Peter Bicher Jr. ¹

   Other names for Peter were Peter Bicker Jr.,^{4 7 8 9} Peter Biecher ⁶ and Peter Bucher Jr.

   FamilySearch ID: 9C6N-GLP.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Alt. Name:,. Many in this family were born as Bucher but appear in later years as Bicher, pronounced like Beecher.

2. Census in 1790 in Cocalico Twp., Lancaster, PA. ¹⁰ The 1790 Census lists Peter Bicher's household as having 1 free white male and 1 free white female.

3. Census in 1800 in Brecknock Twp., Lancaster, PA. ¹¹ Peter Bucher Sr. is listed next to Peter Bucher Jr. in the 1800 Census in Brecknock.

In the elder Peter's household we find:
Males (born)
Under 10 (1791-1800) = 1 son
10-15 (1785-1790) = 1 son
45 & over (<=1755) = 2 (Peter and ??)
Females (born)
16-25 (1775-1784) = 1 daughter
45 & over (<=1755) = 1 wife

In Peter Jr.'s household we find:
Males (born)
Under 10 (1791-1800) = 1 son
26-44 (1756-1774) = 1 Peter Jr.
Females (born)
16-25 (1775-1784) = 1 wife

They are living next to the Kern and Good families. Looking at the landowner map of Brecknock Township published in the 1864 Atlas of Lancaster County, we see several Bicher families living near Kern and Good families in the area between Reamstown and Bowmansville.

4. Census in 1820 in Cocalico Twp., Lancaster, PA. ⁹ The 1820 Census shows Peter Bicker's household had:
Males (born)
Under 10 (1811-1820)
16-25 (1795-1804) = 2 sons
45 & over (<=1775) = 1 father Peter
Females (born)
16-25 (1795-1804) = 1 daughter
26-44 (1776-1794) = 1 wife

.

5. Census in 1830 in Cocalico Twp., Lancaster, PA. ¹² Benjamin Bicher is listed in the 1830 Census with this household:
Males (born)
Under 5 (1826-1830) = 1 son
30-39 (1791-1800) = 1 father Benjamin
60-69 (1761-1770) = Benjamin's father Peter
Females (born)
Under 5 (1826-1830)
5-9 (1821-1825) = 1 daughter
10-14 (1816-1820) = 1 daughter
20-29 (1801-1810) = 1 mother.

6. Census in 1850 in East Cocalico Twp., Lancaster, PA. ⁴ A Peter Bicher, age 84, appears in the 1850 Census in East Cocalico Township in Lancaster County, living with Magdalena age 28. They are living in the household of Dr. Isaac Brenison, age 43 or 49 (handwriting unclear) married to Magdalena, 46 and living with Catherine, 15 and John B. 11. The younger Magdalena is likely Peter's granddaughter so prominently named in his will as Magdalena Barns, born of Peter's daughter Elizabeth who was deceased when his will was written in Feb 1852.

7. He signed a will Will of Peter Bicher written 5 Feb 1852, filed 11 Feb 1858 on 5 Feb 1852 in Adamstown, Lancaster, PA. ¹³ In the name of God, Amen. I Peter Bicher of the Borough of Adamstown in the County of Lancaster and the State of Pennsylvania, being in perfect health of body and of sound mind, memory and understanding, blessed be God for the same, but considering the uncertainty of this transitory life, do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following, to wit. Principally and first of all I commend my immortal soul into the hand of God who gave it, and my body to the earth, to be buried in a decent and Christian like manner at the discretion of my Executors hereafter 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, to wit: First it is my Will, and I do order, that all my just debts and funeral expenses be duly paid and satisfied as soon as conveniently can be after my decease.

Item. I give and bequeath unto Magdalena Barns, a child of my daughter Elizabeth, the sum of two hundred & forty Dollars for her maintenance during her natural life, which sum of money shall be lent out at five per cent, with sufficient security, during her natural life, and the interest therefrom for her support or maintenance, and after her decease, the same person who keeps her until her death, shall be the heir and sole heir of the above named sum of money for his trouble he had with her during her natural life. And further, if any sum or sums of money coming out of my estate to the Daughter Elizabeth more than she already has, the same my hereinafter named Executors shall settle up my estate and if anything more is coming to her, the same my executors shall pay to the Person who keeps her, and also be the heir of the same, as the above named sum. This money is to be put out on Interest as the other if any. And as touching all the rest, residue and remainder of my Estate, real and personal, of what kind or nature soever the same may be, I give and devise the same unto my four children, viz. Benjamin, John, Elizabeth the deceased, and Magdalena, and to their heirs, to be equally divided among or between them, share and share alike.

And lastly I nominate constitute and appoint my son Benjamin Bicher and my son-in-law Doctor Isaac Breneiser, to be the Executors of this my last Will and Testament. And for that purpose I do hereby authorize and empower my said Executors, or the survivor of them, to sign seal execute and acknowledge all such deed or deeds of conveyances, as may be requisite and necessary for the granting and assuring the same to the purchaser or purchasers thereof in fee simple. Hereby revoking all other wills, legacies and bequests, by me retro fore made, and declaring this and no other to be my last Will and Testament.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand the fifth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty two.

Peter Bicher (SEAL)

Signed, sealed and declared by the testator as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us,
Abram Kegerrize
Joshua Spatz.

8. He has conflicting death information of 23 Jan 1858 and Adamstown, Lancaster, PA. ² His obituary in Der Libanon Demokrat reported his death date as January 23 but his tombstone has January 22.

9. Obituary: Reading Adler: Jan 23. Peter Biecher 92/1/18 Adamstown Lanc. Co. on 26 Jan 1858 in Reading, Berks, PA. ⁶

10. Obituary: The Lebanon Advertiser: Died: On the 23 ult. in Adamstown, Lancaster Co., Pa., Peter Bicher, aged 92 years, 1 month and 19 days. on 3 Feb 1858 in Lebanon, Lebanon, PA. ¹⁴

11. Obituary: Der Libanon Demokrat on 5 Feb 1858 in Lebanon, Lebanon, PA. ² His obituary read: "On the 23rd of January in Adamstown, Lancaster County, Peter Bicher, aged 92 years, 1 months and 19 days."

12. Book: History of Lancaster County, 1883. ¹⁵
"A second tannery was established sixty-five years ago [1818 ] by Peter Bicher, on a lot north of Kegerries' store. He carried on the business till about the year 18__ when he sold the establishment to Sebastian Miller S., by whom it was continued in connection with his other establishment for a number of years, when he discontinued the Bicher tannery."

Peter married Elizabeth. (Elizabeth was born before 1770 in , Lancaster, PA.)