Will  of
John  Caster

John Caster  of Sugar Creek Township Shelby County Indiana make this my last will and testament to wit:

First     I will and bequeath to my well beloved wife  Rebecca Caster  all my real and personal Estate and all property of every kind and all money due or that may become due to my Estate, so long as she remains my widow.

Second     That t is my will and desire that my well beloved children should assist each other and also assist their mother to pay all indebtedness against my Estate and that each keep a correct account of all sums of money paid out by them, which sums shall be renumerated to them out of the proceeds of the farm after the Debts have been all paid and the necessary expenses of the family

Third     It is my will and request that all my children shall have an equal share of my Estate after their mothers decease.  And whereas, in as much as my son  Zeno Caster  has received One hundred and seventy five Dollars ($175.00)*,  Sarah Bassett, my daughter, has received fifty Dollars ($50.00),  Leander Caster, my son, has received One hundred Dollars ($100.00)  and my son  John Caster  has received  One hundred Dollars ($100.00), said amounts of money are to be taken in account in the settlement of my Estate.  And it is my will and desire that if any of children, or heirs, shall be contrary or try in any manner whatever to brake this my last will and testament, he, she or they shall forfeit this, her or their interest in my estate.

Fourth     It is my request, and express desire that the farm upon which I now live shall be sold to the highest bidder after a reasonable time after the decease of my beloved wife Rebecca Caster and the proceeds thereof be divided equally as I have bequeath and requested in their my last will and testament.

Fifth     I request and hereby nominate and appoint my trusted friend  West C. E. Wanee  to act as my executor in this my last will and testament, to collect all dues, money, accounts and everything that may be coming to my Estate and to pay all just debts, all claims and demands against my Estate.  And adjust in every way according to law any writings that my be necessary.

Sixth     I,  John Caster  being of sound mind, now at this time make this my last bequest and will for the benefit and wellfare of my beloved wife and children to whom I have willed my Estate as stated in the foregoing will.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this April 16th day in the  (   ) of Our Lord 1883.
his
John  X  Caster    Testator
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Signed and sealed in our presence and we have also signed and set our seals in the presence of the Testator as Witnesses in this the last Will and Testament of the said John Caster.
Daniel T Culbertson
Witnesses.       Lewis C. Means
W. C. E. Wanee
 
* William Caster, my son, has received  One hundred and thirty five Dollars ($135.00)

State of Indiana     Shelby County ss
            Be it remembered that on the 28' day of April 1883, in vacation of the Shelby Circuit Court  Daniel T. Culbertson  one of the subscribing Witnesses to the within and foregoing will and Testament of John Caster late of said county deceased personally appeared before the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Shelby County in the State of Indiana and being duly sworn by the Clerk of said court upon his oath declared and testified as follows that is to say:  That on the 16' day of April A D 1883 he saw the said John Caster sign his name to said instrument in writing as and for his last Will and Testament and that the said instrument in writing was at the same time, at the request of said John Caster and with his consent attested and subscribed by the said Daniel T. Culbertson, West C. E. Wanee and Lewis C Means in the presence of said Testater and in the presence of each other as subscribing Witnesses thereto and that the said John Caste was at the time of the signing and subscribing of said instrument in writing, as aforesaid, of full age (that is  more than twenty one years of age) and of sound and disposing mind and memory and not under any coercion or restraint, as the said deponent verily believes and further deponent says not.
D. T. Culbertson
Sworn to and subscribed by the said Daniel T. Culbertson before me  Fred H. Chueden  Clerk of said Court at Shelbyville the 28' day of April 1883.  In attestation whereof I have here unto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Court
                {{LS}}                                                                         Fred H. Chueden  Clerk

State of Indiana,   Shelby County  ss:
I  Fred Chueden  Clerk of the Circuit Court of Shelby County Indiana, do hereby certify that the within annexed Will and Testament of John Caster has been duly admitted to Probate and duly proved by the Testimony of Daniel T. Culbertson one of the subscribing Witnesses thereto, that a complete Record of said Will and of the Testimony of the said Daniel T. Culbertson in proof thereof, has been by me duly made and recorded in Book one (1) at pages 645=46, of the records of Wills of said county.
In attestation Whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the Seal of said Court at Shelbyville this 28' day of April 1883.
                {{LS}}                                                                         Fred H. Chueden  Clerk Circuit Court Shelby County

Transcribed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

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