Amanuensis Monday – John Wenger’s 1800 Will

CORRECTION: This is not a Great Grandfather.  This John was the son of John Wenger.  It is the elder John that was my Great Grandfather.   Refer to “A Branch of the Family Tree with a Loop!” post for more information.  John Wenger was my 6th-Great Grandfather on the Garrison side. He was born in Bern, Switzerland on November 9, 1731 and died in Bethel Township, Dauphin County, PA, in August of 1806.

The will lists John’s 10 children: Christian (5th Great Grandfather), John, Martin, Abraham, Jacob, Barbara, Feronica (early form of Veronica), Elizabeth, Susanna, Ann and a Step Daughter Catherine (Possible last name of Huber).

I do not know the name of John’s wife. He was most likely married twice, which explains the step daughter. No wife is mentioned in the will.
Unfortunately, a probate inventory does not exist.

My lineage from John Wenger is as follows:

John Wenger > Christian Wenger > Martin Wenger > Lydia (Wenger) Daub > John W. Daub > Adline (Daub) Garrison > Charles Garrison > Charlene (Garrison) Crosby > Me

The transcription of the will follows. Punctuation wasn’t used often in the 1700s, which makes documents difficult to read. At the bottom of the page is a PDF file with the transcription and the original will.

In the name of God amen this Sixteenth day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred I John Wenger of Bethel Township Dauphin County and the state of Pennsylvania yeoman being at present sick and weak in body nevertheless of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding thanks be to god calling the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do [unreadable] and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say principally and first of all I recommend my soul into the hands of god who gave it me and my body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in a Christian like and decent manner [unknown] such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased god to bless me in this life I give divise [sic] and dispose if the same in the following manner and form, Imprimis it is my will and I do hereby order in the first place that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid or satisfied as soon as conveniently may be after my decease—Item I give and bequeath unto all my children, that is to say Christian Wenger, John Wenger, Martin Wenger, Abraham Wenger, Jacob Wenger and my daughters Barbara, Feronica, Elizabeth, Susanna and Ann and my step daughter Catherine Huber, all the money arising out of my whole estate to be equally divided between them my said children that is to say Christian Wenger, John Wenger, Martin Wenger, Abraham Wenger, Jacob Wenger and my said daughters Ann, Barbara, Feronica, Elizabeth, Susanna and my state daughter Catherine [sentence obliterated] share and share alike all my personal estate—Item I give and bequeath unto my son Christian Wenger the sum of five pounds gold or silver money of Pennsylvania over and above his equal share with one of the rest of my children, to be paid to him one year after my decease—Item It is my will and I do hereby order that provided either of my children have received in money or goods more than the other from me such child or children shall not receive any of my estate until all my children have received each as much as the other and my step daughter Catherine also, And Lastly I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my said son Christian Wenger Executor if this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making void all former and other will and wills and Executors by me heretofore made [unknown] and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament In Witness whereof the said John Wenger have hereunto set my hand & seal the day and year aforesaid.

Transcription & Orginal Will