Contributed By: Bob Winters

I thought that I might send you a translation of a John Jacob Winter will. I was hoping that it was my link, since he had a son, William. Turns out that it he was the son of Frederick Winter (Bryan Winter Code [WFM]) of Fell's Manor, now in Tulpehocken Twp., Berks Co. PA. The will was written in old German and I sent it off to Germany to be translated.

John Jacob Winter was born 13 Jul 1763, married Marie Elizabeth Magdalene. He died 15 Sep 1841 and is buried in the Christ Lutheran Cemetery near Stouchsburg. They had six children who are listed in the will.

It is very interesting reading.

Bob Winters
 

(Transcribed by Rita Effnert)
Here I am at last with your translation. I received the transcription yesterday and sat up late translating it. There are a few words or names of places which the transcriber either couldn't read or had never heard of but I don't think these are too important and you may know yourself what they are. So here we go.
 

In the name of God Amen.

I, the undersigned Jacob Winter of Tuchenhagen (?), Township County in the State of Pennsylvania, becoming old and weak and not knowing how soon the voice of my
maker will call me from this world, so I make and declare herewith to these present, being of sound mind and good memory, this my last Will and Testament.   And I commend my undying soul to the hand of my god to his everlasting mercy and my body to the earth. And regarding my worldly goods, I leave firstly to my dear son William Winter my plantation and piece of land on which I dwell
complete with all the buildings and belongings, in the aforesaid Tuchenhagen consisting of 126 hektar land, the same, more or less, to him and his heirs for the everlasting power of my last Will & Testament, for which he shall pay the total sum of 1500 Taler of good money annually as follows, the first aim being that he should pay the sum on 100 Taler on the next 1st April in the year of our Lord 1840 and then annually aim to pay 100 Taler on the 1st April each year until he has paid the asking sum of 1500 Taler: For these payments he must give and affirmation. Such money as he has paid to me during my life for the land and for which he can prove by receipts shall be deducted from the total sum but the remaining sum still to be paid should be his first aim to pay to my deceased daughter Elizabeth's two daughters Eva & Lida Weil in two even parts. His second aim to my dear son Daniel Winter. His third aim to my dear daughter Maria. His
fourth aim to my dear daughter Margreta. Then, continuing this rule annually until he has paid the full sum, further my son William must pay annually and at the correct time to my dear wife Magdalena, six bushels of good wheat which he
must take to the mill and when it is ground, deliver it to her house as she may wish it. Six bushels of welsh corn, four bushels of oats, three bushels of Kochgrundbieren (?), every two years a fat pig which weighs 200 Pounds with the
fat, which he must kill, 60 Pounds of good beef, six Pounds of broken winter fruit as much as she wishes when there are apples on my land and good, sweet Seider (Cider?) and apples for Lattwery (?) and slicing and other uses as much
as she wants. Three and a half cord of good firewood which he shall deliver to her house and chop it into usable pieces. Five Pounds of gehechtelter (?) Flax, five Pounds of good Oakum, three Pounds of good sheepswool and one half bushel
of salt, to keep a cow for her in his meadow and to feed same in the winter along with his own, he must give her a horse to ride and to drive as often as she wishes, she shall have the right to a third of the chickens and eggs, a right to the peaches and cherries and he must care for her when she is sick and weak.

Secondly I leave my dear son Jacob Winter my other plantation where he lives, which lies in Tuchenhagen, Township County, bordering on the aforementioned and
consisting of 72 Hektar more or less, to him and his heirs for everlasting power of this my last Will and Testament for which the full sum of 1200 Taler of good money shall be paid in annual commitments as follows (then follows exactly the
same terms as for William until ... every 2 years a good fat pig which weighs 200 Pounds which he must kill, but not in the same year as the one she receives from my son William, 60 Pounds of good beef, 6 Pounds Unschlitt (?), 2 1/2 cords
of fire-wood to be delivered to her house and which he must chop, 5 Pounds of good Flax, 5 Pounds of good Oakum, 3 Pounds of good sheepswool, 1/2 bushel of salt like fine salt.

Thirdly I leave to my beloved wife Magdelena during her life-time or as long as she remains a widow, full right to make the house in which I live to be her domicile in her own room or part of the house which she shall choose, a right to the kitchen, to the cellar and the attic, wells, cloth-bleacher, Bake-oven, a third of the garden which my son William must plant for her. One of my cows which she shall choose. Bed and bedding as much as she chooses, table and chair, stove and house-clock, kitchen cupboard with utensils, all the cloths and other house and kitchen utensils as she would like, my clothes and 100 Taler in money from the first to come in and if this isn't enough then she shall receive as much as she needs annually including all expenses which I have paid for her from the income from my land.

Fourthly it is my Will and order, that my movable possessions shall be sold publicly as soon as possible after my death with the exception of my books which shall be shared amongst the following named children and also my personal fortune which I have not mentioned before, to be divided between my children as follows.

To my beloved son Daniel in addition to that which he has already inherited the sum of 400 Taler which shall be his full share of my estate and then what is left over to be given to my daughters Maria, Margreta and the 2 daughters of my
deceased daughter Elizabeth, Eva & Lidia in 3 equal parts and an equality shall be reached between these 3 daughters for which my Family Book will be necessary. Nevertheless, I leave my daughter Maria 20 Taler an for my 2 grandchildren Eva and Lidia Weil an equality shall be reached and for my sons William and Jacob the land which I have left them to be considered as their inheritance and have no further claim to my estate.

Fifthly it is my Will and order that none of my children may bring a contra-order against my estate even though they may be dissatisfied with my last Will. That such a child should only receive the amount which the law allows.

Lastly I name and order herewith my son William and son-in-law Philip Mohr as executors of this my Last Will and Testament, to execute same and revoke any other Last Wills and Testaments and declare this to be my only Will and
Testament and have signed and sealed it with my signature.

The 22 day of August in the year of our Lord 1839.

Signes, sealed and declared to be the last Will and Testament of the signatory in the presence of us.
Petro Labo (?)