Andreas Hagenbuch’s Last Will and Testament

Andreas Hagenbuch died in 1785, sometime between April 11th and September 26th. (Evidence suggests he probably died in late August or early September.) He was buried in the family cemetery at the Hagenbuch homestead in Albany Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania.

Below is a translation from German of his last will and testament which was dated April 9, 1785. A codicil to the will was created a few days later on April 11th and finalized on April 14th. The will was finally probated on September 26th of the same year, after Andreas died.

The will is a fascinating look into the Hagenbuch family, Andreas’ relationship with his children, and the items of value he owned. In future articles, analysis and opinions will be provided of the will.

Page one of Andreas Hagenbuch’s will written in 1785

Will of Andreas Hagenbuch, April 9, 1785

In the name of the Holy Trinity of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost Amen.

I, Andreas Hagenbuch, farmer, of Albany Township in Berks County in the State of Pennsylvania am in good held mind memory and understanding, thanks be given to God, that put me in mind the mortality of my body, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, that is to say, punctually and first of all, I give and recommend my soul in the hands of almighty God that gave it, and I recommend my body to Earth, to be buried in a decent & Christian manner, as my executors find sufficient; not doubting but in the common rising I shall receive the same again, through the mighty power of God and what touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I give and bequeath of them in following manner & form:

Firstly, because I have already well prepared my well beloved wife, Maria Margaretha, with a sufficient yearly exception, to maintain her during the whole time of her natural life, I give her yet all my remaining estate (which I have not herein bequeathed to my children and in terms ordered to be paid to them in their hands, to make use thereof after their own pleasure) when and how she is wanting as long as she lives and when she shall see, that something more ought to be given to my daughter Anna Barbara, as I have herein bequeathed to her because she is unhealthy, then my said wife and my herein mentioned executors shall be herein allowed & they shall have the power to give my said daughter something more, out of the estate which I herein have given to my said wife in her hands, so as my said wife after her pleasure shall find it for good.

Secondly, I give and bequeath to my son, Henry Hagenbuch, to the debt of 20 pounds and 3 shillings which he owes to me in my book, yet the further sum of 79 pounds and 17 shillings good gold or silver money, which my executors shall pay to him or his heirs as follows: 29 pounds and 17 shillings on the 27th day of November in the year of our Lord 1785 and 50 pounds on the 27th day of November in the year of our Lord 1793, wherewith he gets together 100 pounds and he shall further have no right, no ways to make any other demand on my other remaining estate, because a father has his will to make his testament as he pleases.

Thirdly, I give and bequeath to my daughter, Catharina, to the debt of 6 pounds and 11 shillings which she owes to me in my book, yet the further sum of 50 pounds good gold or silver money which my executors shall pay to her or her heirs on the 17th day of November in the year of our Lord 1792, further my executors shall pay to her daughter Magdalena Brobst the sum of 43 pounds and 9 shillings good gold or silver money on the 27th day of November in the year of our Lord 1786, so that my said daughter Catharina & her daughter Magdalena receives 100 pounds together.

Page two of Andreas Hagenbuch’s will written in 1785

Fourthly, I give and bequeath to my daughter, Maria, to the debt of 10 pounds and 5 shillings which she owes to me in my book, yet the further sum of 50 pounds good gold or silver money which my executors shall pay to her or her heirs on the 27th day of November in the year of our Lord 1792, my executors shall pay further to her son, John Schisler, or his heirs the sum of 39 pounds and 16 shillings good gold or silver money on the 27th day of November in the year of our Lord 1786, so that my said daughter and her son John Schisler receive 100 pounds together.

Fifthly, I give and bequeath to my daughter, Magdalena, 110 pounds good gold or silver money (these 10 pounds she shall have more because she has faults in her eyes) which my executors shall pay to her or her heirs as follows, namely the sum of 50 pounds on the 27th day of November in the year of our Lord 1785 and the sum of 60 pounds on the 27th day of November in the year of our Lord 1791, so that she received 110 pounds.

Sixthly, I give and bequeath to my daughter, Anna Elizabeth, to the debt of 50 pounds which she owes to me in my book, yet the further sum of 50 pounds good gold or silver money which my executors shall pay to her or her heirs on the 27th day of November in the year of our Lord 1789 so that she receives 100 pounds.

Seventhly, I give and bequeath to my daughter, Christina, to the debt which she owes to me in my book namely 50 pounds, yet the further sum of 50 pounds good gold or silver money which my executors shall pay to her or her heirs on the 27th day of November in the year of our Lord 1790, so that she received 100 pounds.

Eighthly, I give and bequeath to my daughter, Anna Margaretha, to the debt of 50 pounds which she owes to me in my book, yet the further sum of 50 pounds good gold or silver money which my executors shall pay to her or her heirs on the 27th day of November in the year of our Lord 1790, so that she received 100 pounds together.

Ninthly, I give and bequeathed to my son, John Hagenbuch, the sum of 150 pounds good gold or silver money, which my executors shall pay to him or his heirs, namely as follows: 50 pounds as soon as he begins to build his house & 50 pounds on the 27th day of November in the year of our Lord 1785 and 50 pounds on the 27th day of November in the year of our Lord 1791, so that he received together 150 pounds and he shall have the book called Johann Arndt’s, Verily Christiandum.

Page three of Andreas Hagenbuch’s will written in 1785

Tenthly, I give and bequeath to my above mentioned daughter, Anna Barbara, the sum of 140 pounds good gold or silver money which my executors shall pay to her or her heirs as follows: namely 60 pounds on the 27th day of November in the year of our Lord 1788 and 80 pounds on the 27th day of November in the year of our Lord 1791, so that she or her heirs receives 140 pounds and she shall likewise have one good bed, my kitchen furniture, my chests, 1 cow and 1 heifer, with that what my beloved wife, Maria Margaretha, shall further give her, as she finds good, because she is in want of it.

Eleventhly, what concerns the white linen goods, that the said Maria, Magdalena, Anna Elizabeth, Christina, Anna Margaretha, Anna Barbara, and Magdalena Brobst, shall share the same in 7 equal shares and rough cuts therefore so as the stand named, and my said son John shall have my bed, all shall be after the mother’s death.

Lastly, but all what after my and my said wife’s decease, shall amount in money of my estate of them what we have hath in our hands yet (except what I have given and bequeathed to my said children) and the money which I have put in the bank and my executors shall receive therefore, that my hereafter mentioned children, as Michael, Christian, John, Maria, Magdalena, Anna Elizabeth, Christina, Anna Margaretha, Anna Barbara, and Magdalena Brobst (instead of her mother Catharina) shall among themselves share the same in 10 equal shares each one share, but my said son, Henry, and my daughter, Catharina, shall have nothing of the same, likewise my said 2 sons, Michael and Christian, shall have nothing further to their share because I have each of them in the selling of the land which I sold them, left so much as each one share amounts to and how themselves are satisfied at time, after our several agreements and constitute and ordain my said wife, Maria Margaretha, and my son-in-law John Reichelderfer and Michael Hagenbuch to be the only executrix and executors of this my last Will and Testament and I make void and recall herewith all and every testaments, Wills, bequeathings, and executors, through me heretofore made, confirm this, and no other to be my last Will and Testament.

In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal the 9th day of April in the year of our Lord 1785.
Andreas Hagenbuch (signed)

Signed, sealed, and declared by the said Andreas Hagenbuch as his last Will and Testament in our presence, that we in his presence and subscribed our names hereto in the presence of each other.
John Brobst (signed)
Jacob Schmitt (signed)

Page four of Andreas Hagenbuch’s will written in 1785, including his original signature

Codicil to the Will of Andreas Hagenbuch, April 14, 1785

Be it public and known to all men by these presents, that I, Andreas Hagenbuch of Albany Township in Berks County in the State of Pennsylvania have made and declared my above written last Will and Testament. I, the said Andreas Hagenbuch, by this present codicil do finish and confirm my above last Will and Testament, that out of each one share, one equal share 50 pounds and one share 90 pounds which amounts together 490 pounds, shall remain in my and my said wife’s hands to our use, until after both are deceased, afterwards shall be done with it as my above Will and Testament says and my children shall no way as pay Interest to my executors and my Will and meaning is, that this codicil be reckoned to be a part of my last Will and Testament. Done 11th April 1785.
Andreas Hagenbuch (signed)

This article was updated on May 5, 2026 to include links to other articles and new imagery.