Johannes Bauerman

     Johannes was born in 1784 in Penn Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. At some time he began to use the name John. Johannes married Frovina Veronica Keiter, daughter of Peter Keiter I and Gertraut (?) Boocher, before 24 April 1803. Johannes married Sarah Schiessley after 24 April 1803 in Pennsylvania. The 1810 U.S. Federal Census enumerates at East Hanover Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, the family of John Bowerman [30010:1001].¹ Johannes made his will on 12 April 1816 at Halifax Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

In the Name of God Amen – I John Bowerman of Halifax township in the County of Dauphin and Pennsylvania yeoman, Being of sound mind, & of Memory & Understanding; but considering The uncertainty of this life, think fit to make this my Last Will and Testament. In the following Manner, viz. I Recommend my soul into the hand of God, and my body to the Earth, to be Buried in a Christian manner, And trusting such worldly estate where with it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I Give, Devise, and discharge of the same in the following manner in form. First It is my will that my Dear Beloved wife Sarah shall hold Certain possessions as here after mentioned viz. a small House to be bricked and likewise a stable to contain 2 cows and five sheep and to hold the garden now in use and to have her choice of the cows to pick out two to her contenment, and to have five sheep and to hold the whole stock of hogs at present for one year, and then to hold yearly five hogs, till the Children are raised, she has also to be furnished with sufficient fire wood hauld to her house and she is likewise to have all the household and kitchen furniture excepting one stove and the widow is to have an half acre of flaxseed sowed yearly as till Children raised, exclusive from the other produce of the place, the widow is to receive the one half of the Produce of the place yearly, till the Children are raised, and its my will that Sarah my wife shall hold the a foresaid Goods and property During her widowhood and till the Children are Educated and Raised
After if in case she remaining a widow, then the following and nothing of the aforesaid, or aforementioned viz. Eighty pound of pork and eighty of Beef yearly and Eight Bushel of wheat and eight bushel of rye & sixteen bushel of potaotos tenn pound of flax twenty pound of ___ and six pound of wood, yearly. And further I Allow the following to be sold, the farming utensils all other Cattle except what is left to the said widow, amd as for the plantation to be let out till the children being raised and the youngest child of age than one of the boys or one may take the place at a praisement and if he take it not then the said place shall be sold at public sale, and the price devided in to equal shares to the Children
I do hereby constitute, make and ordain John Endeers & Christian Zimmerman my sole executors of this my last will and testament and Further I do Hereby Impower the aforesaid to Dispose of my goods and Chattles Mentioned in this my last will and like wise to collect my debts and Demands and settle with my creditors. I do herby ratify and confirm this to be and no other to be my last will and testament in witness where of I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twelveth day of april one Thousand Eight Hundred and sixteen.
Signed sealed and Declared
By the said John Bowerman
As his last will and testament
In the presence of
__________M Laughlin
John File.²

Johannes departed this life in April 1816 in Halifax Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, at age 32 years. His will was probated on 29 April 1816.