YODER FAMILY INFORMATION--CYBERSPACE EDITION-1999
published by the Yoder Family Newsletter, Goshen, Indiana
data originally copyrighted by Christopher Yoder 1992,1994,1999
CHRISTIAN YODER-YR12-WILL
Berks County Wills, Volume 2, page 110
Will of Christian Joder Decd May 4th 1772 Ltr Administra____Testaments _____/granted to Barbara Joder, Widow &c ___Bond
In the name of the Holy and High Praised Trinity God Father Son and Holy Ghost be our Beginning Mean and End!
As I Christian Joder Senior through daily Experience have conceived
that as all mortal Men, so I Christian Joder, yet in good and
sound Reason have principally to take Care and Concern for myself
about the incorruptable Inheritance and native Country when the
Almighty God according to his paternal Will shall require me from
the Temporal and receive me in his heavenly Kingdom of Honor and
Joy, But my inanimated Corps shall become incorporated with the
Earth. So of the earthly Estate where with I am blessed and leave
behind me, this is my last Testamentary Will. Viz. That my one
dear and worthy Wife, Barbara Joder, shall have my said Estate
under her Care and manage the same as long as it is agreeable
to her and the children shall be obedient according to their Duty,
but in case they shall be disobedient and disagree, then my dear
Wife Barbara Joder may choose five impartial Men of the Community
and by them cause as well the Place as the Moveable Estate to
be valued and appraised, and cause the moveable Estate to be divided
among the children, But the Road Wagon with four horses and gears,
plough and harrow shall be left on the place and the price estimated
accordingly and the monies thense arising for like Manner shall
be divided among my Children which I leave behind to whom I wish
God,s rich blessing if they walk in the Ways of the Lord and lead
a life well pleasing to God.
I bequeath to my dear Wife Barbara Joder whom I leave behind all
yearly and till this happy Departure according to the Will of
God, if it is agreeable to the Mother to remain in the Dwelling
Room with the Son that takes the Place to himself, but in Case
the contrary shall happen the said son or who has the Place in
Hand must build her a separate commodius Dwelling with a Cellar
Floor, Kitchen, and Windows, Doors and all necessary Articles
to compleat the same on his Costs as also cut and deliver the
necessary Firewood before the Dwelling the Keeping and the Benefits
of one Cow and in Case of Age or Infirmity of Body she may not
be able to milk and fodder the said Cow then the said Son or Son-in-law,
or in want of either, the Possessor of the Place shall do and
perform the said Service for the Mother, five Bushels of Rye five
Bushels of Wheat these the aforesaid must on request cause to
be measured and taken to the Mill for my dear Wife Barbara Joder
and the Meal and Bran thereof made to be brought to the Place
where she shall desire a Horse to ride must be given to her at
any Time. Of the present Kitchen Garden a piece must be cut off
and enclosed and the necessary Dung must every Year be carried
on it. One fat Hog of a hundred Pounds with fifty Pounds of Beef,
ten Pounds of good hatchelled Hemp and ten pounds of Tow or Flax.
The one third Part of Eggs laid by the Hens on the Plantation
The Wool of two Sheep All these above mentioned Articles must
all be provided yearly. That which my descended to my Dear Wife
Barbara Joder from her happy Father,s Inheritance is reserved
to her free and uninterrupted Disposition. For the Confirmation
of this I have with my own hand in the Presence of Witnesses subscribed
and I ratify it with my Seal and Death So done and given in Bern
Township Berks County the 10th December Ano one thousand seven
hundred and seventy one--- _________________ Christian Joder (Seal)
Two rows of apple trees from which the Owner of the Place must
make the best apples into Cyder and deli- ver in the Cellar to
the Mother.
Hannes Yoder Benedict (x) Lehman, his mark Jacob Gindelsbpreger