17?? - 1790
This English translation and the original German version are on file in the Register of Wills Office in the Berks County Courthouse, Reading, PA
Comments by Leon F. Borst, Glenmoore, PA, 18 Sep 2003
Nicholas Kutz II was born in what is now Maxatawny Township, Berks County, PA (the s/o Nicholas Kutz I and Anna Catherine Grim). Elaine Schwar informed me that Nicholas II's Baptism appears with two of his brothers (Johan Adam and Thomas) in the records of Moselem Zion in 1744 (Elaine also cautions that since no birth data is given for any of the three boys, no conclusion concerning birth dates should be made based on the 1744 Baptismal date). He was married to Eva Catherine Brobst, b. about 1740 (the d/o Philip Jacob Probst and Anne Catherine Christ). According to the Will they had eight children (birth dates not in will - obtained from other records):
Catharina, b. about 1758*
Elizabeth Siegfried, b. 5 May 1760 (married to Heinrich Siegfried, one of the executors of the Will).
Nicholas, b. 14 Feb 1764
Mary Dorothy Siegfried, b. 2 Feb 1765 (married to Abraham Siegfried, Heinrich's Brother).
Susannah, 13 Mar 1768
Mary Margaret, b. 22 May 1771
John, b. 10 Nov 1774
Rosina, b. Oct 1777 (Nicholas refers to her in his Will as his "youngest and last Daughter, Rosina Kutz").
*Note: No birth date is known for Catharina Kutz. Her Father, Nicholas, has listed his children in birth order, oldest to the youngest. It is therefore deducted that since Catharina is the first listed, she is the first born (sometime before her Sister Elizabeth). We'll say "about 1758". This Will was signed on 16 Nov 1789 and Catharina would have been about 31 years old and unmarried. In 1805, Catharina Kutz's Cousin Henry Brobst of Macungie Township, Northampton County (now Lehigh County), wrote a will and mentions his Wife Catharina, his Stepdaughter Catharina Siegfried and an executor to his Will, "my truly Brother-in-law, John Kutz". The Stepdaughter, Catharina Siegfried, is buried in St. Paul's Cemetery, Trexlertown as Catharina Gernert, Wife of John Gernert. According to information on her stone, she was born a Siegfried in 1788. Could it be that Catharina Kutz, oldest child of Nicholas Kutz, had a child out of wedlock in1788 to a Siegfried, then sometime after 1789 married her Cousin, Henry Brobst, who now has a Wife Catharina, a Stepdaughter Catharina Siegfried, and a Brother-in-law John Kutz?
The third child and oldest son, Nicholas Kutz III, was given the farm with provisions to make payments to the other seven children as scheduled in the Will. Provisions are made for his Mother and his younger brother John when he (John) turns 21 years of age.
Nicholas's Wife Eva Catharina and his Son-in-law Henry Siegfried are named as executors of this Will. His neighbors Jacob Levan and George Kemp are witnesses to his mark (signature).
Submitted by Leon.
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