Month: October 2010

Will: George Hoober (1775)

George Hoober of Mount Pleasant Township, York County, Pennsylvania signed his will on 21 Oct 1772; it was proven on 2 Feb 1775. He named his son John and friend George Fisher as his executors. In the document he also named his wife Barbara, daughter Barbara wife of Conrad Staly, and “my three grandchildren of Jacob Hoober Deceased.”1

In the Nam [sic] of God amen, I George Hoober of mound [sic] plesent [sic] Township
in the County of York and Province of Pennsylvania Yeoman being weak in Body but
of Sound and Perfect understanding Considering the uncertain continuance of my Life
and the many Hazards and Dangers that it is obnoxious To and being Desirous to
leave that small Estate and fortune Which God has been Pleased to Pass me with in
my family and That I may have Nothing of this Transitory World or the Intanglements [sic]
Thereof to Incumber [sic] my thoughts and Contemplations With at my going out of it but
to think and meditate of the next World and the Inestimable Blessings and Comforts
That are There to be Enjoyed, I Do make this my Last will and Testament In
maner [sic] following Hereby Revoking all former wills by me made and first I Resign my
Soul to the Great and most merciful God That made it and my Body I commit to the
Grave to be Decently Buried and as to my Worldly Estate I Dispose thereof as Followeth
that is to Say I do first appoint all my Lawfull [sic] Debts and funeral Expences [sic] to by paid out of
my Estate by my Executors Herein after Named Item I give to my Son John Hoober all my
Estate Both Real and Personal to hold to him his Heirs Executors administrators and Assigns
and I do or[ther] That my Belovid [sic] Wife Barbara Hoober shall have her Suficent [sic] mentaine-
nce [sic] out of the aforesaid Estate During her Natural life by my aforesaid Son or his Heirs Item
I Give and order that my aforesaid son his Heirs Executors administrators shall pay
unto my three grandchilderon [sic] of Jacob Hoober Deseased [sic] the sum of Twenty Pounds to by
Equily [sic] Devided [sic] amongst them and that three years after my Desease [sic] and Barbara my
Wife and Twenty Pounds I Give and order to my Daughter Barbara the wife of Conrad
Staly to be paid by my said son John as aforesaid in four years after my Desease [sic] and my wife
as aforesaid and I make ordain my well beloved son John Hoober and my frind [sic] Thomas
fisher Sole Executrix of this my Lasat [sic] will and Testament in Trust for the Intents and
Purposes in this my will contained to Perform according to my True Intent and meaning
in Witness whereof I the said George Hoober have to This my Last will and Testament Set
my Hand and Seal The Twenty First Day of october in the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven
Hundred and Seventy Two———
Signed Sealed and Published by the said George Hoober in the
Presents [sic] of us who subscribed our names in the Testators presence } George Huber (seal) [German script]
and at his request —————
Johannes Georg Huber [German script]
[German script, can’t read]
John Smith

York County Ss Before me Samuel Johnston Esquire Deputy Register for the Probate of
Wills and Granting of Letters of Administration in and for the County of York in the Province
of Pennsylvania personally came Johann George Hoober and John Smith Esquire two of the
subscribing Witnesses to the foregoing Instrument of Writing and the said Johann George
Hoober on his solemn Oath taken according to Law and the said John Smith on his Solemn
Affirmation taken according to Law he conscientiously scrupling to taking of an oath do
respectively say they were personally present and saw and heard George Hoober the Testator above
named Sign Seal publish and declare the foregoing Instrument of Writing as and for his last
Will and Testament that at the time of doing thereof the said George Hoober was of sound dispo
sing Mind Memory and understanding according to the best of this Deponents and Affirments [sic]
Knowledge and belief that they subscribed their Names as Witnesses to the same in the presence
of the said Testator and at his request and that they also saw Detter Hobarh sign his name
to the same as a Witness at the same time in the presence of the said Testator and at his request
Sworn Affirmed & Subscribed————– Johann Georg Huber
before me at York the 2 Day of February 1775 } John Smith
Saml Johnston Depy Regr
Both Exrs sworn Inventory in 2 months

A true copy compared with the original at York
Sam Johnston Depy Regr

Memorandum That Letters Testamentary in Common form
were granted to John Hoober and Thomas fisher of the Estate of George Hoober late
of York County Yeoman Deceased Inventory to be Exhibited into the Registers Office
at York at of before the second Day of April next and an Account or Reckoning at
or before the second day of February next Given under my Hand and the Seal of the said Office
at York the second Day of February 1775.

Will: John Huber (1792)

John Huber of Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania wrote his will 6 Oct 1792; it was proven 15 Dec 1792. He named his friends Henry Hershberger and John Bechtol his executors and named his wife Susanna and his children John, Jacob, Anna and Susanna as his heirs.1 This is a transcription of his last will and testament.

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John Huber, deceased

In the Name of God Amen
I Huber of Cocalico Township in the County of Lancaster and State of Penn
sylvania Yoman being sick and weak in Body by of perfect sound
Mind Memory and Understanding thanks be to God therefor having

-p.408
taken into consideration the mortality of mankind have thought pro
per to publish this my last Will and Testament in Manner and form
following that is to say Principally and first of all I Recommend my
immortal Soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it to be in
mercy received through the merits of my Redeemer Jesus Christ and my
Body I give unto the earth to be buried in a Christian and decent
manner at the discretion of my herein after named Executors and as tou
ching those Worldly estates wherewith it has pleased God to Bless me with
in this life, after my Just debts & funeral expences [sic] shall be paid I give
devise and bequeath in manner & form following that is to say Impromis
I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Susanna Huber all
and singular my Messuage or Tenement Plantation Pieces of Tracts of
Land Together with all and singular the Goods Household Stuff Im
plements and furniture of what kind or nature soever to be held
possessed and enjoyed by my said wife and children until my eldest
son John Huber arrives to the age of one and twenty years if she remains
a widow and names her After my name and then my said Messuage
or Tenement Plantation Pieces or Tracts of Land shall be valued & appraised
by four Arbitrators indifferently chosen between my executors herein after
named and shal [sic] sell all my personal estate by public sale and my
said beloved wife Susanna shall have the third share of both Real
and Personal estate (if she remains a widow as aforesaid) and my
said son John shall have the said Messuage or Tenement Planta
tion Pieces or Tracts of Land for said valued  price and my executors
shall have ful [sic] power and authority to grant him a Deed for
the same and to fix for him the terms of payment I order that the
said Valued sum and of the Personal estate shall be distributed to and
among all my heirs share and share alike after my said beloved
wife Susanna have Received her share as aforesaid Yet nevertheless
that he my said son John Huber with his other Brother and Sisters shall
have and inherit out and from said state on equal full share
and dividend with the other of my Children viz: Jacob Huber,
Anna Huber and Susannah Huber Item It is my will in case my said
beloved wife Susanna Huber should get an inclination for a other place
at any time or times after my decease I allow her to bury me

-p.409
wherever she shall seem meet (to have and to hold the same until my
said son John shall arrive to the age of one and twenty years then and
in that case I allow and it is my will that my executors shall have
full Power and authority to sell me whole estate both real and Perso
nal by Public sale for the best prices they can get and give such Deed
or Deeds Conveyances as by the Buyer or Buyers shall be lawfully
required and to give part thereof unto my said beloved wife for the
Purchase of her [intended?] place and the Remainder there to put
upon Interest until my said son John Huber shall arrive to his age
aforesaid and then the same shall be sold again by my executors
aforesaid and Divided as aforesaid Further it is my Will that if my
said beloved wife Susanna Huber should marry again then and in
that case my executors shall sell my whole estate in manner and form
as aforesaid and my said wife shall have no more but her third
According to law Further I do enjoyn [sic] my executors to give my said
Children good scholing [sic] and to put my said two sons John & Jacob
too [sic] trade and lastly I nominate ordain and appoint my beloving [sic] friend
Henry Heshberger and John Beikdol executors of this my last Will and
Testament hereby revoking making null and void all former Wills
by me made Ratifying and allowing this an no other to be my last
Will and Testament In witness whereof I have hereunto set me hand
& Seal the sixth day of October in year of our Lord one thousand seven
hundred and ninety two
John Huber (seal)

Signed Sealed publish
ed declared and pronounced by said John Huber his last Will and Testa
ment in the presence of us the Subscribers who in the presence and at the
request of said Testator and in presence of each other signed our names Mi
chael Young George Heft Lancaster County [Ssr?] On the fifteenth day
of December Anno Domini 1792 Before me the Subscriber personally appear
ed Michael Young and George Heft the two subscribing witnesses to the with
in Instrument in writing and upon their Solemn affirmation according to
Law did declare and say that they were present and saw and heard John
Huber the Testator therein named Sign Seal publish pronounce and declare
and declare the said writing as and for his last Will and Testament and that
at the time of doing thereof he was of sound and well disposing Mind
Memory and Understanding to the best of their Knowledge Observation and belief
Be it Remembered that on the fifteenth day of December Ann Domini 1792
the last Will and Testament of John Huber late of Cocalico Township Yeoman
deceased was proved in due form of Law and Letters Testamentary thereon
were granted to Henry Hersberger and John Bechtol the executors therein na
med they having first been duly qualified well and truly to administer
the estate of the said deceased and especially to exhibit a true and perfect
Inventory thereof into the Registers Office at Lancaster within one month from
this Date and render a just and true Account of their Administration on
said estate within one year or when thereto lawfully required Given under
the Seal of said Office                           G. Ross Register

Examined & recorded  G.Ross Register

Lost in Transcription

Abstracts are an invaluable source of information for genealogical research. They allow you to compile more information in less time across multiple family lines. But if they include—at best—ambiguously worded or—at worst—incorrect information, they can also cause confusion. Don’t stop at the abstract. If you find a useful reference in an abstract, always get the original document, too!

A case in point: I’ve been working on the Hoovers of the Conestoga/Martic Township area. I’ve also been compiling information on other families they interacted/intermarried with in the neighborhood. A series of deeds in the Lancaster County Deed Book B abstracted in Lancaster County Pennsylvania Land Records 1729-1750 and Land Warrants 1710-1742 provide information on the children of Peter and Margaret Good of Martic Township.

An abstract of a deed between the heirs of Peter Good and Christian Shank includes the following:

“Margaret Good widow of Peter Good of Lancaster Co., yeoman dec’d, Jacob Good eldest son of dec’d, John Good another son of dec’d, Michael Prennaman and Anna his wife daughter of dec’d, John Shaffer and Margaret his wife and daughter of dec’d, Elizabeth Good and Mary Good daughters of dec’d’s younger son Peter, to Christian Shank who intermarried with Barbara daughter of dec’d…”1 [Emphasis mine]

From this abstract it would be logical to conclude that Elizabeth and Mary were granddaughters of Peter & Margaret Good, and daughters of their youngest son Peter. My reading of the deed itself, reveals something different:

“This Indenture made the thirtieth day of December in the year of our Lord 1748 Between Margaret Good widow and relict of Peter Good late of the county of Lancaster in the Province of Pennsylvania yeoman Dec’d Jacob Good eldest Son of the said Dec’d John Good another Son of the said Dec’d Michael Prennaman and Anna his wife John Stovar and Margaret his wife another of the Daughters of the said Dec’d Elizabeth Good and Mary Good two more of the said Dec’d Daughters and Peter Good youngest son of the sd Dec’d of the one part and Christian Shank who intermarried with Barbara one of the Daughters of the said Dec’d of the other part…”2 [Emphasis mine]

The deed itself is much clearer about who was Elizabeth and Mary’s father—Peter Good (Sr.). Take a look yourself and see if you agree:

Peter Good Family Deed (1748)

Good & others to Christian Shank (1748) (Click to enlarge)

The abstracts for the deed recorded prior to this one—Good & others to Good [Deed Book B:579]—and the one after this one—also Good & others to Good [Deed Book B:581]—use the same wording, implying that Elizabeth and Mary were daughters of Peter’s son Peter. The deeds themselves refer to Elizabeth and Mary as “two more of the said Decedants Daughters.”3,4

Peter Good Heirs Signatures

Peter Good Heirs Signatures

Furthermore, while both Elizabeth and Mary signed the deeds, Peter Good did not. This, I believe, is because he was underage in 1748, being only about 13 years of age—making it nearly impossible that Elizabeth and Mary were his daughters.5

So, while abstracts can—and should—play a valuable part in your family research. It’s always a good idea to get the original document if it’s available. You never know what might have been lost or changed in the transcription.

A Bundle of Genealogical Joy from PerSI

I just got a delivery of articles that I ordered from PERSI. 87 pages of genealogical material to go through looking for information that could help my research. I love getting new materials to go through, so this was like getting a packet of genealogical joy in my mailbox! Just browsing through it, I’ve already seen several more sources to look up.

What’s PERSI? It’s the PERiodical Source Index. The good people at the Allen County Public Library have been collecting genealogy and local history periodicals since the 1800s. Over the past decade or so, they’ve been indexing it by surname, location, and research methodologies (for how-to articles). There are nearly 1.8 million items in the index from thousands of publications.

You can search the index through HeritageQuest—available in a lot of libraries, sometimes with remote access—or Ancestry.com. Once you find something of interest, you can order copies of the article from the Allen County Public Library Foundation. There is a handling fee and a per page copying fee. All in all, I got 87 pages of materials for less than $25.00. The order form is available online or you can download a PDF. Simply print it, fill it out, write out a check, and send it to the address on the form. 6-to-8 weeks later you may get your own bundle of genealogical joy.

Will: Jacob Huber (1810)

Jacob Huber of Martic Township, Lancaster County wrote his will on 6 Nov 1808; it was proven 30 Nov 1810. In it he names his son Martin Hoober and his son-in-law Abraham Hoober, husband of his daughter Anna, as his executors. He also names his son Martin Hoober of Martic Township, his daughter Barbara Hoober, wife of Henry Hoober, of Rockingham County, Virginia, his daughter Anna, wife of Abraham Hoober, his daughter Susanna, wife of Abraham Gochenhower, his grandson Christian Huber, a son of daughter Barbara, and his grandson Jacob and granddaughter Barbara, children of his deceased son Jacob.1

Will of Jacob Huber Deceased

In the name of God amen! I Ja
cob Huber of Martick Township in the County
of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania———
Farmer, being Weak in Body and for Advanced Age
but of sound and disposing Mind Memory & Understanding,
and Calling to mind the Uncertainty of human Life, and that it is ordered
for all men once to die, I therefore make my Last Will and Testament in
the following manner (to wit) First I order and it is my Will that all my
Just Debts and Funeral Expences be paid and discharged by my Executors
out of my Estate as Soon as Conveniently may be after my Decease
Item it is my Will and I do order that my Executors shall as Soon as can
be after my decease put and keep the Sum of One Thousand pounds good
current Money out of my Estate at Interest on good Security and with
the yearly Interest arising from said sum they shall provide a good and
Comfortable Living and Support for my beloved Wife Barbara during her
Life she being at present in a distressed Situation and entirely unable to
manage her own Affairs, I therefore charge my Executors to take Special
care of her and if the Interest of said Sum Should not be Sufficient for
her Support and Maintenance, then I impower my Executors to take
as much from the principal at Sum Yearly as may be Sufficient with the
Interest to provide a comfortable Living for her, and in case my said
Wife Barbara Should at any time after my Deceased recover her Senses
so as to be able to manage her own affairs then and in that Case I give
and bequeath the said sum of One Thousand pounds or so much thereof
as may remain unto my said Wife Barbara and to her heirs and Assigns
forever. Item, I give and bequeath unto my Son Martin Hoober all that
certain piece or parcel of Land whereon he now Lives Situate in said
Martick Township containing One Hundred and Thirty acres (more of less)
According to the metes and bounds as they are Specified in a Certain Draft
thereof made. To hold the same with the Houses buildings and Appurtenan
ces thereto belonging unto my said Son Martin Hoober his heirs and
Assigns forever. And I do hereby declare that the said bequest is and
shall be the full and whole Share of my son Martin out of all my
Estate real and personal, Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter
Barbara (the wife of Henry Hoober) my Tract of Land Situate in
Rockingham County in the State of Virginia containing one Hundred
and Forty acres (more of less) being the same whereon they now live
To hold the said Land withthe Appurtenances unto my said Daughter Barbara
her heirs and Assigns forever. And I value and Appraise the said Land
to her or them at and for the sum of Three hundred and Ten pounds Current
Money of Pennsylvania and to be Charged against her as part of her share
out of my Estate. Item I give unto my grand Children Jacob Hoober and
Barbara Hoober (being the children of my deceased son Jacob Hoober)
the Sum of One Dollar as and for their ful lshare out of all my Estate real
and personal I having formerly by Deed granted and Conveyed unto their
Said Father One Hundred and Fourteen acres of Land with a Mill there
on erected which was to be in full for his share out of all my Estate, and
my said grand Children are now the only heirs to the same. Item I give
and bequeath unto my grand son Christian Hoober (being the son of my
said Daughter Barbara who is intermarried with the aforesaid Henry
Hoober) the Sum of Fifty pounds good & Lawful Money of the State of
Pennsylvania aforesaid which said sum is to be deducted out of the amount
of my said Daughter Barbara’s share of my Estate and by my Executors
put out to Interest on good Security during the Minority of my said grand
Son Christian Hoober, and as soon as he may arive at the Age of
Twenty One years, I do order that the same shall be paid to and for
the use of the said Christian or his legal Representatives. Item the
rest residue and remainder of my Estate real and personal including there
in the said valuation sum of Three Hundred and Ten pounds of my
Daughter Barbara’s Land, likewise the sum of Fifty  pounds Lawfull
Money bequeathed to my Grandson Christian Hoober, and also including
all such Sums of Money and Effects which I have heretofore and may
hereafter Advance to my three Daughters (to wit) Ann the wife of
Abraham Hoober, Barbara the wife of Henry Hoober aforesd, and Su
sanna the wife of Abraham Gochnower and by me entered in a
Book against them, I order to be divided into three equal parts
And one equal third part thereof I give and bequeath unto my
Said Daughter Ann the wife of Abraham Hoober and to her heirs
and Assigns forever. And one other equal third part thereof
I give and bequeath unto my said Daughter Barbara the wife of Henry
Hoober and to her heirs and Assigns forever. And one other equal third part
thereof I give and bequeath unto my said Daughter Susanna the wife of
Abraham Gochenhower and to her heirs and Assigns forever. And after
the Death of my Said Wife (in case remains insane) I give and bequeath
the sum herein given for the support of my Wife or so much as may then
remain thereof unto my said three Daughters to be divided among them or
their Legal Representatives share and share alike. And Lastly I do
hereby Nominate and Appoint my said son Martin Hoober and my said
son in law Abraham Hoober Executors of this my Last Will and Testa
ment making hereby null and Void all former and other Wills and
Testaments by me made declaring this and no other to be my Last Will
and Testament. Witness my had and seal the Sixth day of November
in the year of our Lord one Thousand and eight Hundred & Eight
Jacob Huber (seal)

Signed, Sealed, Published Pronounced and Declared by the
Testator as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us Witness
es thereto called John Hoober Sr., John Hoober, Benj Hart

Lancaster County [Ssr?] On the 30th day of November Anno Domini 1810
Before me the subscriber personally appeared John Hoober Senr John
Hoober and Benjamin Hart who being duly affirmed according to Law
do declare and say that they were present and saw and heard Jacob
Huber the Testator, sign seal publish pronounce and declare the with
in writing as and for his last will and Testament and that at the doing
thereof he was of sound and well disposing mind, memory, and under
standing to the best of their knowledge, observation and belief.
William Bausman, Regr

Be it remembered that on the 30th day of November Anno Domini
1810 The last Will and Testament of Jacob Huber late of Martick
Township in the County of Lancaster deceased was proved in due
form of the law and Letters Testamentary thereon were granted
Martin Hoober and Abraham Hoober the executors therein named…