John's signature on an 1804 deed
John served as the executor of the Will of Simon Pratz of East Pennsborough, Cumberland County on Feb 10, 1805. John's son, Frederick was a witness.
John Mumma served as the executor of George Wolf's Will, 24 Jan 1810 in East Pennsborough. John is listed as a friend.
The determination that John Mumma is the father of Frederick Mumma is through a number of different documents, including the identification of John's grandchildren in his Will. They match exactly the children of Frederick. From Samuel Hertzler Mumma's Notebook, many researchers have assumed the legend that Frederick Mumma of Cumberland County was the son of a Frederick Mumma. New evidence proves that this was an erroneous conclusion and legand. Frederick Mumma, b. abt 1775 was the son of this John Mumma.
Some of the key documents for this branch of the Mumma family are as follows:
1) "Emigrants, Refugees and Prisoners, Vol II" by Richard Warren Davis, 1997 (
http://www.mennosearch.com) page 339-341
2) Will of John Mumma (Sr.) Cumberland County, PA Will Book I, pp. 273-74 filed 1823
3) Estate papers of John Mumma (Grandson of John Mumma, Sr.) Union County, PA filed 1826
John's Will was written 22 July 1821 and filed on 30 Jan, 1823 in Cumberland County, PA - Will Book I, pp 273-74. The original file is in his estate file along with various estate accountings. It is likely he died shortly before his Will was filed. John's signiture is found on his original Will as well as a piece of land that he purchased.
The Will names 4 beneficiary groups
1) A life estate to his wife, Margaret, to live on his plantation and receive grain if she does not remarry
2) 1/3 share of personal estate to his "good friend, John Mumma, Esq." who he names as his executor. All evidence suggest that John Mumma is his grandson who is a lawyer and district attorney in Union County. Obviously he is the "favored" grand child. A strange way to identify a grandchild.
3) 1/3 share of personal estate to be divided between his grandchildren, Joseph and Mary Rife. Their mother, Barbara Mumma, died abt 1803.
4) 1/3 share of his personal estate to be divided between his other three grandchildren, Samuel, Frederick and Mary Mumma (Note - John Mumma listed in item 2 is the other sibling of Samuel, Frederick and Mary but he is not named with them since he received a 1/3 share by himself]
5) He also provides that his grandsons, Samuel & Frederick Mumma are allowed to purchase his real estate if they can pay the other grandchildren their fair share of the real estate worth.
His Will names his wife, Margaret. There is a marriage of a John Mumma and Margaret Potdorff in 1819 whom we assume was his second wife. This is somewhat confirmed by the small amount of money he left Margaret, which would be reasonable for a marriage of only 3 years.
Although the early census records are not very informative as they do not include complete names and details, they at least tell you who was living in particular areas. Only "heads of households" names are listed. It is difficult, however to know if you have the right "John" since it was such a common name. There were 2 listed in the 1790 census as living in Dauphin County.
1790 Census, PA, Dauphin Co., No Township listed
John Muma #1 - 1 male above 16, 2 males under 16, 2 females
John Muma #2 - 2 males over 16, 3 males under 16, 6 females
John #2 does not look likely because of the large number of children and females. John #1 might be a possibility because John would have been over 16, Frederick would have been about 15 and his sister, Barbara, would have been about 12. We would assume his wife was also over 16. This only leaves one extra male under 16 who could have been a boy that died later or a servant.
By 1800, more information is listed in the census and townships are generally identified. Several are likely candidates for John and Frederick.
1800 Census, PA, Dauphin Co., Derry Township
Fredk Muma,
2 males under 10 John age 2 and ???
1 male 26 to 44 Frederick about 25
1 female 10 to 15 unknown (servant?)
1 female 26 to 44 Barbara Rife about 24
[Note: 2 households away lives Joseph Rife, Frederick's brother-in-law]
A few pages away
John Muma
2 male 26 to 44 John age about 45
1 female 10 to 15 unknown (servant?)
1 female 26 to 44 unknown wife?
In the same general area are familiar surnames of Detweiler, Laird, etc. While the fit isn't perfect, it is hard to fully identify everyone because of servants, unrecorded deaths of children. The census are notorious for not being accurate - the census takers got paid by the name, not neatness or correctness.
John the Cumberland County progenitor of the Mumma family and son Frederick apparently migrated to Cumberland county between the 1800 census and when he purchased Cumberland County land in 1804
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1810 Census, PA, Cumberland County, East Pennsborough Township
John Mumma
males age 10-15 =1 (possibly an unidentifed child or servant)
males age 16-25 = 1 (possibly an unidentifed child or servant)
males over age 44 = 1 (John, >45)
females age 16-25 = 2 [possibly unidentified children or servants]
females over age 44 = 1 [un-named wife]
--------
Frederick Mumma
males under age 10 = 3 (John, Samuel, & Frederick)
males age 16-25 = 1 (Frederick the father)
females under age 10 = 1 [Mary "Polly"]
females age 16-26 = 1 [Barbara the wife]
**************
1820 Census, PA, East Pennsboro, Cumberland County
John Muma
males over 45 = 1
females over 45 = 1
persons engaged in agriculture = 1
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Frederick Muma
males 16-18 = 1
males 18-26 = 2
males over 45 = 1
females 10-16 = 1
females over 45 = 1
persons engaged in agriculture = 1
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Records of Salem Reformed Church, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 1800-1842
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Remarks: Bride and Groom from East Pennsborough twp., Cumberland Co.
Surname: Mumma
Given Name: John
Title:
Description: Groom
Event: Marriage
Date: 12 Jan 1819
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Records of Salem Reformed Church, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 1800-1842
Remarks: Bride and Groom from East Pennsborough twp., Cumberlande Co.
Surname: Mumma
Given Name: Margaret Potdorff
Title:
Description: Bride
Event: Marriage
Date: 12 Jan 1819
Place:
************************************************************************** ****
Testament & Last Will)
of )
John Mumma )
In the name of God Amen, I John Mumma senior, of Cumberland County & State of Pennsylvania, considering the uncertainty of this mortal life, & being of sound mind and memory, do make this my last will & testament in manner following, first, I give and bequeath the one third of the whole of my personal estate to John Mumma Esq., I also give & bequeath the one sixth part of the two remaining third parts of my personal estate to Joseph and Mary Rife, my grand-children. I also give and bequeath the remainder of my personal estate to Samuel, Frederick, and Mary Mumma, my grand-children, to be equally divided between them, which legacies I will shall be paid as soon as my personal property can be turned into money. I further give and devise all my real estate to my executor to be disposed of in the following manner, my plantation shall be rented or let out for the shares for two years, after which time my executor shall chuse(sic) twelve men who shall value and appraise the same on their oaths. And if said Frederick & Samuel are able to take the same at the appraised value, my executor shall convey to them the said plantation in fee simple, provided the(sic) pay to said executor one third of the whole appraised value immediately an his executing said conveyance, which I give and bequeath to him and the said Samuel & Frederick shall also pay to Joseph and Mary Rife one sixth part of the remaining two thirds of the appraisement value, in annual payments of fifty dollars a year until the(sic) shall have paid the whole, beginning the fifth year after said conveyance is so to them made as above directed, which I give and bequeath to them to be equally divided between them. and the said Samuel & Frederick shall also pay one third of the remainder of the appraisement value to Mary Mumma, their sister as soon as she arrives at the age of twenty years, which I give and bequeath to her, and what remains after deducting said legacies I allow to said Samuel & Frederick to retain which I give and bequeath to them, But if the said Samuel & Frederick shall not be willing to take said plantation at the appraised value I authorize my executor to sell the same for the best price that can be gotten for the same at public or private sale, And the proceeds of the sale I will shall be divided in the following manner, First, one third part of the whole I allow my executor to retain which I give and bequeath to him, one sixth of the remaining two thirds I will shall be paid to & equally divided between Joseph and Mary Rife, which I give and bequeath to them. And the remainder I will shall be equally divided between Samuel, Frederick and Mary Mary[sic] Mumma, my grand-children which I give and bequeath unto them. I further give and bequeath to my wife Margaret the cooper shop on the above plantation to occupied(sic) by her as a dwelling. I also give her twelve bushels of wheat and twelve and twelve bushels of ???? and one ????? all which I will she shall enjoy as long as she remains a widow provided she relinquish her legal share of my estate. I hereby appoint my loving friend John Mumma Esq., sole executor of this my last will and testament: Hereby revoking all former wills by me made, in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the twenty second day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one.
s/John Mumma/ seal
Signed, sealed, published and declared by the above within named John Mumma senior to be his last will & testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the Testator.
her
John Noble Mary X Noble
mark
Cumberland County Ss
Before me Frederick Sharrett Register for the probate of wills & granting Letter of Administration in and for said County Personally came John Noble and Mary Noble the subscribing witnesses to the within instrument of writing purporting to be the last will & testament of John Mumma late of East Pennsborough township deceased and being duly sworn according to law depose and say that they saw and heard the Testator therein named sign seal publish pronounce and declare the same as and for his last will and testament and that at the time of his so doing he was of a sound and disposing mind memory and understanding to the best of the knowledge and belief and that they subscribed their names thereto as witnesses at the request of said Testator & in the presence of each other
Sworn & Subscribed Jan. 3, 1823 )
Before the _______________ ) Be it remembered that on the 20th day of January
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Transcribed by Doug Mumma from the original Will located in the Cumberland County courthouse in his estate file. The Will was recorded in the Cumberland County, PA Will Book I, pp. 273-74. Microfilmed records are also located in the Cumberland County Historical Society.
From the Will it appears the John was a cooper by trade since he allowed his wife to live in his cooper shop after his death.
