The Signature of Henry Cunreds
HENRY CUNREDS, the sixth child and youngest son of Thones Kunders and Elin, his wife, was born at Germantown on 12th mo.16, 1688. His single life was spent, it is supposed, with his father, and he married a few months after attaining his majority. He was married 6th mo. 28, 1710, at Friends meeting at Germantown, to Katherine Streeper, a daughter of William Streypers, one of the Crefelders who came over in the "Concord." He and his wife were first cousins, his mother being a sister of William Streypers. On May 16, 171 1, nearly a year after his marriage he bought of Charles Mullen and Honor his wife, a tract of two hundred and twenty acres, and one hundred and eleven perches of land in Whitpain township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, for which he paid £175. This tract is located near Blue Bell, and the small stone dwelling-house -which he built and in which he continued to live during the remaining forty -seven years of his life, was standing until within the past few years. In 173S he bought three acres adjoining, from William Roberts for £4, and in 1748 a tract adjoining of three acres from Joseph Roberts for £112. In the deed from Mullen, his name is spelt "Kooners." The ground lies rather low, is of undulating surface, and in early times this section was called "the cloot." By dint of persistent industry he cleared the land, and made a comfortable home for himself and children.
Seven sons were born to him named. William. Dennis, John, Peter, Joseph, Benjamin and Samuel. The fact that he was married by Friends ceremony would indicate that he belonged to that religious persuasion, but after his marriage no clue can be discovered as to what meeting he attended, or that he continued his connection with that denomination. A letter still in existence from the Friends at Germantown, directed “To Friends of the Monthly Meeting at Gwinedd," sets forth.
“Whereas our friends Henry Conrads and Catharine his wife after their Removal from Germantown to Plymonth are now resolved to joyn themselves as members to your aforesaid monthly meeting:, and therefore did request of us a certificate on that account. We hereby do certify that the Sd our friends, are both of a sober and honest Conversation. ****** So we commit the sd our friends to the further Guidance of Gods holy Spirit, and commend them to your good Fellowship in the Truth, wherein we heartily Salute you. remaining your affectionate Friends and Brethren” Signed by our Monthly Meeting in Abington on in the Count:, of Philadelphia, the 24th day of the 4th mo. 1717.
This letter is in the handwriting of Francis Daniel Pastorius, and is signed bv thirty-six of the Abington Friends, among the signers being Thones Kunders, the father of Henry, and Elisabeth Jones his sister. It will be noticed that this letter was given nearly seven years after his marriage ; up to that time, he and his wife had doubtless held their membership with the Abington Friends, but there is no record to show that this letter was ever presented, or that he or his wife united with the Plymouth or Gynedd meetings, and the fact that this letter was found among his papers, is strong proof that it was never presented. This letter and the original deeds of conveyance to Henry, of three tracts of land in Whitpain are now in the possession of Lewis Conrad of Philadelphia, a liueal descendant. The original marriage certificate of Henry Cunreds and Katheriue Streepers, is now in the possession of J. Hicks Conrad, of Philadelphia, also a lineal descendant. The latter contains the signatures of fifty witnesses, among whom are six of the thirteen heads of families who came over in the "Concord." Henry Cunrad died early in the month of September. 1758. His wife had doubtless died before. His will is dated September 2. 1758. and states that he was "Weak in Body." As his will was proven on the 12th of the same month, he lived only a day or so after signing it. His entire landed estate was left to his two sons Joseph and Benjamin, who were appointed executors. They afterwards divided it into two parts as provided by the will, Benjamin retaining the homestead and continuing on it during his life. A small portion of Henry's land still remains in the possession of the Stockdales. who are great-grand-children of Henry.
WILL OF HENRY CUNREDS.
Be it Remembered I Henry- Cunrad of Whitpain in the County of Philadelphia and Province of Penselveania Yeoman, being butt Weak of Body but of sound mind Memory and Understanding, but calling to mind the Certainty of Death and the uncertainty of the Time thereof have therefore thought convenient to Dispose of what Estate I now hold and Posses by this my Last Will and Testament. First I Will that all my Just Debts and funeral expenses be first fully paid and Discharged; I Give and Bequeath unto my son William Cunrad the sum of Five Pounds Lawfull Money of Penselveania; I Give and Bequeath unto my son Dennis the sume of Five Pounds Like Money; I Give and Bequeath unto my son John the sume of Eighty Pounds Like Money; I give and Bequeath unto my son Peter the sume of Eighty Pounds Like Money; I Give and Bequeath unto my son Samuel the sume of Seventy Pounds Like Money; I give to my son Benjamin a Young Bay Mare three years old next Spring; I Give Devise and Bequeath unto my two sons Joseph and Benjamin the Messuage Plantation and tract of Land I now Live on situate in Whitpain Township and County afs’d containing about two hundred and Twenty Acres be it more or Less Hereditaments and Appurtenances To hold to them my sd sons Joseph and Benjamin their Heirs and Assigns for Ever as Tenants in Common to be devided Between them in the Most convenient Manner to make two settlements Equal in Vallue. I give and Bequeath unto my Two sons Joseph and Benjamin all my Personal Estate Paying my Funeral Expenses Debts and Legacies as is above mentioned.
HENRY CUNRAD [Se.al.] And my Will further is that in case a Lawsuit should be entered into by my Executors with one Preston who says he has a Wright to my real Estate Liveing in Philada, and if itt be my Executioners Cost the sd Preston then the Charges and Expenses then Accrueing att Law and then the sd Charges to be reducted out of Even.- one of my Childrens share according to their Proportion or Quantity. But in case that my Heirs Lose my real Estate then it shall be Lawful for my Executioners to Pay the Charges Accnieing to the Lawsuit out of my Personal Estate, and the overplus as followeth, To my son William Cunrad five shillings Lawful money of Pensylva. To my son Dennis Cunrad five shillings of the Like Money and the remainder to be Equally Divided amongst my five sons, John Cunrad, Peter Cunrad, Joseph Cunrad, Benjamin Cunrad and Samuel Cunrad. And I constitute my two sons Joseph and Benjamin Executors of this my Last Will and Testament, the Legacies to be Paid in two years after my decease. And I doe hereby revoke all other and former Wills by me heretofore made Either by word of Mouth or in Writing, ratifying and confirming this only for my Last. In Witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seal this second Day of September Anno Dom. 1758.
HENRY CUNRAD. [Seal.]
Signed Sealed and Published by the sd Henny Cunrad as his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request has subscribed our names as Witnesses thereunto. Benjamin Dickinson, Joseph Roberts, James Wood.
[Proven 12th Sept. 1758.]