Dec. 31, 1792 Court appoints Catharine Witmer of Manor guardian of Susanna and Frena under 14. Court appoints Peter Witmer of Manor, guardian of Peter, Anna, Catharine, under 14, children of John Witmer of Donegal, dec'd. Jan. 2, 1793 David, Daniel, Esther, Barbara, over 14, choose Christian Stouffer Jr. of Manor, guardian. March 26, 1793 Sheriff reports appraisal of 9 3/4 a @ 200 pounds. Fourth son Henry agrees to hold said land at that price and pay other heirs. June 29, 1796 Execs. Benjamin Musser and Christian Stauffer show L 537..9..4 Jan 17, 1797 Frena & Susanna over 14 choose Christian Stauffer, Jr. guardian. April 19, 1797 Esther, wife of David Herr, over 14 chooses her husband guardian.

OC Dec. 31 1792 Estate of Peter Witmer Petition of Peter Witmer, only child of Christian, eldest son of deceased of Manor, by his guard. Frederick Sweitzer. Will of said Peter dated Nov. 20, 1784. After making his will, he purchased 9 3/4 acre in Manor which was not allowed for in the will. Peter died leaving the following children and grandchildren; Eldest son Christian deceased;his son Peter, the petitioner 2nd son Peter 3rd son John dec'd; issue now alive: Peter, Anne, Catharine 4th son Henry 5th son Abraham 6th son Jacob 7th son David 8th son Daniel Elizabeth, wife of Michael Crow Magdalen, wife of Christian Hoover Mary, dec'd wife of David Myer by whom she had a daughter Elizabeth Ann, dec'd wife of Christian Frick by whome she had two children; Catharine, Jacob Catharine, wife of John Eshbach Christina, wife of Christian Stouffer Esther & Barbara, twin daughters Susanna Frena Court orders appraisal of 9 3/4 a. To be continued...................Yvonne

Thanks to you and all who have helped me. Greatly appreciated. Karol -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: Maria Campbell <miabethc@gmail.com> > It is located in Book F Volume 1 page 370. There may be additional > records associated with this estate such as accounts, inventories, > administrative papers. Write to the Lancaster Courthouse Archives and > ask for copies. Photocopies are $0.50 per page. > > On Jul 18, 2006, at 5:16 PM, darlingkarol@comcast.net wrote: > > > Can anyone tell me where I could find the 1792 will of Peter > > Witmer, b.1715? Appreciate any help. > > > > Karol > > > > > > ==== PALANCAS Mailing List ==== > > No political statements to this list. > > No religious statements. > > > > > ==== PALANCAS Mailing List ==== > No political statements to this list. > No religious statements. >

Thank you very much. I live in Michigan and am 85 years old so can't go to Pennsylvania. Maybe I can find things at the sites you gave me. -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: Maria Campbell <miabethc@gmail.com> > Marie, > > I would recommend going to either the Lancaster Mennonite Historical > Society or the Lancaster County Historical Society to start with. > Both can be found on line for additional information. > http://www.lmhs.org/ > http://www.lancasterhistory.org/ > > The LCHS will even allow limited searching of their database from > your computer at home if you want to look up some materials to start > with. Both have family files, census records, early tax records, > cemetery records, maps. and church records for the county, as well > extensive published genealogies. There have been several indexed > books published recently with church records that should be available > at both libraries. I prefer the LMHS since they have partially open > stacks, in other words you can look at the books on their shelves > without have to have someone else bring them to you. They are also > very helpful and the staff may have some suggestions for you. Don't > neglect looking through their card files. > > After going to either of the historical societies, I would then go to > the courthouse. The archives are in the lower level at the front of > the old section of the courthouse. The staff there is helpful > explaining the indexing system for deeds and for wills and Orphans > Court records. Some of the originals for the earliest Orphans Court > records are at the LMHS. The death register is also found in the > archives at the courthouse. Marriage records after 1885? are in the > new part of the courthouse on the second floor. > www.co.lancaster.pa.us/ > > If you wish to look for obituaries and have a date of death, the > Lancaster Library) has old Lancaster newspapers on film in the > basement. They also have a special Lancaster Collection near the > reference desk which may contain some books which you are looking for. > www.lancaster.lib.pa.us > > There are also several smaller historical societies that serve a > particular area of the county. If you have time, you could also visit > the State Library in the Forum Building in Harrisburg and the State > Archives. The State Library has an excellent collection of old > newspapers for the state as well as a room devoted to genealogy for > the whole state. The Archives are extensive, but may contain > information not found anywhere else. > www.pde.state.pa.us/ > www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/overview.htm > > Hope this helps, > Maria > > > ==== PALANCAS Mailing List ==== > http//www.rootsweb.com/rootsweb/aup.html > You are responsible for following the A.U.P. > Acceptable Use Policy >

Would the Orphan Court listing show half-orphns as well? I am looking for any information I can find on the Brock family. The father, Charles Brock, died somewhere between 1885 and 1900. This family lived in Lancaster Township on all records I have found so far. Mother Annie Brock and her children are listed on the 1900 census, all the children (teenagers) having jobs. Betty in Sac > The Orphan Court listing actually shows the birth order of the females also.

"An Index to the Will Books & Intestate Records of Lancaster County, PA 1729-1850" by Fulton & Mylin (1936/1994) shows: - A will filed for Peter WITMER in 1792 is recorded in Book F, vol. 1, p. 370. - A will filed for Peter WITMER in 1810 is Book L, vol. 1, p. 266. Three Peter WITMERs are listed who died intestate but must have estate files: - Peter WITMER filed 1785, no book or vol. number. - Peter WITMER filed 1811, no book or vol. number. - Peter WITTMER filed 1792, no book or vol. number. (Makes you wonder if the "intestate" filings in 1792 and 1811 are duplicating the two items in 1792 and 1810,) The foreward by Fulton & Mylin says that "Typed or photostatic copies of Wills may be obtained by writing to the Office of the Register of Wills" in Lanc. Co. No doubt you can find the address on the Internet. Note: Wills of persons who died before the erection of Lancaster County (May 10, 1729) are registered in the Chester County Court House at West Chester, having been moved there from old Chester in 1786. JRB On Tuesday, July 18, 2006, at 07:00 PM, PALANCAS-D-request@rootsweb.com wrote: > > From: darlingkarol@comcast.net > Date: Tue Jul 18, 2006 5:16:49 PM US/Eastern > To: PALANCAS-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Peter Witmer > > > Can anyone tell me where I could find the 1792 will of Peter Witmer, > b.1715? Appreciate any help. > > Karol > > _______

Have you looked at the will of Andrew Zeller, probated 1807, Will Book I1, p. 448? He and Jacob are the only Zeller wills in Lancaster Co from 1729 to 1850, so there's a good chance they are related. If this doesn't work out, you probably need to explore deeds and tax records. Good luck, Pam P.S. Based on what you've provided, I wouldn't draw any conclusions about the birth order of the children. George and Elizabeth, named co-executors and eventual owners of remainder of estate, are likely to be the oldest - but then they might just be the most reliable. There are times, in a will, where the testator seems to give a 'run-down' of his children - often with all of the boys named first, followed by the girls. But specific bequests are often in random order. ----- Original Message ----- From: "RICHARD LEE ZELLER" <rlzeller@earthlink.net> To: <PALANCAS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2006 8:30 PM Subject: Fw: [PALANCAS] brick wall Jacob Zeller > my wall is Jacob Zeller born in Pennsylvania 1777-1848.Any thoughts about his parents? > > -----Forwarded Message----- > >From: RICHARD LEE ZELLER <rlzeller@earthlink.net> > >Sent: Jul 10, 2006 6:04 PM > >To: PALANCAS-L@rootsweb.com > >Subject: [PALANCAS] seeking input on 1848 will > > > >My ggg grandfather Jacob Zeller [aka Zoller] of Brecknock Township, 1777-1848 left a will in Lancaster County, leaving $100 to daughter Catherine, wife of David Rutter, $100 to daughter Barbara, wife of Peter Spindler, $10 to son Jacob, if he claims the $10 within 10 years, rest of estate to wife Anna Maria [Shupp] Zeller during her lifetime/ then estate to co-executors, son George Zeller and daughter Elizabeth, wife of Isaac Griffiths. Was Catherine older than Barbara as she was mentioned first? Any thoughts on any parts of the will are welcomed. Thanks, Richard Zeller > > > > > >==== PALANCAS Mailing List ==== > >No political statements to this list. > >No religious statements. > > > > > ==== PALANCAS Mailing List ==== > List Owner can be reached for help with the list at > PALANCAS-Admin@rootsweb.com > >

Can anyone tell me where I could find the 1792 will of Peter Witmer, b.1715? Appreciate any help. Karol

There's quite a few records available on microfilm from the LDS Family History Centers. I think a film costs about $5.50 to rent now, but it is almost as good as looking at the regular records. And you can look at all of that type of record in the time frame instead of just one record that gets sent to you. (I find more people that way.) Alas, they don't have everything from every where available. (And in the next ten years, they project having all 3 million reels of microfilm scanned and on line. They're looking for indexing volunteers.) Karen

my wall is Jacob Zeller born in Pennsylvania 1777-1848.Any thoughts about his parents? -----Forwarded Message----- >From: RICHARD LEE ZELLER <rlzeller@earthlink.net> >Sent: Jul 10, 2006 6:04 PM >To: PALANCAS-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: [PALANCAS] seeking input on 1848 will > >My ggg grandfather Jacob Zeller [aka Zoller] of Brecknock Township, 1777-1848 left a will in Lancaster County, leaving $100 to daughter Catherine, wife of David Rutter, $100 to daughter Barbara, wife of Peter Spindler, $10 to son Jacob, if he claims the $10 within 10 years, rest of estate to wife Anna Maria [Shupp] Zeller during her lifetime/ then estate to co-executors, son George Zeller and daughter Elizabeth, wife of Isaac Griffiths. Was Catherine older than Barbara as she was mentioned first? Any thoughts on any parts of the will are welcomed. Thanks, Richard Zeller > > >==== PALANCAS Mailing List ==== >No political statements to this list. >No religious statements. >

my wall is Jacob Zeller born in Pennsylvania 1777-1848.Any thoughts about his parents? -----Forwarded Message----- >From: RICHARD LEE ZELLER <rlzeller@earthlink.net> >Sent: Jul 10, 2006 6:04 PM >To: PALANCAS-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: [PALANCAS] seeking input on 1848 will > >My ggg grandfather Jacob Zeller [aka Zoller] of Brecknock Township, 1777-1848 left a will in Lancaster County, leaving $100 to daughter Catherine, wife of David Rutter, $100 to daughter Barbara, wife of Peter Spindler, $10 to son Jacob, if he claims the $10 within 10 years, rest of estate to wife Anna Maria [Shupp] Zeller during her lifetime/ then estate to co-executors, son George Zeller and daughter Elizabeth, wife of Isaac Griffiths. Was Catherine older than Barbara as she was mentioned first? Any thoughts on any parts of the will are welcomed. Thanks, Richard Zeller > > >==== PALANCAS Mailing List ==== >No political statements to this list. >No religious statements. >

the will should be available from Lancaster County Archives Division Lancaster County Court House 50 No. Duke St Lancaster Pa 17602 717 299 8319 book F vol 1 page 370 here is an abstract foprm Abstracts of Lancaster County Wills vol I 1785 to 1820 page 241 dated 20 Nov 1784 proved 28 Jul 1792 WITMER, PETER wife: Catharine Witmer Children: Peter, John, Henry,m Abraham, Jacob, Davidm, Daniel, Elizabeth, Magdalena, Mary, Anbn, Catharine, Christina, Esther, Barbara, Susanna and Ferena. Ex: Benjamin Musser and Christian Stoffuer...Manor Twp. wow. quite a lot of children here. Alan: I see you alredy received quite a few answers from varous members of this website but the one who advised you to check with the Lancaster Archives is the one I would go with as she is right...there might be other documents in the package that could be helpful to you. hope this helps Joe Wolfe

Correction: Early Orphans Court records are found at the Lancaster County Historical Society, NOT the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society.

It is located in Book F Volume 1 page 370. There may be additional records associated with this estate such as accounts, inventories, administrative papers. Write to the Lancaster Courthouse Archives and ask for copies. Photocopies are $0.50 per page. On Jul 18, 2006, at 5:16 PM, darlingkarol@comcast.net wrote: > Can anyone tell me where I could find the 1792 will of Peter > Witmer, b.1715? Appreciate any help. > > Karol > > > ==== PALANCAS Mailing List ==== > No political statements to this list. > No religious statements. >

If it exists it would in the Lancaster Co. archives at King and Duke St. Mike

Marie, I would recommend going to either the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society or the Lancaster County Historical Society to start with. Both can be found on line for additional information. http://www.lmhs.org/ http://www.lancasterhistory.org/ The LCHS will even allow limited searching of their database from your computer at home if you want to look up some materials to start with. Both have family files, census records, early tax records, cemetery records, maps. and church records for the county, as well extensive published genealogies. There have been several indexed books published recently with church records that should be available at both libraries. I prefer the LMHS since they have partially open stacks, in other words you can look at the books on their shelves without have to have someone else bring them to you. They are also very helpful and the staff may have some suggestions for you. Don't neglect looking through their card files. After going to either of the historical societies, I would then go to the courthouse. The archives are in the lower level at the front of the old section of the courthouse. The staff there is helpful explaining the indexing system for deeds and for wills and Orphans Court records. Some of the originals for the earliest Orphans Court records are at the LMHS. The death register is also found in the archives at the courthouse. Marriage records after 1885? are in the new part of the courthouse on the second floor. www.co.lancaster.pa.us/ If you wish to look for obituaries and have a date of death, the Lancaster Library) has old Lancaster newspapers on film in the basement. They also have a special Lancaster Collection near the reference desk which may contain some books which you are looking for. www.lancaster.lib.pa.us There are also several smaller historical societies that serve a particular area of the county. If you have time, you could also visit the State Library in the Forum Building in Harrisburg and the State Archives. The State Library has an excellent collection of old newspapers for the state as well as a room devoted to genealogy for the whole state. The Archives are extensive, but may contain information not found anywhere else. www.pde.state.pa.us/ www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/overview.htm Hope this helps, Maria

Hello All, I have scanned and uploaded more pages of the book "Lancaster County from a Trolley Window". You can view it at http://www.midatlanticarchives.com Alan -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.1/390 - Release Date: 7/17/2006

I look forward to learning what you learn. We always thought that our family came from Philly (1823); however, we just learned that they came to this country from Wurtenburg indentured into Lancaster County. Do any indenture records exist? Betty Lynne -----Original Message----- From: BSKTBTQUE@aol.com [mailto:BSKTBTQUE@aol.com] Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2006 8:10 AM To: PALANCAS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [PALANCAS] 1840 Census and Church Records Hi Need to do some research in Lancaster based on findings on 1840 census. Top of page does not list an area in Lancaster except for "Eastern District/Territory of Lancaster" Would anyone on list know what area in Lancaster that would represent today. This family came from Philadelphia so not sure why in Lancaster for about 10 years. Also where would I find the best overall records for Lancaster, i.e. church records and land records. Thank you Marie ==== PALANCAS Mailing List ==== When replying to the list change the subject line if you change the subject.

Hi Need to do some research in Lancaster based on findings on 1840 census. Top of page does not list an area in Lancaster except for "Eastern District/Territory of Lancaster" Would anyone on list know what area in Lancaster that would represent today. This family came from Philadelphia so not sure why in Lancaster for about 10 years. Also where would I find the best overall records for Lancaster, i.e. church records and land records. Thank you Marie

Looking for descendants and/or information about the Joseph and Augusta Walters family who lived in Marietta, Lancaster Co. during the late 1800's and early 1900's. This couple and their family immigrated to the area about 1889. Their children were Agnes, Hetty, Laura, Florence, Carl, and Sophia. Hope someone can help me find this family as they seemed to just disappear off the face of the earth after the 1930 census.