Centre 1854
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Berks Co, SS.
To the Sheriff of Berks County – Greeting:
Whereas, John Heckman one of the sons and Heirs of William Heckman late of the township of Centre in the said county deceased, preferred to Petition to the Judges of the Orphans’ Court of the said county, setting forth, that the said William Heckman died intestate about the 28th February 1854, leaving a widow named Sarah Heckman and issue of twelve children, to wit; John, Jeremiah, Daniel, William, Peter, Reuben, Adam, Joseph, Elizabeth intermarried with Jacob Filler, Catharine intermarried with Reuben Krick, Mary intermarried with Henry Hottinger, & Lena – and the children or heirs of Benneville who was the eldest son, to wit Caroline Heckman and the children and heirs of Lydia who was intermarried with Jacob Messersmith, to wit, Sarah, George, Jacob and Mary Messersmith, that the said intestate died seized in his demesne as of fee, of and in the following real estate, to wit: a certain messuage tenement and tract of land, situate in Centre And Upper Bern Townships, Berks County, adjoining the land of Daniel Althouse, Daniel Zimmerman, Henry Miller, John Dunkelberger and Daniel Rentshler, containing fifty six acres, more or less. Also a certain tract of sprout land, situate in Upper Bern Township, Berks County, adjoining land of Daniel Rentshler and others containing 3 acres, more or less, with the appurtenances; and therefore praying the Court to award an inquest to view the same and make partition, etc., which was accordingly awarded by the Court. Therefore we command you, that you forthwith summon an inquest of twelve good and lawful men of your bailiwick, and go to the said premises, and then and there by their oaths and solemn affirmation make partition thereof, with appurtenances, to and among the widow and all the children of the said deceased, if the same can be done without prejudice to and spoiling the whole. But if the same cannot be so parted and divided without prejudice to and spoiling of the whole, that same inquest do view and inquire whether the same will conveniently accommodate more than one of the said children – and if they so find, that they then ascertain and report how many the same will as aforesaid accommodate, describing each purport by metes and bounds, and returning a just valuation and appraisement thereof. But if the said inquest shall find that the premises aforesaid, with the appurtenances, cannot be parted and divided to and among the widow and – all the children of the said deceased, nor accommodate more than one of the said children without prejudice to and spoiling of the whole, that they then value and appraise the same agreeably to law.
That due and legal notice of the time and place of holding such inquisition be given to all the parties interested, that they may be present of they think proper. And that the petition of valuation so made, you distinctly and openly have, under your Hand and Seal, and under the Hands and Seals of those by whom the same shall be made, before our Judges at Reading, at our Orphans’ Court, there to be holden the Eleventh day of August next. And have you then and there this Writ. – Witness the Honorable J Pringle Jones, Esquire, President of our said Court at Reading the Third day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty four.
Chas. J. Wink, Clerk of Courts
Submitted by Michelle.
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