Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania was established on September 20, 1787 as a large region of Central Pennsylvania. It was previously part of Bedford County and the earlier Cumberland Region.
William Maffit was born about 1758.
Robert Maffit (1782)
John Maffit (1784)
William Maffit (1786)
James Maffit (1788)
Elizabeth June Maffitt (1791)
Margaret Maffit (1797)
Mary Maffit (1798)
William died in 1828.
William Maffit married Sarah Watson in 1830
Jackson Maffit (1831)
Reuben Maffit (1833
Allison Maffit (1835)
William W Maffit (1839)
Rebecca Mary Maffit (1841)
William Maffit - In the upper part of the valley, above the McMahan farm, lived William Maffitt, who moved there from Woodcock's Valley in Bedford. He was the father of three sons named John, Robert, and James, and daughters who married William Johnston, James McClelland, and Joseph Ross.
Cattle were vital to a household and an important legacy.
Unweaned cattle are calves.
Female cattle are heifers and cows (had a calf).
Male cattle are steers (castrated) and bulls.
Oxen are trained draft animals and are often castrated adult male cattle.
American colonists continued to use British monetary units, namely the pound, shilling and pence for which £1 (orli) equalled 20s and 1s equalled 12d. In 1792 the dollar was established as the basic unit of currency.
Last Will and Testament William Maffet
In the name of God, Amen, I William Maffet of Barree Township in the County of Huntingdon and State of Pennsylvania ...
In the first place I order and direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses shall be fully paid by my executors herein after named as soon as convenient after my decease.
In the second place I order and direct that all my personal property (not hereafter particularly disposed of) to be sold at public vendue as soon as convenient after my decease by my executors.
In the third place I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Margaret one bay mare, two cows, her choice of my cows, four sheep, said mare, cows, and sheep I order and direct my sons John and James hereinafter named to keep and feed for her summer and winter.
Also I give and bequeath to my said wife Margaret two beds and bedding, her choice in the house, also all the kitchen furniture which property she is to dispose at her decease as she thinks proper.
In the fourth place I give and devise to my son Robert Maffit, his heirs and assigns 100 acres of land where he formerly lived, adjoining my old tract whereon I now live.
In the fifth place I give and devise unto my son John Maffit 50 acres of land part of my old tract including and to include the old meadow to the partition fence at the foot and I order and direct 100 acres of land part of a tract in the name of William Long to be taken off the east end of said tract to have and to hold the same his heirs and assigns forever.
In the sixth place I give and devise unto my son William Maffet my fulling mill and saw mill as much land as will be included in running a straight line along his meadow fence to the line to the old tract (whereon I now live) adjoining Tussy’s Mtn, his meadow to be included the line to run straight from the foot of his meadow across the creek to the line of the old tract supposed to contain 20 acres more or less, also seventy of land part of a tract in the name of William Long beginning at the north east corner of the old tract to be taken off on both sides of the creek, thence up the creek along the south line of said land and down again to the east side of the old tract to have and to hold to him and his heirs and assigns forever.
In the seventh place I order and direct that my son William Maffet shall pay to my daughter Mary fifty pounds with anducements of thirty four dollars which she has received of her daughter Mary’s money which must be paid to her by son William in two equal payments the first to be in the year after my decease, the other one year after that.
Also to my daughter Margaret the like sum of fifty pounds to----twenty-five pounds one year after my decease and twenty five one year after that.
Also to my wife Margaret thirty dollars in one year after my deceased and thirty dollars yearly and every year of her natural life.
In the eighth place I give and devise unto my son James Maffet his heirs and assigns fifty acres of land part of the old tract whereon I now live to be taken off adjoining William Maffet’s at the fulling mill. Also I give and devise to my son James his heirs and assigns 100 acres of land part of a tract in the name of William Long to be taken off the east end of said tract.
In the ninth place I order and direct and it is my will that my sons John and James shall yearly and every year during the natural life of my wife Margaret lay in for her twenty bushels of wheat 10 bushels each, also two hundred weight of fodder a sufficient quantity of fire wood to be halled to her door and cut up ready for the fire and my said wife is to live in the mansion house and to have the half of the garden sand to have the use of the clock during her natural life.
In the tenth place I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Ross the sum of fifty pounds one hundred dollars to be paid by son John Maffit. And 33.33 by my executors out of the vendue money (if any) after the payments of my debts. I will and bequeath to my wife Margaret to dispose of as she thinks proper.
In the 11th place I order and direct and it is my will that the division of the old tract between John and James shall be made by my executors hereinafter name as equally as may be allowing to each their quantity of 50 acres aforesaid and lastly I nominate and constitute and appoint my sons John Maffitt and William Maffit to executors ...
31st day of March 1827.
William (X) Maffit His mark
Witness S/John Clayton
S/William Cunningham
Fulling is the elimination oils and impurities in wool which makes it fuller. The process involved beating the cloth with wooden hammers. A water mill used to move the hammers was a fulling mill.
