DOCUMENTS OF SOUTH ANCESTORS DOWLIN Transcript of Will of my 3G Grandfather 56-Paul Dowlin, executed 2-24-1834 In the name of God amen I Paul Dowlin of Cumberland township, Greene County and State of Pennsylvania farmer being sick and weak of Body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God calling into mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say Principally and first of all I give and Recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it and my body I recommend to be buried in decent Christian Burial at the discretion of my Executor nothing doubting but at the general Resurrection, I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God, and as touching such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form. First I give and bequeath to Margaret my beloved wife the sum of sixty dollars yearly and every year during her natural life after my decease to be levied out of my estate by my executor together with that house wherein John McClelland now is in to be fitted up in good comfortable Repair for her use with a sufficient garden thereto fenced in and one cow and pasture for her and an acre of Meadow ground adjoining to said house. Also I give and bequeath unto my son John Dowlin all that part of the farm I now live on as mentioned and stated in an Article of Agreement now in hands of Thomas Lucas containing Two hundred and twelve acres and the allowance of six Per ct. on the south side of said farm to be divided and laid off from the other side of said farm in manner and form as specified in said article he (however) paying over to my Estate two thousand three hundred and twenty three dollars out of said tenament for the benefit of my other children the same to be freely possessed and enjoyed by him his heirs and assigns forever. I also give and bequeath unto my son Josiah Dowlin of Guernsey County Jefferson Township, State of Ohio all that tract of land in said township County and state aforesaid on which he now lives valued to him at seven hundred dollars to come out of his distributive share of my estate to be freely possessed and enjoyed by him and his heirs and assigns forever. The Residue and Remainder of said farm I now live on in Cumberland townshhip aforesaid, I order and direct to be put to public sale by my Executor within one year after my decease to be sold to the highest and best bidder and the proceed thereof together with my Personal property after first paying my funeral charges and all my Just debts to be applied to the use and benefit of my children and their heirs namely Josiah Dowlin, Elizabeth intermarried with William William, Margaret intermarried with John Rea, Martha intermarried with Joseph Gwyn, Mary now desceased who was married to John McClleland her heirs to enjoy her rights namely James, Paul Dowlin, Rea Robert, Sary Ann, and Josiah said proceeds to be equally divided between my five aforenamed children and Jane Dowlin who has hitherto been forgotten to be named is to have an equal share with my five before named children. My will and pleasure is that my said Daughter Jane who is living at home with me shall have in addition to her equal share of the aforesaid Proceeds my house and lot in Carmichaeltown in Cumberland township aforesaid to be freely possessed and enjoyed by her heirs and assigns forever, the same house that James Yeager now lives in. My meaning and intention is that the seven hundred dollars valued in land to my son Josiah Dowlin in the state of Ohio is to be a part of his distributive share of my six aforesaid named children namely Josiah Dowlin, Elizabeth, Margaret, Martha, Mary, or heirs of Mary deceased and Jane, of the land and personal property aforesaid. Further my Will and intention is that the aforesaid distributive share of my daughter Elizabeth who is intermarried to William William shall remain in the hands of my executor for the one of my said Daughters to be put to interest if practicable and the interest thereof paid to my said daughter yearly if it can be so put and if she shall out live her said husband my will is that her distributive share be forthwith paid over unto her for her sole use and benefit. I do hereby constitute make and ordain My two sons namely John Dowlin and Josiah Dowlin the sole executors of this my last will and Testament and I do hereby disallow, Revoke and disannul every other former testament, wills, legacy, Bequests, and Executors by me in any ways before named. Ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and Testament in Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal thes 24 day of February in the year of our Lord 1834. Signed, sealed, pronounced and delivered by the said Paul Dowlin to be his last Will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto set our names. The foregoing Will is on this page on this one sheet of paper inscribed by the Testator and attested by the witnesses in presence of Testator and each other. Signed in the presence of us Paul Dowlin(Seal) Eli Baily Wm Baily Thomas Lucas WILL OF LEWIS DOWLIN
Transcript of Will of my G Grandfather 14-Lewis Dowlin, executed 4-4-1890, in which he disinherits seven of his nine children. While details of this family dispute have been obscured by time it is thought to be the reaction of a devout Baptist father to his youngest daughter "leaving him" to marry a young Methodist minister and then having most of the siblings side with their younger sister in the dispute that followed. Know all men by these presence that I Lewis Dowlin of the township of Dunkard County of Greene and State of Pennsylvania being of sound & disposing mind memory and understanding, do make ordain & publish this my last Will & Testament, hereby revoking all former Wills by me at any time heretofore made. And as to my worldly estate and all the property real personal or mixed of which I shall die seized & possessed or so which I shall be enriched at the time of my decease, I devise bequeath & dispose thereof in the manner following to wit. 1st, My will is that all my Just debts & funeral expenses shall by my executors hereinafter named be paid out of my estate as soon after my decease as shall by them be found convenient. 2nd, I give and bequeath to my Wife Anne Dowlin all the property that she has brought with her to me, & in addition thereto three hundred Dollars out of my personal property. Also, One thousand Dollars out of my real estate to be paid to my said wife as I shall hereafter direct (the forgoing bequests are in lieu of a Dowry) to and for use her heirs and assigns forever. 3rd, I give devise & bequeath to my Daughter Margaret Jane Mundle & her son Euclare Mundle my farm on which I now reside (including the eleven acres known as the Hannon lot) in all one hundred & six Acres more or less; my said daughter to have the full control and use of said farm during her natural life time for her use their heirs & assigns forever, by them paying one thousand five hundred dollars as follows, one thousand Dollars to be paid to my said wife Anne Dowlin in five equal annual payments the first payment to be paid within one year after my decease, four hundred Dollars to be paid to my daughter Martha Anne Bowlby, to be paid in four Equal annual payments the first payment to be made within one year after my decease, forty Dollars to be paid to Emeline Roberts within one year after my decease for her kindness to me after my Daughter Ellen left me, forty dollars to be paid to Eliza Jane Coatsworth within one year after my decease for her kindness to me after my stepdaughter Jessie B. Calvert left, twenty dollars to be paid to Laura Lytia Ward within one year after my decease, her mother Nannie Wards receipt shall be a sufficient voucher. I also give & bequeath to my said daughter Margaret Jane Mundle my family bible, a double coverlet with the birds on, one set silver big spoons, one set silver tea spoons, her heirs and assigns forever. I also give and bequeath to my said Grandson Euclare Mundle my library including all my books not otherwise disposed of by me. Maps Charts pictures etc, including Hichcocks Analasis of the Bible, one double Coverlet all wool his heirs & assigns forever, his mothers receipt to be a sufficient voucher. 4th, I give & bequeath to my daughter Martha Anne Bowlby in addition to that given her in No. 3, My pocket bible one double Coverlet with the birds on. Also all moneys left after a final settlement (& tomestones at my and all my wifes graves) to & for her use her heirs & assigns forever. 5th, The names of my sons John C. Dowlin, David R, Dowlin, William P. Dowlin & Jesse F. Dowlin, because they kept concealed from me the conduct doings and falsehoods of Ellen, I give them nothing as a reward for their treachery & duplicity. 6th, My son Josiah G. Dowlin because he told me a falsehood knowing it to be such at the time, according to my promise at the time, I give him nothing. 7th, My Daughter Ida S. because she rejected my council in which I had a right to be heard, and as I promised her at the time which she will recollect, I give her nothing. 8th, My Daughter Elizabeth Ellen because of Willfull & malicious falsehoods, I give her nothing as her reward. 9th, My express will & desire is, that if any difference or dispute question or controversy shall arise or happen concerning any gift bequest or other matter or thing in this my Will the same shall be referred wholly to the award order & determination of my estemed friends David B. Donley & James Litman with power for them to choose an umpire but if they or either of them should not be able or willing to act in this premise, then I do direct that my Executors shall each appoint an arbitrator with the same power of choosing an umpire & what they or a majority of them shall order direct or determine therein shall be binding & conclusive upon all and every person & persons therein concerned. 10th and lastly I nominate and appoint Abner Mundle and John G. Coatsworth to be my executors of this my last Will and testament. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this fourth day of April A.D. one thousand eight hundred and ninety. Witness; Lewis Dowlin (Seal) D. B. Donley |