Jacob Sowders Will
Will Book B, Page 277, Guernsey Co. Courthouse, Ohio

Be it remembered that as the June term in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and fifty of this Court of Common Pleases for that County of Guernsey and state of Ohio remitted and hold in the court house of said county on the twenty eight day of June in said year the last will and testament of Jacob Sowder lastly of the county aforesaid deceased was brought into court for probate and George Turner one of the subscribing witnesses to said will being called came into Court and being duly sworn in open Court defendeth and saith that he saw the testator subscribe said will that witness subscribed said will as a witness in presences of the said testator that the said Testator when he subscribed said will was of sound mind and memory of full age and not under any restraint at the same time and place came George Turner another of the Subscribing witnesses to said will and being duly sworn in open Court deposith and saith that he saw this testator subscribe said will that witness subscribed said will as a witness in personance of the the said testator that the said testator when he subscribed said will was of sound mind and memory and of full age and not under any restraint.  Thereupon said will is approved and ordered to be recorded with the proof now taken.  Which said will is in the words and figures following terms:

In the name of the benevolent father of all I Jacob Sowders of Cambridge Tp. Guernsey County Ohio do make and publish this my last will and testament.  Item 1st I give and devise to my beloved wife in lison of her dower the farm on which we now reside situated in Cambridge township Guernsey County Ohio containing about forty Acres during her natural life and all the stock household goods furniture provisions and other goods and clothes which may thereon at the time of my decease during her natural life as foresaid she however selling as much thereof as may be sufficient to pay my just debts.  At the then death of my said wife the real estate aforesaid and such part of the said personal property or the proceeds thereof as may then remain unconsumed and unexpended.  I give and devise to my older daughter Lucinda twenty dollars and to my son William one hundred dollars and to my son George fifty dollars and my daughter Rebecca twenty dollars and to Hiram Parmer one dollar.  And the remainder if any there be to be divided in equal shares between David, Samuel, and James and Mary Agnes Ann Elizabeth Catherine.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 20 day of May in the year of our Lord 1850.
                                       Jacob (X) Sowders

Signed and acknowledged
by said Jacob Sowder as his
last will and Testament in our
presence and signed by us in his
presence.  Jonathan Wallen
      George Turner

I hereby certify that the foregoing testimony of Jonathan Wallen and George Turner was taken in open court on the twenty fifth day of June Anno Domini 1850 and that the said will was approved by the court and ordered to be recorded with the testimony taken to prove the same.
  Atters.  George M. Laron         Clerk

"History and Genealogy of the Witner-Whitmer Family," by Mary Whitmer Kelser, page 32

The 1846 will of Joshua Souders is in the Miami County Court House at Troy, Ohio:

To his wife, Mary, while his widow, he gave:
        Full possession of house and furniture
        1 cow, 4 sheep, 1 1/2 T. of hay, 15 bu. of wheat
        50 bu. of corn, 8 bu. of potatoes and
        $12.00 yearly, and her bread from the farm

To his son John Souders:
        The farm.

To his daughter Elizabeth Ann Souders
        $200.00 at his death
        $100.00 one year later
        $100.00 two years later

The book goes on to say that Elizabeth Ann Souders married David Deeter, Jr.

Reading from left to right, each line reflects: the date the case was probated; the person or organization the case applys to; the type of case;  the Case Number, and the Probate Court Book and Page.
 

26 Apr 1864   Souder, David          Guardianship    03947   B1   0104
02 Sep 1865   Souder, John           Estate          04182   B1   0217
02 Sep 1865   Souder, Joshua         Estate          04183   B1   0218

16 Apr 1863   Sowder, John           Estate          03798   B1   0028
-- Oct 1846   Sowder, Joshua         Estate          01511   C    0709

Will of David Souder - 3 January 1844

I David Souder of the County of Seneca and State of Ohio of Lawful memory do hereby make and publish this my last Will and Testament.  First, I devise and bequeath to my son John Souder and to his heirs and assigns forever the Butternut Ridge farm upon which he now resides being the same land conveyed to me by Thomas Long with and wife by two separate deeds the one dated on the seventh day of September eighteen hundred and thirty-seven and the other dated on the ninth day of September in the same year by said son John to have and to hold the said Premises upon the conditions hereinafter mentioned.
Secondly, I devise and bequeath to my son Joseph Souder and to his heirs and assigns forever the farm upon which I now reside being and including all the land now owned by me either by Equitable or legal title lying on Honey Creek and the road known as the Negrotown Road and being the same land conveyed to me or supposed and intended to be conveyed to me by two deeds one from William F. Giles, as Trustee of Amelia Gist by Newton Gist his attorney in fact and the other by Newton H. Gist and Amelia his wife, my said son Joseph to have and to hold the said Last mentioned premises subject to the conditions hereinafter named  I do also devise and bequeath further to my said son Joseph all my personal property  of every kind and description and all my rights and credits to his sole use and benefit subject also to the conditions hereinafter mentioned and to the bequests and devises hereinafter made.
Thirdly:  I do devise and bequeath to my Daughter Jemima Souder One bureau (now in her possession and use) one cow to be chosen by her from the stock now owned by me, one bed, and the bedding belonging thereto being the same occupied and claimed by her six bed quilts and fifty Dollars annually to be paid to her as hereinafter directed for the period of twelve years.
Fourthly:  I do devise and bequeath to my Daughter Caroline Souder, one bed and the bedding thereafore one cow to be chosen by her from the Cows now owned by me such choice to be next after and subject to the choice of my said Daughter Jemima 4 Bed quilts and fifty Dollars annually to be paid as hereinafter directed for the period of twelve years and also one bureau.
Fifthly:  I do devise and bequeath to my youngest Daughter Catharine S. Souder, one Cow and One bureau to be furnished to her as hereinafter directed when she shall arrive at the age of twenty and also the sum of fifty Dollars annually for twelve years to be paid as hereinafter directed.
Sixthly, I devise and bequeath to my Daughter Sarah Ann Clary the sum of fifty dollars annually for twelve years to be paid as hereinafter directed.
And I do also devise and will that my said son John shall pay to my said Daughters Sarah Ann and Catharine S. the said annual sums of fifty Dollars to each of them as hereinafter devised for the period of twelve years the first payment to be made in one year from the time of my decease except that the annual payments accruing to Catharine shall not be paid until she shall become of age when she shall be paid the amount reserved viz the payments accruing from the time of my decease until she shall become of age as aforesaid.  The said John shall also furnish to the said Catharine the bureau and Cow hereinbefore bequeathed to her at the time therein mentioned.
It is also my will further that my said son Joseph shall pay to my said Daughters Jemima and Caroline the said annual sums of fifty Dollars to each of them as hereinbefore devised for the period of twelve years the first payment to be made in one year from the time of my decease.  The said Joseph shall also furnish to my said Daughter Caroline the bureau hereinbefore bequeathed to her.
It is also my will that my said Son Joseph shall pay the debts owing by me the expenses of my last sickness funeral expenses and costs of administration and all other debts now existing against me.
And I do further declare that the bequests hereinbefore made to my said sons John and Joseph are subject to the above requirements and obligations imposed upon them
And I do also constitute and appoint my son Joseph Souder the sole executor of this my last Will and Testament.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this third day of January A.D. eighteen hundred and forty-four
Signed, sealed and acknowledged by the
said David Souder as his last Will and
Testament this 3 day of January 1844
in our presence and by his request we do
hereby attest and subscribed the same as
witnesses thereto in his Presence.
James Fisher
Jacob Souder
Jesse Stern                                                         David Souder  seal
 

20 June 1844  David Souder    Surety               date of Bond
                        Estate            John Souder      June 17 1844

Letters issued    Joseph Souder   Jacob Souder     Amt of Bond $200.00
                        Executor

Inventory filed Sept 19th 1844  $2798.40 3/4

Release of all heirs filed Feby 21
1857 and Estate finally
settled April 11th 1856
No Balance due

The above Seneca County will was contributed by Cherry Kinnunen at NKinn48358@aol.com