Born: 17 April 1751 – Died: 9 August 1822
Will written: 25 October 1821
Will probated: 30 August 1822
In the name of God, Amen. I Henry Siegfried of the Township of Maxatawny, County of Berks and State of Pensylavina, Yeoman; being sick and weak in body but of sound mind, memory and understanding, taking into consideration the uncertainty of this life, do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament 1n manner and form following, that is to say;
First, I commend my soul into the hands of God my Creator and my body to the Earth; to be interred at the discretion of my herinafter named Executors, and as to the Worldly goods with which it has pleased God to bless me in this World, I dispose thereof as follows, viz.
Item. It is my will and I do hereby direct that the whole of my personal Estate, except such as in hereinafter otherwise disposed of, be sold and my just debts and financial expenses paid as soon as possible after my decease,
Item. Whereas my son Solomon Siegfried has already received his share and proportion of my Estate in Land, and remains indebted to me upon account of Yeager’s land and the building of his home, the sum of one thousand dollars. I do therefore bequeath unto him and his heirs the sum of six hundred dollars to be deducted from the aforesaid debt on condition that he pays unto my Executors the sum of two hundred dollars annually after my decease until the whole of the balance is paid.
Item. Whereas my son Joseph Siegfried has also already received his share and proportion of my Estate, I do hereby give and Bequeath to him the sum of one dollar.
Item. I give and Bequeath unto my son John Siegfried and to his heirs and Assigns forever the plantation or farm on which I now reside, containing about one hundred and thirty acres, with the buildings and appurtenances, two Horses with the harness, my best Wagon and body, one plough, one Harrow, one Clock and case, and the stove and pipe in the large room where he now resides, he paying to my Executors the sum of two hundred dollars annually until the sum shall amount to Eight hundred pounds.
Item. I give and Bequeath unto my son David Siegfried the Farm and Plantation whereon Henry Poh at present resides containing about seventy three acres, with the appurtenances together with Five acres of Woodland to be surveyed from a tract adjoining lands of Jacob Harmony, two Horses with harness, the Plantation Wagon, one plough and one harrow, to have and to hold, to him and his heirs and assigns forever.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Abraham Siegfried and to his heirs and assigns forever, all the Land which I purchased from my Brother Jacob Siegfried together with the tract of Woodland from which I have directed five acres to be surveyed for David and five acres that I purchased from Isaac Levan, one Colt, the small wagon and the sum of two hundred dollars.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Magdalena Siegfried the sum of one hundred pounds to be paid to her as soon as possible after my decease, also all the household goods of which she was possessed at the time of our marriage to be at her own absolute disposal.
Item. I further give and bequeath unto my said wife, the yearly interest on the sum of three hundred pounds during her life time, which sum shall be placed at interest for her use, and after her decease shall be equally divided amongst all my children; Provided that if she shall at any time after my decease enter into the bonds of matrimony then the payment of the said interest to cease, and the principle to be divided as aforesaid.
Item. I further give and bequeath unto my said Wife the privilege of residing in and occupying the house in which we now reside, together with the use of all the furniture therein, excepting only the clock bequeathed to my son John, also the free and exclusive use of the garden thereto belonging, and I further enjoine my son John Siegfried to furnish her with as much firewood as she may find necessary for her use, and bring the same to her door cut small enough for use, also one Milk Cow for her exclusive use together with the necessary pasture and fodder, he shall also furnish herin each year with , six bushels wheat, Twelve bushels Rye, One hundred fifty pounds pork, Fifty pounds Beef, and Ten Pounds of Hay. Provided that if she shall at any time after my decease again enter into the bonds of matrimony then the Privileges and all other things mentioned in this it shall cease and the whole item be null and void. This and the bequests contained in the two former items to be in lieu of her dower.
Item. I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Levan one hiefer and one Bureau, Provided she shall remain with my family until she is Eighteen Years of age.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my three daughters Maria Metzger, Elizabeth Troxall and Catherine Bieber all the remainder of my estate to be equally divided amongst them, their heirs and assigns.
And I do hereby constitute and appoint my beloved son John Siegfried and my worthy neighbor John Siegfried to be executers of this my will; declaring this and none other to be my last Will and Testament.
In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the twenty fifth day of October, Anno Domino One thousand and eight hundred and twenty one.
Henrich Siegfried {SEAL}
Signed, Sealed and Declared to be his last Will and Testament in Presence of us,
Intestined before signing
Jonathan Grim
Daniel Levan
James Donagan
Berks County ss ---- This 30th day of August AD 1822 before me Peter Aurand, Register for the Probate of Wills and granting Letters of Administration in and for the County of Berks, Personally came Jonathan Grim and James Donagan, two of the Subscribing witnesses to the within written will, and being duly Sworn according to Law, did Depose and say that they were present and Saw and heard, Henry Siegfried the Testator Sign, Seal, Publish, Pronounce and Declare the foregoing instrument of writing on and for his Testament and Last Will, and that all the time of so doing he was of Perfect and Sound mind, memory, and understanding to the best of their knowledge, observation and belief, and further that the names Jonathan Grim and James Donagan are of the Deponents own hand writing thereto Subscribed to as witnesses, in the presence of each other, and in the presence and at the request of the Testator.
Coram me
Peter Aurand, Reg.
Leon Borst’s NOTES (26 July 2009):
Henry Siegfried, b. 17 Apr 1751 in Maxatawny Twp., the son of Joseph and Anna Maria (Romig) Siegfried and d. 9 Aug 1822. He m.(1) Elizabeth Kutz, b. 5 Mar 1760 in Maxatawny Twp., the daughter of Nicholas & Eva Catherine (Brobst) Kutz. Elizabeth was the mother of all of Henry’s children. She died 17 Apr 1816.
At the age of 65, Widower Henry Siegfried of Maxatawny Township m.(2) on 18 Nov 1816 his widowed Cousin Magdalena Levan, b. 23 Oct 1756 the daughter of Daniel & Susanna (Siegfried) Levan. Magdalena was m.(1) to Jacob Levan, the son of her cousin Sebastian Levan. Jacob died in 1812. Magdalena (Levan) Siegfried died 9 May 1830. (NOTE: W.P. Coon’s book is in error. Jacob DID NOT marry Magdalena Wink.)
Leon F. Borst, Chester County, PA
Submitted by Leon.
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