by 
Elizabeth Stager was my 5th-Great Grandmother on the Garrison Side, and below is her Last Will & Testament.
Elizabeth Stager was born Sep 29, 1767 in Lebanon County, PA and died Jul 24, 1840 in the same place. There is some confusion as to the spelling of her maiden name. Juengst, Jungst & Yingst were all used at one time or another for her and her parents.
Elizabeth’s husband, Frederick Stager, died in 1824 and his estate passed to his wife. No will for Frederick has been found.
Elizabeth’s will and inventory of her estate were obtained from the Lebanon County Register of Wills. So far, Lebanon County has been the fastest county to deal with. I sent the request by U.S. mail on 8/5 and got the will today (8/11). The grand total for the will was $5.00! A scanned copy of the original will is attached below as well as a transcription (both in .PDF format) .
Elizabeth willed that all her property and possessions be sold and that, after paying any debts and funeral expenses, the monies from the sale be divided into “12 equal shares, share and share alike”. Elizabeth left equal shares to her 11 living children and an equal share to the children of her deceased son. The will names all of her living children which is a tremendous genealogy find.
- Of Special Interest:
- Elizabeth names her son, William, and her “beloved son-in-law John Daub” as executors of her estate. John Daub’s name provides a key “proof” that will be needed to show the Garrison lineage to Frederick & Elizabeth Stager. Frederick, you see, was a veteran on the American Revolution. My goal, and primary reason for obtaining the will, is to prove my lineage to him to the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). I have already proved the Garrison lineage to Dielman Daub, John’s father, to SAR.
- Two of Elizabeth’s daughters received their share with special conditions. Their money was to be put into an interest baring account and they were to live-off the interest. The executors could give them more money if they believed the reason to be worthy. My first thought when reading the conditions was that the daughters were minors. However, the conditions continue, saying that if the daughter shall “survive her husband” (out-live), then she should be given the entire share. In other words, Elizabeth did not want those sons-in-law to get their hands on the inheritance. No such condition was placed on the other 4 daughters. She obviously did not hold those two sons-in-law in high regard.
Interestingly, Elizabeth’s will provides hard facts (children names & her net worth) as well as a glimpse of how she felt about two of her son-in-laws.
Elizabeth Stager> Elizabeth (Stager) Daub > Johannes JS Daub > John Daub > Adline (Daub) Garrison > Charles Garrison > Charlene (Garrison) Crosby > Maurice Crosby
Thanks for the site and information. Elizabeth is the sister of my 5th great-grandfather Ludwig Yingst. I am retired from active duty in the US Army and thrilled to have descended from a Patriot. My grandmother, Dorothy Yingst married Benjamin Dissinger (1925) who too is descended from a Patriot, John George Dissinger from Schaefferstown. His grave is marked by SAR.