| Catharina (Schneider) Whitener was a Palatine Migrant. Join: Palatine Migration Project Discuss: palatine_migration |
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Catharina was the daughter of Johann Heinrich Schneider whose 1725 Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, will names his daughter Catharina, wife of Peter Witenar. Presumably, Schneider's wife was already deceased as he does not name her; therefore, the name of Catharina's mother is currently unknown.
The marriage of Peter Weidner and Catharina Schneider presumably occurred in a German-speaking land, but a record has not been located in Swiss or German archives. Peter Weidner was born around 1680 and died before February 1734. No record in Swiss, German, or Pennsylvania archives has been located for Peter Weidner's parentage, baptismal name, birth year, or birthplace.[2]
The following summary of Peter's life is from the Whitener Weidner Widener Weitenauer Wittner DNA Project:
Peter and his wife Catharina were residing in Pennsylvania before 1725 according to her father's will. Extant ship passenger lists do not include them; thus their arrival year in America s unknown.[4]
"Before 1734," Peter "Weidner" was listed as an Oley Valley land owner: “Known Heads of Households and Single Freemen Residing in Oley Valley 1701–1741, Peter Weidner before 1734 in Pike [township].”[5] At that time, Oley Valley was part of Philadelphia County; it now is part of Berks County. Oley Valley includes mainly the townships of Oley, Exeter, and Amity and small parts of the townships of Pike, Earl, Douglass, Union, and Robeson.
Peter "Widner" died prior to late February 1734. He died owning a warrant for 200 acres in Oley Valley, for which he had not yet completed the patent process. His widow sold the warrant rights to John Oyster on 26 February 1734. On 6 May 1734, "Katherine Widner” of Philadelphia County submitted the warrant to the Land Office, the land was surveyed on 27 June 1734, and following Oyster’s payment of associated fees, a patent issued in his name on 13 January 1738.[6]
Meanwhile, widow Catharina (Schneider) Whitener moved with four of her children (Barbara, Peter, Isaac, and Jacob) to Ephrata in the Cocalico Valley of northern Lancaster County, where on 24 December 1736 she purchased 100 acres on Cocalico Creek from Andreas Scroop (alias Krobff) and wife Isabel. Interestingly, the deed renders her name as Katharina Whitener.[7]
A plat of Scroop’s patented tract, including the part he conveyed to Widow Widener, appears in John A. Parmer, "Notes on the Geography of the [Ephrata] Cloister Lower Mill Tract."[8]
14 October 1741, "Catharina Widow of Peter Weidner Deceased" and "Son Peter Weidner" for a small consideration conveyed water rights on part of her land to the Trustees of the Fraternity of Ephrata for the use of Ephrata's mill.[9] See virtual tour of Ephrata Cloister. No. 15 on the tour map is where the mill was sited on Cocalico Creek. Catharina (Schneider) Weidner's land was nearby. Abundant in-depth information and beautiful photographs are available on the Internet; simply Google for Ephrata.
Catharina (Schneider) Weidner executed her 22 September 1742 will in Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where it entered probate 18 February 1743. She devised and bequeathed to five children, apparently in their birth order.
22 September 1742, Catharina Weidner of Langester, Cokaligo Township, Witwe.
John Henry Calckgleaser and toughter Trifenna to be executor and executres [executrix] until all my children are of full eage [age].
First. To Son Henry Widner £12 fore all I had reason to give him Lease [less] because after his Fathers Decease he was Disobedient and by his own Will went from me and made himself to be his Master several Years befor the Law giveth him to be free jet [yet] for all i am Reconcilt to him and wish him well to enjoy in his Shear.
Second. To Toughter Trifener for her gootness and kindness and obedient servenis [services] as a truest and obedient child £30
Third. To Son Petter Widner as the Ealtest of my Sons Liveng with me at present Time he hath taken as much Duty upon him to be as a Father to help me as his Mother to maintain the junger Broders therefor I do order and give to him that new House for his owen as a Reward for his Leabours which he doth Take upon him for him for his junger Brothers until they be in Eage (notice the house is not builded at present but it shall be builded hereafter)
Fourth. The Rest or Remainder of my Estate shall be equeally devided in 3 I say three Parts to ever one of my 3 Junger Sons also well [will] all bik and smal goots [big and small goods] in all maner & name and the Plaintashe [plantation] in 3 Lots of these 3 Lots shall my Son Petter have the Privilege to Take which he will But I do hereby Except If he doth hould to his Junger two Brothers until they in has full Eages otherwise he shall have not more Privilege and for Right as the two junger brothers named Jacob and Isack. Further shall all the Cathls [chattels] and houshhould goots it may be named what it will be eqally Deveided to my Sons Petter and Jacob & Isack accordingly it would be well bleased to me if they could Live togeather in Peace without Division of the Plantashion & other Goots but if they cannot then they may do every one to his best
“Forthey et is these [For that it is this] my Will that non of my Childean shall have power by force to make him pay his Sheare before the Jungest Son is in his full Eage and if he is in his Eage then they shall kep Patient to one another in a Brotherly mannor in then Corse [in their cause] and not force one another in a strong forcibel maner to pay to him his Sheare
Catherina Widner these is her Mark + (Seal)
18 February 1743, Johan Henry Hageman, Leonard Heid, and Johannes Hildebrand affirmed before Conrad Weiser, Lancaster County Justice of the Peace, that they saw and heard Catharina “Widner” sign and declare this as her Last Will and Testament.
Probate and Letters Testamentary were granted the Executors they having first solemnly affirmed to administer. They are to submit an inventory on or before 18 March 1743.[10]
After executing her September 1742 will, "Sister Widow Weÿder” died at Ephrata in 1742; see image.[11]
In 1750, Catherine's children conveyed the same land that she had purchased in 1736.[12]
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Categories: Palatine Migrants
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