Abner Updegraff

     Abner Updegraff was born in 1775. He was the son of John Updegraff and Ann Harlan. Abner Updegraff married Jane Devine, daughter of Pierre Devine, on Friday, 31 December 1802.¹ Abner Updegraff died on 9 September 1846 at age 71 years.¹ He was buried in the Allegheny Memorial Cemetery, located in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
     He Buried in Lots 169 - 170, Section 9. He Abner's parents removed from eastern PA (possibly York Co., PA) to land purchased by his father in Fairfield Twp., Westmoreland Co., PA. Abner learned the trade of machinist and later manufacturing edged tools, achieving excellent success. He atempted the making of files, which he found he could do to advantage, he also made gimlets and in one experiment made a neat penknife which he said could be made here as cheap as those imported, he also made screws for butt hinges. (References - History of Westmoreland Co., PA, by Newton Boucher, 1908, pages 20-21, 405-406; PA Colonial and Federal Natural Resources, by Jenkins, Vol. III, pages 266-267; Old and New Westmoreland, by Walkinshaw, Vol. III, pages 103-105.) Abner is found listed in the 1800 through 1840 census - in Allegh Co., PA - Pittsburgh. Society of Friends Removal Records - Warrington Meeting, page 61: To Redstone Monthly Meeting - Abner Updegraff, clear of debt and marriage engagements, 9 July 1794. He left a will - dated 10 August 1846 - at the Pittsburgh, PA Court House.

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF
ABNER UPDEGRAFF
Died September 9, 1846

I, ABNER UPDEGRAFF, of the City of Pittsburgh, County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, having arrived at great age, and knowing the uncertainty of human life, and being weak of body, but of sound mind, memory and understanding, do make and publish this my last will and testament, in manner and form following, to wit:

FIRST:- It is my will that my funeral shall be conducted without pomp, unnecessary parade, or ostentation, and that the expenses thereof together with all of my just debts be fully paid.

SECOND:- I give and devise and bequeath to my beloved wife, all of my household furniture, and other items not particularly named and otherwise disposed of in this my last testament and will during her life in addition to her dower according to the laws of this Commonwealth. And at the death of my said wife, all the property hereby devised to her as aforesaid, or so much thereof as shall remain unexpended in her possession, I give to my son Uri Updegraff and to my daughter Lydia Howard, or their heirs to be divided equally among them, share and share alike.

THIRD:- I give, devise and bequeath my lot and houses thereon, being my real estate situated in the City of Pittsburgh, and fronting on Smithfield Street, extending from Diamond Alley Eastwardly to Fifth Street, to my grandchildren, now begotten and in full life or hereafter to be begotten, viz: The children of my daughter Lydia wife of William J. Howard, Esq., and the children of my son Uri Updegraff, as follows, to wit:

Said lot to be divided by a right angle line commencing on Smithfield Street, precisely midway between Diamond Alley and Fifth Street. Giving to each family of my said grand children on Smithfield Street one hundred, seventeen and one half feet; that portion extending from said right angle line, midway between said Diamond Alley and Fifth Street, to Diamond Alley, I give and bequeath to the children of my daughter, Lydia Howard, now begotten or to be begotten as aforesaid, with the buildings and improvements thereon: And that other portion of said lot extending from said right angle line, midway as aforesaid, to Fifth Street, I give and bequeath to the children of son Uri Updegraff, now begotten or to be begotten as aforesaid with the buildings and improvements thereon: Provided nevertheless, and it is my express will and intention that
before said lot, being my real estate aforesaid shall go into the hands or possession of my said grand children aforesaid, my son Uri Updegraff, and my daughter Lydia Howard, shall possess, occupy, hold, enjoy and have an estate in said real estate and buildings for the term of thirty years from and after the year, A. D. 1850, and should I not survive until that time they shall hold said property from my death up to the year A. D. 1880, as aforesaid, they the said Uri and Lydia to have the whole control. rents, issues and profits thereof for their sole and only use and benefit for term aforesaid: Subject to the payment of all of my debts which I may leave unpaid, and when my said debts shall all be fully paid by them or my executors, who I shall hereinafter appoint for that purpose, who shall take charge of said property and appropriate the rents thereof, after paying the expenses and taxes thereon, to the extinguishment of my debts until paid; at which time, my son Uri and Lydia shall have full and complete possession of said property to be by them enjoyed as aforesaid. And I hereby direct give and devise to my son Uri that portion of said property extending from said central right angle line to Fifth Street, and to my daughter Lydia that other portion extending from said central right angle line to Diamond Alley, to be enjoyed by them subject to the conditions and limitations aforesaid. I am of opinion that there is a difference in the value of these divisions of my real estate, that portion extending from said central right angle line to Fifth Street being worth one thousand dollars the most, therefore I direct that the sum of five hundred dollars shall be paid by my son Uri, or his children to my daughter Lydia or her children. This difference in value I make in the bare ground merely. It is my will that before my said son Uri or his children, or my daughter Lydia or her children shall go into the full possession of said property, the improvements on each portion shall be appraised by a just appraisement, by three disinterested persons to be chosen by themselves, each party taking the improvements on their portion at the valuation the one party paying to the other the one half of such difference in the valuation, so that there shall be an equal and just division according to my intention; as I wish to do equal and exact justice between my children and my grandchildren without the least favor or partiality. Said five hundred dollars spoken of above is not to be paid until the appraisement aforesaid shall have taken place, at which time any
difference in value including this five hundred dollars may and shall be set off the one against the other so far as the same may or shall at that time amount to, my meaning is, that should the improvements on one portion be valued the highest, the other shall pay the one-half of the difference aforesaid, and that should any portion more or less be in favour of my son Uri's portion that five hundred dollars shall so far as it may go be considered a set off. I have endeavored to make this my will as plain as possible, and I hope that no one will try to pervert my meaning.

AND LAST: I do hereby constitute John Cavode, of Westmoreland County, Pa., and Jacob Hays, of this City and Co., executors of this my last testament and will, hereby revoking and annulling any former will by me made.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 10th day of August, A. D. 1846.

ABNER UPDEGRAFF (SEAL)

Signed, published and declared by the above named Abner Updegraff, as and for his last will and testament, in presence of us, who at his request, have signed it as witnesses. The interlineation of 'be valued the highest' was made before signing

GEORGE WEYMAN
A. McFARLAND


STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA
ALLEGHENY COUNTY, S.S.

I, FRED. W. EDWARDS, Register of Wills, etc., in and for said County, do hereby certify the foregoing to be a full and perfect copy of the Original Last Will and Testament of Abner Updegraff, Deceased, as the same remains on file and is of record in my office at Pittsburgh, in Will Book, Volume 6, No. 123.

WITNESS my hand and seal of said office this 2' day of December, A. D. 1901.

Fred. W. Edwards
Register

1846.