Came to America in abt 1702. Full name was Jacob Henrichs Godschall Van Der Heggen. He and his son, Godshalk, were naturalized 29 Sep 1709. He settled first in Germantown, but in Feb 1713, he and his son, Godshalk, each acquired 123 acres in Towamencin Twp, in what is now Montgomery Co, PA.
Will abstract:
GODSHALK, JACOB, SENR. Co. of Philadelphia. Turner. December 26, 1760. June 3, 1763. M.532.
To my son Herman the plantation of 122 1/2 acres; he to pay 125 pounds, that is twenty-five pounds to every one of my children, within one year and one day after my decease. Unto all the children of my deceased son Godshalk, twenty-five pounds. Unto all the children of my deceased son John, twenty-five pounds. Unto all the children of my deceased daughter Magdalene, twenty-five pounds. Unto my daughter Anna married to Peter Custard, twenty-five pounds. And the residue of my personal estate shall likewise be equally divided into five shares and every one of my above-named children is to have his share. I appoint my son-in-law Peter Custard sole executor to this my last will and testament.
B:1 Jan 1666** in Goch, Kleve, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany D:3 June 1763 in Towamencin, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, United States
** we acknowledge that the birth year on the churchyard monument differs greatly
- we also know that people "fibbed" about their ages more so back then to gain entry into the military, for instance.
Will abstract:
GODSHALK, JACOB, SENR. Co. of Philadelphia. Turner. December 26, 1760. June 3, 1763. M.532.
To my son Herman the plantation of 122 1/2 acres; he to pay 125 pounds, that is twenty-five pounds to every one of my children, within one year and one day after my decease. Unto all the children of my deceased son Godshalk, twenty-five pounds. Unto all the children of my deceased son John, twenty-five pounds. Unto all the children of my deceased daughter Magdalene, twenty-five pounds. Unto my daughter Anna married to Peter Custard, twenty-five pounds. And the residue of my personal estate shall likewise be equally divided into five shares and every one of my above-named children is to have his share. I appoint my son-in-law Peter Custard sole executor to this my last will and testament.
B:1 Jan 1666** in Goch, Kleve, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany D:3 June 1763 in Towamencin, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, United States
** we acknowledge that the birth year on the churchyard monument differs greatly
- we also know that people "fibbed" about their ages more so back then to gain entry into the military, for instance.
Came to America in abt 1702. Full name was Jacob Henrichs Godschall Van Der Heggen. He and his son, Godshalk, were naturalized 29 Sep 1709. He settled first in Germantown, but in Feb 1713, he and his son, Godshalk, each acquired 123 acres in Towamencin Twp, in what is now Montgomery Co, PA.
Will abstract:
GODSHALK, JACOB, SENR. Co. of Philadelphia. Turner. December 26, 1760. June 3, 1763. M.532.
To my son Herman the plantation of 122 1/2 acres; he to pay 125 pounds, that is twenty-five pounds to every one of my children, within one year and one day after my decease. Unto all the children of my deceased son Godshalk, twenty-five pounds. Unto all the children of my deceased son John, twenty-five pounds. Unto all the children of my deceased daughter Magdalene, twenty-five pounds. Unto my daughter Anna married to Peter Custard, twenty-five pounds. And the residue of my personal estate shall likewise be equally divided into five shares and every one of my above-named children is to have his share. I appoint my son-in-law Peter Custard sole executor to this my last will and testament.
B:1 Jan 1666** in Goch, Kleve, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany D:3 June 1763 in Towamencin, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, United States
** we acknowledge that the birth year on the churchyard monument differs greatly
- we also know that people "fibbed" about their ages more so back then to gain entry into the military, for instance.
Will abstract:
GODSHALK, JACOB, SENR. Co. of Philadelphia. Turner. December 26, 1760. June 3, 1763. M.532.
To my son Herman the plantation of 122 1/2 acres; he to pay 125 pounds, that is twenty-five pounds to every one of my children, within one year and one day after my decease. Unto all the children of my deceased son Godshalk, twenty-five pounds. Unto all the children of my deceased son John, twenty-five pounds. Unto all the children of my deceased daughter Magdalene, twenty-five pounds. Unto my daughter Anna married to Peter Custard, twenty-five pounds. And the residue of my personal estate shall likewise be equally divided into five shares and every one of my above-named children is to have his share. I appoint my son-in-law Peter Custard sole executor to this my last will and testament.
B:1 Jan 1666** in Goch, Kleve, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany D:3 June 1763 in Towamencin, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, United States
** we acknowledge that the birth year on the churchyard monument differs greatly
- we also know that people "fibbed" about their ages more so back then to gain entry into the military, for instance.
Inscription
In memory of Bishop Jacob Gottshall 1670-1763 Born in Goch Germany, ordained a Bishop in the Germantown Mennonite Church in 1702 and also served the Skippack and Towamencin Congregation. He performed the first baptism and conducted the first communion service in the American church in 1708. The Skippack alms audits were signed by him from 1745 to 1757. He owned a farm of 120 acres which included this church site. Undoubtedly, he is buried here but no marker remains, therefore this marker is erected in memory of this energetic leader.
