Proof of John Wolf's Children

I was in Jefferson County last week to look at the tax records that were at the new Jefferson County Archives. I also noticed that they had the Court of Common Pleas Court Records while I was there. Since there was a reference to a court case, John Wolf Sr. vs. Frank & Heilbrunner, in the estate papers for John Wolf (died about 1859), I decided to look for more information on this court case. John Wolf filed the suit in September 1857 (no. 13 September term 1857) for  "Summons in Ejectment  for 100 acres and 40 perches of land in Knox township. Deft [Defendant]: pleads not guilty". The defendants were David Frank and Leopold Heilbrunner. 

On 22 September 1858 "Continued by consent, at the cost of the defendants".

On 16 December 1858 "Jury called in".

On 17 December 1858 [Word illegible] "for defts [defendants]. Motion for a new trial on behalf of the plff [plaintiff] entertained and rule to show cause granted",

On 19 February 1859 "Motion for a new trial on part of plff [plaintiff] entertained and rule to show cause granted. Rule made absolute".

On 9 May 1859 "Death of plff [plaintiff] by John & Christiana Wolff widow & Henry, Jacob, Daniel, Samuel, Peter, Christian [Christiana] & Franny Wolf heirs of the decd [deceased] and A. L. Gordon Admtr [Administrator] of his estate. Substituted as plffs [plaintiffs]".

                                                           

The word John is very difficult to decipher but he is the eldest son and the eldest son and widow are often listed first. Also, John is not  listed with the other children. Christian is his daughter Christiana. Franny is his daughter Hanna.

On 12 September 1859 "Jury called in"

On 17 September 1859 "Judgment" [Does not give amount but John Wolf's estate papers give amount of $620.44]

The following is some background on the above court case.  John and Christiana Wolf transferred 100 acres and 40 perches to their son Michael on 4 February 1847. It does not list any purchase amount in the deed and it is not clear if there were any conditions associated with the transfer. Michael died sometime before 6 May 1854 when letters of administration were granted to Christopher Fogle.  The property was to be sold at a public sale in Brookville, Pennsylvania on 8 May 1854 by order of the Court of Common Pleas at the suit of William F. Clark in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania (See "Sheriff's Sale" in the Brookville Jeffersonian dated 17 April 1854). Another 100 acre property that Michael owned was also to be sold at the sheriff's sale. John Wolf then brought suit in the Court of Common Pleas in September 1857 for "Summons in Ejectment on 100 acres and 40 perches of land in Knox township". The court case between Michael Wolf's estate and William F. Clark may also provide more information.

See previous blog post on "History of Redbank Township and John Wolf" for more information on this family. The following is a revised list of John and Christina/Christiana Wolf's children:

1. John born 7 January 1812-died 1874
2. Henry born 16 July 1814-died 27 February 1862
   
3. Michael born 10 October 1816-died 1854
4. Jacob born 27 December 1818-died 4 April 1897
5. Daniel born 3 July 1824-died 15 December 1890
6. Christiana born 20 May 1826-died 18 April 1897
   
7. Hannah born 17 January 1829-died 31 March 1916
8. Samuel W. born 25 September 1831-died 20 March 1912
9. Peter born 1836-died 21 September 1862
   

John and Hanna Wolf are the only two children of John Wolf for which there exists known baptismal records. Hanna Wolf married Solomon Harriger. Christiana married John D. Rhodes. Christiana Rhodes' obituary gives her birth, marriage, and death dates as well as her maiden name, and her husband and eight surviving children's names.  She and her family were living next to her parents, John and Christiana Wolf, in the 1850 census, and she and her family were living next to her mother and brother, Christina and Peter Wolf, in the 1860 census.

 A. L. Gordon was appointed as administrator of the estate of John Wolf who died intestate without a will in 1859 in Knox Township, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania.  He filed the first and final account with the Jefferson County Court on 10 July 1862.  Copies of vouchers for money paid to Christina Wolf by A. L. Gordon, administrator of John Wolf Sr., deceased were included in the estate papers.  The vouchers were witnessed by Daniel Wolf.  She received the following payments:
21 January 1860-$25
26 March 1860-$25
7 June 1860-$33.10
10 October 1860-$10
17 October 1860-$38
19 May 1862-$75
10 July 1862-$82.34
No date-$80
Total $368.34

Cash in the amount of $ 620.44 was received from a judgment in the Court of Common Pleas in Jefferson County from John Wolf Sr. vs. Frank & Heilbrunner.

 Nicholas McQuiston was appointed administrator of the estate of Christina Wolf who died intestate.  An inventory of her personal estate was filed on 17 September 1866 and $99.90 was realized from the vendue sale.  She owned lot number 4 in the village of Knoxville, Knox Township, Jefferson County.  It was 60 feet wide by 135 feet long with a frame dwelling house 16 x 24 feet two stories high.  It was sold for $155 since the amount from the vendue sale was not enough to settle her debts.  The final account was filed with the Court on 6 November 1868.