George Henton Sr.

  General Notes:

Some genealogists show the year of death as 1748 - not 1747. A document showing an inventory of estate clearly shows a date in November of 1747.

Following is the literal translation of "The Last Will and Testament" for George Henton:

George HENTON's will was filed in Philadelphia County, Will Book E, Page 247, recorded November 19, 1747.

In the name of God, amen. I, George HENTON of Exeter in the county of Philadelphia, being sick and weak of body but of sounded mind and memory, thanks be to God for the same. And calling to mind that it is for men once to die, I do make this my last will and testament, hereby disanulling and making void all other wills and testaments by me heretofore made, either by .. Or in writing.
Imprimis my mind and desire is that all my just debts be honestly paid.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my son George HENTON and to his heirs and assigns forever all my houses, lands and .. Goods & chattels, under those provisos and limitations following, viz. That he pay all my just debts.
Secondly, that he pay unto his mother in lieu of her dowry the sum of ten pounds Pennsylvania money yearly during her natural life and after her decease to pay unto his brothers and sisters, viz., Thomas, John, Joseph, Robert, Catherine, Hannah, Alice, Persis or survivors of them the sum of one hundred pounds to be equally divided amongst them.

Item: I give unto my son William the sum of one English shilling.

Item: I give unto my daughter Ruth the sum of five shillings.

Item: I give unto my wife Persis the .. Bed and furniture.
I do hereby make my son George the whole and sole executor of this my last will and testament.
The mark of
George (H) HENTON

Signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared by the above named George HENTON to be his last will and testament in the presence of us, the subscribers, the day and year above written.
George BOONE
Israel ROBESON
William HUGHS

The text of this document was written in a hand with artistic scrolls and flourishes, matching the signature on the document of George BOONE. Israel ROBESON and William HUGHS signed the document in different handwriting. The mark of George HENTON" is a feathery, shaky "H" written between the given name and the surname. The given name and surname were in the same handwriting as the document, presumably that of George BOONE.

For reference, Berks County was eventually subdivided from Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

Following is an inventory of the estate of George Henton.

An inventory of George HENTON's estate, on file in Philadelphia County, was taken by Benjamin BOONE and Michael WARREN. It shows the estate to be valued at 517 pounds, 12 shillings. That inventory, minus a few unknown words, is as follows:

A true inventory of all and singular the good, chattels, rights and credit of George HENTON, deceased, taken the 14th day of November, 1747, by subscribers Benjamin BOON and Michael WARREN.

Some of the items listed in his estate are books, furniture, side saddle and pillion, kidney beans and dried apples, beehives, cart, saddle, ropes, lumber, 2 brand irons, dutch sithe, one bushel and a half of flaxseed, wool, buckwheat, 3 sickels, a razor and hones, spinning wheel, old hunting saddles and 3 bridles, wool wheel, 3 ladles, spoons, funnel, frying pan, 3 iron potts and pott hooks and grid iron, bucket and a pail, woolen yarn, iron griddle, five shovels, pott racks, stocking yarn, tobacko, barrels, candles, grindstone, wagon, howes (hoes?), spaes (spades?, shovels, wedges, cattle young and old, sheep young and old, hogs young and old, cutting box and knife, 2 hay forks, turnip knife, rake, 2 plows, harrow, oats, rye, hay, wheat, stallion, pacing sorrel horse, additional horses, 100 acres of land on river Schulkill, 150 acres of land and improvements.
Spelling is from the original document.

George married Persis Boone, daughter of George Boone II and Sarah Mary Uppey, about 1715. (Persis Boone was born about 1 Jun 1685 in Stoke Canon, Devonshire, England and died after 1747 in Berks County, Pennsylvania.)