Person Page - 25

     Jacob Stauffer was born in 1696 in Alzheim, Switzerland.¹ He immigrated with his parents Hans Stauffer and Kungold Hiestand between 1709 and 1710 to Pennsylvania.² Jacob Stauffer married Barbara Sauter, daughter of Jacob Sauter and Anna Rosenberger, circa 1724 in Valley Forge, Chester County, Pennsylvania.^3,4 Jacob Stauffer and Barbara lived in Perkiomen Township, Philadelphia County, later Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.⁵ Jacob Stauffer and Barbara lived circa 1734 in Hereford Township, later Washington Township, Philadelphia County which was, after 1753, Berks County, Pennsylvania. It was then a wilderness and the dwelling place of a remnant of an Indian tribe. He was one of the first settlers, and was the original purchaser of a plantation which adjoined the one on which the Roman Catholic chapel was afterward erected.⁶ Jacob Stauffer, Samuel Bauer, Michael Bauer, Rev. Christoph Scholtze, Melchoir Schultz and others petitioned the Court of Philadelphia asking for the creation of a new township to be bounded and described as follows: "Beginning at a heap of stones on land of Adam Trump, being chief corner of Philadelphia County in the line of Northampton County, bounded by Colebrookdale Township, etc. to be named Hereford" in 1753.⁷ Jacob Stauffer lent the money to his sons Henry and Christian for their purchase of land. The amounts received from them is detailed in the Account Books of Hans Stauffer, published in the Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine, volume X, March, 1929. He and Barbara were Mennonites.¹ Jacob Stauffer died on 1 March 1780 in Bally, Hereford Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, at age 84 years.^8,9 He was buried in Mennonite burying ground, Hereford Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania.¹

     Catherine Godshalk was born on 15 December 1816 in Kulpsville, Towamencin Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.^2,3 Catherine Godshalk was also recorded as Catharine Godschalk.⁴ She married Jesse Schultz, son of Jacob Schultz and Magdalena Gerhard, on 4 October 1840 probably in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The ceremony was conducted by the Rev. George C. Wack.⁵ As of 4 October 1840, her married name was Schultz.⁶ Catherine Godshalk and Jesse Schultz were also reported to have married on 4 September 1841. This date is, however, incorrect. They had been married 11 months previously.⁶ Catherine, as Jesse's wife, resided with him in Norriton Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, in 1850.⁷ Catherine Schultz and her husband Jesse Schultz received the sacrament of Holy Communion on 7 November 1852 in Wentz's Church, Lansdale, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.⁸ Catherine Schultz was (an unknown value) in Wentz's Church, Worcester Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, He paid two dollars in contribution toward the pastor's salary and support in that year, and that is the only record of any contribution. There was no further support recorded in 1856.⁹ She was bonded as the administratrix of the estate of Jesse Schultz on 26 March 1863.¹⁰ Catherine was listed as a member of a church in St. Vincent Reformed Church, East Vincent Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, on 1 April 1882.¹¹ Catherine was listed as a member of a church in St. Vincent Reformed Church, East Vincent Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, Spring of 1895.¹² She lived in 1905 in East Vincent Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.¹³ She died at 1:30 am on 2 April 1905 in her home, East Vincent Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, at age 88 years, 3 months and 18 days.^13,3 The cause of Catherine's death was heart disease.¹⁴ She was buried on 6 April 1905 in Lot 53, St. Vincent Reformed Cemetery, East Vincent Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.^3,15 The transcript of the estate administration documents reads:
Upon a written application to the Register of Wills dated May 1905 her surviving children relinquished their rights to be administratrices in favor of Catherine's grandson, Josiah S. Halteman.
To David G. Byerly, Esq., Register
of Wills of Chester County,
Pennsylvania:
Sir:---We the undersigned, being all the children of Catherine Schultz (widow) late of East Vincent township, Chester county and State of Pennsylvania deceased, do hereby renounce all our right to letters of Administration upon the estate of said deceased, and desire the same may be granted to Josiah S. Halteman, Esq., of Royersford Montgomery county and state of Pennsylvania. Witness our hands, this day of May, A.D. 1905.
Addie Heffner
Mary J. Gresh
Almira Halteman
On May 20, 1905 the following application was made to the Register of Wills, Chester County, with F. House as the attorney, file No. 30390:
To David G. Byerly, Esq.,
Register of Wills of the County of Chester, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
PETITION In the matter of the Administration of the Goods, Chattels, Rights and Credits of Catherine Schultz Deceased.
The Petition of J. S. Halteman (RoyersFord---Pa.) respectfully showeth that Catherine Schultz was a resident of Chester County, State of Pennsylvania, and departed this life interstate at her residence in East Vincent twp. in the County of Chester and State of Pa. on the 2nd --day of April A.D. 1905 at 1:30 o'clock A.M. That the said Catherine Schultz deceased left her surviving the following named widow or husband, heirs and next of kin, to wit:--
     Addie Heffner Daughter Norristown, Pa.
     Almira Halteman " Spring City, Pa.
     Mary Jane Gresh " Norristown, Pa.
The minor Grandchildren of Josiah Schultz, a deceased Son----
Therefore the said J. S. Halteman respectfully applies for Letters of Administration upon the Goods, Chattels, Rights and Credits of which said Catherine Schultz died processed. And that he will well and truly administer the Goods and Chattles, Rights and Credits of said deceased, according to law; also, diligently and faithfully regard, and well and truly comply with the provisions of the law relating to Collateral Inheritances. JOSIAH S. HALTEMAN
CHESTER COUNTY, ss: J. S. Halteman named in the above application, being duly affirmed according to law, say that the matters and things set forth in the above application are true to the best of his knowledge and belief. JOSIAH S. HALTEMAN
.......and subscribed before me, at West Chester, May 20 A.D. 1905
DAVID G. BYERLY, Register.
In the Inventory and Appraisement filed June 19th 1905, Recorded in Docket 9 Vol. 7 Page 246
(No.) 30390 Catherine Schultz ESTATE the following affidavit was filed:
STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA
Chester County, ss. JOHN H. DEERY and L. H. ROSENBERGER being duly affirmed, say that they will well and truly, and without predjudice or partiality, value and appraise the goods, chattels and credits, which were of Catherine Schultz late of East Vincent township, county and state aforesaid, deceased, and in all respects perform their duty as appraisers to the best of their skill and judgement.
Affirmed and subscribed before me the 16th JOHN H. DEERY
day of June 1905 JACOB R. WEIKEL L. H. ROSENBERGER
Justice of the Peace
My Commission expires First Monday in May, 1910
               INVENTORY AND APPRAISMENT
Of all the goods, chattels and credits of Catherine Schultz, late of East Vincent township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, deceased:
Mortgage Josiah S. Halteman-----------------------------$1800.00
Interest from September 22, 1904 @ 5% Cash in Nat. Bank of Spring City------$758.63
Cash on hand----------------$20.00
Total-------------$2578.63
Taken and appraised by us this 16th day of June A.D. 1905
JOHN DEERY L. H. ROSENBERGER, appraisers
The first and final account of J. S. Halteman, Administrator of Catherine Shultz, late of the Township of East Vincent, Chester County, Pa., deceased.
               DEBTOR
Mortgage of J. S. Halteman,------------------$1800.00
Interest on this Mortgage----------------------$ 247.50
Interest on Dower Fund-------------------------$ 21.34
Cash in Bank-----------------------------------------$ 737.29
Total------------------------------------------------------$2806.13
               CREDITS
Register of Wills for Letters of Administration--------------$ 7.80
Advertising notice to debtors and creditors-------------------$ 2.00
J. K. Kimes, undertaker--------------------------------------------------$ 84.20
Appraiser's fees-------------------------------------------------------------$ 2.00
Qualifying Appraisers-----------------------------------------------------$ .50
M. S. Halteman, funeral expenses---------------------------------$ 29.82
H. M. Brandt, tombstones-----------------------------------------------$ 40.00
Commissions to Accountant-------------------------------------------$ 140.00
J. Frank E. Hause, Attorney--------------------------------------------$ 75.00
Register, filing account---------------------------------------------------$ 10.00
Balance due estate-----------------------------------------------------$2414.56
(TOTAL) $2806.13
Josiah S. Halteman, Administrator of Catherine Shultz, deceased.¹³       An inventory of the estate was filed on 16 June 1905 in West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania.¹⁶ The estate consisted of:
a mortgage from Josiah S Halteman at 5% from September 22, 1904 (the date of the mortgage) ....$1800

Cash in National Bank of Spring City...$758.63

Cash on hand...$20

Total............$ 2578.63.¹⁶ An accounting of Catherine Godshalk's estate was made by Josiah S Halteman, administrator of her estate. He stated that her estate had assests of $2,806.13; that the administration of the estate cost $391.57 with the net value of the estate being $2414.56.¹⁷
     Catherine was probably a free white female, under the age of 10, in Harman Godshalk's household, on the 1820 Census in Towamencin Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.¹⁸ Catherine was probably a free white female, age 10 and under 15, in Harmon Godshalk's household, on the 1830 Census in Towamencin Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.¹⁹ Catherine was probably a free white female, age 20 and under 30, in Harmon Godshalk's household, on the 1840 Census in Towamencin Creek, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.²⁰ Catherine Godshalk appeared on the census enumerated on 14 August 1850 in Norriton Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, in the household of Jesse Schultz. She was recorded as a 30-year-old female born in Pennsylvania^21. Catherine Godshalk appeared in the census enumerated on 20 July 1860 in East Vincent Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, in the household of Jesse Schultz. She was recorded as a 40-year-old female born in Pennsylvania. Her occupation was listed as being the wife of the head of the household^22. Catherine Schultz appeared on the census enumerated on 31 August 1870 in East Vincent Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Living with her was her daughter Mary Jane. Catherine was recorded as a 53-year-old white female born in Pennsylvania to native-born parents. Her occupation was given as "house keeping." She was recorded as having a personal estate worth $100²³. They were living in the same dwelling as her daughter Almira and her husband Moses Halteman. Catherine Schultz appeared on the census enumerated on 2 June 1880 in East Vincent Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Living with her were her daughters Adeline and Mary Jane Schultz. Catharine was recorded as a 63-year-old widowed white female, employed as keeping house. She was born in Pennsylvania, as were both of her parents.²⁴ Catherine Schultz appeared in the census enumerated on 16 June 1900 in East Vincent Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, as the head of the household. She was recorded as an 83-year-old widowed white female born in December 1816 in Pennsylvania to parents both of whom were born in Pennsylvania. She was the mother of four children, three of whom were living. She could speak English, read and write. She was renting the house in which she was living.²⁵.

     Carsten Thomsen was born on 13 March 1827 in Sønderborg, Sønderborg amt., Denmark.^2,3,4 He was baptized in infancy on 25 March 1827 at age 12 days in the parish church, Sønderborg, Sønderborg amt., Denmark. Standing as godparents were Carsten Thomsen, Johann Hansen and Anna Maria Berendsen.⁴ He was confirmed on 28 May 1842 in the parish church, Sønderborg, Denmark, at age 15 years, 2 months and 15 days. In October 1873 his name was also recorded as Karsten Thomsen.^5,6 He married Henriette Catherine Harder, daughter of Peter Christian Harder and Maren Henriksen, on 10 November 1854 in St. Michael's Church, Fredericia, Elbo herrad, Vejlo amt., Denmark. The ceremony was conducted by the rector.⁷ Carsten Thomsen was a master cabinetmaker in 1861.^{8,9,10,5,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19} He and Henriette lived between 1863 and 1876 in the Fred section of Trinitias parish, Fredericia, Elbo herrad, Vejlo amt., Denmark.^20,21,22 Carsten Thomsen died on 26 May 1877 in Fredericia, Elbo herrad, Vejlo amt., Denmark, at age 50 years, 2 months and 13 days.²³ The cause of Carsten's death was inflamation of the spinal cord.²⁴ He was buried on 31 May 1877.²⁵