SEPTEMBER 1992 NEWSLETTER
Hard to believe summer is virtually gone. We spent several days in July working at the FHL in Salt Lake. We combined the trip with a visit to the Manti Pagent which was a great experience for our kids.
I have what I think you will find to be a very interesting item in this month's newsletter. Michael Mower, born 1774, who was the father of Henry Mower Sr., died in 1829 in Bedford County, Pa. He did not leave a will, but his estate was probated and records were filed in the county courthouse. I hired a Bedford County genealogist, Jim Boor, to travel to the courthouse in behalf of our family and obtain a legible copy of the probate packet. Jim Boor did this for $20 which I though was very reasonable. What follows is the transcribed probate packet. I think you will enjoy reading it. What I found interesting in the list of possessions what the fact Michael Mower owned a Testament (Bible) at his death, as it is listed among his possessions. Who might have this Bible? Possibly some descendant of his oldest son, Henry Mower Sr.??
Michael MOWER (1774-1829) Probate Packet Bedford Co., Pa Know all Men by these Presents, that We, Samuel Bussard, John Bussard and David Exline all of Bedford County, Pennsylvania are held and firmly bound unto the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the sum of three hundred dollars lawful money of the United States, to be paid to the said Commonwealth, or their certain attorney. To the which payment, well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves jointly and severally for and in the whole, our heirs, executors and administrators, firmly by these presents. Sealed with our seals dated the twenty second day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty nine.
The Condition of this Obligation is such, That if the above bounden Samuel Bussard, administrator of all the singular the goods, chattels and credits of Michael Mower, late of Colerain township deceased, do make, or cause to be made a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the goods, chattels and credits of the said deceased, which have or shall come into the hands, possession or knowledge of him, the said Samuel Mower [Bussard?] or unto the hands and possession of any other person or persons for him; and the same so made, do exhibit, or cause to be exhibited, into the Register's-office, in the county of Bedford, at or before the twenty second, day of September next ensuing; and the same goods, chattels and credits and all other the goods chattels and credits of the said deceased, at the time of his death which at any time after shall come to the hands and possession of the said Samuel Bussard or unto the hands and possession of any other person or persons for him do well and truly administer according to law. And further do make, or cause to be made, a true and just account of his said administration, at or before the twenty second day of August in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty and all the rest and residue of the said goods, chattels and credits, which shall be found remaining upon the said administrators account, (the same being first examined and allowed of by the Orphans Court of the county of Bedford) shall deliver and pay unto such person or persons respectively, as the Orphans Court by their decree or sentence, pusuant to the true intent and meaning of the several laws now in force in this commonwealth, shall limit and appoint. And if it shall hereafter appear that any last will and testament was made by the deceased, and the executor or executors therein named, so exhibit the same into the said Register's-office, making request to have it allowed and approved accordingly. And if then the above bounden Samuel Bussard being thereunto required do render and deliver the said letters of administration, approbation of such testament being first had and made in the said Register's-office, then this obligation to be void and of none effect, or else to remain in full force and virtue. Sealed and delivered in the presence of Job Mann and Solomon Mason. Signed: Samuel Bussard John Bussard David Exline Aug 22, 1829
We charge Samuel Buzzard adm. of Michael Mower dec. with the account of goods, debts, etc. which came to his hand $119.49
We credit the adm. with the following- 1. Funeral expenses $10.43 2. Letters of Adm--council fee Bonders exp. and printing $14.93 3. Specialty debts-- via Balance on Martin Ruley's note 29.75 ditto on Henry Exline's note 3.32 ditto on David Exline's note 29.23 ditto on John Buzzard's note 6.28 ditto on Adam Deals note 1.62 95.57 Leaving a balance of------------------23.92 to be divided amongst the following creditors, after deducting the allowance to the adm. Register and Clerk's fees and auditor's pay. $23.92
Catharine Pencil Book acc. $2.00 Jesse Veatch ditto 5.77 Solomon Deal ditto 7.39 1/2 John Gump ditto 8.53 John Buzzard ditto 15.02 Daniel Deal ditto 5.00 Fredrick Beegle ditto .37 Beam ditto ? Frederick Fight ditto .44 $55.65
Which we respectfully report to the Hon'l the Court aforesaid. Witnesses our hands and seals the 14 day of November A.D. 1831 David Mann (Seal) J.S. Morrison (Seal) J. M. Russell (Seal)
Bedford County At an Orphans Court held at Bedford in and for the said County of Bedford on the 25th day of August A.D. 1831. Before the Honorable John Dickey and _________ Esquires Associates Judges of the same Court.
On petition of Samuel Bussard administrator of the goods and chattels of Michael Mower late of Colerain township, Bedford County dec. stating that that the moneys in his hands are inadequate to the discharge of the ourstanding claims against said estate--And praying the Court to appoint suitable persons as auditors to apportion the assets among the Creditors and motion of A. K. [or N.] ung Esq.
The Court appoint David Mann, Joseph S. Morrison and James M. Russell Esquire Auditors for the purpose in the said petition mentioned and set forth who are to make out a report therein and make return thereof to our next Orphans Court to be held at Bedford in and for said County.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Bedford the 25th day of August A.D. 1831. Job Mann, Clerk
In pursuance of the above appointments [illegible]___________
Auditors attended agreeably to public notice at the house of George Mullin in Bedford Borough on Monday the 24th day of October 1831 and Williams being absent adjourned to meet at the same place on Monday the 14th day of November then meet. And now 14th October 1831 the subscribed Auditors above named having met recording to adjoinment proceeded to examine the vouchers and evidence produced to us and do report as follows to wit:
Bedford County Personally appeared before the Subscriber Registor for the probate of Wills and granting Letters of Administration in and for said County David Exline and John Bussard who being duly sworn according to Law despose and say that they appraised the goods and chattels of Michael Mower late of Colerain township dec. at the true value thereof according to the ___ set to each article in the annexed list, according to the best of their Judgement--Sworn and Subscribed the 12 September A.D. 1829 John Bussard David Exline Job Mann Register 46.24 19.69 65.93
1 Milk crock .? 1 Cow 8.00 1 Sheap .12 1 mare 8.00 1 hiefer 7.00 Shake wood 1.00 98.65 1/2 A list of the appraisement of the goods and chattles of Michael Mowry deceased, appraised by David Exline and John Bussard. D. Cts. 1 hole augur 1.00 1 lot of Chisels 1.00 1 lot of Drawing knives 1.00 1 hand ax 1.00 1 foot alls .75 1 lot of augers 1.25 1 froe and rale .37 1 bells and Tug .37 1 lot of iron and bentch .25 1 bedstead .12 2 spinning wheels 1.40 1 Jack reel .24 1 lot of barrels and Junes .12 1 wooden bowel .25 1 lot of crocks .06 2 saddles 2.50 2 bags .12 1 lot onions .37 1 soap trough and soap .37 1 ax one hoe 1.75 1 Churn .50 1 coffe mill .37 1 lot backets and tubs barrel .75 1 lot tin ware and forging ? .75 1 tea Cettle an skelet .50 1 lot of queens ware .50 1 buket on dried Cheries .37 2 Dutch ovens and pot 1.50 49.66
over 49.66 1 Dough trough .18 1 bed and bedsteads 6.00 1 stove 4.40 1 table and chairs bentches .50 1 bed and bedstead 7.00 1 Chist [chest?] .75 Cards and looking glass .25 1 pair shoes and testament 1.75 1 lot beets and cabbage 3.00 1 patch potatoes 3.00 1 hog 3.00 1 lot fellows and plank 1 lot of fellows and wood 5.00 1 grind stone and hangings 2.50 1 Cross Cut Saw .62 1 lot plains .37 1 lot hole bands 1.00 1 sledge .62 1 hole lay .62 1 bridle tung fork gears .56 5 head sheep 5.00 1 broad ax and augur .75 of milk Crocks .37 1 Cow 8.50 1 Bleas .12 1 mare 8.00 1 hiefer 7.00 spoke wood 1.00 98.65
RESEARCH UPDATE: Jim Petty and I have been working on the GEISSINGER leads which your contributions have funded. I expect a research report from Jim sometime soon. I have been going through the International Genealogical Index looking to see if the work has been done on all of these GEISSINGERS. I have found that probably 90% have not had their temple work done. These will be submitted.
I guess the next phase of the work, after we have traced the descendants of Charles GEISSINGER, will be to look for his European origins. We always have hope that we may run across a descendant who has traced his or her genealogy and can give us more clues, but I am beginning to believe that nothing short of a lot of hard work is going to take us into Germany with the MAURER, GEISSINGER, BRILL and AMICK lines. I haven't given up on the MAURER line of course, we will get back to that project but feel like we need to finish up a few GEISSINGER odds and ends.
I have made a lot of progress on the descendants of Mahala MOWER during this last month. Ray MORSE, is a descendant of Mahala MOWER. He lives in Bedford Co., Pa. He wrote me last month and sent me many names of Morse relatives who descend, as does he, from Mahala MOWER. He told me that we have "dozens of cousins" living back in Pennsylvania. I informed him that he has thousands of cousins out here, and I hoped he could still sleep at night when he found out that they are all Mormons!
Ray has Parkinson's disease and told me his routine is that he is given a morning bath by a county nurse and then spends the day in his wheelchair parked in front of the T.V. I kind of got a lump in my throat when he wrote that he hoped I would write and we could maintain some communication. Ray is 77 years old. He sent me a bunch of information and I could not help but marvel at how we continue to get these names. I sat down and wrote him back and told him all about Henry Mower Sr. How he joined the Mormon Church, moved to Utah, losing a wife on the Plains and basically what information we had about Mahala Mower who stayed in Pa. I will keep Ray informed and I have a feeling that Ray will provide us with many names of ancestors!!