Reaman/Rehman/Riemann

To Upset a Will.

Fanny Frances Toazer of this city, alleged to be a person of unsound mind, by her next friend, Martha M. Davis, has issued a writ against Noah Stouffer and Alfred Collins of Stouffville, as executors of the alleged will of Alfred Toaze, her late husband. It is claimed that the will proved is invalid, and that a former will should be declared the true one.

Not Bewitched, But Insane

Fanny Frances Toaze will be declared to be of unsound mind by Chief Justice Meredith on the production of an adopted daughter's affidavit.

When the matter came before his Lordship it was said that Mrs. Toaze thought the people in her neighborhood had been working witchcraft upon her, that she had been bewitched by her neighbors, that witchcraft was running through the country, that she had heard imaginary voices, and that there had been communication between houses in the community by a sort of wireless telegraphy.

"She says, too, that she had business relations with the Governor-General," said a lawyer.

"What Governor-General?"

"She says it was ten years ago that she took an oath on his Excellency's sword."

The husband, Alfred Toaze, of Stouffville, died last February, leaving $8,000. He willed her the use of a house and lot in Stouffville, and a life annuity of $150 in lieu of dower. An action to set aside Toaze's will has been instituted on the widow's behalf.

In the Name of God Amen, I Godlieb Reaman of Stoney Creek Township in the County of Somerset in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Farmer, being weak in body but of sound Memory & understanding (blessed be god for the same) but considering the uncertainty of this transitory life, do make and publish this my last will & Testament, in manner & form following to wit, Principally and first of All I commend my immortal Soul into the hands of God who gave it, and my body to the Earth to be buried in a decent & Christian Like manner, at the discretion of my Executors herein after named and as to such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this Life, I give and dispose of the same in the following manner, to wit I give and devise to my beloved wife Feronica the sum of one hundred Dollars to be paid to her by my Executors herein after named out of the outstanding debts due to me, and also all my house hold & Kitchen furniture, two cows and my riding Mare & a side Saddle beds & besteads, chests, tables, chairs, and it is my intention hereby to give & bequeath unto her all kind of furniture which is in & about my dwelling house, and a ten plate Stove, And as touching all the rest & residue and remainder of my Estate real and personal, of what kind or nature soever the same may be in the County of Somerset aforesaid or else where especially a tract of land containing one hundred & fifty acres situate in Milford Township Somerset County adjoining land of Peter Garey and others, which I bought of Jacob Schneider, another tract of land containing two hundred and twenty eight acres situate in Milford Township aforesaid, adjoining lands of Henry Whipkey and others, and another Trace of land containing one hundred and seventy nine acres situate in Stoney Creek Township in the County aforesaid adjoining land of David Rimmel, Christian Yoder Jun^r & Land given to Charles Reaman by me, being the Residue of the trace on which I live, not given to my Son the said Charles Reaman, I give & devise to my executors herein after named, To have & To hold to them or the survivor of them, their or his heirs or assigns forever, upon this special Trust, that as soon as possible after my decease, my said executors do sell the aforementioned Tracts of land in such a manner as shall appear to them most proper, and the monies arising from such Sale and also all my other property, not herein before disposed off, be devised in five equal parts or shares, one share thereof to be and remain in the hands of my Executors and to be put out on intrest by them and the interest to be given yearly to my beloved wife Feronica during her natural life, and after her decease the same share to be equally divided between my children John Reaman George Reaman Elizabeth married to John Shank and Anna Maria Married to Peter Sweitzer, share & share alike—one other share thereof I give & bequeath to my son John Reaman or his heirs one other share to my son George Reaman or his hers—one other share to my daughter Elizabeth Married to John Shank or her heirs, one other Share to my daughter Anna Maria Married to Peter Sweitzer or his heirs—And it is my will that my son Charles Reaman shall have no share in any estate real or personal that I may be possessed off at the time of my decease, as I consider he has received More from me than his share, by the plantatation [sic] and trace of land which I have given and conveyed to him—And lastly I do hereby appoint and nominate my trusty son in law Peter Sweitzer and my trusty friend Godfrey Stall both of Somerset Township to be the executors of this my will hereby revoking all other wills legacies & bequests by me heretofore made & declaring this and not other to be my last will & Testament

Signed, Sealed, published, pronounced and declared, by the {Gottlieb Reaman Seal} said Testator as his last will & Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request have subscribed as witnesses

[ . . . ] Rudolph Ureich, Otho Shrader

Somerset County ss [?] On the 27^th day of October S.D 1804 personally appeared before me Morgan J. Rhees Register for the Probate of Wills & granting Letters of administration in & for the County of Somerset, Rudolph Urich & Otho Shrader both of the Town of Somerset and being duly sworn according to Law do depose and say that they were personally present and heard & saw Godlieb Reaman sign, seal, and as his last will & Testament declare the foregoing instrument in writing, That at the Time of the execution thereof the said Godlieb Reaman was of sound mind memory & understanding, to the best of these deponants belief, and that they these deponants did sign their names as witnesses to the execution thereof in the presence and at the request of the said Testator

Rudolph Urick

Otho Shrader

Sworn & Subscribed the same day & year

Coram Morgan Rhees Reg^r.

Somerset County ss [?] Be it remembered that on the day of the date of the above Probate, Letters Testamentary on the Estate of Godlieb Reaman dec^d. issued to Peter Sweitzer & Godfrey Stall executors of all & singular the goods & Chattles &c^a. of the said dec^d.  they having first been sworn well & Truly to administer the same—Inventory to be filed on or before the 27^th of November 1804—Final Settlement to be made on or before the 27^th Oct^r 1805.

Registered 27^th October 1804