In the name of God, Amen! I Valentine Greiner, of Donegal township, in the County of Lancaster, and state of Pennsylvania, farmer, being in good health of body, and of sound and disposing mind, memory, and understanding, praised be God for the same, but considering the uncertainty of this frail and transitory life, do make and publish this my last will and testament, in manner and form following, to wit. PRINCIPALLY, and first of all, I commend my immortal soul into the hands of Almighty God, who gave it; and my body to the earth, when it shall ___ God to call me hence; to be buried in a decent and christian like manner, by my executors herein after named. -And as to such worldly estate wherewith it hath please_ God, to bless me in this life, I give and bequeath the same, in the following manner, viz. FIRST, it is my will, and I order and direct, that all my just debt_ and funeral expences be paid as soon after my decease as conveniently can be done, out of such of my monies and effects as may then come to the hands of my executors, and as is herein mentioned. ITEM, I give and bequeath unto my son John Greiner, and to his heirs and assigns, all that farm, land, and premises, where on we now live, situate lying, and being __ Donegal township, and county of Lancaster aforesaid, adjoining to the land of Christian Zook, John Witmer, Peter Lindemuth, and my other lands, containing one hundred and twenty six acres, and one hundred and twelve perches, neat measure, be the same more or less; and I value and appraise the same, at and for the sum of five thousand eight hundred dollars; one thousand dollars in part thereof, he is to have for his share and portion in the same; the residue and remaining four thousand eight hundred dollars, he is to pay or secure the same to be paid within one year from the date hereof, that is to say, on or before the first day of April next, A.D. 1827. -For the payment and discharge of my just debts, (which has arisin from and are yet,) due and payable on the said lands, -And I do hereby reserve to and for my use and habitation, during my natural life, the brick house and dwelling place, adjoining the spring-house on the said land and farm, the cellar under the said house, and privilege in the springhouse to wash and bake, and take and use the water; with privilege in the yard, and part of the garden for my use. -And that my said son John Greiner, his heirs and assigns, shall give and deliver, unto me, out of the said land and farm, for my necessary support, in and during my natural life, yearly, twelve bushels good and merchantable wheat, six bushels, rye, two cords hickory wood, and two cords oak wood, to be cut and delivered to the door, one barrel good cider, and four bushels winter apples, if there be any; one fat hog weighing from 150. to 200. lb:, one quarter of good fall beef, and to keep one house creature, and two cows, for me and for my use, in feed and pasture, as he keeps his own horses and cows. To have and to hold the said plantation, land, and premises, with the appurtenances, unto my said ___ John Greiner, his heirs and assigns forever, subject to the payment of 4000. dollars, and my yearly dower as aforesaid. ITEM, I do give and bequeath unto my son Philip Greiner, and to his heirs and assigns, all that certain plantation, land, and farm, whereon he now resides and lives, situate, lying, and being in Donegal township, and county of Lancaster aforesaid, adjoining to the lands of Peter Lindemuth, Jonans Mumma, Peter Kreybill, Martin Nissley, and my other lands containing one hundred twenty one acres, and 118. perches, neat measure, be the same more or less, (as it is now divided and laid off by a draft,) and I value and appriase the same, at and for the sum of four thousand four hundred dollars; one thousand dollars part thereof, he is to have for his share and portion in the same; the residue and remaining three thousand four hundred dollars, he is to pay or secure the same to be paid on or before the first day of April next, A.D. 1827. for the payment of my just debts, due and payable on the said lands as aforesaid, -And my said son Philip Greiner, his heirs or assigns shall give and deliver unto me, out of the said land and farm, yearly, so long as I shall live, nine bushels good wheat, three bushels rye, one cord hickory, and one cord oak wood, to be cut and delivered at my door, one barrel good cider, and one barrel of water cider, and five bushels of good winter apples if there be any. To have and to hold the said plantation, land and premises with the appurtenances unto my said son Philip Greiner, his heirs and assigns forever, subject to the payment of 3400. dollars, and my yearly dower as aforesaid. ITEM, I do give and bequeath unto my daughter Catharine Greiner, fifteen shares in the Farmers Bank of Lancaster, amounting to seven hundred and fifty dollars, which shares, my said daughter Catharine, is to have and to hold in her name, and as right and estate after my decease. -And I further give, bequeath, and deliver, (or order to be delivered, if not done in my lifetime,) one hundred and fifty dollars in cash, two cows, four sheep, one drawer, two beds, one kitchen dresser, one table, six chairs, and sundry utensils and kitchen furniture, worth about one hundred dollars, amounting together to one thousand dollars, which is to be her share and portion out of my estate, To have and to hold the same, to her_ heirs & assigns forever. ITEM, I do give and bequeath unto my three grand children Peter Hellman, Barbara Hellman and Emanuel Hellman, (they being the children of my daughter Barbara; who was intermarried with John Hellman, now both deceased,) nine and three quarters acres of woodland, or the money arising out of the same, by sale thereof, situate in Donegal township aforesaid, adjoining lands of Christian Zook, John Witmer, and the land and farm first within mentioned; and my will is, and I do hereby authorize and empower my executors herein after mentioned, to sell  the said nine and three fourth acres of woodland, either by public or private sale for the highest and best price that can be gotten for the same, and make good and sufficient deed of conveyance to the purchaser thereof, which deed or deeds so made by virtue hereof, shall be good and valid in law, the money arising out of the said 9 ¾ acres woodland, (first deducting the reasonable cost and expenses of sale) is to be divided to and among the said Peter Hellman, Barbara Hellman, and Emanuel Hellman, share and share alike, and in equal parts, and the money to be paid to them, as they and each of them arives to the age of twenty one years, provided the same and said land is not sold and the money so divided in my lifetime; which money so arising out of the said 9 ¾ acres woodland, and so paid over to the said Peter, Barbara, and Emanuel, shall be their share in full of my estate in right of their mother the said Barbara, deceased. Any monies, goods, and effects that may be left at my decease, as overpluss, shall be equally divided, in shares and shares alike, to and _mong my said sons John & Philip, & daughter Catharine, or to their legal reprentives. AND LASTLY, I nominate, constitute, and appoint my said sons John Greiner, and Philip Greiner, to be the executors of this my will. -Hereby revoking all other wills, legacies, and bequests by me heretofore made, and declaring this and no other to be my last will and testament. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I the said Valentine Greiner, have hereunto set my hand and seal, the nineteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty six.

Valentine Greiner

Signed, sealed, pronounced, & declared by the said testator as his last will and testament, in the presence of us, who in his presence, and on his request have hereunto subscribed our names.

Alex Patterson, Wm. B. Galbraith, Jacob Rohrer.

LANCASTER COUNTY EST., On the 13th March, 1832. -Before me the subscriber personally appeared Alexander Patterson, William B. Galbraith, and John Rohrer Esq., the subscribing witnesses to the preceding will, who being duly qualified, according to law, did declare, depose, and say that they were present, and did see and hear Valentine Greiner, the testator therein named, sign, seal, publish, and declare the same, as and for his last will and testament, and at the doing thereof he was of sound and disposing mind, memory, and understanding, to the best of their knowledge and belief.

W. Whiteside, Regr.

March 13th 1832. Letters testamentary granted to John Greiner and Philip Greiner, the executors, they being duly affirmed, to administer the estate and exhibit an inventory thereof, in the Register's Office, within one month, and an account of their executorship in one year, or when required.

W. Whiteside, Regr.

Will Book Q, Volume 1, Page 185
Lancaster County Courthouse
Lancaster, PA

Transcribed by
Robert C. Greiner
Laurel, MD
7 June, 2000