Michael Esch Jr.

  General Notes:

Last Will & Testament

In the Name of God, Amen.

I, Michael Esh of Lehigh Township in the County of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, yeoman, being very sick and weak in body, but of sound mind, memory and understanding(Blessed be God for the same) do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following, to wit.

Principally, and first of all, I commend my immortal Soul into the hands of God who gave it, and my body to the earth to be buried in a decent and Christian like manner, at the discretion of my Executors, herein after named, and as to such wordily esate, wherewith it has please God to bless me with in this life, I give and dispose of the same in the following manner, to wit.

Finally, I give and bequeath unto my dear wife Catherina, two beds, with bed sheets to her chois, her chair, a chest, her riding saddle, a lamp, desk, butter churn, iron kettle, to iron potts, a table, the same now standing in the kitchen, all her pewter wares, steamer plates & whatsoever she hath and owned at the time of our intermarriage, a spining (wheel), and two cows, three sheep and two hogs, all of them taken from my stock of cattle to her chois, and it is my absolute will and desire that my Executors shall sell and convey my real estate on Public vendue about the middle of March next year starting after date hereof, consisting of two hundred thirty acres, situate in Lehigh aforesaid, with the appurtenance, and for the more and better to enale my Executors to sell and convey my Said Estate, I give full power and authority to them to grant, sign, sell and deliver such deed or deeds of conveyance that shall be taken and deemed sufficient in law to the purchaser or purchasers of my said estate as full and as final, as if the same hath been done by me in my lifetime, and giving power to my Executors to fix or state the first payment, as the finish most proper and convenient and the remainder of the purchase money to be divided in nine equal shares and yearly payments, and it is my will that my Executors shall sell all my personal property on public sale, whatsoever there be, and for anything not heretofore willed and ordained, unto my said wife, and to collect the money arising therefrom or any of my outstanding monies and then to make a full and entire reckoning and calculation of all the moneys arising from the sale of my real and personal estate, that the same may be worth in cash after all my lawful and just debts are deducted, and from the said sum so calculated and remaining, as aforesaid, one thrid part thereof shall remain in the hands of the purchaser of the said property of my real estate, on being well secured by them during the natural life of said wife, Catherina, if she remains my widow,for which she is to have and receive the yearly interest during her natural life, if she remains my widow as aforesaid, but in case of marriage my said wife then, and from thenceforth, shall have and receive only the one half part of said interest to be taken in the sum of money coming to my children, and it is my will that all the money so remaining shall be divided in equal shares and portions, unto and amony by eight children namely, John, Magdelena, Catherina, Michael, Elizabeth, Sara, Joseph, and Jacob, all of whom are to receive their respective shares in rotation to their age, to begin, at the oldest and so on, every year one unto the youngest, and proudly, I nominate, commend and appoint my dear fair wife Catherina, and my father in law Peter Lawfer, Executor of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto put my and seal, the ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twelve Michael Esh(seal)

Signed, sealed, pronounced and declared by the testator, as his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request, have subscribe our names as witnesses:

Jacob Mach Conrad Bachman

We also read from the Settlement document, filed 23 October 1819, that Balthaser Heiny filed a claim on behalf of his wife & Late Catherine mother of the deceased and Peter Lawfer, Executors of the Last Will and Testament of Michael Esch of Lehigh Township.....which mentions a "Debt due for the maintenance of Testator's mother for one year" amounting to 24 pounds (British currency) as well as Goods bequeathed by the deceased to his widow, amounting to 43 pounds and 16 shillings....This indicates that Michael Jr's mother in law Catherine died sometime in (or before )1819 and that she Catherina Lawfer, Esch, Heiny and her second husband care for Michael Jr's mother Catherine for a least a year.

Also mentioned in this document is a claim from Mr. Heiny for the "boarding and lodging and Bringing Up three of the Testator's minor children until they arrived at the age of proven year." The widow Catherina was to have received the yearly interest DURING HER LIFETIME OF 360 pounds 4 shillings, 10 1/3 pence. Each of her children were now due an amount 170 pounds, 9 shillings, 8 3/8 pence, and in addition, each child is due 16 pounds, 2 shillings, 8 pence on 27 Ma 1820 and the same amount in 1821, plus and amount 22 pounds, 7 shillings, 8 3/8 pence in 1822. Since the three minor children were: Sarah, Joseph and Jacob, the total amount due these children was 67 pounds 3 shillings, 1 1/8 pence. Since the dollar equivalent was 2 2/3 times the corresponding amount in pounds (at that time), this would mean that Mr. Heiny would have received $960.65 for his wife and $179.08 for the children, for a total of $1,139.73 (Value in the early 1800's). We are not told how much (if any) the children received, after Mr. Heiny's expenses were deducted, but Mr. Heiny certainly made sure he received "just compensation" for his "family care."

Also mention in the Settlement document was the sale of Michael Jr's land. To Daniel Klecker were sold 193 acres at the rate of 14 pounds, 5 shillings, 6 pence per acre, amount to 2755 pounds, 1 shilling, 6 pence for a dollar equivalent of $7,346.87. If we use a figure of $10,000 per acre in today's market, the value of this land was about two million dollars.

Michael married Catharine Laufer, daughter of Peter (Johan) Laufer Sr. and Magdalena Susanna Grosher, in 1796. (Catharine Laufer was born on 23 Jul 1778 in Allen Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, christened on 3 Aug 1778 in Zion Stone Church, Kreidersville, Northhampton, PA, died on 28 May 1847 and was buried on 28 May 1847 in Dieter (Little Moore) Church Cemetery.)