Godfrey Wißler (c1757-1829) 1829 Last Will and Testament

Godfrey Wißler wrote his last will and testament on 23 April 1825. It was proven on 21 October 1829.¹ He died before 21 October 1829.² Based on this will, his wife Eva Catharine (Weiß) Wißler had died previously. At the time of his death, he had three living daughters, as well as the four surviving grandchildren of his deceased daughter Elizabeth (Wißler) Reiter.

Will of Godfrey Wisler

In the Name of God Amen I Godfrey Wisler of Upper Hanover Hanover township Montgomery County and State of Pennsylvania Yeoman being in perfect health of body and of sound mind memory and understanding blessed by God for the same but considering the uncertainty of this transitory life 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 my body to the earth to be buried in a decent and Christian like manner at the discretion of my Executors hereinafter named and as to such wordless 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 First it is my will and I do order that all my just debts and funeral expenses be duly paid and satisfied as soon as conveniently can be after my decease Item I give unto my youngest daughter and do order my executors to get the same and pay for the same out of my estate unto my youngest daughter Susanna one good and sufficient bed and bedstead and all belonging to the same one cow Spinning weel and drawre and one kittle two iron potts a washtub two buckets a half dozen Knifes and forks one dozen table spoons one dozen tea spoons one dozen plates one dozen cups and sarcers a half doz chairs one table all new and the greater pewter dish Item it is my will that all my personal estate shall be sold by Public Vendue by my Executors hereafter named and the money arriving thereof after due expenses be paid off equally divided share and share alike amongst all my children and grandchildren or to their respective Heirs to wit one fourth to my Grand children born by my daughter Elizabeth deceased (the wife of George Reiter) one fourth to my daughter Catharine (the wife of Jacob Stoyer) one fourth to my daughter Sarah (the wife of Henry Snyder) and one fourth to my daughter Susanna Item it is my will and I do order that my real estate shall be sold by my Executors on Public Sale for the best price may be gotten for the same and the money arriving there from after all expenses be duly paid then it is my will and I do order that first fifty dollars shall be paid unto Jacob Stoyer the husband of my daughter Catharine or to their heirs which said sum and the land I have given already unto them shall be in full of their share and dividents whatever Item it is my will that all the remaining money over the real estate shall be divided equally into three parts that is to say one third unto my four Grand Children by twenty dollars more than her share unto my Grand daughter Eve Reiter and one third unto my daughter Sarah and one third unto my daughter Susanna unto them or to their respective heirs or assigns And Lastly I nominate Constitute and appoint my trusty frands George Hillegas Sr. and George Maurer to be the sole Executors of this my last will and testament and give them full power and authority or the Surveyeor of them to Sign Seal and deliver a good and Suficient title deed to purchaser or purchasers of the same hereby revoking all other will legacies and bequests by me heretofore made and declaring this and no other to be my last will and testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my had and Seal the twenty third day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight Hundred and twenty five

Godfrey Wisler {seal}

Signed Sealed and declared by the said testator as his last will and testament in the presents of us

John Welker  George Hillegas

Montgomery County Ss Personally appeared the witnesses to the foregoing will who being duly sworn according to Law did on their solemn Oath respectively say that they Saw and heard Godfrey Wisler the testator therein named sign and seal publish and declare the same will for and as his last will and testament and at the doing of it he was of sound mind memory and understanding to the best of their knowledge and belief Sworn October 21st 1829

Geo M. Potts DR

Be it remembered that on the 21st day of October AD 1829 the foregoing will was proved in due form of Law and Letters of administration with the will annexed Granted unto Jacob Stoyer he having first be duly qualified to execute the same and to render and account thereof according to Law and to comply with the provisions of an Act of Assembly relative to Collateral Inheritances Given under my hand and Seal of office ~

I’ve been able to identify five daughters of Godfrey Wißler and Eva Catharine Weiß:

1. Susanna Wißler (1776—1785)
2. Elizabeth Wißler (1785-1794—bef Apr 1825) married George Reiter
3. Catharine Wißler (1789—1879) married Jacob Stoyer (aka Steier)
4. Sarah Wißler (1799—1852) married Henry Snyder (aka Schneider)
5. Susanna Wißler (aft 1799—?)

Henry Snyder purchased 62 acres from Godfrey’s estate in 1830 and got a mortgage from George Hillegas Sr. This became the Snyder and later the Greulich farm across from the New Goshenhoppen Church in Upper Hanover Township.

Godfrey and Eva Catharine are my 5x great-grandparents.

• Category: Documents, Last Will & Testament
• Tag: Family Records, Maternal Line, Transcriptions