Estate Files

Know all men by these presents that I, Daniel Berger, of the village of Strausstown, County of Berks, and State of Pennsylvania, being in good health, of sound mind memory, and understanding, do make and publish this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me at any time heretofore made.
And as to my worldly estate, and all the property, real, personal and mixed, of which I shall die seized and possessed, or to which I shall be entitled to at the time of my decease, I devise, bequeath, and dispose thereof in the manner following, viz:
First, My will is, that all my just debts and funeral expenses shall, by my hereinafter named executor, be paid out of my estate, as soon after my decease as can conveniently be done.
Item, I give, devise, and bequeath to my beloved wife, Lydia, the house and lot of ground in Strausstown wherein we now reside, the lot of ground adjoining the described property, and the ten acres of woodland in the aforesaid township adjoining land of J. H. Weible and others. Of the personal property she may elect Three Hundred Dollars worth for her own separate use and as she brought some money to me she shall have Four Hundred Dollars in money. In case my wife aforesaid shall or should be in need for money to live with, she may sell the second described lot or the woodland but the house and lot in which we reside now shall not be sold by her.
Whereas, I gave to some of my childred certain sums of money varying in amount an account of which I have kept in my family book of the amount given to each child, therefore the proceeds of all the rest, residue, and remainders of my real, personal, and mixed, of which I shall die seized or possessed, or to which I shall be entitled to at the time of my decease, together with the amounts charged against my childred in my family book, I give devise and bequeath to be equally divided to and among my eight children, or their executors, administrators, or assigns, viz: Sally Epting, Davilla Berger, John Berger, Isaac Berger, Louisa Batteiger, Rebecca Haag, Amelia Blatt, and Jefferson Berger and such amounts as are charged against any of my heirs above named in my family book shall respectively be deducted from the share of such of them as are charged. After my and my wife’s decease, I do order that all the property I bequeathed to my wife aforesaid shall be disposed of by my hereinafter named executor in similar manner as above described.
And lastly I do nominate J. H. Weible, Esq., of Strausstown, to be the executor of this my last will and testament.
In testimony whereof I, Daniel Berger, have to this my last will and testament, contained on one sheet of paper, set my hand and seal, this thirtieth day of January A. D. 1894.

Signed, published, and declared by the said
Daniel Berger, as and for his last will and
Testament in the presence of us, who, at his
request and in his presence, and in the
presence of each other have subscribed
our names as witnesses thereto. In line 41
the word “be” was previously interlined.

Isaac Moll Daniel Berger
J. A. Smith



Berks County:
As the 21st day of Jan’ry A.D. 1895 – Before me personally appeared Isaac Moll and J. A. Smith the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing will of Daniel Berger deceased, and on their solemn oaths, did say that they were present, and did see and hear, Daniel Berger deceased, the Testator herein named, sign, seal, publish and declare the same as and for his last will and testament, and that at the doing thereof he was of sound disposing mind, memory and understanding to the best of their knowledge and belief.
Wm. Shaffner Reg.



Estate of Daniel Berger decd.
To Hon. H. Willis Bland, Auditing Judge
The petition of Jacob H. Weible executor of said decedent
Represents:
That the said Daniel Berger died on or about the 10 day of Jan’ry
1895 testate, married, and leaving issue: That an account has been filed by his executor
That under the provisions of the Will of said decedent the only persons entitled to the estate embraced in the said account, or any part thereof (other than as creditors), are as follows: - their relationship, proportion of interest, and name of guardian of such as are minors, being stated, viz:

Lydia Berger, wife, died on or about the 12th of Jan’ry 1895 and was buried on the same
day as her husband.
Sarah married to Frank Epting, daughter, of age
Davilla R. Berger, son, of age
John Berger, son, of age
Louisa married to Eli Patteiger, daughter, of age
Rebecca married to Wm. Haag, daughter, of age
Amelia married to Reuben Blatt, daughter, of age
Isaac Berger, son, of age
Jefferson Berger, son, of age

Your petitioner therefore prays that distribution may be made among the parties above mentioned, according to their respective interests. And he will ever, etc.
J.H. Weible