A5 Maria Elizabeth (Marillas) Fisher, born 1761 in Pennsylvania, died 1820; married ca. 1780 Jacob Sell, born ca. 1735, died October 13, 1813, both are buried Evergreen Cemetery Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania.

1790 Thomas Fisher Sr. Will: "Fourthly I give and bequeath to my daughter... Mary Sell the sum of One Hundred and Seventy five Pounds to be paid them __ in Notes and Bonds which shall be in my Possession and __indue me at my Decease if so many there are, but if there should be not so much in Notes and Bonds then the remainder to be paid by my Wife out of the property left her in the Sums of twenty five pounds Yearly."

The Pub - Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Photograph taken May, 2016

Jacob was the second child of Peter and Anna Margaret Sell. He was probably born about 1735 in Skippack, Montgomery County, PA. He moved with his parents to what is now Adams County, PA about 1750 to 1760. He married (1) Eve Helman in 1776. When she gave birth to a child five months later, they agreed to separate as there were no suitable grounds for divorce in Pennsylvania at that time. He married (2) Maria Elizabeth (Marillas ) Fisher. They had six children: Jacob Jr., Anna Marie Wasmus, Catherine Bringman, Elizabeth Ebert, John and Henry Sell.

Jacob began as a cordwainer in Littlestown, PA, the maker of fine shoes. Then he became a merchant and owned a large house. In 1798 he purchased a 140 acre farm near Two Taverns, PA. In 1799 the family moved to Gettysburg, PA where he built two large houses on the square. One house is still standing at 20 Lincoln Square. A restaurant called "The Pub" operates there. He became a very successful merchant. By the time he retired he was rather wealthy but married to two women. An act of the Pennsylvania Legislature granted Jacob a divorce from Eve Helman [Statutes at Large of Pennsylvania from 1682 to 1809, v. 18, pp. 55-56.]

He was buried in the Reformed cemetery but moved to Evergreen.

Jacob Sell Will
[March 13, 1812]

In the name of God amen

I Jacob Sell of the Borough of Gettysburg in the County of Adams and State of Pennsylvania, merchant, being in perfect health of body and of sound mind, memory and understanding the (blessed be God for the Same) but considering the uncertainty of this transitory life, and fully sensible of the certainty of Death do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following.

Principally and first of all I commend my immortal Soul into the hands of God who gave it, and my body to earth to be buried in a decent and christian like manner at the discretion of my executor herein after named; and as to such worldly estate where with in that pleased God to help me in this life, I give and dispose of the same in the following manner to wit.

I order and it is my will that all my just debts and funeral expense be paid and discharged out of my estate by my executors as soon as convenient may be after my decease

Item, I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Elizabeth the following property during her natural life, to wit, two beds and bedsteads her choice, Six chairs her choice one cow her choice, a chest of Drawers, two tables, a Stove and pipe, all my Kitchen furniture and Dreper (?) with all furniture thereon, a looking glass, an eight day ____ and her choice of three rooms (the Storeroom excepted) in my personal Dwelling house for and during her natural life, with the privilege of using the cellar and at all times to cook and work in the kitchen, with privilege also of using one third of the garden, with privilege of taking water at the pump, and privilege of the yard, and with privilege of keeping a cow in the Stable, with liberty of one third of the loft to put hay in. To have and to hold the above Specified property to her the Said Mary Elizabeth for and during her natural life, and at her death it is my will and I do order that the Same be divided in four equal parts between my four children Mary, Catherine, Henry and John or their legal representatives. I also give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Mary Elizabeth the Sum of three hundred and twelve dollars lawful money of the United States to be paid by my two sons, Henry and John, yearly and every year during her natural life. All which bequests to my Said wife, I do hereby declare to be in lieu and stead of her dower of common Law.

Item. I give and bequeath onto my son Jacob Sell the Sum of Five hundred dollars lawful money of the United States to be paid by my executors in payments as follows, to wit, Fifty pounds yearly and every year until the whole of the Said five hundred is fully paid, the first payment to be made at the expiration of one year from and after my decease. The Same to be in full Satisfaction as well for all claims he may have against my estate as also for all labors and Service done by him Since his arrival at the age of twenty one Years.

Item. I give and bequeath onto my daughter Elizabeth intermarried with George Gilbert the Sum of five hundred pounds lawful money of the United States to be paid by my executors in payments as follows, to wit, Fifty pounds yearly and every year, until the whole of the Said five hundred pounds is fully paid, the first payment to be made at the expiration of one year after my decease.

Item. I give and bequeath onto my two daughters Mary and Catherine their heirs and assigns forever as tenants in common and not as joint tenants my tract of Land with the appurtenances, _______ in Straban township Adams County adjoining lands of Hugh Jackson, Henry Colstock, George Matter and others, containing one hundred and Seventy four acres more or less. I also order and direct that the dwelling house on my Said farm or tract of land herein devised to my two Daughters be finished and completed by my executors, and the expense arising there from to be paid out of my personal estate and that my executors also make a port and rail fence along the State road which goes through my Said farm, and pay the expense of making the Same out of my personal estate. I also give and bequeath unto my two daughters Mary and Catherine the Sum of four hundred and eighty nine pounds lawful money of the United States, to be paid to them or their legal representatives by my two sons Henry and John in payments as follows, to wit, to each of them one hundred pounds at the expiration of one year from and after the death of their mother my beloved wife, and ___ on one hundred pounds to each of them yearly and every year until each of them has received the Said Sum of four hundred and eighty nine pounds provided never the less that either or both of my Said Daughters Mary and Catherine should marry before their Mothers decease, then and in that case it is my will that they on the day of Marriage are each to receive One hundred pounds part of the Said four hundred and eighty nine pounds, which they were each to receive in payments as above.

Item. All the residue of my house - hold furniture not herein fore disposed of, I give and bequeath unto my four children Mary, Catherine, Henry and John to be equally divided at my death among and between them or the Survivor or Survivors of them.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my two sons John and Henry theirs heirs ands assigns forever as tenants in common and not as joint tenants my dwelling House and lot of ground with the appurtenances, in which I now reside, subject to the payment of the aforesaid Sum of money, legacies, bequests and conditions (?), Together with all the rest and residence of my estate real and personal of whatsoever kind or nature and wheresoever ________ subject to the payments of the aforesaid legacies, bequests and reservations. To hold them their heirs and assigns forever tenants in common and not as joint tenants.

And lastly I do nominate, constitute and appoint my two sons John and Henry to be executors of this my last will and testament. Hereby reworking all and every will and wills, legacies, devises and bequests, by me heretofore made and declaring this and this only to be my last will and testament. In testimony thereof, I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal this thirty first day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twelve.

Jacob Sell      

Signed, Sealed, published, pronounced and declared by the Said testor in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request have subscribed as Witnesses.

The words as payment of the interlined before Signing.
James Gettys.
William Maxwell
__________

Evergreen Cemetery Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania

B1 Jacob Sell, Jr.

B2 Anna Maria Sell, born September 28, 1780, died April 15, 1870, buried Evergreen Cemetery Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania; married Henry Wasmus, born 1770, died 1854.

B2 Catharine Sell, born March 16, 1782, died June 1, 1858, buried Evergreen Cemetery Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania; married John Bringman.

B3 Elizabeth Sell, born May 22, 1784, died October 15, 1836, buried Evergreen Cemetery Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania; married George Ebert , born 1778, died 1833.

B4 Henry Sell, born May 24, 1788, died July 17, 1854, buried Evergreen Cemetery Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania; married September 13, 1818 Anna Mary Ebert.

B4 Henry Sell was the son of Jacob and Maria Elizabeth (Marillas) Fisher Sell. He was baptized at Christ Reformed Church, Littlestown, PA on June 29, 1788. His father, an up an coming merchant, moved to Gettysburg about 1799. As a young boy Henry lived in a large house [still standing] on the square in Gettysburg, which his father built in 1801. Henry married Anna Mary Ebert, of West Manchester Township, York County, PA, on September 13, 1818 in Harrisburg, PA. They moved to York. Henry and his brother John operated a store in Hanover, PA for about 10 years beginning in 1828. Henry returned to Gettysburg where he lived for the remainder of his life. After Henry's death Mary moved to Springfield, IL with her two youngest children.