PRALL: Benjamin Prall, Edward's younger brother, was an interesting research project. Early on all that was known about him was that he was the son of Aaron and Mary [Whittaker] Prall. There was some misinformation published about him as well.
The breakthrough came when I came across his will in a folder of "miscellaneous" information at the Deats Library in Flemington, NJ. [Info has since been filmed.] There were two pertinent documents, Benjamin's will and an affidavit from the man who had been in possession of the will.
Benjamin had been on a business trip in Bucks Co., Pennsylvania in 1784 and became seriously ill. Prall wrote his will and left it with George Wegner, at whose house he had been staying. Benjamin died intestate in 1791. Various family members [siblings, nieces and nephews] were named legal heirs. Wegner eventually learned of the merchant's death and submitted the will to the Hunterdon Co., NJ Court.
In the will, Benjamin named his sister Elizabeth executrix and heir. His estate was to go to Benjamin Jr. when Elizabeth died. Junior was to provide for his sisters Elizabeth and Jemima.
Unfortunately for Benjamin's children, all three were illegitimate and could not inherit the estate. Ironically, the kids all had the same mother, Rachel Snyder.
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