Year: 2010

Will: John Huber (1792)

Kris Hocker on 20 Oct 2010

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

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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

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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

Kris Hocker on 18 Oct 2010

Peter Good Family Deed (1748)

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

Kris Hocker on 14 Oct 2010

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)

Kris Hocker on 6 Oct 2010

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…

Will: Henry Huber (1757)

Kris Hocker on 29 Sep 2010

Henry Huber of Martic Township wrote his will on 7 Aug 1757; it was proven on 17 Jan 1758. In it he names his son John and daughter Elizabeth, wife of John Bayer (Boyers). His executors were his friends Martin Bear and Henry Huber. Below is a transcription of this will. 1

In the name of God Amen I Henry Huber of Martick [sic]
Township in Lancaster County & Province of Pennsylvania Yeoman
being in Health of Body & of sound & disposing mind & memory
& considering of many Accidents & Casualties of attend & will at last
end this Mortal Live Do make & declare this my last Will & Testament
First & Principally Recommending my Imortal [sic] Spirit into ye Hands
of my great Creator Trusting in ye Merits of my Blessed Saviour Jesus
Christ for Pardon & Remission of all my Sins & happy admission
into ye Regions of Immortal Bliss Item I order & direct [?] all
my just Debts & Funeral Charges & Expenses be paid & discharged
as soon as it can be Conveniently done after my decease by my my [sic]
Executors herein mentioned ——— Item I Give & Bequeath
unto my beloved son John Huber the Half of my Real & Personal
Estate of Lands Money & Goods to him for ever & ye other half unto
my Daughter Elizabeth Bayers she to have ye same [?] [?]
the aforesaid John Huber her brother & ye said Elizabeth Bayers
Equally & Impartially the Plantation & Improvement excepted
wch [sic] is valued at £450 Currency Conditionally that is to say that
ye said John Huber shall pay unto ye said Elizabeth his sister
ye half of ye value of said Plantation wch is my desire that my faithful
Executor will see ye same done & performed according to my desire share &
share alike ——— And I do nominate and appoint my Loving
Friends Martin Bear & Henry Huber executors of this my last Will &
Testament disallowing & making Null & Void all former & other Wills &
Testaments by me at any time heretofore made of Executed declaring
this & no other to be & Contain my last will & Testament ——— N’B ye
value of ye above plantation is valued at £450 Currency wch is interlined above
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand N Seal this twenty
seventh Day of August ye Year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred
& fifty seven ———— Henry Huber (seal)

Signed Sealed & Delivered pronounced & declared by me the Testator to be
my last Will & Testment in the presence of us

James Hamilton Jacob Bölm Jacob Beÿer

Lancaster County [?] December 29th 1757 Before me the
Subscriber came Jacob Behm & Jacob Beyer two of the Witnesses to the
above & within written Will & on their solemn affirmation did declare
and say that they were present and saw & heard Henry Huber the
Testator above name Sign Seal Publish Pronounce and declare the above
& written writing as and for his last will & Testament & that at the
doing thereof he was of sound & dispersing Mind Memory & Understanding
to the best of their knowledge Observation & Belief

Edw’d Shippen

Be It Remembered that on the 29th day of December 1757 The Last
Will and Testament of Henry Huber deceased was proved in due form of
Law and Probate and Letters Testamentary were granted unto Martin
Bear and Henry Huber the Executor in the said Testament named
they being first duly Qualified well and truly to Administer the said
Decedents Estate To being and Inventory thereof into the Registers Office
at Lancaster on or before the 29th Day of January next And to render
a true and just Account of their [?] Administration when hereto
lawfully required

Given under the Seal of the said Office
& me Edw’d Shippin

Will: Abraham Huber (1827)

Kris Hocker on 22 Sep 2010

Abraham Huber of Conestoga Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania signed his last will and testament 23 Jul 1817; it was proven 9 Jun 1827. He named as his executors, sons John Huber and Abraham Huber. Abraham also named five daughters: Barbara (eldest), Mary, Christina, Ann and Elizabeth. This is a transcript of his will.1

Abraham Huber
Deceased

In the name of God, amen! I Abraham Hoover of
Canastogoe [sic] township in the County of Lancaster, and State of Pennsylvania,
farmer, being old and weak of body but of sound and disposing mind the
memory and understanding, and calling to and the uncertainty of
human life, and that is ordered for all men once to die, I therefore make my
last will and testament in manner following, to wit
First, I order and it is my will that all my just debts and funeral
expenses be paid and discharged out of my estate by my executors
Item, I give first and foremist [sic] to my oldest daughter Barbara, one hun
dred and twenty five pounds
Item, It is my will that my son John shall have the plantation
where I now live on, a part in Canastogoe [sic[ and part in Martick [sic]
township, and the said John shall pay in manner following, in one
year after my deseise [sic], he shall pay two hundred pounds and the other
years two hundred and fifty pounds till he pays eighteen hundred pounds
Item, And it is my will that my son Abraham shall have the plantation
that I bought of Christian Hoover and where my said son Abraham
now lives on, at the sum of eight hundred pounds, and the payments to
be maid [sic] in manner following, too [sic] hundred pounds in one year after my
deseise [sic] , and two hundred every year til the sum of eight hundred pounds
are paid, and this shall be both John and Abraham’s legacy in the said two
plantations, after them paying as aforesaid
Item I give and bequeath unto my five daughters Barbara, Mary, Christina, Ann
and Elizabeth all the money left of the personal estate after the said Barbara
having received the hundred and twenty five pounds, as aforesaid, and the
twenty six hundred pounds ordered to pay by my said two sons shall be equil [sic]
dividet [sic] amongst my said five daughters, share and share alike; And I do
order and it is my will that my executors shall pay to Barbara, Christina, and
Elizabeth as the aforesaid payments comes due till the[y] have received as much
as Mary and Ann, which are charged in a book kept by me, till the[y] be equil [sic]
and then share and share alike till all is paid
And lastly I do hereby nominate, make and appoint my two sons
John and Abraham Hoover, executors of this my last will and testament
Making hereby null and void all former wills by me maid [sic], declaring
this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness
whereof I have hereunto set me Hand and Seal this twenty third day
of July A. Domoni [sic] one thousand eight hundred and seventeen
Abraham Huber (seal)
Signed, sealed, delivered, pronounced and
declared by the testetor [sic] as his last will and
testament in the presents [sic] of us
Johannes Brenneman, Christian Lein

Lancaster County [??] On the 9th day of June anno domini 1827. Before me
the subscriber personally appeared John Breneman and Christian Lein
the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing will and on their solemn affirmations
according to law, did severally declare and say that they were present and
saw and heard Abraham Huber, the testator therein, sign, seal, publish
pronounce and declare the same, as and for his last will and testament,
and that at the time of the doing thereof he was of sound and well
disposing mind, memory and understanding, according to the best of
their knowledge, observation and belief. F.A. Muhlenberg Regtr
Be it remembered, that on the 9th day of June anno domini 1827. The last
will and testament of Abraham Huber, deceased, was proved in due form
of law and letters testamentary to John Huber and Abraham Huber, the
executors therein named, they having been first duly affirmed, according
to law, well and truly to administer the estate of the said deceased, and
especially to exhibit a true and perfect inventory thereof, into the Register’s Office
at Lancaster within one month, and to render a just and true account of
their executorship on said estate in one year or when thereto lawfully required;
and be that they will diligently and faithfully regard and will and
truly comply with the provisions of the act of Assembly relating to collat.
eral inheritances. Given under the Seal of the said office
F.A. Muhlenberg Regtr

Adding Sources in Reunion

Kris Hocker on 20 Sep 2010

Adding source information in Reunion for Mac is a straightforward process. Adding source information efficiently can be a little more tricky. This post shows how I’ve approached the problem.

There are two methods to input source data in Reunion.

Source Fields

When you want to add a source, you can select a source from the “Add Sources” menu on the person or source window. Selecting a source type will open a window with a selection of predetermined fields to fill out.

Adding a book as a source in Reunion

Adding a book as a source in Reunion

You can fill in your source information using these fields, or change the fields by either adding or deleting fields. You can also change the source type from this window. If you enter your information this way, your source will look something like this:

27. Ashby, Bernice M., Shenandoah County, Virginia Marriage Bonds, 1772-1850, Virginia Book Company, Berryville, VA, 1967, 170.

Free-Form Text

Alternatively, you can choose to enter your source information as “free-form” text. This is the solution I’ve chosen, primarily because I want my source citations to conform to accepted standards. Using this method, the same source (as above) would look like:

Adding a free-form text source in Reunion

Adding a free-form text source in Reunion

27. Ashby, Bernice M., Shenandoah County, Virginia Marriage Bonds, 1772-1850 (Virginia Book Company, Berryville, VA, 1967), page 170.

In both of these examples, I’ve included the page number as part of the post. That’s fine if you only need to reference one page in this book. But what if you want to cite multiple pages for for different people or events? Using this method, you’ll wind up adding this book to your source list multiple times. Not very efficient.

Detail Field

Using the Source Citation Detail field

Using the Source Citation Detail field

A good way around this is to make use of the “Detail” field associated with each source citation. In this case, I did not add the page number to the source, but instead added it to the source citation detail field as shown.

When you create a report and include sources, the source will be listed as in the free-form text example, including the page number. But you’ll be able to reuse source #27 for multiple citations with differing page numbers. This will save you time and effort in entering source data.

Much more efficient.

If you need more information on how to use the source citation detail field to capture information, please take a look at the Recording Source Detail in Reunion for Mac video on GenealogyTools.com. While we differ in our use of “Source Fields” vs. “Free-Form Text” and in the data we capture in the “Source Citation Detail” field, this video will give you a step-by-step tutorial on how to use the application.

Evidence! Citation & Analysis for the Family HistorianFor a great book on citations and analysis for family genealogists, please see Evidence! Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian.

Friday Finds: Help Using Reunion for Mac

Kris Hocker on 17 Sep 2010

If you use Reunion for Mac as your genealogy software program, then you should know about a couple of sites that provide very useful instructional videos: MacGenealogist.com and now GenealogyTools.com.

I consider myself pretty knowledgeable about computers and computer software, and I’ve never had any problems using the software, but I’ve picked up a couple of tips about using the software more efficiently.

Here are a couple of articles/videos I found useful:

Should You Judge Research by Its Source List?

Kris Hocker on 17 Sep 2010

I’m a firm believer in always providing source evidence for conclusions in your research. If I come across research that either doesn’t provide sources or lists someone else’s GEDCOM or FTM (Family Treemaker) files as a primary—or only—source, I’m likely to skip it altogether.

But can you judge a piece of research simply by looking at the source list? Is a long list of sources a guarantee of the quality of the research? Ben Sayers of Genealogy Tools.com makes a good argument in his article “The Dangers of Judging Reliability by Source Presence” that the answer is no. He argues that:

“Relying on sources as a soundness indicator in genealogy is like trying to understand a court case, but only having the witness list and the verdict. Sure you’ll know the outcome and you’ll know who was called to testify, but you won’t be able to understand why the decision was made. You won’t know what was asked nor what answers were given by whom. You won’t have a sense of the veracity of the testimony. And you won’t be able to get your own sense of whether the right decision was made. It’s the same thing with genealogy.”

A very good point.

I agree with his argument completely. I believe it’s important for every genealogist to actually do the research—postulate a theory, search for clues, locate the evidence, gather the records, evaluate and analyze the documentation, and draw your own conclusions. That last part is very important. I’ve been down too many wrong research roads because I made a half-hearted attempt at the evaluation and analysis and accepted someone else’s conclusions while ignoring conflicts with other information. Bad researcher!

This is the reason I try to provide as much evidence as possible for the conclusions I draw in my family research. It’s also the reason I’m considering posting those documents online and linking to them from the footnotes. I want share my research so that other genealogists are able to follow my research, review the evidence, and evaluate my conclusions for themselves. Who knows maybe that researcher will have different evidence that contradicts my conclusion and helps to break through a brickwall. And isn’t that what we’re all hoping for?

Will: Jacob Hoober (1788)

Kris Hocker on 15 Sep 2010

Jacob Hoober (aka Huber) wrote is will on 13 Mar 1788; it was proven on 9 Jun 1788. His executors were his brother John Huber and his brother-in-law Jacob Hoober. He names his wife Barbara and six children: eldest son Henry, daughter Barbara, sons Jacob, Christian and John, and youngest son Martin.1

“In the Name of God Amen
I Jacob Hoober Senior of Martick township Lancaster County
and State of Pennsylvania Being Weak in Body but of
Sound and Perfect mind & memory Blessed by God this
Day Do make & publish this my last will & testament in manner
following That is to say I wil that all my just Debts and funeral
Charges be paid & Satisfied as soon as conveniently can be after my
Decease or Death Item it is my will that my beloved wife Barbara
shall & may Enjoy the Benefit of my Plantation until my young-
est son Martin is sixteen years old and likewise it is my will that
my said wife is to have three horses or mares and five head of horned
cattle her choice in my stock and sheep, hoggs Plough & Horse
wagon gears for horses & other farming utensils & household fur-
niture and my wearing apparel what my said wife & my hereafter
nominated Executors shall think necessary which said goods &
chattles my said wife is to enjoy until my youngest son Martin
is sixteen years old as aforesaid and the Remainder of my personal
estate is to be sold by my Hereafter nominated Exrs by way of
publick sale after my death as soon as conveniently and out of the
Money arising thereby & out of my outstanding money it is my will
that my said wife shall have the sum of Thirty seven pounds
ten shillings in Gold or Silver as soon as the Money may be collected
out of which said Money my said wife is to give unto my daughter
Barbara One Good Bed & Bed sted, Spinning wheel & kitchen
furniture as she my said wife shall see cause and I will that
my Eldest son Henry shall have the sum of fifty pounds
in lawful Money in Gold or Silver to be paid unto him by my
Exrs in nine months after my death and in one year after the
payment of Henrys Money my son Jacob is to have the sum of
twenty-five pounds of like lawfull Money as aforesaid to be paid
unto him by my hereafter nominated Exrs And it is my will
that my Daughter Barbara shall have one new Chest & one
Milch cow out of the above mentioned cattle which I allow
to be kept on my Plantation untill my youngest son is six-
teen years old and it is further my will that my two sons
Christian & John shall be firmly bound unto my said wife
to obey her in all lawfull commands if she remains my Widow
until the [sic] are Eighteen years ould [sic] & it is further my Will that
as soon as my youngest Son Martin is Sixteen years ould [sic] the
all my Estate both Real & Personal Shall be sold by my here-
after nominted Exrs by publick sale unto the highest bidder
except what I shall hereafter mention to be given unto my
said wife viz one bed & furniture one Milck cow one horse
or Mare her choice out of the three which is left on the Plan-
tation her sadle [sic] & bridle and Household & Kitchen [?]
furniture what my said wife & my said Exrs shall thinck [sic]
necessary for her station and likewise the sim of seventy
five pounds of lawfull Money in Gold or Silver to be [?]
by my hereafter nominated Exrs as soon as the money can be raise
out of the last sale of my Estate and the before and above mentioned
personal Esate in full and in lease she y said wife should not
remain my Widow then in such a case I order and will that
[she] shall pay the sum of Fifty Pounds of like lawfull Money as above
said into my Exrs or children again out of the Seventy five pounds
Bequeathed heretofore unto her my said wife and it further is
my will that my said wife shall have the Intrest [sic] of the one third
part of the Money which will be raised out of my Real Estate while
she remains my Widow & no longer and She my said Wife is to have a
piece of land lying between my Meadow and Samuel Winters
land containing about twenty acres by the same more of less
on which land my Exrs is to build a house for her Before my son
Martin is sixteen years old which said House & the benefit of
twenty acres of Land she my said wife is to have During her
Natural life & after to fall to my six children or their Heirs, and
it is my will further that the Money arising out of the Estate
Both Real & Personal Including the Money which shall be
paid unto my Eldest Children, Shall and is to be Divided
among and between my six children Equaly [sic] share and
share alike only that Excepted which I have above and before
Bequeathed unto my wife Barbara condition as aboe and
before mentioned it is further my will that my Real Estate
shall be sold in Different Payments and out of the Money of
the first payments my eldest Children is to have their part
and portion first and so on as the [sic] came to be twenty-one
years ould, and I Do hereby Appoint & Nominate my trusty
& Beloved Brother John Hoober & my Brother in law Jacob
Hoober to be the Executors of this my Last Will & Testament
Impowering [sic] them or their Survivors to Grant & Execute Good
Deeds or Titles unto the purchaser or purchasers of my Real Estate
and hereby revoking all former Wills Bequeaths and Executors by
me made or apointed [sic] Ratifying & Conforming this and no other
to be my las Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have
hereunto set my hand & Seal this Thirteenth Day of March
in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and
Eighty eight

Jacob Huber (in german script)

Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the Testator as
his last Will and Testament in the presence of us.
John Huber, Christian [Echtenach?], John Hart

Lancaster County[?] On the ninth Day of June Anno Domini 1788 Before
me the subscribers personally appears John Huber, Christian [Echte
nach] and John Hart the three Subscribing witnesses to the above
foregoing instrument of writing and on the Solemn Affirmation
Respectively did declare and Say that they were present and saw
and heared [sic] Jacob Hoober the Testator therein named, Sign, Seal
publish pronounce and declare the said 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 understanding
to the best of their Knowledge, Observation and Belief. James Jacks Esq.

Be it Remembered that on the ninth day of June Anno Domini
1788 the last will and testament of Jacob Hoober late of Martick town
ship deceased, was proved in due form of law and letters Testamen
tary thereon were granted to John Hoober and Jacob Hoober
the Executors therein named they having first been duly
Qualified well and truly to Administer the Estate of the said de-
ceased and Especially to Exhibit a true and perfect Inventory
thereof into the Register’s Office at Lancaster within one Month
from this date and to Record a just and true Account
of their Administration on said Estate or where therewith
lawfully required Given under the Seal of said Office

Recorded & Examined by James Jacks Regstr”