"Pennsylvania German Pioneers"
Palatines imported in the Ship Hope, Daniel Reid, Master, from
Rotterdam, last from Cowes: Michael Fickel.

A List of the Passengers on Board - the Ship Hope Galley, Daniel Riedt, Comandr. [Qualified Sept 23d 1734.]:
Michal Fikle 25.

List C: Took the Oaths to the Government in Philadelphia, PA:
Michael Fickel.

View Image of Oath to the Government

In the name of God Amen. The twentieth Day of November in the year of our
Lord Seventeen hundred and seventy. I, Michael Fickle of Fred'k County in the
Province of Maryland Farmer being very sick & weak of Body but of perfect
mind & Memory Thanks be given unto God therefore Calling unto mind the
mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for all Men once to die,
do make and ordain this my Last Will & Testament that is to say principally
and first of all I give and recommend my Soul into the Hands of God that
gavest and for my Body I recommend it to the Earth to be buried in a Christian
Like and Decent Manner at the Discretion of my Executor, nothing doubting but
at the general Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty
Power of God & as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased
God to bless me in this Life I give devise & dispose of the same in the
following manner & Form. Imprimis I give and Bequeath unto Margaret my
beloved Wife one third part of my whole Estate Real & personal Goods &
Chattles Rights & Credits and over and above that said Third part one Home
and two Cows to be at her own Choice to her her Heirs and Assigns forever.
Item my Will further is and I do appoint that all the Residue of my whole Estate
as above said (saving to my sd Wife her part as above mentioned) be sold and
the amount arising from the appraisement of my Goods & Chattles Rights &
Credits and the Sale of my Lands & Crop in the Ground (saving to my said Wife
her third part thereof) be disposed of in the following manner; that is to say
that my just Debts be first paid thereout of, & that my beloved Son Joseph
shall be paid for what Improvements he hath made on my Plantation bought
from William Wells according to the Estimation of two reputable Persons
indifferently chosen by my said Wife & Son Joseph for that Purpose, & then
that my beloved Daughter Elizabeth shall be paid the Sum of ten pounds
common money which I do hereby give and bequeath to her, her Heirs and
Assigns forever, and that then the Residue or Remainder of the above Amount
shall be equally divided amongst my eleven Children hereinafter named Viz,
Gabriel, Mary, Joseph, Matthias, Daniel, Benjamin, Isaac, Jonathan, Esther,
Naomi & Rachel, which several & respective parts I do hereby give and
bequeath, unto my beloved eleven Children above named.
Respectively to them their Heirs and Assigns forever; excepting that in Case
any of my said Children that are under Age should be called away by Death
before they are of Age to receive their Legacies such Legacy or Legacies shall
be equally devided amonst the surviving part of my Eleven Children as
aforesaid & further my Will is and I do appoint that my five youngest Children
Benjamin Isaac Jonathan Naomi & Rachel shall dwell with their Mother until
they are of Age, and that their respective Legacies shall be put out at Use with
sufficient Security by my Executors herein after named, & that the Amount of
the Interest arising therefrom shall be paid yearly and every year to my sd
Wife to enable her to bring up and educate my said Children in a Christian Like
Manner.
And further I do will and appoint that the Executor of this my Last Will and
Testament, shall sell all my Lands (not bequeathed to my Wife) immediately
after my Decease as soon as an opportunity may appear to sell to the best
Advantage & I do hereby authorize appoint & impower my sd Executor to make
good and sufficient Conveyance & Right thereto. And Lastly I do hereby
constitute make and ordain my Son Joseph above named my only and sole
Executor of this my Last Will & Testament; and I do hereby utterly disallow
Revoke and disannull all and every other former Testaments, Wills Legacies &
Executors by me in any way before this Time named, willed & Bequeathed.
Ratifying & Confirming this and no other to my Last Will & Testament In
Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand & Seal the Day and Year above
written.
Michael Fickel (seal)
Signed Sealed published & declared by the sd Michael Fickel as his Last Will &
Testament in the presence of us the Subscribers.
Samuel McFinan. Benjamin Padden. Wm Blair

Liber GM-1, folio 159-160: Settlement of estate, Joseph Fickle, executor. page
149. Final account of Michal FICKLE deceased Joseph FICKLE executor. Sold
200 acres to Geo LINK & Jacob SPEOTS, 105 acres to Daniel FICKLE, & 153
acres to Margaret FICKLE. To widow 1/3, to Elizabeth SHAWHAM part,
remaining to be divided among Widow & Children. 1 May 1784