Person:Gottfried Mier (1)

This is what we know about Gottfried/Godfried Mier/Meir/Meyer/Mihr/Mire -------- Gotfried/Godfried was in Canada by Sept 4 1848 when he purchased land in Waterloo Co., Ontario. It was in the area of what they called Hornings Tract. Next we found him in the 1851 census in Waterloo Co., Ontario, Canada. On that census there was Godfried age 50, Anna Catherine age 52, and Michael age 10. Michael is listed as born in Germany so they must of came to America after 1841. The next records located were at St. Boniface in Maryhill. These records were the marriages of his children Mary Elizabeth and Henry in 1852 and Michael in 1861. Gottfried and his sons purchased land in Zurich, Huron Co., Ontario in 1852 but Gottfried did not sell his land in Waterloo Co. until May of 1856. Maybe he and his sons cleared the land in Zurich, Huron Co. and the women stayed in Waterloo Co. Where Gotfried died for sure is not known. His will was registered in Huron Co. but we found out that he was buried 31 Jan 1857 at St. Boniface in Waterloo Co. The records there state that he was age 52 years. When Tari and I visited there we were told that there are over 100 unmarked graves at that cemetery. Also, that Gotfried is the only one listed as a Lutheran buried in that Catholic cemetery. Gottfried must of known that he was going to die.

Following is the will of Gottfried Mier. It is record #61 on film number GS 60. (Where there are lines it indicates that I could not understand the word.) Canada In the Surrogate Court United Counties of Probate of the last will and Testament Huron & Bruce of Godfried Mier of the Township of Hay to Wit in the county of Huron _____ of the United Counties of Huron & Bruce

Godfried Mier of the Township of Hay in the County of Huron of the province of Upper Canada yeoman in the said Township of the age of 54 years and being of sound mind and memory do make publish and declare that my last will and testament in manner following to Wit - My Will is that my funeral charges and just debts shal be paid by my Executors herein after named. The residue of my Estate and property which shal not be required for the payment of my just debts funeral charges and the Expenses attending the Execution of this my last will and the administration of my Estate. I give divide and dispose thereof as follows - that is to say - First I give and bequeath to my wife Catherine Mier born Suhn, the sum of fifty pound currency Also the whole of the household furniture Which is in my house. Also one cow which she may choose among my stock. Also the interests of my real Estate as long as she lives. Second I order that my real and personal Estate be sold as soon as possible after my disease and the money realized by that sale to be laid out on interest on good security. Third I give and bequeath to my youngest son Michael Mier the sum of three hundred pounds currency to be remitted to him as soon as he is of age. provided he gives good securities for the interest of the said three hundred pounds. Said interest to be paid in due times to my widow - Fourth I give and bequeath after the death of my wife the rest of my Estate to my four other children to Wit - Justus, William, Henry & Elizabeth Meir. Said Estate to be equally divided between them four - and lastly I hereby appoint Frederick Knell and Louis Gauthier both from the township of Hay for the Executors of this a my last will and testament. Hereby Revoking all former wills by me made. In Witness whereof _____ ______ to set my hand and affixed my seal this fourth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and fifty seven Signed Godfried Mier The above _____ consisting of one sheet was at the date thereof Signed, Sealed, published and declared by the said Godfried Mier. As and for his last will and testament in presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other have __________ our names as attesting witnesses thereto Signed Henry Mier of the township of Waterloo, Waterloo Co Signed Justus Mier of the Township of Hay in the county of Huron Surrogate Court united counties of By Robert Cooper Esq Huron and Bruce Surrogate of the united counties of Huron and Bruce of the province of Canada To all to whom these presents shal concern Greeting Know ye that on this day and date ____ was proved approved and __________ the Last Will and testament of Godfried Mier Late of the township of Hay in the county of Huron one of the united counties of Huron and Bruce in the province of Canada yeoman deceased having whilst he lived and at the time of his death Goods, Rights, ______ and ______ within the said united counties of Huron and Bruce a true copy whereof is _______ annexed and the Execution of the said last will and testament is hereby committed unto Frederick Knell and Louis Gauthier of the Township of Hay in the said county of Huron and province aforsaid. The Executors in the said will named. They having been duly sworn well and faithfully to administer all and ______ the goods, rights, _____ and chattels. which were of the said Godfried Mier deceased, at the time of his death or lawfully accruing thereof ___ the said united Counties of Huron and Bruce and to exhibit a true _____ and perfect inventory thereof together with a just and true account of the said _____ into the Registry of the said Surrogate Court of the said United Counties of Huron and Bruce In witness whereof I have ________ to let my hand and affixed the Seal of the Surrogate Count aforesaid at the town of Goderich this fourth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty seven. Hugh Johnston Robert Cooper Resistor Surrogate Huron & Bruce

Definition of the name Meier, Meyer, Mayer, Maier, Mier, Meir: From the Middle High German word "meiger," meaning "higher or superior," often used for stewards of landholders or great farmers or leaseholders - today a Meier is a dairy farmer. Meier and Meyer are used more often in Northern Germany, while Maier and Mayer are found more frequently in Southern Germany. Surname Origin: German

Alternate Surname Spellings: MEIER, MAYER, MAIER, MIER, MEIR

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Ancestry.com. 1851 Census of Canada East, Canada West, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2006;)
   Database online.

   Record for Gotfried Meir

2. ↑ Will.
3. ↑ St Boniface Records, Maryhill, Waterloo Co., Ontario, Canada.
4. ↑ Surrogate Court Record Hunron Co., Ontario, Canada.