The details of this copy appear here as they appear in the actual will on file at the Warren
County Courthouse. This includes spellings, phraseology, punctuation, etc.
Last Will and Testament of Henry R. Rouse – Entered May 1st, 1861
In the name of God – Amen –
I, Henry R. Rouse, being as I believe near my last moments but sound in mind, do make this my last Will & Testament.
1st My executors to be George H. Dimmock – Samuel D. Rouse and Samuel Q. Brown –
2 I bequeath to my father Samuel D. Rouse Five Hundred dollars per year during his life time.
3 Rouse and Mitchell hold the notes of A. Skinner & Allen Wright for Twenty five hundred dollars. My half I bequeath to them. They are having hard enough times without having to pay the notes.
4th All the leases of Rouse & Mitchell, & Rouse_Mitchell & Brown, I want to have their leases at one half the oil & I bequeath to them all of my share of said rents over the one half the product of the wells as now stipulated to be paid in their respective leases.
5th I bequeath to George H. Dimmock, Two thousand dollars for the use of himself & his mother to be paid out of the residue when my estate is settled up.
6 To John Mitchell I bequeath my black mare.
7 I have the Sheriff’s deed of the store & dwelling house occupied by Thomas Morean. I bequeath said property to his two youngest children, Eva & Maggie, their father to have the use of it until they become of age.
8th I bequeath the residue of my Estate after making some other bequests, to the Commissioners of Warren County, the interest of it to be expended on the roads of said County after I make some other bequests.
9 I have a little name sake, Harry Rouse in East Granby Connecticut. I bequeath him Five hundred dollars. I cannot think of his name his mother is the daughter of Joel C. Rouse – his name is Harry Rouse Viets.
10 David H. Taylor, I bequeath to him Five hundred dollars.
12. I bequeath to my Aunt Clara C. Hart Five hundred dollars.
13. I bequeath to Miron Waters Five hundred dollars to be paid when my estate is settled up.
14. I also bequeath Five hundred dollars to my hired boy Miron Dunham to be paid when my estate is settled up.
15. I wish to change the object of the bequest contained in No. 8 so as to give the benifit of one half of it to the poor of Warren County it is given in trust to the County Commissioners for that purpose.
16. To Almedia Arnold I bequeath Two hundred dollars.
17. To Joel C. Rouse of Saratoga N.Y. I bequeath Three hundred dollars.
18. I bequeath to Mrs. Morean, wife of Thomas Morean Three hundred dollars.
19. Two gentlemen carried me out from the fire I bequeath them each one hundred dollars.
20. Let my funeral be without display. No funeral sermon to be preached. Bury me by the side of my mother at Westfield.
21. I have a beautiful picture an engraving in Hershfields Store at Pittsburg I bequeath it to William Hirst of Meadville.
22. I bequeath my library to my Father.
23. I bequeath my wardrobe to Mrs. Thomas Morean.
I have nothing to add at present.
I authorize all who are here present to witness the foregoing as my last will & testament.
In testimony that the foregoing is the last Will & testament of Henry R. Rouse and at his
request we the undersigned hereby sign the same in his presence in Cornplanter Township Venango County this Seventeenth day of April A.D.One thousand eight hundred & sixty one.
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