JOHANN MICHAEL AND ANNA MARGARETHA GRÄTER LIEB - Chapter Four

 

Introduction 

My fifth great-grandparents Johann Michael and Anna Margaretha Gräter Lieb represent the earliest documented ancestors of my great-grandmother, Catherine Ellen Lieb McWilliams. The Liebs emigrated from present-day Germany to America. Written records of the Gräter family and Anna Margaretha's second husband, Johann Mathias Staudt's family, date back into the 1600s in church books in the Sulzdorf, Württemberg and Wolfersweiler, Saarland states in the Holy Roman Empire. The Lieb's arrived in Philadelphia on Saturday, August 11, 1750. The rest is history! 

Son Nicholas Lieb's Baptism Record 

WHERE THERE’S A WILL...

Little evidence about the Lieb family unit has survived.  Michael and Anna Margaretha’s marriage was recorded in Württemberg on 20 February 1748, about two years before they immigrated to Pennsylvania. A son, Johann Jacob, was baptized later that year in the same church. Jacob was not found in any other documents and his fate remains a mystery. None of the Philadelphia passenger or oath lists contained information about the number of family members who accompanied Michael and his father-in-law to America. Only male passengers aged sixteen years and above were recorded.

Anna Margaretha and Michael had two children after arriving in America. Son, Nicholas was born on 30 September 1751, slightly more than one year after the Liebs arrived in Pennsylvania. His baptism was written in the records of Evangelical Lutheran Christ Church in Tulpehocken on 20 October of the same year. A translation/transcription of the record was published in 1928.

Daughter Maria Margaretha was born sometime in 1754, the year Michael passed away. Her birth year was inscribed on her headstone, but no other source of her birthdate was found. The family may have been in crisis at the time of her birth. Michael may have been sick for some time before he died and he was obviously aware that he was near death at least two weeks before his demise when he made his last will and testament.

Daughter Maria Margaretha Lieb Himmelburger's Gravestone
Bellman's Church Cemetery, Mohrsville, PA

A few more hints alluding to the Lieb family unit were found in Michael’s probate file. Michael identified his occupation as “miller” in his last will and testament dated 15 October 1754. He also indicated that he had been married two times, in the phrase, “all my Children as well of the first wife as also of my wife anna margaretha shall what fall to their portion Divide in legal Shears [sic shares].” Additionally, he revealed his children were minors under the age of fourteen when he specified, “…my wife [illegible] in her life without Interest until the Children be of age then Shall She as they become of age pay their portion.” Michael’s children’s names were listed when the will was proven on 2 November 1754. “The names of Michael Liebs 4 chil. are Anna Catharina. Simon. Nicholas & Maria Margaretha.”

The wording, spelling and lack of punctuation in Michael’s will was peculiar by today’s standards. Spelling and grammar conventions were not implemented until nearly one-hundred years later. In addition, Michael spoke German and may have dictated the contents of his will and written only his signature at the bottom of the document. Michael’s neighbor, Jacob Dester, was one of the witnesses to the signing of the will and he translated it from German to English for the probate proceedings. The difficulty of translating the exact meaning of German words probably also contributed to the awkwardness of the English version of the will. James Read, the Berks County Recorder and Register, wrote the following note which was placed in Michael’s probate file. A transcription of the note follows.

Note Regarding Translation of Michael Lieb's Will

Transcription:

Jacob Dester within named upon his solemn Affirmation doth declare that the text within contains a just Translation by him of the Original Will of Michael Lieb according to the best of his Skill & Knowledge of the German and English languages.

Affirm’d at Reading the 2d. Nov. 1754                          Before me                              James read D Regr.

The ages of Michael’s four surviving children were calculated from their baptism records and tombstones. Anna Catharina was fourteen, Simon was eleven, and Nicholas was three. According to the date on her tombstone, Maria Margaretha was born in 1754, so she was either unborn or an infant when Michael passed away. Perhaps the new life of her infant daughter helped Anna Margaretha endure the grief of losing her first son, Jacob, and her husband in a span of about five years.  She was obviously a strong and resilient woman. 

Michael hinted that he was sick when he drew up his will in mid-October of 1754. He referred to his “present hardship of Bodey” [sic body] in the opening phrases of the document. He was likely very ill, as he passed away before 2 November when his will was proven in Reading. He left his widow, Anna Margaretha and four minor children. Anna Margaretha was named as the executrix of his estate.

Granting of Letters Testamentary to Anna Margaretha Lieb

Transcription: 

Register General’s Office Reading Berks County 2^d November 1754

Letters Testamentary in Common form under the Seal of the said office on the Last Will and Testament of Michael Lieb late of Bern Township and County of Berks Miller deced were Granted to Anna Margaretha Lieb Executrix therein named being first Solemnly Sworn according to Law Inventory to be Exhibited on or before the First Day of December next and an accompt of her Administration when thereunto required Which will of the said Michael Lieb was proved by the Solemn Affirmation of Jacob Miller Michael Stout* and Jacob Dester the Subscribing witnesses thereto but being written in the German Language can not be Recorded                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Examined James read D. Reg^r.

*This was probably Mathias Staudt, not Michael. The signature appears to be read as Mathias. “Michael” was probably written in error or was incorrectly transcribed by a clerk.

Unfortunately, the only papers in Michael’s probate file were the German and English versions of his will, the accompanying documentation of witnesses and the appointment of his wife, Anna Margaretha, as the executrix of his estate. 

Michael Lieb’s will is preserved in the Register’s Office in the Courthouse in Reading. 

Anna Margaretha was required to file an inventory of Michael’s property by December first, but no record of the inventory could be located. Its contents would provide a glimpse into the household of the Liebs and all the furniture and other possessions they owned in 1754. It is likely that some probate documents were lost or were not retained in the early years after the formation of Berks County. Michael’s estate was the twelfth probate estate filed in Berks County.

1754 Last Will and Testament of Michael Lieb

1754 Last Will and Testament of Michael Lieb

Translation of Michael Leib's German Will 

Transcription of the English Translation of the Last Will and Testament of Michael Lieb

In the name of God amen the fifteenth day of october in the year of Christ Seventeen hundred and fifty four I Hans Michael Lieb of Bern township and County of Berks miller have taken in Consideration my mortality by my present hardship of Bodey while I am (God be thanks for it) in perfect memory And will in Consideration of my Small Estate of worldly things make my last will and testament My Bodey I Recomand to the Earth from which he is taken In a Christian like manner to be Buried my Soul I hop God will take to him through his Great mercey and my worldly Estate I bequeathes as foloweths

Firstly is it my will and order that all my Just debts and funeral Charges be paid and Satisfied.

Secondly Give I and bequeathes unto my wife anna Margaretha all my Land, Buildings, Improvement and all moveable goods they may have names as they will to her her heirs and assigns for ever with Condition that She my wife for all the above mentioned Shall pay the Sum of four hundred and fifty Pounds Pensylvany money to my Creditors and heirs

Thirdly all my Children as well of the first wife as also of my wife anna margaretha shall what falls to their portion Divide in legal Shears

fourthly to wife anna Margaretha Give I out of the above Sum of 450 pounds the Sum of thirty Pounds Lawful money to be taken before out and what is over Shall She with my Children in equal Shears devide that She also above the thirty Pounds Shall have a Child’s Shear

Fifthly Shall my wife [illegible] in her life without Interest until the Children be of age then Shall She as they become of age pay their portion to [illegible]

Sixthly Nominate I my wife anna Margaretha to be the only Executor of this my present Last will and testament and Disanul all by me before made wills and testaments or any writings there unto belonging and Confirm this to be my last will and testament as witness my own hands Superscription and Seal the day and year as above                               

Signed and Sealed and declared                                                                                    Michel Lieb {Seal}

by hans michael Lieb as his 

last will and testament in the presence of us

Jacob Miller

Mathias Stout

Jacob Dester

 

P.S. the names of Michael Lieb,s four Children are anna Catherina, Simon, Nicholas, Maria Margaretha

The original was provn this Day prov’d by this Affirmation of the Subscribing witnesses according to Law. Reading November 2^d 1754. Before me                                                            James read D Reg

Widow “Leib” in 1752 Bern Township Tax List

This transcribed list of taxable residents of Berks County in 1752, or shortly after, includes “Widow Leib” in Bern Township. The date the list was prepared was probably 1754 because Michael Lieb passed away in late fall of 1754 and Anna Margaretha remarried in 1755. The tax was levied at the direction of county commissioners to fund the new Berks County government.

NEXT TIME - Chapter Five -
A SECOND CHANCE 

JOHANN MICHAEL AND ANNA MARGARETHA GRÄTER LIEB - Chapter Three

 Introduction 

My fifth great-grandparents Johann Michael and Anna Margaretha Gräter Lieb represent the earliest documented ancestors of my great-grandmother, Catherine Ellen Lieb McWilliams. The Liebs emigrated from present-day Germany to America. Written records of the Gräter family and Anna Margaretha's second husband, Johann Mathias Staudt's family, date back into the 1600s in church books in the Sulzdorf, Württemberg and Wolfersweiler, Saarland states in the Holy Roman Empire. The Lieb's arrived in Philadelphia on Saturday, August 11, 1750. The rest is history! 

1750 Map of Pennsylvania

THE LIEB PLANTATION AND GRISTMILL

Michael and Anna Margaretha completed the journey to their new home by traveling from Philadelphia to Bern Township in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Their options for making the seventy-mile trip were limited to paddling up the Schuylkill River and Tulpehocken Creek or following the narrow, rough path of Tulpehocken Road overland. Their place of residence was not recorded until they settled on 36 acres of land that Michael purchased from Wendel and Mary Elizabeth Bright [sometimes spelled Brecht] on 23 January 1753. Their property straddled Tulpehocken Creek and included a dwelling house and gristmill. Berks County was carved from part of Lancaster County in 1752, so the purchase of their plantation was recorded in the county seat in Reading. 

Wendel Bright Patent in North Heidelberg Township on the Left Bank
and Penn Township on the Right Bank of Tulpehocken Creek
 

The Lieb home was on the north side of the creek in Bern Township and the land across the creek was in Heidelberg Township. Both townships were later divided into smaller jurisdictions, placing their residence within the current boundaries of Penn Township and the remainder of their real estate in North Heidelberg Township. Reading was about ten miles south of their “plantation.”

Michael’s land was a part of a larger tract which was warranted to John Kersner [Johannes Kirschner] on 2 October 1735. It is interesting that Johannes Kirschner was my 7Xs great-grandfather on another maternal line. William Penn’s grandson, Thomas’ signature appears on the warrant. 

John Kersner 1735 Lancaser County Land Warrant 

(Transcription)                                         

Pennsylvania, ss.                                        By the Proprietaries. 

At the Request of John Kersner of the County of Lancaster that We would grant him to take up Two hundred Acres of Land on Tulpehoccon Creek adjoining [sic] to Stephen Brake [Brecht or Bright] in the said County of Lancaster for which He agrees to pay to our Use the Sum of Fifteen Pounds Ten Shillings current Money of this Province for each Hundred Acres and the yearly Quit-rent of one Half-penny Sterling for every Acre thereof; THESE are to authorize and require three to survey or cause to be survey’d unto the said John Kersner at the Place aforesaid, according to the Method of Townships appointed, the said Quantity of 200 Acres that hath not been already survey’d or appropriated, and make Return thereof into the Secretary’s Office, in order for a further Confirmation; for which this shall be thy sufficient Warrant, which Survey, in case the said John Kersner fulfil the above Agreement within six Months from the Date hereof, shall be valid, otherwise to be void. GIVEN under my Hand, and the lesser Seal of our Province, at Philadelphia this 2^d day of October Anno Dom. 1735                                                                                                                                                       

To Benjamin Eastburn, Surveyor General                                                    THOS PENN                                                                 

The warrant authorized a survey to be made for Johannes which would guarantee that no other claims had been previously made to the same property and created a legal description of the boundaries and acreage of the plat.

Johannes’ survey was made and recorded, but he did not complete the additional steps necessary to receive a legal patent (original land deed) from the Penns. Filing the patent paperwork involved travel and expense that was difficult for many pioneers. The patent was not necessary and residents often lived on their land for years or sold it without ever completing the patent process.

John Kersner 1735 Survey

Johannes and his family lived on the property for seven years, but he passed away in 1742. He willed the farm to his son Conrad [my 6Xs great-grandfather], but Conrad relocated to Windsor Township and sold the land to John Reezer in 1747. John Reezer requested a second warrant for the same property on 30 May 1747. The warrant was returned on 19 March 1750 for Wendel Bright. Reezer sold the plat to Wendel Bright three years after he purchased it from Kersner. Bright completed the patent purchase from the Penn family on 3 March 1750.

Wendel Bright and his wife Anna Catharina sold 36 acres of their 196-acre tract to Hans Michael Lieb on 23 January 1753. The deed stated that a “mansion house, grist mill, dam and race” were located on the property that was conveyed to Michael for the price of £358. 

Herr Gristmill in Lancaster County Built in 1738

Only the foundation of Michael’s grist mill remains today, but his mill may have resembled the Herr mill which still stands in Lancaster County. The above photo illustrates water in the mill race which powered the external water wheel which, in turn, provided energy to move the huge interior millstone used to grind grain into meal or flour. 

The Lieb mill property adjoined this farm and shared the majestic views.
This photo was taken 200 years after Michael's death in circa 1953.

Berks County was established in 1752 and taxes were levied that year to fund the formation of the new county government. One undated tax list which contained Michael’s name was found. The single sheet does not bear a date, but it certainly was made between 1752, and 1754 when Michael passed away. Note that he is listed near “Windle” Bright from whom he bought his land.   

Hans Michael “Leep” in Undated Bern Township Tax List

Land Documents from the Pennsylvania Archives, map and photo from Library of Congress, and tax record from Family Search. 

NEXT - CHAPTER FOUR         WHERE THERE’S A WILL…