Matters of Record

The following pertain to Friedrich Carl Christlieb II, who was known in America as Carl or Charles. Note the phonetic surname spellings in the first two entries.

1798 – Direct Tax List, Mifflin Twp., Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Charles Chrislip 1 stone dwelling, 26x24, 1 barn, 60x22, blacksmith shop, 16x16, 100 acres, $1,260 value, adjacent to land of John Morrow. 1 farm dwelling, 22x18, 1 ½ story, 1 window, 8 lights, 2 acres, $100.75 value.

1802 – Carl Christlieb was named Constable of Mifflin Township.

1807 – Tax List, Mifflin Twp. Cumberland County, Pennsylvania: Charles Crislip, 100 acres + 3 horse + 3 cows.

1810 – United States Federal Census – Mifflin Twp, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania: Head of Household, Charles Cusleib [Christlieb]. Males: 1 born before 1765; 2 born 1785-1794; 1 born 1795-1800. Female: 1 born before 1765, 1 born 1785-1794.

1820 – Census, Mifflin Twp., Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. No information for Carl in this census.

1828 – Tax List, Mifflin Twp., Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Charles Christlieb, farmer.

In his letter to Ervin G. Chrislip, B.F. Christlieb told of the prejudice their grandfathers endured while living amongst the Scot-Irish.

“Being pioneer Germans of that locality they had many peculiar experiences with those Irish [Scot-Irish] settlers who were prone to treat the Germans with disrespect by calling them “Dutch, etc.” While they, our ancestors, kept within bounds, patience would cease to be a virtue with them sometimes, and perhaps an Irishman or two would be seen measuring their lengths on the ground from the effect of well-dealt blows from the “Dutch.” They were powerful men, muscular, fearless, and peaceable, if not imposed upon. I would add further that our grandfathers were not quarrelsome, and the few circumstances, for there were few of them, took place as [a] matter of self defense as far as our grandfathers were concerned.” 1895 Letter from B.F. Christlieb to Ervin G. Chrislip.

The reference to Jacob and Carl’s being powerful men, muscular, and fearless, echoes an earlier description of old Friedrich Carl himself.

“Mrs. Catherine Tritt of Oregon, Missouri, granddaughter of Charles Christlieb and sister of the writer, who in her childhood was frequently in the society of the grandfather, describes the personal appearance of Charles Christlieb thus: ‘He was a tall man with high forehead, large, Roman nose, fair complexion and large pleasant, light colored eyes. He was very bald, only a small quantity of hair remaining on his head which was either gray in consequence of his great age or may have been naturally of a light color then turning gray. He was a good talker, well informed, good memory, and in resemblance reminded one of portraits of intelligent and noted men.’” The Christlieb Family, p. 18.

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Deaths of Carl and Catharina Christlieb

Prior to his death in 1837, Carl Christlieb made two wills: the first in 1831; the second in 1833. Although the second will would have nullified the first, both were found in the same file box in the Register of Will Office in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Carl’s son, Jacob, and John Harper were named executors in both wills.

In each, Carl lovingly provided for his wife, should he predecease her. The wills read accordingly:

"I give and bequeath unto my dear wife Catharina the room and house wherein we now together dwell during her widowhood for her place of abode. I give unto her two of the best beds and a cow as hers. I further give and order it to be given her during her natural life from the plantation wherein I now live and from the place where on my son Isaac Christlieb now liveth the following Viz. twelve bushels of good & merchantable wheat, twelve bushels of rye & twelve bushels of Corn and five bushels of Potatoes, the grain to be taken to and from [the] Mill fit for her use, also a fat hog killed and delivered to her, and her to have the wool of four sheep, all this above to be yearly and every year during her widowhood. Also yearly to Cut and haul her firewood fit for burning, also to pasture and feed her cow with hay yearly and every year. In case of sickness it is my will and desire that care shall be taken of her and after her decrease it is my will that the funeral Expenses shall be deducted out of my Real Estate. This all is bequeathed to her besides her thirds.” Last Will and Testament: Carl Christlieb, 1831.

"I give and bequeath unto my dear wife Catharina the room and house wherein we now together dwell during her widowhood for [her] place of abode. I give unto her two [of] the best beds and a cow, the stove and pipe and all our household furniture such as she seeth proper, also [the] cellar room, two [of] the best of my books. I further give and order to be given during her natural life in widowhood, after my Debts are all paid, the Interest of the on third of my Real Estate to be given to her in Cash, every year, commencing one year after my death of the whole of my Real Estate. Also yearly to cut and haul her firewood fit for burning and pasture and father [fodder] for a Cow, all to be done by the person living on the place purchased of Isaac Shannon. In case of sickness it is my desire that care shall be taken of her by the said Person living on the aforesaid Shannon place. After her death it is my will that the funeral expenses shall be deducted out of my Real Estate.” Last Will and Testament: Carl Christlieb, 1833.

Pertaining to bequests, Carl specifically addressed his son, George, in both of the wills.

"My son George Christlieb got a note from me of the amount of Seventy-seven Dollar which beareth Interest from about the beginning of January one thousand eight hundred and twenty eight. This shall [be] deducted afout of [sic, before] his legacy which will be coming to him as will hereafter be mentioned.” Last Will and Testament: Carl Christlieb, 1831.

“George Christlieb shall have the second part, all but Seventy-seven Dollars eight Cents shall be deducted from his part and be added to the four other parts.” Last Will and Testament: Carl Christlieb, 1833.

It would appear from the above two excerpts that Carl had no intention of allowing his son, George, to get by without paying his debt to him. A comparison of his estate with his brothers’, shows that George had not been as successful they had been.

Regarding Carl Christlieb’s real estate, he stated the following:

“It is further my will that my Real Estate, that is to say, the place I now live on and the place whereon my son Isaac not liveth, shall be publicly sold by my executors, and my executors are hereby empowered to give a title for the said lands and tenement in fee. After all Charges are paid of the real and personal estates are to be divided into five equal parts, that is to say, John Christlieb, George Christlieb, Isaac Christlieb, Jacob Christlieb, and Solomon Christlieb.” Last Will and Testament: Carl Christlieb, 1831.

"I give and devise unto my son Isaac Christlieb … the plantation purchased of the Heirs of John Morrow … Isaac shall have the place at the rate of nineteen Dollar for each and every Acre to be paid as follows: the one third to remain on Interest for the widow till after her death then to be paid in five Equal payments without Interest yearly the other two thirds to be paid, the one half, one year after my Death, the other half in five annual payments without Interest.” Last Will and Testament: Carl Christlieb, 1833.

"I give and devise unto my son, Solomon Christlieb… the plantation purchased of Isaac Shannon the reservation to be understood as aforesaid for the said widow.” Ibid.

“I give and devise unto my Daughter Sarah now Intermarried to Jacob Koutz a small plantation whereon she now Dwelleth known to be forty-nine acres neat measure, the said Sarah shall pay a proportion of my Debts and expenses, the Debts shall all be added together, likewise all the acres of land which I owned and each acre shall be allowed or reckoned accordingly. And after the said plantation shall be hers, her heirs or Assigns forever.” Last Will and Testament: Carl Christlieb, 1831.

"It shall not be understood that my Daughter Sarah shall have any share in these five parts because she has her share all in her plantation, hers and her heirs.” Last Will and Testament: Carl Christlieb, 1833.

The administration account of Carl Christlieb’s estate shows that, Isaac, Solomon and Sarah became owners of their father’s land. For reasons not completely understood, the lands were not simply inherited. Isaac paid $16 per acre for 109 plus acres; Solomon paid $10 per acre for 124 plus acres; and Sarah $8 per acre for 43 plus acres. Details of these purchases are fully dealt with in each of these childrens’ sections in this study.

Regarding his deceased son, Charles’ legacy, he directed:

"It is my will that my grandson Searight Christlieb shall have fifty dollars and my Grand Daughters Susanna and Sarah Christlieb shall have each twenty five dollars. These are my grand Children from my son Charles Christlieb and to his widow.” Last Will and Testament: Carl Christlieb, 1831.

This provision for Charles’ grandchildren is absent from his 1833 will.

Carl Christlieb died on 27 June 1837, at age 86 years and 26 days. His widow, Catharina née Umberger, died four months later on 30 October 1837. Her age at death was estimated to be 93 years. She was buried beside Carl in the graveyard of Ziegler’s Church in Mifflin Township, Cumberland County.

Decorated with flags and flowers, Carl and Catherina's gravestones are shown here. At the end of the row is the memorial dedicated to Georg and Catharina Bock. The flags are in special bronze holders, denoting the brothers' service in the American Revolutionary War.

Decorated with flags and flowers, Carl's gravestone is shown here. The old headstone is nearly illegible and is standing behind the new memorial placed by the Cristlieb-Chrislip-Crislip Family Association.

Decorated with flowers, Catharina's gravestone is shown here. The old headstone is nearly illegible and is standing behind the new memorial placed by the Christlieb-Chrislip-Crislip Family Association.