Johann Adam Bonewitz
-1761
The Will of Johann Adam Bonewitz, 1761.
The original will is in the Orphan's
Court at Reading, Pennsylvania. An English translation is in Volume Z.
Adam impressed his ring into wax following his signature, as was the custom in
those days. Adam's tax bill in 1759 was five pounds. He bought 186 acres
of land in 1760 for 186 pounds sterling. He left a "considerable estate" with a
value exceeding 82 pounds.
In May 1761 Adam Bonewitz wrote his will. His oldest child was nine at the time
so Adam must have died when young. The will was written in German. English
translators misspelled the name and it has been spelled various ways ever since.
The original spelling is shown here.
In the Name of the Holy Trinity Amen
Whereas I Johann Adam Bonnawitz according to the wise providence of God am
visited with bodily weakness, and not knowing when the loving God will call me,
thro' Death, out of this world into Eternity, I have thought proper while I am
in good understanding and memory to make my last Will or Testament in the
following manner. Firstly I recommend, through the Blood of Christ, my Dear
Redeemed Soul into the hands of my Redeemer; but the Body to the Earth which is
the Mother of us all, that the same, after the Soul is departed from it, may be
laid in the Earth in a Christian like manner. Secondly As concerning my Worldly
Estate, it is my Will that my beloved Wife shall take beforehand for her use and
benefit one mare
and one cow called Hamel, and one three year old heifer and three swine which
will be necessary for her and the children's subsistence; but the remaining
Personal Estate shall be sold, and with the money arising from the sale of the
Personal Estate the debts shall be paid which yet remain unpaid, and of what
remains of the Personal Estate after the debts are paid my beloved wife shall
have one third part, and the other two thirds part shall be divided among my
children in shares.
Thirdly Of my place situate here in Heidelberg whereon I now live it is my Will
that my wife with the children live and remain, and to maintain herself and the
children on the Place till my eldest Son arrive at the full age of eighteen
years, then my eldest Son Johann George shall enter upon the Place and manage
the same till my youngest child is of age then the Place shall be appraised by
discreet-indifferent persons, and according to the appraisement the youngest son
shall have and shall pay to each of the other children their shares; but if the
youngest son will not have it, afterwards one of the other children may have the
Place as the youngest child might have held it. Fourthly I reserve that this my
last Will or Testament shall not be of force till after my death- that it shall
be kept as above written after my death. I have to the confirmation thereof
subscribed it with
my own hand- Sealed and Signed in the Year of Christ one thousand seven hundred
and sixty one. The 2nd Day of May and in the first Year of the reign of Lord
George the Third. Johann Adam Bonnawitz ( info. from the Book of Bonawitz and Bonewitz, by Oby Bonewit,
1970)
