Will of Samuel ROHRER (1786); Washington Co., MD Contributed to the USGenWeb Archives by Michael W. Rohrer Copyright 2004. All Rights Reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/md/mdfiles.htm ********************************************************* Lincoln, VA March 8, 2003 Samuel Rohrer (c.1728-1788) was the first Rohrer to settle in the Pleasant Valley area just north of present-day Rohrersville starting in 1762. Six months later, John Rohrer of Lampeter Township, Lancaster PA bought land called Piney Hills, sometimes called Pennyhill or other variants, just south of and adjacent to Samuel's land. Wycliffe B. Neal's book on the Rohrer family indicates that Samuel and John may have been half-brothers, sons of a Hans Michael Rohrer of Alsace, based on a 1941 paper by Albert L. Rohrer. Countless researchers have subscribed to this theory over the years. However, extensive research on the Mennonite immigrants by Richard W. Davis now indicates that Samuel was much more likely the son of the Frederick Rohrer (c1696-c1762) who emigrated on the ship Restauration in 1747. Only Frederick and Samuel were included on the ship list, but presumably Samuel's younger brothers Martin and John, and his sister Margaret who had married Michael Funk were there as well. Samuel bought his very first Washington County property named Funk's Run from Michael Funk in 1758. Michael was also on the Restauration. John of Lampeter willed Piney Hills to his son Martin who died young and it passed to his son John M. Rohrer, who is a witness to the will of Samuel's son Frederick and was his next door neighbor. Samuel and John of Lampeter could possibly have been related, but I've found no conclusive evidence. Regardless, I believe most of the Rohrers in the Pleasant Valley - Rohrersville area are likely descended from either Samuel or John of Lampeter. This text file version of Samuel's will was obtained by scanning the version originally typed by Mrs. Herschel E. (Jane F.) Murphy of Columbus, Indiana and published in Neal's chapter on the Rohrers of Lancaster. She had transcribed it in 1958 from photostats furnished by the Maryland Archives, Hall of Records, Annapolis, Maryland, Liber TS #1, Fol. 307-313. I have not personally seen the original will. Some obvious typos were corrected, but otherwise, it is in the same form as she typed it. I believe there may have been some minor errors in transcribing the metes and bounds descriptions of the dividing line between Jacob and John. The wills of Samuel's sons Frederick and John are also available in the MDGenWeb Archives. Frederick's son David is acknowledged to be the founder of the town of Rohrersville. Michael W. Rohrer ================================================================== Will of Samuel ROHRER, Washington County, Maryland In the Name of God Amen, this fourteenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven Hundred & Eighty Six. I SAMUEL ROHER of Washington County and State of Maryland, being sick in body but of sound memory thanks be to God for the Same, calling to mind and to remembrance the uncertain Estate of this Transitory Life, and that all Flesh must Yeald unto Death, when it shall please God to call, do make and constitute and ordain and Declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following Revoking and annuling by these presents all and every Testament and Testaments Will and Wills Heretofore by me made and Declared either by word or by writing and this is to be taken only for my last Will and Testament and none other. And first being penitent and Sorrowfull of the bottom of my heart for my Sins past most humbly desiring forgiveness for the same I give and commmit my Soul unto Almighty God my Savour and Redeemer in whom and by the merits of Jesus Christ I trust and believe assuredly to be saved and to have full remission and forgiveness of all my Sins and that my Soul with my body at the general day of Resurrection shall Rise again with Joy, and threw the merits of Christ Death and passion possess and inherit the Kingdom of Heavon prepared for his Elect and Chosen, and my body to be buried in such a place where shall please my Executors hereafter named, do appoint, and now for Settling my Temporal Estate and Such Goods and Chattels and Debits as it hath pleased God to far and above Desartts to bestow upon me I do order give and Dispose in Manner and form following, that is to say first I will that all those Debts that I owe in Right and Contience to be paid in a Convenient time After my Deceas. --- Item. I give and Bequeath unto my well beloved Son Frederick Roher his heirs OR Assigns forever the plantation whereon I now live the bounds to be as follows Viz: Beginning at the end of the fifth line of Pennyhill and Runing thence N63 & E12 & 2 links to where his and Jacob Roher Devision lines begins and Runing thence the Devision lines: N.64 p W 106 ps to a stone N 89 P W 60 to a Stone, N 80 W 60 to the end of, the 4th line of a Tract of Land Called JOHN and WILLIAM and all the Land to the South of said Devition to be his property Except Twenty-five acres part of JOHN and WILLIAM Cut of by a line from JOHN and WILLIAM N 64, W 89 p & Land to the South of said line to be the 25 acres, and Frederick Roher shall also have thirty seven acres and one half acre of said parte of the Resurvey on parte of Parke Hall the whole agreeable as it now laid off, the whole to contain one Hundred and Ninety four, acres and one half acre of land to be holden by him his heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns, he the said Frederick Roher paying to my well beloved Children the sum of Five Hundred and Sixty seven pounds ten shillings hard Money and that to be paid in the following manner Viz: Sixty pounds one year after my Decease and so every Year Sixty pounds till the whole of the above Sum is paid and to be paid unto my well beloved Children in the following manner Viz: Ann Houser, Henry Roher & Christian Rohrer them their heirs or Assigns, and then the next payment to Martin Elizabeth and Abraham Rohrer them their heirs and Assigns, and to be paid turn about untill the whole is paid and out of every payment that is made by Frederick, Jacob or John Rohrer of there Legacies they are to have there equal Share as one of the Rest, gets and no Sooner than one of the rest gets. --- Item. I give and bequeath unto my well beloved son Jacob Rohers to him his heirs or Assigns the plantation whereon he now lives the bounds to be as follows: on the south it is bounded by the above lines of Frederick Rhorer's Devition lines, between him & John Rohrer the following courses N 56 W 42 N 54, W 42 p, S 84 W 29 & N 76' W 44 p to a stone N 60 W 35 p to a Stone, then N 89, W 88 p to the end of the 79th line of hills and Dales and Vinyard within bound to Contain 116 acres of Land and also Forty Seven acres of Land parte of the Resurvey on parte of Parke Hall, for which my well beloved son Jacob Rohrer, him his heirs or Assigns Shall pay the Sum of four Hundred and Eighty Six pounds hard Money to be paid unto my well beloved Childrin them their heirs or assigns in the following manner Viz - fourty five pounds to be paid one year after my Deceas to Ann Houser Henry and Christian Rohrer, them there heirs or Assigns, the next payment to Martin and Elizabeth and Abraham Rohrer to them there heirs or Assigns forty five pounds and pay turn about yearly until1 the whole of the above Sum is paid, and Frederic, Jacob and John Roher Shall still Draw there Equal Share as will be due them by there heirship but no Sooner than the Rest gets theres. --- Item. I give and Bequeath unto my well beloved Son John Rohrer him his heirs and Assigns forever the plantation where on he now lives Bounded as follows - the above Devition Line between him and my well beloved Son Jacob to be the Bounds on the South Side and the outlines of the whole of my land to the North and he shall pay or cause to be paid unto my Well beloved Children them there heirs or Assigns at the Rate of three pounds five Shillings per acre the payment to be made in the following manner Viz - Forty five pounds to be paid one year after my deceas and so every year forty five pounds per year untill the whole is paid for what Land he will have clear of Elder Survey at the above Rate of 3 - 5 per acre - the money to be paid in the following manner Viz - Forty five pounds hard Money to my well beloved Children Ann Houser, Henry and Christian Roherr, the year following, and so pay turn about untill the whole is paid and my Well beloved Sons Frederick, Jacob and John Rohrer shall have there Equal share of the above payments as shall come them due by heirship and only as it be comes due by course to the whole of my well beloved Childrin ---. Item. I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Son Martin Roherr his heirs or Assigns forever the above Discribed Twenty five acres of land parte of a Tract of land called JOHN & WILLIAM and for the 25 acres of land that he gets he shall have Seventy pounds less money than one of the Rest of my Well beloved Childrin. It is my further Will and pleasure that my well beloved Son Jacob Rohrer shall have a Wagon Road from time to time and at all times for ever to his forty seven acres of Land parte of the resurvey on parte of Park Hall --- Item. I give and Bequeath unto my well beloved Daughter Elizabeth Rohrer her heirs or Assigns fifty Pounds hard money to be in the third payment of the above payments and also three Beds and the half my puterware and one Chist and all the cows that I leave Behind me after my Decease --- Item. I give and Bequeath unto my Well beloved Daughter Ann Houser or unto her heirs the one half of my puter. Item. I have already paid my well beloved Son Frederick Rohrer the sum of thirty pounds as my eldest son. I have Deducted it off of his Legacy that he has to pay to the Rest of my well beloved Childrin. Item. I give and Bequeath unto my Well beloved Childrin there heirs or Assigns all my household goods and Chattels that shall be left after my funeral costs and charges if paid and what is not heretofore mentioned & that to be equally Devided among amongst them and if in case they cant agree in dividing it then to cast lotts for it. Item it is my pleasure that if any of my three well beloved sons that has the land in possession shall willfully distroy his living by Idleness and lawlessness or by any Kind of Gambling so that they cant pay of the Legacies as above mentioned in there due time then the executors shall and may Sell so much of the Land where it will hurt the party the least as will pay the rest of my Childrin as is due him or them -—- It is my further will and pleasure that what any of my well beloved Childrin has got from me already that it shall be Deducted of there parte of Legacy so that each one gets an Equal Share is near as can be --- It is my further Will and pleasure to nominate and appoint my Brother Martin Rohrer Senr., and my well beloved Friend John Hoffertt to be whole and sole executors of this my last Will and Testament nothing Doubting but they will perform there duty and act as Fathers to my well beloved Children and to help to fullfill this my last will and Testament. To this my last Will and Testament here I hereunto sett my hand and affixed my Seal without perswading and in Good Sences in the presence of Christopher Ansberger (Signed) Samuel Roherr (Seal) Yost (Y. G. his mark) Gardner Jonas Hogmire =============================================================== (On the Back of the Original Will of the said Samuel Rohrer are the following Indorsements to Wit: --Washington County St August 12th, 1788. There came Martin Rohrer & John Hoffer & solemnly declared and affirmed that the within instrument of writing is the true and whole Will and Testament of Samuel Rohrer late of said county Deceas. that hath come to their bands of possession and that they do not know of any other.) And at the same time came Christopher Ansberger & Yost Gardner two of the subscribing Witnesses to the within last Will & Testament of Samuel Rohrer late of said County deceasd & solemnly declared and affirm that they did see the Testator herein named sign & seal this Will and that they heard him publish pronounce & declare the same to be his last Will & Testament, that at the time of his so doing he was to the best of there appre- hentions of sound and Disposing mind memory and under- standing, and that they respectively subscribed there names as witnesses to this Will in the presence and the request of the Testator,and in the presence of each other & that they saw Jonas Hogmire do the same. Certified by Thomas Belt, Reg. Recorded August 12, 1788. —- (19 sides)