Wills: SYNOPSES of the BOONE WILLS & ADMINISTRATIONS of BERKS CO., PA, 1750-1923 (source: the Berks Co. Orphans' Court, Reading, PA-- ordered directly and via Justine Walter; contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives; Copyright © 1997 by Michael Milton Mason USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all otices 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. _________________________________________________________________ Synopses of BOONE Wills Berks Co., Orphans Court 1750-1923 These synopses are part of the BOONE "picture"-- the BOONE Tree. Specifically they reflect that portion of the BOONE Tree for the BOONEs that remained in PA when Squire BOONE, Sr. (father of THE Daniel BOONE) & family migrated to VA and beyond. That migration was in 1750. Per the 1790 Census there were 12 BOONE households in Berks Co, (and one in Phila. Co.). I'd like to hear of others who have abstracted BOONE Wills-- or have any other documented BOONE info. (or any documented info. for any of the connected surnames). -Michael Milton Mason Looking at the BOONE Wills & Administrations available from the Berks Co. Orphans Court 1750-1923 (surnames have been capitalized by me).... BOONE WILLS AND ADMINISTRATIONS IN BERKS CO. |------------------------------------------------------------------------| | * indicates the Wills & Administrations I possess, purchased directly | | from Berks Co. Orphans' Court; | | > indicates those sent to me by Justine Walter; | | Those in (parentheses) are Administrations only (provide little in the | | way of genealogical information). | | The companion file to this BOON0001.TXT, BOON0002.TXT, also located in | | the Will/Estate Records section of the Berks Co. Archives (USGenWeb, | | PA), is a Name Index for these Synopses. | |------------------------------------------------------------------------| NAME YEAR [VOL.:PAGE] *George IV, 1753 [1:6]; *Benjamin, 1762 [1:124]; >William, 1771 [2:99]; (James, Jr., 1771 [3:64]); (John Sr., 1773 [3:96]); (Joseph, 1776 [3:156]); >James, Sr., 1785 [B:126; 3:57]; >John, 1785 [B:128; 3:59]; >Jeremiah, 1787 [B:195; 3:373]; (Judah, 1787 [4:92]); *Anne, 1790 [3:135]; Isaac, 1794 [5:231]; *Isaac, 1795 [B:344; 3:219]; James, 1795 [?]; (Sarah, 1796 [5:73]); *James Jr., 1803 [B:378; 3:252]; *Hugh, 1805 [4:324]; >Abraham, 1819 [D:220; 5:358]; (Anne, 1823 [9:152]); (James, 1823 [9:107]); (Moses, 1823 [9:151]); *(Thomas, 1823 [9:157]); *George, 1824 [D:423; 5:436]; (Margaret, 1825 [9:314]); *(Lincoln, 1827 [10:136]); (Joseph, 1829 [11:7]); *Frances, 1833 [7:111]; (Edward, 1833 [11:359]); (John, 1835 [12:126]); (Magdalena, 1849 [18:64]); (Judah, 1854 [20:229]); (John, 1858 [22:9]); (George, 1860 [22:259]); (George W., 1863 [23:285]); *Sarah, 1873 [12:561]; (Susan, 1880 [29:92]); *Richard, 1881 [14:395]; (James, 1881 [29:309]); *(Thomas, 1883 [30:302]); *Anna Eliza, 1884 [15:197]; *(William, 1884 [31:28]); (Richard, 1884 [31:145]); (Charles L. 1891 [35:166]); *(Thomas, 1894 [38:142]); *Annie, 1895 [18:486]; *Samuel S., 1908 [24:544]; (James E.H., 1908 [47:335]); (Amos H., 1910 [49:61]); *Annie, 1911 [26:305]; *Samuel G., 1923 [#8361]. ______________________________________________________________________ Following my usual pattern, material in [braces] is original, taken from elsewhere in the same document; material in {braces} or is material I've introduced; all surnames have been capitalized by me. ______________________________________________________________________ The 1753 Will of George BOONE, {IV} of Exeter, Berks Co., PA George referred to: a wife [given & bequeathed unto], {unnamed}; 4 sons [given & bequeathed unto; appointed executors]: William, Hezekiah, Josiah & Jeremiah; 3 daughters [given & bequeathed unto]: Mary, Deborah, Dinah; a daughter [deceased], Hannah {HUGHES--see following}; 2 grandchildren [given & bequeathed unto]: George & Jane HUGHES [children of daughter Hannah deceased]. Made: 18 1mo 1753 Proved: ? Witnesses: Joseph BOONE, John HUGHES, Edward DRURY, and Edward HUGHES Register: ? ____________________________________________________________________________ The 1762 Will of Benjamin BOONE, {Sr.} of Exeter Twp., Berks Co., PA Benjamin referred to: a wife [given & bequeathed to], Susannah; 3 sons [given & bequeathed to; appointed executors]: Benjamin, Samuel [the youngest] & James; a son ["Also I give to"], John [the eldest] {small bequeath; perh. Susannah's stepson? perh. non-Quaker?} a daughter [not yet age 15--bequeathed to], Dinah; a Negroeman [freed & allotted two acres on said son Samuel's land], Dick. Made: 5 Jan 1762 Proved: ? Witnesses: Thomas & Sarah WAREN Register: ? ____________________________________________________________________________ The 1771 Will of William BOONE of Exeter, Berks Co., PA William referred to: a wife [given to], {unnamed}; 2 daughters [given to], Abigail [wife of Adin PANCOAST] & Mary [not yet age 20]; 3? sons [all given to-- only 1 named], Mordecai [eldest-- "more than either of the Others"], {2? others}; 1 brother [appointed executor-- along with said son Mordecai], Jeremiah. Made: 23 5mo 1768 Proved: 8 Dec 1771? Inventory: 1 Jan 1772 Witnesses: Edward & George HUGHES Deputy Register: James READ ___________________________________________________________________________ The 1785 Will of James BOONE, Sr. of Exeter Twp., Berks Co., PA James referred to: a wife [given & bequeathed unto], Ann; "children now living:" 2 sons [given & bequeathed unto; appointed executors]: James & Joshua 2 sons [given & bequeathed unto]: Judah & Moses {Judah is not mentioned in wife Annes's 1790 Will, nor in James Jr's. 1803 Will}; 1 son [deceased], John {James Jr. (1803 Will) bequeathed to his nephew, son of brother John}; 4 daughters [given & bequeathed unto]: Anne LINCOLN, Mary LEE, Martha HUGHES & Rachel WILCACKSON (of these, wife Anne only bequeathed to one, Anne LINCOLN; she also bequeathed to daughters Eleanor SUPPLEE & Hannah TEA}; 3 sons-in-law {mentioned}: Abraham LINCOLN, George HUGHES, and Thomas LEE; a daughter-in-law [given & bequeathed unto], Sophia BIDDLE [said son John deceased "being her former husband"]; a grandson [given & devise to; not yet age 21], John [eldest son of said son Moses] 2 grandchildren [given & bequeathed unto]: James & Susannah [children of said son John deceased; both not yet age 21]; a granddaughter [given & bequeathed unto; not yet age 21], Hannah {daughter of ?); a creditor [arranged for], Nicholas WALN. Made: 12 Jul 1785 Proved: 17 Sept 1785 Witnesses: John BOONE, Isaac LEVAN, and Thomas CHERINGTON Register: Henry CHRIST _____________________________________________________________________ The 1785 Will of John BOONE of Exeter Twp., Berks Co., PA John referred to: a nephew [debtor-- bond dated 12 Mar 1785], Judah; a nephew [given & bequeathed unto]: Moses; 2 nephews [given & bequeathed unto; appointed executors]: James & Joshua; 4 {nieces} [given & bequeathed unto]: Martha HUGHES (wife of George HUGHES), Rachel WILLCOCKSON (wife of William WILLCOCKSON), Anne LINCOLN (wife of Abraham LINCOLN), Mary LEE (wife of Thomas LEE); a former debtor [given & bequeathed unto-- "i.e., acquitted of said interest" of bond dated 1 June 1767], Isaiah WILLITS; a former debtor [acquitted & forever dischsarged from-- "both Principal and Interest" of bond dated 1 May 1782], said son Joshua; a debtor [bond dated 11 Mar 1776], William SCHOLFIELD; a debtor [bond dated 20 Oct 1773], Samuel BOONE blacksmith; a debtor [bond dated 20 Oct 1773], Isaiah BOONE; a debtor [bond dated 24 June 1784], William HUGHES; a creditor ["a demand against me"], "sheriff of Frederick County in Maryland" a debtor [bond "for a certain Sum... also what Book-Debt"-- both "utterly Void" if he should "Discharge that Debt due to the said sheriff], "Countryman" Anthony HOLMEAD; Made: 5 Oct 1785 Proved: 22 Oct 1785 Witnesses: Daniel SCHNEIDER, Jonathan MEE, and Thomas CHERINGTON Register: Henry CHRIST ____________________________________________________________________________ The 1787 Will of (carpenter) Jeremiah BOONE of Oley Twp., Berks Co., PA Jeremiah referred to: a sister [bequeathed the bond against John ALBRIGHT], Dinah WILLIAMS; a sister-in-law [bequeathed to], Sarah BOONE (widow of bro. William); friend/relative? [bequeathed to for the care of Abigail PANCOST or her children], Isaac LEE; friend/relative? [bequeathed to], Mary LEE (w/o Isaac LEE); a nephew [bequeathed to], George BOONE (s/o brother Josiah); a brother [bequeathed to], Hezekiah; a nephew [bequeathed to], Solomon COLES (s/o sister Dinah); a nephew [bequeathed to], George HUGHES (s/o sister Hannah; the Exeter Preparative Meeting [bequeathed to]; a nephew [bequeathed land in Northumberland Co. purchased of John MURRY], Jeremiah (s/o brother William); a nephew [bequeathed to], Abnar WILLIAMS (s/o said sister Dinah); the purchaser of Jeremiah's Chester Co. land [mentioned],. Peter HILBESH; 5 nephews [bequeathed to]: William, George, Thomas , Jeremiah & Hezekiah (sons of said brother William-- 3 of them, George, Thomas & Jeremiah appointed executors). Made: 20 2mo 1787 Proved: 30 Mar 1787 Witnesses: Thomas LEE and Thomas CHERINGTON Register: Henry CHRIST ____________________________________________________________________________ The 1790 Will of Anne (GRIFFITH) BOONE of Exeter Twp., Berks Co., PA Anne referred to: a husband [deceased], James BOONE, Sr.; a nephew [bequeathed to], Amos GRIFFITH; 3 daughters [bequeathed to]: Anne LINCOLN (wife of Abraham LINCOLN), Eleanor SUPPLEE (wife of Jonathan SUPPLEE) Hannah TEA (wife of Richard TEA, Jr.)-- Anne is identified in James Jr's. 1803 will as a sister {perh. the others were deceased by that time}; a son [bequeathed to], James BOONE, Jr. a son [bequeathed to & appointed executor], Joshua-- identified in James Jr's. 1803 will as a brother a son [apparently deceased], Moses-- identified in James Jr's. 1803 will as a brother {another son, John, is identified in James Jr's. 1803 will as a brother}; a daughter-in-law [bequeathed to], Sarah BOONE (wife of Moses BOONE); 2+ grandchildren [bequeathed to]: Elizabeth, Judah... (those children of Moses & Sarah not yet age 21, born after their son John); a niece [bequeathed to], Mary EVANS; a nephew [bequeathed to], Evan GRIFFITH; a brother [bequeathed to], Joseph GRIFFITH. Made: 12 Jun 1790 Proved: 2 Jul 1790 Witnesses: Benjamin SCHNEIDER, Daniel SCHNEIDER, and James BOONE Register: John CHRIST ____________________________________________________________________________ The 1795 Will of Isaac BOONE, Jr. of Amity Twp., Berks Co., PA Isaac referred to: a wife [bequeathed to], Sarah; ? grandsons [bequeathed to]: not named (children, under age 21, of son-in-law Michael & daughter Mary KERN; a nephew [bequeathed to], Owen BOONE (son of Hugh BOONE); friend(?) [bequeathed to], Charles COLES(?) friends(?) [appointed executors], Hugh BOONE & Thomas CHERINGTON Made: 23 Jun 1794 Proved: ? Witnesses: Henry HINE, Mordecai LEE, Jr., and James BOONE Register: ? ___________________________________________________________________________ The 1803 Will of James BOONE, Jr. of Exeter, Berks Co., PA James referred to: a father [deceased], James Sr.; a brother [bequeathed to & appointed executor], Joshua; a brother [bequeathed to], Moses; a nephew [bequeathed to], James (son of brother John); a sister [bequeathed to], Ann LINCOLN; a creditor [bequeathed to], George HUGHES. Made: 22 Jan 1795 Proved: 11 Nov 1795 Witnesses: Thomas CHERINGTON, Thomas HUGHES & Samuel HUGHES, Jr. Register: ? ____________________________________________________________________________ The 1805 Will of Hugh BOONE, of Amity Twp., Berks Co., PA Hugh referred to: a wife [bequeathed to], Frances; 4 sons [bequeathed to]: Mordecai, Owen, William & Isaac; [son Mordecai & friend Thomas CHERINGTON appointed executors]; 1 son [deceased], David (bequeathed to: widow Ann & 5 children: Elizabeth, Edward, Hugh, James, Hannah); 2 daughters [bequeathed to], Hannah (wife of Ezekial EVANS) & Elizabeth (wife of Peter JONES); a stepdaughter [bequeathed to], Frances MILLARD; 2 grandchildren [bequeathed to], William & Mary PATTERSON (children of daughter Mary, deceased); a grandaughter [bequeathed to], Sarah RHOADS (wife of George RHOADS); Made: 14 Jun 1805 Proved: 11 Nov 1805 Witnesses: Samuel RHOADS, Samuel MILLARD, and John DETURK, Jr. Register: ?RAILEY ____________________________________________________________________________ The 1819 Will of Abraham BOONE of Exeter Twp., Berks Co., PA Abraham referred to: a father [bequeathed to & appointed executor], Joseph BOONE; a wife [bequeathed to], Susanna; 4 children [bequeathed to]: Sarah, Joseph, Jacob & John; a 1st wife [mentioned]. Made: 24 Mar 1819 Proved: 2 Apr 1819 Witnesses: Thomas LINCOLN and Frederick GUDTHART Register: Daniel RHOADS ____________________________________________________________________________ The 1823 Administration of Thomas BOONE, of Berks Co., PA Assigned administrators: Lincoln & Jeremiah BOONE of Amity Twp Sealed: 1 Dec 1823 Witnesses: George KLINE and David LUDWIG Register: Peter AURAND ____________________________________________________________________________ The 1824 Will of George BOONE, {Sr.} of Pike Twp., Berks Co., PA George referred to: a wife [bequeathed to], Margaret; 2 sons [bequeathed to]: William (w/ wife Mary) & George, Jr.; 8 daughters [bequeathed to]: Sarah (w/ husband William GHEERHART), Ann (w/ husband Daniel BERTOLET, Julian LYNCOLN (husband deceased), Elizabeth (w/[2nd] husband Andrew TAYLER), Harriet (w/ husband Benjamin KLEIN), Margaret (w/ husband Jonathan EVANS), Rachel, Mary (w/ husband William RUNION) [son George & sons-in-law Daniel BERTOLET & Andrew TAYLER appointed executors] 3 grandchildren [bequeathed to]: George W. (son of son William & daughter-in-law Mary), and George T. & Annie LEONARD (children of daughter Elizabeth & son-in-law Thomas LEONARD deceased); 5 grandchildren [bequeathed to]: Franklin, Daniel, Rachel, Margaret, & Harriet (children, all under age 21, of son Charles deceased). Made: 13 Dec 1823 Proved: 5 Aug 1824 Witnesses: John FRITZ and John HOFF Register: Daniel RHOADS ____________________________________________________________________________ The 1827 Administration of Lincoln BOONE, of Berks Co., PA Assigned administrator: Richard BOONE of Tulpehocken Twp. Sealed: 3 Feb 1827 Witnesses:said Richard BOONE; George KLINE & David LUDWIG of Amity Twp. Register: Daniel RHOADS ____________________________________________________________________________ The 1833 Will of Frances BOONE of Union Twp., Berks Co., PA Frances referred to: a daughter [bequeathed to], Frances (wife of John BRAUER); 2 grandchildren [bequeathed to]: Matilda & Jeremiah (children of son-in-law John & Frances BRAUER). a friend [appointed executor], John BANNAN; Made: 26 Apr 1824 Proved: 14 Aug 1833 Witnesses: Abraham BROUER (deceased by 1833-- Samuel BEARD testifying, 14 Aug 1833), Daniel YOCUM Deputy Register: Jeremiah SNYDER ____________________________________________________________________________ The 1873 Will of Sarah BOONE of Exeter Twp., Berks Co., PA Sarah referred to: a friend [bequeathed to & appointed executor], James LEE (of Exeter Twp.); a brother [mentioned 2X-- see below], Samuel BOONE, Sr. a nephew [bequeathed to], Samuel BOONE, Jr. (son of said brother Samuel Sr.); a sister [mentioned], Hannah G. LEE (wife of Josiah LEE); ? grandchildren [bequeathed to], unnamed (children of sister's husband Josiah & Hannah G. LEE his wife; ? grandchildren [bequeathed to], unnamed (children of brother James deceased); ? grandchildren [bequeathed to], unnamed (children of said brother Samuel Sr.; ? grandchildren [bequeathed to], unnamed (children of brother Isaac of Ohio). Made: 23 2mo 1871 Proved: 4 Feb 1873 Witnesses: Moses BOONE & Charles LEE Deputy Register: H. S. GETZ ____________________________________________________________________________ The 1881 Will of Richard BOONE [decease 23 Sept 1881 at 12:00 AM] of Union Twp., Berks Co., PA Richard referred to: a sister [bequeathed to], Mary Ann MATTHIAS (of Norristown, Montgomery Co., PA); a niece [appointed executor], Annie MATTHIAS (daughter of said sister Mary Ann MATTHIAS.) Made: 24 Nov 1874 Proved: 29 Sept 1881 (Richard ) Witnesses: George W. BRUCKMAN & Nicholas JONES Register: S. S. KINDT ____________________________________________________________________________ The 1883 Renouncement of Administration by widow Mary A. MATTHIAS, daughter of Thomas BOONE late of Amity Twp., Berks Co., PA Administrator replacement: Annie MATTHIAS, daughter of said Mary A. MATTHIAS Sealed: 6 Feb 1883 Witness: A. JACOBS Register: ? ____________________________________________________________________________ The 1884 Will of Anna Eliza (Elisa) BOONE, of Leesport, Berks Co., PA Anna Eliza referred to: .a husband [bequeathed to & appointed executor], John L. BOONE. Made: 8 Mar 1881 Proved: 18 Oct 1884 Witnesses: Frances P. WILLITZ and Hanry S. MACHEMER Register: J. M. SHOLLENBERGER ____________________________________________________________________________ The 1884 Estate Sale of William BOONE late of Exeter Twp., Berks Co., PA Administrator, James M. HIGH Date of Court Order: 23 Feb 1884 Judge, Orphans Court of Berks Co., Hon. H.H. SWARTZ Advertised in: Berks & Schulkill Journal (English) and Reading Adler (German) Date of Public Sale: 22 Mar 1884 Exeter Twp. Land: That bounded by lands of James LEE, Daniel LEE, Samuel S. RHOADS and Augustus YOUNG Purchaser: Benjamin G. DETURK ____________________________________________________________________________ The 1894 Administration & Inventory of Thomas BOONE late of Reading, PA Decedent died: 13 Feb 1894 Administrator accepted by: Annie BOONE Sealed:13 Jul 1894 Inventory: 25 Jul 1894 Register: William SHAFFUER Estate appraised by: Francis McGURGAN & Elmer HAAG Notary Public: P. A. BUSHONG ____________________________________________________________________________ The 1895 Will of Annie BOONE of Reading, Berks Co., PA Annie referred to: a daughter [bequeathed to], Mary ("Sister Mary of Notre Dame Order"); a son [bequeathed to & appointes executor], Edward; a daughter [bequeathed to], Emma. Made: 14 Aug 1894 Proved: 8 Jan 1895 Witnesses: Edward S. KREMP & P.A. BUSHONG Register: William SHAFFUER Deputy Register: H. S. STRUNN ____________________________________________________________________________ The 1908 Will of Samuel S. BOONE of Reading, Berks Co., PA Samuel referred to: a friend/relative? [bequeathed to], Harry HELFRICH; a friend/relative? [bequeathed "his old family bible"], Frederick BOONE; the 2nd Reformed Church of Reading [bequeathed to] his housekeeper [bequeathed to], Mrs. Annie RICE; a niece [bequeathed to], Sallie G. BOONE (d/o brother James deceased); the Reading Trust Co. [bequeathed to & appointed executor], in trust to brother Amos S. BOONE, or if deceased, to his children: Frederick, Samuel, William, Daniel, Huysinga]; 3 nieces/nephews [bequeathed to]: Charles HELFRICH, Harry HELFRICH, Annie (HELFRICH) REEDER-- children of sister Sallie S. HELFRICH deceased; 4 nieces/nephews [bequeathed to]: Daniel LINDERMAN, Rosie HAHN, Mary HITNER, and Edward LINDERMAN-- children of sister Mary Ann LINDERMAN deceased. Made: 22 Oct 1908 Proved: ? Witnesses: S. R. KAUFMAY and C. K. KISTLER, M.D. Register: ? ____________________________________________________________________________ The 1911 Will of Annie BOONE of Reading, Berks Co., PA Annie referred to: the Swartz(wald)? Cemetery Association of Exeter Twp.[bequeathed to for the keeping of her lot]; 2 sisters [bequeathed to]: Sarah HUFFMAN & Regina RITZ; a brother [bequeathed to], Hariam G. BOONE; a friend [appointed executor], Edwin BOONE. Made: 11 Aug 1904 Codicil: 13 Apr 1909 Codicil: 22 Apr 1909 Witnesses: J. Wilmer FISHER and (Heruce T. FUNCK)? Register: ? ____________________________________________________________________________ The 1923 Will of Samuel G. BOONE [decease 27 April 1923] of 704 N. 11th, Reading, Berks Co., PA [Samuel also had as real estate 707 N. 11th] Samuel referred to: a wife [bequeathed to & appointed executor], Emma M.; 5 daughters [bequeathed to ]: Ada Minerva (wife of Harry A. GABLE); Lotta Alberta (wife of Wm. D. FELIX); Laura May (wife of Jefferson RHOADS)[Jefferson was also appointed executor]; Miss Grace Estella [Grace E. JACOBS of 41 N. 4th St. by 14 May 1923]; Annetta Irene (wife of Horton P. ERMOLD). Made: 27 Feb 1913 Proved: 14 May 1923 Witnesses: R. J. DAVIS (of 712 N. 5th, Reading) and Harry S. FICHTHORN (of 763 N. 11th, Reading) Deputy Register: N. M. LOOSE Register: Orson N. RITZMAN ========================================== Updated 18 Oct 1997