Will of Michael Braun

As a follow-up from my earlier post, Brown Family Found in Pennsylvania, below is a copy of the will of my 5th-great-grandfather Michael Braun. The will was written on 24 October 1826, and entered into probate by Christian Brown on 11 December 1826 in Jackson Township, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania.

Transcription (with some breaks included for readability):

In the name of God amen, I Michael Braun of Jackson Township in the county of Lebanon and state of Pennsylvania, being at present sickly so weakly in body, but of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding, thanks be unto God - calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and order in this to be my last will and testament, that is to say, principally and first of all, I recommend my immortal soul be in the hands of Almighty God and my body to the Earth, to be buried in a Christian like and present manner and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.

In the first place is it my will that all my just debts and funeral expenses shall be paid off and satisfied out of my estate as soon as conveniently may be after my decease. Item I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Catherine, one of my beds and bedstead to have the choice out of my beds, as also my tin plate stove with the pipe, her chest, her spinning wheel and all my linnen, and as much of my other household and kitchen furniture as she want or shall choose to take to have and to hold the same during her natural life or as long as she will remain my widow and the remainder of my personal estate shall be sold by public venue.

Item is it my will and I do hereby order and direct that my plantation whereon I now live situate in Jackson Township Lebanon County adjoining lands of Michael Mosser, Adam Beshore, Abraham Diehl and others containing one hundred and six acres, be the same more or less, shall be sold by public sale or out-cry by my hereinafter named Executor, as soon as conveniently may be done after my decease, either in pieces or in the whole for the best price that can be gotten for the same and I authorize my Executor to execute a deed or deeds to the purchaser or purchasers and the money arising out of such sale I give and and bequeath of the first money the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars unto my said beloved wife Catherine, and the residue of the remainder I give and bequeath unto my five children to be divided among them in equal shares, that is to say one full fifth part of these unto my son Christian Braun, one full fifth part unto my son John Braun, one full fifth part unto my son Michael Braun, one full fifth part unto my daughter Maria the wife of Henry Beshore, and one full fifth part unto my daughter Catherine now the wife of John Lang. -

And lastly I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my son Christian Braun to be the Executor of this my last will and testament hereby revoking disannulling and making void all former and other wills by me heretofore made, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament.

In witness whereof I the said Michael Braun have hereunto set my hand and seal this twentyfourth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty six.

Michael Braun his own mark [X]