Our line - Elizabeth Bittinger Hollabaugh, Jacob Bittinger, and now George Michael Bittinger, great-great-great-great grandfather.
In most records, this fellow was just named as Michael, but sometimes he appeared as George Michael. Again the best document I began with in my research was the will, and quite an interesting one it was. Dated in March, 1811, it preceeded his death by about fourteen months, as Michael died on May 29, 1812 in Franklin Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania. He was 80 years old when the will was written, quite an advanced age for the era.
Here is the will as it was written (with commas added for clarity) -
"In the name of God, Amen, I, Micaell Bittinger of franklin township, County of Adams and State of Pennsylvania....being sickly in body, but of Sound Mind and Memory and understanding, blessed be God for the same and Considering the uncertainty of this transitory life, do make and publish this my last will and testament in maner and form following to wit -
Princebelly and first of all, my commit my immortal soul into the hands of God who gave it and my Body to the earth to be buryed in a cristian like maner at the dscretion of my Executors here after named, and as to such worldly Estate wherewith it both peased God to bless me in this life, I give and dispose of in the same in the following maner to wit -
I Give and Devise until my Dear wife Elisabeth, one Milk Cow and Sheep, one feather Bead, Bedstead, and Beding and Spining Wheel, one chest, one iron pot, one Stove and full posesion of the home we now ocupy and the one half of the Bond of Mentinance Given unto us by Jacob my Son During her Natural Life, and immediately after my Decease, the remainder of my personal Estate to be maid Sale of and Divided Equally Share and Share alike to them and their Heirs or the Survivors of them to wit- Frederick, Elisabeth, Micaell, Susannah, Pegy, Andrew, Catharine, Poley, Christian, Mary and unto my sone, Jacob, I Give and Devis all my Real Estate to wit, the plantation in which (I) now live, franklin township With Paying one Hundred and fifty pounds to the rest of my children in maner folowing,
to my Son Frederick in the third year after my Deceas forty Dolars,in the forth year after my Decease to Betsy forty Dolars, the fifth year after my Decese to Michael Bittinger forty Dollars, The sixth year after my Decease to Susanah G Minder (?) forty Dollars, The seventh year after my Decease to Peggy Foal forty Dollars, The eighty year after my Deceas to Andrew Bitinger forty Dollars, the Ninth year after my deceas to Catherine Coser forty Dollars, The Tenth year after my Decease to Polley Cross forty Dollars, The Eleventh year after my Deceas to Christina Humel forty Dollars, and The Twelfth year to Mary Bittinger forty Dollars or the survivor or survivors of them and the heirs of such survivor or survivors equally to be divided between them.
And lastly, I nominate constitute and appoint my said two sons, Jacob and Andrew Bittinger, to be the Executors of this my will, hereby revoking all other wills, legacies, and bequests by me heretofore made and declaring this and no other to be my last will and testament. This __ March Eighteen hundred and eleven signed, sealed, published, pronounced, and declared by the said testator as his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence of us and at his request have subscribed as witness.
Jacob Bushey
Jacob Sauble Michael Bittinger"
(Commas do make a difference, don't they?)
Most researchers place the date of Michael's birth at December 21, 1731, making him 81 at the time of his death. His wife is named as Elizabeth and, as was the custom of the time, she is given the the bed and a few other items important to her well-being and what amounts to a life lease on their home. The "Bond of Maintenance" would suggest that an agreement was made with Jacob to take care of his parents and allow them to live in their home until her death, while he inherited the farm, commonly called the plantation in those days. Elizabeth received one-half that Bond of Maintenance at Michael's death.
In the final accounting of the will was an inventory of "good(s) will'd to the widow" which showed her inheritance to be worth $31.50
We also know, without a doubt, the names of the children of Michael and Elizabeth Bittinger who were alive at this time: Jacob, Frederick, Betsey (Elizabeth), Michael, Susannah, Peggy (Margareta), Andrew, Catherine, Polly, Christina and Mary - a total of eleven. We also learned that four of the daughters were married by 1811 - Susannah, Peggy, Polly and Christina and we have their married names.
Although an appraisal was done, no auction was noted nor were there any bills of sale for any of the items, so it would seem that they stayed with the farm. Many tools were listed for wood cutting and wagon making and farming, and items for the kitchen, and then again, there was a Bible and books, a fur hat, and other items of Michael's clothing. The most expensive items appraised were a windmill at $12.00, a watch for $8.00 and a sidesaddle and bridle for $10.00.
It would seem certain that Michael and Elizabeth Bittinger were buried in Adams County, but I have yet to locate their tombstones, if they still exist.
I am clearly not done with researching this Bittinger family, but I had to put the brakes on somewhere for now, so I could start writing about what I do know! This has been a challenging family to follow in that first names are repeated generation after generation and as in all very early records...well, sometimes they are not there or I just haven't found them.
Elizabeth Bittinger (daughter of Jacob Bittinger) was my husband's great-great grandmother and wife to George Hollabaugh, all of Adams County, Pennsylvania. Their son, William Levi Hollabaugh, moved to Indiana and settled there as a young man, beginning our branch of the family. William Levi's story is here.
George and Elizabeth Bittinger Hollabaugh's story is here (Part 1) and here (Part 2).
My research actually began with Jacob Bittinger's will, which kindly named at least the children who were living at the time of the writing. Jacob Bittinger died on August 28, 1864, but he wrote his will on December 8, 1863. By that time he was 83 years old, a good, old age for that time, and it seemed probable that he knew his end was near as he declared himself "weak and sick" in the will itself.
His signature on the will also indicated his feebleness at the time, to the point where his last name was unreadable.
I've put in bold some significant information found in the will and added a few commas for readability.
The Will, as obtained at the Adams County, Pennsylvania Historical Society in Gettysburg:
"In the name of God, Amen. I, Jacob Bittinger, being weak and sick in body, but of sound and disposing mind & memory, do make & pronounce this my last will & testament as following, to wit ~
First, I give and bequeath to my son, Andrew Bittinger, a lot of mountain land containing about ten acres, it being the same lot which I bought off the Boyd property,
I give and bequeath to my son George all my interest to claim to the undivided half part of a tract of mountain land adjoining lands of Frances Cole, Heirs of William Bell & others & being the same tract which James Russell & I held in partnership.
I give & bequeath to my son, John, a tract of mountain land adjoining the heirs of Wm. Bell, James Russell & other land of my said son, John Bittinger containing about 30 acres,
I give and bequeath to my Daughter, Elizabeth, (now intermarried with Geo. Hollebaugh), a lot of land adjoining land of John Bittinger, George Bear & other containing about ten acres more or less & it is further my will & I order that
my son, John shall have one hundred Dollars out of the first money that comes to hand as a compensation for vituals, Horse feed, Labor, and attendance at my funeral.
Also I give & bequeath to my Granddaughter, Louisa C. Bittinger, twenty five dollars for her trouble & attendance to me in my last sickness.
It is my will & I order and direct that the residue of my estate real, personal & mixed shall be divided between my children, John, Andrew, George & Elizabeth, share & share alike & lastly,
I nominate and appoint my sons, Andrew Bittinger & John Bittinger, my Executors of this my last will & testament hereby revoking and making void all wills by me heretofore made, giving to said Executors full power & authority to sell and convey my real estate to the purchasers for the best price they can get for the same.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand to seal this Eigth day December A. D. 1863."
Jacob's wife, Elizabeth, had died on April 12, 1847 at the age of 66. So, in the 1850 census, Jacob was 68 years old and still living as head of household and farming on a farm in Franklin Township, Adams County, PA. With him were Charlotte Keffer, 60, and Sam'l Bittinger, 40, and Sarah Bittinger, 25. Samuel was noted to be "idiotic" - meaning, I believe, developmentally disabled, according to the census enumerators' instructions for that year. I'm not sure who the women were who were staying in the house, but I'm sure they were needed to take care of the adult Samuel, as well as Jacob. Apparently, Samuel died sometime between 1850 and when the will was written in 1863, as he was not noted.
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By 1860, Jacob had moved in with his son, John, and wife, Anna. Hence, the behest of $100 to John in the will, for taking care of his father. Louisa Bittinger was John's youngest daughter who would have been about 16 or 17 at the time of her grandfather's death. Apparently, she had given Jacob good care and companionship while in her father's home for Jacob to single her out of all his grandchildren for a gift of $25.00.
So, why was Jacob's son, George Bittinger, left out as one of the executors? A little research into the newspapers of the time told me the reason. In The Adams Sentinel, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on April 24, 1866, I found this notice:
The newspapers right after Jacob died had notices showing that John was the guardian of his brother, George, along with Henry Gilt and Samuel Fahnestock, perhaps attorneys or friends of Jacob. George Bittinger may have been in an asylum or home of some kind, as he does not appear with his father or brothers or sister in the censuses. The State Lunatic Asylum was in Harrisburg, not far from the Bittinger home, and it had been open since the mid-1840s, so it seems possible that George could have been there. Information on patients is restricted and I don't think they were enumerated in the census, so I've not been able to confirm that. Apparently, George Bittinger died in 1866, as the notice above refers to his estate.
Back to the will...I would say that Jacob Bittinger held quite a bit of land in the area, as the executors sold lots here and there. That and the collection of notes owed gave a total of over $8,000 in their first accounting to the court. Of course, there were expenses to the estate as well. Geo Thomas was paid $24.00 for a coffin, Rev. J. H. Miller $3.00 for conducting funeral services, James L. Taylor $1.50 for digging a grave, and William Meale $28.00 for Jacob's tombstone. Taxes, stamps, appraisal fees and other costs had to be included, as well.
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A sale was held of Jacob's "goods and effects" on October 1, 1864. John Bittinger, bought his father's razor and strap (.05), a book (.01), the family Bible (.37 1/2), a lot of hats (.04), a clock and case ($3.25), a weave loom (.15) and a threshing masher ? ($16.75).
His brother, Andrew, purchased a tan? boot ($2.15), a shumaker bench (.85), and a woolen cot/coat ($2.25). Elizabeth's husband, George Hollbaugh bought only a lot of books for .02. A powder horn sold for .02!
Oh, and where did that family Bible land after 150 years?
