Michael Reitz Sr (1757 - 1825)

Born 1 Jan 1757 in Northumberland, Pennsylvania

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 17 Dec 1825 at age 68 in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Michael was born Jan 1, 1757 in Northumberland County He settled in Northumberland, and owned a farm of 125 acres until his death on Dec 17, 1825. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

He was a devout Lutheran, member of Himmel's church in Rebuck, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. When the church was erected in 1818, he acted as the building master.^[2] Michael Reitz is on the communion list there for June 30, 1776. ^[4]

He and his wife are buried in the first row of the Himmel Church Cemetery. ^[3]

The Christening record of his son Johan Jacob lists the parents as Michael Reitz and Elisabeth. ^[5]

A biography of his great grandson Adam Hiram Reitz lists the couple as Michael Reitz and Catherine Snoke. ^[1]

Family

Genealogical and Biographical Annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania gives two slightly different lists of his children. ^{[4] [2]} They include:

• Michael - lived in Jackson (now Washington) township
• George - settled at Red Bank, Jefferson, PA
• John - settled at Red Bank, Jefferson, PA
• Jonas - lived in Washington township (where William Rebuck lives)
• William - settled at Red Bank, Jefferson, PA
• Peter - lived at Richfield, Juniata, PA
• Daniel - lived in Washington township on the homestead
• Jonathan - lived in Washington township on the homestead
• Henry - lived in Washington Township
• Bevvy - married Johan Georg Reed
• Christina - married Michael Hetrick

In the 1800 census, ^[6] The following person counts are listed:

• Males - Under 10: 4
• Males -10 thru 15: 1
• Males - 45 and over: 1
• Females - Under 10: 2
• Females - 10 thru 15: 1
• Females - 16 thru 25: 1
• Females - 26 thru 44: 1

In the 1810 census, ^[7] the following person counts are listed:

• Males - Under 10: 3
• Males -10 thru 15: 1
• Males - 45 and over: 1
• Females - 10 thru 15: 2
• Females - 26 thru 44: 1

In the 1820 census, ^[8] the following person counts are listed:

• Males - Under 10: 3
• Males - 16 thru 18: 3
• Males - 45 and over: 1
• Females - 16 thru 25: 1
• Females - 45 and over: 1

Will and Testament

The following is transcribed from Pennsylvania Probate Records ^[9] by Zachary Reitz. Punctuation added for clarity.

In the name of God, I, Michael Reitz of Upper Mahanoy Township Northumberland County and State of Pennsylvania, Yeoman, being sick and weak in body, but of sound mind memory and understanding -- blessed be God for the same -- do make and publish this, my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following. [...]

First of all I commend my Immortal Soul into the hands of God who gave it, and my body to the Earth to be buried a decent and Christian Like manner at the discretion of my executors herein after named; and as to such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I give and dispose of the same in the following manner.

I give and devise to my Beloved Wife during life or as long as she remains my widow the following artickles: my clock, six bushels of wheat six bushels of Rye, one fad [sic] hog that whays [sic] one hundred pounds, fifty pounds of beef, eight bushel of potatoes, aples [sic] and Cider as much as she needs, the third part of the gardens, one cow the chice [sic] in the flock, fed and pastured and milked if she is not able to do it, five pounds of good clean [wool?], ten pounds of good clean flax, ten pound of good [?], one bushel of salt, shoes as much as she needs, the Liberty in the house and cellar where I now live, citchen furneture [sic] as much as she needs, two beds, bedsteads, and the necessary bedding and of the linnen [sic] as much as she needs, one stove and pipe if she needs, and one chest, and one burow [bureau], the use of the half of the dresser which stands in the room, and table, three chairs, her side saddle, eight pounds of tallow, eight pounds of sope [sic], the choice of the books she want to tack [sic], the grain to take to the mill, and the grist back again to her house or abode, firewood as much as she needs -- cut, took where she wants to use it. [tae drough?] and ten dollars in cash yearly and every year, and in case if she would get sick, she shall be maintained good and if she don't licke [sic] to stay on the place aforesaid, she shall have the right to go to any of her Children to Live, and the aforesaid Artickles shall be delievered to her by my Son Daniel Reitz deuring [sic] life as aforesaid.

Second, it is my will that Elizabeth Reitz, daughter of Leonard Reitz deceased, shall have out my Estate as soon as is the said Elizabeth is eighteen years old. Agreed upon a mamarandum [sic] is in the hands of Michael Reitz Jun., gerdean [sic] of said Elizabeth Reitz.

Third, it is my will that my place shall be devided [sic] in two parts by three disintrested men of the naughbeorhood [sic], and it shall be so devided that the [orcherd?] on the [same side?] that is on the north side of Swob [Schwaben] Creek shall come to the lower part and shall be divided in equal share or parts as near as possible.

Fourth I give and despose unto my son Daniel Reitz the upper part of my plantation for which he shall pay the just and full sum of eight dollars for every Acre in the following manner: the money arrising [sic] of the tract of land and plantation shall be paid to my legle hears [sic], in equal shares beginning with the oldest, two years after my death and one [on?] till the are all paid. He shall have no share in the payments and Jonathan shall have no share of the payments. Jonathan share is considered as Red [?] in the land which he gets, and Daniel's share is considered as Red [?] in the land. Further I devise unto my son Daniel Reitz one horse and harnesses for two horses, one plough, and one cow. Daniel shall have the choice in the takin [sic] his hors [sic]. Daniel shall pay yearly and every year the sum of fifty dollars beginning as foresaid until every heir has fifety dollars and the remainder in equal shares in the same manner til the whole sum is paid.

Fifth, I give and dispose unto my son Jonathan Reitz the Lower or west part of my place for which he shall pay six dollars for every acre, which will com [sic] to his part, shall pay it in the same manner as the above tract, is to be paid but the first Rounds he shall only pay only thirty dollars to Each heir and the remainder of the whole what he has to pay shall be paid as the aboe in equal shares till the heirs are all paid. I give and devise unto my son Jonathan Reitz two horses and harnesses, one plough, one cow. The choice after Daniel to take his horses [?]. It is my will that the lower part of my place when devided [sic] shall inclute [sic] the house, stable, and garden where my son George Reitz now lives.

Sixth, give and devise unto my two sons Daniel and Jonathan my waggon [sic] and [body?] and everything belonging to said waggon.

Further, it is my will that my son Jonathan Reitz shall have the use of that part of the orcherd [sic] on the upper part of the place which lays on the west side of a ditch that runs through the orcherd for ten successive years.

Further, it is my will that my son Michl [sic] shall not pay any of the notes which he is indebted to me till his turn comes in for his share of the lands, then he shall have a [credit?] on the note, and one share shall be paid to the heir next in rank to the said Michael on his place.

Further, I impower [sic] my executors herein named to make and execute such lawfull [sic] deeds to my said sons Daniel & Jonathan as I might do myself in my lifetime.

And as touching all the rest, residue, and remainder of my personal property shall be sold by publick sale and shall be divided in equal shares unto my lawfull heirs as soon as the same can be. And after the death of my said wife, the property given to her shall also be sold divided amongst my heirs.

And lastly, I nominate, constitute, and appointed my son Michael Reitz and my son Peter Reitz to be my executors of this, my Will and Testament [?] my hand and seal, this seventeenth day of October, AD 1825.

I, Michael Reitz, the testator within named, do make this codicil to be taken as a part of my Last Will and Testament as follows: I give and devide unto my son Daniel Reitz the stove and pipe which stand in the house where I now live and two third part of all the grain that is on my place, and Daniel is to keep the family for one year of the grain. Further, I give and devide unto my son Jonathan Reitz my other stove and pipe and one third of all the grain on the place aforesaid, and all the boards that sits in the orcherd on heeps and it is my will that my two sons Daniel and Jonathan after the land is divided to give each other a rode [sic] to come to their fields and meadow with as [less?] injury to eachother as possible. Witness my hand and seal th efifth day of November, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five 1825, Michael Reitz.

Research Notes

• He is often listed in genealogies with the given name Johann Michael, but his will and other original documents give no indication of this name.
• Beware another Michael Reitz, who came to Washington township, Northumberland county from Berks county in 1690.^[10] That Michael was part of a separate Reitz clan of French origin. He reared seven sons and two daughters, among them Joseph H., Samuel, Henry, and David.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} McKnight, W. J. (1917). Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : Her pioneers and people, 1800-1915 (Vol. 2). Chicago, IL: J.H. Beers. Page 211. Retrieved August 28, 2018, from https://archive.org/details/jeffersoncountyp02mckn.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Genealogical and Biographical Annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania: Containing a Genealogical Record of Representative Families, Including Many of the Early Settlers; Whipporwill Publications, 1911. Page 788. https://archive.org/details/genealogicalbiog00floy
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Find A Grave, database and images (accessed 27 August 2018), memorial page for Michael Reitz (1 Jan 1757–17 Dec 1825), Find A Grave: Memorial #34131450, citing Himmel Church Cemetery, Rebuck, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, USA.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Genealogical and Biographical Annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania: Containing a Genealogical Record of Representative Families, Including Many of the Early Settlers; Whipporwill Publications, 1911. Page 269. https://archive.org/details/genealogicalbiog00floy.
5. ↑ "Pennsylvania Births and Christenings, 1709-1950," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2JX-PXN : 11 February 2018), Michael Reitz in entry for Johan Jacob Reitz, 20 Apr 1800; Christening, citing HIMMEL LUTHERAN AND REFORMED CHURCH,WASHINGTON TWP,NORTHUMBERLAND,PENNSYLVANIA; FHL microfilm 823,598.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1800," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHR4-N6T : accessed 27 August 2018), Michael Reitz, Mahonoy, Northumberland, Pennsylvania, United States; citing p. 710, NARA microfilm publication M32, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 37; FHL microfilm 363,340.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1810," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH2N-ZR5 : accessed 27 August 2018), Michael Reitz, Upper Mahanoy, Northumberland, Pennsylvania, United States; citing p. 260, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 53; FHL microfilm 193,679.
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYBC-H7V?cc=1803955&wc=3L7F-VLX%3A1586985402%2C1586985975%2C1586985974 : 16 July 2015), Pennsylvania > Northumberland > Upper Mahanoy > image 6 of 7; citing NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
9. ↑ "Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89SM-7ZMR?cc=1999196&wc=9PMK-YWL%3A268495501%2C268509701 : 3 July 2014), Northumberland > Wills 1772-1845 vol 1-3 > image 492 of 811; county courthouses, Pennsylvania.
10. ↑ Genealogical and Biographical Annals of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania: Containing a Genealogical Record of Representative Families, Including Many of the Early Settlers; Whipporwill Publications, 1911. Page 463. https://archive.org/details/genealogicalbiog00floy