The Charles Estep Family of Tioga Co., Pennsylvania

This is my grandmother, Zilpha Estep Hughes. She was the mother of my father, Richard Lyle Hughes, Jr. Zilpha Estep, born July 23, 1902, was the youngest daughter of Charles Estep and his wife Helen Scott Estep. Often referred to her as Gramma Zip by her grandchildren, she was nicknamed "Zip" or "Zippy" by her older brothers when a small child. She grew up on Armenia Mountain and in East Troy, Pennsylvania. Zip and Richard Hughes were married in Williamsport, Pennsylvania on Dec. 20, 1920. Gramma Zip was trained as a practical nurse. Eighteen year old Zilpha is enumerated on the 1920 census with her sister Wilma, 19 years old, at the Cottage State Hospital in Blossburg, Pennsylvania where they were taking their nurses training. Her life time career took her into the homes of her clients where she lived with them providing around the clock nursing care for as long as they needed.

This photo of  the Charles Estep family was taken about 1919 at their home in East Troy, Pennsylvania.

Children of Charles and Helen Estep were:  Angeline (1886-1980),  Florence Helen (1889-1984),  Frances Raymond (1890-1951),  Esther Viola (1894-1957),  Clarence Benzette (1896-1957),  Laura M. (1898-1949),  Wilma Jane (1900-1988),  Zilpha Marie Imo (1902-1978).    Not pictured, George (1885-1888) and Chauncey (1892-1892).  Here you can see in the back row, left to right Frank, BenZet, and Angie. In the front row are Laura,  Esther, Helen, Charles, Zilpha, Wilma and Florence.

 

Sara Angeline Chauncey Scott,  mother of Helen Scott Estep, is included in this photo, taken about 1919.  Sara Angeline Chauncey Scott is sitting in the rocker in this family portrait.  She died May 21, 1921 and lived to be 101 years old.   Charles and Helen, are pictured here with their children and spouses and grandchildren.  This picture was probably taken on the property of the Estep family home in East Troy, Pennsylvania.  This home burned  about 1920.    The children in this picture are Lucille Loomis (1908-1997) and her brother Clem Arthur Jr. (1917-1999). Also Merle Yeomans (1908-1985), his brother Bill (1912-2008) and sister Helen (1919-2009).

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                                         This page  © 2014, Cynthia H. Smith
 
                                         Send email to chsmith47@yahoo.com

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GENEALOGY IS A WORK OF HEART

See How They Grew - The Richard L. Hughes Family

See How They Grew

The Richard L. Hughes Family. My dad, Richard Hughes was a Methodist minister in Ohio.  We grew up, living in small towns across the state.  First Manchester, then Quincy, Carey, Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio.   After all the kids had grown up, Mom and Dad moved to Columbus.

Richard L. Hughes was born in Tioga, PA Nov. 1, 1921, the son of Richard Lyle Hughes  and Zilpha Estep Hughes. Dad Graduated from Asbury College in 1947

Lois Marie McEwen was born in Northampton Co. PA, the daughter of Homer and Eliza McEwen.   Dick and Lois met at Asbury College and were married June 5, 1943 in Richmond, PA.

Manchester, Ohio, 1949.  Lois and Dick with Stephen, Cynthia, Deborah and Sharon. The family lived in Manchester from 1947 to 1952

We lived in Quincy from 1952 til 1955. First day of school, 1953. Stephen, Sharon, Cindy, Debbie.

Little Sisters, Cindy and Debbie.  Quincy , Ohio , 1953.

Dayton, Ohio 1964.  Richard the 3rd was born in 1958 while we lived in Carey

1991, on the occasion of Dad's 70th Birthday, we gathered in Columbus, Ohio to help him celebrate. To Mom's right is Aaron Mills, son of Sharon, on Dad's left.  Dad is holding Laura Wheeler, daughter of Deb (in black sweater). Cindy with son, Mark Smith. Richard with his son Richie and Steve holding Sarah Smith.

Dick and Lois.

This page and all contents ©  2003, 2009, 2014 Cynthia Hughes Smith. Send email to chsmith47@yahoo.com

Hans Leonard Knecht (1737 - 1789)

Hans Leonard Knecht was the son of  George Peter Knecht, who arrived here on the Pink Plaisance in September, 1732,  and who married Anna Christine Hirtzel.    Born January 18, 1737, Hans Leonard's  birth record is found  in the records of the New Goshenhoppen Church  which was then in Lower Saucon township, Northampton Co., Pennsylvania. 

He married Maria Margaret Schlauch  on January 1, 1760 at the  German Reformed Church, Tohicken, Bucks, Pennsylvania.  Also known just as Leonard Knecht in many records, he  was a farmer in Bethlehem township and also in Lower Nazareth township, Northampton Co., PA.    Paul Swan from his online book, The Hartzell Chapter has this to say:  "Of  the two children of George Peter and Anna Christina (Hirtzel) Knecht:    Hans Leonard, son, b 18 Jan 1737. Hans Leonard was married 1 Jan 1760 to    Margaret Schlauch {b 9 May 1739, daughter of Philip and Anna Margaretha (Hertzel)Schlauch and d 20 Apr 1810}. Margaret and her sister Maria Catharina married brothers. She and Hans Leonard had six children, Maria Margaret, Christine, Clara Catharine, Sarah, John, and Anna Dorothea born 1760 through 1779."

Burial card via Ancestry.com.

Here is the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Military Affairs Burial Card for Leonard Knecht.   The Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Volume 8 shows that  Leonard Knecht served several terms under the command of Captain John Santee in 1780, 1781,1782  and 1783.  I also found a Record of Service  listed with Daughters of the American Revolution for Leonard Knight (Knecht). He is Ancestor #: A066531.

Find A Grave Memorial# 70168549

He died October 18, 1789 and was buried in the Dryland Cemetery, Hecktown, Pennsylvania.  His gravestone is no longer in existence, but his name appears on the Veteran's Memorial Stone there.


Hans Leonard Knecht had a son also named Leonard who married Christina Schott.  They lived in the Moorestown area of Northampton Co., Pa.  Leonard and Christina  were the parents of Salome Knecht who married George Kunkle.  Salome died after the birth of her son Charles  who was the grandfather of Estella May Kunkle, Ron's great grandmother.
           

   

                                             
Sources:

• Egle, William Henry, 1830-1901. Names of Foreigners Who Took the Oath of Allegiance to the Province And State of Pennsylvania, 1727-1775: With the Foreign Arrivals, 1786-1808. Harrisburg, Pa.: E. K. Meyers, 1892. 
• Charles Kunkle 1825 - 1890,  http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~chsmith/kunklelines.html
• "Pennsylvania, Marriages, 1709-1940," Index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/V26H-1LL : accessed 22 Sep 2012), Leonhard Knecht and Marg. Schlauch, 1760; citing reference , FHL microfilm 974.8 B4PG V.31.
• Paul R. Swan, "Hartzell Family History, Hartzell Chapter", online at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~paulrswan/Hartzell_Lineage.html.
• Linda Klosek, "The Knecht Family History", 1702-1987. 
• Pennsylvania Archives, Series 5, Volume 8, page 126, 152, 197, 222.

                           Please see this list of all My Revolutionary War Ancestors.

                                                           Copyright

This page  © 2014, Cynthia H. Smith


Send email to chsmith47@yahoo.com

This site may be linked, but not duplicated in any way without consent. The copyright on this page must appear on all copied and/or printed material.

Phillip Buchecker (1735 - 1792)

By the time of the American Revolution, Phillip Buchecker had established himself as a farmer in Upper Saucon Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. In 1760, when he was about 25 years old,  he purchased two tracts of land from his father, Valentine Buchecker.  Together the tracts amounted to 181 acres.

Phillip, at the age of 12 years,  was one of five children of Valentine Buchecker and his wife Anna Maria who arrived in Philadelphia aboard the ship Two Brothers on October 13, 1747. The family, from the area of Arnsheim, Pfaltz, Germany, included his sister Maria Catherine, who was born about 1730 and married William Morey; Balthazar, who was born around 1733; Phillip, born October 24, 1735; Maria Elizabeth, born about 1737 and Henrich, who was born about 1739.   The family settled in the area of Upper Saucon Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.

During the Revolutionary War, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed an act, dated June 13, 1777, that all able bodied men were required to sign the Oath of Allegiance, renouncing the authority of King George the III and declaring their support of the colonies in the struggle for independence. Phillip signed the Oath on June 17, 1778 under Justice of the Peace Jacob Morry. His brother, Baltzer had signed the Oath two weeks earlier on June the 3rd.  Both brothers served terms of enlistment in the Militia.

The  family name "Buchecker" has been  transcribed from the original handwritten records in so many different ways that it takes some diligent research to uncover documentation of the Bucheckers. The first record I found showed that in  1779  Philip Buchecker and his brother Baltzer Buschecker were both fined, perhaps for failure to show up for drill (s3,v6, page 733). 

Pennsylvania Archives, Series 5, Volume 8, p. 83

In 1783 Phillip  Boucheacker (you can see his name here) served in the 1st Battalion of the Northampton County Militia lead by  Colonel George Hubner and Lieut. Col. Peter Saylor.  He was in the 7th class of the  2nd company under Christopher Johnson.  Serving in the 4th class was Balser Bockeacker, his brother.

And with determination in my search efforts   I found a service record for Philip Bugacker, Sr.,  1782, Private, 7th class, 4th Battalion, and Baltser Bugacker, 1782, Private, 4th class, 4th Battalion.  Also for  Philip Bugacher, Jr.,  1782, Private, 1st class, 4th Battalion, son of our Philip.  

Series: M637 Roll: 8 Page: 315

So why do you think  there are so many spelling variations?  The 1790 Census record has an even different spelling for the family name. How about Poeghaker! But here it is. Take a look at a photocopy of the original 1790 record.   Philip is next to the last name on this page.

Poeghaker, Philip, 1 white  male over 16 years, 6 white males under 16 years, 7 all white females
And brother  Balthazar is recorded on another page as:
Bocaker, Baltis, 3 white  male over 16 years, 2 white males under 16 years, 2 all white females

Not so easy to read these names is it?  Imagine the poor fellow who had to transcribe these records. 



Phillip acquired more land as these tax records show. Federal Tax 1786, Upper Saucon Township:
Buchecker, Philip  ...200 acres,  4 horses,  5 cattle,    tax 1.18.0 pounds. In 1788, Upper Saucon twp.,  Buchecker, Phillip...200 acres,  4 horses,  6 cattle, tax 1.17.6 pounds

Research shows that he died on March 27, 1791. I have not found a burial record.  From his estate record it is learned that he had 13 children.  This abstract shows, January 19, 1798,  Estate of Phillip (recorded as Peter) Bucheker, Upper Saucon (died nearly 7 years ago) Widow, Margaret, children; one of whom is now dead, a minor, without issue. Philip, Elisabeth, w/o Jacob Morry, Sabina, George, Ann Mary, w/o John Weber, Magdalena, Henry, Jacob, Daniel, Eve, Susanna, Peter.  A year later on April 11, 1799,  new guardians for 3 minor children of Philip Buchecker, Upper Saucon were patitioned of the court. Petition of Philip Buchecker, son of the deceased, filed for his younger siblings Eva, Susanna and Peter.

My link to Philip Buchecker is through his daughter Elizabeth who married Jacob Morey.  They resided in Upper Mount Bethel township, Northampton Co., PA and had a son named Tobias.  Tobias  married Margaret Weidman. Tobias and Margaret had a daughter, Catherine, who married Aaron Immick.  Their daughter Sarah E. Immick married Samuel Frey and had a son named Isaac Lantz Frey.  Isaac married Mary Alice Fangboner and had a daughter, Edna May, who married Earl Good. Their daughter Dorothy married Clarence Smith and they were the parents of Ronald Smith, my husband.

Sources:
Office for Recording of Deeds in and for the County of Northampton in Book E vol 1 page 227.
Proprietary, Supply, and State Tax Lists of the Counties of Northampton and Northumberland for the Years 1772 to 1787 (Google eBook) William Henry Egle.  W.S. Ray, State Printer of Pennsylvania, 1897 - 805 pages.
Pennsylvania Archives, Series 5, Volume 8, page 351 -355. Also page 83.
Poeghaker, Philip, Census Record 1790,  Series: M637  Roll: 8  Page: 315  Pa, Northampton, Upper Saucon Twp, 1790.
                          Please see this list of all My Revolutionary War Ancestors. 
                                                             Copyright

This page  © 2014, Cynthia H. Smith


Send email to chsmith47@yahoo.com

This site may be linked, but not duplicated in any way without consent. The copyright on this page must appear on all copied and/or printed material.

Johan Franz Hilgert (Hilliard) (1721 - 1797)

Johann Franz Hilgert who was born February 1, 1722 in Germany immigrated to America in September of 1751.  Records show that he was from a town called Argental in the District of Simmern, west of Mainz.  He arrived in Philadelphia aboard the  Ship  Edinburgh along with  others from Germany.  Pennsylvania  German Pioneers, pgs. 460-462 (List 167 C) "At the courthouse in Philadelphia, on Monday, the 16th September 1751.  Present: The Worshipful, the Mayor, Joshua Maddox, Esqr.  The Foreigners whose names are underwritten, imported in the Edinburgh,  James Russell, Master, did this day take the usual Qualifications & subscribed them."   The name  Frantz Hihgert  appears.

Twenty years later a record of him is found in Williams Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.  The 1772 property tax list  shows that France Hilgert  was a farmer  who paid 1.12.0  pounds tax on his property. Williams Township is to the  south of Easton, Pennsylvania.

Some time after this he relocated to Mount Bethel, north of Easton, Pennsylvania.  On July 30, 1778 Francis Hillyard took the Oath of Allegiance  in Mount Bethel under the direction of Justice of the Peace, Judge Benjamin Depui.  His sons Isaac and Peter had signed the Oath declaring their allegiance to the support of war against England one month earlier on June 29, 1778.

His name is found on the 1781 tax list for Mount Bethel: Hilliard, Francis, 3.10 pounds.
He settled in the area of Centerville, Upper Mt. Bethel Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. 

Johann Franz Hilgert service in the Revolutionary War is evidenced by his having signed the Oath of Allegiance.  The DAR  application names him as Von Johann Franz Hilgirt.  He is Ancestor #: A056226 also known as Francis Hilliard and recognized for Patriotic Service.

He married Christina Mauny/Mohney   Johann Franz and Christina Hilgert had nine children (six sons and three daughters).  His will, written on May 16, 1797, was probated September 21, 1797 and provides us with the names of his children.  Hilgert, Francis, Upper Mt. Bethel, yeoman: wife Christina, sons  Peter,  Isaac, John,  and George, Ann-Mary, wife of Abraham Houck,  son Jacob, Catharina, wife of Adam Mauny,  and son Abraham who was deceased and  his widow and 4 children.

The inscription on his gravestone in the Old Union Cemetery in Upper Mt. Bethel, Pennsylvania is in German. It says,  "Hier ruhet der leib Van Johann Franz Hilgert  Er ward zur welt geboren den 1st February 1722 Ist gestorben den 19 August 1797 Alter 75y 6m 4t

Her  gravestone, also in German  reads: "Hier ruhet der leib Christina Hilgertin   Sie war  geboren den 7 Ma..."  and the rest is buried in the ground.





His gravestone translation is: Here lies the body of Van Johann Franz Hilgert   He was born into this world Feburary 1, 1722 and died August 19, 1797. 75 years 6 months and 4 days.   Her gravestone translation is: Here lies the body of Christina Hilgert  She was born on May 7...   However it is known that  she died on June 9, 1797, at the age of 73.

Johann Franz and Christina had a son named Peter,  who also fought in the Revolutionary War.  He  married Elizabeth Emrich.  Peter and Elizabeth's daughter Christine married  Jacob Eilenberger.  Their daughter Catherine Eilenberger  married John Correll.  They had a daughter named Josephine Correll who married Henry Good and had a son named George.  George Good was the grandfather of Dorothy Alice Good Smith.


Sources:
Eyerman, John, WILL ABSTRACTS OF NORTHAMPTON COUNTY, PA; 1752-1802. Vol. 2,   1897, p108.
Eyerman, John. THE OLD GRAVEYARDS OF NORTHAMPTON.

                      Please see this list of all My Revolutionary War Ancestors.

                                                        Copyright

This page  © 2014, Cynthia H. Smith


Send email to chsmith47@yahoo.com

This site may be linked, but not duplicated in any way without consent. The copyright on this page must appear on all copied and/or printed material.

Frederick Fennell (1740 - 1802)

Two of our family's Revolutionary War Patriots, Frederick Fennell  and Michael Schmeyer  had children who married each other: Fennel brothers married Schmeyer sisters.  Frederick Fennel's son, Conrad, married Michael Schmeyer's daughter, Catherine.  Another son, Frederick, Jr.,  married Catherine's sister, Elizabeth. It wasn't unusual for brothers  in one family to marry sisters in another family.  Young men had limited resources to travel very far from home for courtship and with such large families in the neighborhood it was very likely that finding a wife was a matter of walking over to the neighboring farm to woo the affections of a lovely young lady.

Their father, Frederick Fenneal enlisted May 14, 1778 as a private,  3rd class, 1st Company  of the  Second Battalion in the Northampton County Militia,  under Captain Joseph Koocken, Pennsylvania Archives Series 5, Volume 8, page 104.   Neighbors enlisted together.   The men  were divided into smaller groups called classes.  When troops were needed  each class was called in order to fulfill the requirements for the number of men needed.

 Pa Archives Series 5, Volume 8, page 104

One more record showing proof of service for Frederick Fennel is found on page 55 of the  Pennsylvania Archives, Series 5, Volume 8.  Private Fried’k Fennel  again enlisted in the First Battalion, 5th Company,  3rd Class from  November 1, 1781 through January 1, 1782, during the Revolutionary War  under Captain Peter Kooken. The Daughters of the American Revolution have a service record for him.  He is listed in their files as Ancestor #: A038712.

Frederick was born about 1736 in Northampton, Pennsylvania.  He died June 02, 1802 in Moore Twp. Northampton, Pennsylvania.  The marriage of  Frederick and  Elizabeth Meyer  on June 02, 1760  is said to be recorded in the records of  Old Swedes Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They became the parents of  eight children:  Christopher, who was born in 1760  and died in 1851 in  Westmoreland,   Pa.;  Eva, who was born  about  1763 in Northampton Co., Pa and died before 1802;  Elizabeth, born  about 1766 in Northampton Co., Pa.;  Conrad (mentioned above) was born about 1769 in  Northampton Co., and died in 1839  in Moore Twp., where he is buried in the Salem Union Church Cemetery, Moorestown;  Frederick, who was born about 1770 Northampton Co., and died in 1848  in Moore Twp., where he is buried in the   Salem Union Church Cemetery;  Katharina, who was born  about  1773 in  Northampton Co., Pa.;  Magdalena who was born  about  1776 Northampton Co., Pa.; and  Abraham who was born  about   1782 in Northampton Co., Pa. and died in 1857 and is also buried in the Salem Union Church Cemetery in  Moore Twp., Northampton Co., Pa.

Frederick Fennel must have lived most of his adult life in Moore Township, Northampton Co., Pennsylvania where his name appears on the 1800 Census there.  On October 12,  1764, Frederick Fahnel took out a warrant for 26 acres in Northampton Co.  He must have acquired additional lands, for in 1789 he was taxed 34.0.8.5 on  95 acres in Moore Township.  On December 13, 1792 we find a warrant to Frederick Fennell for 30 acres in Moore Township,  Northampton Co., for which payment  was made on February 21, 1814.  This last property could very well have been that of his son Frederick.

His burial place has not been found, but is assumed to be in Moore Township where several of his sons are buried and where the next several generations of the family lived. His son Conrad married Catherine Schmoyer.  Their son Daniel married Sarah Lilly whose grandfathers,  Andreas Lilly and Peter Laufer,  were also Revolutionary War Patriots. Samuel Fehnel, son of Daniel and Sarah Fehnel married Eliza Marsh.  They were the parents of Sarah Jane Fehnel who married John Henry Kunkle, the great, great grandson of John George Kunkle.  The Kunkle's daughter Estella married  Art Smith and they were the  parents of  Russell Smith, Ron's grandfather.

It is important when researching genealogy to understand why alternate spellings of the  family name occur.   Long ago few people knew how to read and write.  Therefore when a name was pronounced the scribe wrote it the way they heard it and we find a name  written in military, church, and government records with a variety of spellings. This is the case with the Fehnel family name.  The name is most commonly spelled Fehnel now, but in the past several variations of the name are  found which include: Fennel, Fenel, Fennell, Fenneal, and Fahnel. 

Sources:
Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Volume 8
National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, online research,  at http://services.dar.org/public/dar_research/search/.
"United States Census, 1800," index and images, FamilySearch.com.
Ancestry.com Pennsylvania 

                     Please see this list of all My Revolutionary War Ancestors.

                                               Copyright

This page  © 2014, Cynthia H. Smith


Send email to chsmith47@yahoo.com

This site may be linked, but not duplicated in any way without consent. The copyright on this page must appear on all copied and/or printed material. 

Michael Schmeyer (1745 - 1800)

                                       Michael Schmeyer died in prison!  

What?   In prison?  Yes, but Michael was a true patriot to the end.  After the Revolutionary War, in which he served several terms, the Federal Government imposed a tax to support an anticipated war with France. This tax,  known as the Direct House Tax of 1798 or the "Window Tax"  was "for the valuation of lands and dwelling houses and the enumeration of slaves within the United States."  Assessors traveled around the countryside counting the number of windows in each house to determine the value of the house.  Michael, as well as  other German farmers, in the Macungie area didn't like the idea at all.  Opposition arose with many protesting what was thought to be an unfair taxation.   Soon Michael joined forces with  John Fries who lead the Rebellion.  The government responded with Militia enforcements  and the protesters were arrested and taken to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania for trail. Michael  was fined 400 dollars, given a sentence of 9 months and sent to prison with 27 other men.  These men were later taken to Philadelphia.   Among the  Macungie  residents who were active participants in Fries Rebellion, as it came to be called, was  Michael Schmoyer, who was  held prisoner in Norristown, Pennsylvania, contracted yellow fever and died on the 5th of November, 1800.   Read  more about Fries Rebellion.

http://explorepahistory.com/hmarker.php?markerId=1-A-28E

Schmeyer, Schmoyer, Schmyer, Shmeyer, Shmyer,  Smeyer, Smyer, Smier, Smior ... his name is found with all of these spellings in different documents.  In the Daughters of the American Revolution index, he is ancestor # A100895, Michael Schmeyer.  Michael Shmeyer signed the Oath of Allegiance on August 6, 1777 and thereafter served terms for the duration of the Revolutionary War.   On May 14, 1778 the name Michael Shmyer appears in the 6th class of  5th company, 2nd Battalion Northampton Co. Militia under the leadership of Colonel George Breinig, Lt. Col. Stephen Bolliet and Captain Traxler.   In 1781 Michael Smyer is a 6th class private in the 6th company of the 1st Battalion under Captain John Trexler.  Michael Smier served 48 days in the company of John Jacoby as 2nd class private in the 1st Battalion in 1782.

Michael married Maria Magdalena Kuchel. He  became a farmer and in 1772 Michael Shmeyer  paid taxes on his property in Macungie where he eventually owned somewhere near 400 acres of land.  Their children were Catherine, who was born in September of 1769 and married Conrad Fehnel; Elizabeth, who was born in 1770 and married Frederick Fehnel;  Gertrude, who was born July 28, 1772 and married Abraham Schwartz; Maria Loves, Gertrude's twin married Adam Brouss;  John Jacob, veterinarian, born in Macungie  on June 25, 1774, married Maria Susanna Nein;  Magdalena, who married  Jacob Stephan was born April 22, 1778;  Abraham,  born July 10, 1783 married Susanna Stephen;  Rachel was born  October 19,  1789 and  married Samuel Yeager.

Michael, the son of Johan Phillip Schmeyer and Maria Salome Stefen,  was born in Lower Macungie Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania on New Years Day, 1745.  He died in Norristown on November 5, 1800.  His wife, Maria Magdalena Kuchel  was born March 18, 1748 and died October 23, 1814.  They are buried in the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery in Alburtis, Lehigh Co., Pennsylvania where his grave is honored with an American Flag and a  Revolutionary War Veteran bronze plaque.  A new memorial was erected to replace the original stones in 1979.

Find A Grave Memorial# 35968767

As I get more of these tributes to Revolutionary War Veterans completed I am able to show links and connections to stories already blogged.  Here I am showing the links back to the ancestors of Estella Kunkle Smith as she is the direct line descendent of Michael and Catherine Schmeyer.    Michael's daughter Catherine married Conrad Fehnell, son of Frederick Fennell, another Revolutionary War Veteran.  Their son Daniel married Sarah Lilly, a granddaughter of Andreas Lilly.  Daniel and Sarah had a son Samuel who married Eliza Marsh, a great granddaughter of Peter Laufer.  Sarah Jane Fehnel, daughter of Sam and Eliza Fehnel, married John Henry Kunkle, the great, great grandson of John George Kunkle.  Estella May Kunkle married Arthur Smith and was the great grandmother of my husband Ron Smith.  Now you know the rest of the story.

Sources:

• PA Archives, 5th Series, Volume 8, pages 45, 55, 58, 63, 68, 104, 112.
• "The Schmoyer Family (Schmeyer, Schmeier, Schmyer, Smoyer) Descendants of Philip Schmeyer of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania" compiled and privately published by Elmer Dickson, Chico, CA, 1986.
• Find A Grave Memorial# 35968767, Michael Schmoyer

                         Please see this list of all My Revolutionary War Ancestors.

Copyright

This page  © 2014, Cynthia H. Smith


Send email to chsmith47@yahoo.com

This site may be linked, but not duplicated in any way without consent. The copyright on this page must appear on all copied and/or printed material. 

James Ross (1755 - 1832)

James Ross was born October 10, 1755, twenty one years before the onset of the Revolutionary War.  He grew up in the area of Lower Mount Bethel township, Northampton Co., Pennsylvania where his father owned a large parcel of land. Work there included clearing the land for cultivation,  care of animals and growing crops to provide for the needs of the family.

James, the son of Thomas and Jane Barr Ross,  served his country in the Revolutionary during at least two enlistments.  The Pennsylvania Archives 5th Series Volume 8  provides us with two records.  On page 559 his name appears in the June 1779  payroll list of Captain John Nelson's Company of the Lower Mount Bethel, Northampton Co. Militia.  On page 606 of the PA Archives 5th Series Volume 8  it is noted that Private James Ross  served in  1781 under  Capt. John Nelson’s Co. Lower Mount Bethel.

PA Archives 5th Series Volume 8 page 559

There is no record of his service filed with the Daughter's of the American Revolution. And I was unable to find a card for him on the Pennsylvania State Archives online in the Revolutionary War Military Abstract Card File Indexes.  However, local historians, Lonnie and Gail Miller,  verified  his records as recorded in PA Archives 5th Series Volume 8 pages 559 and 606.  Through their efforts he is registered  with the Veteran's Grave Registration of Northampton County, Pennsylvania and a bronze flag holder and flag now decorate his grave.

In 1786  he is found in the  Pennsylvania, Septennial Census living in  Mount Bethel, Northampton county, Pennsylvania.   In addition to the name of James Ross, the names of his father Thomas Ross and brother  Thomas Ross, Jr. also appear on this record.

James and Catherine Ross are buried in the  Scotch-Irish Presbyterian Burial Ground, Lower Mount Bethel Township, Northampton Co.,  Pennsylvania along with James' father Thomas Ross.  Her gravestone says... “In memory of Catherine Ross who departed this life July 6, 1818  Aged 69 years.”  This indicates that she was born in 1749. Her maiden name is unknown. His stone is difficult to read in entirety, but you can make out  his name. The transcription found in The Scotch-Irish of Northampton County p., 590, #266,  says "James Ross,  born 10 October 1755,  died 4 March 1832".

James and Caroline had a son named Joseph, born 1790  and two daughters Janet, born  about 1787 and Rachel, born about 1789.  Of Joseph, it is known that he married Susanna Fox.  Joseph Ross  was the grandfather of Joseph Deats  who was the grandfather of Earl Good. 

                             Please see this list of all My Revolutionary War Ancestors. 

Copyright
This page  © 2014, Cynthia H. Smith


Send email to chsmith47@yahoo.com

This site may be linked, but not duplicated in any way without consent. The copyright on this page must appear on all copied and/or printed material.  All rights reserved! Commercial use of material within this site is prohibited!

Thomas Ross (1725 - 1798)

 

Thomas Ross was born on December 12, 1725 in  Bridgewater  Township,  Somerset, New Jersey.  He married  Jane (some records say Janet)  Barr on June 20, 1751 and came to Northampton County, Pennsylvania sometime around 1753 where they raised their family. 

When he was 28 years old Thomas  took out a Warrant  for 40 acres of land in Northampton Co. on November 19, 1753. Thirteen years later on  April 6, 1767 he warranted another 60 acres in Mount Bethel, Northampton Co.  These two tracts were received on December 28, 1770.  On October 8, 1784 he acquired an additional 78 acres in Mount Bethel.

  Pennsylvania Land Warrants and Applications

 

The Daughters of the American Revolution  hold a Record of Service for Thomas. His record is  Ancestor # A206440. He is noted as having provided Patriotic Service.  He signed the Oath of Allegiance on August  23, 1777.  I have not found anything more regarding his contributions to the war effort,  but his sons also played a role in the War for Independence. 
It should be noted that men signed these oaths as a show of loyalty to the American cause for Independence.

The 1790 Federal Census shows Thomas Ross in  Lower Mount Bethel, Northampton Co., Pennsylvania. There were five members in his household at that time: two males over the age of 16 and three females.  He left a will in Northampton Co., when he died in 1798.   The will names his wife Jane and children  David, James (who was born October 10, 1755 in  Mount Bethel Township, Northampton Co., Pennsylvania), Thomas, Elizabeth, Zacheriah and Mary.

 

In memory of Thomas Ross who died December 9, 1798 Age 72 years

Thomas Ross and his wife, Jane Barr, are buried in the  Scotch-Irish Presbyterian Burial Ground in Lower Mount Bethel, Northampton Co., Pennsylvania.   His son James who fought in active service in the Revolutionary War and wife  Catherine Ross are also  buried here as well as his grandson  Joseph Sr. and his wife,  Susanna Fox Ross.  Susanna is the daughter of Joseph Fox who was also a Revolutionary War Patriot.  Joseph and Susanna Fox Ross had a daughter named Caroline who married  Philip Deats.  Caroline and Philip Deats had a son named Joseph who married Amanda Shull  and had a daughter named Lillie.  Lillie Deats married George Good. Their son Earl Good was the grandfather of my husband Ron.


                           Please see this list of all My Revolutionary War Ancestors.

Copyright

This page  © 2014, Cynthia H. Smith


Send email to chsmith47@yahoo.com

This site may be linked, but not duplicated in any way without consent. The copyright on this page must appear on all copied and/or printed material.  All rights reserved! Commercial use of material within this site is prohibited!

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.

                Email address--- chsmith47@yahoo.com

Peter Jacoby (1766-1814)

Even though the Revolutionary War was technically over with the signing of the Peace Treaty in 1783, Peter, at the age of 19 in 1785 is recorded as having served as a Ranger on the Frontier.   To be a Ranger he would have had to have been adapt in using the Pennsylvania Long Rifle. 

 
Peter  was the son of Henry Jacoby (1733-1809), who served throughout the conflict of the Revolutionary War.  Evidence shows that Peter also provided service to the newly formed United States of America.  Henry Sylvester Jacoby, in his book, The Jacoby Family Genealogy, 1930,  provides an extensive account of the military service of Peter.

Jacoby, page 155

 

Long after the war with Britain was over, the hostilities on the frontier continued, as the Peace Treaty was not signed by or recognized by the Indian Nations.   I would imagine  that Peter provided protective service for  his family and neighbors during this time period leading up to the War of 1812.  But I do not believe that he  participated in the  War of 1812.  Jacoby quotes, the History of Northampton Co., PA, 1877,  "Drummer, P. Jacoby and Private, P. Jacoby" in the Rifle Company of Captain John Ott, (p82) as evidence of Peter's service.   A closer look at  the records in the Pennsylvania Archives, actually shows that this was Phillip Jacoby, drummer and another Phillip Jacoby, private, not our Peter who served in the War of 1812.

Around 1788 he married  Mary Lomison  in Lower Mount Bethel.  She was a daughter of Lawrence Lomison (more about him in a later entry).   Together, Peter and Mary  had a family of 15 children.

A list of the names of all the children of Peter and Mary was discovered in a family Bible passed down through the Jacoby family and shared with the author of the The Jacoby Family Genealogy, Henry Sylvester Jacoby (p154).  Their children and dates of birth are:  John, August 23, 1789;  Margaret, October 17, 1790; Susanna,  November 16, 1791; Henry, January 1, 1793; Sarah, July 20, 1794;   Sarah, July 30, 1795;  William, June 2, 1797;  Elizabeth, January 31, 1799;  Peter James, June 15, 1800;  Mary,  December 17, 1801;  Daniel, June 5, 1804;  George, March 6, 1806;  James, August 11, 1807; Jeremiah, September 13, 1809;  and  Eleanor, December 1, 1811.

The first census after the Revolutionary War  taken in 1790  places Peter and family in Lower Mount Bethel township, Northampton Co., Pennsylvania.  Jacoby  interviewed a descendent of Peter in 1914.  Mary Snyder, his granddaughter, remembered that he had  been a tenant farmer in Lower Mount Bethel, never having owned any land. She also stated that after Peter died, most of the children had to help in  supporting  the family by "working out" (p154). Ten of his children were under the age of 21 when he died September 7, 1814.  and eight of them required guardians.  I would very much like to know more about the statement Mary made in her interview, "Peter Jacoby's widow married a Mr. Bartel of Moore twp., but did not like him and so left him and lived with her children...(p157)."   Now that is an interesting comment: such was the way of life for a poor widow who needed to marry to have a home and support for her children.  My ancestor, Mary, who was 13 when her father died,  would have been one of the children fostered out and in need of a guardian.

They are buried in the Scotch Irish Cemetery in Lower Mount Bethel  where a bronze plate marks their graves.

http://www.findagrave.com

Their daughter Mary became the wife of Joseph Snyder, whose grandfather, John Knappschneider, was also a Revolutionary War Veteran. I am grateful to genealogists such as Henry Sylvester Jacoby who painstakingly  did the research  and leg work back in the days when you had to travel to local areas to comb through old records to piece together the story of our ancestors. Their efforts point a modern day researcher in the right direction to look for original documentation. Since many of these old records have been digitized, such as land records, census records and  church records, they  can now be examined on line.

Source: 

Jacoby, Henry Sylvester. The Jacoby Family Genealogy - A record of the Descendants of the Pioneer Peter Jacoby of Bucks Co., PA,1930. 

                           Please see this list of all My Revolutionary War Ancestors. 

Copyright
This page  © 2014, Cynthia H. Smith


Send email to chsmith47@yahoo.com

This site may be linked, but not duplicated in any way without consent. The copyright on this page must appear on all copied and/or printed material.  All rights reserved! Commercial use of material within this site is prohibited!

Henry Jacoby (1733 - 1809)

Henry Jacoby was born in 1733 in Zweibruecken, Pfalz.  This region was known as the Palantine, an area of present day Germany which had been devastated by years of conflict  and war. He was the son of Peter Jacoby (1709 – 1761)  and Maria Elizabeth Jacoby (1708 –1790) who immigrated here in 1741  when Henry was a child of 8 years. 

The Jacoby family resided in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where they, like so many German immigrants, made a living farming.  Sometime around 1760, Henry married Maria Kern, the daughter of Frederick and Anna Margaret Kern.  She was born in 1742 in Rockhill township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Henry Sylvester Jacoby, in his book, The Jacoby Family Genealogy, 1930 provides comprehensive detail of all records regarding Henry and his family.  Tax records show that he lived in several places as the family migrated north out of Bucks County into Northampton County.  In 1761 they were living in Springfield Twp., Bucks Co., and  from 1762 to 1772  various records  locate the family in Salisbury township where in 1766 the birth of his son Peter is recorded in the Jerusalem Church.   By 1775 he is found in  Lower Mount Bethel Township, Northampton Co. where the tax list for January 1775 shows, “Henry Jacobe, 200 acres of land, 100 acres cleared, 20 acres sowed, 2 horses,  3 horned cattle, no sheep, 4 mills, no inmates, no negroes and no bond servants.”  (Jacoby, 99) While these records are referenced in the book, they can be located online through different sources like Ancestry.com, Heritage Quest, and Family Serch.com

Henry and Maria were the parents of six children who were: John, 11 December 11,1761;   Peter, September 11, 1766;  Catherine, August 31, 1769; Elizabeth,  April 17, 1772;  Mary, born in 1774;  and Susanna, born about 1776.

Henry was involved in service to the Militia throughout the duration of the Revolutionary War.  His name appears many times with different spellings in the Pennsylvania Archives, 5^th  Series, Vol. 8, p. 406, 412,426,  429, 559 and others. Henry Jacaoby, private, 1st class, 3^rd Company, 6^th  Battalion, Northampton Co. Militia, Captain John Nelson, May 14, 1776. Henry Jacobie 1^st class, in the Muster Roll of the 6^th , Battalion of Northampton Co. Militia, for May 14, 1778, 3^rd Company, Capt. John Nelson.   Henry Jacobe , Private, 1^st  class, 3^rd Company, 5^th  Battalion, Northampton Co. Militia, Captain Hugh Gaston, 1781. And  Henry Jacoby, 1^st  class,  Capt. Hugh Gaston's, Company of Militia, 5^th  Battalion of Northampton Co.,1782 among others.  His service is recognized by both the DAR (Ancestor #: A061388)  and  The Sons of the American Revolution  (membership # 75838) 

http://www.findagrave.com

http://www.findagrave.com

Henry Jacoby is found on the Census records of Lower Mount Bethel for 1790 and 1800.  He died November 12,  1809 and is buried in the Scotch Irish Cemetery in Martins Creek, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.  His wife, Maria Kern Jacoby,  died August 25, 1812 and is  buried in the Warrior Run Presbyterian Church Cemetery, near McEwensville, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. “In memory of Mary wife of Henry Jacoby who died August 25 , 1812 in the 71 year of age.” (Jacoby 104)

Their son Peter Jacoby, born 1766, also gave service in the Revolutionary War.   Peter's daughter Mary  married Joseph Snyder and had a daughter named Amanda.  Amanda Snyder married Jacob Fangboner. They were the grandparents of  Edna Frey Good.  More about Peter on the next post.

Sources: 

• Find A Grave Memorial# 11934648, http://www.findagrave.com
• Jacoby, Henry Sylvester. The Jacoby Family Genealogy - A record of the Descendants of the Pioneer Peter Jacoby of Bucks Co., PA,1930. 

                                   
                                      Please see this list of all My Revolutionary War Ancestors. 

Copyright

This page  © 2014, Cynthia H. Smith


Send email to chsmith47@yahoo.com

This site may be linked, but not duplicated in any way without consent. The copyright on this page must appear on all copied and/or printed material.  All rights reserved! Commercial use of material within this site is prohibited!