Who's Your Grammie?

I have been writing about the grandmothers in our family tree since August of 2012. Beginning with "A is for Anna" each entry introduced you to a different grandmother. Telling the Grandmother stories was a fun way to share my research with family and friends. Now I am looking at our Revolutionary War ancestors, their service records, the story of their families and of course the stories of their wives, our grandmothers. After all, "Who's Your Grammie?" is about our grandmothers!

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Dr. Peter Seiler (1721 - 1803)

Johan Peter Seiler was born in Germany, September 26, 1721. He settled in Raubsville, Williams Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania where he practiced medicine.

I found the following excerpt online. It was taken from a paper read by W. J. Heller, President of the Northampton County Historical Society, at a meeting of the Historical Society of Bucks County. Date unknown. “The Book Shelf Scrap Book of Easton and Northampton County,” Vol. 1, pages 64ff, located in the Marx Local History Room, Easton Public Library, Easton, Pennsylvania.

"Johan Peter Seiler was a graduate of Heidleberg and possessed marvelous magnetic influence. His wonderful curative powers soon brought him prominently before the community. The more superstitious attributed his almost miraculous cures to witchcraft. This accusation caused his emigration to America, where he landed in 1743 and settled near Johan Wilhelm Philips at what is now Philipsburg, New Jersey. Being unable to procure certain herbs and roots any nearer than on the property of Peter Raub, Saylor concluded to move to the Pennsylvania side of the river, where he soon became famous in western New Jersey. This remarkable healer cured every ailment that came before his notice, making no charge but accepting voluntary gifts, money, potatoes, grain and any produce. The Indians gave him, in return for his services, skins of rare animals which he sold in the Philadelphia markets at fancy prices. The Indians held him in great veneration and called him “the great pow-wow,” the greatest title of honor they could bestow. The title was taken up by the white settlers and he became known from Massachusetts to the Carolinas as the great pow-wow doctor of Pennsylvania."

About 1745, Peter Seiler married Anna Margartha Maurer. Anna Margartha was born in Germany and came here when she was about the age of nine with her parents, Jacob and Margaret Maurer. They arrived in Philadelphia May 29,1735 aboard the ship "Mercury", captained by William Wilson.

During the Revolutionary War, Dr. Peter Seiler (Sayler) was the Lieutenant Colonel in the First Battalion of Northampton County Militia, under the command of Colonel George Hubner when the Battalion was formed in June 1777.

The Daughters of the American Revolution also has a Record of Service for him.

We can be thankful that a will written back in 1803 often contained plenty of genealogical information. The children of Peter and Anna Margartha are named in his will. They had been the parents of 10 children, nine of whom are mentioned in the will. They were Anna Maria, Frederick born in 1748, Elizabeth born in1750, Anna Maria born in 1752, Johannes Daniel born in1753, Susanna born in1760, Veronica, Catharine, Jacob born in1767 and Peter born in 1770.

The inscription, written in German, on his tombstone in Raubsville Cemetery, Raubsville, Williams Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania says he was the father of 4 sons, 6 daughters, 63 grandchildren, 48 great grandchildren and two great, great grandchildren. He was born September 26, 1721 and died January 8, 1803 having lived a good life of 81 years, 4 months and 15 days. From her tombstone we learn the maiden name of Anna Margaretha. In German it says "Geborne Maurerin" which tells us that she was a daughter of a man named Maurer. She was born January 19, 1726 and died July 23, 1810, having lived 84 years, 6months and 4 days.

So here is the way we fit into this family line. Remember Camela Engler Smith? Camela's mother was Dorothea Kocher, whose parents were Peter Kocher and his wife Elizabeth Seiler. We are getting there. Elizabeth Seiler Kocher, born August 13, 1779 to Frederick (born in 1748) and Dorothea Seiler, was a granddaughter of Dr. Peter Seiler. And that makes Dr. Peter Seiler the 6th great grandfather of my husband Ron.

Some sources:

Blair, Williams T. "The Michael Shoemaker Book (Schumacher)", 1924, 1035 pgs.

Strassburger & Hinke, "Pennsylvania German Pioneers", 1934, Pennsylvania German Society, Vol. I

Pennsylvania Archives, Fifth Series, Vol. VIII, pg. 80

Please see this list of all My Revolutionary War Ancestors.

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Send email to chsmith47@yahoo.com

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

John George Kunkle (1741 - 1811)

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.

                                                                Copyright
                                         This page © 2013, 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.

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 enjoy. If you discover a relationship here, I would very much enjoy hearing from you.
Email to chsmith47@yahoo.com

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Andreas Lilly (1748 - 1830)

Andreas Lilly was the eldest son of John George Lilly and his wife Anna Margaretha. Like his father, Andreas also gave service in the War for Independence. He was born on November 16, 1748, more than likely in the area of Albany Twp., Berks, County, Pennsylvania.

He married Catherina Kunkel, a daughter of Johannes Kunkle and his wife Anna Magdalena Keiser. Catherina was born May 1, 1751 in a place called Allemaengal, which literally means "all wants, or bad ground, the outback region", north of Kutztown, Pennsylvania. The Lilly family and the Kunkle family eventually migrated north to land around Kriedersville, Northampton Co, Pennsylvania. Land better suited for farming.

But this area was still the home territory for the Indian people. Times were difficult for families in this area. Indian raids were common prior to the start of the Revolutionary War. His name appears on the tax list for 1786 and shows that Andreas Lilly had 130 acres, 2 horses, and 2 cows. In 1798, Andreas Lilly had a house built of stone, measuring 30 feet by 22 feet and containing two windows.

Andreas and Catherina had six children: Jacob, born 1772; Christina, born 1778, who married Bernard Stettler; Rachel, born 1780, who married William Hummell; Andreas, born 1781; Lidya, born 1782, who married Peter Schaffer and Catherine, born 1785, who married Heinrich Larasch.

During the Revolutionary War he served in the Northampton Militia in Captain Paul Knauss', 8th Company, 3rd Battalion under the command of Colonel Nicholas Kern. I noted with interest that on September the 6th 1780, Adris Lilly served in the same class with Felty Onawalt. These two patriots are both ancestors of Ron Smith, my husband. The Burial Card shows evidence of several enlistments for which he is given credit.

The Militia Loan of 1784-1785. was established to pay individuals for services and goods provided during the Revolutionary War that had not been reimbursed at that time. His card shows that Andrew Lilley of the Northampton Co. Militia was issued Certification #9272 for which he was given payment of a total of 10.13.6 pounds on January 10, 1786. Register Vol. A, p. 294. Militia Loan of 1 April, 1784 and 30 March, 1785, “Public Debt,” Records of the Comptroller General at D. P. R.

Andrew Lilly made out his Last Will and Testament in 1830. File No. 4112, Allen Township, Northampton Co., Pennsylvania. He died February 17, 1830. He is buried in the Zion UCC Stone Church Cemetery, Kreidersville, Northampton County, Pennsylvania where his name is included on the DAR memorial. Find A Grave Memorial# 5718531. Catherina preceded him in death on July 10, 1814. The original headstones for either of them have not been located but they are both listed in the records of the cemetery.

Their son Andreas married Susanna Laufer, whose father Peter Laufer and grandfather Christian Laufer also served in the Revolutionary war, ancestors of Estella Kunkle Smith.

Sources:

Muster Rolls, Northamptonhttp://archive.org/stream/pennsylvaniaarch32penn/pennsylvaniaarch32penn_djvu.txt

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania Veterans Burial Cards, http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/research_topics/3162/ancestry_com_pennsylvania/1575348

Pa State Archives @ http://www.digitalarchives.state.pa.us, Revolutionary War Military Abstract Card File

Please see this list of all My Revolutionary War Ancestors.

                                                               Copyright
                                         This page © 2013, 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.