Passionate Abolitionist and
Witness to the American Civil War
In the name of God Amen. I Thomas Jackson of the city of Reading, county of Berks, and state of Pennsylvania, Rope Maker do hereby make and declare this to be my last will and testament as follows:
First: I order and direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses shall be paid by my herein after named executor, as soon as convenient after my decease.
Second: I give bequeath and devise unto my beloved son Henry H Jackson, his heirs and assigns the ropewalk property which I am now engaged in carrying on with him in the city of Redding aforesaid, together with all the real estate appurtenant and belonging thereto, including the buildings, machinery stock on hand, cash in bank in the name of the firm and all debt due said firmly by book account or otherwise also including the coal yard and contents with the real estate there unto belonging and appurtenant, and all the debt due on the same – subject however to the payment thereof of each sum or sums of money as may be direct directed by this will
Third: I give devise and bequeath devise and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Matilda married to Henry Connard Junior and to her heirs and assigns all the rest and residue of my estate,
(p2) real, personal and mixed of whatever nature and wheresoever situated, including the lot over the Center Avenue adjoining the premises which my said daughter now resides, the lots, houses, warf, hotel and store property
(p3) presence and in the presence of each other.
Witnesses
William J Smith, Geo H. Wagner
CODICIL
After reflecting over the provisions of the full going well dated May 11, 1877, I have thought proper to add a clause in favor of my sister Mary R Macaskey similar to the provision for Mrs. Elizabeth Granger and I accordingly order and direct my said son Henry to pay out of the property bequeathed and devised to him, to my sister Mary A Macaskey an annuity of $250 a year as long as she lives – the payments to be made in monthly installments of $20 a month, the first payment to be made one month after any decease and monthly thereafter and I do hear by declare this codicil to be a part of my said will , witness my hand and seal by my this third day of September 1877
Thomas Jackson (seal)
Signed sealed and published by the testators as and hey G green and Harry digreen GO in the presents of each other witness William J Smith George H Wagner
Thomas Jackson signed sealed published and declared by the testators as part of his last will in the presence of A.J. Green and D. E. Schroeder
Codicil to will
Owing to the death of my daughter Matilda Connard, wife of Henry Connard Junior
I desire to make a change in the disposition of my estate and I accordingly make the following codicil to my former will Viz. as to the share of my state given to my said daughter Matilda, I do now give devise and bequeath the same to her husband Henry Connard
(p4) Junior and to her four children their heirs and assignees and share and share alike so it should be entitled to 1/5 part thereof and I do further appoint appoint my son in law the said Henry Connick Junior as co-executor of my said will
(p5) in place of my said deceased daughter and also a trustee of her said children and as such trustee and in consideration of this support maintenance and education he shall be entitled to take receive and enjoy the rents, dues, interest and income of the share of the said children until they severally attain the age of 21 years when they shall be entitled to receive their said shares respectively.
And I do further order and direct the annuities which I have given in the will to which this is a codicil shall not be a lien upon any real estate directed to my son Henry but only a person personal liability which is to pay as they accrue from time to time. And I also direct the no interest shall be charged against or collected from my sister Ann Shilston on the mortgage or $5,000 in dollars which I hold against her property in Scranton as long as she lives.
Witness my hand and seal 29 October 1877 signed sealed and publish the declared by the testator to be as a codicil to his last will and our presence.
Papers from Pennsylvania Probate Records for 1683-1994.
The nature of these documents (with a scribbled graphic to suggest where the official seal would go) implies that this was not the final document.
Last change to will (Codicil) was made on September 3rd 1877