- Dear Relatives:
- You will probably be surprised that today a relative of yours, a cousin of your deceased mother is writing you a few lines. I was born in the same village where, in the year 1840, your grandfather, the furrier Robert Koeshlich was born, who afterwards died in Schwerin. We are all in pretty good health and trust that the same is true in regard to all of you. Now I want to take up the matter in regard to which I am writing to you.
On May 1st of this year, there died in Leisnitz, District of Leobschuetz, Upper Silesia, an aunt of ours, by the name of Rosalie Porschke nee Koeslich. She was childless and was the co-owner of a small farm. Her husband, however, wants to marry again and for this reason he must obtain from the relatives, i.e., from the sisters and brothers of his deceased wife an inheritance certificate, or in other words, we are supposed to inherit something. It will not amount to much and perhaps it will be sufficient to cover the expenses. He wants to give us 500 marks; there are concerned in this connection five brothers and sisters: Johann Koeshlich, my father, is dead for the last seventeen years; Francisca Koeshlich is also dead; Robert Koeshlich, your grandfather; Josefa Koeshlich is still alive, 81 years old and also Bertha Koeshlich is still alive. In this manner every brother and sister will receive 100 marks.
If everyone were still alive, everybody would receive 100 marks, but now there are many more children, it will hardly be worth while. However, we are compelled to go to the hearing of the court to Leobschuetz. For this purpose we must have several documents, and as your mother Emma Koeshlich is dead, you must send me the marriage certificate and the death certificate of your mother Emma Koeshlich; I do not know the name of your father. You naturally will. We must also have the birth certificates of all the children of your mother. I do not know whether there are two children or more. The lawyer at Leobshuetz must have this. You must send this to me as quickly as possible and I must have these papers within 4 weeks, as all the other papers are now together with the exception of your papers.
Unfortunately, there are concerned 500 marks and not $500.00, but unfortunately, we here in Germany are such poor devils. I myself had all kinds of troubles. In 1907 I married and took over the house of my father but there were many debts. When I had gotten on my feet somewhat, the war broke out and this was my misfortune. In 1917 my wife died while I was a soldier in the field with four children. One year later I married again but thing didn't go along so well as before the war.
Everything is so expensive and I am getting older from day to day and I do not know how things will turn out in the end. I hardly believe that I will see again the good times I had in former times. However, I now want to stop with my complaints as this doesn't do one any good. I wanted to remind you again that you must send me the marriage certificate and death certificate of your mother and the birth certificates of your children as quickly as possible or send me a certificate to the effect that all you children waive the inheritance and in such event, the inheritance would be received by your uncles August Karl, Wilhelm, Alfred and Johannes Koeshlich. They have already submitted their papers.
My address is Josef Koeshlich
Deutsche-Rasselwitz, Kr. Neustadt,
Oberschlesien, Germany
- LINK BACK to Smith Family Vital Records
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