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- source:Ancestors of Craig Rice and related families Contact: Craig RiceUpdated: 2005-09-08
Historical and Biographical Annals of Berks County Pennsylvania Volume I,Chicago,J. H. Beers & Co., 1909, pg 627
KRICK. The Krick family is one of the most numerous and prosperous in theSchuylkill section of Berks county. The name has been a familiar one inthat locality for a hundred and fifty years, associated invariable withgood citizenship, thrift and integrity, its members in every generationhaving been jealous of their good repute and mindful of the honorabletraditions of their ancestors. All of the land purchased by Frantz Kruck(as the name was originally spelled), the founder of the family inAmerica, is still owned by his descendants. His posterity is especiallywell known in Cumru, Spring, Heidelberg, Windsor and Tulpehockentownships, Berks county. Some of his descendants have also located inLancaster, Union and Mifflin counties.
Frantz Kruck was a native of Germany, born in the Rhein Pfaltz inOctober, 1702. Having one night in a mischievous mood upset a sentinel(Schilder) house he was found out, and in order to escape the punishmentcame to America, arriving at Philadelphia, Sept. 11, 1731, on the goodship Pennsylvania Merchant. Settling in the Cacoosing valley, along theCacoosing creek, in what is now Berks county, Pa., he became the owner ofconsiderable land, originally owning a tract of 350 acres, in five parts,and later increasing his holdings to 750 acres. His property was in Cumru(now Spring) township, and comprised what is now the finest and mostvaluable agricultural land in the county. He devoted the rest of his lifeto the improvement of his holdings, and his descendants have followed inhis footsteps to such an extent that his property is still in theirpossession, and in some cases has been farmed by the sixth generation. Apart of the original land secured by him from the Penns in 1737 is nowowned by Rev. Thomas H. Krick, a descendant of the sixth generation. Whenthe city of Reading was laid out, in 1749, Francis Creek (as the name wasAnglicized when he secured land from the Penns became the owner of lotsNos. 490 and 491. In 1759 he paid Ð19 taxes in Cumru township, an amountequal to $50.54, a Pennsylvania pound being valued at $2.66. He was anindustrious and well-to-do man, and the records of his extensive landtransactions and dealings with the early settlers are proof that he waswell educated, old papers that he signed being written in a good Germanhand. There is a family tradition that he was of royla blood, and it iscertain that he was a man of intelligence and standing. His will, madeApril 26, 1782,was probated June 4, 1784, the year of his death, whichoccurred at a ripe old age. He was buried at Sinking Spring, in theBaptist burial-ground back of the old eight-cornered school-house stillstanding. He reared a large family of sturdy sons and daughters, all ofwhom became useful men and women. Thirteen children are mentioned in hiswill as heirs, and the sons Francis and George were executors of thewill. In February, 1782, Frantz Krück sold some of his land to his sonFrantz (Francis), who gave his father bonds of Ð50 denomination each, andthe will specified the dates upon which these bonds were to be redeemed.We have the following record of the family: (1) John, born in Germany,came to America with his parents. In 1759 he paid Ð3 tax in Cumrutownship. His name appears in the roster of Capt. Jacob Myers' Company,6th Pennsylvania Battalion, 1782. This company had organized and wasready to respond to the call, but there was no actual service performed,John was married but had no children. He was a blacksmith by trade. Hedied in 1800. (2) Jacob also came to America with his parents. His nameappears among the single men in the tax list of 1759. He was, however,married. as would appear from the baptismal records of Hain's Church. Hehad the following children: John Jacob, Maria and John George. He sawactive service in the Revolutionary war in Capt. Reehm's Company of the1st Regiment of Berks County Militia in an expedition to Newtown, Buckscounty. (3) Francis is mentioned below. (4) George (known as "BlindGeorge"), born May 8, 1738, died Sept. 9, 1825. He m. MargaritaSeitzinger and was the father of a large family, Solomon , William, John,George, Isaac, Philip, Samuel, and eight daughters. He was a taxpayer inHeidelberg township in 1759. A few years later he moved back to Cumru,now Spring township, and purchased a farm between Sinking Spring andReading, where he conducted a hotel for a number of years. He is buriedat Sinking Spring. (5) Adam (there is no record of him). (6) Philip wascaptain of the 8th Company, Berks County Militia, Aug. 5, 1777, to Jan.5, 1778. This company joined the army after the battle of Brandywine andtook part in the battle of Germantown. No doubt he spent the winter atValley Forge. We have no record of his family (7) Peter, the youngest sonof Frantz Krück, was born June 27, 1756, and died July 31, 1829. He was asoldier in the Revolution in the 8th Company, 6th Battalion, and sawactive service. He was known as "School Teacher" Peter and taught schoolnear Sinking Spring, and was also teacher and "Forsinger" at the MuddyCreek Church. He m. Catharine Rader, and was the father of a largefamily, as follows: Rachael m. Henry Young; Elizabeth m. John Salladay;Katharine m. Philip Getz; John m. a Hornberger; Lelia m. Frederic Auman;Susanna m. Jacob Buchart; Mary m. Rudy Miller; Adam m. Catharine Fisher,and lived at Reading; Barbara m. Daniel Neff; Magdalena m. John Luft;Christianna m. a Rupp; Jonas moved to Hollidaysburg; William moved toHamburg; Peter moved to Lancaster; John Jacob. (8) Margareth m. MichaelSeitzinger. (9) Elizabeth m. Philip Worheim. (10) Maria m. John PhilipSpohn. (11) Catharine, born Oct. 14, 1749, m. Jacob Ruth. (12) Eva. (13)Magdalena m. George Hain.
Frantz (or Francis) Krick, third son of the original settler, was bornNov. 6, 1736, in Cumru (now Spring) township, and died April 20, 1814,aged seventy-seven years, five months, fourteen days. He was a shoemakerby trade. In 1759 he paid Ð3 tax in Cumru. He was a private in Capt.Charles Gobin's Company, in 1780, during the Revolution, serving fromAug. l0th to Sept. 9th of that year, and saw actual service in the war.In 1757 he married Maria Spohn, who died in 1785, and his second marriagewas to Catherine Schlegel, widow of Frantz Gehrling. She was born March1, 1736, was first married in 1754, and died March 1, 1830, agedninety-four years. No children were born to this second marriage. Thenames of his children appear in his will, and the dates of birth aregiven in the family Bible: Catharine, born Dec. 20, 1758, m. WilliamBrown; Jacob, born Aug. 27, 1760, moved to near Richmond, Va.; Maria,born July 30, 1762, m. a Mr. Brown; John Adam was born March 4, 1765 (hehad a daughter Catharine, who married Henry Snider and had a son,George); John was born April 11, 1767; Philip, born Oct. 4, 1769, movedto Wooster, Ohio; George, born Sept. 8, 1771, m. Catharine Wagner; Creteor Margaret (known by both names), born Aug. 29, 1773, m. William Fisher;Francis, born Feb. 8, 1776, m. Hannah Gehrling; Peter, born Feb. 28,1779, m. Elizabeth Hill. The son Francis, the third of that name, was thesole executor of his father's large estate. The will was witnessed byJohn Spyker and Jacob Lambert, and was probated June 8, 1814. Francis (2)disposed of his farm to Francis (3) in the same way that Francis (1) hadsold it to Francis (2), by bonds. In February, 1782, Frantz Krück soldsome of his land to his son Frantz (Francis), who gave his father bondsof Ð50 denomination each, and the will specified the dates upon whichthese bonds were to be redeemed.
Francis Krick arrived in Philadelphia PA on the ship PennsylvaniaMerchant on 11 Sep 1731.
Francis Krick will was probated in Berks Co PA 4 Jun 1784
I Frantz Krick in Cumru Township in Berks County in Pennsylvania beingold & Weak in my Body, But yet thanks be to god of good understanding &Memory, But having considered the Mortality of Mankind, I therefore dohereby make my last Will & Testament & Dispose of my Worldly Estate inManner following:
But in the first place, I Commend my Soul into the Hands of god & my Bodyto be Buried in a Christianlike manner into the Earth out of Which he wastaken & that all my Just Debts shall be paid through my Executors, Whichshall be named hereafter.
Item Because I having Received in the Month of February 1782 DifferentBonds from my son Frantz Krick Jun for my Land Which I sold to him, Eachone thereof being Fifty pounds to be paid in Good Money Yearly on thefirst Day of December in each Year -- So I give & Bequeath part of thesaid Bonds in manner following --
Namely, to my Son Peter Krick the Bond which is due December the first1783 of Fifty Pounds & to such to Receive from my son Frantz Krick.
To my Son John Krick the Bond of fifty Pounds on the first December 1784.
To my Son Jacob Krick the Bond of fifty pounds in 1785.
To my Son Frantz Krick the Bond of fifty pounds in December 1786.
To my Son Peter Krick the Bonds of fifty pounds on the first December1787.
Item. To my Daughter Margareth the Bond of fifty pounds on the firstDecember 1788.--
To my Daughter Elisabeth the Bond of fifty pounds on the first December1789.
To my Daughter Maria, the Bond of fifty pounds the first December 1790.
To my Daughter Catharine the Bond of fifty pounds on the first December1791.
And to my Daughter Eve the Bond of fifty Pounds on the first December1792.
And One Bond of fifty Pounds payable in the year one thousand Eighthundred.
And yet a Bond of fifty pounds payable by Frantz Krick Junior on thefirst in 1801. Such two Bonds I Bequeath to the two first Born Childrenof my Daughter Magdalena Helm ad their Legacy of my Estate. Those twoLast Mentioned Bonds each of fifty pounds Being the Last which I Receivedof my Son Frantz Krick. --
I give & bequeath to my Daughter Magdalena Helm the Sum of five ShillingsCurrent Money of Pennsylvania in full of her Whole Legacy of all myEstate. --
And All the Land so I Sold to my Sons John Krick, Adam Krick, and GeorgeKrick before the Day of the date hereof, Saying Such I acknowledge &Confirm to them their Hiers & Assigns for Ever, -- If in Case I Shouldnot have given a Substantial Right therefore to the true Intent & Meaninghereof.
And Because my Sons as George, Adam & Philip Krick, each of them Receivedof me One hundred pounds before this, for Which Reason they not beingNamed Concerning the Bonds.
All the Remainder of my Estate not bequeathed heretofore Shall be DividedAmong my Sons & Daughters, as Johannes, Jacob, Frantz, George, Adam,Philip & Peter Krick & Margareth, Elizabeth, Maria, Catharine & Eve, inEqual Shares to the true Intent & Meaning hereof.
Lastly, I ordain, appoint & Nominate for Executors my Sons Frantz Krick &George Krick & my Son in Law Jacob Ruth of this my Last Will & Testament.Yet upon this Condition, that if my Executors or any one of them, beIndebted to the Estate after my Death, that he or they Shall Reckon theSame among the moveable Effects that everything Shall & may be Brought toRights to true Intent & Meaning hereof. In Witness Whereof I have heretoSet my Hand & Seal the 26th Day of April 1782.
Frantz Krick (Seal)
Signed, Sealed by Frantz Krick as
his Last Will & Testmanet Declared in
the presence for & upon his Request
Signed as Witnesses hereto:
Christian Ruth
Abraham Trostel
A true Translation of the German Original
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Pennsylvania Church Records - Adams, Berks, and Lancaster Counties,1729-1881 Record
Name: Frantz Krick
Date: Jul 13, 1746
Event: Baptism
Relation: Sponsor's Husband
Location: Berks Co., PA
Church: Heidelberg, Cacusi, St. John's or Hain's Church, Lower HeidelbergTownship
Record ID: 272499
IMMI: _ALT_BIRTH Y [2]
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1702 - 1784 (81 years)
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