Peter Keiter I

     Peter was born in 1738 in Shippack Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. In 1759, Peter reached his majority and took ownership of his inheritance from his grandfather Gerhard In Den Hoffen. On 13 June 1760, he conveyed a life lease on a tract of 90 acres to Derrick Walker & his wife Sarah, the widow of Gerhart In Den Hoffen. This was her dower rights in her husband's estate. On 20 September 1763, his father conveyed 64 1/2 acres to him. This was the same tract that he had purchased from Gerhard In Den Hoffen in 1745. In the assement of 1766 of Skippack, Peter is listed as having 8 children. Some of these children were Gertraut's by a prior marriage. On 1 April 1775, he purchased the life lease granted to Derrick & Sarah Walker in 1760. The conveyance states that Johannes Keiter was deceased. In 1783, the assessment records show that Peter had 260 acres, 2 horses, 3 cows, & 155 sheep. On 25 August 1785, Peter & Gertraut sold 83 acres & 108 perches to Henry Pennybacher containing a gris mill & saw mill. On 29 May 1786, they sold two tracts of 38 acres to Henry Brachtheiser, a school teacher. The next day, they sold their plantation containing some 141 acres with buildings & other improvements to Gerhart Clemens. Apparently, Peter then moved to East Hanover Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania as he is listed there in the first federal census of 1790. Peter married Gertraut (?) Boocher circa 1762 in Shippack Township. The 1790 U.S. Federal Census enumerates at Halifax Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, the family of Peter Kiter [14:14].⁴ The 1800 U.S. Federal Census enumerates at Upper Paxton Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, the family of Peter Kiter [10301:00021].⁵ Peter made his will on 27 February 1801 at Halifax Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. In the name of God Amen, I Peter Keiter of Upper Paxton Township, in the County of Dauphin, State of Pennsylvania, yeoman, being at present sick and weak of body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God calling unto mind the Mortality of my Body do make and Ordain this my Last will and Testament in manner following:

I recommend my soul into the hand of Almighty God that gave it and my body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discreation of my Executors and as touching such Worldly Estate where with it has pleased God to bless me in this life. I give, devise and dispose of the farm in the following manner and form. First, I give and bequeath to Gertraut, my dearly beloved wife, that she shall have full and free possession of the little room behind the kitchen and my sons shall finish the same suitable for her dwelling. And in case said room should be found to narrow or cumbersome then my sons shall make the same wider by sedding the petition a jy____ ___ __ and my sons shall supply her with firewood ready for her use she shall also have the use and benefit of the half part of the garden which is before the house and shall have as much out of the orchard as she may want for her own use and my sons have keep a cow for her use and shall gather, give and shall further give and deliver unto her for her quarters maintenance the following articles viz. five bushels of wheat, 6 bushels of rye, 2 bushels of corn, and 2 bushels of buckwheat Yearly during her natural life. And they shall also take her grain to the mill and bring it ground to her house or apartment. They, my sons, shall give unto her one hundred wright of good work yearly durAng her natural life. Also four pounds good and lawful money of Pennsylvania yearly, As aforesaid, my wife shall also have her bed and chyl. also a iron pot and skillet, three pewter plates, three knives and forks and her spinning wheel. Secondly, I give and bequeath to my sons John Keiter, Peter Keiter, Gerhardt Keiter and Benjamin Keiter all my plantation, saw mill lands, and tenement that is to say all my real estate and also my personal estate, everything and receiving the to be made to my wife only which I bequeath unto them my four sons, their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns for the yielding and paying their cost and there from unto their mother as above mentioned. Mentioned. And also utto their sisters as shall hereafter be more partularily mentioned. And my will is that my said sons shall have all my said estate. Share and share alike, if it should happen that my said sons should or could not agree on dividing the same they shall coose impartial persons, neighbors, and freeholders of the township who shall make proper portions and distributions among my said sons and to their judgement the matter shall be settled. The payments before mentioned always assessed. My said sons shall pay the debts which I at present stand indebted. Thirdly, I give and bequeath to Margaret, my oldest daughter, now intermarried with Jacob Frack, the just and full sum of twelve pounds and no more which my sons John, Peter, Gerhardt, and Benjamin shall pay unto her the said Margaret in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nine. I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth, my second daughter, now intermarried with John Frey. The just and full sum of twelve pounds good and lawful money of this state in gold or silver. Which said sum to be paid and no more by my said sons unto her the said Elizabeth in the year one thousand eight hundred ten. Also I give and bequeath to Gertraut, my third daughter, now intermarried with Daniel Miller, the sum of twelve money of like money and no more which said sum my said sons shall pay unto her, the said Gertraut in the year one thousand eight hundred and eleven. Also I give and bequeath to Mary, my fourth daughter, now intermarried with John Freebourn, the sum of twelve pounds of like money and no more which said sum my said sons shall pay unto her, the said Mary in the year one thousand eight hundred and twelve. Also, I give and bequeath to Catharine, my fifth daughter yet single, the sum of twelve pounds of like lawful money and no more which sum my said sons shall pay unto her the said Catharine in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirteen. And she shall also have her bed and cow and spinning wheel any time afte she making demand of the same. Also, I give and bequeath to Veronica, my sixth & youngest daughter, the sum of twelve pounds of like lawful money and no more. Which sum my said sons shall pay unto her the said Veronica in the year one thousand eight hundred and fourteen. And she shall also have her bed and cow and a spinning wheel any time after she making demand thereof. And I do hereby constitute, make and ordain my sons John Keiter, Peter Keiter sole executors of this my last will and testament. And I do hereby utterly disallow and revoke all former testaments, wills, s and ---- testifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. ----- whereof I the said Peter Keiter have hereunto set my hand --- the twenty fourth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and one.

Signed, sealed and declared by the said
Peter Keiter as his last will & testament in presence
Of us Samuel Humssinger, Peter X Thott. [Will Book B-1, page 58]
Peter departed this life in 1801 in Halifax Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, at age 63 years. His will was probated on 4 May 1801.