Last Will and Testament of Henry JANSEN
In the Name of God, Amen. I, Henry Jansen of the town of Lookingglass, in the county of Clinton, and State of Illinois of the age of Fifty- 50 years, and being of sound mind and memory, do make publick and declare, this my last will and testament, in the manner following, that is to say:
First I give and bequeath to my wife Mary Jansen all of my Real Estate and personal property, her to pay Twenty five dollare- $25.00 for Masses for me.
Second. If my wife Mary Jansen should marry again, she shall pay to my children, respectively (as they become of age) Henry Jansen, my son, Mary Jansen and Emma Jansen my daughters, Ben Jansen, Martin Jansen, John Jansen my sons, Anna Jansen my daugter and Herman Jansen my son, the sum of Fifty Dollars $50.00 each.
Third-If my wife Mary Jansen does not marry again, she shall pay my above named children as they become of age the sum of Twenty five Dollars $25.00 each.
Also to pay all my debts I have.
And lastly I hereby appoint my wife mary Jansen, sole Executrix of this my last will and Testament.
In (witness?) Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this seventeenth 17th day of January, One Thousand Eight hundred and ninety four.
Hy Jansen
The above testament consisting of one sheet was at the date thereof signed sealed published and declared by the said Henry Jansen as and for his last will and testament in presence of each other have subscribed our names as (witness?) thereto.
B JanBen (Janssen)
H OTTENSHRUEDER
State of Illinois} In the county court of said county in probabe, March (terin?) as 1894
Clinton County}
Personally appeared in open court Bernard Jansen and Henry OTTENSHUEIDER* subscribing witness to the annexed testament of writing, purporting to be the last will and Testament of Henry Janssen late of said County, deceased, who being duly sworn according to law, do depose and say, each for himself, that there were present and saw the said Henry Jansen sign said will intheir presence, and that they believe, that said Testator was of sound mind and memory, of lawful age and under no constraint when he signed said will.
Subscribed and sworn to in open court this 13th day of March as 1894.
John C Sampen Co Clk
B Janssen
H Ottenschurider
*Special note: the name Ottenschurider is an approximate spelling. However, there was a man with a similar name who raised William Schmidt (the twin, son of Bernardina). If they were related or close friends, it is possible that it is the same person.
Transcribed by Carol Windle