[11-3] SUSANNA KRAUSS [E 13], b Dec. 1, 1710; d July 24, 1794; dau Melchior and Anna (Heidrig) Krauss [11]; m CORNELIUS NEIS (NICE), b ab. 1701; d Oct. 1754; buried in Mennonite Cem., Germantown. Cornelius Nice was a distiller. Youngest child born after father’s death. Unable to verify data, but seems to have had the following family:
Children (10):
Bostian Miller was appointed guardian of Christopher, Sarah, and Susanna; Thomas Rose guardian of David and Cornelius.
“Susanna, sister of Balthasar and Melchior Krauss, a widow, for 20 years lives in Germantown and owns her house and garden and her sister Maria is still living, a widow.”
[Letter, C. Hoffman, to Teuchmann June 7, 1787—S. H. L.]
“Cornelius (Nice), who was a distiller, settled in Cresheim, now called Chestnut Hill and owned two tracts of land, one containing fifty-six acres in Cresheim and one containing about ten acres in Germantown. He died about the year 1760, and left a wife named Susanna and ten children; John being the oldest, got the land at a valuation made by the Court.
They became the parents of fifteen children, the following five of whom are still living: John and Samuel (twins) age seventy-nine years; Margaret, wife of Reuben Myers, aged seventy-seven years; Caroline, wife of Abraham Kulp, aged seventy-one years and Harper, aged sixty-nine years. John Nice died in September, 1851, and his wife Sarah a few months later. It is a remarkable case that of all these family connections there are but two families who do not live within a radius of fifteen miles from the old homestead. The total number of descendants of the subject of this sketch was 355 of whom 266 are now living.”
Nice Reunion was held on the old homestead farm opposite Lawnton Station on the north Penn. Railroad.
Eugene E. Nice read a paper on the family. [Nice papers, Vol. 1, p 165, Newspaper clipping.]
Cornelius Nice, distiller, of Cresheim, Germantown township, died Oct. 23, 1754, leaving a widow, Susanna, and the following children: John, Elizabeth (married ——— Rapp), William, Anna, Mary (married Abraham Rittenhouse), Christopher, Sarah, Susanna, Jr., Daniel and Cornelius, Jr.
Susanna Nice, Jr., married Winnard Nice, an innkeeper of Germantown, whose will, made in 1802, speaks of his wife and four children: Mary, Winnard, Susanna, and William, and son-in-law, Conrad Henkle. Conrad Henkle’s will proved Apr. 14, 1845, speaks of wife, Mary, and four children: William, Winnard, Susanna, and John. [Article from “Germantown.”]
Inventory £216. 1s. 1d.
By Ballance due and left towards paying a Debt of said Estate of Fifty-five Pounds Principal Sum and its Interest due to William Allen, Esq., and towards defraying the unsettled charges of Susannah Nice (the Deceased’s widow) of her lying in soon after the said Cornelius Nice, Deceased, and for her maintaining Sundry of the said deceased’s small children to this time, March A.D., 1759.
Susanna Neissen
John Nice
William Nice
| VALUATION OF LAND. |
| Exclusive of Widow’s Dower | 423. 2. 0 |
| Widow’s Dower | 211. 11. 0 |
| Surplusage | 223. 2. 6 |
| Balance former Account | 0. 0. 3 |
| 857. 15. 9 |
| TOTAL BALANCE | £537. 18. 0 |
| To John Nice eldest Son, 2 shrs. | 97. 16. 0 |
| Elizabeth (Rupp) | 48. 18. 0 |
| William Nice | 48. 18. 0 |
| Anna Nice | 48. 18. 0 |
| Mary Rittenhouse | 48. 18. 0 |
| Three Shares of Christopher Nice, Sarah Nice, Susanna Nice, Jr., three of the said Intestate children and minors under age of Twenty-one years. Bostian Miller, Guardian | 146. 14. 0 |
| Remaining two shares of David Nice and Cornelius Nice, Jr. Thomas Rose (Guardian) | 97. 16. 0 |
| May 15, 1760. | 537. 18. 0 |
“I Susanna Nice, widow and relict of Cornelius Nice late of Germantown Twp., bequeath to my Son Cornelius, my Daughter Susanna, my Grandson Enoch Rittenhouse, my Granddaughter Susanna, youngest daughter of my daughter Susanna, my Son-in-law Winnard Nice, etc.
I give the residue to all my grand-children (those in Nova Scotia born to my son Cornelius of his second wife only excepted.)
I appoint as my Executors my trusty friend Christopher Yeakle, Jr., and my said son-in-law Winnard Nice.
I give the power to sell my house and lot in Germantown, my lot of land in Roxborough in tennure of my son-in-law Winnard Nice.”
Signed 1792—Aug. 7. Probated 1795—Aug. 16.
No. 5218 Germantown Avenue was drawn in the names of John Simons and William Streeper. The next owner was Jan de Neus.
John Nice died 1719 being survived by his wife Elizabeth and six children, Matthias, Cornelius, Wynard, William, Alietze (Alice) and Gertrude.
Alice married Dirck Keyser; Wynard Nice purchased the property owned by his father etc. Owned property 1772. [Hist. of Old Germantown Property, Vol. I, p 220.]
A John Nice died Sept. 29, 1851, intestate, leaving widow Sarah and the following children:
William; Maria Livezey, widow; Ann Kulp, widow; Sarah, m George K. Heller; John (?); Samuel; Margaret, m Reuben Meyers; Harper; Caroline, m Abraham Kulp; Elizabeth; Rachel, m Daniel Cuckle.
Widow and children of Thomas Nice, the oldest son, who died Sept., 1851:
Sarah, widow; John, Tacey, Nathan, William, (of lawful age); Thomas, George (above fourteen); Charles (under fourteen). [Deed Book, T. H. 26; 13. City Hall, Phila.]
While the above are possibly descendants of Cornelius Nice, it has been impossible to identify them positively as his descendants. [Editor.]
Parents’ family: [11] Anna Krauss
Children’s own families: