Climbing My Family Tree

Jane Campbell Van Leer was my husband’s 3rd great grandmother’s sister.  This is her will, written in 1919, along with 2 codicils.  The transcription is after the images.

After reading it, I am left wondering what her nephew did to write him out of the will – twice.

At first, he was supposed to get $200, then it changed to her household goods, and then it changed to nothing.  Just one of those little mysteries….

I, Jane Vanleer of the Fourth Ward of the Borough of Indiana, County of Indiana and State of Pennsylvania, do hereby make, publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all other wills by me at any time heretofore made.
First: – I direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid by my executor, hereinafter named, as soon as conveniently may be after my decease, and that he have the date of birth and death placed upon my tombstone.
Second:- I give and bequeath to my grand-son, John V. Walker, my household goods and the sum of Two Hundred Dollars.
Third:- I give, devise and bequeath the residue of my estate real, personal and mixed of whatever kind and wherever situate at the time of my decease to my son Grant Vanleer, the personal estate absolutely and the real estate in fee simple.
Lastly:- I nominate, constitute and appoint John H. Pierce to be the Executor of this, my last Will and Testament.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this third day of September A.D. 1919.
Jane Vanleer {Seal}

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the above named Jane Vanleer as and for her last will and testament, in the presence of us, who at her request and in her presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our manner as witnesses thereto.
Jno. H. Pierce
Janet G. Simpson

Codicil:

I, Jane Vanleer of the Fourth Ward of the Borough of Indiana, County of Indiana and State of Pennsylvania, do hereby make, publish and declare the following to be a codicil to my last Will and Testament dated September 3, 1919.

First: – I hereby revoke the second paragraph of my will in which it was provided as follows “I give and bequeath to my grand son, John V. Walker my household goods and the sum of Two Hundred Dollars”, and in lieu thereof I now give and bequeath to my said grand-son, John V. Walker my household goods.
In all other respects I hereby ratify and confirm my said last Will and Testament.
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 18 day of November 1919.
Jane Vanleer {Seal}
Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said testator, as and for a codicil to her last will and testament, in the presence of us, who at her request and in her presence, and in the presence of each other, have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.
John Martin
Etta M. Van Leer

2nd Codicil:

I, Jane Vanleer of the Township of North Mahoning, in the County of Indiana and State of Pennsylvania, being of sound mind, memory and understanding, do hereby make publish and declare the following to be a second codicil to my last will and testament dated September 3, 1919, and codicil thereto dated November 18, 1919.
First: I hereby revoke the first paragraph of the said codicil to my last will and testament, in which I bequeath to my grandson John V. Walker, my household goods, so that the said John V. Walker shall have no share whatever in my estate.
In all other respects I hereby ratify and confirm my said will.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 26th day of May 1921.
Jane Vanleer {Seal}
Signed, sealed, published and declared by the above named Jane Vanleer as and for a codicil to her last will and testament, in presence of us, who, at her request, and in her presence, and in the presence of each other, have hereunto subscribed our names as ? thereto.
Jno H. Pierce
Wm E. Pierce

Indiana County, SS
Before me, I Clair Longwill, Register for the Probate of Will granting Letters of Administration in and for said county, personally appeared Jno. H. Pierce and Janet G. Simpson Ayers, subscribing to the foregoing instrument of writing, purporting to be the Last Will and Testament of Jane Vanleer, late of North Mahoning Twp in the County of Indiana, deceased, who being sworn according to law, depose and say they were personally present and saw and heard the said ? sign, seal, and declare the foregoing instrument of writing, as a ? her Last Will and Testament, and that they signed their names as witnesses to said instrument of writing in the presence of each other, a ? the time of signing the same she, the said testator, was of sound and disposing mind, memory, and understanding to the best of their knowledge and belief, and that as they shall answer to God at the Great Day.
Jno. H. Pierce
Janet G. Simpson
Sworn and subscribed this 12 day of Jany. A.D. 1923.
J. Clair Longwill

Indiana County, S.S.
Before me, I Clair Longwill Register for the probate of ___ and Granting Letters of administration in and for said county personally appeared John Martin and Etta M. Van Leer, subscribed witnesses to the foregoing instrument of writing, purporting… to the Last will and Testament of Jane Vanleer, late of …
…sworn according to law, depose and say they were personally present and saw and heard the said testator sign, seal, and declare the foregoing instrument of writing as and a codicil to her Last Will and Testament, and that they signed their names as witnesses to said instrument of writing in the presence of said testator and at her request, and in the presence of each other, and at the time of signing the same she, the said testator, was of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding, to the best of their knowledge and belief, and that as they shall answer to God at the Great Day.
John Martin
Etta M. Vanleer
Sworn and subscribed this 12 day of Jany A.D. 1923
J. Clair Longwill
Register

Indiana County, S.S.
Before me, J. Clair Longwill, Register for the probate of Wills, and Granting Letters of Administration in and for said county, personally appeared Jno. H. Pierce and Wm. E. Pierce, subscribing witnesses to the foregoing instrument of writing, purporting to be a codicil to the Last Will and Testament of Jane Vanleer, late of North Mahoning Twp in the county of Indiana, deceased, who being sworn according to law, depose and say they were personally present and saw and heard the said testator sing, seal, and declare the foregoing instrument of writing as and for a codicil to her Last Will and Testament, and that they signed their names as witnesses to said instrument of writing in the presence of said testament at her request, and in the presence of each other, and at the time of at her request, and in the presence of each other, and at the time of signing the same she, the said testator, was of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding to the best of their knowledge and belief, and that as they shall answer to God at the Great Day.
Jno. H. Pierce
Wm. E. Pierce
Sworn and subscribed this 12th day of Jany. A.D. 1923
J. Clair Longwill
Register

Indiana County, S.S.
Personally came Etta M. Van Leer, who being duly sworn according to law says that Jane Van Leer, late of said county, died on the 8th day of Dec. 1922, at 8:15 o’clock a.m. and further saith not
Etta M. Van Leer
Sworn and subscribed this 21 day of Jan A.D. 1923
J. Clair Longwill
Register

Indiana County S.S.
I, Jno. H. Pierce, do swear by Almighty God, the Searcher of all hearts, that as Executor of the estate of Jane Vanleer, late of North Mahoning Twp, deceased, will will and truly administer the goods, chattels, rights, and credits of said deceased, according…