Christian Hagenbuch’s Last Will and Testament
Christian Hagenbuch (b. 1747) was the third son of Andreas Hagenbuch (b. 1715), who immigrated to America in 1737. He was born December 17, 1747 in Albany Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania to Andreas and Anna Maria Margaretha (Friedler) Hagenbuch.
A farmer and distiller by trade, Christian lived most of his adult life on a farm in Allen Township (now East Allen Township), Northampton County, PA. He was married to Susanna Dreisbach (b. 1756) and the couple had eight children together, six of whom survived to adulthood. Christian dictated his will on January 16, 1812 and died nine days later on January 25th. He is buried beside his wife, Susanna, at Zion Stone Church in Kreidersville, PA.
Gravestones of Christian Hagenbuch (right) and Susanna (Dreisbach) Hagenbuch (left) at Zion Stone Church in Kreidersville, PA
The following is a true transcription of his last will and testament as recorded with Northampton County, PA. Punctuation and formatting has been added for clarity.
Last Will &c. of Christian Hagenbuch
In the name of God, Amen. I, Christian Hagenbuch, of Allen Township in the County of Northampton and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Yeoman, being 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 body to the earth, to be buried in a Christian-like manner at the discretion of my Executors herein after named; and as to such worldly estate, wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I give and dispose of the same in the following manner to wit.
I give and devise to my Dearly beloved wife, Susan, the privilege of my dwelling house the back room on the first floor solely for her own house, ten bushels of wheat, ten bushels rye, ten bushels Indian corn, ten bushels buckwheat, twenty pounds coffee, thirty pounds sugar, three pounds tea, one hundred pounds pork, one hundred pounds beef, thirty pounds tallow, twenty pounds clean flax, a sufficiency of potatoes, apples, and garden truck, two gallons spirits, two gallons wine, four pair shoes, as much apparel of all kinds as she may have occasion for, and one barrel of cyder [sic] yearly and every year as long as she lives, one good stove, two good cows, and well kept summer and winter on my plantation, firewood cut ready for use laid down at the door, as much household and kitchen furniture as she has occasion for, a girl to wait on her at all time when she pleases, and when necessary a doctor to be brought and paid for, three hundred pounds to be paid in one year after my decease, and eighteen pounds immediately after my decease.
First section of Christian Hagenbuch’s last will and testament, 1812
I give and devise to my sons [Henry is crossed out] Andrew and Joseph all of my plantation, where on I now live, with the appurtenances thereunto belonging and likewise a small plantation situate in Allen Township aforesaid adjoining lands of George Spangler, John Hoch, and others containing fifty seven acres or there abouts, all my horses, cows, sheep, hogs, and cattle of every kind, household and kitchen furniture, waggons [sic], horse geirs [sic], and every kind of farming utensils and everything else I may died possessed of, not otherwise disposed of, share and share alike. They paying for the same two thousand pounds in manner herein after mentioned, and supporting my dear wife as is heretofore ordered, to wit: In one year after my decease to pay my daughter Polly one hundred sixty six pounds 13/4, in two years after my decease to pay my daughter Mary, the wife of John Coleman, one hundred sixty six pounds 13/4, in 3 years after my decease to pay my son John one hundred sixty six pounds 13/4, my daughter Elizabeth in four years after my decease to be paid one hundred sixty six points 13/4, and soon in like manner until the said the said two thousand pounds are paid.
I further give and devise to my said son [John is crossed out] Andrew two hundred pounds to be paid in one year after my decease. I give and devise to my daughter Polly one hundred and twenty five pound to be paid in one year after my decease, over and above, five hundred pounds which I devise her, to be paid in manner as is heretofore ordered by my sons Andrew and Joseph, two cows, two bedsteads, beds and bedding, one case drawers, six chairs, one table, corner cupboard, saddle and bridle. I give and devise to my said daughter Mary five hundred pounds to be paid by my said sons Andrew and Joseph in manner and form as is heretofore ordered first, deducting what the before mentioned John Coleman owes me impowering [sic] my Executors to hold one half of the above pay regular interest for the same if in their opinion it will be to the interest of my said daughter and her family. I give and devise to my son John five hundred pounds to be paid by my said sons Andrew and Joseph in manner and form as is heretofore ordered, first deducting what my said son now owes me. I give and devise to my daughter Elizabeth one hundred pounds to be paid in one year after my decease over and above five hundred pounds which I devise her, to be paid by my said sons Andrew and Joseph in manner as is heretofore ordered, two cows, two bedsteads, beds and bedding, one case drawers, six chairs, one table, corner cupboard, saddle and bridle.
I order that my Executors hereinafter mentioned shall dispose of what grain can be spared. And likewise sell all public or private sale my lot of land in the said township adjoining land of Peter Deshler, the Bethlehem Road, &c. which together with money now due me shall constitute a fund to pay my Dear wife, my son Andrew, my daughters Polly and Elizabeth, and defray all expenses attending the executorship of this my last will. The remainder, if any, shall be divided amongst my children as soon as conveniently may be, share and share alike. And lastly, I nominate, constitute, and appoint my said son, Andrew, and my friend, John Weaver of said township of Allen, to be the Executors of this my will, hereby revoking all other wills, legacies, and, bequests, by heretofore made and declaring this, and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the sixteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twelve. Christian Hagenbuch [signature]
Second section of Christian Hagenbuch’s last will and testament, 1812
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 subscribed as witnesses John Nicholas Hower [signature], Thomas McKeen [signature] Northampton County
On the seventh day of February AD: 1812: before me, Nathaniel Michler, Register for the Probate of Wills and granting Letters of Administration in and for the county aforesaid came John Nicholas Hower and Thomas McKeen, the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing instrument of writing, purporting to be the last will and testament of Christian Hagenbuch, deceased. The former of whom being solemnly affirmed, and the latter duly sworn, they respectively declare, depose, and say, that they were personally present at the execution thereof, and did see and hear the said Christian Hagenbuch, sign, seal, publish, and declare the same as and for his last will and last testament, that at the time of so doing he was of sound mind, memory, and understanding to the best of their knowledge and belief. And also that they this affirmed and deponent, subscribed their names to the same as witnesses in the presence and at the request of the said testator and in the presence of each other witness my hand, Nathaniel Michler, Register.
As described in his will, Christian Hagenbuch had both land and money—more than enough to provide for his wife and children after his death. The document will be analyzed in detail as part of a future article.
