To the Hon. Thomas L. Bell & his associates Judges of the Orphan's Court of Chester County
The Petition of Samuel Stauffer one of the sons & heirs of John Stauffer late of the Township of West Vincent in the County of Chester decd.
Respectfully Represents,
That the said John Stauffer lately died interstate leaving a widow named Deborah and eight children Jacob Stauffer residing in Chester County, Henry Stauffer residing in the county of Butler in the state of Pennsylvania, Abraham Stauffer residing in the county of Chester aforesaid, Samuel Stauffer (the petitioner) residing also in Chester County, John Stauffer residing in the County of Montgomery & state aforesaid, Elizabeth, intermarried with Jacob David Heizer residing in Butler County aforesaid, Sarah intermarried with Jacob Longacre residing in Schuylkill County and state aforesaid, Deborah intermarried with Christian Halteman residing in the county of Chester aforesaid, and seized in his demense as of fee of and in two certain messuages and one tract of land situate partly in the Township of West Vincent and partly in the Township of West Pikeland apresaid, bounded by lands of George Ralston Frederick Rodewalt, Christian Friday, George Deery and others and containing two hundred and thirty four acres mne or less with the appurtenances: that by reason of the premises the said Jacob Stauffer Henry Stauffer, Abraham Stauffer Samuel Stauffer John Stauffer David Heizer and Elizabeth his wife in right of said Elizabeth, Jacob Longacre and Sarah his wife in right of said Sarah & Christian Halteman and Deborah his wife in right of said Deborah are entitled to have severally one eight part of the two-thirds of the said two messuages and tract of land presently and one eight part of the other third part immediately after the death of Deborah Stauffer the widow of the said interstate to hold to them, their heirs and assigns in fee Simple forever, and the said Deborah is entitled to have one third part of the same premises to hold to her during the term of her natural life.
The petitioner, therefore, prays the Court to award an inquest to make partition of the aforesaid premises, to and among the representatives of the said interstate, in such manner and in such proportions, as by the laws of this commonwealth is directed, if such partition can be made without prejudice to or spoiling of the whole, but if such partition cannot be made thereof, then to value and appraise the same, and make a return of their proceeding according to law.
Samuel Stauffer