CAPTAIN GERLACH PAUL FLICK'S WILL
Having accumulated what, for the time, was a small fortune, Gerlach Paul Flick carefully guarded it and arranged for its distribution after his death among his
children. I am intrigued by the way he worded the bequest for his 11th child, Gertrante. He seemed very determined that none of his money would go to her husband,
Edward Greenemeyer. Her share was to remain in the hands of the executors and would be provided to her should she need it. And if she died, the money would then
go to her son Daniel.
On November 12,1825, a little more than two months before his death, he made a will which is still preserved in the Registry of Wills in the County Court
House at Easton. It is written in English and signed in his own hand as "Paul Flick" instead of "Gerlach Paul Flick." The "Gerlach" probably a family name,
was dropped as early as 1756, but has been retained throughout this paper to distinguish him from his third son, Paul Flick.
The will written in another hand than his own is given here in full:
"In the name of God Amen, I, Paul Flick of Moor township in the county of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania am old, sick, weak of body, but of perfect
mind, memory and understanding, blessed be God Almighty for the same, and knowing that it is appointed of all men to Die, do publish this my last Will and
Testament in manner and form following that is to say:
first - is my will that all my Just Debts shall be paid after my descease by my Executors hereinafter named
second - is my Will that all my reale as well as personel Estate Shall be sold by my executors after my decease and the proceeds thereof shall be divided among my
eleven children, shiere and shiere alike [excepting as hereinafter excepted] that is to say:
to my son Casper Flick one sheare,
to my son Martin one sheare,
one share to my son Paul,
one sheare to my daughter Margeretha intermarried to Jacob Gilbert,
to my daughter Catherine intermarried to Jacob Hugus one sheare
to my daughter Anna Maria intermarred to Jacob Defenderfer one sheare
to [my] daughter Suzanna intermarred to Peter Sholl one sheare
to my daughter Elizabeth intermarried to George Greber one sheare
to my Daughter Maria Magdelena intermarried to Peter Muffly one sheare
to my daughter Sofya intermarried to John Reder one sheare
and as to my daughter Gertrante intermarred with Edward Greenemeyer her share shall remain in the hands of the executors and
shall pay her the interest thereof during her natral life as also of the principal if she should stand in need of and after Desease what is left I give and devise to her
son Daniel Sheikels
and whereas I have paid in my lifetime fifty pounds for a certain Philip Flick who is since departed this life it, is my will that this fifty pounds with the
interest should remain in the hands of the children of said Philip [Flick] and should be divided amongst them sheare and sheare alike
I do hereby impower my executors to make sign seal and execute such Deed or Deeds or other Instruments of Writing for my Eeal estate as I myself ought or chould
have done in my lifetime
I do hereby Nominate Constitute and appoint my son Paul Flick and my sons-in-law Peter Sholl and John Eeder sole Executors of this my last will and Testament
hereby revoking disannul all former Wills by me made in witness whereof I have herunto set my hand and seal the twelfth day
of November in the Year of our Lord one Thousand eight hundred and twenty five
(Signed) Paul Flick (Seal)
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