Will Book B p. 291

Court of common pleas begun and held at the court house in the town of Gallipolis for and within the said County of Gallia on Wednesday Fourteenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty three. before the Honorable Esra Osborne presiding Judge . ...the last will and testament of George Cress late of county deceased was presented for probate by Patrick Napier and Henry Cress the executors therein named whereupon William Ham and Jacob Thomas the subscribing witnesses thereto came before the court and after being duly sworn according to law declared they were present when the testator signed and acknowledged the same for his last will and testament and that they believed he was of sound mind and memory and judgement and that they signed the same as witnesses in the presnce of the testator and of each other. whereupon the same is proved. approved and allowed as the last will and testament of the said George Cress and ordered to be recorded. And the same is as follows to wit:
I George Cress senior of Gallia County and State of Ohio do make and constitute this my last will and testament to wit: First of all I direct my executors to pay all my just debts and funeral charges. Second, I leave to my beloved wife Christinia Cress all my moveable property. Thirdly, I leave to my son Nicholas Cress fifty pounds to be equally divided between his sons, and also I leave my son Jacob Cress the sum of fifty pounds but there is to be the sum of nineteen pounds seventeen shillings reduced out of it for money he has received of me in part of his legacy. And I also leave my son George Cress the sum of fifty six pounds but thirty pounds to be reducted out of it money he received of me in part of his legacy. And I also leave my daughter Christiana Cress the sum of fifty pounds but there is to be forty pounds reducted out of it money that I paid for her to James Gold. And I also leave to my daughter Elizabeth Miller the sum of fifty pounds. And I also leave to my son Henry Cress all the residew of my estate that shall remain after all the within sums heretofore mentioned is satisfied and he is also to take care of me and his mother and support us well as long as we shall live. And the within sums that is given to the within named legatees shall be paid as soon as the money is collected sufficient to discharge the same. And lastly of all I constitute and appoint Patrick Napier and Henry Cress executors of this my last will and testament witness my hand and seal this the ___ day of March 1822. Signed sealed and acknowledged before us George Cress, Jacob Thomas, William Ham, George Ham. And thereupon the said Patrick Napier and Henry Cress with William Ham and Jacob Cress their securities executed and acknowledged their bond according to law in the penalty of two thousand dollars. And being thereupon duly sworn according to law it is ordered letters Testamentary issued upon application. Motion ordered that Abraham Childers, John Smith and David Ridgway being first duly sworn according to law do value and appraise in current money of the United States the goods and chattels which were of George Cress late of this county deceased and they are ordered to make returns in the Clerks office according to statute in such case made and provided.