Jacob Hornef was my third great-grandfather on my maternal grandmother’s (Carman) line*. He was born in Otterberg, Germany and died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 3, 1894. His death certificate is available on FamilySearch.
He was an immigrant and a laborer from a humble background. When Ancestry.com added Wills and Probate records from Philadelphia, he was the last person I expected to find, considering that I have found few Last Wills & Testaments for my ancestors and those I have found have been for men with land or who had some wealth. So far, Jacob Hornef is the only ancestor I have found in that database.
I have transcribed his Last Will & Testament. It was signed in 1876 and probate was filed in 1895. His wife is named as executrix. His children are not mentioned. Both he and his wife signed their names using old German script:
*
Jacob Hornef (m. Katharina Faber)
— Catherine Hornef (m. Elon Carman)
—- Joseph Elon Carman (m. Anna M. Funston)
—— Naomi Evelyn Carman (m. Orville W. Garrison)
——– Carol Lucille Garrison (m. Charles E. Conrad)
———- Me
