Christopher Trauger was born May 15, 1760 (calculated), in Nockamixon Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, the son of Johann Christian and Anna Barbara Stein Trauger. He married circa 1782 to Maria Magdalena Mast (Maust), daughter of Jacob and Elisabeth Catharina Mast. They were the parents of 7 children: Jacob M., John Christian, Elizabeth, Sarah, John, Catharina and Joseph Trauger. Christopher was my 5g-grandfather.


Will of Christopher Trauger of Nockamixon Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania; written 05 July 1828, proven 13 July 1844:

"In the name of God, amen. I Christopher Trauger of Nockamixon Township, County of Bucks, and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, yeoman, being weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory, blessed be the almighty God for the same, do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following...
"First it is my will that all my just debts and funeral charges to be paid by my executors hereinafter named. Item, I also give and bequeath unto my son Joseph Trauger and his heirs and assigns all them two tracts and messuages of land whereon I now live containing about ninety four acres as for up to the new line which was lately run between my two farms and also ten acres of timber land situate in Durham Township, bounded by lands of Lewdiwick Afflerbach, John Kohl and others. Which said two tracts of land and all the improvements I value to him at fifteen hundred dollars to be paid in six payments, the first payment of four hundred to be paid one year after my decease without interest, and the remaining eleven hundred dollars to be paid in five equal payments without interest, the first payment thereof to be paid two years after my decease and so on, annually till said eleven hundred dollars are paid; and it is my will that as the payments become due and payable that my son Joseph shall retain his share out of each and every payment as they become due;
"And is it also my will and I do give and devise unto my son John Trauger and to his heirs or assigns all them two tracts and messuages of land whereon my son John Trauger now lives including the lot which I bought of Conrad Oberbeck situate in Nockamixon Township containing about ninety four acres more or less and also five acres of timber land situate in Durham Township, bounded by lands of John Adams, dec'd. and Jacob Cressman and others, which said two tracts of land and the improvements thereon I value to him at ten hundred dollars and to be paid in manner following without interest, that is to say two hundred dollars one year after my decease, and two hundred dollars two years after my decease, and two hundred dollars annually until said ten hundred dollars are paid, and it is my will that my son John Trauger shall retain his share out of each and every payment aforesaid as they become due.
"And it is my will that in a convenient time after my decease that my executors hereinafter named shall sell at public sale all the residue of my personal estate to the best advantage; and also the rest and residue of my real estate which is not already willed or bequeathed, that is to say the lot situate in Nockamixon Township containing forty eight acres of land, bounded by lands of the late Frederick Trauger, deceased, and others. I do hereby authorize and impower my executors hereinafter named to execute a good and lawful deed or deeds for the above mentioned lot as if I were present myself, and in case my son Joseph Trauger or my son John Trauger if any of them should refuse and not willing to take the real estate which I have devised unto each of them and by such refusal I do hereby authorize and impower my executors to sell by public sale such (or whose lot of said Joseph or John so refused). Also to make a good and lawful deed or deeds for any part or the whole thereof so refused of them or any of them or their shares so devised, as I were present myself. And, all the money arising out of my real and personal estate, first I give and bequeath unto my daugher Sarah, intermarried to Philip Nice, the interest of three hundred dollars annually the first year's interest to be paid two years after my decease and then so on annually during the life of said Philip Nice and in case Philip Nice should die before his wife Sarah, then and in such case my daughter Sarah (wife of said Philip Nice) shall receive immediately with interest unpaid the said three hundred dollars and no sooner, except the interest annually hereintofore bequeathed to her, for her share in full out of my real and personal estate besides what she has had of me, and in case my daughter Sarah (wife of said Philip Nice) should die or decease before said Philip Nice, then and in such case the said three hundred dollars with the interest unpaid shall be equally divided among her children share and share alike.
"I also give and bequeath unto my daughter Catharina, intermarried to David Growman, fifty dollars besides what she has had of me, and that in full of her share out of my real and personal estate and to be paid to her or to her heirs one year after my decease.
"I also give and bequeath unto my grandchild, Solomon Trauger (the oldest son of my son John Trauger) one hundred dollars which said one hundred dollars shall be deducted out of my son John Trauger's share.
"And the rest or residue of all mthe money arising out of my real and personal estate shall be equally divided amongst my five other children, namely to my sons Jacob Trauger, Christian Trauger, John Trauger and Joseph Trauger, and my daugher Elizabeth, intermarried to Emanuel Worman, share and share alike.
"And lastly I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my son Jacob Trauger and my son Joseph Trauger to be my executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me made heretofore. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fifth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand, eight hundred and twenty eight." ---signed Stophel Trauger