Friday, March 29, 2013

Valentine Anewald (1732 - 1802)

Valentine Anewald arrived here aboard the Snow Squirrel on  October 21, 1761 with his wife and young family.  Interestingly, The Snow Squirrel was the first ship to bring German immigrants to Philadelphia after the close of the French and Indian War since  no ships had been allowed between 1756 and 1761.   He is listed on the ship's manifest as Fallendhin Annewallt.  Valentine was married to Johanna Margaret Kurtz in Holland in 1753 and at least two of their children were born in Holland before the family came to America.  Johanna's  tombstone inscription  said she was the mother of 12 children,   but only nine are known to have reached maturity. They were:  Catharina Elizabeth Anawalt born  circa 1756  and  Anna Margaretha Anawalt  born  circa 1760.  The remaining children were born in the vicinity of Kriedersville, Northampton, Pennsylvania.   John Anawalt born  circa 1764,  Susanna Anawalt born  circa 1767, Jacob Anawalt born  06 Feb 1769,  Christina Anawalt born 19 Oct 1770, Peter Anawalt born  12 Nov 1772,  Johann "George" Anawalt born  15 Mar 1775,  and Conrad Anawalt  born  14 Feb 1778.

In researching this family through several generations I have found that there were many variations for the spelling of the name; Ohnewald,  Ahnewald, Anawalt, Anewalt, Annawald, Annewallt, Anwald. Wakefield says the name originally was “von St. Annenwaldt” meaning from, or of, St. Anne's Woods. The “von” in German indicating gentility and place or position.

Of this much is certain,  he is found in Revolutionary War records  as Felty Onawalt;  Felty being a common nickname for Valentine.  This abstract card is a transcription of data extracted from original records in the custody of the State Archives concerning Revolutionary War service in the Pennsylvania Militia.


Class Roll of the 8th Company, 3rd Battalion, Northampton County Militia, dated  September 6th, 1780.  Captain Paul Knauso.   PA Archives, 5th Series, Vol. 8.  page 241.   He also  served as a private  under Captian George Edelman  in the 4th Battalion, Northampton Co., Militia.  Under the command of Lieut. Col. Nicholas Kern and Colonel Siegfried, dated  May  4th, 1778.                      PA Archives, 5th Series, Vol. 8, PP 239-241,303,307,308.


He is buried at Kreidersville,  Pennsylvania in the Zion Stone Church Cemetery where his headstone is marked with a flag and a brass plate commemorating his service to the Revolutionary War.  

John Anawalt Wakefield, in his book,  History and Genealogy of the Anawalts and Cognate Families  tells that  Valentine  settled in Allen Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.  He purchased several large tracts in what was known as the "Indian  Tract" in 1773 and 1774. These transactions indicate that he had brought a considerable sum of money with him to America.  He built a large and substantial two story residence on one of those properties. He was a farmer known to raise grain and honey and was a weaver by trade.  He was also recognized as  a leader in the Lutheran Reform Church at Kreidersville.

Our line of descent from Felty Anewald  comes through his son  Johann "George" Anawalt who was born on March 15, 1775.  George had a son Stephen who married Eliza Musselman.  Their daughter Amanda married William Lauer and they were the grandparents of  Beatrice Graver Smith.  If you haven't already done so, please  read the story of Beatrice's mother Jennie Lauer.  Jennie's story is amazing.

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Saturday, March 16, 2013

Michael Worman (1729 - 1818)

Michael Worman was ready to serve his country as a member of the Pennsylvania  Militia.  His name is found in the  list of the Militia belonging to Captain Nicholas Patterson's Company of Militia for  Tinicum township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.  Michael Worman belonged to the 5th class.  The men in each company were listed as being either part of the first class, second class, third class, etc. and were required to show up for their two months of active duty at the time and in the order that their class was called up.

Born in March of 1729, he was  the son of Johann and Elsbeth Bossert Worman.   He married  Catherine Hertzel, a daughter of Henry and Margaret Hertzel,   on November 27,  1760 at the Tohickon Reform Church, Bedminster Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.  Catherine who  was born in June of 1745 was just 15 years old at the time of their marriage.

He was active in local civic affairs as evidenced in1768 when he was listed  among  the inhabitants of Tinicum, Nockamixon, Bedminster and Plumstead who asked permission of the court to build a stone bridge at their own expense  to replace the  wooden one, but it was not granted. Among the petitioners  are the names of George Hillpot, William McIntyre, Michael Worman and Abraham Fretz. "The History of Bucks County"   

Michael was a farmer who owned a significant amount of land, which had been left to him from his father.   From the Bucks County Transcript -  Tinicum Tax List  we can learn;
1781 Michael Worman owned 200 acres, 4 horses, 8 cattle  p. 192
1782 Michael Worman taxed 202 acres, 3 horses, 8 cattle   p. 257
1784 Michael Worman owned 200 acres, 1 house, 1 bld, 10 inhabitants p. 467
1785 Michael Worman owned 393 acres, 2 horses, 4 cattle  p. 546

At the time of his death the will of Michael shows that he had a daughter named Elizabeth along with ten other living children.
        Abstract of Bucks Co. Will # 9.266. Michael Worman, Tinicum Twp., yeoman
June 27, 1814. Proved May 12, 1818.  Sons Henry and Abraham executors.  Wife Catharine.
Son Isaac 100 acres whereon I live, joining Jacob Hoppock and Thomas Henry.
Son Jacob 100 acres joining Henry Overholtz and Tohickon Creek.
Son Emanuel 7 acres he lives on joining Henry Worman and Daniel Sollada.
Children:  Ludwick, John, Henry, Abraham, Joseph, Emanuel, Isaac, Jacob, Elizabeth, Catharine, and Mary.  Grandson, Lidy Worman.  Witness: Henry Overholt and Joseph Nash.
Not mentioned was a son Conrad and a daughter Susanna.  Making at least thirteen children.

Michael Worman's daughter Elizabeth married John Peter Long.  The great grandson  of Elizabeth Worman was  Howard Herbert Long who became the father of Eliza Long McEwen my grandmother.  

Michael lived to be 89 years old when he died April 15, 1818.  They had been married for 58 years.  Catherine lived to be 86 when she died on January 3, 1832.  They  are buried in the Old Section of Lower Tinicum Union Cemetery, Tinicum, Bucks County, Pennsylvania near the Tinicum United Church of Christ on Dark Hollow Rd, Pipersville Pennsylvania.














                                   Michael and Catherine Worman were my 5th great grand parents.
                                                  
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GENEALOGY IS A WORK OF HEART
Your comments and suggestions are appreciated. It is with pleasure that I am able to present this information here for you to see. If you discover a relationship here, I would very much enjoy hearing from you.     

Monday, March 4, 2013

John McEwen (1745 - 1815)

There is evidence that my Scots-Irish McEwen ancestor,  John,  was living in Northampton County, Pennsylvania  during the time of the Revolutionary War.  He was among the people who made up the Hunter Martin Settlement in Lower Mount Bethel.  

His name appears on the January 1775 Tax List for Hunter Settlement in Mount Bethel Township as John McKoun.  On August 7, 1777,  John McQuown signs the Oaths of Allegiance, Northampton County.  And in 1785 we find land warrants under the name John McOwen for 80 and 200 acres in Northampton County.   The McEwen name is found spelled many different ways in the old records: McCowen, McCuen, McQuen, McQuan, McQuowin, McQuowen, McQuown and McEwen.   At that time, this area was populated with predominantly German speaking people. I am sure  the McEwen Scottish brogue was  very difficult to decipher  to the ear of the German men who recorded the name in all these different records.

 
The following passage, taken from "The Scotch-Irish in America: Proceedings and Addresses of the Second Congress at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, May 29 to June 1, 1890"  sums up the character of these frontiersmen.  "The Scotch-Irish, as they were called, were emigrants from the northern part of the sister kingdom, descendants of the Scotch colonies planted there by Cromwell. They were a hardy, brave, hot headed race, excitable in temper, unrestrainable in passion, invincible in prejudice. Their hand open as impetuously to a friend, as it clenched against an enemy. They loathed the pope, as sincerely as they venerated Calvin and Knox. If often rude and, lawless it was the fault of their position.  Impatient of restraint, rebellious of any thing that in their eyes bore the resemblance of injustice, we find these men readiest among the ready on the battle fields of the Revolution. If they had faults, a lack of patriotism or of courage was not among them."

John McEwen's  service record is recorded in the Revolutionary War Military Abstract Card File of the pennsylvania Archives.    Item number 54 names John McQuen, Northampton County, 6th Battalion, 6th company, 2nd class, May 14, 1778. 

His record is also  recorded in the Pennsylvania Archives 5th series Vol. 8  p. 426 - 437.  There are no other men with a similar name in Northampton Co. at that time.  

The 6th Battalion, Northampton County Militia was under the command of  Colonel Jacob Stroud at Fort Penn which was located on the site of present-day Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.  The men  of the 6th Battalion played a pivotal role in General Sullivan's campaign  to destroy the  Indian settlements on the frontier. 

John (McQuown) McEwen  was  born on  April 15, 1745.   He  married Margaret Herin,  a daughter of John Herin, who also  was a part of the Hunter Martin Settlement in Martin's Creek, Lower Mount Bethel, Pennsylvania.  Margaret was born November 29, 1755. They were married December 3, 1771. It is not known exactly were John and Margaret lived out their lives and where they are buried.  Evidence shows that they lived in both Northampton County and Columbia County.

They became  the parents of  nine children.   Their son, William,  was born in Berwick, Columbia County, Pennsylvania on November 8, 1775.   He married Sarah Johnson  of Lower Mount Bethel township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.  William and Sarah pioneered to Ohio in 1823, but their son John returned to Northampton County. Descendants of John McEwen still live in Northampton County today. 

I wish to thank Bruce McEwen for all the research he has done on the McEwen family  and for his generosity in sharing it with me.  His diligence in searching  for the forbears in the McEwen family is to be admired.




Pennsylvania Profiles: Scotch-Irish. http://gentreeforme.files.wordpress.com
Pennsylvania State Archives @ http://www.digitalarchives.state.pa.us. 


                                               This page and all contents © 2013 Cynthia H. Smith
                                                                      Email  to chsmith47@yahoo.com