1796 The will of Christian Bowman, of Cumru Twp, Berks County, Pennsylvania was date 9 August 1796. The will named mother Veronica and indicated that all of the estate is to remain in the hands of wife Elizabeth until the fall of year 1810, to bring up and educate children (in the German language), at which time son Henry shall have the refusal of Christian's lands and plantation containing about 75 acres of deeded land and 29 acres of warrant land, at appraisal value. If none of the children accept, then to be sold to other children (my daughters). Christian's mother to be maintained. Executor friend Wendell Bauman and John Bear. Witnesses Leonard Kepling and Martin Bowman. [1] [2] [3]
1796 On 3 September, Letters of administration were issued. [4]
1796 On 3 September, an inventory made by Martin Bowman and Lenhart Keplinger listed the belongings of Christian Bowman and debts naming Jacob Weaver, John Hoover, Samuel Hothenstine, Abraham Tranch, Philip Rense, Christian Bowman (distiller of spirits), Pauls Horning, Henry Trakle, Martin Bowman, Andrew Kachal, Susanna Kachal, Veronica Bowman. [5]
1801 On 25 March, Wendell Bauman and John Bear presented an account. Distributions were made to Christian Bauman, Martin Bowman, Balser Beyer, Wendel Bauman, Philip Bixler, Veronica Bowman, and Joseph Bowman. [6]
1811 On 5 April, Wendel Bowman, executor of the estate of Christian Bowman, deceased, petitioned that David and Daniel Guth, sons of Christian Guth, are minors under the age of 14 and are entitled to a portion of their grand-father's estate. therefor praying the court to appoint some proper ... guardians for said minors. Christian Guth was appointed guardian. [7]
Research Notes:
A biosketch of Elizabeth Huber reports [8]:
25 Elizabeth Huber 11. b. near New Holland in 1758; d. in Alleghenyville, Berks Co., Pa., in 1827; in. Christian Bowman: b. —; d. 1790, son of Jacob Bowman of Berks Co. Second marriage to Henry Weber (see No 30). Issue to C. Bowman: 80 Henry; and four daughters whose names are not given. They all lived in Canada. Mennonite. farmer; buried at Alleghenyville Mennonite Cemetery.
Some researchers name Veronica (Bowman) Gehman [9] as a daughter of Christian Bowman and Elizabeth Huber. We seek evidence to support or refute this hypothesis. The reported age of Veronica Gehman corresponds to a birth date after the death of Christian Bowman.
See Pennsylvania Mennonite Vital Records for notes about this family. [10]
[1] Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994, Berks, Estate Bergman, images 1760-1775, [FamilySearchImage].
[2] Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994, Berks, Will B2-419, [FamilySearchImage].
[3] Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994, Berks, Will B2-420, [FamilySearchImage].
[4] Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994, Berks, Will 3-242, [FamilySearchImage].
[5] Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994, Berks, Estate, FHL film 1644078, image 1769, [FamilySearchImage].
[6] Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994, Berks, Estate, FHL film 1644078, image 1774, [FamilySearchImage].
[7] Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994, Berks, Orphans Court Proceedings 5-133, [FamilySearchImage].
[8] Harry M. Hoover, The Huber-Hoover Family History (1928), 45, person 25, [FamilySearch FSCatalog].
[9] Janet and Robert Wolfe, Genealogy Page for Veronica Bowman, wife of Samuel Gehman, [JRWolfeGenealogy].
[10] Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, Genealogical Card File (Lancaster, Pennsylvania), [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].