Through Their Eyes...

Berks County, SS.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to the Sheriff of the county of Berks, greeting, WHEREAS
Elias Retge only son of Elias Retge ---------------
Late of the township of Cumru ----------- in the county of Berks,
deceased, on the twenty fifth - day of March AD 1789 --- preferred a petition to the justi-
ces of the Orphan's Court, of the county aforesaid; setting forth that the petitioner's said father lately died intestate,
seized in his demesne, as of fee, of, and in certain messuage, Plantation, and tract of land --
situate, lying and being in the township -- of Cumru --- in the said county bounded by land of David
Eschelman, Joseph Bowman, George Gephart, & others Containing one hundred & thirty acres or thereabouts be the same more or less, and leaving a widow (to wit) Rosina, and the Petitioner
his only son, Barbara the wife of John Kendel, Mary the wife of Godlieb Christein, Catharina
the widow of Christian Kraus deceased, and Peter, John, and Cathatina minors under twenty one
years the grand children of the said Elias Retge deceased by his Daughter Elizabeth deceased formerly
the wife of Frederick Rap.

AND THEREFORE praying the court to award an Inquest to part and divide the said Real Estate, to, and among the said Children if the same can con-
veniently be done, without prejudice to, or spoiling the whole; and if same can not be down without Prejudice to, or spoiling the whole, then further
praying the Court, to order the said Inquest to value and appraise the same, according to the directions of the acts of the general assembly of the
state of PENNSYLVANIA, in such (Illegible) made and provided, and the said court have thereupon awarded an Inquest to
the Purpose aforesaid, YOU ARE THEREFORE COMMANDED, that taking with you, twelve honest & lawful Men of your Bailiwick, you go to
the said Real Estate -----------------
situate in Cumru Township --- aforesaid, and there by their Oath or Solemn Affirmation, in the Presence of the Parties by you to be
warned, (if upon being warned, they will be present) the said messuage, plantation, tract of land
------ whereof the aforesaid Elias Retge --------- died seized Intestate, having Respect to
the true Value thereof, to and among the said Parties, you cause to be parted and divided, if that Partition or Division can be made without Prejudice to,
or Spoiling the whole thereof; and to each and every of the Children of the said Intestate, their respective Shares therein according to Law; TO HOLD
to them in severalty, you assign and deliver, &c. BUT if the said Inquest can not make the said Partition or Division of the said Real Estate -
----------------------- without Prejudice to,
or spoiling the whole thereof, that then you cause the said Inquest to value and appraise the said messuage, plantation & tract of land
------------ whereof the said Elias Retge ---------------
died seized. AND that, that Partition or Valuation so made, you distinctly and openly have before the Justices at Reading, At an Orphan's Court, there
to be held the ninth ----- day of June next ---- UNDER your Hand and Seal, and under the Hands and Seals of those, by
whose Oath or Solemn affirmation, the same Partition or Valuation shall be made. AND have you there then this Writ; WITNESS Henry
Christ --------------------- Esquire at Reading, the twenty fifth - day of March -
in the Year of our Lord, One Thousand Seven Hundred and eighty nine

by order of the court
Henry Christ