Ludwig Horning

  General Notes:

He was a member of the MENNONITE congregation at Lower Skippack in Skippack Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
He arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at age 20 on 11 August 1732. He travelled on the ship "Samuel" commanded by Hugh Percy. It had started in Rotterdam, Netherlands and stopped at Cowes on the Isle of Wight in England to pick up supplies and wait for good weather.
LUDWIG took his oath of allegiance in Philadelphia Court on 25 September 1740.
The first land LUDWIG purchased was 137 acres from William Weyerman in Skippack Township (which was called Van Bebber Township first and then Perkiomen and Skippack). The deed was dated 14 February 1737/8. This land was sold to son John, for £300, on 30 January 1796/7 recorded 13 February 1797.
LUDWIG and his wife KATHELINE KEYSER inherited from her father PETER DIRK KEYSER, land in Van Bebber Township, Philadelphia County, (later called Skippack Township in Montgomery County). Transfer of the property was on deed dated 22 December 1743 recorded 24 January 1756/7.
LUDWIG purchased 50 acres from Duest Becker.6 August 1757. Ludwig bought this to control land on both sides of Perkiomen Creek for his mill dam. Much later he sold this land to son Jacob for £300.
The last land LUDWIG purchased was 152 acres from Renear Vanderslice for £1150. The deed is dated 15 June 1765 recorded 14 October 1771 .
The original ownership of this land is interesting because the "original purchaser" was Abraham Bickley who bought 1000 acres 26 April 1706. . These original patents are held by Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg, Pa. These 1000 acres in turn were part of "GILBERT'S MANOR" which was land set aside originally for the WILLIAM PENN PROPRIETORS. LUDWIG'S 152 acres came from Section 30 "C". The land to the west of Perkiomen Creek was split off from Skippack and became Lower Providence Township, Montgomery County.

The land described above is where LUDWIG operated his mills. He had both a Grist Mill and a Saw Mill. He built the dam across Perkiomen Creek and originally it carried a road across the river. This road was later abandoned.
The portion of the lands containing the mills was sold to son Michael Horning who after about 20 years sold the water rights and mills to his son-in-law Archibald Towers.

In 1798 Pennsylvania imposed a Direct Tax which became known as the "Window Pane Tax" as they assessed on the basis of the number of window panes as well as the size of the house and property. Ludwig had already sold the house to his son Michael so it appears in the tax records under his name. However the description of the house would still be valid for Ludwig's house and it shows an old log house exempted from tax. This would be Ludwig's original house.

Stone House 30 X 25-- 2 stories The kitchen was the largest room with a large open fireplace at one end. Attached to the house was a stable & cow barn with trap door that led to the basement. 9 windows containing 12 lights (panes)
One log house exempted . Value £500

LUDWIG HORNING was one of the signers of a petition to build a road from Perkiomen-Skippack through Worcester Township to the Manatawney Road. It was signed 11 February 1771.

Ludwig's oldest son Peter, as a Mennomite, remained neutral during the Revolutionary War. In 1786 two of Peter's sons Abraham and Isaac went to Upper Canada. Peter, his wife, and seven children followed them to Canada in 1787. Peter ended up owning 5000 acres in Barton, Wentworth Co. Ontario, Canada.

I
WILL OF LUDWIG HORNING Montgomery County Will Book 2, Page 266 Will No.2844
Written 30 Jan,1797 Proved 10 June 1802

Be it remembered that I, Ludwick Horning of Perkioming and Skippack Township in the County of Montgomery in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Carpenter, Being far advanced in years, but of sound disposing mind and memory, and calling to mind the Mortality of my body, and that it is appointed for all men once to Die, do think fit this thirtyeth day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and ninety seven to make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, which I do in the following manner and form.

In the first place it is my will and I do order, that all my just debts and funeral expenses be duly paid and satisfyed by my hereinafter named executors.

2nd, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Catherine the free and uninteruped use, liberty, privilege and support excepted and reserved in the Deed of Conveyance given to my son John bearing even date here with, during her Natual life. I also give her our best bed and all the bedding thereto belonging, a Walnut cloths press, two chests, which stand in our Lodging room, the dressor with all belonging to me, thereon, with such other kitchen furniture and household goods as she shall want or have accasion for. I also give her the use of the sum of three hundred and fifty pounds in Gold and Silver money at its present value, which sum is to remain in her hands in order to supply her necessary occasions, with free liberty of using as much of the principal as she may stand in need of, all which is to be in lieu of her Dower out of my Estate and it is my will that whatsever of her above mentioned goods and monies shall be remaining at her death, shall be equally divided among my seven children hereafter named, excepting the sum of fifty pounds and her bed and bedding which she may dispose of at her pleasure.

3rd, And whereas my son Peter Horning has heretofore received from me a considerable sum of money, I do hereby give and bequeath to him one Shilling Sterling in full of his share out of my Estate.

4th, Whereas my sons Michael, Eli and Jacob have heretofore received the sum of three hundred pounds each from me agreeable to their respective receips lodged among my papers they are therefore upon a equal footing with their brothers, and are entitled only to their respective share of the residue thereafter mentiond.

5th, Whereas I have conveyed my plantation whereon I at present dwell unto my son John Horning at the rate and value of eight hundred pounds, two hundred pounds part thereof I have received three hundred pounds another part thereof I give and bequeath to him, to make him equal with his brothers, and the remaing three hundred pounds for which he has given his Bond to me is to be paid to my three daughters hereafter named in equal shares. 1 do further give and bequeath to my son John my clock, and case, windmill, cutting box all my carpenter tools, cross cut and hand saw and drawing knife.

6th I give and bequeath to my daughter Margaret Creater. or her heirs and assigns the sum of one hundred pounds part of the above mention three hundred pounds, to be paid to her or her heirs and assigns immediately after my decease, by my exectors hereafter named which with fifty pounds heretofore received at her marriage is to be her share, except the residue.

7th, I give and bequeath to my daughter Barbara Hall her heirs and assigns one hundred pounds another part of said three hundred pounds payable immediately after my decease by my executors hereafter named, which with fifty pounds heretofore received is to be her share, except the residue.

8th, I give and bequeath to my daughter Elisabeth Heffelfinger her heirs and assigns, one hundred pounds the remainder of said three hundred pounds, payable immediately after my decease, by my executors hereafter named, which with fifty pounds heretofore received is to be her share, except the residue.

9th, And all the remainder and residue not before given or bequeathed, and at my decease the remaing part of my Estate of what kind or quality so ever, I give to be equally divided among my seven children or their legal representatives named Michael, John, Eli, Jacob, (sons) Margaret, Barbara and Elisabeth daughters, To whom I likewise give the remainder and residue of my Wife's Estate after her decease in equal shares (except what is left to her disposal) And I do hereby impower my executors to sell all such parts of my Personal Estate as may be necessary to make such distribution.

10th, I do hereby constitute and appoint my sons John and Jarob executors of this my last will and testament, or the suvivors of them.

Ilth, And lastly I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disanull, all and every other former wills, testaments, legacies, and executors by me in any wise heretofore named willed. or bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first above written.

LUDWICK (L. H) HORNING

Ludwig married Catherine Keyser, daughter of Peter Keyser and Margaret Souplis. (Catherine Keyser was born on 25 Oct 1718 in Germantown, Philadelphia Co., Pennsylvania, died on 6 Mar 1799 in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania and was buried in Lower Skippack Mennonite Cemetery-Montgomery Co. PA. (7Th Row-Plots 26 & 27).)