Person Page 1,595

Catharine Toot was born on 15 Sep 1757.^4,5,6 She was baptized on 14 Jun 1761 in Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, York, PennsylvaniaG, with her siblings David, George and Sophia.¹²
     She moved to Paxton Twp., Lancaster Co.G, with her parents, David Dutt, and Catherine Klingenmyer, about 1774.^13,14
     Catharine married Joseph Flora Jr., son of Joseph J. Flory and Catherine Zollinger, on 23 Jun 1777.^7,8
     She was probably one of the four females listed in the household of her husband, Joseph Flora Jr., in the 1790 Federal Census of Dauphin Co., PennsylvaniaG.¹⁵
     Her husband died on 10 Jan 1795.^16,17
     Catharine and her brother George were appointed administrators for the estate of her husband Joseph. On 17 Jan 1797 they submitted their accounting to the Dauphin Co. Orphan's Court in Harrisburg, reporting a balance of £253 13s 9p. The court directed that after deducting 13s 2p for the expense of the court that the balance be distributed according to law.¹⁸
     On the same day Catharine petitioned the court for reimbursement for her expenses incurred in providing clothing, maintenance, and education of the children since their father's death. She claimed she had supported the two older boys for one year, the others the entire time, and provided support and burial for the infant that had died. The court awarded her £110 to be paid from the respective shares of the children's inheritance.¹⁹ At the same session, the court appointed Peter Shuster, merchant in Middletown as guardian for the five children then under the age of 14, George, Elizabeth, Lydia, Sophia, and Margaret.²⁰
     Catharine appeared on the 1800 Federal Census of Lower Paxton Twp., Dauphin Co., PennsylvaniaG, with a household consisting of one male age 10 to 16 (George), two females under 10 (daughters Margaret and Sophia), two age 10 to 16, one age 16 to 26 (Charity), one age 26 to 45 (herself.)²¹
     Catharine died in Mar 1804 at age 46.⁹ She was buried in Lutheran graveyard, Middletown, Dauphin Co., PennsylvaniaG, with her husband, according to an 1895 report. However a 1948 family history says they were buried on a farm cemetery that was later part of Middletown airport, and their stones were recovered and moved to Middletown cemetery through the efforts of the D.A.R.^10,11
     Catharine died intestate (without leaving a will). Martin Crouemiller was appointed administrator of her estate. On 6 Oct 1807 he submitted his accounting to the Dauphin Co. Orphan's Court in Harrisburg, reporting a balance of £161 7s 5p. The court directed that after deducting 26s 3p to be paid to the Register that the balance be distributed according to law.²²

Joseph Flora Jr. was born on 6 Feb 1752 in Rapho Twp., Lancaster Co., PennsylvaniaG.^5,6
     He moved to Lower Paxtang Twp.G with his parents in 1759.¹³

The Revolutionary War --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     The General Assembly of Pennsylvania directed on 13 Jun 1777 that all male inhabitants over age 18 subscribe to an oath renouncing all allegiances to Great Britain and pledging allegiance the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a free and independent state. Hundreds of residents of Paxton Twp. did so before Joshua Elder, justice of the peace, including Joseph, between 28 Jan and 20 Mar 1778.¹⁴
     Joseph married Catharine Toot, daughter of David Dutt and Catherine Klingenmyer, on 23 Jun 1777.^7,8
     He was assessed, like other men in Lancaster Co., to support the army in the Revolutionary War. We have record that his assessment of one bushel of wheat and one bushel of forage was collected in 1778.¹⁵
     Joseph was serving in Capt. Jonathan McClure's company, 4th Battalion, Lancaster Co.G Militia by Aug 1778, with his wife's brothers Conrad and David Toot. Joseph and his wife's brothers Conrad and George were listed in Capt. McClure's company in 1782 as well.^16,17 Joseph furnished his wife's brother, Conrad Toot, as a substitute in the 10th Battalion of Lancaster Co. militia, starting 27 Sep 1782.¹⁸
     Joseph appeared on the 1790 Federal Census of Dauphin Co., PennsylvaniaG, with a household consisting of one male over 16 (himself), three under 16 (sons David, Elisha, and George) and, four females (wife Catharine Toot and daughters Charity, Elizabeth, and Lydia.)¹⁹
     Joseph died on 10 Jan 1795 at age 42.^9,10 He was buried in Lutheran graveyard, Middletown, Dauphin Co., PennsylvaniaG, with his wife, according to an 1895 report. However a 1948 family history says they were buried on a farm cemetery that was later part of Middletown airport, and their stones were recovered and moved to Middletown cemetery through the efforts of the D.A.R.^11,12

Complex Probates --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     On 20 Jan 1796 the succeeding executors if his father's will presented to the Dauphin Co. Orphan's court a supplementary accounting of the estate. The court ordered that the remaining balance be distributed to his heirs. Joseph's share, to be distributed to his heirs, was £297 6s 6¼p.²⁰
     Joseph died intestate (without leaving a will). His wife, Catharine and her brother George were appointed administrators of his estate. On 17 Jan 1797 they submitted their accounting to the Dauphin Co. Orphan's Court in Harrisburg, reporting a balance of £253 13s 9p. The court directed that after deducting 13s 2p for the expense of the court that the balance be distributed according to law.²¹
     Following the death of Joseph's widow, George Toot, as surviving administrator, filed a final report on the administration of Joseph's estate with the Dauphin Co. Orphan's Court in Harrisburg. He showed a balance of £145 17s 3p. After adjusting for an error in valuing 12 bonds amounting to £42 17s, and paying to Philip Etlee (guardian of daughter Margaret) $3.50, the balance was ordered to be paid to the heirs according to law.²²
     On 4 May 1809, David, as eldest son, petitioned the Dauphin Co. Orphan's Court in Harrisburg to have his father's real estate divided among the surviving children or their representatives. The land was described as about 90 acres in Suatara Twp., bounded by the lands of John Elliott, John and Jacob Bomberger, John Metzgar, and Susquehanna River. The court ordered the sheriff to summon an inquest to divide the land if it could be divided without spoiling the whole, and report back at the next court.²³ On 1 Aug 1809 the sheriff reported the results of the inquest, in which the 12 men found that the property could not be divided without spoiling the whole. They found it actually contained 99 acres, which they valued at $33 per acre. Their decision was approved by the court. Joseph Gingrich, assignee of the eldest son, asked to buy the property at that value, which was approved. After deducting costs of $62.37 each heir's share was $457.80.²⁴