[Note: Surname is variously spelled Kleh, Klee and Kley in the estate papers.]
Estate Events
| 17 Aug 1757 | Will signed |
| 7 Nov 1763 | Will proved, translated |
| 7 Nov 1763 | Administration Bond: Lisa Margaret Kleh, Mathias Stautt, Jacob Miller |
| 24 Nov 1763 | Inventory and Appraisement |
| 10 Sep 1781 | Administration Account |
[written in German]
Will of Nicholas Kleh, Bern Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, written 17 August 1757, proved 7 November 1763. Executor: wife Lisa Margaret. Witnesses: Jacob Grimm, David Grimm, Jacob Dester. (Original Will written in German.)
Translation of Will of Nickel Kley
Nov. 7, 1763
In the name of God, amen, I Nicholas Klee of Bern Township have by my present weakness taken in consideration my mortality and am willing while I have my natural understanding to order my little worldly Estate as followeth.
Firstly, I give over to my wife, Lisa Margareth, all my Estate, let it be of what name it will, until the youngest of my children hath arrived to the age of fourteen years if she so long remaineth a widow. But if my wife within the said fourteen years the household burthen no longer would or could bear, she shall have liberty my Estate at her choice to give to one or more of my children when first the Estate by indifferent men is appraised, let it be land or moveables, and they also that take it shall with the rest of their brothers and sisters according to the Appraisement in equal shares be divided. The Mother's third part she shall keep undivided. But if my wife should marry again before the above said fourteen years be at an end, or before she giveth over housekeeping unto my children, so shall my Estate be as above appraised, and two third parts among my children in equal shares be divided, and to that division if my wife doth marry do I choose for guardians for my children my trusty friends Mathias Staut and George Gernant, and make void all by me before made Testaments.
To the strength of this have I this Seventeenth day of August in the year of Christ Seventeen hundred and fifty seven [1757] my own hand's subscription and seal set thereunto.
Sealed and subscribed as his last Will
Nickel Kleh {Seal}
and declared in the presence of us
Jacob Grimm David Grimm Jacob Dester
The above translation made by Jacob Dester, Nov'r 7, 1763.
Berks County, Pennsylvania SS.
Reading, November 7th, Anno Domini 1763
Then personally came Jacob Grimm and Jacob Dester, two of the witnesses to the within written Last Will and the said Jacob Grimm upon his solemn Oath on the Holy Evangelists and the said Jacob Dester on his solemn Affirmation according to Law (he declaring himself conscientiously scrupulous of taking an oath) did severally declare and say that they were present and saw and heard Nickel Kleh sign seal publish and declare the same to be his Last Will and Testament, and that the said Testator was, at the time of the doing thereof, of sound mind, memory and understanding; and also that the names Jacob Grimm and Jacob Dester thereto subscribed were by them, the Deponent and Affirmant respectively, subscribed as witnesses (David Grimm also subscribing at the same time as a Witness) thereto, in presence of each other, and at the request and in presence of the said Testator.
Coram me
James ---, D. Reg'r
Nov. 7th, 1763
Know all men by these presents that We, Lisa Margaret Kleh, widow of Nicholas Kleh, late of Bern Township in the County of Berks in the Province of Pennsylvania, yeoman deceased, Mathias Stautt, miller, and Jacob Miller, yeoman, both of the said Township
are held and firmly bound unto William Rumsted, Register General for the Probate of Wills and granting Letters of Administration in and for the Province of Pennsylvania in the sum of Four Hundred pounds lawful money of the said Province to be paid to the said William Rumsted, Register General, his certain Attorney, Executors, Administrators or Assigns. To which payment well and truly to be made we do bind ourselves, our Heirs, Executors, Administrators and every of them jointly and severally for and in the whole firmly by these Presents. Sealed with our Seals, dated the seventh day of November in the Year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty three [1763].
Whereas Nicolas (or Nichel) Kleh afores'd did on the 17th day of August in the Year of Our Lord 1757 make his last Will and Testament in writing under his hand and seal, but nominated no Executor or Executrix thereof and did publish the same before witnesses, whose names are thereto subscribed, and the said Testator is since deceased; Which Will and Testament of the said Nicholas Kleh was this day duly proved in the Register General's office at Reading in the County of Berks aforesaid; and Administration of the Goods & Chattels, Rights & Credits of the said deceased and of the Last Will aforesaid was this day committed to Lisa Margaret Kleh, aforesaid, Widow of the said deceased, with the Will annexed.
Now the condition of this obligation is such that, if the said Lisa Margaret Kleh, Administratrix; with the Will annexed, of all and singular the Goods Chattels Rights and Credits which were of the above named Nicholas Kleh, deceased, do make or cause to be made a true and perfect Inventory of all and singular the Goods Chattels Rights and Credits which were of the said deceased within the said Province which have or shall come to the Hands Possession or Knowledge of the said Lisa Margaret Kleh, or into the Hands Possession or Knowledge of any other person or persons for her and the same so made do exhibit or cause to be exhibited into the Register General's Office at the Town of Reading in and for the County of Berks at or before the Seventh day of December next. And the same Goods Chattels Rights and Credits which were of the said deceased at the time of his death or which at any time heretofore have come or hereafter shall come into the Hands Possession or Knowledge of the said Lisa Margaret or of any other person or persons for do well and truly administer according to Law. And further do make or cause to be made a true and just Account Calculation or Reckoning of the said Administration at or before the Seventh day of November in the Year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty four [1764]. And all the rest and residue of the said Goods Rights and Credits which shall be found remaining upon the said Administratrix's Accompt, the same being first examined and allowed of by the Orphan's Court of Berks County shall deliver and pay to such person or persons as the said Court by its Decree or Sentence shall limit and appoint. And if it shall hereafter appear that any other Will and Testament of a later date than the Will and Testament herein afore recited was made by the said Deceased and the Executor or Executors therein named do exhibit the same into the said Office, making request to have it allowed and approved accordingly, if the said Lisa Margaret Kleh being thereunto required do deliver up the said Letters of Administration, Approbation of such Testament being first had and made in the said Office, then this obligation is to be void and of none effect or else to be and remain in full Force and Virtue.
Lisa Margaret (X- her mark) Kleh
Mathias Stautt
Jacob Miller
Sealed and delivered in the presence of us
Alex'r Borver
Ja's Donney
Filed November 24, 1763
Inventory and Appraisement made the 23rd day of November, 1763 of the Effects of Nicholas Kleh, late of Bern Township in the County of Berks, deceased, as followeth:
| S | D | ||
| The Deceaseds apparell | 1 | - | - |
| A woolen wheel | - | 4 | - |
| A weavers loom and (taklings?) thereunto belonging | 2 | 10 | - |
| An ax, maul and wedges | - | 7 | 6 |
| Augres, saw, drawing knife and Hows(?) | - | 12 | - |
| Dung forks and shoffels (shovels), and dung hooks | - | 10 | - |
| An old sickle and other old iron tools | - | 3 | - |
| Two pans and iron ladles | - | 8 | - |
| A leading(?) can and lantern | - | 8 | - |
| Pewter ware | 1 | 2 | - |
| Wooden transhers(?) | - | 1 | 6 |
| 3 buckets | - | 1 | 6 |
| A washing tub and other wooden ware | - | 18 | - |
| 3 Ca... | - | 4 | - |
| Milk potts | - | 2 | 6 |
| An old iron kettle and two potts | - | 12 | - |
| 2 lamps and other things | - | 3 | - |
| 18 old baggs | 1 | 5 | - |
| Kidles and earthen potts | - | 5 | 6 |
| 2 Bells | - | 5 | - |
| 2 Bibles and other books | 2 | 10 | - |
| An old trunk and table | - | 12 | - |
| An old Great Coat | - | 7 | 6 |
| An old gun | - | 10 | - |
| A hand ...... | 2 | - | - |
| Horse(?) gears | 4 | - | - |
| 2 waggons, small ones | 8 | - | - |
| A large waggon | 15 | - | - |
| A cleaning(?) mill and cutting bore(?) | 2 | 15 | - |
| 2 ladles | 1 | 10 | - |
| Six Heads of horses | 34 | - | - |
| Horn cattles | 30 | - | - |
| 8 Cow chanes | - | 16 | - |
| 17 Heads of sheep | 5 | 2 | - |
| 4 Hoggs | 2 | - | - |
| 2 Breaks | - | 6 | - |
| In cash | 47 | 10 | - |
| 168 | 5 | - |
Appraised as above by us
Philip [Names indecipherable]
Exhib't Sep'r 10, 1781
The Accompt of Margaret Kleh, Widow and sole executrix of the Testament and Last Will of Nicholas Kleh, late of Bern Township in Berks County, deceased, as follows, viz:
| The said accomptant craves allowance for her several payments & disbursements made out of the said Estate in the execution of the said Will as follows, to wit, as of receipts, &c: | ||||
| 1763 | S | D | ||
| Nov. 7 | For cash paid Jno? Read, Esqr, Depy Register for Letters Testamentary &c | 1 | 5 | 9 |
| " 14 | George Loose(?) | - | 9 | 9 |
| Frederick Grater | - | 17 | 6 | |
| " 19 | Adam Ludwig | - | 10 | - |
| Jno. Nichs Philips | - | 9 | 6 | |
| Valentine Eckert | 15 | 4 | 8 | |
| " 20 | John Hoffman | - | 10 | - |
| John Staudt | 3 | 9 | 11 | |
| Jacob Grim | 1 | 6 | 5 | |
| 1781 | ||||
| Sept. 7 | C. Harison(?) Read for ..... of this acct | - | 10 | - |
| Henry Christ Esqr, Register for examg, passg. & filg this acct & Copy & Seal | - | 17 | 6 | |
| 25 | 11 | 0 | ||
| Balance in the hands of ye Accompt | 142 | 10 | 0 | |
| 168 | 1 | 0 | ||
| The said Accomptant charges herself with all and singular the Goods and Chattels, Rights and Credits which were of the said Testator at the time of his death according to an Inventory and Appraisement thereof exhibited into the Register General's office at Reading | |||
| amounting to | 168 | 1 | 0 |
Reading, Sept. 7th, 1781
Errors excepted
[Signed] Margaret (X - her mark) [indecipherable]
Submitted by: Marianne
Last Modified