Michael Kissinger and Maria Catharina Roland

This post goes from 1717 to 1793 and ranges from Germany to Pennsylvania, USA.

Kissinger links in the chain from one generation to the next.:

Jacob Kissinger m. Susannah Unk → MICHAEL → Susanna Margret m. John Ryland → William → William → Floyd (Frank / Slim) Rucker Ryland

Roland links in the chain:

Jacob Roland m. Barbara Zorn → MARIA CATHARINA m. MICHAEL KISSINGER (see chain above)

THE BASICS

Michael Kissinger was born January 6, 1717, Sandhofen, Germany. He married Mary Catherine on March 9, 1742, Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. They were married by Rev. Stoever. He died January 4, 1791, Bern Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. He was buried at Trinity Lutheran Church.

Mary Catherine was born May 22, 1721, in Cocalico Township, Lancaster County. She died March 22, 1793, Bern Township, Berks County.

More about them:

Mary Catherine is an anglicized version of Maria Catharina (Katherine, Katherina, or Katharina). Some researchers say Michael’s full name is George Michael Kissinger. The will, however, names him only as Michael. Kissinger is sometimes spelled Kiesinger. Sandhofer is now part of Mannheim, Germany.

Here is a short-write-up on Michael and his father Jacob.

Emigrants of the year 1726.

Jacob Kissinger, “a poor non-citizen from Sandhofen was permitted to go “the the island of Pennsylvania.”

According to the records of Trinity Lutheran Church, Reading [PA], a Michael Kissinger, born Fastnacht Day, 1717, at “Sandhofen on the Rhine in the Palatinate,” was buried at Reading, January 6, 1791. He had come to America as a child with his parents. He married Catherine Ruland, to [with] whom he had four sons and five daughters.

Don Yoder, ed. Rhineland Emigrants: Lists of German Settlers in Colonial America, Genealogical Publishing Co., 1981, p. 4.

He became a naturalized citizen on September 9, 1764, swearing the oath of citizenship before the Justices of the Supreme Court held at Philadelphia.

Patriotic Service in the Revolutionary War:

KISSINGER, MICHAEL

Ancestor #: A065747

Service: PENNSYLVANIA

Rank: PATRIOTIC SERVICE

Birth: 1717 SANDHOFEN RHINE PALATINATE GERMANY

Death: 1-4-1791 BERN TWP BERKS CO PENNSYLVANIA

Service Source: OWEN, NAMES OF PERSONS WHO TOOK THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE IN BERKS CO, P 121

Service Description:

1) TOOK OATH OF ALLEGIANCE & FIDELITY
2) BERKS CO

Residence

1) City: BERN TWP – County: BERKS CO – State: PENNSYLVANIA

Spouse

Number

Name

1) MARY CATHARINE RULAND

MICHAEL AND MARIA’S CHILDREN

Michael

He appears in his father’s will and keep the accounts after his father’s death.

John Philip

He was born 1720; he married Maria Catarina Heyl, October 18, 1743, in Cocalico Township, Lancaster County; she was born 1720, and her date of death is so far unknown. He died February 28, 1781.

More about him: one FGS does not give his place of birth, but if his younger brothers, next, were born in Germany, then so was he. Marriage records are from Rev. John Caspar Stoever, which state he came from Cocalico Township, but this may refer to where he was currently living, not where he was born.

Johannes

He was born March 23, 1723, in Sandhofen, Germany. He married Maria Catarina Sauermilch. Their dates of death are so far unknown.

One Family Group Sheet says their date of marriage is February 24, 1752, in Cocalico Township, Lancaster County. His marriage records, from Rev. John Caspar Stoever, state Johannes comes from Cocalico Township, but this may refer to his residence at the time of his marriage, not to his birthplace.

Johann Valentine

He was born October 10, 1725, in Sandhofen, Germany. He died March 21, 1726, in infancy, in Mannheim Evangelical Church Parish.

Peter

He was born 1727 or 1728; he died 1757.

Jacob

He was born about 1730, Cocalico Township, Lancaster County. He died October 10, 1806, Berks County, Pennsylvania. He married (1) Anna Maria Ursula Unk, who was born 1726 and died 1782; (2) Maria Elizabeth Koch, who was born 1780, and date of death unknown so far.

More about them: One FGS states that his full name is John Jacob, and he and his wife were sponsors for Nicholas Weinhold, at his baptism. One FGS says his date of his (second) marriage was August 28, 1806.

Sophia Lowesia

She was born September 29, 1731, in Cocalico Township, Lancaster County. She was christened May 20, 1732, in Muddy Creek Union Church, Swartzville, Lancaster County. She died 1779.

One Family Group Sheet says Muddy Creek Union Church is in Cocalico Township, Lancaster County. One FGS says, “SP[onsor]: Sophia Lowisa Brunnerin, John Jacob Brunner’s wife”

Abraham

He was born 1735, Cocalico Township, Lancaster County. Maria Catherine Schaeffer (1739 – ) on September 7, 1766, in Trinity Lutheran Church, Reading, Pennsylvania. He died November 1807, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

Conrad

One Family Group Sheet has him listed, but a second one does not. He married Maria Catharina (last name unknown so far). Also, it says, “He shows up in Muddy Creek Reformed Church records as a sponsor of a Sueberth chid [sic, read: child] named Conrad, b. 1 Sept. 1746, with a Catharina Kissinger. Sp[onsor]: for a Anna Margaret Worst, b. 4 Feb. 1848; sp: for Anna Marg. Brunner, Single.”

One FGS names John George, while another does not. He married Maria Margaretha and has other marriages.

Source: Two Family Group Sheets (FGS) submitted to the Berks County Genealogical Society, which does not verify the data.

MICHAEL KISSINGER’S PROBATE

Let’s return to the subject of this post.

John Ryland (Johannes Reiland) and Susannah Kiesinger got married in Bern Township, Berks County, September 1, 1781. She is Michael Kissinger / Kiesinger’s daughter Susannah Margret in his will.

Michael Kissinger’s Will

At a glance:

Deceased: Michael Kissinger

Will proved: February 12, 1791

Wife: Mary Catherine

Sons: Michael, John, Abraham, and Ulrich

Daughters: Barbara Bicker, Mary, Catherine, Susannah Margret, Eva Elizabeth.

Are the sons-in-law named in the will? Only Barbara’s married name is included.

Then where is Susannah’s married name of Ryland? The answer to that is unclear. However, Michael Kissinger and Catherine Roland got married on March 9, 1742, and his will was drawn up March or May 8, 1782 and proved on February 12, 1791. It is inconceivable that in the forty-year span from his marriage to his decease, only one of his daughters (Barbara) married. Michael Kissinger merely chose not to name his sons-in-law in his will, for whatever reason.

Executors: John and Michael, two sons

Witnesses: David Roland (Mary Catherine has a brother with this name) and Andreas Engel

Registrar: John Christ

1 Perch = 1 rod = 5.50 yards = 16.5 feet = 5.029 meters

March or May 8, 1782 (will drawn up) and February 12, 1791 (will proven),

Bern Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. This is a repaired document, so I summarize the main items, after the introduction.

Transcription beings:

Will

Of Michael Kissinger, decea

Prov’d Feby 12^th 1791

Ex’rs sworn and Letters

Testamentary granted

I Michael Kissinger of the Township of Bern in the County of Berks in Pennsylvania yeoman at present of a good and sound and disposing Mind, Memory and understanding Thanks be to god [sic] for it And having considered the Mortality of my Body do hereby Make and publisch [sic] this to be my Testament and Last Will manner [?] and form following that is to say

Imprimis – I recommend my immortal soul in the hands of god [sic] Almighty that gave it to me and my body to be buried in the Earth in a decent manner and that all my Just Debts and funeral charges shall be paid out of my Estate by my executors or the survivor of them.

And Whereas I hath in my Life time divided my Land and plantation in several distinct Lots among my sons. And likewise one other piece or Tract of land in the township and County aforesaid which I had bought of a certain Cooper Eggly, Both Tracts Containing two hundred and sixty acres of land as may appear by the several draughts thereof, which draughts I signed with my own hand bearing Date the ___ Day of March 1781 and to this my will annexed and marked with the Letters A – B – C – and D.

Item – Son Michael Kissinger: He is to receive the land marked with the Letter A, seventy acres. He is to pay to the decedent’s wife Mary Catherine (and Michael’s mother), yearly and every year, five bushels of good wheat and five bushels of good rye. He is to pay to Mary Catherine and the decedent’s daughters, to be named hereafter, two hundred and thirty-three pounds and six shillings, in gold or silver money or equal exchange thereof.

Item – Son John Kissinger: He is to receive the land marked with the Letter B, seventy-five acres and ___ [?] quarters. He is to keep and uphold a good and substantial dwelling house in Bern, supply firewood for Mary Catherine and to keep a cow for her in good fodder; and deliver to her five bushels of good wheat and five bushels of good rye, to bring it to her, yearly and every year. He is to pay to the decedent’s wife and daughters two hundred and thirty-three pounds and six shillings, in gold or silver money or an equal exchange thereof.

Item – Son Abraham Kissinger: He is to receive the land marked with the Letter C, sixty-five acres. He is to deliver to Mary Catherine five bushels of good wheat and five bushels of good rye, yearly and every year. He is to pay to the decedent’s wife and his daughters two hundred and thirty-three pounds and six shillings, in gold or silver money or an equal exchange thereof.

The three sons Michael, John and Abraham shall pay some amounts now (amounts illegible) in one payment to Mary Catherine and to the decedent’s daughters.

Item – Son Ulrich Kissinger: He is to receive land that the deceased bought from Anthony Morris, one hundred and five acres. He is to deliver to Mary Catherine five bushels of good wheat and five bushels of good rye. He is to pay to Mary Catherine and the decedent’s daughters (and Ulrich’s sisters) four hundred and ten pounds, in gold or silver money or the equal exchange thereof; he is to pay the sum of fifty pounds of the same money in one year after the testator’s decease; he is to pay Cary (Gary?) Yorner (?) fifty pounds, until the whole is paid.

Item – as to the land that Michael Kissinger (deceased) bought from Cooper Eggly, which adjoins the River Schuylkill and John Adam’s land, eighteen acres and one hundred and fifty perches, it is to go to Abraham.

Letter A (fifty acres) is to go to Abraham Kissinger; Letter B (eighteen acres and sixty perches) is to go to Michael Kissinger; Letter C (eighteen acres and one hundred and thirteen perches of the remaining of the said fifty acres is to go to John Kissinger.

Item – the piece and tract of land marked with the Letter D, containing ___ acres and forty-five perches, adjoining the River Schuylkill, shall remain open and free for the benefit of the deceased’s sons, for a landing place for their boats and canoes (?) and for an open road for wagons and carriages.

Item – Mary Catherine, the decedent’s wife, is to receive all of the decedent’s household furniture and bedding, and all such sum or sums of money that remains after the sons John, Michael, Abraham, and Ulrich shall pay for their lands, after “all my debts and Legacies [?] to my daughters are first paid thereof – one cow of my stok [sic] and all such yearly income which my sons are to pay to her in Lieu of her dowry.”

Item – Daughter Barbara Bricker is to receive the sum of ten pounds in gold or silver money, “she having received a considerable sum of money of me in My Life time.”

Item – Daughter Mary is to receive the sum of one hundred and ten pounds in money aforesaid.

Item – Daughter Catherine is to receive one hundred and ten pounds in money aforesaid.

Item – Daughter Susannah Margret is to receive one hundred and ten pounds in the money aforesaid.

Item Daughter Eva Elizabeth is to receive one hundred and ten pounds in the money aforesaid.

Each of the four last mentioned daughters shall receive an equal share of the yearly payments which the decedent’s sons shall pay for their land. “My said wife shall not be entitled to receive any of the sons’ [?] until the Legacies of all my daughters are first paid, according to the true intent & Meaning thereof.

Item – The executor is to sell all the decedent’s personal estate which is not bequeathed in this Will and shall distribute the money from the sale to his daughters Mary, Catherine, Susannah Margret and Eva Elizabeth, in equal shares, share and share alike.

“Lastly, I nominate, constitute and appoint as my Executors my son John Kissinger and my son Michael Kissinger; in witness whereof I now set my hand & seal [March or May] th [?] 8 — 1782.”

Michael Kissinger

David Roland

Andreas Engel

Register’s Office, Reading in Berks Counts Feb 12^th 1791. Then personally appeared David Roland one of the subscribing witnesses to the aforewritten Will who being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God did depose and say that he was present together with Andreas Engel the other subscribing witness thereto, who since died, and did see and hear Michael Kissinger the Testator therein named, sign, seal, pronounce, publish and declare the aforewritten writing contained on two sheets of Paper as and for his last Will and Testament and that at the time of the doing thereof he the said Testator was of sound mind, memory and understanding to the best of his knowledge and as he verily believes that he _______? Any draughts of Land annexed to the __________________- to have been and further that the name of David Roland thereto subscribed is of the deposant’s own proper handwriting (that Andreas Engel also subscribed as a witness at the same time) by him thereto subscribed as witness, at the request and in the presence of the said Testator.

Coram me.

John Christ, Register.

Transcription ends.

March 5, 1791

Bern Township, Berks County. The Inventory and Appraisement was small, but to measure from the bonds, Michael’s property was valued highly enough.

Inventory Sur Estate of Michel Kissinger, decea.

Ex’t’d March 5^th 1791

[written sideways]:

An Inventory & appraisement

Of the Estate of [sic]

A true and perfect Inventory and conscionable Appraisement of all and singular the Goods and Chattles and Credits which were of Michael Kissinger late of Bern Township in Berks County deceased, viz.
	£
Wearing Apparel	0	15	0
One Clothes [_]ress	3	0	0
One Chest	0	7	6
One Bed and bedding and Curtains	1	10	0
One Bedstead	0	7	6
One Walnut Table	0	10	0
One Inch Augur	0	0	6
One ¾ Inch Augur	0	0	6
One Frying Pan with Feet	0	5	0
One d[itt]o do do	0	2	6
One do do do	0	0	6
One Tea Kettle	0	6	0
One Iron Pot	0	3	9
One do	0	2	6
One Pewter Bason [sic]	0	3	0
One Pewter Dish	0	1	6
Four Pewter Platters and four Pewter Spoons 0	2	6
One Kitchen Dresser	0	3	9
One Wash Tub	0	3	9
One Churn	0	1	0
Two Chairs at 6d each	0	1	0
Two Buckets at 6d	0	1	0
One Coffee Mill	0	1	6
One Iron Ladle	0	0	3
One Flesh [?] Pork	0	0	3
One white face Cow	2	10	0
	£ 11	1	3
Bonds from John Kissinger
	£
One Bond payable 1^st May 1791	£ 5	5	0
One d[itt]o do 1^st May 1792	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1793	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1794	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1795	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1796	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1797	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1798	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1799	10	0	0
Brought forward	£ 11	1	3
Amt John [sic] Kissinger Bonds brought forward	£ 85	5	0
One Bond payable 1^st May 1800	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1801	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1802	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1803	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1804	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1805	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1806	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1807	18	0	0
	£ 173	5	0
Bonds from Michael Kissinger
One Bond payable 1^st May 1791	6	18	4
One d[itt]o do 1^st May 1792	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1793	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1794	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1795	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1796	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1797	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1798	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1799	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1800	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1801	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1802	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1803	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1804	10	0	0
	136	16	4
Bonds from Ulrich Kissinger
One Bond payable 1^st May 1794	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1795	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1796	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1797	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1798	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1799	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1800	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1801	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1802	10	0	0
	97	0	0
Bonds from Abraham Kissinger
One Bond payable 1^st May 1794	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1795	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1796	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1797	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1798	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1799	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1800	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1801	10	0	0
	80	0	0
Brought forward	£ 418	4	7
Amt. of Abraham Kissinger’s Bonds bro. Forward	£ 80	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1802	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1803	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1804	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1805	10	0	0
One do do 1^st May 1806	18	0	0
	138	0	0
Total	556	4	7
The above Goods and Chattles were appraised in the whole to five hundred and fifty six Pounds, four Shillings and seven Pence to the best of our knowledge. Witness our Hands this fifth Day of March in the Year of our Lord one Thousand seven Hundred and ninety one.

Conrad Good [?]

Daniel Morns [?]

Appraisers

Appraisers Sworn

March 5^th 1791

Coram

John Christ, Register

Transcription ends.

October 31, 1791

Bern Township, Berks County. Mentioned in these probate papers, specifically the final account, is William Ryland and James Ryland, who are John’s brothers and Paul’s sons. William never resided outside Berks County, and James was there in early 1791, when Michael’s will was probated. So the facts cohere together.

Accompt for Estate of

Michael Kissinger Decea.

Exhibited 31^st October

1791

Accompt of John Kissinger and Michael Kissinger Executors of the Testament and last Will of Michael Kissinger late of [crossed out: Berks] Bern Township in the County of Berks and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Yeoman deceased Viz’t:

	The said accomptants pray to be allowed the following Just Pay, ______ out of against [sic] the said Estate as Per receipts appears
1791
	Cash pd. John Christ Esq’re Register’s for Letters Testy. Citation etc [?]	£ 1	16	0
March 5th	Gabriel Morris		3	9
May 7	Henry Meyer		4	3
—-	John Meyer	1	10
April 13	Wm Ryland		15
14	Elizabeth Baker	1	10
16	James Ryland		8
25	James Diener Esquire		15
	[d[itt]o Paid by Michael Kissinger
1792 [?]
March 15	Abraham Kissinger	1	12	7
June 6	George Eckhert Esq’re	1	10
June 7	Anna Maria Roland		7	6
	Maria Schreiber	2	15
	John Winter		5	6
	Michael Kissinger acc’t against ___ Deceased	11	17	8 [?]
	Pd John Christ, drawing the account		7	6
	Do Jacob Bower Esq’re Register for examining papers [?] & ____ this acc’t fair copy and Seal		17	6
		£ 26	5	7
	Commission on recei’s [?] Do on Pay [s] At 5 perc’t	£ 555	4	7
		26	5	7
		29	1	6
	They further pray allowance for the performal’s Bequeathed to the Widow of said Decea to the amount of	10	1	3
		65	8	4
	Ballance [sic] in hand of accomptants to be distributed as the Will dictates	489	16	3
		555	4	7
	The said accomptants charge themselves with all and singular the Performal Estate of said Deceased as Per Inventory thereof made and exhibited into the Register’s office at Reading in and for the County of Berks aforesaid amounting to	555	4	7

Read[ing] October 31, 1791

Errors Excepted etc.

John (X) Kissinger

Michael Kissinger

Transcription ends.

Please see his daughter’s post:

Susanna Kissinger and John Ryland

2 thoughts on “Michael Kissinger and Maria Catharina Roland”

Gina Clampitt on November 6, 2017 at 7:58 pm said:

Wonderful post! Do you possibly have any information on the marriage of Anna Maria Kissinger, the daughter of Michael Kissinger and Mary Catherina Ruland?

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- jamesmarlandson on November 8, 2017 at 9:56 pm said:
  
  I don’t think I do. Here is what I got on the parents: https://liveasfreepeople.com/2016/09/30/jacob-roland-and-barbara-zorn/
  
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