Bohnert Wills and Probate
CASPAR BOHNERT was our 2x Great Grandfather through the Bohnert line. He born in Tiergarten, a small village approximately one mile from Renchen, Baden, on January 5, 1809, to Melchior Bohnert and Francizka Lauck.
Caspar was married twice, first to Franciska Meyer and then to Klementina Elizabeth Hurst, the widowed wife of his deceased brother, Lucas Bohnert.
Caspar Bohnert died in Perry County, Missouri, on July 15, 1876, two days after the drafting of his Last Will and Testament. There is a tombstone in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Apple Creek, Perry County, Missouri, that memorializes him but there is speculation that he may be buried in a different location outside of the cemetery.
Caspar Bohnert
Last Will and Testament - July 13, 1876
Missouri Probate Records, 1821-1876
Caspar Bohnert
Last Will and Testament - July 13, 1876
Missouri Probate Records, 1821-1876
Caspar Bohnert
Last Will and Testament - July 13, 1876
Missouri Probate Records, 1821-1876
NOTE: In his will, Caspar specifically mentioned each child by name. The reference to Carl Bohnert was his son, Charles. Andreas refered to Andrew, called Andreas after a brother that had died at 8 months old. However, the reference to the child "Severius," whom he definitively stated as his child is unclear.
The only known child not specifically named in the will was Louis who was living at the time the will was drafted. It is possible that "Severius" referred to Louis, as it was common to call people by a name that wasn't their given name. Perhaps Severius was a middle name. Louis, a Catholic, had married Mary Anna Amschler, who was of the Lutheran faith. One could speculate that Louis might have been intentionally excluded from the will for this reason.
However, despite the above speculation, the identity of Severius remains unknown.
Last Will and Testament of Caspar Bohnert, deceased
In the name of God, Amen. I, Caspar Bohnert, of Perry County, Missouri, being weak in body but of sound mind do make ordain and publish the following as my Last Will and Testament. 1 All debts and funeral expenses to be fully paid. 2. To my children Ignatz, Severius, Ferdinand, and Barbara Bohnert I give and bequeath the sum of five dollars each. 3. To my son Carl Bohnert I give the sume of one hundred dollars. 4. The above legacies are to be paid as soon as possible after my decease. 5. All the rest of my property real personal or mixed I hereby give to my beloved wife Elizabeth to use and enjoy for and during her natural life free of any restrictions and with power to sell or dispose of the same or any part thereof if necessary for her convenience and support. 6. All property remaining at the death of my wife Elizabeth shall be taken in charge by my Executor and divided between the following named children share and share alike - Anton Bohnert, Moritz Bohnert, Andreas Bohnert, August Bohnert, William Bohnert and Joseph Bohnert. 7. My wife Elizabeth Bohnert is authorized to pay off all my indebtedness including the legacies to the children first named without probate. 8. I appoint William Bohnert as executor of this my Will to take charge of the remainder of my estate after the death of my wife, Elizabeth and divide among the children last named share and share alike. In witness hereof I have hereto signed my name with my own hand and affixed my seal this 13th day of July AD 1876.
Caspar Bohnert *seal*
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The foregoing was by the said Casper Bohnert published as his last will and we the undersigned have as his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other signed our names as witnesses thereto this 13th day of July AD 1876.
Anton Butz
John J. Seibel
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State of Missouri
County of Perry
In the Probate and Common Pleas Court of Perry County Missouri In the matter of proving the last will and Testament of Casper Bohnert late of said Perry County deceased.
On this 17th day of July 1876 before me WH Bennett Judge of the Probate and Common Pleas Court of Perry County personally came Anton Butz and John J. Seibel who having by me duly sworn on their oaths say that they were present and saw Casper Bohnert sign the foregoing instrument purporting to be his last will and Testament and heard him publish and declare the same to be his last will and Testament and that at the time of signing the same and publishing the same the said Casper Bohnert was of sound and disposing mind and that there [illegible] subscribed the names thereto as witness to the same in the presence at at the request of the Testatur and in the presence of each other. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 17th day of July 1876.
WH Bennett Judge of the Probate and Com Pleas Court
Anton Butz
John J. Seibel
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Certificate of Probate
State of Missouri
County of Perry
In the Probate Court of Perry County Missouri I WH Bennett Judge of the Probate and Com. Pleas Court of Perry County Missouri having examined the foregoing instrument purporting to be the Last Will and Testament of Casper Bohnert deceased, late of Perry County Missouri and having heard the Testimony of Anton Butz and John J. Seibel witnesses thereto in relation to the execution of the same do declare and adjudge said instrument to be the Last Will and Testament of said Casper Bohnert deceased, and the same is therefore admitted to Probate. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the sal of said Court at office this 17th day of July 1876.
WH Bennett
Judge of said Court.
Received July 19th 1876 attest W H. Bennett Judge