Joseph Flora Jr.

Narrative:

     Joseph Flora Jr. was born on 6 Feb 1752 in Rapho Twp., Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania.^6,7
     He moved to Lower Paxtang Twp. with his parents in 1759.¹⁴

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 1778.¹⁵
     Joseph married Catharine Toot, daughter of David Dutt and Catherine Klingenmyer, on 23 Jun 1777.^8,9
     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 1778.¹⁶
     Joseph was serving in Capt. Jonathan McClure's company, 4th Battalion, Lancaster Co. 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.^17,18 Joseph furnished his wife's brother, Conrad Toot, as a substitute in the 10th Battalion of Lancaster Co. militia, starting 27 Sep 1782.¹⁹
     Joseph appeared on the 1790 Federal Census of Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania, 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.)²⁰
     Joseph died on 10 Jan 1795 at age 42.^10,11 He was buried in Lutheran graveyard, Middletown, Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania, 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.^12,13

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.²¹
     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.²²
     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.²³
     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.²⁴ 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 $457.80.²⁵