as above but further says he understood Martin Varner when the question as above was proposed respecting some person having charge of the estate that it was his desire that his son John Varner should have the care thereof.
Fayette County—On the seventh day of January Anno Domini 1789, Before me Alexander McClean Esquire, Register for the probate of wills and granting Letters of Administration in and for the County aforesaid personally came William Frame and James Cummins and on their solemn oaths being separately examined declared that the above is the purport of the last will and testament of Martin Varner deceased and that they were in his last sickness requested by him to take notice to the same and bear testimony thereof he being there in a weak state of body but sound mind and repeated the contents above said given under my hand the twenty fifth day of January Anno Domini 1789. Alexander McClean, Register.
Copy will—Martin Varner Deceased as Certified and annexed to the letters granted to Martin Varner Junior 25th Jany. 1789. I allow my wife to be heir of all I have during her life and to dispose of it at her death as she may think fit. I allow all my personal estate to be appraised and sold except one cow, and have notes taken with security. The cow I allow for my wife and the yarn and flax that is now in the room hanging by the bed. I allow for her also a piece of cloth or lindsey now at the fulling mill. I allow for her my son John Varner may take care of my wife. I allow the land to be rented out and applied to my wives use.
Martin Varner Jr. was granted letters of administration for Martin Varner Sr.'s estate in Fayette County Wills and Bonds, Book 1, page 52 as follows: "Martin Varner. Letters granted 5 January 1789 to Martin Varner Jr. [signed in German] of German Twp, yeoman. Bond 200 pounds. Sureties: John Varner and William Haney of German Twp, yeomen. Witnesses: James McConnel and John Wood. An entry is found in the Fayette County, Orphan's Court Abstracts, Docket No. 1, page 8 as follows:
March 12, 1790—At an Orphan's Court held at Uniontown, Pennsylvania, before Alexander McClean, John Gaddis and Hugh Laughlin Esquires, justices of the same Court: Martin Verner, administrator of the estate of Martin Verner, late of Fayette County, yeoman, dec'd, produced the account of his administration, whereby there appears to be a balance in his hands of 106 pounds, 17 shillings. Ordered by the Court that this balance (less 12 shillings, the expenses of this Court) remain in the hands of the administrator until such time that he may be legally called upon to produce the same.