1865 The heirs of George Wolf petitioned the orphans court of Lancaster County in August. [1]
The petition of Henry Wolf of Clay Township, in the said County of Lancaster, Respectfully showeth that George Wolf, late of Clay formerly a part of Elizabeth Township, in the said County of Lancaster, gentleman, died on or about the ninth day of May A.D. 1865, and some time prior to his decease, to wit, on the 28th day of August A.D. 1848 made his last will and testament, wherein and whereby he gave devised and bequeathed, after the payment of his debts, funeral expenses and specific legacies, interalia, as follows, "I give and bequeath the residue of my estate which is left and not hereinbefore disposed of unto my two brothers, John Wolf, and Henry Wolf and unto my four sisters, Maria Wolf Regina Nancy intermaried with Christopher Miller and Sarah intermarried with John Enck, and unto my two Nephews, Elias Enck and John Sailer and unto my Niece Elizabeth Seller to be divided to and amongst them in nine equal shares so as each one of them get one equal share thereof, " Item, "It is my will that if my Nephew Elias Enck dies without issue, then I order and direct that what I have given and bequeathed unto him herein before to be paid and equally divided to and amonst the other eight legatees herein named," which said last will and testament, containing (among other things) the aforesaid devises and bequests, was duly proven before the Register of Wills for the County of Lancaster, on the 22nd day of May A.D. 1865, Your petitioner father shows that the said George Wolf died unmarried and without issue but leaving the aforesaid heirs under his last will and testament still living, to wit Your petitioner Henry Wolf, a brother, Jeremiah Wolf, Elias Wolf, Absalom Wolf and Sabina Schlanbach, the children of John Wolf decd, a brother, Regina Wolf a Sister, David Miller, Henry Miller, William Miller, Christopher Miller of the State of Indiana Isaac Miller, Leah Miller, Polly Miller, Nancy Miller, and Lydia Miller, the children of Nancy Miller, deceased intermarried with Christopher Miller, a sister, Elias Enck, John Enck, Levi Enck, William Enck of the State of Ohio, Samuel Enck, Polly West and Rebecca Enck, the children of Sarah Enck, decd, intermarried with John Enck, a sister. Elias Enck and John Seiler, two nephews, Elizabeth Seiler, a niece and Maria Wolf, Sister, who died unmarried and without issue some time prior to the death of the said testator, George Wolf, to wit, on the fifth day of November, A.D. 1865, seized, in his demesne as of fee of and in the following described messuage, tenement and tract of land situate in Clay Township, in the County aforesaid, to wit containing four acres and ninety nine perches strict measure, adjoining land of Peter Miller, John Brubacher, Meeting house lot, School house lot, grave yard and Daniel Clay decd, on which are erected a two storied dwelling house frame barn and other out buildings, with the appurtenances thereunto belonging. Your petitioner therefore prays that your Honors award an inquest to make partition of the premises aforesaid to and among the said parties interested, in such manner and in such proportions as by the said will and the laws of this Commonwealth is directed; if such partition can be made without prejudice to or spoiling the whole: but if such partition cannot be made thereof then to value and appraise the same and make return of their proceedings,
And now August 23 1865. It is ordered by the Court that the High Sheriff of Lancaster Summon twelve men to be an Inquest to view value and appraise the Real Estate of George Wolf of which he died seized and to make partition thereof to and among the heirs and legal representatives of said deed according to law and make return of this proceedings to this Court on the 20th day of November 1865,
And now September 19th 1865, It is further ordered by the Court that notice of the time and place of the holding of the inquisition on the real Estate of George Wolf deed, be given by publication once a week for four suce essive weeks in the Lancaster Inquirer and Philadelphia Inquirer and that a copy of the Lancaster Enquirer be sent to the Post office address of those heirs residing without the County
Return of Inquisition
Inquisition indented and taken 701 on the premises in Clay Township, in the County of Lancaster, and State of Pennsylvania on the 21st day of October A.D. 1865 … [could not be partitioned]
[1] Miscellaneous Book: Lancaster. Miscellaneous Records 1863–1865, IGN=007725328, image 373, [FamilySearchImage].