1824 Reading
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
To the Sherriff of Berks County... Greeting:
Whereas, Frederick Rapp, Brother and one of the Heirs at law of Susan Rapp late of the Borough of Reading in said county, single woman deceased, preferred a petition to the judges of the Orphans’ Court of the said county, setting forth that his said sister died Intestate on the third day of August A.D. 1824 leaving one Brother to wit the petitioner, and two sisters to wit Juliana now the widow of William Shultz deceased, and Margaret intermarried with Daniel Graeff. Also the nine children of her deceased Sister Catherine who was the wife of Peter Lotz, namely to wit, William, Catherine, Rebecca, Molly the widow of Peter Smith deceased, Phillip, Hannah, Sarah, Peter and Mary; the last four of whom are still in their minority.
That the said intestate, at the time of her decease was seized in her demesne as of fee of and a certain messuage or tenement and part of a lot of ground being the Eastern most half of the lot marker in the general plan of the Borough of Reading 162, and situated on the south side of Penn Street in the said Borough of Reading bounded on the north by Penn Street on the east by lot of (blank space) on the south by a 20 foot alley and on the west by the westernmost half of the same lot No 162, including an alley of about five feet in width entering Penn Street southwardly fifty two feet along the western line of the said premises, which is to be kept open and used in common, by the owner of this and the western half of the said Lot. Also a certain out lot within the Borough adjoining the land of Daniel Keper, Joseph Hiester and the heirs of John Drenkle deceased and a twenty feet alley and counts five acres. Also a Tract of Woodland on Penn Mount in Alsace Township adjoining lands of Daniel Graeff and others and counts about to acres.
With the appurtenances; and therefore praying the court award an inquest to view the same and make partition, etc. which was accordingly awarded by the court. Therefore we command you, that you forthwith summon and inquest of twelve good and lawful men of your bailiwick and go to said premises, and then and there by their oaths and solemn affirmations make partition thereof, with the appurtenances to and among the heirs of the said deceased, if the same can be done without prejudice to and spoiling of the whole. But if the same cannot be so parted and divided without prejudice to and spoiling of the whole, that the same inquest do view and inquire whether the same will conveniently accommodate more than one of the said heirs; and if they so find, that they then ascertain and report how many the same will as aforesaid accommodate describing each purport by metes and bounds, and returning a just valuation and appraisement thereof. But if the said inquest shall find that the premises aforesaid with appurtenances, cannot be parted and divided to and among all the heirs of the said deceased, nor accommodate more than one of the heirs without prejudice to and spoiling of the whole, that they then value and appraise the same agreeably to law. That they estimate each purport if divided. That due and legal notice of the time and place of holding such inquisition be given to all the parties interested, that they may be present if they think proper. And that the partition or valuation so made, you distinctly and openly have, under your hand and seal and under the hands and seals of those by whom the same shall be made, before our judges at Reading, at our Orphans’ Court, there to be holden the thirteenth day of December next. And have you then there this writ. Witness the honorable Robert Porter, esquire, president of our the said court, at Reading, the fifth day of November in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty four.
By the Court
Jae Sallade Clk. Of Courts
Submitted by Michelle.
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