Person:Abraham Hildebrand (7)

DEATH: WILL OF ABRAHAM HILDEBRAND CAMBRIA COUNTY SS: The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to the sheriff of Cambria County, Greetings: Whereas at the Orphans' Court held at Ebensburg in and for said County, commencing on Monday the First day of July AD. 1839, before the Honorable Thomas White President, John Murray and Richard Lewis Esqs. Associate Judges of said Court, the petition of George Hildebrand of said County, was presented to the said Court stating that Abraham Hildebrand Esqr. Late of said county died intestate seized of a tract of land situated in Conemaugh Township in the said County of Cambria, adjoining lands of Jacob Goughenour, Jonas Huber, John Meneely and heirs of John Durno (?) dec'd. and others, containing three hundred acres and allowances, surveyed on a Warrant in like name of said Abraham Hildebrand-that he left seven sons, namely your petitioner, John residing in Huntingdon County, Samuel residing in the State of Ohio, James residing in the State of Indiana, Isaac residing in the Western part of Pennsylvania, Joseph residing in the State of Mississippi, and Christain whose residence is unknown and four daughters, namely Mary who is married to John Beatty, residing in like State of Ohio, Anne who is married to James Brown residing in like Western part of Pennsylvania, Kisiah who is married to George Fry residing in the state of Ohio, and Catherine who is married to Ephraim Burket residing in Cambria County; that two sons, namely Jacob and Abraham died before the said instate, leaving children whose names and residence are unknown. That he made no disposition of his Estate, the said petitioner therefore prays the Honorable Court to award an inquest to make valuation and appraisement of the premises aforesaid according to like laws and usages of this State to and among the legal representatives of the said Deceased in such manner & proportion as by like laws of this Commonwealth is directed, and if no partition can be made them to value and appraise the same and make return thereof according to law. Whereupon the same Court award and Inquest, and order and direct personal notice to be served on all the Heirs resident within the State and notice as to the others by publication for Four weeks in like newspapers published in this County-We therefore command you that taking with you twelve free and lawful men of your Baliwick you go to and upon the premises of aforesaid, and there by their oaths or affirmations, that you make partition thereof to and among like children, heirs and legal representatives of the said deceased in such manner and in such proportion, as by like laws of this Commonwealth are directed if such partition can be made without prejudice to or spoiling the whole, but if such partition cannot be made as aforesaid, that then you value and appraise the same according to Law. And further that you cause the said Inquest to inquire and ascertain whether the said real estate with the appurtenances will conveniently accommodate more than one of the heirs or legal representatives of like said deceased, and if so, how many of the said heirs or representatives it will conveniently accommodate, and that you make return of your proceedings herein to the next Orphan's Court. And have you then there this writ.- Witness the Honorable Thomas White President of our said Court at Ebensburg the Seventeenth day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and Thirty nine. - (Signed) Wm. A. Smith CW. O.C.

(Signed) George Hildebrand

CAMBRIA COUNTY SS: Before me the subscriber Prothonotary (? ) in and for said County (PENNSYLVANIA) personally came George Hildebrand of the County of Cambria, who being dul-ly qualified according to law deposed and says that he the said deponant is one of the heirs and legal representatives of Abraham Hildebrand deceased, that said deceased left thirteen children namely Jacob Hildebrand, Abraham, Christian, John, Samuel, George, and James, Polly Hildebrand intermarried with Ephraim Burket, Isaac Hildebrand and Joseph Hildebrand, that the said Christian Hildebrand, one of the abo ve named heirs, left this County about forty-five years ago , since which time, he the said Christain has not been heard of or from, and is Verily believed by this deponent to b e dead, and further this deponent saith not. Affirmed and subscribed before me this 7th' day of July 1841.

(signed) Wm. A. Smith proty.

HUNTINGDON REPUBLIC ADVOCATE-September 11, 1833 DIED- On Sunday morning, the 1st inst. at the residence o f his son, in this borough, Mr. Abraham Hildebrand, formerly one of the Associate Judges of Cambria Co., aged about 86 years. Will: Cambria Co, Pa Note:

BIOGRAPHY: EBENSBURG MT. HERALD NEWSPAPER, 4 Jan 1934 in an article by P.J. Lettle, "Men of Cambria County." "The first court in Cambria County was held on The 7th of March, 1808. There were only three townships in the county-Allegheny, Cambria and Conemaugh. The population by the census of 1800 was 403. The Associate Justices were ABRAHAM HILDEBRAND and George Roberts, Esqs.the former representing the German element in the south, the latter the Welsh population of Cambria. For many years the Courts were usually held by the Associates, Judge Young not attending. In some instances the clerk made the minute to read, "Hon. A. HILDEBRAND and his Associate, George Roberts." Very few important civil cases were tried during the first decade of the history of the Court. A majority of these were disposed of by arbitration under the old reference laws. The more important cases were taken to the then existing Circuit Court by virtue off the provisions of the act of Assembly creating that Court. Slander cases were not uncommon, and whether tried by referees or a jury, the usual verdict was five dollars -not because character was cheaper then, but because money was a great deal dearer. On the criminal side of the Court, under the old license laws, tippling house convictions were frequent, and the standing sentence was a fine of one dollar and costs, which, it may be supposed, did not, to any great extent, interfere with business. In short, to use a mercantile phrase, everything was put at the "lowest cash prices." At the first Court the Sheriffs fee for keeping prisoners was fixed at twelve and a half cents per day, or four cents per meal. At the first Court Samuel I. Leiper, Esqs, produced a letter of appointment as Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Cambria county. Thomas McKean was Governor, and in his last year Joseph B. McKean was Attorney General and Leiper his Deputy. The seat of the State Government was then at Philadelphia, and their duty was to give the new county shape and form. (from Hildebr and Family Book in the Pennsylvania Room, Cambria Co. Library, Johnstown, Pa.)

ABRAHAM HILDEBRAND, Sr. was described in a lecture delivered in 1858 in Ebensburg, PA by the Late Hon. Robert L. Johns ton: "Abraham Hildebrand was appointed Associate Judge in 1807 . He was a man of much more common intellect, but plain in his appearance and manner. He spoke the English language very imperfectly."

'THE DAILY TRIBUNE-JOHNSTOWN, Saturday, March 26, 1904: ASSOCIATE JUDGES ABRAHAM HILDEBRAND AND George Roberts were the first Associate Judges of Cambria County. They were appointed by Gov. Thomas McKean, and the first record of their official actions, as heretofore noted, was for December term, 1807. Their terms of years, John Murray seceding HILDEBRAND in 1826 and George Roberts giving lace to Richard Lewis in 1828. The Office of Associate Judge was, in the early days of the county-in Judge Young's time- one of considerable importance. Judge Johnston said in his address at the dedication of the new Courthouse in 1882 that the records of the court were frequently signed, "ABRAHAM HILDEBRAND", President and his Associate, George Roberts." "The Hon. John Young was the first President Judge of Cambria County, then composing a part off the Tenth Judicial District, composed of the counties of Westmoreland, Indiana, Armstrong, and Cambria. Although appointed in 1807, at which, of course, as no jurors had then been drawn, only business of a minor order was transacted, and was held by the Associate Judges-ABRAHAM HILDEBRAND and George Roberts-who, as well as the President Judge, had been appointed by the Governor of the State. Thomas McKean."

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 [1], in Ancestry.com. Public Member Trees: (Note: not considered a reliable primary source).