Will:JacobKlein-1833
This is the will of Jacob Klein, dated 1833. The original (see scanned images, above) is written in old German. What follows is a translation into English, translator unknown.
English Translation
WILL OF JACOB KLEIN
location: Lehigh County Courthouse, Vol.2 , p.135, File #1156 Will filed 25 Feb. 1833 (Original in Old German)
In the name of God, Amen! I, Jacob Klein from Macoungu Township Leoha County State Pennsylvania Esquire, even though weak in body but of healthy mind, memory, and power of judgement, on account of the uncertainty of this transitory life, have found it desireable to make my last will and testament in the following manner, namely: first, I recommend my soul into the hands of my God and my body give to the earth. As for my earthly posessions, with which God has blessed me, it is my definite will: First: that my four sons, Peter, Gabriel, Philip, and Johannes (John) get their full share of inheritance in land and have nothing more to expecct. Second: it is my will that because my son Jacob has had an illegitimate child with Catharina Lauer, daughter of Philip Lauer, against the laws of God and against the laws of the land, a child for which I and my two sons, Peter and Gabriel have settled with Philip Lauer and have given him a bond of fourty pounds with legal interest and we have paid until the present day all yearly interest and are obligated to pay such until the above-named bastard child has reached the age of 21: thus it is my will that my executors named below subtract 40 pounds with the interest of 5 years, namely the most recent 5 years, from the inheritance of my son Jacob, and in case these 40 pounds have to be paid before my death and from my property, so that my two sons Peter and Gabriel may pay these, in which case my executors shall pay to my sons Peter and Gabriel such 40 pounds with 5 years interest from the debts which they owe me. Further is it my will that--because my son Jacob after a legal suit with Heinrich Eigner of Maccunqu Township Lecha County gave a note of $50 to Heinrich Wilson, his attorney, for which note I am gaurantor (security) --that such note of $30 with interest be paid from my possessions and this is to be deducted from the inheritance of my son Jacob. Further: it is my will that my 3 daughters Susanna, Catharina and Elizabeth receive as my inheritance from my property as has been stated above and that this be deducted from my son Jacob, namely 40 pounds with 5 years interest and $30 with interest. And further it is my will that my oldest daughter Susanne besides her inheritance shall also have her dowry from my property the same as my younger daughters Catherina and Elizabeth have received. It is further my will that the third part, namely the sum of 141 dollars and 50 cents, which I owe to Hannah, widow of the late Friedrich Gaumer, that my executors should take care that the interest of this sum be paid to the above named Hannah every year as long as she lives, and after her death be paid to the heirs of the mentioned late Friedrich Gaumer. Finally
--incomplete, to be continued.--
