In the Name of God amen. I Joseph Lanning of the Township of Lebanon in the County of Hunterdon and State of New Jersey being thru the Abundant Mercy and goodness of good tho weak in body yet a Sound and Perfect understanding and memory do Constitute this my Last will and Testament and desire it may be received by all as Such: First I most humbly bequeath my Soul to god my Maker beseeching his most gracious Acceptance of it, through the all Sufficient merits and Mediation of my most Compassionate Redeemer Jesus Christ who gave himself to be an Atonement for my sins, and is able to Save to the uttermost all that come unto god by him, Seeing he ever Liveth to make intercession for them and who I trust will not reject me, a returning penitant Sinner when I come to him for Mercy in this hope and confidence I render up my soul with comfort humbly beseeching the Most blessed and glorious Trinity one god most holy, most Merciful and gracious to prepare me for the time of my dissolution and then to take to himself into that peace and rest that Love and fear his holy name Amen blessed be god I give my body Body to the earth from whence it was taken, in full afsurance of its Resurection from thence at the Last day As for my burial I desire it may be decent without pomp or State at the discretion of my Executors hereafter Named who I doubt not will manage it with requistit prudence as to my Worldly estate I will and positively order that my debts be paid. First I give unto my Son James the Sum of Two hundred & Twenty Dollars and unto my Son Benjamin the Sum of Two Hundred & Twenty Dollars and unto my Son John the Sum of Two Hundred and Twenty Dollars and unto my Son Nathaniel the Sum of two Hundred and Twenty Dollars and unto my Son Cornelius the Sum of Two Hundred and Twenty dollars and unto my Daughter Elizabeth the Sum of Two Hundred & Twenty dollars and unto my Daughter Ann the Sum of Two Hundred and Twenty Dollars and my bed and beding, and unto Mary Lanning Daughter of John Lanning the Sum of thirty Dollars and unto Elizar Ann Lanning Daughter of Joseph Lanning Junr. deceased the Sum of Thirty Dollars and Do constitute and Make David Parks and John Strader Executors of this my Last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I hereunto Set my hand and Seal the Fifteenth day of March in the year of our Lord one Thousand eight Hundred and Fourteen.
New Jersey, Hunterdon Co. Joseph Johnston one of the Witnesses to the within Will being duly Sworn Saith that he Say Joseph Lanning, the Testator therein Named Sign & Seal the Same and heard him publish pronounce and declare the said writing to be his Testament and Last Will and that at the doing thereof the said Testator was of Sound and disposing Memory and Mind as far as he Knows and as he Verily Believes and that Thomas Bowlley the Other Subscribing Witness was present at the Same time and Signed his Name as a Witness to the Said Will Together with this deponent in the presence of the said Testator.
Hunterdon Co. David Parke one of the Executors in the written will named being duly Sworn saith that the within Writing contains the true Last will of Joseph Lanning the Testator therein Named as far as he Knows and as he Verily believes and that he will well and truly perform the Same by paying first the debts of the said Testator and then the Lagacies in the said Testament Specified as far as the goods chattel and credits of the said deceased can thereunto extend and that he will make and exhibed into the Surrogates office of the County of Hunterdon a true and perfect Inventory of all and Singular the goods and Chattel rights and credits of the said deceased that have or Shall come to his hands or possession or to the possession of any other person or persons for his use and Present a Just and true Account when thereunto Lawfully required.
I, John T. Blackwell Surrogate of the County of Hunterdon do Certify the Announced to be a true Copy of the Last Will and Testament of Joseph Lanning Late of the County of Hunterdon deceased and that David Parke of the County of Hunterdon the Executor therein Named proved the Same before me and is duly authorized to take upon himself the Administration of the estate of the Testator agreeable to the said will.
Witness my hand and Seal of Office at Flemington the twelfth day of April in the year of our Lord one Thousand and eight Hundred and Fourteen.