Margaret Catharine ¹

   Other names for Margaret were Margretha ² and Margaret Catharine Wagner.³

   FamilySearch ID: MRXW-PJB.

  Noted events in her life were:

1. Court: Orphan's Court on 27 Mar 1804 in Brecknock Twp., Lancaster, PA. ⁴ 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.

2. Court: Orphan's Court on 23 Jul 1804 in Brecknock Twp., Lancaster, PA. ⁵ 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 Charitopher 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 injurty 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 Esst 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 Chritopher Kern deceased upon paying or security to be paid to the legal representatives of the said Chritopher 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 Forwald 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.

3. Court: Henry's mother-in-law Margaret Kern gave him power of attorney over her affairs in a document in Lancaster Deed Book S-3 Page 570 on 16 Oct 1805 in Brecknock Twp., Lancaster, PA. ⁶ Lancaster County Deed Book S-3 Page 570

Margaret Kern to Henry Bechert et at

Know all men by these presents that I Margaret Kern Widow and relict of Christoph Kern late of Brecknock Township in the County of Lancaster in Pennsylvania deceased, for diverse considerations and good causes hereunto moving, Have made ordained constituted and appointed and by these presents do make ordain constitute and appoint my trusty Friends Henry Bechert and Peter Fry both of Brecknock Township in the County of Lancaster aforesaid yeomen, my true and lawful attorney or attornies for me, in my name and to my use, to ask, demand, finally settle sue for recover and receive from George Stever of the Township of Brecknock yeoman, or other persons rightfully indebted to me, all such Sum and Sums of Monies or other legal Rights and Credits as are now due, coming and payable to me, either form the said George Stever or other, person or persons whatsoever, and for that purpose, giving and by these presents granting to my aforesaid Attornies jointly or severally my full power and authority to take pursue and follow all such legal ways and courses, for receiving obtaining or recovery of the same, as fully and effectually to all Intents and purposes as I myself might or could od, and upon the Receipt of any Sum or Sums in whole or part, acquittance or other, sufficient discharges for me and in my name to make Sign Seal acknowledge and deliver, as also one or more attorney or attornies under him or them to substitute and appoint and again at his or their pleasure to revoke, and further to do and perform for me and in my name all and singular the thing or things which are or may be necessary touching or concerning the Premises as fully entirely and thoroughly as I the said Margaret Kern in my own proper person ought might or could do about the same Ratifying allowing and confirming whatsoever they the said attornies shall lawfully do or cause to be done in and about the Execution of the Premises under and by virtue of these presents.
In Witness whereof I the said Margaret Kern have hereto put my Hand and Seal dated the Sixteenth day of October Anno Dom: one thousand Eight hundred and five

Margaret Kearn (SEAL)
MARK

Witnesses present at Signing
George Readle

Lancaster County: personally came Before me the Subscriber one of the Justices of the peace for the Said county the within named Margaret Kern and acknowledged the within written Instrument of Writing or Power of Attorney as and for her Act and Deed and desired that the same may be taken deemed and entered on Record as such. Witness my Hand and Seal the 16th day of Oct. Anno Dom: one thousand eight hundred and five.

Henry Hambright (SEAL)
Recorded the 13th day for January Anno Domini 1806.

Margaret married Christofel Kern, son of Abraham Kern and Maria Catharina Müller. (Christofel Kern was born on 25 Feb 1735 in Brecknock Twp., Lancaster, PA ^{7 8}, christened on 26 May 1735 in East Cocalico Twp.: Muddy Creek Reformed Church, Lancaster, PA ^{7 8} and died on 25 Jan 1804 in East Cocalico Twp., Lancaster, PA ⁹.)