John George
was born on Feburary 18, 1741 in Flörsbach, Hessen-Nassau, Prussia, now
Germany. It is believed that he arrived in America with his parents and
brothers and sisters. They
came on the ship Patience to Philadelphia on September 16, 1748. His father, Johannes,
took the Oath to the Government at the Courthouse in Philadelphia on September 16, 1748. (Pennsylvania German Pioneers
by Ralph Beaver Strassburger, LL.D., edited by William John Hinke,
PH.D., D.D. 1980 Genealogical
Publishing Co., Inc. p. 384) The
family located in Northampton County near
what is now the Monroe County line.
This
area was considered the frontier at the time. Families living here were under constant threat of attack by
hostile Indian bands who were trying to maintain a hold on their ancestral lands. Kunkle family researcher, James E.
Kunkle, says, "The first trace of the Kunkel Family in Monroe County, PA
is during the period of the
Indian uprisings in the winter of 1755-56 which was the start of the
French and Indian War. The Kunkels
are listed, among other families, who fled over the mountains and who took refuge in the Moravian settlements
south of the Blue Mountains.”
John
George served in the French and Indian War. From Candace E. Anderson’s book, Miscellaneous Public
Records, 1758 to 1767, p. 142-143 is found a transcript of the men with their enlistment date and vital statistics. "Muster roll of men enlisted for three months in
the company under the command of Captain Jacob Wetterholt stationed at Fort
"Shmit fill" Township for July 1763." A list of all the soldiers with a link to a photocopy of the original roster
is also available online. It is impressive to see a copy of this 250 year old document and learn that
Johan George Kunkle (number 26 on the list) is described as 21 years old, 6 feet tall, with a
long face, gray eyes and Galen hair. Now if I only knew what “Galen hair” color
was!
Below is page 264 of the Pennsylvania Archives Series 5, Volume 8. John George Kunkle mustered out of Capt. Jacob Clader's Milita Company on May 23, 1782. He had served a 3 month enlistment in the 2nd class of the 3rd Batallion, Northampton Co., Pennsylvania.
There is a
Daughters of the American Revolution Record of Service.
He is listed as Ancestor #: A202195. This record names his wife as ESTER
(Esther). Nothing else is known of her, except that she was the mother of
at least nine children.
These children are
mentioned in the will of George Kunkle. Northampton County Courthouse,
Orphans Court Book 8, p. 437, April 24, 1812, Estate of George Kunkle,
Chestnuthill Twp. Petition of George Kunkle, eldest son and heir of
George Kunkle, late of Chestnuthill Twp. Father died intestate leaving nine
children. Named in the will are Sabina, wife of Peter Shmehl, George,
Susannah, wife of Peter Diehl, Adam, Maria Barbara, wife of Lawrence Serfass,
Elizabeth, wife of Conrad Crazy, Maria, wife of John Zerfass Jun., Peter and
Margaret, wife of Henry Shupp.
I
located the birth record of their son, John George Kunkle in the Hamilton Twp., Union Church
Records, page 4.
Johannes
George Kunkel and Ester, parents.
Johann
Georg, born Nov. 9, 1769 and baptized April 13, 1770.
The
sponsors were Johann Guldner and Christina Kunckelin.
This record also
provides us with the correct name of his father and gives the mother's first
name. However, no maiden name is
provided for Ester.
John
George Kunkle (1769 -1854) married Anna Catherine Dotterer and had a son named George born
Feburary 10, 1797. George (1797-1876) married
Salome Knecht. They were the
parents of Charles Kunkle, born November 24, 1825 who married Emeline Miller
and had a son named John Henry Kunkle. John Henry Kunkle and Sarah Jane Fehnel
were the parents of Ron's
Great Grandmother, Estella Mae Kunkle.
Please see this list of all My Revolutionary War Ancestors.
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