Francis Fast ^{2 4}

  General Notes:

[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 4, Ed. 1, Tree #0408]
On assessment roll of Greene Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, for year 1784.
On census roll of Greene Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania 1790.
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Will of Francis FAST
Uniontown: Will Book K, page 332
Waynesburg, Green County, Will Book Vol. 9, page 323

In the name of God Amen I Francis FAST of German Township in the county of Fayette being weak in body but of sound mind memory and understanding blessed be God for the same but considering the uncertainty of this 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 God, who gave it, it my body to the earth, to be buried in a decent and Christian like manner at the discretion of my executors hereinafter 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.

It is my will and I do order that all my just debts and funeral expenses be duly paid and satisfied as soon as conveniently can be after my decease.

ITEM. I give and bequeath unto my granddaughter Pheby LAWRENCE one bed and bedding to be valued at twenty dollars, my wife's saddle, one cow, one spinning wheel and two hundred dollars.

ITEM. I do order and direct my executors herein named to sell all my land of every description for the best price that they can get for the same, together with my personal estate or property of every kind and to collect all money due or to become due.

And my desire is and I do will that all my estate be divided in equal portions amongst my children to wit, Joseph FAST, Nicholas FAST, George FAST, Francis FAST, Jesse FAST, Jacob FAST, Catherine Elizabeth FAST, Mary NOSE, Madelina FAST, Hanna FAST, and Rosanna FAST, to be enjoyed by them share and share alike.

ITEM. It is my will that my executors retain in their hands one hundred and seventy dollars of Sarah Hagar's share to be paid to her as she may want it, and if not called for in her lifetime then at her decease to be equally divided among her children who have received in advance and have give me their receipt to account to my executors for the amount so receipted for; Also that my children now with me have as I promised them all they have made or may hereafter make in my house for themselves; Also, that my children may take any beds and bedding or kitchen or other furniture at the appraisement of my goods, etc.

ITEM. If my granddaughter Pheby LAWRENCE should die before she has children living then I will her portion herein unto my children aforesaid equally.

ITEM. I do will and order my executors to make deeds or titles to nay lands I have sold on the conditions being complied with, also to make good titles or deeds for the lands sold by my executors on their receiving payment, etc.

AND lastly I nominate constitute and appoint my son Francis FAST, Jacob TARR, and my son-in-law Joseph RIFFLE to be the executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all other will or legacies, declaring this and no other to be my last Will.

WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 19th day of September A D 1827.

Francis FAST (seal) Signed, sealed published and pronounced in presence of
Christian BOULES
James WILSON

Francis FAST of German township in the County of Fayette, Pennsylvania do make this codicil to be taken as part of my last will and testament in manner following (that is to say) That whereas by the foregoing Will, I order and direct my executors therein mentioned to sell all my land of every description; do hereby order and direct that my home place including my dwelling house etc. shall be appraised by five disinterested freeholders at its full value and after such valuation and appraisement it is my will that my son Nicholas FAST, my daughter Madelina FAST; my daughter Hannah FAST; my daughter Rebecka FAST and my daughter Rosannah FAST shall have the privilege if they choose to take the said home place at valuation or appraisement so made and my will is that they hold the said plantation share and share alike.

I do now allow my executors to have five years to sell my other land and collect the price or payments thereof (but nay money that may come into the hands of my said executors I order to be divided among my children agreeably to
or with my will; It is my will that all my kitchen furniture after being appraised be equally divided amongst my daughters Madelina, Hannah, Rebecka, Rosannah and my granddaughter Pheby LAWRENCE, and that they and each of them account for what they take in part of their share; Also I will that my daughters Madelina, Hannah, Rebecka and Rosannah each of them take one bed at the appraisement if they choose and to account for the same; And I order and direct that the part or portion that may be coming out of my estate unto my daughter Mary NOSE be kept and remain in the hands of my executors and to be paid out as the said Mary NOSE may call for it; However if the said Mary gives my executors notice that they may loan out such of her money as may be in their hands on interest on good security for anytime not exceeding one year at one time; lastly it is my desire that this my present codicil be annexed to and made part of my last will and testament to all intents and purposes.

WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and seal, the 7th day of July A.D. 1831.

Francis FAST (seal)
Signed sealed and pronounced in presence of
James WILSON
Robert HANNAÙT

FAYETTE COUNTY, SS. (REGISTER SEAL)

The 16th day of December Anno DOMINI 1831, personally came before me the subscribers to the Will and Testament and Codicil and being duly qualified did declare that Francis FAST signed the forgoing as and for his Will in their presence respectively when in his right mind and they knew of no later or other Will made by him. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the Register's Office for the County of Fayette the same year.
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Questions about Francis Fast's Will:
1. He mentions his granddaughter Pheby Lawrence. Who was she? I can find no marriage between any of Francis' daughters and anybody named Lawrence. I believe at the time of the making of his will, only 4 daughters were married:
--Catherine Elizabeth, who married another Fast and therefore her name is shown as Catherine Elizabeth Fast making it appears that she was unmarried when she actually was married.
--Mary Magdalena, who married Peter Nose. Her name appears as Mary Nose.
--Sarah, who married Stephen Hagar. Her name appears as Sarah Hagar.
--Martha, who married Joseph Riffle. Her name is inexplicably missing from the will but her husband is named as one of the executors.

That leaves Hannah, Rosannah, Rebecca, and Madelina and all 4 of their names are specifically mentioned in the will with a surname of Fast. Unless one of them married another Fast, the only explanation for Pheby Lawrence is that perhaps one of the married daughters gave birth to Pheby before their known marriage, or else there is another unknown daughter whose name is also missing from the will maybe because Pheby was orphaned.

2. Why was his daughter Sarah Hagar treated so rudely in the will? He bequeathed her only $170 total.

3. Why did his daughter Mary Nose seemingly receive preferential treatment in the will?
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Francis, the third of the known sons of Nicklaus and Cadarina Margaretha Dörner Fast to reach maturity, was born October 4, 1760, in Frederick, Maryland. Though he apparently owned land at one time in Jefferson County, Ohio, he was the only one of the four known sons of his generation to settle finally in Pennsylvania (German Township, Fayette County). In the War of the Revolution, he served the colonies in the Washington County (PA) militia. Like his father, Francis was a charter member of the old Jacob's Lutheran Church. According to his will, Francis and Elizabeth Yeager Fast were the parents of fifteen children, fourteen of whom survived them. (from Wirt Gerry Faust, "By Way of Rotterdam", 1952, p. 177-179)
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  Birth Notes:

Birth date is calculated from the age at death of 71y, 1m, 22d.

  Noted events in his life were:

• He has alternate birth date of 4 October 1758 and a birth location of , Frederick County, MD.

⁵

• He was buried after 26 November 1831 in the Jacob's Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery in McClellandtown, PA.

Inscription:
"In Memory of FRANCIS FAST;
Who departed this Life November 26 1831;
Aged 71 years, 1 month, & 22 days"
Find A Grave Memorial #62099223
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Francis married Elizabeth Yeager, daughter of Joseph Yeager and Catherine Elizabeth Becker, in 1787 in Maryland.^{1 2 3} (Elizabeth Yeager was born on 17 February 1768 in , Fayette County, PA,^{2 6} died on 21 October 1826 in , Fayette County, PA ^{2 6} and was buried after 21 October 1826 in Jacob's Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery, McClellandtown, PA ^{2 6}.)