L(lNG FAMILY l{ECORDS AND A Genealogy of the Descendants OF HENRY and CATHARINA KERN LONG Born 1718 HEIDELBERG,GERMANY AND THE HOLCOMB FAMILY AND Descendants of the Widow, Rachel Reinhardt 1965 NOTICE! Since this book was published the author has located the graves of bl. George Long and wife, Catharina Miller. Both graves are well marked with soapstone tombstones. Dates of birth and death on both tombstones correspond with dates recorded in book. Their graves are in an old ceme­ tery on the present farm of Calvin Gough and lo­ cated in a field some 300 yards west of the home of J. Blum Gough in Yadkin County, N. C., in the Bethel Church Community. It is known today as the Vestal Cemetery. This definitely locates the½ acre of land purchased by bl. George Long in 1787 from his father-in-law, Christian Miller, for a fam­ ily cemetery and recorded in Register of Deeds Office at Dobson, N. C. and mentioned on page 59 in book. This also located the burying ground of George Happus (Hoppes), step father of al. Frederick Long and bl. George Long and their mother Cath­ arina Kern Long Happus (Hoppes). The funeral and burial of both are recorded on page 53 in book. No marked tombstones have been found for their graves. JASPERS. LONG, Author THE MEMORY OF MY SAINTED FATHER AND MOTHER Julian and Nancy Gentry Long RESPECTFULLY DEDICATE THIS VOLUME TO THEIR ADMONITION AND PRAYERS, UNDER THE BLESSINGS OF ALMIGHTY GOD, I OWE ALL THE GOOD THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH "I EXPECT TO PASS THROUGH THIS WORLD BUT ONCE. ANY GOOD THING THEREFORE THAT I CAN DO, OR ANY KINDNESS THAT I CAN SHOW, LET ME DO IT NOW. LET ME NOT DEFER OR NEGLECT IT, FOR I WILL NOT PASS THIS WAY AGAIN." JASPER S. LONG Great Great Great Great Grandson of H enru and Catharina Kern Long iii "He only deserves to be remembered by posterity who treasures up and preserves the history of his ancestors." EDMUND Bumm. "People will not look forward to posterity who never look backward to their ancestors." EDMOND Bumm. To live in the hearts of those we leave behind is not to die. BY MAIL POSTPAID $10.00 Address all orders to Jasper S. Long Yadkinville, N. C. FROM THE PRESSES OF CLAY PRINTING COMP ANY Winston-Salem, N. C. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- 6 Long Coat of Arms __________________ _ ___________________________ -------------------------- 8 Battle Hymn of the Longs __ _ __ _ _____ ------------------- __________________ --- 9 Prominent British Longs, Past Generation_______ ________________________________ 10 Prominent British Longs of Today ___ --------------------- ------------------------------ 16 Longs in the American Revolution __ 19 American Long Families ______________________________ _ ----- -------------------------- 21 Prominent American Longs, Past Generation __________________________ _ 23 Prominent American Longs of Today ___________________________________________ _ 26 Biography of George Soelle, First Moravian Minister To Visit in the Homes of George and Frederick Long _____________________________ 30 Autobiography of George Soelle ____________________________________________________________ 35 George Soelle's Death and Last Visit to Yadkin County ______________________ 37 Visits of Moravian Ministers in Homes of Frederick and George Long on Deep Creek __________ -------------------------------------------- 39 Biography of Henry Long Born in Germany about 1718 ______________________ 51 Descendants of George Happus, Stepfather of Frederick and George Long _______________________________________ ---------------------------------------- 52 Biography of bl. George Long___________ --------------------------------------------- 54 Will of bl. George Long __________________ ---------------------------------------------------- 57 Biography of Catharina Miller Long, Wife of bl. George Long_ 59 Descendants of bl. George Long, son of Henry and Catharina Kern Long --------------- ------------------------------ ---------------- ----- --- 60 Forsyth County Longs ______________________ _ -------------- 61 Biography of al. Frederick and Sarah Gross Long _______________________________ _ 89 Autobiography and Biography of al. Frederick Long __________________________ 93 Biography of Sarah Gross Long, Wife of al. Frederick Long________________ 96 Descendants of al. Frederick and Sarah Groce Long______________________________ 98 The Longtown Longs __________________________________ -------------------------------------------113 The Holcomb Family____________________________________________________________________________________ 189 Descendants of the widow Rachel Reinhardt_________________________________ 207 Index ----------------------------- ________________________216 V INTRODUCTION The Long family has been prominent in Europe and in America, its members having played important roles in war and in peace. Family pride is a commendable trait and should be cultivated. All Longs and their descendants have just cause to be proud of their family history and traditions. Some 3 years ago the author only knew the name of his great grandfather, John Long. His brothers and sisters, if any, were not known. Research revealed that he was one of a family of 11 children. The data in this volume was gathered in most cases from reliable sources at a great expenditure of money, research, time, and effort. For example, some valuable information was obtained by having an article published in a paper at Indianapolis, Ind. Much credit for the infonnation in this volume is given to J. Montgomery Seaver, author and compiler of Long History, Dr. Adelaide Fries, author of Records of Moravians in North Carolina, 1752-1949, in 8 volumes, Dept. of Archives and History, Raleigh, N. C., Dept. of Archives and History, Salem College, Winston-Salem, N. C., German Emigrants to Pa. by Rupp. Descendants of Adam Spach, by Henry W. Foltz, and The Hope Moravian Church Records. The other information was found in the Register of Deeds offices in Yadkinville, Dob­ son, Salisbury, and Crawfordsville, Ind. Much information was also obtained from the descendants and elderly people, some of whom are over ninety years of age. The research has revealed only 2 Longs with a criminal record. On the whole they seem to be religious, industrious, thrifty, patriotic, civic minded, believers in education, and on the whole are people of integrity. One writer has said, "The Longs depend more upon themselves than upon others." 6 For several centuries the Longs lived in England, Scotland, and Ireland. Most of the Longs in these countries were and are of the Presbyterian faith. There are a few Longs of the Catholic faith in the British Isles, but it is estimated that their number does not exceed 2 per cent of the entire population. It is estimated that of all the Longs in America who are church members, at least 97 per cent are of the Protestant faith. Each descendant has been given a prefix that designates indentification as al. or b6. The number in the prefix designates the generation from Henry Long and Catharina Kem Long. The blood line has been followed in both male and female. The author acknowledges the possibility of some errors but on the whole it is accurate and correct. In case your family history is not complete you may record it up to date and let it become a part of this book for the benefit of your descendants. It has been interesting and a challenge to produce this volume and the author and compiler hopes the information will be of interest to you and your descendants. The author is most sure that he was Divinely led in the finding of the contents of this book and was predestined to publish same. May God bless. JASPER S. LONG AUTHOR AND COMPILER GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT GRANDSON OF HENRY AND CATHARINA KERN LONG 7 The Long Coat of Arms is applicable to all Longs throughout the world. The Coat of Arms is an emblem which is displayed by titled persons, persons of royal blood, and their descendants. Coats of Arms were originally used for purposes of identifi­ cation and recognition on the field of battle as well as civil life. The Long Coat of Arms has been used by the Long Families for many centuries. It was used by the Long family of Wraxall, Wiltshire, which goes back to John Long, who died A.D. 1597. The Long Motto, Pieux Quoique Preux, is Latin and when translated to English is, Pious though Valiant. Pious means religious and valiant means brave. So the motto is "Religious though Brave." 8 BATTLE HYMN OF THE LONGS Tune: Battle Hymn of the Republic There's something strong and mighty in a good old family name, And the name of Long shines very high upon the scroll of fame, For those who bear the name of Long pursue a lofty aim; The Clan goes marching on! CHORUS: Glory to our Grand Old Family­ Longs of Wraxall and Rood Ashton, Potterne, Bromley Hill, in Wiltshire, And Longs of U. S. A. Our ancient cherishes traditions of the past; With the world's great onward movements they have all their fortunes cast; And when they pledge their honor they are loyal to the last. The Clan goes marching on! The Clan of Long is virile as our fathers were of old; Each centurv their numbers have increased a hundred fold; Of all the ~orld's great families our family is pure gold. The Clan goes marching on! We have our dukes and peasants, common folk and blue-bloods too; We greet each other with a smile and "Cousin, Howdy-do!" This goes with all Long cousins and it goes with me and you. The Clan goes marching on! The Longs they all are loyal to the good old U.S.A. They love the Rag of freedom and will follow it for aye. The Longs all do their duty and they never run away. The Clan goes marching on! To every corner of our land we sound the bugle call; Three hundred thousand kinsmen hear and answer one and all. We can hear the cousins tramping like Niagara's waterfall. The Clan goes marching on! If you claim the blood of Long come join the chorus of the Clan, In our Records and Reunions, all according to our plan; The name to highest honor boost it every way you can.