1853 Gravestone of Mary Brenizer
1802 Michael Brenizer was born on June 30, based on his date of death and age at death. [1]
1806 Mary Wise , daughter of Leonard and Barbara Wise, was born on October 24 in Middleton Twp, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. [2]
1807 Michael Brenizer may have attended the school in the Friedens Kirch, Salem or Peace Church, one half mile north of Shiremanstown in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Peter Blaeser was the teacher starting in 1807 and was an educated German, knowing Latin and being somewhat of a poet. Children age 6 to 15, within a radius of 3 miles, attended the school. Both the Brenneiser and the Eichelberger children are listed among the students of the school. [3]
1822 Mr. Michael Brenizer and Miss Margaret Weise were married on August 25, by Rev. John S. Ebaugh, V.D.M in Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. [4] [5]
1826 Michael Brenizer, blacksmith, was taxed in Dickinson Twp, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania for his occupation as Blacksmith $150, 1 horse $40, 1 cow $10. [6]
1829 Michael Brenizer, laborer, was taxed in South Middleton Twp, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Taxed for House and lot, 2 cows. [7] [8]
1830 Mich'l Brenizer lived in South Middleton Twp, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania in a household with males: 3 (under 5) and 1 (20 thru 29); and females: 1 (under 5), 1 (5 thru 9), and 1 (20 thru 29). [9]
1832-34 Michael Brenizer was listed on the triennial tax assessment in South Middleton Twp, Cumberland County with occupation Labor. He was taxed for 3½ as [acres?] land and 5 as Ston rige Land, Log house, 1 Cow. [10]
1834 Daughter Anna Brenizer was born on March 24, 1834. [11]
1836 Michael Brenizer died on July 7, at age 31y 1m 7d, and was buried at the Old Churchtown Cemetery, Allen, Monroe Twp, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. [12] [13] [14]
1836 Michael Brenizer died intestate. The administration letters for Michael Brenizer, of North Middleton Twp, Cumberland County, were issued to Peter McLaughlin. Bail was posted by Leonard Wise (Mary's father?) and William Wise (Mary's cousin through uncle John Jacob?) on July 16, 1836. [15] [16] The post office reported letters for Michael Brenizer that had not been picked up by July 14. [17]
1840 Mary Brenizer lived in South Middleton Twp, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania in a household with males: 2 (under 5) and 1 (5 thru 9); and females: 1 (30 thru 39). [18] Daughter Anna was not listed in the household, but might be the female child age 5-10 in the household of Mary's father Leonard Wise. On the same page were households of Jacob Wise, age 70, with younger family members (William?) (this was possibly the household of Mary's great uncle John Jacob) and of Frederick Wise (this was possibly Mary's great uncle Frederick).
1843 Mary Wise Brenizer's father Leonard Wise died. There were several land transactions involving Mary's brother Leonard Wise Jr.
1850 Mary Brenizer, widow, was taxed for a log house, a town lot, and 2 acres in South Middleton Twp, Cumberland County. [19]
1850 Mary Brenizer (age 44) lived in South Middleton, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania with children Joanna (age 16), Lafayette and Washington (age 15) [20]. Next door were Jacob Weise (age 80), Barbara Weise (age 76), and the family of William Weise (age 37). This neighbor was perhaps John Jacob Wise, born 1767, father of William born 1812 [21]. John Jacob was a brother of a Leonard Wise (likely Mary's father).
1853 Mary Wise Brenizer died on May 18 in Hampton, Adams County, Pennsylvania. The death certificate of Mary Brenizer [22] gives the following information [23] [24] [Photocopy, Mary Wise's death certificate.] [25]:
Mary Brenizer, white, female
Age: 46 years, 6 months, 24 days
Father: Leonard Wise
Mother: Barbara Wise
Occupation: that of a mother of many children
Place of birth: Middleton township, Cumberland County
Husband: Michael Brenizer
Names of issue living: John, Caroline, Ritner, George, Annah, Washington and Lafayette
Date of Birth: 24 October 1806
Date of death: 18 May 1853
Cause of death: apoplexy
Name of place where death occurred: Hampton, Adams County
Name of burial ground: Hampton
John L. Brenizer, Administrator
1853 John L Brenizer was granted letters of administration, on June 10, for the estate of Mary Brenizer, deceased, both of Reading Twp, Adams County. [28]
1853 Washington and Lafayette Brenizer, minors of age over 14 and heirs of Mary Brenizer, late of Reading, petitioned the Orphans' Court, on June 21, for Henry Picking to be their guardian. [29]
1853 The account of the estate of Mary Brenizer was made on July 6, 1853 by Henry A. Picking, John Brough, and Zachariah Myers (Justice of the Peace) at the request of Mary's oldest son, John L. Brenizer, Administrator. Documents show sale of items from her household to various persons including Johanna Brenizer, Franklin Noel, Lydia Hildebrand, Joseph E. Eichelberger, Levi (and other) Chronister, Jacob Wolf, and several Brenizers. After selling items and collecting debts, the estate was valued at $676.31, with fees of $208.465 yielding a balance of $476.835. Outstanding loans were to Emanuel Wise (Mary's brother?) and Joseph Eichelberger (son-in-law through daughter Caroline?). The two twins, Lafayette and Washington, received $133.66, which is 2/7ths of the balance suggesting that the remaining 5/7ths went to the other 5 children. Henry A. Picking served as the guardian for Lafayette and Washington until they reached maturity. [30] [31] [32]
1853 A newspaper notice announced that John L Brenizer was the administrator for the estate of Mary Brenizer. [35]:
Notice
Letters of Administration on the estate of Mary Brenizer, late of Reading township, Adams County, Pa., dec'd, having been granted to the subscriber, residing in the same township, notice is hereby given to such as are indebted to said estate to make payment without delay, and those having claims are requested to present the same, properly authenticated, for settlement.
John L. Brenizer, Adm'r.
June 10
1853 A newspaper notice announced the sale of a house and lot [36]:
House and Lot for Sale.
The subscriber will sell at public sale, on Saturday the 3d day of December, 1853, at 1 o'clock P.M., on the premises, in South Middleton township, a tract of Land situate in said township, containing
Three acres, more or less, having thereon erected a one and a half story Log House, and other improvements. Said property is situated within three quarters of a mile of Spring Forge, and adjoins lands of the Widow Caufman, Robert Irvine and others.
Terms of sale made known on the day of sale by John E. Brenizer,
Trustee of Mary Brenizer, dec'd.
November 3, 1853 - ts*
1854 The Orphans Court docket with the account for Mary Brenizer was indexed at Reading Twp, Adams County, Pennsylvania. [37]
1854 "The first and final account of John L. Brenizer, Administrator of the estate of Mary Brenizer, Deceased," was announced in the Adams Sentinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) newspaper on March 27. [Photocopy, 1854 Mary Brenizer estate announcement.] [38] [39]
1854 The administration of the estate of Mary Brenizer by [son] John Leonard Brenizer was posted: "Registers Notice. Notice is hereby given to all Legatees and other persons concerned that the administration accounts hereinafter mentioned, will be presented at the Orphans' Court of Adams County for confirmation and allowance, on Monday the 17th of April next."
1854 John L Brenizer, trustee of the estate of Mary Brenizer, reported that he had sold land from her estate to John Leib and Michael Gleim. Dated November 7. [40]
Research Notes:
1858 Land of Mary Brenizer was shown in the Bridgens map of Cumberland County in Silver Spring Twp. [42] Land of I'c Brenizer is shown to the south. [43]
Graveyard inscription for Michael Brenisher, born January 2, 1836; died February 9, 1870 is from an old graveyard, Allen, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. [44]
[1] Find A Grave Memorial at Ancestry.com, [AncestryRecord].
[2] Pennsylvania, Deaths, 1852-1854, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[3] Conway Phelps Wing, History of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania (1879), 228.
[4] Newspaper, American Volunteer, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Feb 13 and Feb 21, 1823.
[5] Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985, Historical Society Carlisle, Index Cards, Reel 401, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[6] Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Tax, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[7] Helen I. Harman, Cumberland County, Pa., tax lists 1762-1829: townships of Middleton, South Middleton, and Dickinson (1961).
[8] Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Tax, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[9] United States Federal Census, 1830, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[10] Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Tax, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[11] Find A Grave Memorial 52330125, [FindAGrave].
[12] Find A Grave Memorial 58991180, [FindAGrave].
[13] Find A Grave Memorial at Ancestry.com, [AncestryRecord].
[14] Pennsylvania State Library, Zeamer Collection - Cumberland County, Monroe Twp, Old Grave Yard in Churchtown, [PA Zeamer].
[15] Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994, Cumberland, Will Index 32-413, #890, [FamilySearchImage].
[16] Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994, Cumberland, Administration Record D-203, [FamilySearchImage].
[17] Newspaper, American Volunteer, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, July 14, 1836.
[18] United States Federal Census, 1840, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[19] Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Tax, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[20] United States Federal Census, 1850, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[21] Jeremiah Zeamer, Biographical Annals of Cumberland County Pennsylvania (1905), 359, [InternetArchive].
[22] Pennsylvania, Deaths, 1852-1854, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[23] Pennsylvania Deaths and Burials, 1720-1999, [FamilySearchImage], [FamilySearchRecord].
[24] Find A Grave Memorial at Ancestry.com, [AncestryRecord].
[25] Family Document, copied at the Adams County Historical Society.
[26] Find A Grave Memorial 36617037, [FindAGrave].
[27] Pennsylvania Cemetery Records, ca. 1700-ca. 1950, [FamilySearchRecord].
[28] Newspaper, Star and Banner (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania), Friday, June 17, 1853, Page: 3.
[29] Adams County, Pennsylvania, Orphans Court, G-506, [FamilySearchImage].
[30] Family Document, copied at Adams County Historical Society.
[31] Adams County, Pennsylvania, Orphans Court, Index citing H-108 and accounts A-461, [FamilySearchImage].
[32] Pennsylvania, Will and Probate Records, Adams County, Pennsylvania Probate File #3065, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[33] G. M. Hopkins, Map of Adams Co., Pennsylvania from actual surveys (Philadelphia, M. S. & E. Converse, Publishers, 1858), [LibraryOfCongress Map].
[34] Family Document, Robert Wolfe, (2005).
[35] Pennsylvania Newspaper Archive, July 15, 1853, image 3, column 4, [PSU News Archive].
[36] Pennsylvania Newspaper Archive, American Volunteer, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, November 3, 1853, image 3, column 2, [PSU News Archive].
[37] Adams County, Pennsylvania, Orphans Court, Index citing H-108 and accounts A-461, [FamilySearchImage].
[39] Newspaper, Adams Sentinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania), March 20 and 27, 1854, page 4, column 3.
[40] Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Will Administration 13-387, [FamilySearchImage].
[41] D. J. Lake, Atlas of Adams Co. Pennsylvania from actual surveys (Philadelphia: I. W. Field & Co, 1872).
[42] Henry F. Bridgens, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania: from actual surveys (Philadelphia: Friend & Aub Lith., 1858), [LibraryOfCongress].
[43] Henry F. Bridgens, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania: from actual surveys (Philadelphia: Friend & Aub Lith., 1858), [LibraryOfCongress].
[44] Pennsylvania Vital Records From the Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine and the Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 2 (1983), 248.