Other Court : John ROMICH, 1822: Douglass Twp, Berks Co, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Carol Dietrich & Betty Burdan USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. ________________________________________________ John ROMICH, deceased, July 25, 1822 Document #1: R-1822, Petition Inquest by Jacob ROMICH, Granted Nov. 8, 1822 To the Honorable the Judges of the Orphan's Court of Berks County The petition of Jacob ROMICH, eldest son and heir at law of John ROMICH, late of Douglass Township, in the county of Berks aforesaid, Yeoman and deceased Humbly showeth, That his said father Jno. ROMICH died on the twenty fifth of July last [1822] intestate leaving a widow named Magdalena and issue in children namely, Jacob the petitioner, Hanna married to Samuel RHINEHART, John, Polly, Henry, and Sarah, the last named two of whom are yet in their minority [above the age of 14 and below the age of 21 years] That the said intestate died seized in his demesne as of fee of and in a messuage plantation and tract of land situate in Douglass Township of aforesaid, bounded by lands of Jacob FISHER, David RHINEHART, Geo PECK, Jacob WEIDNER and others and containing one hundred and ninety acres of land, - (on this property is a two story log house, with a cellar under it, and a well of good water with a pump in it, before the [----?], Also a large Switzer barn built of stone, containing in length 87 feet, and 37 in breadth) 140 acres of which are clear. Also of and in another messuage plantation and tract of land situate in the same township, bounded by lands of Jacob VANREED, Geo RAHMICH, Jno VANREED and Daniel PILE and containing forty three acres (on this property is a two story stone house, to which is attached a spring house, through which flows a very fine spring - also a Switzer barn built of stone, 50 feet in length and 30 feet in breadth) Also of and in about ten and one half acres of mountain land, situate partly in the same township and partly in Colebrookdale Township, bounded by lands of Mathias RITTER and Jacob WERSTLER- Your petitioner therefore prays your honor to award an Inquest to make Partition of the said real estate with the appurtenances, to and among the children and representatives of the said intestate, in such manner and in such proportions as by the laws of this Commonwealth is directed, if such partition can be made without prejudice to and shorting the whole; But if such partition cannot be thereof made as aforesaid, then to value and appraise the same and make report of their proceedings herein according to law. And he will pray Thee Jacob ROMICH {signature} ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Document #2: Widow's renunciation of right to administer - Aug 23, 1822 To Peter AURAND Esq. Register of Berks County Sir, The subscriber widow of John ROMIC late of Douglass Township in Berks County deceased do hereby renounce at my right of administering to the estate of said John ROMIC deceased and that I am satisfied that my two sons Viz Jacob and John ROMIC should administer to said estate in witness whereof I have hereunto set my name this twenty third day of August 1822. Magdalena ROMIGin {signature} Witnesses present: Tho. BOONE {Signature} and Henry ROMICH {Signature} ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Document #3: Order to the Sheriff of Berks County for Partition and Sale in response to the Petition of Jacob ROMICH. Berks County, ss....The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania....Greetings. WHEREAS: Jacob ROMICH, eldest son and heir at law of John ROMICH late of the township of Douglass in said county yeoman deceased, preferred a petition to the Judges of the Orphans Court of the said county, setting forth that his said father died intestate on the 25th day of July last [1822], leaving a widow named Magdalena and issue five children, namely to wit: Jacob the Pet., Hannah wife of Samuel RHINEHART, John, Polly, Henry and Sarah, the last named two of whom are yet in their minority. That the said intestate, at the time of his decease was seized in his demesne as of fee and in messuage, plantation, and tract of land situate in Douglass Township aforesaid, bounded by lands of Jacob. FISHER, David RHINEHART, Geo. PECK, Jacob WEIDNER and others, and containing one hundred and ninety acres of land - Also of in another messuage, plantation and tract of land, situate in the same Township, bounded by lands of Jacob. VANREED, Geo. RAHMICH, Jno. VANREED, and Daniel PILE and containing forty three acres - Also of and in about ten and one half acres of mountain land, situate in the same Township and partly in Colebrook Dale Township, bounded by lands of Mathias RITTER and Jacob WERSTLER----with the appurtenances; and therefore praying the court to award an inquest to view the same make partition, and which was accordingly awarded by the court THEREFORE WE COMMAND YOU, that you forthwith summon an inquest of twelve good and lawful men of your bailiwick and go to the said premises, and then there by their oaths and solemn affirmations make partition thereof, with the appurtenances to and among the widow and among all the children of said de- ceased, if the same can be done without prejudice to and spoiling of the whole. But if the same cannot be so parted and divided without prejudice to and spoil- ing of the whole, that the same inquest do view and inquire whether the same will conveniently accommodate more than one of the said children - and if they so find, that they then ascertain and report how many the same will as aforesaid accommodate, describing each purport by metes and bounds and returning a just valuation and appraisement thereof. But if the said inquest shall find that the premises aforesaid, with the appurtenances, cannot be parted and divided to and among the widow and all the children of the said deceased, nor accommodate more than one of the said children without prejudice and spoiling of the whole, that they then value and appraise the same agreeable to law. That they estimate the widows part therein and in each purport if divided. That due and legal notice of the time and place of holding such inquisition be given to all parties inter- ested, that they may be present if they think proper. And that the partition of valuation so made, you distinctly and openly have, under your hand and seal and under the hands and seals of those by whom the same shall be made, before our judges at Reading, at our Orphans Court, there to be held the tenth day of January next [1823]. And have you then there this writ. Witness the honorable Robert PORTER, Esquire, president of our said Court, at Reading, the eighth of November in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty two. By Order of the Court Wm. SCHOENER, {signature} Clerk O. Court ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Document #4: R-1823, Petition for guardian of Henry ROMICH, Jan 10, 1823 This document declared that Henry was a minor above the age of fourteen years and asks the judges of the orphans court to permit Jacob HEPPENHEIMER of Amity Township to be his guardian. The petition was approved by the court. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Document set #5: Volume 8 p. 105 and 278; Writ of Partition and Valuation on the Estate of John ROMICH, deceased. Jan. 10, 1823 Included with this set of documents was a plot plan showing a survey of the properties of John ROMICH, deceased and a statement of a fair division of the same which would accommodate three of his children, Jacob, John, and the third not named on the statement, but later to be Henry. Property 1: Containing 24a 50 p, 93 1/2a 50p; 34a 118p, 3a 154p valued at $4,654.50 by Jacob, taken. Property 2: Containing 13a 136p, 15a 42p, 40a 0p, 6a 43p valued at $2,312. Not taken [later adjudged to Jacob HEPPENHEIMER guardian for Henry] Property 3: Containing 30a 140p valued at $620.00 by John, taken. Judges present, Robert PORTER and Gab. HIESTER, Inquisition confirmed Jacob ROMICH eldest son appeared and accepted the first within described purport....at the same time John ROMICH accepted the third purport. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Document #6: Petition of Jacob HEPPENHEIMER, guardian of Henry ROMICH, to accept purport No. 2 of the division of lands of Jno. ROMICH, deceased. for value of $2,312. Filed, Jan. 8, 1824 and approved Jan. 15, 1824. Pennsylvania, Berks County, ss: In the Orphans Court of the said County. Whereas at an orphans court held at the Borough of Reading in and for the County of Berks on the eighth day of January A.D. one thousand eight hundred and twenty four, the second described purport of the real estate of John ROMICH deceased, consisting of four pieces or tracts of land, one of them containing thirteen acres and one hundred thirty six perches, another fifteen acres and 42 perches, another 40 acres and the other six acres and 43 perches, together or in the whole valued and appraised at the sum of two thousand three hundred and twelve dollars lawful money of the United States by an inquest held for that purpose in pursuance of an order of the said court was adjudged to Henry ROMICH son of the said John ROMICH deceased who appeared by his guardian Jacob HEPPEN- HEIMER and accepted the same at the said valuation and appraisement, upon his paying or securing to be paid to the legal representatives of the said deceased their equal and proportional parts respective of and in the valuation monies aforesaid within one year with Interest from the ninth day of January A.D. 1824. And said court did then and thence decree that if any debt or debts should hereafter be sued or prosecuted or otherwise duly made to appear against the estate of the said deceased, that a deduction of a proportional part of the same shall be made from the valuation aforesaid, of the several purports of the said real estate. Therefore I, the said Henry ROMICH, a son of the said deceased [John ROMICH] by my said guardian - acknowledge to - owe to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the sum of four thousand dollars - lawful money as aforesaid, of the real estate so accepted and adjudged to be made and levied of default be made in the following condition that it to say: If the said Henry ROMICH his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns shall and do pay to the legal representatives of the said deceased, their equal and proportional parts of and in the said valuation monies agreeable to the said adjudication of the court aforesaid, then this obligation to be void, otherwise to be and remain full form and virtue. Taken and acknowledged in open court the 15th day of January A.D. 1824, by Mathias RICHARDS {signature). Jacob HEPPENHEIMER {signature & seal} -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Document set #7: Promissory Notes from Jacob HEPPENHEIMER to 4 of the heirs of John ROMICH, deceased, on behalf of Henry ROMICH. To: Polly ROMICH, John ROMICH, Sarah ROMICH, and Samuel RHINEHART, intermarried with Hannah ROMICH. [There being no note for Jacob]. Each note promised to pay $800 to the heir of John ROMICH, further noting that $256.90 was due in one year with interest from the date of the note and the further sum of $128.44 cents immediately after the decease of the widow of the said John ROMICH, deceased as part of their due for the second part of the real estate of John ROMICH. Sealed and delivered in the presence of Mathias Richards, and signed by Jacob HEPPENHEIMER. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Document #8: R-1824, Grant of Petition for guardian of Sarah ROMICH, Jan 9, 1824 This document declares that on Jan. 9, 1824, the Judges of the orphans court granted guardianship of Sarah to her husband Jacob ROTH. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Document #9: Administration Accounts of Jacob ROMIG and John ROMIG Administrators of John ROMIG, late of Douglass Township, Berks County, yeoman deceased. The accountants charge themselves with the amounts of the sales of the personal estate amounting to:...$1,460.00; Edward POTTS on note - $4.00, Jno. SCHWIENHARTZ on Bond - $65.33, Interest for 5 months - $1.63, George SPOTZ Bond - $150.98, Jacob SCHWINHARTS Note - $139.00, Interest to Jan 1, 1824 - $12.92, Samuel REINARD on Bond - $266.67, Adam GRESH on Note - $98.00, Advanced to Jno. ROMIG in the lifetime of said deceased - $252.35, to Samuel REINHARD furniture - $133.00.....Total $2,583.98 The said accountants crave allowance for the following disbursements made out of the estate aforesaid to wit: to register for letters of administration - $3.12, copy of inventory - $2.00, Survey wages - $24.00, Henry BETZ, Esq., Sheriff - 412.75, Jacob LEVENGOOD -$12.18, Jacob FISHER - $3.50, Henry BARE - $4.92, George BECK - $3.45, Jno. MAUGER - $12.91, Jno. MALSBERGER - $4.90 1/2, Henry SCHWEINHARTZ - $15.00, Jno. STAUFFER - $15.00, Jno. STAUFFER - $15.50, Joseph RHOADS - $8.27, David LUDWIG & Jacob FISHER - $2.00, Frederick DELICKER - $3.00, Jno RITTER - $0.28, Mrs. LEAVER - $4.33, Christian BRYMAN - 1.12 1/2, Peter WEIDNER - $12.58, Jacob WEAVER- $0.46, Jno RITTER & Co. - $1.00, Henry RHOADS - $4.66, George ROMIG on Bond - $250.00, Frederic DELICKER - $4.00, Charles WHITMAN - $2.50 - $7.25 - $5.00, Jacob KIRCHOFF - $1.00, Fred. BEITENMAN - $4.00, Peter HOUGBERGER - $20.00, George MILLER - $14.94, doctor Wm. BRYAN - $6.62, Lincoln BOONE - $1.00, Jacob ROMIG book account - $92.98, Work done by Jacob ROMIG for his father after hew was of age - $75.00, Henry ROMIG - $5.75, Lost Debts - George SPOTZ - $150.98, Adam GRESH - $98.00, Paid for stating this account to - $2.50, Jacob FISHER for services - $1.00, Register and passing account - $6.00, Clerk of Orphans Court - $1.00, Administrators charge for settling this estate - $100.00. ..... Total $1,567.65... Error in vendue - $122.01, Rent of Henry ROMIG - $50.00......Jan. 2nd, A.D. 1827 real balance $1,495.64 1/2 Jacob ROMICH {signature} John ROMICH {Signature} ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Document #10: R 1843 - Estate of Magdalena ROMICH, widow of John ROMICH Filed Nov. 6th, 1843, Jacob ROMICH of Douglass Township, Henry SHAEFFER of Exeter Township, and Jacob HERGOLD of Amity Township, all of Berks, provided a $3,000 bond to settle the estate of Magdalena ROMICH, "for any goods, chattels and credits...of said deceased, at the time of her death,....that shall come into the hands of Jacob ROMICH." Filed Dec. 11, 1843 Accounting and just appraisement of all the goods and chatels rights and credits which were of Magdalena ROMICH (widow of John ROMICH) late of Douglass Township, Berks County deceased at the time of her death, to wit: Debits $111.14 , No credit list with document. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- With the death of Magdalena, widow of John ROMICH who died 1822, the final balance of the payments to John ROMICH's heirs, became payable. Payment is reflected in the remaining documents of the file. Document Set #11: R 1844 - Recognizance Henry ROMICH by his guardian Jacob HEPPENHEIMER., containing releases from Hannah REINERT, Sarah RHOADS, and Mary the widow of John ROMICH, April 13, 1844. No. 1. I Jacob RHOADS, in right of my wife Sarah, a daughter of the within named John ROMICH, deceased, do hereby acknowledge to have received full satisfaction on the within recognizance for the share of said Sarah, in the sum of six hundred sixty six dollars and sixty six cents, and do hereby release the written named acceptant, April 13, 1844. Jacob RHOADS {signature} Sarah RHOADS {signature} No. 2. I Hannah REINERT, one of the daughters of the within named John ROMICH deceased, widow of Samuel REINERT, do hereby acknowledge to have received full satisfaction for the whole of my share on the within recognizance and do hereby release the within named Henry ROMICH. April 13, 1844. Hannah (X-her mark) REINERT No. 3. I, Mary ROMICH, widow of John ROMICH, deceased, a son of the within named John ROMICH, do hereby acknowledge to have received full satisfaction of all the monies due said John ROMICH my husband aforesaid, on the within recognizance bequest to me by my said husband and do hereby release the within named Henry ROMICH, May 13, 1844. Mary ROMICH {signature} ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contributors Note: Morton Montgomery in his 1909 "Biographical Annals of Berks County, PA", Volume II, p. 1417 identifies a John Romich who died in 1835 leaving a widow Mary, as the son of John Romich of Worman, who died in 1804. The above estate file for a John also of Worman, who died in 1822, indicates that he also had a son John, with a widow Mary who was living in 1822, but deceased by the time this estate was settled, with the death of Magdalena the widow, in 1843. This has lead to some confusion for Romich researchers. The question needs to be answered as to who was the correct father of the either John who died in 1822 or the John who died in 1835. (see also biography of William H. Romich in Berks County Archives)