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
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.
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Daughter Maria Margaretha Lieb Himmelburger's Gravestone Bellman's Church Cemetery, Mohrsville, PA |
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.
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| 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.
_ed.jpg)
Granting of Letters Testamentary to Anna Margaretha Lieb
Transcription:
Register General’s Office Reading
Berks County 2d 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. Regr.
*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.
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 2d 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
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.
_ed.jpg) |
Granting of Letters Testamentary to Anna Margaretha Lieb |
Transcription:
Register General’s Office Reading
Berks County 2d 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. Regr.
*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.
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 2d 1754. Before me James read D Reg
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Widow “Leib” in 1752 Bern Township Tax List |
A SECOND CHANCE
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