Christofel Kern ^{1 2 3 4}

   Other names for Christofel were Christopher Kern ^{6 7 8} and Johan Christoph Kern.⁵

   FamilySearch ID: L8BB-VH8.

  Christening Notes:

The sponsor was Johan Christophel Steinle.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. He appeared as a sponsor at a baptism on 18 Nov 1766 at East Cocalico Twp.: Muddy Creek Reformed Church, Lancaster, PA. Christopher Kern and wife were sponsors for the baptism of Anna Catherine of Henry Kern and Anna Barbara. ^{7 9}

2. Tax List: 1779, Brecknock Twp., Lancaster, PA. ¹⁰ Christopher Kern is listed in the tax list as "made no return."

3. Tax List: 1781, Brecknock Twp., Lancaster, PA. ¹¹ Christoph Kern appears on the 1781 tax list in Brecknock Township.

4. Tax List: 1782, Brecknock Twp., Lancaster, PA. ¹² The 1782 tax list for Brecknock Township in Lancaster County recorded Christophel Kern with 100 acres, 2 horses, 3 cattle, and a tax due of 13 .0 .0.

5. He appeared as a sponsor at a baptism on 1 Apr 1782 at , Berks, PA. Rev. Illing's records show that Christoph and Margaretha Kern were sponsors at the baptism of Christoph of Henry Kern and wife Barbara. Illing's record pertains either to the Bangor Episcopal Church in Caernarvon Township, Lancaster County, or Forest or Allegheny Lutheran churches in Berks County near the Lancaster County line, all of which Illing served at this time. ^{13 14}

6. Tax List: 1785, Brecknock Twp., Lancaster, PA. Kern Henry 150 land, 3 homes, 3 cows
Kern Peter 150 land, 4 homes, 3 cows
Kern Christopher 140 land, 2 homes, 3 cows.

7. Census in 1790 in Brecknock Twp., Lancaster, PA. ¹⁵ The 1790 Census for Brecknock Township shows a Henry Bocher and the next line shows the Kern household. Since Henry Bucher married Catherine Kern seven years earlier, we can assume these are the 1790 Census records of the two families living as neighbors. The record shows the households as:

Henry Bucher:
Males (born)
16 and older (<=1774) = 1 Henry
Under 16 (1775-1790) = 1 son
Females = 1 wife

Christn Kern:
Males (born)
16 and older (<=1774) = 1 Christn
Females = 3 (wife and 2 daughters)

Note: The Census page lists Kern with the given name Chris followed by an abbreviation of some sort. The census index interprets this as Christn. Reviewing examples of Old English writing style found on Rootsweb at http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/special/oldenglish/oldenglish.htm , we would conclude this abbreviation was a common way to denote Christian. However, we have not found him recorded in church records as such, which list him either as Christofel or Christopher.)

Other Kerns are living in this same township:
Kern George 1 male 16+, 4 females
Kern Henry 3 males 16+, 2 males under 16, 4 females
Kern Peter 1 male 16+, 1 female.

8. Census in 1800 in Brecknock Twp., Lancaster, PA. ¹⁶ The 1800 census recorded Stophel Kearn with this household:
1800 U.S. Census household
Males (born)
45 & over (<=1755) = Christophel
Females (born)
26-44 (1756-1774) = 1.

9. Cause of Death: consumption at age 68 years 11 months, 25 Jan 1804, East Cocalico Twp., Lancaster, PA. ^{17 18}

10. Court: Orphan's Court on 27 Mar 1804 in Brecknock Twp., Lancaster, PA. ¹⁹ On the petition of Peter Frey who intermarried with Margaret Kern one of the daughters of Christopher Kern late of Brecknock Township deceased setting forth, that the said Christopher Kern died intestate about 2 months since leaving a widow, named Margaret, and three daughters to wit, Margaret married to petitioner, Dorothy married to George Stoever, Catherine married to John Formwald and two grandchildren sons of Susanna who was married to Henry Bichard but is now deceased, that the said Christopher Kern was seized and possessed and at the time of his death of about 180 acres of warranted land situate in Brecknock township adjoining lands of Christopher Stoppoach, George Stephens & others, that the Petitioner is desirous that his right in said Estate should be ascertained __ and praying the Court to award an Inquest to view the said premises and ascertain whether the same can be divided among the widow and all the children of the said deceased without prejudice and spoiling of the whole, and if they find the same cannot be so divided, that they then will truly inquire and ascertain whether the said premises will conveniently accommodate more than one of the children of the said deceased without prejudice to the spoiling of the whole, and if they find the same will conveniently accommodate more than one of the children of the deceased, that they then will truly divide the said premises accordingly by metes and bounds, and will truly appraise each purpart, but if they find that the said premises will not conveniently accommodate more than one of the said children without prejudice to the spoiling of the whole, that they then will trule value and appraise the whole premises and make report of their proceedings to the next Orphan's Court.
It is ordered by the Court that the Sheriff of this County do forthwith summon an Inquest to view the said premises and ascertain whether the same can be divided among the widow and all the children of the late deceased without prejudice and the spoiling of the whole, and if they find the same cannot be divided that they then will truly inquire and ascertain whether the said premises will conveniently accommodate more than one of the children of the said deceased without prejudice to a spoiling of the whole, and if they find the same will conveniently accommodate more than one of the children of the said deceased that they will then truly divide the same premises accordingly by metes and bounds and will truly appraise each purport, but if the find that the said premises will not conveniently accommodate more than one of the said children without prejudice to the spoiling of the whole, that they then will truly value and appraise the whole premises and make report of their processing to the next Orphan's Court to be held on the fourth Monday in July next.

11. Court: Orphan's Court on 27 Mar 1804 in Brecknock Twp., Lancaster, PA. ⁶ John Beecher a minor son of Henry Beecher and grand son of Christopher Kern late of Brecknock township deceased by his late wife Susanna Beecher, a daughter of the said Christopher Kern deceased being above the age of fourteen years, comes into court and chooses his father Henry Beecher of the same township, Guardian over his Estate during his minority -- The Court approve of and appoint the said Henry Beecher his Guardian accordingly.
The Court appoint Henry Beecher of Brecknock township Guardian over the estate of Elias Beecher a minor son of the said Henry Beecher, and grand son of Christopher Kern late of the same township deceased by his late wife Susanna Beecher, a daughter of the said Christopher Kern deceased during his minority -- he being under the age of fourteen years.

--------------- Research notes-----------------
Obviously the court recorder's record is confusing in that the order of the record sounds like Susanna Beecher was Christopher Kern's wife, not his daughter. But it gives us valuable information. Susanna was "deceased" by early 1804 meaning after birthing sons John and Henry Bicher (aka Beecher) Susanna died, likely while giving birth to Elias or a 3rd stillborn child. Following her young death, the record suggests that her children lived with her father Christopher Kern until his death, at which time the court appointed the children's father Henry Bicher (aka Beecher) as the guardian. Sadly, we know from Henry Buecher's bible that he died five years later in 1809, when son John was 18 and son Elias 12.
This explains why we only find two surviving children for Henry Buecher/Bicher, John and Elias.

12. Court: Orphan's Court on 23 Jul 1804 in Brecknock Twp., Lancaster, PA. ²⁰ Session of Lancaster Orphan's Court: July 23 1804
Miscellaneous Book 1803-1805 Page 162

Pursuant to an Order of this Court of the 27th day of March last past. The Sheriff of this county returns the said order with an Inquisition thereto annexed, taken on the oaths & solemn Affirmations of twelve good & lawful men of the Bailiwic of the same Sheriff, who upon their baths & Affirmations aforesaid respectively do say that they have viewed a certain plantation of land situate in a tract of Brecknock township & County aforesaid adjoining lands of Christopher Stoppach, George Stephens & others, containing about one hundred and eighty acres (being the same tract of land in the annexed order mentioned) with the appurtenances, and do find that the same tract of land with the appurtenances cannot be divided between the widow of all the children of the said Christopher Kern deceased without injury to the spoiling of the whole, and the Inquest aforesaid on their oaths and affirmations aforesaid do further say that they have viewed, considered and inquired whether the said premises will conveniently accommodate more that one of the children of the said deceased without injury to or spoiling of the whole, and do find that the said premises will conveniently accommodate more than one of the children of the said deceased without prejudice or spoiling of the whole, to with, two of the children of the said deceased.
And the Jurors aforesaid do partition and divide the aforesaid plantation and tract of land as follows, to wit. \endash All that certain part of the said tract included in and bounded by the following courses, to wit, Beginning at a stone, thence by land of John Oberholtzer South fourteen degrees East ninety four perches to a stone, thence by land of George Stepha South seventy one degrees West one hundred and twelve perches and a half to a chestnut thence by the same and land late of George Heft, North eighteen degrees and three quarters of a degree West two hundred and twelve perches and a half to a stone, thence by land of Christopher Shlopak North seventy one degrees East sixty four perches to a Black Oak, thence by land of Nicholas Shower, South nineteen degrees and a quarter East thirty one perches to a stone, thence by other land of the said Christopher Kern deceased herein after described, South twenty nine degrees and three quarters East forty three perches and three quarters to a stone, thence by the same North eighty five degrees East twenty seven perches and six tenths of a perch to a stone, thence by the same South fifty one degrees and a quarter East thirty seven perches and a half to the place of beginning, containing one hundred and eighteen acres and one hundred and three perches of the usual allowance of six percent for roads which said parcel or part the Jurors aforesaid on their Oaths of Affirmations aforesaid do value or appraise at eight hundred and thirty pounds, ten shillings and one penny in ready money gold or silver coin.
And all the rest and residue of the said plantation bounded and described as follows, to wit, Beginning at a fallen black oak, thence by land of John Oberholtzer South seventy-one degrees West one-hundred eight perches to a stone, then by other land of the late said Christopher Kern deceased above described, North fifty-one degrees and a quarter, West thirty-seven perches and a half to a stone thence by the same South eighty-five degrees West twenty seven perches and six tenths of a perch to a stone, thence by the same north twenty nine degrees and three quarters west forty three perches and three quarters of a perch to a stone, thence by land of Nicholas Shower, Abraham Brendle and Godfried Rieffer respectively, North seventy one degrees and a quarter East one hundred and sixty two perches and a half to a stone thence by land of the said Godfried Rieffer, South nineteen degrees and a quarter East eighty perches and three quarters of a perch to the place of the beginning, containing sixty seven acres and ninety perches, and the usual allowance of six percent for roads to which said parcel or part last mentioned they the said Jurors upon their Oath of Affirmations aforesaid do value or appraise at
four hundred and seventy two pounds eighteen shillings and nine pence, ready money in gold or silver coin, which two said several purparts include on the whole of the said plantation in the annexed order mentioned. Which Inquisition was read and confirmed. And on Motion, Peter Frey who intermarried with Margaret Kern, one of the daughters of the said Christopher Kern deceased was cited to appear in Court, and in right of his wife to accept or renounce his right takes part of the said Estate according to the partition in the said Inquisition mentioned, and confirmed by this Court to the said Peter Frey not appearing it is ordered that George Stover who intermarried with Dorothy Kern, the next in succession, also a daughter of the said Christopher Kern deceased upon paying or security to be paid to the legal representatives of the said Christopher Kern deceased (the widow having been advanced by the Intestate in his lifetime in lieu of dower) their several respective shares of and in the valuation money of the first part of the tract of land in the said Inquisition mentioned within one year with lawful interest form this day, do hold and enjoy the same to him and his heirs in fee. And that the valuation money of the said first described part of the aforesaid tract of land be paid and distributed as follows, to wit,

To Peter Frey who intermarried with Margaret Kern…….....................................£ 207..12..6½
To George Stoever who intermarried with Dorothy Kern………………….……....£ 207..12..6½
To John Formwald who intermarried with Catharine Kern……………….………..£ 207..12..6½
To the legal representatives of Susanna, who was married to Henry Bicherd….£ 207..12..6½

And it is further ordered that John Formwald who intermarried with Catherine Kern, another daughter of the said Christopher Kern deceased upon paying or securing to be paid to the legal representatives of the said Christopher Kern deceased (the widow having been advanced by the intestate in his life time in lieu of dower) their several and respective shares of and in the valuation money of the second part of the tract of land in the said Inquisition mentioned without one year with lawful interest from this day do hold and enjoy the same to him and his heirs in fee \endash And that the valuation money of the said second described part of the aforesaid tract of land be paid and distributed as follows, to wit,

To Peter Frey who intermarried with Margaret Kern…….....................................£ 118..4..8¼
To George Stoever who intermarried with Dorothy Kern………………….……....£ 118..4..8¼
To John Formwald who intermarried with Catharine Kern……………….………..£ 118..4..8¼
To the legal representatives of Susanna, who was married to Henry Bicherd….£ 118..4..8¼

And finally it is ordered that the expenses of the Inquisition and confirmation be equally borne by all the parties interested.

George Stoever lent in £1600
Henry Kern lent in £1600
To John Joseph Henry Esq. President \endash Upon Condition that the said George Stoever pay or secure to be paid unto the legal representatives of Christopher Kern, deceased their several and respective shares of and in the valuation money of the first described part of the real Estate of the said deceased within one year with lawful interest from this day, then this recognizance to be void otherwise to be and remain in full force of virtue.

John Formwald lent in £900
Jacob Riegert lent in £900
To John Joseph Henry Esq. President \endash Upon Condition that the said John Formwald pay or secure to be paid unto the legal representatives of Christopher Kern, deceased their several and respective shares of and in the valuation money of the first described part of the real Estate of the said deceased within one year with lawful interest from this day, then this recognizance to be void otherwise to be and remain in full force of virtue.

Research note: in today's dollars, the total amount allocated to each party would be worth about $75,000.

Christofel married Margaret Catharine.