Burial: Find A Grave Memorial# 57051760
Salem Cemetery
Dover
York County
Pennsylvania
"The last will and testament of Henry Silknitter of Dover Township, York county and state of Pennsylvania. "In the name of God, Amen.

I, Henry Silknitter, considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound mind and memory, do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say.

First, I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Cathrine Silknitter the farm or tract of land whereon I now reside with all the improvements thereon erected. Also a lot of Woodland belonging to the same containing in all seventy acres more or less. Situated in said Dover Township, York County, adjoining lands of Jesse Darons, John Jacobs and others. My said wife is to have and to hold the said farm or tracts of land for her own use during her widowhood.

Second, I give and bequeath to said, my beloved wife; two cows, her choice of my stock, two hogs if here, four bedsteads and bedding necessary for the same, one stove and pipe, one case of drawers, one table and seven chairs for her use during said her widowshood.

Third, It is my will after such time as aforesaid that my appointed executors their heirs or assigns shall dispose of the aforesaid property real and personal to the best of their ability. And the proceeds, thereof to be divided amongst all my children or their heirs or assigns in equal shares and share alike.

Fourth, it is my will that the balance or residue of my personal estate shall be sold by my executors as soon as convenient after my decease and out of the first money coming into their home to pay my funeral expenses and all my just and lawful debts.

Fifth, It is my will that the balance or residue of my Real Estate shall be sold by my executors two or three years after my decease to the best advantage that can or may be obtained and make a title or letter for the whole or any part there of as fully as I could have done when living and the proceeds there of and also the balance of my personal estate to be distributed amongst my ten children or their heirs in manner following to wit;

Sixth, It is my will that my three sons namely, Samuel, John and Solomon Silknitter shall have and receive from my estate two hundred dollars each of the first money coming from said my real estate over and above the rest of my children. Farther, It is my will that the balance ______ of my estate shall be divided equally amongst all my ten children or their heirs or assignees except my daughter Barbarree was intermarried to Christian Snyder. She, now a widow she is to have only the interest of one share among her life. Also, one share to the only child or son of my daughter, Cathrine was intermarried to Solomon Landis. She now deceased. Also, one share to my daughter, Mary intermarried with John Paul. Also, one share to my son Samuel Silknitter. Also, one share to my son, John Silknitter. Also, one share to my son, Solomon Silknitter. Also, one share to my daughter, Elizabeth, intermarried with Daniel Houser. Also, one share to my daughter, Christiann intermarried with David March. Also, one share to my daughter Rebecca, intermarried with Henry Spahr. Also one share to my daughter Mariah Silknitter, single at this time.

Lastly, I do hereby authorize and appoint Christian T. Raffinosser and David March my Executors of this my last will and testament and hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In witness where of I have hereunto set my hand and seal the Eleventh day of January in the year of our Lord, one thousand Eight Hundred and fifty one. (11 January 1851)

Signed; Henry Silknitter

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the above named Henry Silknitter to be his last will and testament, in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence have subscribed our names as witnesses thereunto;-Henry M. Leib, Henry Bender, George Enders, York County SS Before me Wm. Davis, Deputy Register for the probate of Wills and granting letters of Administration in and for said county-personally appeared Henry M. Leib, Henry Bender and George Enders. Who upon being duly qualified according to law. As ____ and say they were personally present and saw and heard Henry Silknitter the testator sign, seal, publish, pronounce and declare the _______ and foregoing instrument of writing as and for his last will and testament and at the time of so doing, he the testator was of sound and disposing mind, memory and understandingto the best of their knowledge and belief and that they witnessed the same at the request of the said testator in his presence and in presence of each other at the same time; Henry M. Leib Sworn and subscribed before me, July 10th A.D. 1852.
Wm. Davis, Deputy Register.
A true copy taken from and compared with the original remaining file.
Inventory filed August 2nd A.D.1852. With the will. Inventory filed April 16, 1855 with the will.

Henry and Catherine are buried at the Salem Union Church yard, Dover, Pennsylvania

Here is the information I received from the York co., Roots-L list when I inquired about the Salem Union Church;

Salem Church, a short distance southwest of Dover on Rt. 921, continues in use today. There are two large, old cemeteries on opposite sides of the highway that passes by the church.

Simply put, "Union Churches" refers to church buildings and facilities that were shared by both German Reformed and German Lutheran congregations. The two congregations had separate pastors and different liturgies. Particularly their baptismal and communion liturgies were divergent. They worshipped in the same buildings on alternate Sundays. Union churches were a very common phenomena in Pennsylvania beginning in the 18th C. and continuing through most of the 20th C., but these cooperative arrangements no longer continue. Today the Lutherans belong, for the most part, to the Evangelical Lutheran Church In America; and the Reformeds belong, for the most part, to the United Church Of Christ.
Nelson R. Sulouff [zuli@sprintmail.com]

"Henry SILKNITTER served in the Revolutionary war, Pvt., PA. He can be found in the 1810 census, listed as HENRY SILKNITTER -Lancaster co., PA p.456, Caernarvon twp."

I don't know why I can't find Henry on the 1850 census...

When Henry's father died in 1826, Henry became the executor of his father's estate.
There is a Lancaster County deed, book T5, p 20, dated 1831 concerning James Steward, son in law of Henry Silknitter of Earl township, and Henry, Jr., executor.

Henry and Catharine moved to Dover township of York County sometime after 1831. He died there about July 10, 1852. I have a copy of his will, book U, p 14 and lots of related estate documentation. He left a widow, Cathrine and ten children:
Barbara m. to Christian SNYDER,
Cathrine m. to Solomon LANDIS,
Mary m. to John PAUL,
Samuel,
John,
*Solomon m. Catherine CARTER (*my direct ancestor)
Elizabeth m. to Daniel HOUSER,
Christiana m. to David MARCH,
Rebacca m. to Henry SPAHR,
Mariah, single when the will was drawn.

A land deed mentioning Henry SILKNITTER's property adjoining that of William WILLIS to Samuel REIFSNYDER, Lancaster Cty., PA, 1846. Transcribed 3/20/2000 by Jodi Reifsnyder Adrian

1810 census: Caernarvon twp., Lancaster co., PA
One boy 10-16 ??
One man 26-45 (Probably this Henry SILKNITTER)
One man 45+ (Probably Henry's father, Johann Heinrich SEIDENSTRICKER)
Three girls 0-10 (Barbaree, Catherine, Maria)
One woman 26-45 (probably wife Catherine ?? Elizabeth Ziegler had passed on)
One woman 45+ (Probably Margaretta Barbara ??, wife of Johann Heinrich SEIDENSTRICKER)

• Married: 23 OCT 1803 in Trinity Lutheran church, Reading, Berks co., PA

1. Barbara SILKNITTER b: 02 APR 1805 in PA
2. Catherine SILKNITTER b: 08 NOV 1808 in PA
3. Elizabeth SILKNITTER b: AUG 1811 in Lancaster co., Pennsylvania
4. Johannes Or John SILKNITTER b: 19 JUN 1814 in Lancaster co., Pennsylvania
5. Maria L. SILKNITTER b: 18 JUL 1809 in Lancaster, PA
6. Samuel SILKNITTER b: AUG 1811 in Lancaster co., Pennsylvania
7. Solomon SILKNITTER b: 17 OCT 1816 in Caernarvon, Lancaster county, PA

• Married: in Lancaster county, PA

1. Christiann SILKNITTER b: 1824 in PA
2. Mariah SILKNITTER b: AFT 1830 in Dover, York co., PA
3. Rebecca SILKNITTER b: 27 SEP 1829 in Dover twp., York co., PA

1. Title: Dover twp., York co, PA Will book
   Note:
   Dover twp., York co, PA Will book, Dover twp., York co, PA Will book, Source Media Type: Book.
   Page: Will book U, pp 14-15