1830 Isaac Etter lived in West Donegal Twp, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in a household with males: 1 (under 5), 1 (15 thru 19), 1 (20 thru 29), and 1 (30 thru 39); and females: 2 (under 5), 1 (5 thru 9), 1 (15 thru 19), and 1 (20 thru 29). [1]
1835 Isaac Etter, of West Donegal, dated his will on December 3. The will named wife Catherine and unnamed minor children. The will was witnessed by Jacob Ebersole (I son) and Jacob Ebersole (M son). The will was proved on February 1, 1836. George Hoffer was named administrator. [2] [3]
1836 George Hoffer presented his account of the estate at the Lancaster County Orphans Court. [4]
1848 George Hoffer sold land from the estate of Isaac Etter, since the youngest heir of Isaac had come of age, as instructed by Isaac's will. The land was sold to Moses Light, husband of Freny, the oldest daughter of Isaac Etter. Payment was made to widow Catherine Etter [5] Another deed was recorded in Book A miscellaneous, page 250. [6]
1849 Daughters Freny (eldest), Nancy and Catherine Etter, now married, had come of age for their inheritance. Freny and Moses Light claimed the inheritance and paid the other sisters for their share. Widow Catherine Etter was still alive. [7]
Isaac Etters legatees To Moses Light and wife
To all people to whom these shall come John Hernly and Nancy his wife late Nancy Etter and Joseph Giphel and Catharine his wife late Catharine Etter the said women being daughters of Isaac Etter late of West Donegal Township Lancaster County Penna decd. Send greeting. Whereas the said Isaac Etter in his life time became lawfully seized as of fee in and to a certain plantation or tract of land with the appurtenances thereunto belonging situate in the Township aforesaid adjoining land of Jacob Old wiler Jacob Breneman the heirs of James Hopkins deed, and others and now found by actual measurement to contain one hundred and thirty nine acres and one hundred perches strict measure And the said Isaac Etter being so were seized in his lifetime died after making his last will and testament in writing dated December the 23rd A.D. 1835 wherein and whereby he did order and direct his executor George Hoffer to have the said land appraised by seven men appointed by him the said executor as soon as the youngest child of said decd should come to the age of twenty one years, And the time having come the said youngest child being of the above age whereupon the said executor having appointed John Rob Jacob Brenses Peter Rider Philip Oldwiler Martin Nissly Jacob Oldwiler and John Reider seven good and lawful men to value and appraise the said plan lation with the appurtenances agreeably to said will. And the said seven in having met on the premises on the 11th day of October A.D. 1848, and after having been duly sworn and affirmed according to law and report that they have valued and appraised the said land at and for the sum of forty one dollars per acreame unting to five thousand seven hundred and twenty four dollars and sixty half cents. The one third of said valuation money is to remain a lien on the land during the widowhood of Catharine Etter the widow of said decedent for her use and the other two thirds to be divided among his children agreeably to said will. And after the said appraisment Moses Light now of the Township aforesaid who is married to then the oldest daughter of said decd. who was entitled to the first chance to take the said land at the valuation, did in right of his said wife and with her consent accept the said premises, at the said valuation, subject to the directions of the will of decedent. And the said Moses Light and Freny his wife have signed an instrument of writing bearing date herewith promising to comply with the directions of said will concerning the premises. Now know ye that the said John Hernly and Nancy his wife and Joseph Giphel and Catherine his wife for and in consideration of the sum of two thousand five hundred and forty four dollars and twenty eight cents, to them in hand paid by the said Mrs Light at and before the ensealing and delivering of these presents the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, Have remised released and forever quitclaimed and by these presents do for themselves and their heirs remise release and forever quitclaim unto the said Moses Light and to his heirs and assigns forever, all the estate right title interest claim and demand whatsoever of them the said John Hernly and Nancy his wife and Joseph Giphel and Catharine his wife of in or to the said that and with the appurtenances except their respective shares out of the widows remaining in said land. To have and to hold the said mesuage plantation or tract of land premises before mentioned unto the said Moses Light his heirs and assigns to the only proper use and behoof of him the said Moses Light his heirs and assigns forever. Subject however to the widows third as above mentioned. So that neither the said John Hernly nor Joseph Giphel nor their wives nor their heirs, nor any other person or persons for them or any of them shall or may by any way or means whatsoever at any time hereafter claim challenge or demand any estate right title or interest of in to or out of the said premises or any part thereof, except their respective shares out of the said widows third. And the said John Hernly and Nancy his wife and Joseph Giphel and Catharine his wife and their heirs the said premises with the appurtenances unto the said Moses Light his heirs and assigns against them selves and their heirs shall and will warrant and forever defend, except the said widow third. In witness whereof they have hereunto set their hand and seal the twenty ninth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty nine, John Hornby Anny Joseph Gibbel Catherine Gibbel Sealed and delivered in the presence of Samuel Hoffer … Recorded 21 March 1861.
1850 Frany Light (age 30) lived in Conoy Twp, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in a household with Moses Light (34), Liddia Light (12), Mary Light (10), Elizabeth Light (7), Isaac Light (4), Henry Light (3), and Catharine Light (0). [8]
1860 Frances Light (age 45, born in Pennsylvania) lived in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in a household with Moses Light (50), Lydia Light (22), Mary Light (19), Henry Light (10), Fanny Light (8), Anna Light (5), Aaron Light, Daniel Light (1), and Jacob Edenains (28). [9]
1863 Frany Light died on February 8. She was born on February 7, 1820 (the 1860 census and her father's will suggest an earlier birth, perhaps c 1815). [10] [11]
1927 Annie Shenk died on June 9 in Manheim Twp, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She was born on August 8, 1854 in Conoy Twp Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, daughter of Moses Light and Fannie Etter. [12]
Research Notes:
[1] United States Federal Census, 1830, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[2] Pennsylvania, Will and Probate Records, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Will R-187, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[3] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Probate Records, R-187, [FamilySearchImage].
[4] Pennsylvania, Will and Probate Records, Lancaster County Orphans Court Miscellaneous Books 1836-1838, p 68, [AncestryImage].
[5] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Deed G8-559, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[7] Miscellaneous books, 1847-1871, IGN=008707052, A-250, [FamilySearchImage], [FSCatalog].
[8] United States Federal Census, 1850, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[9] United States Federal Census, 1860, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[10] Find A Grave Memorial at Ancestry.com, [AncestryRecord].
[11] Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, Genealogical Card File (Lancaster, Pennsylvania), [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[12] Pennsylvania Death Certificates, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[13] C. Mervin Mellinger, Some of the Descendants of Benedict Mellinger (1982), 19.
[14] Richard Warren Davis, Mennosearch.com Family Notes, Ebersole D125, [Website].