| Notes |
- From: Your Moerschfelder Heritage
by Shirley Meadows and Nina Moerschfelder Snider
Christian Moerschfelder and his wife Magdalena Weaver
Christian Moerschfelder was born August 6, 1811 and died February 23, 1856 at the age of 44 years, 6 months and 17 days. We don't know when or how many of Christian's family came here, but we are told that they came from Alsace-Lorraine, Germany, mainly for reasons of Religious Persuasion. First they came from Pennsylvania possibly to Humberstone and area and then to Rainham Township. We also know from a will of Christian in February of 1856 that he had a brother Nicholas in Buffalo, New York, and another brother Jacob in the Township of Humberstone, County of Welland. On April 21, 1841 Christian purchased 82 acres of land from Edward Evans for one hundred pounds. This land comprised the western half of lot 17 in the 3rd concession of the Township of Rainham and still remains in the Moerschfelder family. It is presently owned by Allen Moerschfelder who is a great grandson of Christian.
We do not know when the marriage of Magdalena and Christian took place. Magdalena Weaver was the daughter of Nicholas Weaver Sr. She was born July 6, 1815 and died June 19, 1853 at the age of 37 years, 11 months and 13 days. She came to the Niagara area in the early 1830s along with her parents, 2 sisters and 4 brothers from Falsburg, Alsace. Apparently they met in the Humberstone area and must have spent some time there until they came to Rainham in 1841.
Christian Moerschfelder's Will:
In Her Majesty's Surrogate Court of the County of Haldimand
Whereas Christian Moerschfelder late of the township of Rainham in the County of Haldimand Yeoman deceased who died on or about the twenty third day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty six at the said Township and who was at the time of his death had his fixed place of abode at the said township of Rainham in the said County of Haldimand. Made and duly executed his last Will and Testament and did therein name Christian Ferman, John Nicholous Richter and Lewis which said last Will and Testament is hereunder written. And whereas also the said Christian Ferman, John Nicholous Richter and Lewis Babion having renounced Probate and Execution of the said Will annexed were on the eighth day of July A.D. 1856 granted to Jacob Moerschfelder of the Township of Humberstone in the County of Welland in the said Province Yeoman until Nicholas Moerschfelder, Sarah Moerschfelder, Catharine Moerschfelder, Susanna Moerschfelder, Elizabeth Moerschfelder, Margaret Moerschfelder, Magdalina Moerschfelder and Anna Moerschfelder children lawfully begotten of the said Christina Moerschfelder deceased and legatees in the said Will named or some or one of them should attain the full age of twenty one years and be granted administration in his stead.
And whereas the said Nicholas Moerschfelder and others of the legatees above named have attained the full age of twenty one years and have by petition in that behalf prayed that administration granted as above mentioned to the said Jacob Moerschfelder may be revoked and the like administration granted the said Nicholas Moerschfelder in his stead.
Be it known therefore that on the fifth day of October A.D. 1869 the parties concerned being heard upon the said Petition and said Letters granted and the said Jacob Moerschfelder as above mentioned being read the same were by judgement of Her Majesty's Surrogate Court of the County of Haldimand revoked and instead thereof Letters of Administration with the said Will annexed of all and singular the personal estate and effects, rights, credits of the said deceased remaining to be administered were granted by the said Court to Nicholas Moerschfelder of the Township of Rainham in the County of Haldimand Yeoman above named and Legatee in said Will mentioned He the said Nicholas Moerschfelder having previously been sworn well and faithfully to administer the same according to the tenor of the said Will to pay the just debts of the deceased and the legacies contained in his will so far as he is thereunto bound by law. And to exhibit a true and perfect Inventory of all and singular the personal estate and effects, rights and credits of the said deceased.
And to render a true and just account thereof whenever required by law so to do.
Robt. V. Griffith
Registrar of said Court
This Instrument Witnesseth I Christian Moerschfelder of the township of Rainham in the County of Haldimand and Province of Canada Yeoman, being of sound mind memory and understanding do make publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and making null and void all former last Wills and Testaments by heretofore by me made.
My Will is first that my funeral charges and just debts shall be paid by my executors herein after named.
The residue of my estate and property which shall not be required for the payment of my just debts, funeral charges and the expenses attending the executors of this my last will and administration of my estate. I give devise and dispose thereof as follows. I give and devise unto my only son Nicholous Moerschfelder my real estate whereon I now reside being composed of the west part of Lot number seventeen in the third concession of the township of Rainham in the said County of Haldimand containing eighty two acres more or less. To have and to hold the same to him his heirs executors Administrators and assigns to his and their only use and behoof forever. Subject nevertheless to the payment of Five hundred and twenty pounds of lawful money of Canada to be paid by instalments as follows that is to say First to retain the sum of sixty five pounds for his own share and the residue of said sum of Five hundred and twenty pounds to be paid by seven successive equal instalments of sixty five pounds each the first of said seven instalments to be paid within one year after my decease and so on in regular succession every alternate year so that the sum of sixty five pounds shall be paid every two years until the whole be paid and further subject to the bequest to my daughters of the use of the west part of my house hereinafter named.
And I give and devise unto my said son and seven daughters viz Sara Moerschfelder, Catherine Moerschfelder, Susanna Moerschfelder, Elizabeth Moerschfelder, Margaret Moerschfelder, Magdalina Moerschfelder and Anna Moerschfelder the sum of the said five hundred and twenty pounds share and share alike. The share to my said son to be paid as above provided and the shares to my said daughters to be paid to them when they shall have attained the age of twenty one years respectively.
And I give to my said daughters the use of the west part of my house wherein I now dwell viz two rooms above and two below to have and to hold unto them during their minority.
I further give and devise unto my said son one span of horses, my two set of double harness, my old lumber waggon, one plow, one harrow, and my fanning mill, also what grain he may require for seed and feed and for team during the first year after my decease.
I give and devise unto my said daughters viz. to Sarah, Catharine, Susanna and Elizabeth out of my personal estate as follows. To Sarah the sum of twenty pound one Cow and one bed. To Catherine and Susanna each the sum of sixteen pounds also one cow and one bed each and to Elizabeth the sum of forty five pounds one cow and one bed to be paid to them when they shall have become of the age of twenty one years respectively with interest at the rate of six percent per annum to be reckoned from one year after my decease.
And whereas I hold not of hand against my brother Nicholous Moerschfelder of Buffalo N.Y. State My will is that the sum of thirty three pounds be paid out of the said note unto my three younger daughters Margaret, Magdalina and Anna to be paid unto them with interest as above viz at six percent per annum to be reconed from one year after my decease to be paid to them when they shall have attained to the age of twenty one years respectively on the condition that if the same be recovered from my said brother.
I give devise and bequeath all the rest and residue of my estate real personal or mixed of which I shall be seized and possessed or to which I shall be entitled at the time of my decease to all my said children share and share alike to have and to hold the same unto them their heirs and assigns forever.
On the 1851 Census of Rainham, Haldimand, Ontario are:
Christian Mashfelter, Farmer, born German, N Menonist, Married, aged 41, Male
Magdalene Mashfelter, born Germany, N Menonist, Married, aged 37, Female
Nicholas Mashfelter, born Upper Canada, No Religion, aged 15, Male
Sarah Mashfelter, born Upper Canada, No Religion, aged 13, Female
Catharine Mashfelter, born Upper Canada, No Religion, aged 11, Female
Susan Mashfelter, born Upper Canada, No Religion, aged 9, Female
Magdalene Mashfelter, born Upper Canada, No Religion, aged 7, Female
Ann Mashfelter, born Upper Canada, No Religion, aged 3, Female
Margaret Mashfelter, born Upper Canada, No Religion, aged 1, Female
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Rainham Builders
1811 - 1856 (44 years)