Wills: George Adam Egolf, 1795: New Hanover Twp, Montgomery Co, PA
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Surnames: Baker, Billmoyer, Bitting, Boyer, Burgert, Egolf, Feather, Hauberger,
Johnson, Krebs, Longbein, Markley, Nyce, Potts, Reifschneider, Richards,
Schneider, Smith, Snyder, Stofflet, Williams, Yerger
Will of George Adam Egolf, written Jan. 21, 1795
Book 1, p. 455 No. 1662 Proved 11 May [17]95
Montgomery County, PA
In the name of God amen, I George Adam Egolf of New Hanover Township in the
County of Montgomery being weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and
memory, do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form
following that is to say Inprimis it is my will and order that in the
first place all my just debts and funeral charges shall be paid and satisfied.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Mary my bed with bedstead [line
missing here] plates, six spoons, six knives and six forks, two chairs, one
bucket, one kneading trough, and one cow the choice out of my whole stock, to
hold the same to her my said wife Mary, her heirs and assigns forever. I also
give and bequeath unto my said wife Mary during her natural life or so long as
she remains my widow, the use of two rooms and kitchen, in the new part of my
house wherein I now reside and privilege in the cellar as much as she may have
occasion for, and my Executors at the Expense of my Estate shall provide a stove
in one of the said rooms for her, and such of my sons that shall accept of my
plantation shall provide firewood sufficient for her cut for immediate use at
her door, and shall deliver her annually six bushels of wheat, six bushels of
rye, four bushels of buckwheat, four bushel of potatoes, one bushel of Indian
corn, one hog that shall weigh one hundred pounds, fifty pounds of good beef,
one third part of the garden, her choice, one row of apple trees, her choice,
and six pounds in gold or silver money current in Pennsylvania - And in case
said wife Mary should get sick or unable such a one of my sons who shall accept
of my plantation shall have her washing done, her part of garden planted as she
directs and her cow milk milked, butter churned for her, and if her cow stands
dry supply her with milk and butter without charge or reward for doing the same.
Item: I give and devise unto my son Henry Egolf, if he will accept of it, and
if not unto my son Adam, John, Jacob or Michael/his heirs and assigns all my
Messuage Plantation and Tract of land whereon I now reside situate in New Han-
over Township aforesaid, Containing one hundred acres of land with the
appurtenances to hold to such a one of them as will accept of the same from and
immediately after my decease, his heirs and assigns forever, subject to the
privileges and annuity herein before mentioned, and yielding and paying there-
fore the sum of seven hundred and forty pounds in gold or silver current money
of Pennsylvania in manner following that is to say, If my said son Henry accepts
of the plantation he is to retain one hundred and fifteen pounds, thereof for
his share in the same, and pay yearly the sum of...[line missing]...pounds until
the whole is paid, the first payment of seventy pounds to be made within one
year after my decease - and touching my personal estate I order and direct that
the same shall be sold by public vendue within one year after my decease, and
the money arising out of such sale, as well as the surplus of the money arising
out of the land shall be divided in the following manner that is to say, the
sum of one hundred pounds thereof to be put out on interest by my executors on
sufficient surety and the interest thereof shall be paid annually unto my said
wife Mary during her life and after her decease each of my daughters shall have
six pounds thereof and the residue thereof to be equally divided amongst my five
sons share and share alike - And of the surplus after deducting the said one
hundred pounds I give and bequeath unto my son Jacob the sum of one hundred
twenty five pounds. Forty five pounds thereof to be paid within one year, the
further sum of forty five pounds within four years and the residue thereof with-
in seven years after my decease. Unto my son Adam one hundred and fifteen
pounds, forty five pounds thereof within one year the further sum of forty five
pounds within four years and the residue thereof within seven years after my
decease. Unto my son John one hundred and twenty seven pounds, forty five
pounds to be paid within two years the further sum of forty five pounds within
five years, the further sum of forty five pounds within seven years and the
residue thereof within eight years after my decease. Unto my son Michael one
hundred and fifteen pounds, forty five pounds thereof within three years, the
further sum of forty five pounds thereof within six years and the residue
thereof within eight years after my decease. Unto my daughter Catherine the
sum of fifty pounds, twenty five pounds thereof within two years and the residue
thereof within five years after my decease. Unto my daughter Elizabeth the sum
of fifty pounds, twenty five pounds thereof within three years and the residue
thereof within six years after my decease. And unto my Executor herein after
named the sum of fifty pounds, twenty five pounds thereof within eight years
and the residue thereof within nine years after my decease in trust never the
less to and for the only use and behoof of my daughter Anna Margaret (wife of
Sigmond Burgert) upon such conditions that the same shall be put on interest on
sufficient surety and the interest thereon accruing shall be annually paid unto
my said daughter Anna Margaret and in case the interest shall not be sufficient
to support her she shall have liberty to draw so much of the principal as
(together with interest) may be adjudged sufficient. And the rest and residue
of the money arising out of my real and personal estate after my just debts,
funeral charges and the legacies herein before given and bequeathed are duly
paid and satisfied, I give and bequeath unto my five sons to be equally divided
amongst them share and share alike to hold the aforesaid legacies to them the
said legatees their heirs and assigns respectively forever.
Item: It is my will and I do hereby order that [if] my said son Henry should
not accept of the Plantation on the terms aforesaid and neither of my other
sons should accept of it then and in such case whoever accepts of it, shall
have a right to deduct what is willed to him at the time my said son Henry
would have drawn his share and my son Henry shall have fifty pounds more
than an equal share of the fast money and is to wait with so much of his share
as the acceptors share amounts to. Until the acceptor would have drawn it. And
if neither of my said sons should accept of my plantation upon [the] terms
aforesaid in such case the same shall within one year after my decease be sold
by public vendue. And in lieu of the privileges and annuity herein before
given and bequeathed unto my said wife Mary, It is my will and do hereby order
that the sum of two hundred and sixteen pounds fifteen shillings of the purchase
money thereof shall be put out upon interest on sufficient surety and the
interest arising out of the same shall be annually paid unto my said wife Mary,
during her natural life or widowhood.
And it is my will that what I have herein before given and bequeathed unto my
said wife Mary shall be in lieu of her dower or thirds in my whole estate and
not otherwise. And the money arising out of such sale from the plantation as
well as out of the personal property shall not withstanding be divided in manner
and form herein before mentioned, and I hereby appoint my son Henry Egolf and
my son Adam Egolf Executor of this my last Will and Testament and empower them
( or the survivors of them) to Execute and Deliver Conveyances and Assurances
in Law for conveying and assuring my said plantation unto the purchaser or
purchasers thereof in Fee simple, hereby revoking all former wills by me made.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the twenty first day of
January in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five.
Item: It is my will and order that such part of the principal sum as shall
remain of the money, secured for my daughter Anna Margaret after her decease
shall be equally divided among her children share and share alike and in case
any of them should die under age and without lawful issue, such share or shares
of them so dying shall be equally divided amongst the surviving children (of
her) share and share alike.
George Adam (X his mark) Egolf
Signed, sealed, published and declared by the above named George Adam Egolf to
be his last will and testament, in the presence of us. [The] subscribers shall
have fifty pounds more then an equal share of the first money paid and ....[?]
before executed.
Witnesses: Benjamin Markley and Jacob Schneider
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George Adam Egolf Appraisement of Account
Presented May 9th, 1795
Entered in Book No. 2, page 126,
March 20, 1805
A fast and true Inventory and Conscionable Appraisement of the Personal Estate
of George Adam Egolf late of New Hanover Township in the county of Montgomery
deceased of what came to our hands, best to our skill and knowledge. Appraised
by us this twentieth day of March 1795. Witness our hands: Benj. Markely and
Sebastian Reifshneider.
2 Coats, -- 17.6;
4 close waistcoats, --.10;
2-- pair trousers, one pair breeches, --.10.;
4 shirts, --.15;
a hat, 3 pair woolen hose, 1 pair mitten, --.8--;
27 yards tow linen a 1/10 1/2, --2.20.7 1/2 ;
1 1/2 yard [?], 6/ 1 yard of cloth 5/, --.11--;
Cloaths [?], 3.10--;
5 table cloths --.13--; 4
sheets 15/ market wallet and other wallet, --1.--;
sheets, one ditto and one narrow one ditto --.9--;
4 towels 3/one wallet 1/, --4.--;
two hatchets,--.2.6;
flat iron 5/ and watering pot 6/, --.11--;
all his carpenter tools, 1.9--;
box with old tools, --.5--;
two baskets and a box with old iron, --.15--;
wagon boxes 5/ old plough share wedges, --.10--;
2 sheep shears; nails and 2 hammers,--.8--;2
handsaws 10/ and 2 bells 4/, --.14--;
2 kegs 2/6 and 6 baskets 8/, --10.6;
twenty four hour clock with case, 5.--.--;
large walnut table 12/ and 2 benches, --.15.6;
6 chairs of a pair of [?] 9/, --15.--;
ten plate stove with pipe, 6.--.--;
a reel 6/, 6.--. --;
Bed with blue bedstead, 5.10.--;
one ditto with high post bedstead, 6.10.--;
one ditto without bedstead, 5.10.--;
one ditto and ditto, 4.--.--;
36 # of tow yarn a 10, 1.9.9;
6 bags 12/ one copper kettle 3/, 2.2.--;
a fishing net 2/ 16 beehives 12/, --.14.--;
large straw basket 2/ large chest 5/, --.7--;
a small old chest a [?] 2/6, --.3--;
a large wheel 7/6 2 bushels flaxseed 12/, 1.1.6;
a [?] 10/ 10 pewter plates 1/,1.--.--;
2 pewter basins and 7 spoons, --.2--;
candle mould and funnel, --.5--;
coffee mill 1/6, Earthen dishes and 38 pots 8/4, --.9.10;
one keg 3/4 buckets 4/ 1 small cup 1/6, --.8--;
a piken 1/3 and one frying pan 6/6, --.7.9;
1 hammer, 1 large lathe, 1 small and 4 flesh forks, --.8.6;
fire tongs and shovel 2/, lock chain 7/6, --.9.6;
a skilled 6. and 6 bread baskets 2/, --.2.6;5
old hoes, 1 grubbing hoe, 2 axes, 2 tung hook and 2 [?], --.12--;
old six plate stove and old kettle, 1.4.--;
flax basket, 8 sugi [?] 2/8, --.5.8;
old shears and 2 butcher knives, --.1.6;
large iron kettle 15/ large tub and small, 1.7.--;
crosscut saw 7/6, 2 axes, 1 hatchet, 2 hammers, 7 picks, 1.2.6;
85 bushels of oats 2/6, 10.12.6;
8 ditto wheat 14/, 5.12.--;
6 ditto on rye 7/6, 2.5.--;
12 ditto buckwheat 3/9, 2.5.--;
2 ditto corn 5/, --.10.--;
4 ton of hay 52/6, 10.10.--;
a cotton wheel 7/, 2 pair wool carts and 1 cotton, --.17.--;
27# of Hackled flax 1/6, 2.--.6;
a half basket, 2/ butter boxes 7/6, --.9.6;
one five old cask, --.1.--;
a hoghead, --.5.--;
joyners bench, --.10--;
4 barrels 8/ a wooden funnel 1/, --.9--;
cabbage cut and a barrel with one head, --.6.--;
churn and old tub, --.3.--;
15 bushel of potatoes 8/, 2.5.--;
wagon with tethers and boards, 4.10.--;
a sled 5/ swingle tree with final and cleves [?], --.7.--;
a wheelbarrow, --.7.6;
two ploughs with cleves, 2.--.--;
250 feet of boards 8/, 1.--.--;
2 bridles 7/6 one pair of hobbles 1/, --.8.6;
gear for 2 horses viz treser,collors, quilers halters, 1.12.6;
curry comb 1/2 cutting box with a chest, --.4.11;
a windmill and 2 forks, 1.--.--;
thresh flails,8 rakes, --.2.6;
80 ft of plank, --.10.--;
one sorrel horse, 20.--.--;
one bay horse, 20.--.--;
one blind mare, 9.--.--;
one cow with one croocket [sic] horn, 7.10.--;
one brown cow, 6.--.--;
one black and white cow, 6.10.--;
one black and white cow with white head,
6.10.--;one brown cow with white fact, 5.10.--;
one heffer, 2.10.--;
one small bull, 1.17.6;
8 ewe sheep and 1 ram, 5.8.--;
two calves, 2.10.--;
5 swine pigs and three pigs 15/, 5.15.--;
harrow, --.15.--;
7 geese, 4.1.--;
grindstone, --.2.6;
a gun, --.12.--;
8 cow chains, --.11.--;
[sub-total] 218.18.6 1/2
Bonds, Notes, and Book Accounts:
Jacob Egolf Bond Principal 25, 30.14.10;
Jacob Egolf Note 10, 11.12.--;
George Burger Bond Principal 10, 10.18.8;
Anthony Bitting Note Principal 1.10, 1.10.--;
John Stofflet Note Principal, 4.6.9, int 27/3, 5.14.--;
Godfrey Longbein book acct., 3.11.6;
Catharine Snyder's book acct., 1.2.6;
David Williams book acct., --.8.7;
John Yerger book acct., --.1.4;
John Smith book acct., 5.14.6;
Jacob Snyder book acct., 2.--.4;
George Nyce book acct. 4.19.2;
John Snyder book acct. 1.7.8;
Joseph Bitting book acct. --.18.--;
Total this page 80.12.10 plus 218.18.6 1/2 =
grand total of 299.11.4 1/2
Montgomery County ss. The ninth day of May AD 1795 came before me the
subscribers one of the Justices of the Peace for the County aforesaid,
Benjamin Markley, Esquire and Sebastian Reifsnyder, and upon their Oath
respectively do say, that the foregoing is a Just and true Inventory and
Conscionable appraisement of the goods and Chattels which were of George Adam
Egolf late of New Hanover Township in the County of Montgomery aforesaid
deceased, of what came to their hands best to their skill and understanding.
Witnessed my hand of John Richards.
The accounts of Henry Egolf and Adam Egolf Executors of the past Township in the
County of Montgomery deceased. [show] the Accountants charge themselves with
the amount of Inventory duly proved and remaining in the Register's office of
Montgomery County.....To what the goods sold for more then appraised...22.11.10.
In the total amount of 299.11.4 1/2 and 22.11.10 = 322.3.22 [?]
Passed and subscribed March 10, 1805, signed Thomas Potts; Henry Egolf, and
Adam Egolf,
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Settlement of the Estate of George Adam Egolf deceased
Passed March 20, 1805 Book No. 2, page 126
By [costs], cash paid Register for proving will, 1.5.--;
Philip Boyer, 2.16.3;
John Smith, 3.19.--;
Peter Hauberger, 5.18.6;
Jacob Snyder, 2.6.7 1/2;
John Snyder, --.19.7;
John Richards, 5.17.6;
Catharine Snyder, 1.17.6;
Jacob Egolf, 2.5.--;
Richard Baker, 1.2.6;
Sebastian Reifsnyder, --.5.--;
John Stofflet, 3.1.7;
John Smith, 6.18.7;
Godfrey Longbein, 4.6.6;
George Nyce, 6.2.1;
Nicholas Johnson, --.6.3;
Michael Billmoyer, --.7.6;
Anthony Bitting, 1.10.--;
Benjamin Markley, 4.7.4 1/2;
George Fryer, 1.2.8;
By commissions allowed to the Executors, 22.11.--;
Register to Exam. and pass the account with advertisements
presenting the same to the court 2.18.9;
Clerk of Orphans Court, --.15.--;
for paid to putting advertisements, --.15.--;
By balance due the estate 235.8.52.
[Total] 322.3.22.
Montgomery County ss, I Thomas Potts Esquire, Register for the probate of
wills and granting Letters of Administration in and for the County aforesaid
do certify that a notice of the filing of the account of the Estate of George
Adam Egolf deceased by the Executors was put up in my office and that due proof
was this day made before me that three other notices was put up one at Philip
Boyer Jr. on at Isaac Feather's, and one at Henry Krebs three of the most
public places in the neighborhood of the parties interested and that all the
said notices were put up at least thirty days before this time agreeably to the
Act of Assembly in such case made and provided. Witness my hand this 13th day
of May A. D. 1805.
Thomas Potts, Dep. Register.
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Contributors Note: George Adam Egolf, born on Aug. 5, 1720 in Unterschefflenz,
Germany, arrived in America at the port of Philadelphia, on the ship Elizabeth,
on Oct. 30, 1738. George Adam married Maria Elizabeth Schaedler born Oct. 7,
1726 in Muenchweiler Germany. Both George Adam and Maria Elizabeth died in
New Hanover Township, Montgomery County and are buried at the Falkner Swamp
Reformed Church Cemetery. On his headstone, George Adam's birth date is given
as Feb. 5, 1724, which has been proven to be incorrect by records found in
Germany. His age at death 71 years, as given on his headstone, would also be
in error. George Adam died on Feb. 15, 1795 in his 74th year. Maria Elizabeth,
"Marilis" as her headstone reads, died on Aug. 7, 1808 at the age of 82 years
10 months. The George Adam and Marialis Egolf headstones are still readable,
and stand in the old cemetery of the Falkner Swamp Reformed Church. Both
headstones were cleaned and restored by Egolf descendents from across the US
and Canada in the summer of 1999. A special re-dedication ceremony was
conducted on Oct. 16, 1999 by the Rev. Donald E. Moyer, current minister at the
Swamp Reformed Church, now the Falkner Swamp Reformed Church of the United
Church of Christ. In Attendance were Egolf descendents from NY, NJ, MD, IN,
and PA.