BULLETIN HISTORICAL 50CIETY MONTGOMERY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA JV^OI^R/STOWM

S2LIERY

PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY AT IT5 R00M5 18 EAST PENN STREET NORRISTOWN.PA.

OCTOBER, 1952 VOLUME VIII NUMBER 3

PRICE ONE DOLLAR Historical Society of Montgomery County

OFFICERS

Donald A. Gallager, Esq., President George K. Brecht, Esq., First Vice-President Foster C. Hillegass, Second Vice-president David E. Groshens, Esq., Third Vice-President Eva G. Davis, Recording Secretary Helen E. Richards, Corresponding Secretary Mrs. LeRoy Bubris, Financial Secretary Lyhan a. Eratz, Treasurer Mrs. LeRoy Burris, Librarian

TRUSTEES

Kirke Bryan, Esq. Mrs. H. H. Francine Donald A. Gallager, Esq. Herbert H. Ganser Nancy P. Highley Foster C. Hillegass Mrs. a. Conrad Jones Hon. Harold G. Knight Lyman a. Kratz Katharine Preston Franklin A. Stickler Mrs. James I. Wendell Mrs. Franklin B. Wildman, Jr. Norbis D. Wright 1-n4«-ROBERT MAY 2-1742-ROBERT MAY 3-t74l-HANS NICHOLAS MILLER 4-t747-HANS NICHOLAS MILLER APPHOK 5-I74I-MARTIN BECHTEL COUKSE or SPMOQEL% 1746.ANDREW KEPLER UN 7-I749-CHRISTIAN 8LEIM S-1746-ADAM READER APPKOy. eOUTE GREAT ROAD ro JOSEPH H ARW o; O D 9-ni5-HENRY WENOER PHlLAOELPmA 10-1770.HANS JACOB BECHTEL 11-1716 ROBERT MAY II-I74S-HENRY WENOER l3-n43-JACOB FRICK t4-|749-MARTIN URNER CHAS LODWICK SPROCELL HANS FRIET 15-1746-JACOB SHANTZ WITTS 16-1740-JAMES BROOK 17-1728-JACOB URNER BuavNa CROUNO 18-n3S-JACOe URNER 19-1723-CORNELIUS DEWEES JOHN 20-1734-JOHN LEWIS ASHBAUCH 21-n34-'B7-ABRAHAM UPDEORAF 22-1745-WALTER LEWIS MAT H 1 A S CREHTZMAN 13'-n40-MELCHIOR HIGH 24-1743-PHILIP HIGH A R NOLD 25-1727-JOHN GEORGE WEGEAR MOSES H/AY MAN 26-1730-MICHAEL FEADLEY JACOB CORNELIUS D EXW EES URNER 2.7-1726-PETER RODERMEL 28-1749-JACOB HIGH BRAyHAM SAMUEL USSELMAN JOHN LEWIS 29-1736- SAMUEL MU5SELMAN JACO B XH Ig' H

JOHN

PETER RODERMEL

HANOVER PLANT AT I ON

THAT PART OF MICHAEL PEADLEV^

THE GERMAN TRACT BENJAMIN PURLEy NOW INCLUDED IN LOWER POTTSCROVe TOWNSHIP

JOHN HENRY SPROOEL SCALf PEACKES PROPRI ETOR OIO?» 50 ISO 900 9 so THE BULLETIN

of the

Historical Society of Montgomery County

Published SemirAnnually — October and April

Volume VIII October, 1952 Number S

CONTENTS

Marriages by Rev. Daniel Weiser 1833-1863 Kenneth H. Hallman 163 Early History of Lower Pottsgrove Township Rev. Carl T. Smith 192 Detective Work Among the Benners Hannah Benner Roach 202 Deaths in the Skippack Region (Compiled) 231 Reports 248

PUBLICATION COMMITTEE

Mrs. LeRoy Burris Jean E. Gottshall

Charles R. Barker, Chairman

161 Marriages by Rev. Daniel Weiser, D.D.

New Goshenhoppen Reformed Church Great Swamp Reformed Church

1833 -1863

Prepared by

Kenneth H. Hallhan

Two and a quarter centuries ago on October 12, Rev. George Michael Weiss, recently arrived from Germany, cele brated communion with the pioneer Reformed group at New Goshenhoppen in what is now Upper Hanover Township, Montgomery County, and made a written report of the service to the Church Fathers in Holland. Thus begins the recorded history of the Congregation, although tradition places the beginnings many years earlier. In 1952 this date also fell on a Sunday, and the Congrega tion observed the anniversary with a similar partaking of the sacrament. Further services in honor of the event were held two weeks later, October 26. In connection with these celebra tions the pastor, Rev. Calvin M. DeLong, D.D., and a commit tee published a commemorative history of the Congregation entitled "Two Hundred Twenty-Five Years at New Goshen hoppen". The booklet contains more than forty illustrations and a "brief" history of the Congregation down to 1903, the beginning of the present pastorate. (This latter part was not included because May 31, 1953 will mark the Golden Anniver sary of the present pastorate, and a similar booklet is planned for the spring in honor of Dr. DeLong.) The first century of the Congregation had been covered rather exhaustively by the late Dr. William J. Hinke, the noted

168 164 bulletin of historical society of MONTGOMERY COUNTY historian of the Reformed Church, in his 1920 work, "The Goshenhoppen Charge, 1727-1833". Little had been done about the pastorates of the four ministers since 1833, and Dr. DeLong's account is all the more interesting. A copy of "Two Hundred Twenty-Five Years at New Gosh enhoppen" is in the library of the Society. Similarly, Dr. Hinke's work contained the complete baptis mal, marriage, and burial records of the charge, complete as far as these had been recorded and preserved. (The Society published an index to these records, prepared by this writer, in Volume VII, numbers 1, 2, and 3.) The pastoral acts of the last four ministers, however, have not been published. Rev. Daniel Weiser, D.D., (1799-1875) was the great- grandson of the celebrated Conrad Weiser of colonial fame. In 1833 after about ten years' service in an extensive charge in the vicinity of his native Selinsgrove, Dr. Weiser accepted a call to New Goshenhoppen, which with Great Swamp — now Trinity Reformed — in Lower Milford Township, Lehigh County, at that time formed the New Goshenhoppen charge. He recorded few New Goshenhoppen baptisms, unfortunately, buthe listed his burials and his marriages. It will be noticed in the following alphabetical list of marriages that several marriages are entered after Dr. Weiser retired in 1863. Whether these entries were made by his son. Dr. Clement Z. Weiser, who succeeded him at New Goshen hoppen, or were marriages performed by the aged minister after his retirement, is not indicated. At least two of the services were performed by the son, according to notes in the records. The original Weiser records are written in German script and some of the names are not easily decipherable. The writer accordingly followed a manuscript prepared several decades ago by the late Mahlon Hillegass, long an active member of the Congregation. Many of the principals in the list were contemporaries of Mr. Hillegass, and so he did not experience the same difficulties in deciphering the Weiser writing. The REV. DANIEL WEISER, D. D.

1833-1863 UABRIAGES BY BEY. DANIEL WEISER—1888.1863 165

two lists were checked, however, and some discrepancies were noted and corrected. The original spelling was followed, but where there were several variations of the same name, these were usually all listed under the more commonly found present-day spelling. * K. H. H.

*The reader will note that the double-indexing of the names in the following record makes unnecessary a separate index of women's names. Variations in spelling of the same name have been grouped together and will not necessarily be found in their alphabetical order. (Publica tion Committee.)

Albrecht Barbara Nathan Stahl Nov 29 1835 Alin Catharine Elias Gerhard Mar 81836 Althaus Daniel Sarah Stahl Nov 241844 Althaus Joh Elisabeth Graber Aug 15 1847 Althaus Lydia Jacob Sechler Nov 11840 Althaus Susana Antony Seibert Dec 21849 Anders Samuel Christina Meschter Oct 17 1844 Andreas Benjamin Amanda Griesemer Apr 261860 Andreas Oath Daniel Royer Dec 25 1855 Antrim -Charles Maria Ochs Jan 15-1859 Antrim Edwin Susana Gehman Nov 27 1860 Antrim Lucinda Nathan Roeder . Nov 25 1854 Apel Elisabeth Ann Abraham Shell bee 1873 Arnold Solomon Cath Oberholtzer Nov 13 1836 Bach Lewis Maria Frecilla Hillegi ;s May 61856 Bach Maria Joel Bleyler Mar 1838 Bachman Carl Sarah Fayett Berndt Nov 26 1846 Bachman Sams Anna Klein July 21848 Baer Ephraim Rebecka Wiegner May 31841 Bahl Charles Rebecka Rotrock Sept 101837 Bahl Edward Elisabeth Frey July 91843 Bahl Josep Maria Jaeoby Oct 27 1839 Bahl Maria Jacob Jacoby Apr 31842 BARTHOLOMEW and many variations ;j^g0 BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Bartholey Abelina Wilhelm Hartman Feb 9 1856 Bartholome George Emeline Thompson Mar 25 1856 Bertholme Hannah Isaac Rosenberger Sept 13 1856 Bartholomer Jacob Lydia Rodenberger Nov 211858 Barthalma Lydia Carl Schlicher Jan 91853 Barthalme Maria Nathaniel Mack Mar 26 1853 Bassler Jacob Barbara Schelly Nov 111838 Bauman Cath Jacob Rieth Sept 24 1837 Bauman Wilhelm Chrisara Klein Sept 141854 Bean John W Amanda Sterner Oct 141871 Beber Samuel Anna Wagner June 91866 Bechtel Abraham Catharina Moyer Nov 10 1855 Bechtel Abraham Phebe Schelly Aug 29 1844 Bechtel Elisabeth Georg Krauss Oct 131836 Bechtel Elisabeth Jonas Moyer Nov 15 1838 Bechtel Isaac Sahra Kaeser Feb 211836 Bechtel Martin Mary Ann Dotts Feb 3 1844 Bechtel Susana John Moyer Oct 31852 Bechtel Susana Johannes Young Sept 51841 Bechtel Susanna Peter Yoder Dec 111836 Bechtel Wilhelm Hannah Schultz Feb 21845 Becker Mar. Ann Harrison Lord May 201838 Beischer Emma Lucy Reuben Moll Dec 191857 Bender Caroline Solomon Herb June 8 1866 Benkes Peter Sarah Bucher Nov 3185B Berkey Daniel Cath Staufer Dec 131846 Berkey Mahlon Sarah Geissinger June 16 1855 Berkey Nathan Cath Ann Scherer Jan 301848 Berndt Sarah Fayett Carl Bachman Nov 26 1846 Berret Nathan Werletta Hum Mar 311854 Berret Sarah Ann Heinrich Fuchs May 101850 Berret Willoughby L Mary Anna Sechler Dec 281861 Bitting Levi L Louisa Hangen Sept 31853 Bieler David Amanda Krauss Nov 51853 Bieler Heinrich Barbara Oberholtzer Oct 261834 Biehler Joh Anna Gumerer Mar 231845 Blanck Amelia Thomas Hersch Feb 21851 MARRIAGES BY REV. DANIEL WEISER — 1833-1863 167

Blanck Elisa Reuben Gery Dec 271846 Blanck Lovina Daniel Hersch June 3 1855 Bieam Maria Jonathan Fretz Sept 111852 Bleyler Joel Maria Bach Mar 1838 Bloch Wilhelm Hetty Wieand Dec 291851 Bobb Cassia Joh Kehl June 13 1858 Bobb Heinrich -Elisabeth Hillegass Feb 21834 Bobb James Susana Gery Dec 201857 Boerntz (?) Maria Jesse Doll Sept 27 1857 Bolig Wilhelm Sarah Rosenberger Aug 18 1844 Bortz Benjamin Anna Moll Oct 271850 Bortz John Heinrich Emeline Holder Dec 241861 Bossert Enos Heneretta Ehl Sept 11849 Bossert Hanna Adam Boyer Jan 81837 Bossert John Elisabeth Weidner Jan 171858 Bossert Lewis Nancy Moyer Jan d1848 Bossert Lydia Heinrich Jacob Nov 17 1850 Bossert Reuben Elisabeth Jacob Dec 25 1852 Bossert Sarah Mathias Rummel Nov 81846 Boyer Adam Hanna Bossert Jan 81837 Boyer George Cath Ann Keiper Oct 14 1860 Boyer Sarah Heinrich Hillegass Dec 31837 Brey Joh Maria Wieand Jan 71855 Brey Solomon Susana Wieand Feb 111838 Bucher Maria Francis Merkel Oct 171842 Bucher Sarah Peter Benkes Nov 1855 Buck Carl Dina Royer Jan 28 1844 Buck Charles A Sarah G Lehman Mar 61875 Buck Jacob Matilda McNulty Aug 21855 Burger Judit Michael Hersch Jan 19 1840 Burger Rholan M Hannah M. Drumheller Feb 15 1862 Burkholder Carl Maria Hechler Mar 61853 Burkholder Caroline Elias Schuler Feb 15 1853 Butz Benneville Emma Louisa Heist Sept 301862 Butz Elisabeth Amanda Henry Hillegass Oct 6 1856 Carl George G Emeline Hillegass Nov 19 1859 ]^0g BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Carl Nathan Anna Maria Trump Dec 27 1849 Carl Joh Sara Traup Apr 28 1850 Christman Joh Susan Gery Mar 211847 Christman Susana Daniel Weikel Oct 251860 Cope Caroline Heinrich Kolp Oct 271855 Cope Emeline Aaron Schitz May 30 1852 Corner Jacob ThemaKolp' Jan 21853 Dallman Georg Cath Mangold Dec 24 1848 Daub Maria Jesse Rieth Nov 241844 DeChant Augustus L, Rev Susana Wesco Nov 13 1851 Deischer Carl Sarah Hallman Mar 10 1839 Deischer Clara Josep Hallman Jan 28 1838 Deischer Elisabeth David Gery Nov 10 1844 Deischer Georg Susana Roeder Jan 1840 Deischer Joel Lydia Hiestand Aug 141842 Deischer Judit Joseph Schneider June 251854 Deischer Lovina JohnWieand Feb 141857 Deischer Nathaniel Lydia Hallman July 10 1853 Deischer Sarah JohFrey May 8 1841 Derr Carl Elisabeth Reinhard May 30 1852 Derr Sahra Jacob Staudt Dec 21838 Derr Samuel Barbara Schelly Apr 41841 Derstein Sarah Joh Miller June 111859 Dickenschied Anna M Dr Samuel Young Nov 7 1838 Dickenshield Chas H Dr Elvina Spinner June 5 1845 Dickenshied Diana Rev NS Strassberger Nov 29 1849 Diefenderfer Lydia Daniel F Griesemer Nov 111858 Diener Anna Juliana Joh Moyer Oct 9 1842 Dietz Reuben Susan Eberhard Apr 19 1846 Dimmig Charles Sahra Mumbauer Dec 71834 Dimmig Eveline Thomas K Gerhard Dec 25 1860 Dimmig John Sophia Roeder Dec 3 1837 Doll Charles Elisabeth Schwenk Oct 311857 Doll Jesse Maria Boertz (?) Sept 271857 Dotterer Elisabeth Abraham Koch Sept 13 1856 MABRIAGES BY RBV. DANIEL WEISEB—1838.•1863 169

Dotts Henry Capt Maria McNulty Dec 71844 Dotts Cath Philip Super Dec 31837 Dotts Elisabeth Aaron Staufer Nov 29 1845 Dotts Mary Ann Martin Bechtel Feb 31844 Doyle Louisa Josiah Hillegass Oct 51858 Dressier Judit Samuel Welker • May 27 1849 Dressier William Mary Ann Rieth Mar 23 1851 Drumheller Hannah Rholan M Burger Feb 15 1862 Dubbs Aaron Maria Schantz • Feb 111846 Dubs Jacob Lydia Eberhard Feb 21845 Eberhard Cath David McNulty Aug 11836 Eberhard David Sarah Strunk Oct 24 1847 Eberhard George Gatharina Scherer Feb 13 1844 Eberhard George Elisabeth Sherer Dec 14 1834 Eberhard Heinrich Maria Hunsberger May 71859 Eberhard Lydia Jacob Dubs Feb 21845 Eberhard Margreta Jacob Schultz Dec 18 1836 Eberhard Isabella Daniel Neidig Oct 11859 Eberhard Sarah W Mahlon Hillegass Oct 11859 Eberhard Susan Reuben Dietz Apr 19 1846 Eberhard Thomas Susana Jacoby July 51846 Ehl Elisa Peter Huebner May 281843 Ehl Heneretta Enos Bossert Sept 11849 Ehl Stephen Cath Ann Mumbauer Sept 21854 Eisenhart Joh Cath Hiestand Mar 26 1837 Engelman Maria Elisabeth Wilhelm Engelman; Sept 28 1858 Engelman Wilhelm Maria Elisabeth Engelman Sept 281858 Erdman Elisabeth Wilhelm Hangen Feb 6 1853 Erdman Reuben Maria Hillegass • May 3 1846 Erdman Sophia Samuel Rodenburger Get 22 1837 Erney David Elisabeth Shafer Dec 141834 Eschbach Maria GeorgFrey Oct 91853 Fawinger Elisabeth Dillman Zilegler Jan 19 1851 FEGLEY, FOGLY, FOEGLEY, etc. Fogly Daniel Sarah Lieser Aug 71836 170 BULLETIN OF HISTOEICAL SOCIETY OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Foegley Joh Elisabeth Graber Apr 25 1852 Foegly John Maria Huber Dec 20 1840 Foegly Hetty Georg Hillegass Mar 24 1839 Foegly Leanna Levi Sassaman June 14 1861 Fogly Rebecca Jonas Renninger Nov 29 1835 Fenstermacher Jesias Elisabeth Fried Aug 18 1839 Filman Hetty Ruben Scheifly May 81842 Fischer Sarah AH Georg W Hillegass June 6 1848 Flieger Joh Lydia Schneider Apr 17 1836 Fluck Milton L Emma C Roeder Jan 101863 Fox Washington Mary Oberholtzer June 24 1860 (See a;so FUCHS) FREED, FRIED Fried Carl Elisa Jones • Mar 16 1845 Fried Oath Conrad Schmidt Nov 19 1837 Fried Elisabeth Jesias Fenstermacher Aug 18 1839 Fried Susana Enos Schantz Feb 221846 Fretz Daniel Hetty Nester Sept 17 1837 Fretz Jonathan Maria Bleam Sept 111842 Frey Elisabeth Edward Bahl July 91843 Frey Elisabeth Reuben Sell Aug 81847 Frey Georg Maria Eschbach Oct 91853 Frey Heinrich Ester Trump Sept 61835 Frey Johannes Maria Schroyer June 71835 Frey Joh Sarah Deischer May 31841 Frey Maria Christian Long Aug 61848 Freyei' Elisabeth Solomon Steier Feb 81851 Friederich Sophia Abraham Huebner June 81861 Friederich Jesias Sarah Ann Kolp Oct 19 1855 Fries Lydia Samuel Weyand Nov 16 1834 Fronheiser Rebecka Josel Miller Mar 211857 Fuchs Cat Isaac Krauss Mar 211857 Fuchs Heinrich Sarah Ann Berret May 10 1850 Fuchs Maria Rufus Schuler Feb 221846 (See also FOX ) • Funk Daniel Elisa Weber Feb 211836 Gabel Maria Nathan Gery May 26 1844 MARRIAGES BY REV. DANIEL WEISEB—leaS-•1863 171

Gehman Susana Edwin Antrim Nov 27 1860 Geisel Sarah Georg Schlicher Aug 25 1839 Geisinger Lydia Jacob Schelly Nov 5 1837 Geissinger Sarah Mahlon Berkey June 16 1855 Geisinger Sarra Wilhelm Schelly Sept 23 1838 Geisinger Sophia Joh Koch Nov 71847 Georg Hannah Jonathan Schoenly June 17 1849 Georg Jacob Sophia Graber Sept 11850 GERHARD, GERHART Gerhard Anna Josep Staudt July 16 1843 Gerhard Elias Catharine Alin Mar 81835 Gerhart Joh Lea Kemmerer Apr 12 1834 Gerhard Jonas Barbara Weis Sept 9 1838 Gerhard Lydia Ely Lofton May 211837 Gerhard Nancy Daniel Schultz Mar 27 1842 Gerhard Thomas K Eveling Dimmig Dec 25 1860 Geris Maria Jonathan Gery Dec 25 1836 Gery Aaron Lydia Wieand Feb 41841 Gery Anna Tobias Reif Nov 211852 Gery Benjamin Lovina Krauss Feb 15 1853 Gery Daniel Margretta Maetzger Dec 15 1833 Gery David Elisabeth Deischer Nov 10 1844 Gery Elisabeth Wilhelm Mack May 16 1856 Gery Gideon Elvina Levy Aug 21856 Gery Helena Franklin Steinman Feb 15 1862 Gery Jesse Amanda Elis Pannebecker Nov 31844 Gery Jonathan Maria Geris Dec 25 1836 Gery Jonathan Sahra Miller Feb 41844 Gery Judit Wilhelm C Roeder Nov 23 1845 Gery Lydia Daniel Roeder Dec 41859 Gery Maria Joh Hersch Nov 28 1847 Gery Mary Stephen Weidner Oct 31857 Gery Matilda Joseph Treichler Mar 111855 Gery Nathan Maria Gabel May 26 1844 Gery Rebecka Joh Sassaman Apr 121834 Gery Reuben Elisa Blanck Dec 27 1846 172 BULLETIN OP HISTOEICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Gery Samuel Ester Sell Nov 3 1833 Gary Sarah Edwin Schoch Nov 19 1848 Gery Sarah Georg Siesholtz Nov 31844 Gery Susan Joh Christman Mar 211847 Gery Susana James Bobb Dec 201857 Gilbert David Lydia Graber Get 241847 Gilbert Hetty Samuel Hartranft June 19 1853 Gilbert Samuel Cath Krauss May 151853 Gilbert Wilhelm Rachael Royer . Jan 241841 Ginkinger Lucius Maria Heil Jan 23 1858 Gordon Sahra Anna Joh Schlicher June 11845 Graber Carl Caroline Knetz Get 31852 Graber Elisabeth Joh Althaus Aug 15 1847 Graber Elisabeth Joh Foegley Apr 25 1852 Graber Elisabeth Georg Penebecker Nov 27 1836 Graber Ester Samuel Roeder Dec 25 1838 Graber Lydia David Gilbert Get 241847 Graber Sophia Jacob Georg Sept 11850 Grace John W Sarah Ann Hillegass Mar 6 1852 Grames Elisabeth Melchior Scharp Mar 16 1854 Gregory Nathaniel "Matilda Wiegner June 71862 Greis Barbara Jesse Hunsberger Jan 23 1842 Grenn Anna Daniel Reinhart Nov 171850 Gri'esemer Aaron LydiaHersch Get 201844 Griesemer Amanda • Benjamin Andreas Apr 26 1860 Griesemer Carl Susaha Staufer Get 21836 Griesemer Daniel F Lydia Diefenderfer Nov 111858 Griesemer David Sophia Bering Aug 28 1842 Griesemer Elisabeth Barbara Reuben Roeder June 141856 Griesemer Solomon Rachael Nuss Nov 23 1834 Grim Cath Joh Steier Get 271860 Grove Jesse Susan Nuss Feb 271847 Greulich Charles * Susana Wolf Nov 301861 Gucker Samuel Lydia Reed Apr 31836 Gulli Dewalt Hannah Rodenberger Apr 281850 Gumerer Anna Joh Biehler Mar 23 1845 MARRIAGES BY REV. DANIEL WEI8ER—1888.1863 173

Gumerer Elisabeth Joh Kehl May 25 1845 Guth Georg Lydia Roeder Mar 12 1837 Hallman Edward Lydia Miller Dec 301847 Hallman Hetty Wilhelm Trump Aug 25 1844 Hallman Lydia Nathaniel Deischer July 10 1853 Hallman Josep Clara Deischer Jan 28 1838 Hallman Sarah Carl Deischer Mar 10 1839 Hamscher Hannah Wilhelm Thompson Mar 20 1859 Hangen Louisa Levi Bitting Sept 31853 Hangen Susana Ely Miller Nov 1841 Hangen Wilhelm Elisabeth Erdman Feb 61853 Hartman Wilhelm Abelina Bartholey Feb 91856 Hartranft Cath Jonathan Raudenbusch Jan 13 1839 Hartranft Johannes Juliana Schmoll Jan 10 1836 Hartranft Samuel Hetty Gilbert June 19 1853 Hauskeeper Enos Lydia Mumbauer Dec 81840 Hechler Maria Carl Burkholder Mar 61853 Heil Daniel Lydia Treichler Mar 71847 Heil Maria Lucius Ginkinger Jan 23 1858 Heil Sarah Abraham Lauer Dec 18 1853 Heil Solomon K Maria Kepler May 22 1858 Heimbach Mary Ann Joel Yeakel Dec 311854 Heimbach Samuel Juliana Mack Oct 161845 Heinrich Elisabeth Heinrich Wieand Oct 13 1860 Heist Emma Louisa Benneville Butz Sept 30 1862 Heller Lydia Nathan Schlicher Dee 251858 Hendricks David Henrietta Hillegass Feb 161834 Herb Solomon Caroline Bender June 81856 Herbst Maria Wilhelm Weis Mar 25 1855 Hering Cath Ann Heinrich Merkel Dee 30 1838 Hering Sophia David Griesemer Aug 28 1842 Herrman Wilhelm Maria Sehwenk July 3 1858 Hersch Charles Susana Wonsetler Jan 61839 Hersch Daniel Lovina Blanck June 3 1855 Hersch Elizabeth Josep Lersh Oct 18 1863 Hersch Joh Maria Gery Nov 28 1847 Hersch Lydia Aaron Griesemer Oct 201844 j[74 bulletin of histoeical society of montgouery county

Hersch Michael Judit Burger Jan 19 1840 Hersch Thomas Amelia Blanck Feb 21851 Herzog Caroline Wilhelm Wiegner Feb 191861 Hetrick Aaron Susana Trumbauer July 25 1858 Hetrick Daniel Codelia Hillegass Dec 201862 Hetrick Elisa Elias Moyer Mar 61859 Hetrick Emeline George Mumbauer Sept 15 1860 Hiestand Cath Joh Eisenhart Mar 26 1837 Hiestand Lydia Joel Deischer Aug 14 1842 Hillegass Aaron Matilda Keiper Dec 241848 Hillegass Caroline Georg Jacoby Nov 24 1844 Hillegass Catharine Dr Simon Rosenberger Oct 251853 Hillegass Cath Solomon Steltz Apr 17 1836 Hillegass Codelia Daniel Hetrich Dec 201862 Hillegass Daniel Elisabeth Kolp Dec 251853 Hillegass Elisabeth Heinrich Bobb Feb 21834 Hillegass Elis Matilda Dr James G Mensch May 10 1860 Hillegass Emeline George G Carl Nov 19 1859 Hillegass Georg Anna Yerger Dec 311843 Hillegass Georg Hetty Foegly Mar 241839 Hillegass Georg W Sarah AH Fischer June 6 1848 Hillegass Hannah Georg Eittleman Sept 22 1855 Hillegass Heinrich Sarah Boyer Dee 31837 Hillegass Henrietta David Hendricks Feb 161834 Hillegass Henry Elisabeth Amanda Butz Oct 61856 Hillegass Jacob Lovina Hillegass Oct 13 1833 Hillegass John G Dr Cath Anna Ziegler Oct 25 1852 Hillegass Josia Ester Kepler Oct 30 1836 Hillegass Josiah Louisa Doyle Get 51858 Hillegass Lovina Jacob Hillegass Oct 13 1833 Hillegass Lydia David Hunsberger Dec 15 1860 Hillegass Lydia Samuel Miller Mar 26 1846 Hillegass Lydia Elias Boeder Oct 41849 Hillegass Mahlon Sarah W Eberhard Oct 11859 Hillegass Maria Reuben Erdman May 31846 Hillegass Mary Samuel Kepler Nov 91834 Hillegass Maria Charles Reter Feb 11835 MARRIAGES BY REV. DANIEL WEISER—1833-1863 175

Hillegass Maria Precilla Lewis Bach May 6 1856 Hillegass Rebecka Charles Scheimer Sept 13 1857 Hillegass Sarah Solomon Keiper Nov 161861 Hillegass Sarah Ann Joh W Grace Mar 6 1852 Hillegass Susana Johan Trumbauer Mar 15 1835 Hillegass W George Clara A Mendenhall Feb 71865 Hillegass Wilhelm Hannah Mumbauer Sept 5 1858 Hoffman Cath Anna George Mack Sept 12 1857 Hoffman Jacob Maria Anna Kolp Sept 271846 Hoffman Maria Wilhelm Welker Nov 221856 Holder Emeline Joh Heinrich Bortz Dec 241861 Holstein Edward Maria Anna Ribbet Oct 51845 Hotdenstein Elmina Franklin Kolp Jan 61850 Huber Aaron Margreta Reichenbach June 211840 Huber Edward Anna Elaina Yelles Nov 261859 Huber Elisa Heinrich Staufer Jan 15 1862 Huber Maria John Foegly Dec 201840 Huebner Abraham Sophia Friederich June 8 1861 Huebner Cath Michael Young June 111853 Huebner Peter Elisa Ehl May 28 1843 Hum Werletta Nathan Berret Mar 311854 Hunsberger Cath Ann Jesse Pannebecker Sept 26 1847 Hunsberger Christian Catharina Jacob Apr 121835 Hunsberger David Lydia Hillegass Dec 151860 Hunsberger Jesse Barbara Gries Jan 231842 Hunsberger Lovina Wilhelm Schoen Nov 171855 Hunsberger Maria Heinrich Eberhard May 71859 Imbody Hannah Joh Kolp Aug 141842 Jacob Catharina Christian Hunsberger Apr 12 1835 Jacob Elenor Joh Jones Nov 51843 Jacob Elisabeth Reuben Bossert Dec 251852 Jacob Elisabeth Samuel Moyer Dec 251835 Jacob Elisabeth Joseph Nuss July 15 1855 Jacob George Fayetta Koch Sept 201856 Jacob Heinrich Lydia Bossert Nov 17 1850 Jacob Sarah Jacob Sell Feb 11846 176 bulletin of historical society of MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Jacoby Even Maria Louisa McNulty Jan 61856 Jacoby Georg Caroline Hillegass Nov 24 1844 Jacoby Jacob Maria Bahl Apr 31842 Jacoby Lycoming Sarah Reinhard Sept 24 1848 Jacoby Maria Josep Bahl Get 27 1839 . Jacoby Peter Barbara Schelly Aug 20 1837 Jacoby Susana Thomas Eberhard July 51846 Jones Elisa Carl Fried Mar 16 1845 Jones Joh Elenor Jacob Nov 5 1843 Kaeser Sahra Isaac Bechtel Feb 211836 Kelil Carl Lovina Welker Dec 81850 Kehl Charles Caroline Schell Sept 29 1853 -Kehl Isaac Maria Theis May 71848 Kehl Joh Cassia Bobb June 13 1858 Kehl Joh Elisabeth Gumerer May 25 1845 Kehl Lewis Susana Klein Nov 22 1856 Kehl Lewis Susana Moyer June 141861 Kehl Sarah Josep Kolp Mar 19 1854 Kehl Sophia Richard Markley Mar 21857 Keiper Cath Ann Georg Boyer Get 141860 Keiper Hannah Heinrich D Moyer Mar 31861 Keiper Matilda Aaron Hillegass Dec 241848 Keiper Solomon Sarah Hillegass Nov 16 1861 Kemmerer Anna Maria Jacobus Schmidt Mar 271853 Kemmerer Lea Joh Gerhart Apr 12 1834 Kepler Caroline Jonas Wieand Jan 211860 Kepler Ester Josia Hillegass Get 301836 Kepler Maria Solomon K. Heil May 221858 •Kepler Samuel Mary Hillegass Nov 91834 Kerchner Maria Jonathan Rieth July 211844 Klensy Maria Anna Heinrich H Schneider June 71862 Kittleman Georg Hannah Hillegass . Sept 22 1855 Klein Anna Sarus Bachman July 21848 Klein Chrisara Wilhelm Bauman Sept 14 1854 Klein Lydia Charles Wieand June 14 1856 Klein Sarah Ann Edward Moll Sept 81853 Klein Susana Lewis Kehl Nov 22 1856 MARRIAGES BY REV. DANIEL WEISER — 1833-•1863 177

Klett JohM Helena Kolp Feb 12 1843 knetz Caroline Carl Graber Get 31852 koch Abraham Elisabeth Dotterer Sept 13 1856 Koch Elijah Magdl Mumbauer Dec 81844 Koch Elisa Heinrich Mack Get 91845 Koch Fayetta George Jacob Sept 20 1856 Koch Heinrich Sarah Nester Get 10 1852 Koch • Joh. Sophia Geisinger Nov 71847 Koch Susana Daniel Staudt Get 16 1853 KOLB, KOLP, KULP koip Elisabeth Daniel Hillegass Dec 251853 Kolp Franklin Elmina Hotdenstein Jan 61850 Kolp Heinrich Caroline Cope Get 27 1855 Kolp Helena JohM Klett Feb 12 1843 Kolb Henry Sarah Ann Renninger May 26 1860 Kolp Israel Hetty Schroyer July 25 1852 Kolp , Jacob Maria Siesholtz Mar 27 1842 Kolp Joh Hannah Imbody Aug 14 1842 Kolp Josep Sarah Kehl Mar 19 1854 Kolp Maria Josep Krauss Feb 18 1844 Kolp Maria Anna Jacob Hoffiman Sept 27 1846 Kolp Nancy Joh Steyer Mar 311839 Kolp Nathan CathSteier ' Sept 18 1853 Kolp Sarah Ann Jesias Friederich Get 19 1855 Kolp Thema Jacob Corner Jan 21853 Krauss Amanda David Bieler Nov 5 1853 Krauss Anna Samuel Weil June 9 1861 Krauss Cath Samuel Gilbert May 15 1853 Krauss Daniel Ester Neuman Mar 10 1848 Krauss Georg Elisabeth Bechtel Get 13 1836 Krauss Isaac CathFuchs Mar 211857 Krauss Josep Maria Kolp Feb 18 1844 Krauss Lovina Benjamin Gery Feb 15 1853 Krauss Maria Mahlon Nuss Feb 15 1851 Kriebel Hannah John M Stand Jan 19 1856 Laudenschleger Sarah Daniel Yeakel Dec 25 1852 Lauer Abraham Sarah Heil Dec 18 1853 178 BULLETIN OF HISTOBICAL SOCIETY OF UOMTGOHEBY COUNTY

Lehman Sarah G Charles A Buck Mar 61875 Leibert Nathan Matilda June 211856 Lersh Josep Elisabeth Hersh Oct 18 1863 Levy Elisabeth Nathan Pannebecker Dec 251835 Levy Elvina Gedeon Gery Aug 21856 Lick Joh Thina Wesner Nov 27 1836 Lieser Hannah Joh Staufer Dec 18 1836 Lieser Sarah Daniel Fogly Aug 71836 Lofton Ely Lydia Gerhard May 211837 Long Christian Maria Frey Aug 61848 Lord Harrison Mar Ann Becker May 20 1838 Mack Abraham Mary Ann Masteller Sept 24 1848 Mack Copeland Catherine Schoenly Oct 23 1858 Mack Ester Abraham Siesholtz June 16 1850 Mack George Cath Anna Hoffman Sept 12 1857 Mack Heinrich Elisa Koch Oct 91845 Mack Jesse Susana Stauffer Dec 6 1835 Mack Johannes Maria Siesholtz Nov 19 1848 Mack Juliana Samuel Heimbach Oct 16 1845 Mack Maria Reuben Masteller Nov 211847 Mack Nathaniel Maria Barthalme Mar 26 1853 Mack Peter Lucy Ann Schneider Sept 24 1853 Mack Wilhelm Elisabeth Gery May 16 1856 Maetzger Margretta Daniel Gery Dec 15 1833 Mangold Cath Georg Dallman Dec 24 1848 Markley Richard Sophia Kehl Mar 21857 Masteller Heinrich Sarah Roeder Feb 31839 Masteller Mary Ann Abraham Mack Sept 24 1848 Masteller Reuben Maria Mack Nov 211847 Maybury Josep Sahra Sechler Feb 51843 McNulty David Cath Eberhard Aug 11836 McNuIly Maria Capt Henry Dotts Dec 71844 McNulty Maria Louisa Even Jacoby Jan 61856 McNulty Matilda Jacob Buck Aug 21855 McNulty Wilhelm Maria Miller Oct 27 1850 Meek Joh Maria Moyer Sept 91838 Mendenhall Clara A W George Hillegass Feb 71865 MABBIAOES BY REV. DANIEL WEISBR — 1U»-1868 179

Mensch James G Dr Elis Matilda Hillegasa May 10 1860 Merkel Francis Maria Bucher Oct 17 1842 Merkel Heinrich Cath Ann Hering Dec 30 1838 Merkel Lydia Jonathan Roeder Dec 24 1848 Meschter Christina Samuel Anders Oct 17 1844 Mest Rebecka Reuben D Thomas Apr 15 1849 Meyer Joh Andreas Maria Meyer Mar 22 1857 Meyer Maria Joh Andreas Meyer Mar 22 1857 (See aleoMOYER) Miller Daniel Nancy Titelo Apr 25 1839 Miller David Emeline Sell July 311842 Miller Ely Susana Hanger Nov 1841 Miller Hetty Thomas Schlutter Oct 18 1855 Miller Joel Rebecka Fronheiser Mar 211857 Miller Joh Sarah Derstein June 111859 Miller Louisa David Troxel Dec 6 1835 Miller Lydia Edward Hallman Dec 301847 Miller Maria Wilhelm McNulty Oct 271850 Miller Sahra Jonathan Gery Feb 41844 Miller Samuel Lydia Hillegass Mar 26 1846 Mohr Caroline David Roeder Nov 61852 Moll Anna Benjamin Bortz Oct 271850 Moll Clarisa John Schneider Mar 1838 Moll Edward Thina Wieand Jan 19 1840 Moll Edwin Sarah Ann Klein Sept 81853 Moll Ephraim Harriet Wiegner Jan 151854 Moll Reuben Emma Lucy Beischer Dec 191857 Moll Reuben Cordilia Unterkofler July 251854 Morton Joseph Diana Schelly Dec 161854 Moser Hannah Joh Raudenbusch Aug 31861 Mowrer Cath Samuel Steinman July 13 1834 MOYER (See also MEYER) Moyer Catharina Abraham Bechtel Nov 101855 Moyer Daniel Cath Schwartz June 1838 Moyer Ellas Elisa Hetrich Mar 61859 Moyer Elisabeth Josep Springer Nov 111838 Moyer Elisabeth Jacob Young Mar 61858 180 BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Moyer Heinrich Maria Schelly Jan 141844 Moyer Heinrich D Hannah Keiper Mar 31861 Moyer Joh Susana Bechtel Oct 31852 Moyer Joh Anna Juliana Diener Oct 91842 Moyer Jonas Elisabeth Bechtel Nov 151838 Moyer Maria Joh Meek Sept 91888 Moyer Nancy Lewis Bossert ' Jan 91848 Moyer Samuel Elisabeth Jacob Dec 25 1835 Moyer Susana Lewis Kehl June 141861 Moyer Susana Abr Sassaman Nov 19 1837 Muener Maria Anna Jesse Schafer Oct 21858 Mumbauer Anna Juliana Josias Wieand Nov 9 1856 Mumbauer Cath Ann Stephen Ehl Sept 21854 Mumbauer Georg Emeline Hetrich Sept 151860 Mumbauer Hannah Wilhelm Hillegass Sept 51858 Mumbauer Hannah Jonas Wieand Sept 221855 Mumbauer Joseph Caroline Roth Feb 161856 Mumbauer Lydia Enos Hauskeeper Dec 81840 Mumbauer Magdl Elijah Koch Dec 81844 Mumbauer Peter Rebecka Mumbauer Aug 241851 Mumbauer Rebecka Peter Mumbauer ~ Aug 241851 Mumbauer Ruben Elisabeth Sorwer Nov 81844 Mumbauer Sahra Charles Dimmig Dec 71834 Mumbauer Susana Peter Werth Nov 231845 Musselman Oath Reuben Staufer July 201845 Musselman Sarah Franklin Schuler Apr 131851 Nace Levi Lovina Steier May 26 1855 Neidig Daniel Isabella Eberhard Oct 11859 Nester Gederon Lea Zuber Dec 19 1852 Nester Hetty Daniel Fretz Sept 17 1837 Nester Sarah Heinrich Koch Oct 10 1852 Neuman Enos Augusta Wolzer Aug 121855 Neuman Ester Daniel Krauss Mar 10 1848 Nuss Daniel Hannah Weidner Aug 111839 Nuss Hanna Joh Rodenburger Aug 8 1837 Nuss Joseph Elisabeth Jacob July 15 1855 REV. DANIEL WEISER—1833.•1863 181

Nuss Mahlon Maria Krauss Feb 15 1851 Nuss Nathan Lea Yeakel Dec 1839 Nuss Rachael Solomon Griesemer Nov 23 1834 Nuss Susan Jesse Grove Feb 27 1847 Oberholtzer Barbara Heinrich Bieler Get 26 1834 Oberholtzer Cath Solomon Arnold Nov 13 1836 Oberholtzer Mary Washington Fox June 24 1860 Ochs Maria Charles Antrim Jan 15 1859 Olenwein Carl SusanaTressel (?) Feb 27 1848 Overdorf Lovina Urias Royer Apr 19 1856 PANNEBECKER, PENABECKER, etc. Pannebecker Amanda Ells Jesse Gary Nov 3 1844 Pannabeeker Oath Lydia Ann John P ReifSchneider Jan 2 1848 Penabecker Georg Elisabeth Graber Nov 27 1836 Pannebecker Jesse Cath Ann Hunsberger Sept 26 1847 Pannebecker Nathan Elisabeth Levy Dee 25 1835 Quilman Sarah Joh Schultz Apr 25 1841 Raudenbusch Job Hannah Moser Aug 3 1861 Raudenbusch JonathanL Cath Hartranft Jan 13 1839 Raudenbusch Lovina Carl Wieand June 28 1846 Raudenbusch Michael Lydia Sechler Sept 3 1853 Redeker Caroline Jacob Schneller Dec 10 1856 REED, RIETH Rieth Florenta Heinrich Rieth July 30 1853 Reith Georg Sophia Rudy Mar 12 1837 Rieth Heinrich Florenta Rieth July 30 1853 Rieth Jacob Cath Bauman Sept 24 1837 Rieth Jesse Maria Daub Nov 24 1844 Rieth Jonathan Maria Kerchner July 21 1844 Reed Lydia Samuel Gucker Apr 3 1836 Rieth Mary Ann William Dressier Mar 23 1851 Rieth William • Susana Urffer Dec 26 1841 Reichenbach Cath Carl Schultz Oct. 21 1837 Reichenbach Margreta 182 bulletin of historical society of MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Aaron Huber June 211840 Reif Tobias Anna Gery Nov 211852 Reifschneider JohP Cath Lydia Ann Pannabecker Jan 21848 REINHARD, REINHART Reinhart Daniel Anna Grenn Nov 171850 Reinhard Elisabeth Carl Derr May 30 1852 Reinhard Elias Lydia Steier June 3 1849 Reinhard Sarah Lycoming Jacoby Sept 241848 Reinwalt Sarah Jonas Seibert June 3 1849 Reiter Samuel Lydia Treichler Dec 31837 Renninger Jonas Rebecca Fogly Nov 29 1835 Renninger Levi Rebecka Schmidt Feb 81862 Renninger Maria Nathaniel Weth Feb 151855 Renninger Sarah Ann Henry Kolb May 26 1860 Ribbet Maria Anna Edward Holstein Get 51845 Ries Cornelius Letita Weidner Apr 11838 Rineker Hanna Anna Samuel Stahl Apr 61845 RODENBERGER, RODENBURGER Rodenburger David Susana Schultz • Sept 111853 Rodenberger Hanna Dewalt Gulli Apr 28 1850 Rodenberger Jacob Maria Urffer Mar 25 1849 Rodenburger Joh Hanna Nuss Aug 8 1837 Rodenberger Lydia Jacob Bartholomew Nov 211858 Rodenburger Samuel Sophia Erdman Get 221887 BOEDER, RETER Roeder Cath Ann Samuel Schuler Jan 23 1859 Reter Charles Maria Hillegass Feb 11835 Roeder Daniel Lydia Gery Dec 41859 Roeder David Caroline Mohr Nov 61852 Roeder Elias Lydia Hillegass Get 41849 Roeder Elisabeth William Schantz Mar 13 1842 Roeder Emma C Milton L Fluck June 10 1863 Roeder Jonathan Lydia Merkel Dec 241848 Roeder Lydia Georg Guth Mar 121837 Roeder Nathan Lucinda Antrim Nov 25 1854 Roeder Reuben Elisabeth Barbara Griesemer MABBIAGES BY BEV. DANIEL WEISEB—1833-1863 183

June 14 1856 Roeder Samuel Ester Graber Dee 251838 Roeder Sarah Heinrich Masteller Feb 31839 Roeder Sophia John Dimmig Dec 31837 Roeder Sophia Tobias Sterner Jan 18 1846 Roeder Susana George Deischer Jan 1840 Roeder Wilhelm C Judit Gery Nov 23 1845 Rosenberger Isaac Hannah Bertholme Sept 13 1856 Rosenberger Isaac Maria Kiensy Sept 27 1862 Rosenberger Sarah Wilhelm Bolig Aug 18 1844 Rosenberger Simon Dr Catharine Hillegass Oct 251853 Roth Caroline Joseph Mumbauer Feb 161856 Roth Maria Joh Welker Oct 201839 Rotrock Rebecka Charles Bahl Sept 10 1837 Royer Daniel Cath Andreas Dec 261855 Royer Dina Carl Buck Jan 281844 Royer Rachael Wilhelm Gilbert Jan 241841 Royer Urias Lovina Oberdorf Apr 19 1856 Rudolf Aaron Matilda Walter July 27 1851 Rudolph David Anna Strunck Dec 6 1862 Rudy Sophia Georg Rieth Mar 121837 Rummel Mathias Sarah Bossert Nov 81846 Rummel Wilhelm Lea Staudt June 18 1843 Ruth Jacob Sarah Anne Titelo Apr 23 1859 Sassaman Abr Susana Moyer Nov 19 1837 Sassaman Joh Rebecka Gery Apr 121834 Sassaman Levi Leanna Foegly June14 1861 SCHAFER, SHAFER Shafer Elisabeth David Erney Dec 141834 Schafer Jesse Maria Anne Muener (?) Oct 21858 Schafer Nicholas Cath Wagner June 121859 Schantz Enos Susana Fried Feb 221846 Schantz Maria Aaron Dubbs Feb 111846 Schantz William Elisabeth Roeder Mar 13 1842 Scharp Melchior Elisabeth Grames Mar 16 1854 Scheifly Ruben Hetty Filman May 81842 Jg4 BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Scheimer Charles Rebecka Hillegass Sept 13 1857 SHELL, SCHELL Shell Abraham Elisabeth Ann Apel Dec 1873 Schell Abraham Maria Stand Mar 61836 Schell Caroline Charles Kehl Sept 29 1853 Schell Cath David Traut May 13 1855 Schell Heinrich T Anna Carolina Steinman Jan 271855 Schell Henry M Sarah W Shitz Jan 101863 Schell Levenus Susana Seibert Oct 111856 Schell Maria Georg Sechler Dec 81833 Schell Maria Ann James Wasser Aug 22 1857 Schell Sophia Antony Seibert June 28 1857 Schelly Adelheit Hemy Siegmund Jan 31860 Schelly Barbara Jacob Bassler Nov 111838 Schelly Barbara Samuel Derr Apr 41841 Schelly Barbara Peter Jacoby Aug 20 1837 Schelly Diana Joseph Morton Dec 161854 Schelly Jacob Lydia Geisinger Nov 51837 Schelly Joel Y Dr Hanna Young Feb 11835 Schelly Maria Heinrich Moyer Jan 141844 Schelly Michael Sahra Weis Mar 151835 Schelly Phebe • Abraham Bechtel Aug 29 1844 Schelly Sarah Heinrich Schultz Apr 3 1842 Schelly Wilhelm Sahra Gieisinger Sept 23 1838 Schelly William Addison Dr Thamar Schlicher Feb 41841 SCHERER, SHERER Scherer Catharina George Eberhard Feb 13 1844 Scherer Cath Ann Nathan Berkey Jan 30 1848 Sherer Elisabeth George Eberhard Dec 141834 Scherer Josep Maria Louisa Sellers Oct 20 1857 SCHITZ," SHITZ Schitz. Aaron Emeline Cope May 30 1852 Shitz Sarah W Henry M Schell Jan 101863 Schlicher Carl Lydia Barthalama Jan 91853 Schlicher Georg Sarah Geisel Aug 25 1839 Schlicher Joh Sahra Anna Gordon June 11845 UARRIAGES BY REV. DANIEL WEISER>-r 1833.1863 185

Schlicher Nathan Lydia Heller Dec 25 1858 Schlicher Susana Joel Schneider Dec 24 1848 Schlicher Thamar Dr William Addison Schelly Feb 41841 Schlutter Thomas Hetty Miller Oct 18 1855 SCHMIDT {See also SMITH) Schmidt Conrad Cath Fried Nov 19 1837 Schmidt Daniel Cath Staut Aug 1838 Schmidt Jacobus Anna Maria Kemerer Mar 27 1853 Schmidt Maria Michael Young Nov 30 1834 Schmidt Maria Anna Heinrich H Schneider June 71862 Schmidt Rebecka Levi Renninger Feb 81862 Schmidt William C Cat Steinman Nov 29 1835 Schmidt Wilhelm Maria Yost Sept 211861 Schmoll Juliana Johannes Hartranft Jan 101836 Schneider Heinrich Maria Ziegler Apr 12 1834 Schneider Heinrich H Maria Anna Schmidt June 7 1862 Schneider Joel Susana Schlicher Dec 241848 Schneider Joh Clarisa Moll Mar 1838 Schneider Joseph Judit Deischer June 25 1854 Schneider Lydia Joh Flieger Apr 17 1836 Schneider Lucy Ann Peter Mack Sept 24 1853 Schneider Maria Daniel Sterner Sept 151853 Schneller Jacob Caroline Redeker Dec 101856 Schoch Edwin Sarah Gery Nov 19 1848 Schoen Wilhelm Lovina Hunsberger Nov 171855 Schoenly Catherine Copeland Mack Oct 231858 Schoenly Jonathan Hannah Georg June 17 1849 Schoenly Rebecka Joh Weis Oct 171842 Scholl Philip Anna Juliana Willauer Feb 91856 Schroyer Hetty Israel Kolp July 25 1852 Schroyer Maria Johannes Frey June 71835 Schubert Sophia Peter Stroh Feb 25 1838 Schuler Elias Caroline Burkholder Feb 151853 Schuler Franklin Sarah Musselman Apr 13 1851 Schuler Rachael Jonas Wolfart Dec 211850 Schuler Rufus Maria Fuchs Feb 221846 180 BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Schuler Samuel Oath Ann Roeder Jan 23 1859 Schultz Carl Oath Reichenbach Oct 211837 Schultz Daniel Nancy Gerhard Mar 27 1842 Schultz Hannah Wilhelm Bechtel Feb 21845 Schultz Hannah David Yeakel Nov 22 1836 Schultz Heinrich Sarah Schelly Apr 31842 Schultz Jacob Margreta Eberhard Dec 181836 Schultz Joh Sarah Quilman Apr 25 1841 Schultz Lydia Georg Wieand Oct 271839 Schultz Susana David Rodenburger Sept 111853 Schwartz: Oath Daniel Moyer June" 1838 Schwenk Elisabeth Charles Doll Oct 311857 Schwenk Maria Wilhelm Herrman July 31858 Schwenk Thomas Abigal Wetzel Oct 201844 Sechler Georg Maria Schell Dec 81833 Sechler Jacob Lydia Althaus Nov 11840 Sechler Lydia Michael Raudenbusch Sept 31853 Sechler Mary Anna Willoughby L Berret Dec 281861 Sechler Sahra Josep Maybury Feb 51843 Sechler Susanna Daniel Wiegner Sept 211834 Seibert Antony Susana Althaus Dec 21849 Seibert Antony Sophia Schell June 28 1857 Seibert Jonas Sarah Reinwalt June 3 1849 Seibert Maria Joel Walter Apr 11854 Seibert Susana Levenus Schell Oct 111856 Sell Emeline David Miller July 311842 Sell Ester Samuel Gery Nov 31833 Sell Jacob Sarah Jacob Feb 11846 Sell Jacob Maria Strenk Oct 1865 Sell Lovina Josep Smeck Mar 221835 Sell Reuben Elisabeth Frey Aug 81847 Sellers Maria Louisa Josep Scherer Oct 201857 Siegmund Henry Adelheit Schelly Jan 31860 Siesholtz Abraham Ester Mack June 16 1850 Siesholtz Georg Sarah Gery Nov 31844 Siesholtz Maria Jacob Kolp Mar 27 1842 Siesholtz Maria Johannes Mack Nov 19 1848 MARBIAGES BT REV. DANIEL WEISEB—1688-1868 187

Smeck Josep Lovina Sell Mar 22 1835 SMITH {See also SCHMIDT) Smith Benjamin C Sarah Zuck Dec 22 1860 SORWER, SOEVER Sorwer Elisabeth Ruben Mumbauer Nov 31844 Server Elmira Jonas Yerger Get 71847 Spinner Elvina Dr Chas H Dickenshied June 5 1845 Springer Josep Elisabeth Meyer Nov 111838 Stahl Daniel Maria Staufer Feb 141836 Stahl Nathan Barbara Albrecht Nov 29 1835 Stahl Samuel Hanna Anna Bincker Apr 61845 Stahl Sarah Daniel Althaus Nov 24 1844 STAUD, STAUDT, STAUT Staut Cath Daniel Schmidt Aug 1838 Staudt Daniel Susana Koch Get 161853 Staudt Jacob Sahra Derr Dec 21838 Staud John M Hannah Kriebel Jan 19 1856 Staudt Josep Anna Gerhard July 16 1843 Staudt Lea Wilhelm Rummel June 18.1843 Staud Maria Abraham Schell May 61836 Staufer Aaron Elisabeth Dotts Nov 291845 Staufer Abraham Sarah Wetzel Dec 111852 Staufer Cath - Daniel Berkey Dec 181846 Staufer Heinrich Blisa Huber Jan 151862 Staufer Joh Hannah Lieser Dec 181836 Staufer Josep Thamar Ziegler Feb 271842 Staufer Maria Daniel Stahl Feb 141836 Staufer Reuben Cath Musselman July 201845 Staufer Susana Carl Griesemer Get 21836 Stauffer Susana Jesse Mack Dec 61835 Steinman Anna Carolina Heinrich T Schell Jan 271855 Steinman Cat William C Schmidt Nov 29 1835 Steinman Franklin Helena Gery Feb 151862 Steinman Samuel Cath Mowrer July 13 1834 Steltz Solomon Cath Hillegass Apr 17 1836 Sterner Amanda John W Bean * Get 141871 188 BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF U0NT60MERY COUNTY

Sterner Daniel Maria Schneider Sept 15 1853 Sterner Tobias Sophia Roeder Jan 18 1846 STEYER, STBIER Steier Cath Nathan Kolp Sept 18 1853 Steier Gath Anna Jonas Welker Nov 6 1852 Steier Job Cath Grim Get 27 1860 Steyer Job Nancy Kolp Mar 31 1839 Steier Lovina Levi Nace May 26 1855 Steier Lydia Elias Reinhard June1 3 1849 Steier Solomon Elisabeth Freyer Feb 8 1851 Strassburger NSRev Diana Dickenshied Nov 29 1849 Stroh Peter Sophia Schubert Feb 25 1838 STRUNK, STRUNCK, STRENK Strunck Anna David Rudolph Dec 6 1862 Strenk (?) Maria Jacob Sell Get 1865 Strunk Sarah David Eberhard Get 24 1847 Super Philip Cath Dotts Dec 3 1837 Theis Maria Isaac Kehl May 7 1848 Thomas Reuben D Rebecka Mest Apr 15 1849 Thompson Emeline George Bartholome Mar 25 1856 Thompson Wilhelm Hannah Hamscher Mar 20 1859 Titelo Nancy Daniel Miller Apr 25 1839 Titelo Sarah Anna Jacob Ruth Apr 23 1859 TRAUB, TRAUP Traub Julian Charles Weil Get 20 1855 Traup Sarah Joh Carl Apr 28 1850 Traut Cath Abraham Welker July 23 1853 Traut David Gath Schell May 13 1855 Treichler Joseph Matilda Gery Mar 11 1855 Treichler Lydia Daniel Heil Mar 7 1847 Treichler Lydia Samuel Reiter Dec 3 1837 Treichler Maria Solomon Wehr Sept 13 1842 Tressel (?) Susana Carl Olewein Feb 27 1848 Trollinger HannaLuciana Nathan Wiegner Nov 24 1855 Troxel David Louisa Miller Dec 6 1835 Trump Anna Maria * Nathan Carl Dec 27 1849 MARRIAGES BY REV. DANIEL WBISER— 1833-1863 189

Trump Ester Heinrich Frey Sept 61835 Trump Wilhelm Hetty Hallman Aug 25 1844 Trumbauer Johan ' Susana Hillegass Mar 15 1835 Trumbauer Susana Aaron Hetrick July 25 1858 Underkofler Cordilia Reuben Moll July 25 1854 Urffer Daniel Susana Wiegner Nov 17 1855 Urffer Maria Jacob Rodenberger Mar 25 1849 Urffer Susana William Rieth Dee 26 1841 Wagner Anna Samuel Beber June 9 1866 Wagner Cath Nickolas Schafer June 12 1859 Walter Joel Maria Seibert Apr 11854 Walter Matilda Aaron Rudolf July 27 1851 Wasser James Maria Anna Schell Aug 221857 Weber Elisa Daniel Funk Feb 211836 Weber James Elisabeth Wiegner Dec 25 1853 Wehr Solomon Maria Treichler Sept 13 1842 Weller Maria Anna Peter Weller Aug 31 1861 Weller Peter Maria Anna Weller Aug 311861 Weidner Elisabeth John Bossert Jan 171858 Weidner Hannah Daniel Nuss Aug 111839 Weidner Letita Cornelius Ries Apr 11838 Weidner Stephen Maria Gery Oct 31857 Weikel Daniel Susana Christman Oct 25 1860 Weil Charles Julian Traub Oct 201855 Weil Samuel Anna Krauss June 91861 Weiler Wilhelm Rebecka Yerger Mar 111849 Weis Barbara Jonas Gerhard Sept 91838 Weis Joh Rebecka Schoenly Oct 171842 Weis Sahra Michael Schelly Mar 15 1835 Weis Wilhelm Maria Herbst Mar 25 1855 Welker Abraham Cath Traut July 23 1853 Welker Joh Maria Roth Oct 201839 Welker Jonas Cath Ann Steier Nov 61852 Welker Lovina Carl Kehl Dec 81850 Welker Samuel Judit Dressier May 271849 Welker Wilhelm Maria Hoffman Nov 22 1856 Werth Peter Susana Mumbauer Nov 23 1845 J90 bulletin of historical society of uontgobcery county

Wesco Susana Rev Augustus L Dechant Nov 13 1851 Wesner Thina Joh Lick Nov 27 1836 Weth Nathaniel Maria Renninger Feb 15 1855 WETZEL, WETSEL Wetzel Abigal Thomas Schwenk Oct 20 1844 Wetsel Sarah Abraham Staufer Dec 111852 Weyand Samuel Lydia Fries Nov 16 1834 Wieand Carl Lovina Raudenbusch June 28 1846 Wieand Charles Lydia Klein June 141856 Wieand Georg Lydia Schultz Oct 271839 Wieand Heinrich Elisabeth Heinrich Oct 13 1860 Wieand Hetty Wilhelm Blbch Dec 29 1851 Wieand John Lovina Deischer Feb 14 1857 Wieand Jonas ACaroline'Kepler Jan 211860 Wieand Jonas Hannah Mumbauer Sept 22 1856 Wieand Josias Anna Juliana Mumbauer Nov 91856 Wieand Lydia Aaron Gery Feb 41841 Wieand Maria Joh Brey Jan 71855 Wieand Susana Solomon Brey Feb 111838 Wieand Thina Edward Moll Jan 19 1840 Wiegner Daniel Susanna Sechler Sept 211834 Wiegner Elisabeth James Weber Dec 25 1853 Wiegner Harriet Ephraim Moll Jan 15 1854 Wiegner Matilda Nathaniel Gregory June! 71862 Wiegner Nathan Hanna Luciana Trollinger Nov 24 1865 Wiegner Rebecka Ephraim Baier May 31841 Wiegner Susana Daniel Urifer Nov 171855 Wiegner Wilhelm Caroline Herzog Feb 19 1861 Willauer Anna Juliana Philip Scholl Feb 91856 Wolf Susana Charles Greulich Nov 30 1861 Wolfart Jonas Rachael Schuler Dec 211850 Wolzer Augusta Enos Neuman Aug 12 1855 Wonsetler Susana Charles Hersch Jan 61839 Yeakel Daniel Sarah Laudenschleger Dec 25 1852 Yeakel David Hannah Schultz Nov 221836 UABBIA6EB BY REV. DANIEL WEISEB —1688-1863 191

Yeakel Joel Mary Ann Heimbach Dec 311854 Yeakel Lea Nathan Nuss Dec 1839 Yellis* Anna Elaina Edward Huber Nov 26 1859 Yerger Anna Georg Hillegass Dec 311843 Yerger Jonas Elmira Sorver Oct 71847 Yerger Rebecka Wilhelm Weiler Mar 111849 Yoder Peter Susanna Bechtel Dec 111836 Yost Maria Wilhelm Schmidt, Sept 211861 Young Hanna Dr Joel Y Schelly Feb 11835 Young Jacob Elisabeth Moyer Mar 61858 Young Johannes Susana Bechtel Sept 51841 Young Michael Cath Huebner June 111853 Young Michael Maria Schmidt Nov 30 1834 Young Samuel Dr Anna M Dickenschied Nov 71838 Ziegler Cath Ann Dr John G Hillegass Oct 251852 Ziegler Dillman Elisabeth Fawinger Jan 191851 Ziegler Maria Henrich Schneider Apr 12 1834 Ziegler Thamar Josep Staufer Feb 27 1842 Zuber Lea Gederon Nester Dec 191852 Zuck Sarah Benjamin C Smith Dec 221860 Matilda Nathan Leibert June 211856

*The pastor recorded "Ellis" but the local family name is Yellis. Early History of Lower Pottsgrove Township

Rev. Carl T. Smith

(Continued from page 95)

The Arnold Custeb Tract Sprogell sold 316 acres situated below the Grentzman tract, February 1, 1714, to Arnold Ouster, the eldest son of Paul Ouster of Germantown. Arnold was born in Orefeld, Germany, about 1669, and died in 1739.^® Letters of admin istration were granted to his brother, Hermanus Ouster, December 22, 1739." The following year, his heirs, con sisting of Oonrad Ouster and wife Susanna (born Adams), Paul Ouster and wife Sarah (born Ball), George Ouster and wife Mary (born Roades), Nicholas Ouster and wife Sus anna (born Hoppe),^=^ Arnold Ouster and wife Barbara, the sons of Arnold Ouster, deceased, and John Jenkins and wife Katherine, a daughter of Arnold, and Dorothy and Hannah Ouster, also daughters, conveyed 200 acres of their father's land to James Brooke of Hanover Township.^^ This James Brooke, a son of James Brooke, Sr., was bom May 13, 1711, and died July 16, 1762; his wife was Hannah Lewis." James Brooke was survived by his widow and the

" ELENORE C. OUSTER, compiled by Agnes Williamson Storer, printed by Charles A. Meyers and Co., New Brunswick, N. H., p. 48 fF. " Phila. Adm. B. "D," p. 108. " Born Hoppe; her mother was Anna Elizabeth Sprogell Hoppe (1686-1760), a sister of John Henry Sprogell and Ludwig Christian Sprogell. " Montg. D.B. Vol. 32, p. 90. 54 "Philadelphia Families" appearing in THE NORTH AMERICAN, Leach Collection, Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania.

192 EABLY HISTORY OF LOWER POTTSGROVE TOWNSHIP ^93

six children named in his will,®' namely: Joseph, Elizabeth wife of a Mr. Loyd, Martha, Samuel, David, and John. Arnold Ouster, a bricklayer, and his wife Rebecca sold 100 acres out of the back part of the tract to Jacob Omer, of Hanover township, Philadelphia County, husbandman, December 20, 1728.'® Under the more usual form of his name, Jacob Urner bought an adjoining tract of 50 acres from John Henry Sprogell, March 20, 1735.®'' In his will dated, January 7, 1737/8,®® he devised this land to his only son, Martin Umer, reserving for his widow Ann use of the estate for life. The will was probated, September 28, 1744, his signature being acknowledged at Salford before Jacob Reiff by the witnesses, John Henry Sprogell, Jr., Henry Coulston, and George Evans. As executors, he names his wife Ann, John Lederak and Jacob High. In a codicil writ ten shortly before his death, witnessed by Ulrich Long- eneger and Jost Vollhardt, he mentions a daughter born since the making of the original will. This daughter was named Hester, being bom, September 20, 1740, and dying March 24, 1813; she was the wife of Ulrich Switzer, of Cov entry township, Chester County (1731-1823). Jacob Urner's son, Martin, bora September 4, 1725, died May 18, 1799, married Barbara Switzer (1730-1794), the sister of his brother-in-law Ulrich Switzer. Martin was the second Bis hop of the Coventry Brethren Church and bought the homestead of his uncle, Martin Urner, who was the first Bis hop. This farm is the present Bellwood estate in Coventry township, Chester County. Jacob Urner's eldest child was Elizabeth, born 1724, died 1757, who married Jacob IVick (1717-1799). Frick bought a part of the Henry Wenger homestead in 1762.®® After operating an inn here for three

" Phila. W.B. "M," p. 342. " Philadelphia County Mortgage Book "X, Vol. 3", p. 156. " Recited in Montg. D.B. Vol. 109, p. 198. " Phila. W.B. "G," p. 114. " Montg. D.B. Vol. 72, p. 482. 194 bulletin of historical society of MONTGOMERY COUNTY years, he sold the property to Jacob Shantz and bought a place in Tredyffrin township, Chester County,®® on which he lived until his death.®-

The Cornelius Dewees Tract Below the Custer tract lay 143 acres fronting on the river and extending north-east to Sprogell's Run. Cornelius Dewees, son of Gerrit Hendricks de Wees, bought this tract of John Henry Sprogell, March 9, 1723. Cornelius and his brother William had previously bought 390 acres in Bebber's township (the present Skippack township, Mont gomery County) on June 20,1708, which they sold out some time within the six years following. On April 19, 1732, Cornelius Dewees sold the tract he had bought of Sprogell to William Dewees, presumably his brother. William and his wife Christina sold the same to their son Henry Dewees, June 26,1738. On November 7th, following, Henry conveyed the tract to John Ldnderman and wife Sarah, who may have been his daughter. The Lindermans had an only child named John, who, at the time of his death in 1764,®^ left two daughters, Mary who married Israel Ortleip, and Rachel who remained a spinster.®^

The John Lewis Tract The author has not located a deed of transfer or a recital for the early history of a tract of about 95 acres fronting on the River and lying below the Dewees tract. By 1734, how ever, it belonged to John Lewis.®® His will was written, April

Chester Co., Pa., Deed Book "G" Vol. 2, p. 83. "Will of Jacob Frick; Chester Co., Pa., Will Book "K," Vol. 10, p. 79. " Urner, Isaac N.; GENEALOGY OP THE URNER FAMILY AND SKETCH OF THE COVENTRY BRETHREN CHURCH IN CHES TER COUNTY, PA., printed by J. B. Lippincott Co., Phila., 1893. « Phila. Adm. B. "G," p. 390. ** For these transactions, see recital in Montg. D.B. Vol. 19, p. 392. " Tax list for Philadelphia County for 1734 in Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Manuscripts Division, Am 3751. EARLY HISTORY OP LOWER POTTSGROVE TOWNSHIP I95

14, 1737, and proved. May 11, 1737.''® He gives his occupa- tipn as a "skinner," and to his son Walter Lewis he gives half the leather, half the hides, and all the shoes "at present in the House," as well as all the working tools, real estate, and three negro slaves. To his wife Rebecca, he bequeaths horses, cattle, half of the leather and a negro girl "provid ing she bring up my son John Lewis free of charge." He pro vides that an annual payment of 20 shillings should be made to the two negro girls after they arrive at twenty years of age, and an annual payment of 30 shillings be made to "Aramana my negro woman," and if the money is unpaid for two years they should be given their freedom. His will was witnessed by Robert May, David Miller, and John Linderman. As we shall see, the son Walter Lewis acquired 121 acres on the River immediately below his father's plantation in 1745, and at the time of his death' two years later, he was seized of both tracts. He left a widow Mary and four chil dren, James, Lydia, Thomas, and Walter, but of these Thomas and Walter died before 1765 without issue.®"^ By action of the Philadelphia County Orphans' Court, Septem ber 7, 1765, the property of Walter Lewis became vested in his son James Lewis, who transfered it to Jeremiah Jordan who had married his widowed mother. Jordan in turn sold it to Philip Yost, May 10, 1768.®®

The Updegrave Tract Our records of this tract for the early years are as sketchy as those of the Lewis tract. It is possible that both tracts were once the property of Dirck Keyser, Jr. Dirck was the son of Dirck Keyser, Sr., who had come to Penn sylvania in 1688, settling in Germantown. Dirck, Jr., moved

" Phila. W. B. "F," p. 35. Philadelphia County Orphans' Court Record, under date of June 8, 1765. These various transactions recorded in Montg. D.B. Vol. 16, p. 471. 196 BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY with other Germantown residents to Kent Co., Delaware, sometime about the turn of the century. Herman Updegrave (or "op de Graeff")> a weaver by trade, was one of these Delaware settlers from German- town. He died in 1708, bequeathing his estate to his wife Deborah with the provision that she pay twelve pence in shillings to each of his children as they came of age.®® Among the witnesses to his will was Dirck Keyser, the younger. The widow Deborah married Dirck Keyser some time before they sold the land of her late husband, Herman Updegrave, in Kent County, on Mispillion Creek, May 4, 1711.'^® It is about this time that Dirck Keyser and his wife moved up along the Schuylkill on the German tract. Here, a few years later, Dirck died. He wrote his will in 1714, and it was probated in 1716; in it he styles himself "of Manaha- tany, County of Philadelphia, cordwainer." To his brother (Peter, of Germantown) he grants five shillings, and to his "dearly beloved wife," Deborah, all of his estate. The will was witnessed by John Henry Sprogell and Arnold Custer.'^ It is probable that Dirck Keyser, Jr., and the widow Updegrave had no children, but that several children of Herman Updegrave and his wife Deborah remained in Kent County, Delaware. Among the Delaware records there is an administration of the estate of a John "Up de Grove" in 1773, a Joseph "Up de Grove" in 1749, a Rachel "Upde- grove" in 1749, and a will of a William "Uptegrove" written and proved in 1756, which mentions a wife Sarah, cousins Sary and Elizabeth Uptegrove (possibly nieces, daughters of Joseph), and a brother John Uptegrove.'® It is also likely that some of the Updegrave children may have accom panied their mother to Hanover township (now Lower

Kent Co., Delaware, Will Book "A.B.C.F.G." p. 84. Kent Co., Delaware, Record of Deeds, Vol. "E," p. 59. " Phila. "W.B. "D," p. 54. For these Delaware records, see the George F. P. Wanger Collec tion in the Historical Society of Montgomery County, Norristown. EARLY HISTORY OF LOWER POTTSGROVE TOWNSHIP ^97

Pottsgrove), Philadelphia County, when she moved there with her second husband, Dirck Keyser. We find an Abraham Updegrave of Hanover township, Philadelphia County, writing his will, June 12, 1738, which was probated, May 14, 1740. In it he names his wife Eliza beth, who is to bring up the children. As guardians of his will he appoints his neighbors Robert May and Owen Evans. The witnesses were Henry Coulston, Claus Brown, and Philip High." This Abraham Updegrave lived on the tract under consideration, probably receiving his title to it from his presumed stepfather, Dirck Keyser. Abraham "Upte- graff" had sold 40 acres on the north-east side of Sprogell's Run to Philip High on January 13, 1737.'^ But Updegrave did not seem to have clear title to the land. The estate papers of John Henry Sprogell show that at the time of his death in 1740, he held a bond of £ 20 against Abraham Updegrave, presumably the unpaid balance for the land.'® Philip High received title to the land he had previously bought of Upde grave through a later deed from Thomas Preston, who had secured title through a mortgage to all the unsold lands of John Henry Sprogell.'® The residue of the original tract lying to the southeast of the Run, being 31 acres, 84 perches, was conveyed by Preston to Rudolph High, September 16, 1749. High, with wife Mary, sold the tract, February 8, 1754, to Hugh Bradford."

The John Krey Tract The tract of 400 acres below the lands of John Lewis and Abraham Updegrave was settled by John ICrey of Ger- mantown, whose wife Sytge is said to have been an Upde grave. A year before Krey bought the tract, John Henry

'• Phila. W.B. "F," p. 158. " Recited in Montg. D.B. Vol. 85, p. 198. " Phila. Adm. Rec., Year 1740, File No. 115. " Recited, Montg. D.B. Vol. 85, p. 198. " Recited, Montg. D.B. Vol. 19, p. 385. 3^98 BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Sprogell, of Mahanatawny, County of Philadelphia, mer chant, with his wife Dorothy, conveyed the 400 acres to his brother Lodwick Christian Sprogell on February 16, 1713, for £40."^® On August 24, 1714, John Krey bought the tract for £65 from Lodwick Christian Sprogell, of Philadelphia, dyer, and his wife Catherine.'" John Krey moved up along the Schuylkill from Skippack township, where he had bought a tract of 306 acres along Skippack Creek from Mathias Van Bebber, of Cecil County, Maryland, the 25th of the 12th month, 1702.«» John Krey made his will, February 14, 1719/20, and it was proved, March 18,1719/20. He named his widow Sytge and Derrick "Opdegrove" as his executors. The heirs of John Krey sell his land in Hanover township (now Lower Pottsgrove) in two tracts, one of 159%, acres, on April 1, 1742, to John Lodwick Sprogell,®^ and the residue of the tract back from the River, on March 12,1742/3, to Melchior High.®- From these deeds we secure the names of his chil dren, for they were signed by his widow Sytge, (who had married after his death Hubert Cassel, of Bebber's town ship, now Skippack, Philadelphia County) and by the chil dren of said John Krey by his first wife: Peter Krey, cord- wainer, of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, (the eldest surviving son, and the oldest brother and heir, of William Krey, deceased, who was the eldest son of John Krey, deceased), a son Jacob Krey, of Lancaster County, and a daughter Mary, wife of Jacob Sentznick of Lancaster County; as well as by the children of said John Krey, the elder, and his second wife Sytge, now wife of Hubert Cas-

" Phila. D.B. "H," Vol. 10, p. 539. " Phila. D.B. "H," Vol. 6, p. 480. Phila. D.B. "E," Vol. 3, p. 32. The will of John Krey is recorded in Phila. W.B. "D," p. 148, The recital of the transfer from the John Krey heirs to John Lodwick Sprogell is found in Phila. D.B. "G," Vol. 6, p. 255. " Phila. D.B. "H," Vol. 6, p. 417. EARLY HISTORY OF LOWER POTTSGROVE TOWNSHIP sel; namely, Deborah wife of Jacob Oberholtzer, of Salford township, Philadelphia County, Catherine wife of Christian Holdeman, of Salford township, and John Krey, also of Salford. John Lodwick Sprogell, of the City of Philadelphia, sadler, and his wife Mary, convey on March 25, 1745, 121 acres of the land he had bought of the Krey heirs to Walter Lewis, who owned the tract along the River immediately above the land Sprogell sold to him.®^ The residue was for a time in the possession of Elizabeth Hoppin, John Lod- wick's aunt; but the actual title was conveyed, September 12, 1745, by John Lodwick Sprogell to her son-in-law, Nicholas Custer, along with a part of the "Hanover Plantation."®^ Nicholas Custer was the son of Arnold Custer, an early settler of this section. The diary of Henry Melchior Muhlen- berg has an interesting entry regarding this family; under date of April-May, 1747, the Pastor writes: A man, who was born in this country of Dutch parents, who lives three miles away from me, and who with his five children, most of them grown, was instructed and baptized by me some two years ago, came to me and begged with tears to be per mitted to go to Holy Communion alongwith his family. His wife is the daughter of a preacher in Germany. Her father's name was Hoppe and his wife was Johann Heinrich Sprogel's daugh ter, a sister of Gottfreid Arnold'swife. The mother came to this country as a widow with two daughters.** Nicholas Custer, with wife Susannah, conveyed the land he had bought of Sprogell, his wife's cousin, to Benjamin Evans on March 22,1755. In his will dated, March 30,1759, Evans ordered his brothers Da\dd and Thomas, as executors, to sell the tract of about 63 acres on the River Schuylkill

*» Phila. D.B. "G," Vol. 6, p. 255. ** Recited, Montg. D.B. Vol. 24, p. 69. **THE JOURNALS OF HENRY MELCHIOR MUHLENBERG, Translated by Theodore G. Tappert and John W. Doberstein; Muhlenberg Press, 1942; Vol. I, p. 142. 200 BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY on the upper side of his other land, "being ye land which I bought of Nicholas Custor."®® In pursuance of these instruc tions they sold the same to Adam Ash, May 7,1764.®' Melchior High, a weaver, who bought 240 acres on the north-east side of Sprogell's Run from the heirs of John Krey, died leaving as his heirs two sons, Jacob High, the eldest, and Philip High. During his life-time, on November 19,1740, Melchior High and his wife Barbara sold 110 acres of the 240 acres he had bought of the Krey heirs to his son Jacob High.®® His brother released any interest in this tract to Jacob on March 22, 1743, and on the day preceding Jacob released his interest in the remaining 119 acres of the original 240 acres to his brother Philip.®® Philip High and his wife Anna, a daughter of Daniel Longenecker,®® sold this tract, November 25, 1752, to the euphoniously named Cassimer Missimer,®^ along with 40 acres of the original Updegrave tract confirmed to him by Thomas Preston, August 16, 1749.®2 Jacob High, of New Hanover township, Philadelphia County, made his will," December 27, 1768, and it was proved, February 17, 1769, when the the executorship was granted to his son Daniel and his son-in-law Henry Brauer.®® He mentions his wife Elizabeth, who was also a daughter of Daniel Longenecker, his eldest son Daniel to whom he devises a plantation of 250 acres in East Nantmeal town ship, Chester County, which he had bought of John Froely, and his son Jacob, to whom he devised a plantation of 230

" Phila. W.B. "L," p. 407. " Recited, Montg. D.B. Vol. 24, p. "69. " Phila. D.B. "H," Vol. 6, p. 425. " Recited, Montg. D.B. Vol. 386, p. 91. See Montg. D.B. Vol. 13, p. 260 j release of heirs of Daniel Long enecker, Nov. 13, 1756, to his son David, for 220 acres in Providence township. " Montg. D.B. Vol. 386, p. 91. " Montg. D.B. Vol. 85, p. 198. " Phila. W.B. "0," p. 329. EARLY HISTORY OF LOWER POTTSGROYE TOWNSHIP £01 acres which he had bought of John Price, authorizing his brother-in-law- David Longenecker to convey these two tracts to his sons. The executors of Jacob High sell his plan tation in New Hanover township (now Lower Pottsgrove) May 24, 1771, to David Longacre. ,It consisted of four tracts: 106 acres he had bought of Owen Evans and wife Mary, July 29, 1749, being a part of the "Hanover Planta tion" lands, 110 acres conveyed to him by his father, November 19, 1740, 75 acres bought of Thomas Preston, August 16, 1749, and 7 acres, 125 perches conveyed by his brother Philip and wife Anna, February 15, 1753.®^ Of the children of Jacob High, the elder, his eldest son Daniel with his wife Mary lived in East Nantmeal township (now Warwick), Chester County, where he died in 1775.®" A son John High, born 1742, died 1815, was a Mennonite minister of the Coventry Mennonite Church; his wife Mag- dalena, born 1745, died 1834, was probably the daughter of Jacob Schweitzer and his wife Mary (presumably Haider- man, a daughter of Christopher Halderman, of Coventry township, Chester County). Barbara High, daughter of Jacob High, Sr., was born in 1732 and married Henry Brauer, (1720-1789) as his second wife. She died in 1797, as the widow of Abraham Wenger (Wanger), son of Henry Wenger, the immigrant. Another son, Jacob High, Jr., lived with his wife Elizabeth in East Nantmeal township (now Warwick), Chester County. David High, son of Jacob, Sr., was born 1747 and died December 15, 1837; his wife Bar bara was born February 9, 1750 and died in 1828. They also lived in East Nantmeal township, Chester County.®®

{To be continued)

•• Recited, Phila. D.B. "I," Vol. 14, p. 509. Phila. W.B. "Q," p. 122. " For record of the High-Hoch Family, see the George F. P. Wanger Collection in the Historical Society of Montgomery County, Norristown. Detective Work Among the Benners

or An Analytical Study

of Two Pioneer Montgomery County Families

by

Hannah Benner Roach

1951

(Continued from Volume VII, page

(Note: for "Guide to Short Title Refer&nees," used in this paper, see Vol. VII, page 3)

Part II

While the date of arrival of Johannes Benner cannot be proven definitely, a comparison of surviving signatures leads to the conclusion that he did not arrive in this country until 1743, five years after the arrival of his supposed brother Bastian. Unless he was a minor under 16 years of age in 1738 and hence not required to sign the oaths of abjuration as a member of Bastian's party, it is logical to suppose that he remained in Europe, following in their foot steps only after they had become well established in the New World. Assuming this to be the case, as well as on the basis of signature comparisons, it is believed therefore that he arrived in Philadelphia on September 19, 1743, qualifying the next day. He came on the Ship "Lydia," James Aber- crombie, Master, from Rotterdam, the passenger list of which included 73 males and 32 females and children for a

202 DETECTIVE WOBK AMONG THE BENNERS 208 total of 105 persons.* On the captain's list of transports, Johannes Benner's age was listed as 18 years, placing his birthdate in 1725. This particular voyage was Captain Abercrombie's first to Philadelphia, though the ship he commanded had made three previous trips: in 1739, 1740 and 1741. It is interest ing to note that on the second of these voyages George Crosman or Cressman—of whom more later—had arrived, having apparently first landed in 1727 on the "Morton- house," and was now returning from a visit to his father land. It is supposed that Johannes proceeded more or less directly up-country where he made his home with his rela tives for a time. If he had a trade, he may have worked at that for several years, accumulating the money necessary to purchase and stock a farm. Unfortunately there remains no record of him until the year 1750 when Deovalt Spies died. As related previously,^ Johannes acted as one of the sureties for the £100 bond posted by the administrators of the Spies estate. Further research on Johan Victor Spies has brought to light the fact that he settled, not in Hatfield township, but in Alsace township, Berks county. Naturalized in April 1761, it was he who, though a member of the Schwarzwald congregation, a few years later donated the land for the church long known by his name and later called the Zion Lutheran Church. He died in January 1791, aged 83 years, 3 months and 8 days, leaving a widow Anna Margaret, a daughter Barbara, wife of Jacob Kelchner, an innkeeper of Oley township, a son-in-law Jacob Lansiscus, a son Balzer and the children of a deceased son Bemhard who had died in 1779.^ If Deovalt Spies was a son of Victor, no mention

• Pa Ger Pion. Vol. 1, pp. 340-1. • vide supra Vol. 7, p. 11. • Berks W Bk B p. 267, 3 p. 179. 204 bulletin of historical society of MONTGOMERY COUNTY of his widow or children was made in Victor's will, possibly because they were all deceased by 1791. So far no record has been found to show what became of Deovalt's widow Mary or his small children. The year of Deovalt's death was possibly the year Johannes Benner married, for on October 28, 1750 his first child, a daughter named Catherine, was born. In 1753 a second daughter Maria was born, and about 1755 his first son Abraham. It was during this period that he began to purchase his land, leasing it at first with an option to buy. Back in 1682 William Penn, having acquired title to the territory now within the limits of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, had granted to Thomas Harley of Kingsham Court, Hart- fordshire, England a 5000-acre tract in the new province. After his father's death in 1699 Thomas Harley's son con veyed the title of the 5000 acres to Thomas Fairman of Shackamaxon in the County of Philadelphia. Fairman, desiring to realize on his property, in 1708/9 applied to Penn's Commissioners of Property for a survey and received two warrants of 500 acres each for 1000 of the 5000 acres at a rental of one English silver shHling per 100 acres. The remaining 4000 of the original 5000-acre grant he took up in other sections of the county. This particular 1000-acre tract, laid out along the Bucks County line and extending from thence southwest one and a half miles—covering the site of Souderton and Telford — now passed through the hands of various people. First held by Samuel Marmion, a merchant of Burlington, New Jersey, he leased it in 1723 to Richard Hill, one of the First Pur chasers in the province. Hill then leased it to John Weems in 1727, stipulating a yearly rental of £25, and that, on the payment of £500, absolute title should vest in the owner. Weems in 1728/9 assigned his lease for £100 to George Stuart who is believed to be the first actual settler on the tract. At the end of the same year—1729—Stuart leased DETECriVE WOBS AMONG THE BENNERS '205

150 acres to Jacob Bayard, a husbandman who sub-leased 50 acres of it to John Wllhelm, a weaver, in 1731, Three years later Stuart leased 110 acres to Ludwig Hungen (Hangey) as well as executing other leases which were never recorded. The next year Stuart released the entire 1000-acre tract to the previously mentioned George Krlse- men or Cressman (as his name was variously spelled), of New Providence, subject to the leases granted during Stuart's tenure. George Cressman and Eve, his wife, took up residence in Stuart's house which was situated in a meadow bordering the creek which flowed westward to join the Skippack near the southern border of what is now Franconia township. Not for twenty years did Cressman acquire absolute title to his land. But finally on May 5, 1755 he paid the last of the stipulated £500 (under the Richard Hill lease) to Joseph Hill, the former's nephew, to whom Richard Hill's equity had devised. The same day Joseph Hill released the entire tract from payment of quit-rent and other encumbrances descending from the original patent deed. With clear ownership of the land at last, George Cress man on December 29, 1755 then conveyed six tracts in it to persons who were then in possession of the same under different leases. John Wilhelm acquired clear title to the land he had leased from Jacob Bayard back in 1731; Lud wig Hangey's title to his 110 acres in the south comer of the tract was made final; 100 acres in the western comer was conveyed to Christian Benner, a blacksmith and son-in-law of John Wilhelm, who had been living there for at least ten years. Cressman also conveyed 188 acres in the eastern corner to Abraham Arndt, a shoemaker, and one of the first trus tees of the Indian Creek Reformed Church, who had built a small house south of the branch of the Skippack flowing through the center of the tract. Between Arndt's tract and John Wilhelm's land lay 100 acres conveyed to Christian 206 bulletin of historical society of MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Hunsberger, a son of Ulrich Hunsberger, on which was the dwelling Jacob Bayard had erected when he had leased his land from Stuart in 1729. George Cressman kept for himself and his sons 200 acres in the north central part of the tract adjoining Christian Benner's land on the east, and conveyed the remaining 225 acres in the north comer to "Johannes Penar" as the name was spelled on the deed recording the transfer.^ Each of these six tracts of land was watered by branches of the westward flowing creeks. In the case of Johannes Banner, the land sloped southwards rather rapidly from a diagonal line drawn from the east to the west comer, a branch of the.jcreek crossing the southern corner. About 200 feet back from the stream's north bank Johannes had erected his log house; in front lay his flax fields and flax- brake in the meadow bordering the stream, while the rest of his cleared land was given over to an orchard and fields of wheat, oats, Indian com and buckwheat. His barn was substantial enough to house a dozen cows, a steer, at least one bull, four horses—of which one, a mare, was his riding horse — and the space necessary for flax culture besides storage for grain and fodder. A sheep pen and shelter for a half-dozen hogs probably completed the outbuildings. Less than three years after Johannes Benner had be come full owner of his plantation he was in agreement with his neighbors that the need for more roads had approached a point where something should be done about it. He joined with 23 others in praying "The Honorable the justices of the Court of Quarter Sessions, Held at Philadelphia the 6th March, 1758" to "appoint a judicious set of men to view and lay out a Road to begin in the Bucks County line near John Benners Plantation, Thence by the Presbyterian Meet ing House" (the Indian Creek Reformed Church) "and the Lutheran Church to Michael Croyder's Grist Mill." Why

*Landes pp. 8-11. DETECTIVE WORK AUONG THE BENNERS 207 they wanted to get to Croyder's Mill way up on the Ridge Valley Creek remains a mystery — perhaps Moyer at his mill was not giving them good service! Be that as it may, the Court graciously agreed to lay out such a road, and on the 9th and 10th of May it was surveyed and marked. However, the surveyors appear not to have been as judicious as desired, for the petitioners were not satisfied with their findings. As laid out, the proposed road cut across too many of the subscribers' plantations, including the extreme north comer of Johannes' where it no doubt cut through his woodland. Accordingly the residents of the former Fairman tract and adjoining lands again petitioned the Court and "humbly sheweth that. .. the Subscribers, being very much aggrieved and injured by the said road as now laid out which (would) be of very little public use But chiefly for the Convenience and interest of one or a few private per sons," and were of "the opinion it be laid out chiefly on Lines dividing the plantations and a manner far less in jurious to the inhabitants and no Less Commodious than as it now is." The petition for review appears to have been successful for some changes were subsequently made in the course of the road: where before it had cut through Johannes' land and that of Abraham Hunsberger, his neighbor on the north, it eventually ran along the county line for a greater distance before cutting across to meet Moyer's road. As mentioned earlier,® in the spring of 1759 Johannes and Bastian Benner, accompanied by Ulrich Hunsberger, travelled to Philadelphia where, before the Spring Session of the Supreme Court, on April 10th they affirmed their allegiance to King George. This year or in 1760 a second son, Christian, was born to Johannes and Elizabeth Benner, a daughter Ann having

®vide supra Vol. 7, p. 13. 208 bulletin of historical society of MONTGOMERY COUNTY been born probably about 1757. Other children may have arrived in the years immediately following 1760, but no record survives of them. His last child, Elizabeth, was born presumably about 1765. Fated like Bastian to be cut off in the prime of life, death in some more or less sudden form—perhaps an acci dent or fever—overtook him early in the spring of 1767, in the 43rd year of his life. Besides his widow he left six children, the youngest, Elizabeth, not yet three; Catherine, the eldest, at sixteen practically grown, and Abraham, the eldest son, probably not more than twelve. As Johannes, like Bastian, had died intestate, it was necessary for his widow to apply to the Orphans' Court in Philadelphia for administration papers. To assist her she called in her neighbors Abraham Hunsberger and Conrad Dederer. In their company, with Jacob Oberholtzer, who in a few years would be chosen minister of Rosenberger's con gregation of Mennonites (now the Franconia Meeting), she travelled to the city to appear before Benjamin Chew, Register General for the Probate of Wills and Granting Let ters of Administration. On the 18th of April, 1767 such letters were granted to her and Jacob Oberholtzer, Conrad Dederer and Abraham Hunsberger posting bond for £500.® Returning home, the following week was spent in inven torying Johannes' goods and chatties, Abraham Heiderich again being called in to write up the inventory: "A true & perfect inventory of all & singular the Goods & Chattels Rights & Credits late of John Bener of Franconia in the County of Phila delphia & Province of Pensylvania Yeoman Deceased: Appraised this 25th day of April Ano 1767 by the Subscribers hereof vize: £ s d To the said Deceased wearing Apparell 9 0 0 to his riding Horse Sadie & Bridle 20 0 0 to Books 2 15 0 to a Clok 7 10 0 to a Wallnutt Table 15 0

« Phila Adm Bk H p. 39 1767 No. 11. DETECTIVE WORK AUONG THE BENNERS 209

to a small ovall Table & Chairs 1 10 0 to 45 yrds of Tow Linen @ 1/6 pr yrd ' 6 0 3 to 7^,4 yrd Bed-Ticks @ 4/6 pr yrd 1 13 9 to a Looking Glass & Razor 0 6 0 to 4 Bed-Cases 4 Sheets 4 Towels 2 10 0 to 12 Table Cloathes 2 1 0 to 8 Coverlets 1 0 0 to an old Cloathes-Press 0 15 0 to a Wallnntt Chest 1 0 0 to a Chest with Drawers 3 16 0 to her Bedding Bed-Stead & Curtains 4 0 0 to a Bed-Stead & Bedding 2 5 0 to a Plate Iron Still Yard Scales & Weight 0 16 0 to an old Cradle with some Bedding 0 7 6 to 5% yd Tow Yard & Sundries 0 6 9 ^to a Dresser 1 10 0 to all the Pewter Ware 3 15 0 to Delph-Ware 1 12 0 to Tin & Earthen Ware 1 12 0 to 4 Iron Potts, 2 Pott Hangers 1 17 6 to Flesh Forks & Knifes Scnmer & Pans 0 11 0 to Glasses & a pair of Wool Cards 0 6 0 to a Tea Kettle & small brass Kettle 1 0 0 to an old large brass kettle 1 2 6 to a Bake-iron & Fire Tongs 1 12 0 to a Coffee Mill 12 Trenchers 0 3 6 to Cooper Ware 0 7 0 to a Covert with old Iron Tools 1 0 0 to Maul & Wedges 3 axes 0 12 0 to a Grind-Stone & Log Chain 0 15 0 to a Gun 0 10 0 to 2 Lamps a Sheep Shear 0 4 6 to 2 old Bed-Steads & some Bedding 2 8 0 to a Cask with some Vinegar 0 6 0 to a Meal Chest with Meal 4 15 0 to 3 Bags with Meal & Bran 1 5 0 to old Lumper 0 7 6 to 3 Spining Wheels a Real 1 16 0 to some Rye Beans & Buckwheat 1 0 0 to 2 old Side Sadies 2 0 0 to 16 Bags 1 0 0 to about 120 Bushels of Wheat @ 6/6 pr Bushel 33 0 0 to some Flax-Seed a Clover-Seed Rake 1 12 6 to 3 Boxes with Salt, a Cross-cutt Saw & old Butter Boxes 0 16 0 210 BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY to 2 old Bed-Steads with Beds & Sheets 2 10 0 to Dry Meat 4 0 0 to a Heap of Oats 3 7 6 to 2 Sithes 3 old Oats Cradles a Iron Frame & Sheep Shears 1 13 0 to 6 old Bee Hive 3 Baskets some Indian Corn 0 4 6 to a Barrel with Tar 0 7 6 to Wallnutt Boards 2 0 0 to a Shovel, Spade & 4 Howes 0 12 0 to a Tierce with Cyder 1 15 0 to 4 old Hhd Casks 1 Tup 2 Baking Tups 3 0 0 to a Brake, Hackel, Tow & some Lumber 1 12 6 to a Water Pott 0 2 6 to 2 Hives with Bees 0 10 0 to a Churn 2 old Tups with Chees 0 12 0 to a Waggon 12 0 0 to a Slad, 2 Oak Boards 2 Dung Forks & Hooks & Pitch Fork 0 12 0 to a Cutting Box 8 Wett Stones a half Buchel 1 10 0 to an old Wind Mill 0 15 0 to some Hay & Oats in the Straw 1 4 0 to 2 Quilers 2 Pair of Traces 1 5 0 to 15 Cow Chains 1 10 0 to 2 old Tups of Rahics (?) 0 2 0 to 12 Milk Cowes 50 0 0 to 2 young Bulls 1 Steer 1 Heiver 2 Calfes 10 0 0 to a Bay Horse 15 0 0 to a Brown do 6 0 0 to a Sorrel do 15 0 0 to a Bay Mare 8 0 0 to 8 Sheep 4 8 0 to 6 Hogs 3 12 0 to a Harrow Chain & Swingle Tree 1 0 0 to 4 pair of Traces, Hams & Collars 1 15 0 to 2 Ploughs 1 Swingle Tree 2 10 0 to 2 Laders 0 3 0 to all the Winter Corn in the Ground 28 0 0 to Oats & Flax in ye Ground 1 0 0 to Cash Bills Bonds & Book Debts 760 11 3 to Interest now Due on some of ye sd Bonds to ye date hereof 19 3 10 to a Debt of Hartman Adam of Germantown hardly Recoverable 71 0 6

"Appraised per us Sum of £ 1170 14 10 "Conrad Doderer ) "Abraham Hunsberger) Qualified" "Abraham Heiderich ) DETECTIVE WORK AMONG THE BENNERS 211

From the above inventory it can readily be seen that Johannes had prospered considerably more than Bastian, the inventory of whose estate in 1764 had amounted to £390,5,11. The large amount of "Cash, Bills, Bonds and Book Debts" is seemingly indicative of an acute sense of enterprise and business acumen; quite probably his trade— apparently that of a weaver of more than average ability, to judge from the stock of tow linen on hand—accounted for a good share of the outstanding debts due him. Certainly Lizbeth, as she signed her name on the surety bond, was in a better condition to rear her family of six children than Anna Banner had been, and probably explains why she never remarried as Anna had already done. The "Account" of Elizabeth Benner and Jacob Ober- holtzer, administrators of the estate, was not rendered until February 8, 1769: "The said Accomptants Pray allowance for their Several Payments and disbursements made out of the same as follows Viz: Paid for Letters of Administration £ 1 1 9 Paid the Appraiser & Clark 17 6 Paid fees to the Coroner for an Inquest on the Deceaseds Body 1 15 0 Paid Joseph Smith for a Coffin 15 0 Paid Vendue Expenses 1 16 0 Paid Wm Day pr Receipt 0 12 0 Paid Joseph Stump pr Ditto 0 ' 9 4 Paid George Hurtzell Prov. Tax prdo 0 14 0 Paid Jacob Detweiler pr do 3 7 0 Paid Christopher Bener pr do 16 6 Paid Ulrich Huntsberger pr do 4 0 0 Paid Henry Lohra pr do 0 5 6 Paid Jacob Hagey pr do 3 5 0 Paid Johannes Benner pr do 4 16 0 Paid Justus Echard pr do 15 0 Paid for Stating this Acct to a Clerk 0 7 6 Paid the Register Genl for Examining & passing this Acct Copy under Seal &c 0 17 6

£ 28 8 7 212 BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY

The Accts crave an allowance for Hartman Adams Bond appraised being^ desperate 71 0 6 For Henry Lohras Bond do 30 0 0 Allowance made the Administrs for their whole time, trouble and Expense in the Administration 50 0 0

£ 179 4 1 Balance due to the Estate to be distributed between the Widow: & Children £ 1045 8 8

£ 1224 12 9 NB The Adms are to account for such interest Monies as shall hereafter to accrue on the deeds Bonds outstanding (signed) B. Chew" The difference of £53,17,11 between the total above and the total of the inventory was accounted for by £51 addi^ tional interest received on the Bonds outstanding and the sum of £2,17,11 which was the excess the household goods sold for over their appraised value. Unfortunately no record has remained of the sale. However, that year Elizabeth "Beaner" was taxed on four horses, six cows and six sheep, indicating she had disposed of about half of the livestock. Her assessment for that year (Conrad Dodderow was the assessor for Franconia township) included also 250 acres and dwelling taxed at £16,4 which the chattels raised to £21,3,4. In 1774 when Andrew Swartz was assessor, the land was taxed at £10,16 and she had two horses and four cows which brought the total to £13,9,4. This is the last remaining record concerning Elizabeth Benner until her death. On a fragment of stone in the Franconia Mennonite Cemetery can—or could twenty years ago — be read the inscription

"Anno 1793 Den 9 Mei Elizabeth Benner" The two unmarked graves beside her are quite probably those of her husband and youngest daughter. DETECTIVE WORK AMONG THE BENNERS 213

Children op Johannes Benner J-l Catherine Benner b October 28, 1760; d August 28, 1814 aged 63 yrs, 10 m; m ea 1775 Abraham Alderfer b November 4, 1747; d April 17, 1825 aged 77 yrs, 5m, 18d; son of Frederick and Anna (Det\veiler) Alderfer; both buried Lower Salford Mennonite Cemetery. J-2 Maria Benner b 1758; d 1810 aged 57 yrs; m ca 1774 Yellis Cassel b 1751; d March 16, 1886 aged 85 yrs, son of Johannes Cassel; both buried at Towamencin Mennonite Cemetery. J-8 Abraham Benner b ca 1755; d December 1821; m ca 1777 Barbara (Hunsberger?) b ca 1760; d March 1834. J-4 Anna Benner b ca 1757; d ? ; m ca 1782 Henry Johnson b ca 1755-60; d ? ; son of John and Ficken Johnson of Hatfield township. J-5 Christian Benner b ca 1769; d ca 1837-40; m ca 1780 Mary— J-6 Elizabeth Benner b ca 1765; d October 1785; m April 21, 1785, Peter Conver b April 30, 1763; d October 80 1830 aged 67 yrs, 6m. He married 2nd Maria Fried. All buried at Franconia Mennonite Cemetery. J-l Catherine Benner As noted earlier, the account of Johannes Benner's estate was rendered in February of 1769. J-l Catherine Benner, his eldest child, had passed her eighteenth birthday the previous October and was very probably thinking about marriage. In order that she might get her share of her fathers estate it was necessary to make settlement, which was done. However, for some reason she was not married until at least 1775. Her husband Abraham Alderfer, who had reached his majority in November 1768, was a son of Frederick Alder fer who had emigrated to America in 1732. Tradition states that he went to work for Hans Clemmer who had married Anna Detweiler, daughter of Hans Detweiler, a pioneer settler in Skippack. After Hans Clemmer's death in 1737 Frederick Alderfer married his widow,^ continuing the operation of the flourishing grist mill Clemmer had located in Lower Salford. Abraham Alderfer was the fourth child of this union.

* Heckler, p. 166. 214 BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

In 1774 at the age of 27 apparently he was still single, for no assessment appears beside his name in the tax list for that year.® On Ma^ 18, 1776, probably after his mar riage, he purchased ft'om Magdalene Schlotter, wife of George Schlotter and widow of Nicholas Johnson, 150 acres in Lower Salford for £995.® This property lay on the north east side of what is now the Sumneytown Pike, between Mainland and Harleysville. A log house was already on the property and here for a time Abraham and Catherine made their home. As the years passed, however, Abraham erected a new dwelling into which they moved, keeping the log house for a tenant building. The couple had barely set up housekeeping when the troubles of war began to trouble them. Being a Mennonite —Abraham had apparently joined with his wife's church, though his father is said to have been of the Lutheran faith —he had conscientious objections to strife and the bearing of arms. Hence, though registered a member of Captain Andrew Campbell's Company of the District of Lower Sal- ford in the 7th class, he refused to participate and became liable for fines. In 1777 his fine was assessed at £8,5 for absenteeism on muster days^®; in 1779 he paid £9,15 in the spring and falP^ and was registered as a non-associator." From 1780 through 1786 he was listed as a member of the same company, but it is doubtful if he ever attended.^® On June 2, 1784 Catherine and Abraham Alderfer joined with the other heirs of Johannes Benner in releasing their rights in the latter's estate to Abraham Benner, his

' Pa Arch 3rd Ser Vol. 14, p. 366. • Montgy Dd Bk 2, p. 145. Pa Arch 3rd Ser Vol. 5, p. 641. " Ihid, pp. 689, 698. "ibid 2nd Ser Vol 14, p. 85. " Ibid 6th Ser Vol. 1, pp. 835, 854, 855; Vol 3, pp. 1334, 1354. DETECTIVE WORK AMONG THE BENNERS 215 eldest son, for £600, subject to a dower charge, the interest of which was payable to Elizabeth, the mother.*^ In 1789 Abraham Alderfer acted with John Lukens of Towamencin township as co-executor of the will of Eliza beth Shuler,^'^ widow of William Shuler (son of Gabriel Shuler whose property adjoined Abraham's) and the daughter of Peter and Catherine Tyson. Her mother Cath erine had married Gabriel Shuler as his second wife.^® This same year Abraham Alderfer was taxed for 150 acres and dwelling rated at £506, and for seven acres and dwelling belonging to Elizabeth Shuler's estate which was rated at £100; presumably he'was renting the latter holding. In the 1790 Heads of Families Census Abraham was listed as the head of a family consisting of two persons, his wife and a male under 16 years of age. Whether this was a son or not is unknown; possibly it was a lad indentured to him. In the late summer of 1814 Catherine Alderfer died in her 64th year and was buried at Lower Salford Mennonite Cemetery. By 1818, when Abraham wrote his final will" he had remarried, this time to Esther Souder, the widow of Abraham Souder. She was a daughter of J-3 Abraham and Barbara Benner and consequently his first wife Catherine's niece. It was undoubtedly a marriage of convenience, for she was the mother of five children ranging in ages from 22 years down to eleven years, the eldest of whom—Chris tian—^had just married. They were not destined to live long together, either, for by April 1822 Esther had died," Abraham following her in death on April 17, 1825. In the will he had never gotten around to changing after his second wife's death, Abraham

Montgy Dd Bk 3, p. 5. " Heckler, p. 347. " Perk Reg Vol 12, p. 137. " Montgy "W Bk 6, p. 271. » Montgy Dd Bk 39, p. 173. 216 BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY bequeathed his plantation of 150 acres to his "dearly be loved wife" as well as "the cattels and moveable good in the Kidgen and all together exet (sic) money and Bonds and notes." He likewise bequeathed £125 to his wife's children; £25 to each of his wife's three sisters; £25 to George Wunderlich; £50 to Nanse Young wife of William Young; £25 to Elizabeth Moyer wife of John Moyer; £20 each to Jacob Hummel's three daughters; £15 to his brother John's son Abraham Alderfer and £20 to the Salford Men- nonite Meeting. The personal bequests he particularly stated were to be advances to the beneficiaries. After all debts and expenses and the bequests had been paid, the residue of his estate was to be divided equally between his brothers' children and the children of the brothers and sis ters of his first wife Catherine. Benjamin and Isaac Alder fer, his brothers' sons, were named executors, while his brother Joseph Alderfer was to act as trustee for his wife, the executors to do nothing without his consent and advice. The will was proved April 30, 1825. Since Abraham had made no provision in his will for the disposition of his plantation in the event his wife prede ceased him, he died intestate in that part of his property, causing a degree of confusion in the family regarding it. On May 31st Joseph Alderfer, as trustee for the deceased Esther, released his claim on the property to her heirs*® for the consideration of one dollar apiece. The following August Benjamin Alderfer, one of the executors, petitioned the Court for an inquest to partition the plantation or make award of it, which request was granted August ISth.^® On September 14th Philip Boyer, Sheriff, and a jury composed of Henry Clemens, George Clemens, Abraham Ziegler, Baltzer Heydrick, Isaac Klein, Henry Kolb, George Heydrick, Abraham Swartz, Christian

Montgy Misc Bk 2, p. 34. Montgy OC Bk 4, p. 634. DETECTIVE WOBK AMONG THE BENNEBS 217

Detweiler, Michael Shoemaker, Jr., Henry Hockman and Abraham Clemmer viewed the property, agreed it could not be divided without spoiling the whole, and appraised the messuages and land at $25 per acre. On the following November 12th in open Court they reported their findings, Frederick Alderfer, the eldest son of Jacob Alderfer, Abraham's eldest brother, offering to take the place at the fixed valuation.^! No objections being raised, the Court awarded the property to him and on November 29th Benjamin and Isaac Alderfer, the eo-execu- tors, filed a bond as sureties for his payment to the other heirs of the value of the plantation. According to the historian James Y. Heckler, Frederick did not take the farm for his own use, he and his wife Eliza beth conveying it the next spring to his cousins Mary and Elizabeth Alderfer for $3787.50. These two maiden ladies owned the farm for thirty years but never lived there, rent ing it to tenants. Joseph Alderfer in his quit-claim stated that George Bilger and his wife Elizabeth, who was Esther Souder Alderfer's daughter, had taken a one-fifth part of all the messuages and lands, which may have included the old log cabin. The inventory of Abraham Alderfer's estate, made by Joseph Harley and Jacob Hagey on April 23, 1825, listed bonds and notes to the value of $2117.091/^ and cash on hand of $411.17. Out of the total appraisal of $6876.881/^ a bal ance of $5259.151/2 remained in the hands of the executors a year later, which was paid to 35 legatees. Nancy Young and her husband William received $133.33; Elizabeth and John Moyer $53.33; George Wunderlich $66.66; Abraham Alderfer $40; Polly and Catherine Benner $133.33; Chris tian Souder and the other heirs of Esther, his mother, received a total of $333.33 and Jacob Hummel's three daughters $106.66.

" Ihid 4, p. 673. 218 bulletin of historical society of MONTGOMERY COUNTY

If Abraham and Catherine Alderfer had any children, none survived the parents.

J-2 Maria Bbnner Johannes Banner's second daughter married into a family which has been associated with the country from its very inception. In general its history is too well known to bear retelling. Since Daniel K. Cassel's family history deals only briefly with this particular line, however, it has been thought proper to resurvey the extant documents relating to it. Yelles or Julius Kassel, the emigrant grandfather of Maria Banner's husband,'and his brother Johannes Kassel arrived in Philadelphia on October 16, 1727 on board the Ship "Friendship" of Bristol, John'Davies, Master, from Rotterdam- after a voyage of four months. This was a par ticularly distinguished group of emigrants from the point of view of their descendants. The passenger list included Andreas and Abraham Swartz, the latter destined to be come the first Mennonite Bishop at Deep Run in Bedminster township, Bucks county; Valentine Kratz, Johann Philip Ried, Christian Moyer, and Christian Krayebiel and Jacob and Johannes Heistandt who settled on the west side of the Schuylkill. Yelles and Johannes Kassel established themselves in the Skippack region near their brother Hupert Cassel who had emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1717. After a time, ac cording to Daniel K. Cassel, Hupert divided his land with Yelles, the third brother Johannes moving on to Lancaster county. Yelles soon became active in the affairs of the Men nonite Church at Skippack, was ordained a preacher and as such signed the Skippack Alms Book eleven times from 1738 through 1748.^ He apparently died shortly after the latter date, but no record of the settlement of his estate

" Pa Ger Pion Vol. 1, pp. 16-17. " Wenegr p. 101. DETECTIVE WORK AMONG THE BENNEES 219 remains except for a few entries in the old Orphans' Court Books in City Hall, Philadelphia. Therein one finds that on September 12, 1768, John Kassel of Worcester, eldest son of Julius (or Yelles) Kassel of Worcester, who "about eighteen years previous died and left a messuage and two parcels of land in Perkiomen and Skippack containing 94 acres," prayed the Court to have the said real estate divided.^^ A widow had since died leaving eight living children, a ninth having died but left issue. These were John, the petitioner, Henry, who married Margaret Godshalk, grand daughter of Bishop Jacob Godshalk; Hupert, who married Susanna Swartz, daughter of the elder Yelles' co-emigrant Andreas Swartz; Isaac, who married Barbara Detweiler, daughter of Johannes Detweiler; Joseph (thought to have died single); Mary, wife of Jacob Landis of Franconia; Elizabeth, wife of Henry Kolb; Catherine Cassel, late wife of John Bean; and Barbara Cassel, wife of Christian Funk —the founder of the Funkites. The Orphans' Court granted the petition of John Kas sel ; a jury viewed the land and valued it at £370 which was accepted by John who posted Jacob Umstad and Melchior Waggoner as his securities. He then executed bonds in the amount of £74 to each of his brothers and sisters for the payment of their share —>£34 — of the estate, each one of which, except Joseph's, was acknowledged as paid (in the margin of the record) on June 10, 1769.^® Since no record appears on the old tax returns of John's ever owning taxable property in Skippack, it is apparent the property was turned over to his—John's—son Henry. A clear title was not confirmed to him until a deed was executed May 31, 1784.^®'' John died in May 1803 leaving a

» Phila OC 1768, p. 198. " rbid, p. 208. Montgy Dd Bk 42, p. 216. 220 BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY wife Catherine—said by James Y. Heekler to have been a daughter of Nicholas Johnson-"^ — and four children, a daughter Mary, wife of Peter Johnson, having predeceased him.-® The surviving children were Jacob, who lived at home with his parents, Henry who died August 17, 1849, his wife Sarah having died September 19, 1828; John, and Yellis Gassel who married Maria Benner. Her husband was a weaver by trade; after reaching his majority he seems to have spent his "wanderjahres" in the neighboring townships, perhaps in this fashion meeting Maria who, two years his junior, was at nineteen still unmarried. While working in Perkiomen-Skippack town ship he courted her, their marriage taking place in the late fall of 1774 or early spring of 1775. On April 15, 1775 he purchased from Baltzer Stam and Susannah, his wife, two tracts of land in Hatfield township amounting to 111 acres, for £830.'^® The property was located in the northwest corner of the township adjoining the Towamencin line, one acre actually being over the line in the latter township. It had previously belonged to John Godshalk (son of the Mennonite Bishop Jacob Godshalk) who had purchased it February 28, 1735/6 from John'and Eleanor William. At John Godshalk's death late in 1759 his executors, Peter Ouster—his brother-in-law—and Dill- man Kolb of Bedminster township, Bucks county, had sold the property to Balzer Stam who eventually had married Peter Ouster's daughter Else Ouster. In a good-sized stone house situated on the meadow bank some two hundred yards northwest of the Allentown Road®" Yelles and Maria Oassel lived for the rest of their lives. Like Catherine and Abraham Alderfer, they had barely

" Heckler, p. 350. " Montgy W Bk 2, p. 313 RW No. 972. Montgy Dd Bk 5, p. 279. •" Allebaeh, p. 62. DETECTIVE WOBK AMONG THE BBNNERS 221 started their married life when war broke over their heads. Yelles was perforce enrolled in the seventh class of Captain John Shive's (later Philip Reed's) Company commanded by Colonel Daniel Heister under Colonel Jacob Engle. Like the rest of the Mennonites—and Hatheld as well as Franconia was populated mainly by them — Yelles seems to have served no more than he had to, consequently being subject to fines for non-performance of militia duty and non-attend ance on exercise days. In 1777 the first of these amounted to £37,10 (the maximum possible was £40), and the latter to £3.®^ In 1778 the fine was £3,15 and in 1779 £9,15 in both spring and fall.^'^ This latter year he was also listed as a Non-Associator.®^ Until the end of hostilities he remained on the militia rolls, but in common with his fellow Menno nites probably put in no attendance. War-inflated prices were reflected in his assessments during these years: in 1779 his estate was rated at £3150 and taxed £47,5 on the Fifteen Million ,Tax. The same year the local assessment set his land at £1908, his income from occupation at £300, two horses at £500, five cows at £240, with cash on hand at £31,2,6. In 1780 the land had jumped to £7420, occupation income to £4840, two horses to £800 and four cows to £440. On this list he is stated to have "refused to qualify" and consequently was liable to the double tax on the total estate, of £13,500. On the Effective Supply Tax his estate was rated at £2950 and his tax at £76,14.®® In 1781 the currency revaluation fixed his land assessment at £201, two horses at £20, five cows at £20, his income of £10 bringing the total to £251. In 1796 the appraisal for his land and dwelling was first reckoned in dollars at $706; three horses were now

Pa Arch 3rd Ser Vol. 6, pp. 590, 600. "/bid, pp. 637, 686. •*/6id 2nd Ser Vol. 14, p. 38. " Ihid 3rd Ser Vol. 15, p. 419. 222 bulletin of historical society of Montgomery county appraised at $93; five cows at $80 and his income of $15.40 brought the total to $879 on which the tax was $1.85. By 1798 taxes had increased to $3.32 on an appraised value of $848 which remained at this level until 1811 when it was raised to $2234 and taxes to $4.41. During the War of 1812 the value was reduced to $1134, the tax averaging about $2.50. On June 2, 1784 Yelles joined with his wife's brothers and sisters in releasing their shares in Johannes Benner's plantation in Franconia to J-3 Abraham Benner. Six years later on April 10, 1790 he purchased from the Wilson estate for £94 eighteen acres lying just across the township line in Franconia, which adjoined his other property In 1810 Maria Benner, his wife, died at the age of 57 years, and was buried in Towamencin Mennonite Cemetery. Since his five children were all grown, Yelles seems to have felt no need to marry again and remained a widower. On August 17, 1811, about a year after Maria's death, he executed a deed conveying 50 acres of his land to his young est son J-28 Jacob, having transferred the land to him a year or so previously. The sale price was $800. Thirty-six acres of the tract lay in Hatfield township, the rest in Franconia.®^ When Jacob transferred this property to his elder brother J-21 Abraham Cassel, he returned to his father's farm and in 1825 was assessed for Yelles' seventy acres, now valued at $1610, paying a tax of $3.74. Yelles himself was assessed for only one horse valued at $30. However, after Jacob's death in 1826, Yelles again assumed the responsibility for the farm. He survived his wife 25 years, dying March 16, 1836 at the age of eighty-five. He was buried beside Maria in the Towamencin cemetery; their graves are but a few steps

Montgy Dd Bk 5, p. 481. "• Ihid 35, p. 706. DETECTIVE WORK AMONG THE BENNERS 223 from the monument raised to the memory of General Nash who died shortly after the Battle of Germantown. Three of Yelles' children had predeceased him five years, and more earlier: both sons — Abraham and Jacob — his youngest daughter Mary, wife of John Drake, as well as Henry Bergey, the husband of his eldest daughter Elizabeth. Jacob Ruth and David C. Kulp inventoried Yelles' estate on March 25, 1836.^® Because of his advanced age the personal estate was quite small, totalling only $102.85. This included wearing apparel at $10, a clock and case at $15, weaver's loom and tackling at $2.50, spectacles at $1.50 and rent due April 1, 1836 at $25. However, advancements to his children as noted in his "family book" totalled $1710.02: the deceased Abraham having received $560.67, Elizabeth Bergey $290.27, Jacob $293.07, Catherine Oberholtzer $285.74 and Mary Drake $280.27. John Drake and Henry Oberholtzer, Yelles' surviving sons-in-law, were granted letters of administration and at the following August term of the Orphans' Court petitioned for permission to sell the real estate.®® Their petition was granted and the land exposed to public sale August 13,1836 at which time Amos Godshalk, who had married Henry's daughter J-242 Anna Oberholtzer, agreed to purchase the farm, now comprising 74 acres, at the valuation of $40 per acre set by the jury of viewers, for $2997.50, payable April 1,1837. The sale was confirmed August 16, 1836 and Jacob Kulp and Benjamin Reiff were approved as sureties."*® The balance in the hands of the administrators on April 1, 1837, to be paid to the heirs was $4543.81, the total estate having amounted to $4881.21.

' Montgy RW No. 9586 OC No. 3612. ' Montgy Oc Bk 6, p. 717. ' Ibid 7, p. 10. 224 bulletin of historical society of Montgomery county

Children of J-2 Maria Benneb Kassel^^ J-21 Abraham Cassel b January 1777; d October 1828 aged 61 yrs; m ca 1799 Catherine Ruth, dau of Jacob Ruth. He is buried at Towamencin Mennonite Cemetery. J-22 Elizabeth Cassel b October 7, 1779; d April 29, 1852; m ca 1801 Henry Bergey b February 12, 1782; d April 2, 1827, son of Isaac and Susanna (Hunsberger) Bergey.*® J-23 Jacob Cassel b ca 1783; d February 1826, aged 43 yrs; m ca 1803 Elizabeth Landes b January 17, 1782; d October 17, 1854; both buried Towamencin Mennonite Cemetery. J-24 Catherine Cassel b April 24, 1785; d September 17, 1860 m May 21, 1807^3 Heinrich Oberholtzer b September 5, 1780; d January 14, 1867, son of Joseph and Susanna (Schlichter) Oberholtzer. Both buried Towamencin Mennonite Cemetery. J-25 Mary Cassel b December 8, 1792; d June 9, 1829 aged 36 yrs, 6m, Id; m ca 1810 John Drake b June 26, 1791; d June 27, 1867 aged 76 yrs Id; son of Levi Drake. Both buried Towamencin Mennonite Cemetery.

J-21 Abraham Cassel Yelles and Maria Kassel's oldest child .was not listed on the Hatfield tax-lists until 1800, by which time he was no doubt already married, though living with his parents. He owned two cows and a horse, his total taxable estate being appraised at $92.20 on which the tax was fifty-two cents. By trade he was a weaver like his father, his appraised income this year being $20, from which modest beginning it soon doubled in value. In 1801 it was up to $80 and in 1803 to $40, only ten dollars less than his^ father's income for that year. He also soon increased his chattels: by 1805 he owned three horses and in 1810 had four. Until 1823 he continued living with his father, but on May 30th of that year his younger brother Jacob sold to.him for $1600 the 47-acre tract Yelles had conveyed to Jacob in 1811.-''' On the same day he mortgaged the property for

" Ihid 6, p. 717. ** Bergey, pp. 22, 44. *• Tohickon Ref., p. 226. ** Montgy Dd Bk 39, p. 257. DETECTIVE WOBK AMONG THE BENNEBS 225

$800 to Dillman Kolb of Towamencin, an indebtedness which was not satisfied until two years after his death when Jacob Kolb, administrator of Dillman Kolb, acknowledged payment on April 24, 1830.^° Abraham, however, had been assessed for 36 acres of the property in 1822, at which time it had a value of $900, the total tax being $2.08. In 1824 this was Increased to $2.41 on a reduced assessment of $828 which value obtained until Abraham's death in October 1828 in his 52nd year. On October 28th his widow Catherine Cassel renounced her right to the administration of her husband's estate to Abraham Shipe and John Drake, her brother-in-law.^® The following day these two men inventoried the personal estate, which, amounting to $562.82, included: Horse, saddle & bridle $50 Horse 2.50 1 Horse coldt (sic) 15. 3 Cows @ $45 & 1 Cow @ $12 57. 3 Swine 1 Sough & pigs 26.50 Waggon 10. Lot of oats in the Sheaf 8.76 Lot of buckwheat & bush of flaxseed 5.45 Lot of hay & lot of 2nd crop 29. Lot of corn tops 4. Lot of Rye & Straw 30. Lot of Flax 6.12 Indian Com 10. Grain in ground &'lot of books 18.50 Weaver's loom & 4 cow chains 2.75 Weaver's tackling & 2 oggers .90 Factory Loom & tacklings 3.00 Wearing apparell 7.75 Cloathes press & clock & case 13.60 Book accounts 39.10 Advance to his two daughters 100. On November 19th Jacob R. Cassel, his eldest son, appeared in Orphans' Court on behalf of his young sisters

Montgy Mortg Bk 5, p. 377. Montgy RW No. 8927. 226 BUI^LETIN OP HISTORlCAIi SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Sarah, Mary and Abigail, praying the Court to appoint a guardian for them, whereupon John Drake, their unele-in- law and one of the administrators was named.^^ At the same time Jacob, on behalf of all his brothers and sisters, peti tioned the Court for permission for a jury to be named to appraise and partition the farm. The petition being granted, on December 10th Frederick Ratzel, John Clemens, Jr., Israel Yocum, John Waggoner,^® Jacob Oberholtzer, Sr., John Wilson and David C. Kulp met as a jury, looked the place over and set -a value of $40 per acre on the property. Their report was read in Court on January 20, 1829 but the value of $1892.25 was refused by the heirs so the administrators were instructed to sell it at public sale. Frederick Wampole and Abraham Shipe entered bond as sureties. April 14th Henry R. Cassel, the third son, petitioned the Court to continue the case and the sale was postponed. Again on August 19th he requested a second postponement so that it was not until October 17th that the sale finally took place. Abraham Kulp was the purchaser, his bid of $29.25 per acre being the highest and best bid offered. Terms ofthe sale were that one-third of the purchase money was to remain on the property, after the payment of the estate's debts, during the lifetime of Catherine Cassel, at interest of six per cent payable to her. The balance of the purchase price was not to become due until April 1, 1830. The sale was confirmed by the Court November 17, 1829, one year after the first petition was made by Jacob.^® Catherine Cassel, the widow, then disappeared from view. Possibly she made her home with one of her sons but seems to have died before 1840, since her name has not been found on either the Census for that year or for 1850. found on either the Census for that year or for 1850.

" Montgy OC 5, p. 409. "J&mZ 5, p. 387. " Ibid 5, p. 421. DETECTIVE WOEK AMONG THE BENNERS 227

Issue of J-21 Abraham Cassel®® Jr-211 Jacob R. Oassel (no known data). J-212 Yelles R. Cassel b ca 1801"; d ? ; m Hannah Sheip b ca 1795; d ? , daughter of Abraham Sheip®*; were living in Hatfield town ship in 1850. J-213 Henry R. Cqssel b ? ; d 1893 in Belleveille, Richland County, Ohio; m Sallie Price b November 15, 1806; d September 7, 1875 daughter of Daniel and Margaret (Klein) Price.®® J-214 Elizabeth Cassel b July 18, 1802; d March 7 1858; m Henry Snyder b March 25, 1794; d January 29, 1864; both buried at Towamencin Mennonite Cemetery. J-215 Margaret Cassel b ca 1805; d ? ; m Jacob Dorworth b ? ; d October 9, 1891, of Norriton.®* J-216 Sarah R. Cassel b August 7, 1809; d November 19, 1877; m Henry W. Stong b April 6, 1784; d July 11, 1855 aged 71 yrs. 3m 6d; both buried at Wentz's Church. J-217 Mary R. Cassel b March 9, 1812; d December 7, 1891; m Chris tian B. Halteman b July 15, 1808; d June 8, 1874, son of Abraham and Anna (Bergey) Halteman.®® Both buried at Plain Mennonite Cemetery. J-218 Abigail R. Cassel b ca 1815; d ?

J-22 Elizabeth Cassel Yelles and Maria Kassel's eldest daughter married at about the age of twenty-two Henry Bergey who was four years her junior. Son of Isaac Bergey's middle years, his name first appeared on the Franconia tax lists the year of his majority although he had been married for at least a year. His taxable property at first consisted of a horse and two cows assessed at $48 on which the tax was thirty-seven cents. Renting at first, or living with his aged father, it was not until after the latter's death in 1805, when Henry received his inheritance that he purchased 70 acres in Franconia

®®76uI5, p. 387. 1850 Census. ®'Allebach, p. 70. ®® Price, p. 831. ®® Montgy RW No. 9916 OC No. 4319. '® Rev. Carl Smith. 228 bulletin of historical society of Montgomery county township. This tract was part of 150 acres Henry Pastorious had sold to John Fry back in 1723,®® but as Henry Bergey never recorded the deed, nothing is known about the actual date of purchase or the price he paid for it. In 1806 it was assessed under his name at $506; two horses and three cows brought Henry's estate to $636 on which he was taxed $1.92. In 1808 the farm's assessment was increased to $630 and in 1811 to $2170 when his tax was raised to $4.07. In 1812 or 1818 Henry rented fifteen acres to a neigh bor, the reduction in acreage bringing his assessed estate down to $1705. In 1814 it was further reduced to $1375 where it rema'ined until 1821 when a further reduction brought it to $1347. At this time he owned two horses and five cattle for a total estate of $1457 on which the tax was $3.11. In 1824 the house and land were assessed at $1602 and taxed $3.65. The following year he appears to have taken back the rented portion for he was taxed on 75 acres and dwelling which were rated at $1612. Two years later in 1827 his son Isaac was charged with the property, as being Henry's estate, and in 1828 — the reputed year of Henry's death—^the property was listed in the son's name only. The Bergey Family History gives Henry's death date as April 2, 1828, but the inventory of his estate was made on May 1, 1827 and letters of administration were granted to his widow Elizabeth and eldest son Isaac Bergey on May 5, 1827." Therefore it would appear that the year of his death was unquestionably 1827 rather than 1828. Unfortunately his place of burial has not been located. The inventory which amounted to $541,051/4 included: "Wearing apparel $12.17 Mare, sadle & Bridel 50. Mare, sadle & Bridel 60.

••Landes, p. 131. Montgy RW No. 8360. DETECTIVE WORK AMONG THE BENNERS 229

Yearly Colt 25. 8 head of Cattle 96. 1 heiffer 20. 10 head of Sheep 20. 7 Swine 14. 1 Sled 1. Waggon & bed 12. Lot of grain in ground 6 acres 36. Lot of grain in ground 3 acres 7.60 Lot of wheat in ground 2.00 Lot of oats in ground 3.20 Lot of flax in ground 1.50" ; The household furnishings included seven beds and one truckle-bed, four spinning wheels, three bureaus, a clock and case valued at $20, two books at $2.10, a hand-bible at $1.50, two hymn books, a testament and a prayer book at sixty-two and a half cents. At the January 1828 term of the Orphans' Court, Henry's eldest son Isaac, Joseph Freed, Jr. and his wife Mary (Henry's eldest daughter), Sarah Bergey and John Drake, the guardian of the minor children, petitioned the Court for permission to sell the real estate which was bounded by lands of Henry Berndt,. Abraham Schiwerdle, Henry Harmon, Samuel Berge, William Smith and Jacob Hains.'® On January 23rd a jury composed of Jacob Hains, Joseph Freed, Sr., Jo^ph Swartley, Henry Harmon, Abra ham Swartley, Henry Berndt and Samuel, Wampole ap praised the property at $23.25 per acre for a total value of $1768.22."® Their return was read to the Court April 16th and Isaac Bergey elected to take the property at that valuation, offering Abraham Schwerdle and William Smith as sureties. According to the tax returns, Isaac, with whom his mother then made her home, continued his father's practice of renting out fifteen acres, for from 1829 on he was as-

Mortgy OC Bk 5, p. 295. "/6«i 5, p. 317. 230 bulletin of historical society of MONTGOMERY COUNTY sessed on 56 acres and dwelling rated at $1232. The prop erty remained in the family until 1897 when it was sold to John R. Swartley after the death of Isaac's son Enos G. Bergey.

ISSUE OP J-22 Elizabeth Gassel Bergey«® J-221 Isaac C. Bergey b October 3, 1802; d April 3, 1874; m Elizabeth Garges b March 11, 1805; d March 4, 1887; both buried at Fran- conia Mennonite Cemetery. Their daughter Kate married J-37 Joseph Benner's son J-374 David Benner. J-222 Mary Bergey b August 6, 1804; d in Medina county, Ohio April 4, 1878; m Joseph Freed, jr., b October 31, 1807; d April 19, 1894. Both buried Guilford Mennonite Cemetery, Ohio. J<-223 Sarah Bergey b March 8, 1806; d in Ohio May 9, 1882; m Amos Price, son of Daniel Price, b July 16,1808; d in Ohio in 1881. Ac cording to the Bergey History he was a stone mason by trade and taught school in Hatfield township, moving to Mercer County, Ohio about 1852.®^ J-224 Catherine Bergey b January 8, 1810; d May 16, 1880; m John Boring, widower of her deceased young sister Elizabeth. He was born November ,20, 1809; d November 9, 1904. Both buried at Lower Salford /Mennonite Cemetery. J-226 Henry C. Bergey b January 16, 1813; d March 10, 1883; m December 25, 1842 Susan Souder, daughter of Christian and Catherine (Nice) Souder. She was born March 27, 1813; d February 19, 1898. J-226 Daniel G. Bergey b April 22,1815; d in Waterloo County, Ontario December 29, 1894; m December 23, 1838 Mary Souder b Novem ber 5, 1817; d March 18, 1899. Both buried at Breslau Men nonite Cemetery, Ontario. J-227 Susanna Bergey b December 8, 1816; d March 22, 1878; m Henry T. Garges b August 19,1812; d October 26, 1900. He was a black smith by trade. Both buried at Lower Salford Mennonite Cemetery. J-228 Elizabeth Bergey b March 8, 1821; d October 13, 1848; m Decem ber 9, 1839 John Horing who later married her elder sister Catherine. Buried at Lower Salford Mennonite Cemetery.

Montgy OC Bk 6, p. 717; Bergey, p. 22. Bergey, p. 44. Deaths in the Skippack Region (Continued from 'page IIU)

No. 100. "HEINRICH GRAFF died January 6, 1815." Born February 25, 1759 son of the pioneer Jacob Groff of Upper Salford and brother of No. 264, he operated an oil and saw mill on the North Branch of the Perkiomen. Married May 11, 1780 Char lotte Schwartz (No. 151). Buried Goshenhoppeh Union Cemetery. Issue: Jacob Groff, Mary, wife of Conrad Geist; Catherine, wife of Conrad Keelor; Susanna, wife of John Underkoffler; Elizabeth, wife of John Danehower; Henry, Joseph, Michael, John and Hannah Groff, the last four minors at the time of Henry's death. (OC Bk 3/141, 155) No. 101. "PHILIP MARKLEY his widow died February 22, 1815." Wife of No. 19, she was Mary Johnson, daughter of Peter and Gertrude (Nice) Johnson and was born in 1724, dying at the age of 91 years. Buried at St. John's Evangelical Cemetery, Center Square. (Montgy Dd Bk 2/578) No. 102. "THOMAS FITZGERALD died February 19, 1815." First known record of Thomas Fitzgerald appears in 1781 when he was taxed in Skippack where he lived until 1789. By the 1790 Census he was living in Upper Salford where he had at home four males under 16 years and three females. From 1796 to 1808 he was a resident of Lower Salford where he earned his living as a baker. In 1803 he bought of Henry Detweiler, Sr., 23 acres for £175. Here he lived until his death, leaving a wife Susanna and twelve children, the four youngest being minors. His property was was sold August 14, 1815 to Abraham Ziegler,

231 232 BULLETIK OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

agent for William Tyson, for $1400, his son Wil liam Fitzgerald and John Tyson acting as admin istrators of the estate. Guardians for the minor children were Henry Detweiler, Henry Bean, Sr., and Henry Bean, Jr. Issue: Mary Margaretha, John, William, Thomas, Jacob, Daniel, Elizabeth, wifeIof Martin Couler, Valentine, Mary, Nancy, Jesse and Catherine Fitzgerald. (OC Bk 3/146, 149, 169; Montgy Dd Bk 16/897) No. 103. "Carpenter HENRICHKOLB his wife died March 6, 1815." No. 43, identified above as the wife of No. 74, was Barbara Hunsicker, daughter of No. 311 and No. 124, and wife of No. 487, Henry Kolb, blue-dyer. Carpenter Henry Kolb (No. 74) married Susanna, said to have been a Detweiler. They had no issue and are both buried at Lower Skippack Mennonite Cemetery. (OC Bk 2/390; Montgy Dd Bks 29/79, 37/309) No. 104. "JACOB DETTWEILER died March 7, 1815." Born December 7, 1755 son of Nos. 10 and 44 and . brother of Nos. 87,116, 213, 331 and 347, he mar ried Mary Margaret Harley (No. 570). They lived in Skippack and are buried at Lower Skippack : Mennonite Cemetery. Issue: John who married Catherine Krupp; Joseph who married Catherine Landes; Abraham who married Mary Kratz; Christian who married Catherine Heebner; Cath erine, wife of Rev. George S. Detweiler; Eliza beth, wife of Benjamin Hallman and Mary, wife of Jacob Rosenberger. Of these children Jacob, Elizabeth and Mary moved to Canada and John and Christian committed suicide. (OC Bk 3/143, 154; Rev. Carl Smith) No. 105. "JOHN WEBER died August 23, 1815." Born . October 8, 1768 son of No. 106, he married May 5, 1789 Elizabeth Reiff (No. 265). He was a mib DEATHS IN THE SKIPPACK REGION 233

ler in Towamencin; in 1807 was elected to the Assembly of which he served twice as its Speaker. Buried at Wentz's Church. Issue: George, Chris tian, Mary, wife of William Bean; John and Joseph Weber. (OC Bk 3/165, RW #17, 461) No. 106. "His father CHRISTIAN WEBER died August 27, 1815." Bom in 1743, son of the emigrant Chris tian Weber and his wife Appolonia, he married in 1765 Elizabeth Weidner who died February 23, 1803 aged 56 yrs. 9 mo. After her death he mar ried the widow of Rev. Jacob Van Bushkirk. Was a Militia Captain in the Revolution; appointed by Governor Mifflin a Justice of the Peace, and was a County Commissioner. By the Act passed March 31, 1797, general elections in the First District, of which Towamencin was a part, were held at his tavern below Kulpsville. Issue by his first wife: John (No. 105) and Jesse. (Bean pp. 524, 1086) No. 107. "DANIEL RBIFF died August 29, 1815." Bom May 28, 1773 son of Nos. 49 and 134 and brother of No. 343, he married Mary Boyer. After his death she married a Landis. Issue: John, Jacob, Elizabeth, Mary, Abigail, Daniel, all of whom were minors under fourteen when their father died, and Abraham and George Reiff, Jr. (OC Bk 3/165; 4/80) No. 108. "DANIEL REINHART died September 11, 1815." Bom September 14,1779 son of John Reinhart and his wife Hannah Frick and brother of No. 558, he married Anna Harley, daughter of No. 99, who was born September 18, 1785 and-died April 20, 1835. They lived in East Coventry Township, Chester County and are buried at Union Meeting House,, Parkerford.. Issue: Harriet, wife of John Boyer; Myra, wife of John Frick, Edwin who mar- 234 bulletin of histoeioal society of Montgomery county

ried Hannah Mills, Hannah who died in infancy and Sarah. (Rev. Carl Smith) No. 109. "MARTIN HUNSBERGER his wife died Novem ber 14, 1815." A Martin Hunsberger first appears in Perkiomen in 1795 having three horses and five cows. The following year he was in Worcester where he remained until 1801 when he removed to Providence Township, purchasing on April 1 from Nicholas Ouster and his wife Christiana 120 acres which he sold April 4, 1810 to Joseph Kin- dig. It was on his land that the "spring or foun tain of good and wholesome water" rose, the water rights of which Hunsberger sold to the Directors of the Poor and House of Employment for the County of Montgomery in 1809 for the use of the Cold Spring Plantation (the first County Poorhouse.) In these conveyances his wife was named Magdalena. She is perhaps the decedant noted here. Nothing further has been identified relating to Martin Hunsberger. (Montgy Dd Bks 15/50; 26/14; 48/145, 147) No. 110. "Old WILLIAM PANNEBECKER died November 18, 1815." Born in 1740 son of Peter and Eliza beth (Keyser) Pennepacker, he lived most of his life in Skippack on 200 acres willed him by his father. About 1796 he and his wife Anna Maria Haas, daughter of Henry Haas, removed to Pike- land Township, Chester County where she died November 27, 1800, aged 53 yrs. 11 mo. The tax lists for 1788 note he was lame. Both are buried in East Vincent Reformed Cemetery. Issue: Jonah, Jesse, Susannah wife of William Pennypacker. (Montgy Misc. Bk 5/484; Dd Bk 28/463; Rev. Carl Smith) No. 111. "Old HENRICH LANDIS died November 25, 1815." Son of Jacob and Mary (Cassel) Landis DEATHS IN THE SKIPPACK REGION 285

and brother of Nos. 95 and 210 he married Anna Mary Bergey (No. 242). Lived in Franconia where he was enrolled in the Franconia Militia Company during the Revolution. He was a minister of the Funkite Mennonites. Issue; Maria, wife of Sam uel Moyer; Elizabeth wife of Abraham Garges; Barbara wife of Abraham Moyer, Hannah and Anna Landis. (Montgy Dd Bks 40/460; 24/400; HSL) No. 112. "Old JOHAN ULRICH STAUFFER died January 16, 1816." Born December 5, 1738 son of Chris tian Stouffer and his wife Elizabeth and brother of No. 283, he married Joanna Harley, daughter of Nos. 61 and 82, who was born April 21, 1743 and died August 30, 1820. He died in Norriton Township on a farm of 102 acres which he devised to his daughter Rachel Oberholtzer. Issue: John who married Mary Dettra (No. 486); Catherine, wife of Jacob Wisler; Mary, wife of John Fried; Christian (No. 503) ; Elizabeth, wife of David Titlow of Coventry Township; Rudolph who married Beata Reiner; Jacob who died in infancy; Hannah, wife of Benjamin Frederick; Abraham who married Esther Stouffer; Henry (No. 508); Sarah, wife of Jacob Grove and Rachel, wife of Isaac Oberholtzer. (Stouffer- Stover History p. 148 ff; Heckler p. 306; Montgy W.Bk 4/189) No. 113. "Old BENJAMIN WEBER died in February 1816." Son of the emigrant Christian Weber and his wife Appolonia and brother of No. 106, he and his wife Maria Barbara who predeceased him lived in Worcester township. Surviving issue: Rebecca; Jacob who inherited the farm on which his father had lived; Catherine, wife of Frederick Zearfoss; Elizabeth, wife of John Shearer; Mary 236 bulletin op historical society of Montgomery county

wife of George Shade; Susannah, wife of Joseph "Hann"; Hannah, wife- of Adam Fleck and Sophia, wife of Charles Guldy. (Montgy W Bk 4/198) No. 114. "JOHN PAUL died February 17, 1816." Prob ably the eldest son of David Paul and his wife Catherine of Limerick, he was executor of the will of his grandfather Andrew Paul in 1790 and of Isaac Potts. In 1787 he was not yet of age when he was listed in the Limerick tax lists, but in 1789 in Orphans' Court proceedings took his father's plantation of 187 acres at the valuation set by the Court and sold it November 1, 1790 to Nicholas Sywar for £900. Where he lived from then until his death has not been ascertained, but he left no estate in Montgomery County which passed through the courts, (Montgy W Bk 1/213; OC Bk 1/152; Dd Bks 7/165; 20/248) No. 115. "HEINRICH REINHART died February 18, 1816." Probably the son of Philip and Eve Rein- hart and grandson of Henry and Hannah Rein- hart, the pioneer ancestors, he and his wife Susanna lived in Lower Providence where he operated a grist and "merchant" mill sold to him November 26, 1768 by Philip Reinhart. Issue: Elizabeth, wife of Jacob C. Garber; Hannah, wife of Benjamin Garber; Susanna, wife of William Paul; Mary, wife of Jacob D. Rittenhouse, and John Reinhart. (Montgy W Bk 4/200; Dd Bks 34/25; 36/298) No. 116. "Widow CHATARINA LANGENECKER died March 10, 1816." Bom March 15, 1758 daughter of Nos. 10 and 44, she married Jacob Longacre who was bom March 19, 1756 and died July 28, 1807. Buried Methacton Mennonite Cemetery. Issue: John, Jacob, Peter, Hannah, wife of James DEATHS THE SKIPPACK REGION 237.

Miller; Susanna, wife of Peter Wagenseller; Abraham, Isaac who married Catherine Diehl; Henry, his twin; Joseph, Samuel and Catherine Longacre. (Rev. Carl Smith) No. 117. "ABRAHAM HUNSBERGER died February 23, 1816." Born October 4, 1755, the Hunsberger Family History places him as the grandson of Ulrich Hunsberger and son of Abraham, but fails to document this claim. A comparison of tax lists suggests he was the son of Abraham and Hester Hunsberger of Franconia and grandson of Jacob, brother of Ullrich. From tax list comparisons it is suggested he appeared first in Lower Salford in 1779 and lived there until 1796 when he removed to Skippack Township where Isaac and Esther (Hunsicker) Hunsberger had been living since at least 1789. March 28, 1796 Kilyan Hepler of Frederick sold to Abraham Hunsberger of Perkio- men and Skippack 142 acres in Limerick on which he resided until his death. He married about 1779 Catherine Tyson (No. 155). Both buried at Herstein's Cemetery. Issue: Alice, wife of Abra- ' ham Shantz; Anna, wife of Joel Umstead; Isaac who married Elizabeth Keeler; Abraham who married Catherine Bergey; Catherine wife of Godfried Saylor; Magdalena, wife of William Z. Gottshalk; Mary, wife of John Keeler; William who married Barbara Dientsman; Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Umstead; Susanna, wife of Henry Keeler; Sarah, wife of Peter Weyand; Hannah, wife of Samuel Weand and Martin who married 1st Elizabeth R. Benner and 2nd, Elizabeth B. Pennypacker. (Montgy OC 3/192, 197; Dd Bk 23, 53) No. 118. "Old JACOB REIFF died February 25, 1816." Born June 18, 1734 son of Jacob and Anna Reiff, 238 bulletin of historical society op Montgomery county

he married in August 1756 Catherine Schneider (No. 73). During the Revolution he was enrolled in the Lower Skippack Militia Company, and from 1786 to 1790 was a member of the State Legisla ture. Issue: Jacob who married Mary Detweiler; John (No. 268) ; Catherine (No. 517) ; George (No. 227); Elizabeth (No. 265); Anna, wife of Joseph Detweiler and Benjamin who married Anna Groll. (Montgy W Bk 4/207; HSL) No. 119. "Old CASPER RAHN died July 18, 1816." Step son of Baltzer Saylor whose estate he settled in 1750, he was a weaver by trade and a resident of Providence Township for. over three-quarters of a century. He was born April 4, 1731 and married Barbara Boitler born January 4, 1735, died October 10, 1793, daughter of John and Mary Boitler. To Casper Rahn and his wife Barbara belongs the distinction of being the grandparents of Governor Francis R. Shunk. Issue; John, Eliza beth who married John Shunk; Samuel, Jacob, Isaac, David and George Rahn. (Montgy W Bk 4/275; Phila Dd Bk 1-15/259; .Trappe Lutheran Church Records) No. 120. "Old GEORGE HECKLER died August 28,1816." Born April 26, 1736, probably the son of Michael Heckler of Retchweiler, Alsace, he came to Phila delphia in 1754 as a redemptioner whose services for three years were bought by John Steiner of Coventry Township. He married in 1764 Chris- tianna Freed (No. 363). They lived first in Hill- town Township, Bucks County, then moved to Lower Salford Township when he purchased his father-in-law's plantation. Both buried Lower Sal- ford Mennonite Cemetery. Issue: Barbara, wife of Christian Rohr; George who married Ann Detweiler; Peter who married Sarah Detweiler; DBAT^ IN THE SKIPPACK REGION 239

Michael who died young; Abraham who married Sarah Sheitel; John who died young; Catherine wife of Joseph Eickert; Elizabeth, wife of John Eickert; Jacob (No. 455) and David who married Ann Place. (Heckler p. 177) No. 121 "GEORGE MARKLEY died August 28, 1816." Bom in 1755 son of Nos. 80 and 236, he lived near Trewigtown and is thought to have married Elizabeth Clemens, daughter of Abraham and Catherine (Bachman) Clemens. Issue: Isaac, Abraham, Jacob, Levi, Daniel, John, George, Henry, Catherine wife of Jonathan Megargee; Elizabeth, wife of John or George Weber; Joseph, Sarah, wife of John Garner. (Bucks Misc. Bk 5/468; H. S. Dotterer Notes p. 93; Kulp p. 433) No. 122. "Young JOSEPH DETTWEILER died November 13, 1816." Probably son of No. 56 and nephew of No. 44, he married Mary Johnson and lived in Upper Providence Township. Buried at Evans- burg Mennonite Cemetery where his tombstone gives his age as 35 yrs. 7 mos. 15 das. Issue: Susan, wife of John O. Kulp; Catherine, wife of Henry H. Bechtel; John who married Magdalene Connor and Elizabeth wife of Benjamin Alderfer. (Montgy OC Bk 3/230; Moyer p. 304 if) No. 123. "JOHN FRY his wife died January 1, 1817." Has not been identified, but is possibly the wife of John Fry of Limerick who died in December 1820 leaving issue: Jacob, George, Peter, Michael, Sophia wife of Henry Barnhart; the issue of a deceased son John Fry; issue of deceased daugh ter Barbara, wife of Adam Trump. (Montgy OC Bk 4/136, RW#10, 569) No. 124. "ISAAC HUNSICKER his wife died January 12, 1817." Daughter of Jacob and Mary (Friedt) Grater and wife of No. 311, Barbara Grater Hun- 240 bulletin of historical society of MONTGOMERY COUNTY

sicker was bom September 21, 1740 and was mar ried November 5, 1761. (HSL) No. 125. "JOHN DICKENSHITT his wife died January 31, 1817." Has not been identified, but may have been Ann DeHaven of Lower Salford who was married November 14, 1795 by Michael Croll, Justice of the Peace. John Dickenshit, bora Feb ruary 2,1769, was probably the son of Frederick and Fronica Dickenshit and grandson of Chris topher Dickenshied of Lower Salford. John was a carpenter by trade and before his marriage and until 1801 lived in Lower Salford. Nothing further has been found concerning his later activities. (Perk. Reg. Vol 1/46; Heckler p. 22; Goshenhop- pen Reformed Church Records) No. 126. "DANIEL MARKLEY died March 2, 1817." Born October 3,1755 son of Nos. 19 and 101 he married Elizabeth Magee, widow of John Magee, who died April 13, 1823. He was a storekeeper in Tredyfrinn Township, Chester County from 1797 to 1804; later owned his father's plantation in Providence and Skippack Townships. Died in Philadelphia. Issue: Sarah, wife of Charles S. Thatcher; Anna wife of James Hunt; Nathaniel Markley. (H. S. Dotterer Notes) No. 127. "Widow DEBORAH KOPLIN died March 3, 1817." Born about 1732 daughter of John and Deborah Umsteat of Limerick, she married about 1754 Christian Koplin, born about 1726; d 1766. Buried Lower Skippack Mennonite Cemetery. Issue: Mary (No. 359); Deborah; Mathias who married Hannah Markley (No. 177) and John Koplin. (Phila. W Bk N/514) No. 128. "ANNA WEIERMAN died March 10, 1817." Probably the widow of No. 54, who had re nounced her rights to administer her husband's DEATHS IN THE SKIPPACK BEGION 241

estate April 5, 1808. Henry Weierman had a sis ter Anna (according to the will of his father Christian who had died in 1766) but as nothing has been found to account for her, the probabili ties favor this Anna as the widow and not the sister of Henry Weierman. No. 129. "ISAAC LANDIS his widow died March 20, 1817." She is believed to have been Catherine Oberholtzer, widow of No. 95. She was either the daughter of John and Ursula Oberholtzer or of Jacob aiid Esther Lederach Oberholtzer. No. 130. "PETER JOHNSON his widow died March 22, 1817." Daughter of Christopher Dock, the pious school-master, Catherine and her husband Peter Johnson who died in 1801, had four children: Benjamin, Margaret, wife of Henry Yellis; Chris topher and Gertrude, wife of William Ritten- house. (Montgy W Bk 2/231)

No. 131. "HEINRICH GOTWALS his wife died March 25, 1817." Born about 1756 daughter of No. 72, Elizabeth Funk Gotwals is buried at Evansburg Mennonite Cemetery with her husband. He was bom about 1749 and died July 25, 1832 and was the son of John Adam Gotwalts, and his wife Fronica. Issue: John who married Susanna Shoe maker; Joseph who married Nancy Kulp; Abra ham who married Hannah Walters; Adam who married Esther Atherholt; Henry who married 1st Elizabeth Detweiler Bowman, widow of Philip Bowman and 2nd Hannah Walters Gotwals, his sister-in-law; Christian who married Catherine Funk; Jacob who married Hetty Vanderslice; Barbara, wife of Jacob Wisler; Mary wife of Peter Ashenfelter and Elizabeth who married a Walters. (Cassel p. 396) 242 bulletin of historical society op Montgomery county

No. 132. "Young ANDREAS HEISER his wife died April 24, 1817." Daughter of John Tyson and his wife Susanna Updegraif, Hannah Tyson Heiser was born July 13, 1794 and is burled at Lower Skip- pack Mennonite Cemetery. (Charles Major's Notes, Zieber-Markley Family, HSMC) No. 133. "ABRAHAM HALTEMAN his wife died, the preacher, June 22, 1817." Born March 5, 1781 daughter of Christian and Maria Bergey, Anna Halteman is buried at Vincent Mennonite Ceme tery, Chester County. Her husband Abraham, grandson of Nos. 45 and 46 and son of Christian Halteman and his wife Magdalena Fried, was born August 30, 1780 and died May 30, 1865 in Juniata County. Issue: Samuel who married Eliza beth Bergey; Abraham, who married Catherine Stauffer; Magdalena wife of Paul Kuster; Mary wife of Jacob Klein; Christian who married Mary Bergey; Anna wife of Isaac Kriebel and Cath erine, wife of Samuel Hunsberger. (Rev. Carl Smith) No. 134. "Widow ELIZABETH REIFF died June 25, 1817." Bom April 19, 1740 daughter of Leonard and Elizabeth Hendricks and widow of No. 49 she is buried at Lower Skippack Mennonite Cemetery. (HSL) No. 135. "Young ANDREAS HEISER died July 81, 1817." Bom July 10,,J.796 son of Jacob Heiser (No. 193) he is buried at Lower Skippack Mennonite Ceme tery. Issue: An only daughter Hannah, whose guardian at the time of her grandfather's death was Lewis Greder. (OC Bk 4/378) No. 136. "JOHN KASSEL died September 20, 1817." Born August 19,1769 son of No. 221 Isaac and his wife Barbara Detweiler Cassel, grandson of Nos. 10 and 44 and the emigrant Yelles Cassel, he married DEATHS IN THE SKIPPACK REGION 243

Maria (Bergey?) born January 10, 1773; died August 4, 1851. They lived in Lower Providence and are buried at Lower Skippack Mennonite Cemetery. Issue: Barbara wife of William Ander son; Magdalena; Mary; Joseph who married - Rebecca Heebner; Susanna who married Henry Stouffer; Isaac who married Mary Heebner; Elizabeth wife of William Beyer; Catherine wife of Andrew Schwartz; Sarah wife of Henry Sechler. (Montgy OC Bk 3/288; Dd Bks 22/401; 27/560; Cassel p. 275) No. 137. "Old ABRAHAM BERGE died December 9, 1817." Bom January 6, 1743 son of the emigrant Hans Ulrich Bergey, he married 1st on September 3, 1776 Salome Garges, sister of No. 5, who was born February 10, 1752 and died November 20, 1782 and is buried at Keely's Church. He married 2nd January 6, 1786 Esther Shantz, daughter of John and Magdalena Shantz, who died March 13, 1821. They lived in Limerick Township. Issue by 1st wife: Mary wife of Lawrence Sheeler; Mar garet wife of Jacob Pennypacker; Salome wife of Jesse Pennypacker (No. 484). Issue by 2nd wife: Catherine wife of Abraham Hunsberger; Hannah wife of John Bingeman; Esther wife of Conrad Dotterer; Susanna wife of John Anderson; Jonas who married Mary Rhoads; Mary Magdalena wife of Abraham Wanger; Abraham who married Catherine Boyer. (HSL; Bergey p. 16) No. 138. "SUSANNA KINSEY died Januaiy 15,1818." Has not been identified definitely but is probably Sus anna Kolb, daughter of Nos. 35 and 260 and sister of No. 78, who married John Kinsey and lived in Hilltown Township. John Kinsey died November 11,1829 aged 81 yrs. 10 mos. 7 das. and is buried at Rockhill Mennonite Cemetery. Beside his tomb- 244 bulletin op historical society of uontgomeby county

stone is one inscribed "Mrs. Kinsey aged 62 yrs/' Known issue: Jacob and Abraham Kinsey. (Montgy Misc Bk 2/498; Kulp p. 156) No. 139 "JOHN WISLER died January 15, 1818." Son of Isaac Wisler of Hatdeld and grandson of Jacob and Magdalena Wisler of Upper Hanover, he was a blacksmith bytrade and lived inHatfield onland devised to Isaac Wisler by the latter's father-in- law Samuel Musselman who in his will made pro vision for defraying the costs of schooling for the poorest and neediest children of Hatfield Town ship. February 4, 1805 John and Catherine Wisler conveyed eleven square perches of land to Mathias Johnson, John Weirman, Jacob Convear and John Johnson, all of Hatfield, for 50 years "to let and suffer said lot of land, rents, profits and use them to be and remain to the inhabitants of said township for a school for education of children of said township in such a manner as they or a majority of them in town meeting assem bled shall appoint and direct and for no other use, intent or purpose whatsoever." Issue: Isaac, John, Jacob, Abraham, Hannah, Elizabeth wife of Philip Dume and Catherine who married Michel Wierman. (Montgy OC 3/37; 4/3;. Dd Bks 30/422; 19/435:11/227) No. 140. "JOHN JOHNS his wife died January 16, 1818." She has not been identified beyond the fact she appears to have been the first wife of No. 206. No. 141. "Old CHRISTIAN DUTTERA died January 17, 1818." Bom November 16,1747 probably the son of Conrad and Magdalena Dodderer, he married Elizabeth Harley (No. 475). They lived in Wor cester Township and are buried at the Brethren Meeting House near Fairview. Issue: Maria wife of John Stouffer, Abraham who married Elizabeth DEATHS IN THE SKIPPAOK REGION 245

Kolb; Christian who married 1st Mary Hallman and 2nd Catherine Stoneback (nee Dager); John (No. 593) ; Isaac who married Mary Markley; Zachariah; Elizabeth who married Henry Hall- man (No. 364) (Rev. Carl Smith). No. ,142. "JOHN MILLER his wife died February 11, 1818." Not definitely identified unless she was Elizabeth Kolb, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Cassel) Kolb and sister of Nos. 257, 313 and 487. No. 143. "ABRAHAM DETTWEILER died February 26, 1818," Probably the son of Nos. 10 and 44 who married Elizabeth Ziegler, daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth (Kolb) Ziegler. They lived in Wor cester Township on 137 acres John and Ann Det- weiler sold Abraham August 4, 1783. They conveyed this to Samuel Moyer March 21, 1796, after which time Abraham was no longer taxed in the township. In the 1790 Census they had at home two sons under 16 and two daughters. (Montgy Dd Bk 9/506; W Bk 2/139) No. 144. "Old JOHN CRATER died March 7, 1818." Hus band of No. 63, brother of No. 124 and son of Jacob Grater and his wife Mary Friedt, he lived in Perkiomen and Skippack Township and is buried at Lower Skippack Mennonite Cemetery. Issue: Maria wife of Frederick K. Hubler; John, Abraham (No. 370); Catherine wife of Dillman Ziegler; Lewis; Elizabeth wife of Henry Hallman. (Montgy W Bk 5/39) No. 145. "Widow MARIA WAGNER died May 23, 1818." She was the widow of No. 92. No. 146. "DANIEL SOUR died December 27, 1818." Born October 14, 1755 the fifth child of Christopher Sower and Catherine Sharpnack, he married Jan uary 17, 1786 Maria Saylor. They lived in Charlestown Township near Phoenixville. Issue: 246 BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COin^TY

Esther, Hannah and Samuel Sower who married Margaret Posey. (Chart by Charles G. Sower, HSMC) No. 147. "JACOB HARLEY died January 7, 1819." Born June 8, 1752 son of No. 61 he died unmarried— legend says from the result of being kicked by a horse. Was enrolled in the Lower Salford Militia during the Revolution. (HSL) No. 148. "NICHOLAS HALTEMAN died January 16, 1819." Bom May 15, 1739 son of Nicholas Halte- man and wife Elizabeth of Charlestown Township, Chester County, his first wife Catherine was born in 1742 and died June 2, 1784. He married 2nd Elizabeth Detweiler, daughter of Nos. 10 and 44. By his first wife he had ten children of whom only four lived to maturity: Mary wife of John Miller; Abraham; Anna wife of Frederick Sheeder and Catherine who married a Lundy. By his second wife he had three children of whom only Susan who married Henry Turner and Henry who died October 7, 1815 lived beyond childhood. (Rev. Carl Smith) No. 149. "Old JOHANNES FRIED died January 20, 1819 age 92 yrs. 2 mo." Bom about 1726 son of Johannes and Christianna Friedt of Perkiomen, •his first wife is believed to have been Maria Kolb, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Kolb and sister of Nos. 74 and 225. She was bom about 1726 and died January 3, 1786. By her he is said to have had four daughters: Christianna wife of Abraham Eist; Magdalena wife of Christian Haldeman; Sarah and Maria wife of Henry Wismer to whom on January 14, 1788 Johannes and Maria Fried conveyed the homestead where they lived. His second wife (No. 244) and Johannes and his first wife are all buried at Lower Skippack Menno- DEATHS IN THE SKIPPACK REGION 247

nite Cemetery. (Montgy Dd Bk 15/553; Rev. Carl Smith; Kulp p. 24) (To he continued)

(Addition to page 108, April, 1952, number.) No. 77. "Old WIDOW SCHOTTIN died March 28, 1812." She was Barbara, widow of George Schott of Skip- pack who had died early in 1788. After his death she made her home with her son-in-law Valentine Hunsicker (No. 200), husband of her daughter Elizabeth. Issue: Henry, Margaret, Elizabeth wife of Valentine Hunsicker, Magdalena, John (No. 360) who married Catherine Oberholtzer, and Rebecca, probably the wife of Peter Custer (No. 365). (Montgy W Bks 1/135, 3/366; Heckler p. 266) Librarian's Report

Historical Celebrations in Montgomery County for 1952 have been numerous. Heading the list is Pottstown observing its bicentennial with many delightful events and the publication of a handsome volume of history. St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Barren Hill, observed its 200th anniversary in May, and published a very excellent history. Also in May, Norristown Friends' Meeting marked its Centennial with appropriate ceremonies. September was a most auspicious month, with Plymouth Friends' Meeting celebrating its 250th anniversary, and two Norristown fire companies, Fairmount and Humane, sponsoring a mammoth and colorful parade of 105 visiting fire companies in honor of their first hundred years of service. At the same time, Conshohocken's Fire Com pany No. 2 noted its 50th year. October's bright blue skies were the background for the observance of the 225th year of the New Goshen- hoppen Reformed Church at East Greenville. A souvenir publication of this ancient church, founded in 1727, was prepared for distribution. Another October highlight was the celebration at Red Hill observing its first fifty years as a borough. Here, too, an historical sketch has been prepared in booklet form. In the preparation of the various programs and publications of these historic events, our library facilities proved of great value to the committees of research. Montgomery County Day. Our October Outing, 1952, was wholly con fined to beautiful, incomparable Montgomery County. Our itinerary, with which most of you are familiar, was Selma, Tally-Ho Farm, Perkio- men Bridge Hotel, Union Chapel and Mill G.rove. The trip was pro nounced an outstanding success. It might be a good idea in the future to devote.a pilgrimage every third or fourth year exclusively to Mont gomery County. What do you think—do you not agree that it would be a fine opportunity to know your own county better? Expanding Program. Statistics are trite and tiresome, and this report shall not be thus burdened excepting to state that there has been no abatement in the number of visitors to our library during the year past. In fact, the actual record shows that we have again broken all totals of the years previous for attendance and service. Adequate plans and pro visions must be made to cope and keep pace with the steadily expanding program of your society. Among the problems that presently confront us are the housing and preservation of newspapers, repair of maps, and the binding of books. It is also realized that Historical Hall, the interior especially, has become shabby beyond the point of respectability, and is sorely in need of redecorating and refurbishing. The special committee

248 REPORTS 249 appointed to attend to this problem have suffered numerous set-backs in their mountainous task, and up to this time have been unable to arrive at a satisfactory solution. The crux of the matter is—^whether to find neyr quarters for our Society, or to renovate Historical Hall. Tribute to Valued Assistance. The brief tenure of Alfred Gemmell as curator, regrettably, has come to an end. During the eight-month period Mr. Gemmell was with us—and that on a part-time basis while attend ing classes at Temple University—^he was able to accomplish much in the way of improvement in the housing and shelving of our many acquisitions and collections. In addition he was of material aid in numerous other projects both in the library and the administration of our society. We are sorry to lose from our field of endeavor such a tireless and able worker. Mr. Gemmell's many friends and associates will be interested to know that he has accepted a position as instructor of social studies at Maywood Junior High School, Maywood, New Jersey. More recently we have been fortunate in having J. Masson Hunsicker, of our membership, fill in with several hours assistance each week in the library. Mr. Hunsicker's keen interest and knowledge of history, together with his close association from his early youth with our Society, makes his presence a valuable one. The Outstanding Gift of twelve units of steel shelving presented to us by the Synthane Corporation, Oaks, Pennsylvania, has been the source of much encouragement and elation to us. The receipt of this voluntary donation of equipment leads us to hope that new channels are being opened in recognition of our work in the county, and thereby we shall be the grateful recipients of other much needed items from other donors in a position to give gifts. The Whitpain Library Company was organized in 1817 at Blue Bell, and regularly incorporated with 35 charter members. For one hundred years this library was a mecca of wisdom to the residents of that vicinity. For another 36 years it lay in storage until July of this year when the entire collection was presented to our Society by the Whitpain School Board. We are happy to receive these cherished and time-worn volumes into our keeping, where they are in company once again with the Catalogue, Minute Books and other records of the library presented to us in 1923. Museum Exhibits. Anyone of our membership interested in forming a museum auxiliary and who is free to devote several hours a month, is invited to come in and make plans. The idea would be to present cultural and historical displays in the museum room from our many collections. We have a treasure house of materials to draw upon, all we lack is a corps of volunteer workers. 250 BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCJETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Family Records. One of the primary objectives of our society through the years has been the compilation and preservation of genealogical tables, and the acquisition of Bible, church and family records. The result is that we have a remarkable collection of this type of material on file. We are anxious to continue this~good work and would welcome the addition of your family records to our catalogue. If it has always been your intention to place your family history with us—do not put it off any longer. Pennsylvania Week has been observed annually for the past seven years. In connection with this year's observance, October 13 to October 19, our President, Donald A. Gallager, Esq., was appointed Chairman of Historical Activities for the Southeastern tier of Counties. Dr. William Shainline Middleton, a native of Norristown, was selected by a state-wide committee on the nomination of the Norristown Chamber of Commerce to receive the Pennsylvania Ambassador Award for 1952. This honor is limited to a number of distinguished men and women who were born or lived in Pennsylvania, and are now residing in other states and countries and is in recognition of outstanding achievement in the best tradition of the Commonwealth. Dr. Middleton is dean of the "Medical School of the University of Wisconsin and a wartime leader in the Army Medical Corps. He is the author of "Medicine at Valley Forge," a reprint of which is in our library. All in all, Pennsylvania Week was a very busy time in the library, furnishing information and general assistance to the various individuals and organizations for their participation in this growing annual event.

JANE KEPLINGER BURRIS, Librarian April Meeting

The regular meeting of the Historical Society of Montgomery County was convened at 2 p.m., on April 26, 1952, at the building of the Society, with President Gallager presiding. The minutes of the February meeting were read and approved. President Gallager reported that the gun collection has been restored and put in good order through the efforts of Richard Reppert, gunsmith. This has been housed in suitable racks at the back of the auditorium. The Synthane Corporation has made a very generous gift of new steel shelv ing for the collections in the basement, which is of great assistance and is very much appreciated. Mr. Philip Dechert, Chairman of the Zoning Board of Fort Washing ton, spoke, for the families in that area, about the projected Turnpike, and the encroaching on the redoubts in the Park. He also discussed the promised gift of Hope Lodge as an historic house, and the damaging effect of separating it from the Park proper. Miss Helen E. Richards extended an invitation to the members of the Society to attend the ceremonies on May 24 and 25, marking the one hundredth anniversary of the Friends' Meeting, at Jacoby and Swede Streets, Nofristown. Mrs. Rogers introduced several members of the Williamstadt Chapter of the Junior Historians. Anita Mincarelli spoke of the activities of the organization. Robert Heilman read a paper on the Blue Bell Horse Com pany. Mark Weand spoke on the Evolution of Guns, and illustrated this with items from his collection. President Gallager introduced Mr. Harold D. Eberlein, who spoke of County Map Inspiration. He developed his theme with variety, and pointed to the wealth of fine things a use of the Montgomery County map can lead us to explore. President Gallager asked that suggestions for the annual pilgrimage in the fall be given to Mrs. Burris and Mr. Gemmell. At the close of the meeting the Hospitality Committee served tea.

EVA G. DAVIS, Recording Secretary

251 Report on Membership NEW MEMBERS ELECTED APRIL 26, 1952

Harold S. Gilbert Dr. Henry M. Rosenman Mrs. Clayton Weiasenbach

TRANSFERRED TO LIFE MEMBERSHIP

Miss v. Mae Patterson

The status of membership at the conclusion of the annual meeting of April 26, 1952, was as follows: Honorary Members 5 Life Members 30 . • Annual Members 616

Total Membership 651

HELEN E. RICHARDS, Corresponding Secretary

252 The Historiccil Society of Montgomery County has for its object the preservation of the civil, political and religious history of the county, as well as the promotion of the study of history. The building up of a library for historical research has been materially aided in the past by donations of family, church and graveyard records; letters, diaries and other manuscript material. Valuable files of newspapers have also beencontributed. This public-spirited support has been highly appreciated and is earnestly desired for the future. Membership in the Society is open to all interested persons, whether residents of the county or not, and all such persons are invited to have their names proposed at any meeting. The annual dues are $4.00; life membership, $50.00. Every mem ber is entitled to a copy of each issue of The Bulletin, free. Additional Copies, One Dollar Each. Historical Hall, 18 East Penn Street, Norristown, with its library and museum, is open for visitors each week day from 10 A.M. to 12 M. and 1 to 4 P.M., except Saturday afternoon. The material in the library may be freely consulted during these hours, but no bookmay be taken from the building.

To Out Friends

Oar Society needs funds for the furthering of its work, its expansion, its growth and development. This can very nicely be done through bequests from members and ^enda in the disposition of their estates. The Society needs more funds in investments placed at interest; the income arising therefrom would give the Society an annual return to meet its needs. Following is a form that could be used in the malfing of wills:

I HEREBY GIVE AND BEQUEATH TO THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY,

PENNSYLVANIA, THE SUM OF

DOLLARS ($ )