11 si^i-sm If t^U^ 3';, r*^] jH. S CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Cornell University Library CS71 .H564 1908 3 1924 029 842 204 olin Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924029842204 Coat of Arms of Ancient Herr Family. See description on opposite page. The following translation from the German is of much interest : ' ' The race of Herr descended from a very ancient fam- . I^ike- ily ; is free—that is to say, of noble origin. wise from time immemorial, its knights were brave and worthy. Possessing in Schwaben vast and rich estates, the name of which was called and written Hern von Bilried. The father of this race was called the Schwabish Knight Hugo, the Herr or Lord of Bilried. In the year 1009 flourished and was known to all, the family from whom that of Herr is descended. But in the fifteenth century several of the race resigned their nobilitj' and settled as citizens . They, however, re- tained their noble name and their Coat of Arms, and in the year 1593 John Herr, or Lord of Bilried, obtained from the Emperor Ferdinand, in Schwabish Hall, a written testimo- nial, proving for his flourishing family their Coat of Arms, their free and noble descent and the possession of their race to the latest generation." "And this Coat of Arms yet rightly belongs to the present living family of Herr." E. B. ViEN. Recorded iii the Register of nobte famities, zvitli ttieir Coat of Arms. Book 5, page 2^S. GENEALOGICAL RECORD OF Reverend Hans Herr AND HIS DIRECT LINEAL DESCENDANTS FROM HIS BIRTH A. D. 1639 TO THE PRESENT TIME CONTAINING THE NAMES, ETC., OF 13223 PERSONS COMPILED, ARRANGED, INDEXED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, AND PUBLISHED BY THEODORE W^HERR,^^HER Genealogist ^r LANCASTER, PA. 1908 71 COPYRIGHT, 1908, BY THEODORE W. HERR THE EXAMINER PRINTING HOUSE LANCASTER, PA. Portrait o:f Rev. Hans Herr Fro'in a painting by John Funk. PREFACE. Obtaining the data and information required to enable the under- signed compiler to have the genealogical record of Rev. Hans Herr and his descendants published, was commenced in 1850, with the as- sistance of Milton B. Eshleman, an honored cousin, long since de- ceased. Both spent several years very industriously in visiting the oldest residents of Lancaster, Dauphin and Cumberland counties in Pennsylvania, where most of the descendants then lived. Information was obtained from them, their relatives, and neighbors, of all they could furnish or remember, relating to residences, births, marriages and deaths of Rev. Hans Herr and his descendants, and of all the persons any of them married, and the names of the parents of the latter. All old papers, Bible records, deeds, mortgages, wills, and much memoranda were carefully examined, as well as tombstones in many of the old burying grounds. All was verified by family records, tradi- tions, memories, etc., as fully as possible. Many old records in Phila- delphia, Harrisburg, Lancaster, and West Chester, were investigated to ascertain what lands they owned and last places of residences. Much time was occupied and expense incurred in persistent efforts to obtain the fullest reliable data of these early settlers, as they and their companions were the first white settlersJu-what is now Lan- caster county, Penna. Great care was taken to insure absolutely cor- rect information as complete as possible of these early pioneers, but it has been impossible to obtain much desirable matter. It is to be hoped this publication will be the means of calling out much that is now wanting of names, dates and addresses. It should be understood that this Record is not a history, but a IV PREFACE. genealogical record of names, last residences, dates of births, marriages and deaths and names of parents of the consorts. This record contains all the data obtained at this office up to the time of going to press. The records of many families are complete, but many failed to report changes of address, births, marriages and deaths occurring since former entries were made, even when frequently re- quested to do so. No question has or will be asked unless the record shows the information asked for is wanting, or to verify the record. This data is important, or may be sometime, to every person in the record. In some cases, the information has been asked from several persons simultaneously, or at various times, so as to be more likely to receive the correct data, as so many fail to answer promptly, even when it would require but little time or trouble. Much time in thought, research and . investigation, with numerous clerks and assistants from time to time, was required. Many thanks are due to those who have gone to the trouble to obtain and furnish facts for this work without recompense, except in the knowledge that they were aiding a worthy enterprise, in which all in the record, now living, and their descendants are or may hereafter be much in- terested. The publication shows all the information obtained in each case. Wherever the last place of residence, births, marriages, deaths and names do not correctly appear, or spelling of names, etc., is wrong, any one who will notice it and send or bring correct data to the The Genea- ogical Bureau, will confer a great favor. All may realize it will be of much benefit to the many interested. Strenuous effort has been made to have all as complete as possible ; but, mistakes will occur. Many in writ- ing are not always particular in dotting an "i" or crossing a "t," etc., and they may be taken for "c," "e," "b," "1," "w" for "u" and so on. Errors often occur in entering data from such causes. The Genealogical Bureau is established at Lancaster, Pa., to perfect these Records, and PREFACE. V any others of like character that may hereafter be compiled. All per- sons are earnestly requested to notify The Bureau of any errors or omissions that may be found, and to answer all inquiries promptly. In some cases the names of the members of the same family have lower or higher numbers than others. This occurs because the ir- regularly numbered ones were not reported to this office until the numbers were assigned, and then unassigned numbers were given them, as occasion seemed to require. While it may seem strange that such differences appear, it is really immaterial, as the references always show to what family each belongs. It has recently been decided to add an index to the Record, to show the number and name of each descendant in alphabetical order so that the record of each may be readily found ; by referring to any person's number, the name and number of one or both parents will be seen from which can readily be traced any connections, either in the ascending or descending line by references from one family to another. This index is a valuable and important addition, and will appear at the end of the Record in each volume. It required much time and labor to accurately complete it, but it is a very desirable feature, and adds much to the value of the Record. At the end of the Hans Herr record appears the name and what facts are known of the father of Rev. Hans Herr and of four of his brothers. The numbers relating to them and their respective de- scendants are indicated by prefixing the initial letter of the name of these brothers to their own numbers and to those of their respective descendants. Little is known of them except of descendants of Christian Herr, some of whom emigrated to the United States. K HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION, Prior to the year 1492, when America was discovered by Christopher Columbus, up to the year 1681, when Charles II., King of England, Scotland and Ireland, granted a charter to William Penn, Esquire, conveying to him that portion of North America now called Pennsylvania, and until the year 1709, no settlement of any white people had been made in any part of what is now known as Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. In 168 1 Penn published the fact of the grant having been made to him, especially by distributing printed circulars and by lectures in Switzerland and Germany, describing the fertility of the soil, wrote kind and conciliatory letters to different Indian tribes, visited many of them later and by presents, and payments to them for their claims to the land, succeeded in making them his confidential and per- manent friends, which friendship continued until the date of his death in 1718. In 1682 the Duke of York, who then owned large tracts of land at the mouth of, and along the Delaware river, and, what is now New Jersey, after much hesitancy, and at the earnest solicitation of Penn, conveyed to the latter for satisfactory considerations, all his rights to such lands. This gave to Penn full and unobstructed access to his Pennsylvania acquisitions up the Delaware river from its mouth by ships from the old countries. During the same year he made a voyage from England to America and took full possession of his prop- erty, being received by great demonstrations of joy and good will by the people then living there. The lower, or southeastern, part of Pennsylvania was divided into three counties—Philadelphia, Bucks and Chester. The latter included what is now Lancaster county, which was not organized into a separate county until 1729.