Johann Gerhard Will

Or was born on 3/23/1720, or 1721, in Kassel, DE.

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• Arrived in Philadelphia, ship Friendship.
• Evidently what prompted immigration was when father died and left all family property to the son of his first marriage
• 1746: granted 200 acres of land in Windsor Twp, Berks Co, PA
• 1765: sold his land in Pennsylvania
• late 1760: moved to North Carolina

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Gerhard Will, supposedly born in Hesse Cassel, Germany, came to Pennsylvania on the ship Friendship, from Rotterdam and then to Cowes, England, landing in Philadelphia November 2, 1744. He married Barbara Drach, daughter of Rudolph Drach, who came from the Palatinate, Germany in 1730 and they had nine children. They settled in Windsor Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania in 1746 on a 200 acre farm, which he farmed for 30 years before selling it to Michael and Henry Baker and moved to Tyrone County, North Carolina, where he purchased what he describes in his will as a plantation. He later adds to this a tract of land purchased from Adam Clonninger. Mr. Will was to have spent the rest of his days farming this land, as can be evidenced in his last will and testament.