Will Book B, Page 62, Dauphin County, (later Lebanon County) Pennsylvania
Written: 22 February 1799
Recorded: 9 June 1801
Wife: Anna Maria (Meily) Kohr
Sons: Christian, John, Caspar, Michael, Ludwig, and Jacob
Daughters: Rosina wife of Jacob Knaus, Barbara the wife of Jacob
Stoehr, Magdalena the wife of George Uhrich and Anna Maria
Caspar Kohr (born 1725 in Ehrstädt, Germany) was a yeoman
living in Bethel Township, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. He settled
in that area in about 1747. Caspar owned several tracts of land
including one about a mile south of Fredericksburg, on the Elizabeth
Run, that contained one of the first grist and lumber mills in
the area. This tract was divided between his sons Caspar and Michael
in 1796, as indicated in the will.
Caspar Kohrs.... In the name of God Amen this twenty second day of February in
Will the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and Ninety nine I
Caspar Kohr of Bethel township, Dauphin County and State of Pennsylvania Yeoman being at present Sick and Weak in body Nevertheless of sound and disposing mind thanks be unto God calling unto mind the Mortality of the Body and knowing that is Appointed for all men once to die do make and Ordain this my Last Will and Testament that is to say Principally and first of all I recommend my sole into the hands of God who gave it to me And my body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in a Christian like and decent Manner as touching such Worldly Estate Wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life, I give dwise and dispose of the same in the following Manner and form Imprimis it is my Will and I do Order in the first place that all my Just debts and funeral Expenses be paid off and Satisfied as soon as Conveniently may be after my Decease by my Executors hereafter Named. Item I do hereby Order that my beloved Wife Anna Maria shall have hold and enjoy all the one half part of all the Maintenance privileges and Articles as it is agreed and Mentioned in two certain indentures which I have Delivered unto my two sons Caspar Kohr and Michael Kohr the one delivered unto my said Son Caspar Kohr having date the second day of June AD 1796 And the other delivered unto my said son Michael Kohr bearing the date the thirteenth day of October AD 1796 as also the sole use of the dwelling house and Stable therein Mentioned her Natural life as my two sons their heirs and Assigns are therein Subjected Item I give and bequeath unto my said beloved Wife Anna Maria two of my beds and bedsteads, my bible, her spinning wheel, my Chests, all my Scissors all my Wool, also as much of my other household Goods as she shall choose or pleases to take Also my dresser standing in my room my Copper Kettle and as much of my Kitchen furniture of whatsoever Measure or Denomination as she shall choose to take also my bay mare, One of my Cows, Which she shall choose to take and all my Hogs, also her side saddle and bridle Item I give and bequeath unto my said wife Anna Maria the sum of One Hundred and Fifteen pounds in Gold or Silver Money of Pennsylvania Which the several Leguair privileges and Liberties and the Sum of Money Which I have heretofore given to my said Wife Anna Maria shall be in Lieu and full Satisfaction for her dower or thirds of all my Estate real & personal And she the said Anna Maria shall be debarred and excluded forever therefrom. Item I do hereby Order that if my Executors shall think it proper and Convenient that all my certain Tract of land in Tyrone Township Cumberland County Adjoining to Land of John Jamisons and others Containing One Hundred & fifty five Acres and three quarters and Allowance be the same more or less shall be sold either by private or public sale by my hereafter mentioned Executors Within One year after my decease if it suits, And I do hereby impower my Executors hereafter Named to sign seal and Execute a good and Sufficient Deed or deeds for all the above mentioned Track of Land to the purchaser or purchasers thereof to him or them their heirs and Assigns forever Item I give and bequeath unto my Eldest son Christian Kohr the sum of One hundred pounds in Gold or Silver Money of Pennsylvania over and above his equal Share with one of the rest of my Children Item I give and bequeath unto my two Younger Sons Ludwig Kohr and Jacob Kohr the sum of six hundred pounds in Gold or Silver money of Pennsylvania equally among them Over and above their Equal shares with the rest of my children Item I give and bequeath unto my Youngest Daughter Anna Maria Kohr the sum of Twenty five pounds in Gold or Silver Money of Pennsylvania over and above her equal share with the rest of my Children And I do hereby Order that my said Wife Anna Maria and that my said two Sons Ludwig and Jacob Kohr and my youngest Daughter Anna Maria shall have and Receive the Several Sums given and bequeathed as Aforesaid to be paid to them out of my Estate in the following that is to say my said Wife shall receive her sum first And then my said son Christian shall receive his said sum of Money And then my said two Sons Ludwig and Jacob shall receive there said sum of Money then my said Daughter Anna Maria shall receive her said sum of Money Item it is my Will and I do hereby give and bequeath all the Remainder of my whole Estate unto my Children hereafter Named that is to say unto my said son Christian and John Kohr, Barbara now the Wife of Jacob Stoehr, Rosina now the Wife of Jacob Knaus, Magdalena now the Wife of George Uhrich, Ludwig, Jacob, and Anna Maria to be equally divided to and Among them share and share alike It is my Will and I do hereby Order that my said Children shall receive their shares as follows that is to say them that have already received from me either in Goods or in Money as by my book will Appear shall stand back until my said other Children have received as much to be Equal and then shall all my said Children shall receive Equally Yearly until all my said Children shall receive their share and share alike. And as for and Respect to my said two sons Caspar Kohr and Michael Kohr having already being Allowed or Received their full shares in the Lands Which I have sold unto them by the above Mentioned two Deeds or Indentures And Thereby they shall not have any further share or shares rights Titles or Interest of in and to all my Whole Estate. I Further give and bequeath unto my two sons Michael Kohr and Caspar Kohr the sum of Five Shillings Gold or Silver Money of Pennsylvania which shall be in full of all their part or share to all my estate and they my said two Sons Michael Kohr and Caspar Kohr and their heirs shall and will be from therefore debarred and Excluded forever thereof Item I give and bequeath to my Daughter Catharine Darges now the wife of Jacob Darges the sum of Five Shillings Gold or Silver Money of Pennsylvania to be paid unto her One Year after my Decease Which shall be in full for all her part or share to all my Estate either real or personnel and she the said Catharine now the Wife of Jacob Darges and her heirs shall and will be thenceforth debarred and forever excluded therefrom. I Further give and bequeath unto my son in Law Jacob Darges the sum of Five Shillings gold or silver Money of Pennsylvania to be paid to him One Year after my decease which shall be in full to all his part or share right Title or interest or in right of his wife Catharine or their Heirs to all my Estate either real or personal and the said Jacob Darges and Catharine his Wife and their heirs shall and will be from thenceforth and forever debarred and forever excluded therefrom. And Lastly I do hereby Nominate Constitute and Appoint my Son Michael Kohr and my brother in Law Henry Meily Executors of this my Last Will & Testament hereby revoking disanulling & making Void all former & other Will & Wills & Executors by me heretofore made ratifying and Confirming this & no other to be my Last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I the said Caspar Kohr sinr have hereunto set my hand & Seal the day & year just above written
Signed sealed published pronounced & declared by the above
named Caspar Kohr sinr. the Fiscator for his last will & Testament
in the presence of us:
Valentine Shouffler
Henry Light
Caspar Kohr
June 9th AD 1801