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!

Saturday, December 29, 2018

John Johnson (1761 - 1815)

It seems that William Johnson, the father of John Johnson, owned property in Lower Mount Bethel, Northampton County, Pennsylvania near land owned by William McEwen. In about 1801 William McEwen married Sarah Johnson, daughter of John and granddaughter of William Johnson.

John Johnson practiced the trade of Blacksmith and most likely William McEwen was apprenticed to him to learn the trade as well. A blacksmith forged items needed by farmers such as shovels, plows and pitchforks. They made the shoes for horses and the metal parts needed to make carriages and wagons. He also manufactured all manner of metal items such as nails, pots and pans, door latches and hinges. Every village had a blacksmith who was essential to the economy of the community.

The Johnsons and McEwens were members of the Scotch-Irish Settlement at Martins Creek. Also known as Hunter's Settlement, this location is right across the Delaware River from Warren Co., NJ where John must have lived as a boy. John Johnson was the son of William Johnson and Elizabeth who lived in Sussex Co., NJ in the neighborhood of Knowlton Township which today is in Warren County, New Jersey. William Johnson's will #600S June 20, 1794, and was probated October 11, 1794 in Sussex Co., NJ. and names his children, who were: Abraham, John, Anthony, Catherine, Margaret, Sarah and Elizabeth; and his son- in- law, Moses Weaver.

John Johnson's marriage to Jerusha Kitchen took place after the Revolutionary War in about 1784.

Several documents show his service as a patriot in the Revolutionary war.

Pennsylvania Archives
Vol. 8, 5th Series P. 394

Revolutionary War Military Abstract Card File
Army Private - Enlisted

5th Battalion Private 4th Class - Capt. Patrick Campbell (April 29, 1782)

5th Battalion Private 4th Class - Capt. John Long’s Company from Aug. 30, 1782 to Oct. 27, 1782

His tombstone is still in very good condition in the Scotch-Irish Presbyterian Burial Ground. The stones are black and are located near the wall by the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. He died at the age of 54 in 1815.

JOHNSON, John

b. 11-1-1761 - d. 1-19-1815

JOHNSON, Jerusha

wife of John JOHNSON

b. 2-18-1764 - d. 9-8-1822

John and Jerusha Kitchen Johnson were the parents of several children. From the abstract of his last Will and Testament #3044, the children named are: Sarah who married William McGowen (McQuown, McEwen); Elizabeth, who married Thomas Searles and Margaret, who married to Ignatius Fradeneck. Others compiled and listed by Marjory Gerold are Henry, Peter, William, Martha, John and Isabella. From his will the marriage of Sarah Johnson to William McEwen is proven. He left her a large part of his estate. In 1823 after the death of her mother, Jerusha, Sarah and William McEwen pioneered to Seneca Co. Ohio where William practiced the trade of blacksmith. just as his father in law had taught him.

Sources:

The History of Seneca Co., Ohio, published Chicago:Warner, Beers & Co., 1886.
Find A Grave Memorial# 11997522 John Johnson and Find A Grave Memorial# 11997525 Jerusha Johnson
http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/pa/northampton/history/local/davis/davis27.txt
Pa State Archives @ http://www.digitalarchives.state.pa.us
Pennsylvania Archives Vol. 8, 5th Series P. 394 - 405
Northampton County Archives, 999 Conroy Place, Easton, PA 18040

Please see this list of all My Revolutionary War Ancestors.

Please see the Index to my "Who's Your Grammie" Blog

GENEALOGY IS A WORK OF HEART

Your comments and suggestions below 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.

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.

Thursday, November 29, 2018

Johann Jacob Bunstein, 1755-1840, a Hessian soldier

That is all to be seen marking the gravesite of our ancestor Jacob Bonstein on the Armed Forces Memorial stone at Dryland Reformed Cemetery, Hecktown, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, USA. But there is certainly more to his story than a few figures etched in stone.

To begin with, this ancestor of ours arrived in America as a member of the Regiment von Knyphausen. He was a Hessian Soldier hired by the English to fight against the American patriots. He arrived at Staten Island in New York on August 15, 1776 and took part in the Battle of Long Island.

Drawing, A Hessian Soldier;
Published by Charles Scribner's Sons;
1963-91-8

Remember learning about Washington crossing the Delaware when you were in school? In the infamous Battle of Trenton, Jacob Bunstein was captured along with upwards to 1,000 other of his fellow Hessian troops in the early morning of December 26, 1776. The prisoners were paraded through the streets of Philadelphia, after which Jacob was marched off to Lancaster and later given a "work release" of sorts. Like many other Hessian soldiers he was allowed to work off the cost of his prison confinement on a local farm.

Johann Jacob Bonstein and his brother Paulus Bonstein were born in Grossropperhausen, Germany where they were trained to be soldiers from an early age. During the American Revolution they both became prisoners of war, serving confinements in various locations. After the war, Johann Jacob Bonstein stayed in America and Paulus returned to Germany.

Jacob married Katerina Schabel, a daughter of George and Margaret Barbara Schabel. Katerina was born March 4, 1763 and baptized April 22, 1764 at the Dryland Union Church. Census records for Moore Township, Northampton Co. Pennsylvania indicate that Jacob and Katerina lived in close proximity of her parents. 1790 Census, Moore Twp., Northampton Co., PA lists Jacob Bunstine with a family of 1 male over 16 years, 3 males under 16 years, 2 females. While the 1790 Census, Moore Twp., Northampton Co., PA lists the family of George Snable, with 4 males over 16 years, 0 males under 16 years, 2 females.

According to records at the Pennsylvania Archives our Hessian soldier later fought on the American side in the War of 1812, which is hard to believe as he would have been an old man. But, Pennsylvania Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-1999, Record of Burial Place of Veteran, Northampton County shows this information: Jacob Bonstein, born 12 Feb 1755, died 12 Apr 1840. A Veteran of War of 1812 - 1814 serving in the Army from July to December of 1814 in Capt. Dornblaser's Co., 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division. Buried in the Dryland Union Cemetery, Hecktown (Lower Nazerath Township), PA. Section: Middle, Cr. Sec. E-29.

Jacob Bonstein and Katerina became the parents of nine children, eight of whom were Jacob, Polly, Marie, Elizabeth, Margaret, Catherine, John and George Bonstein. George, who was born August 22, 1784, married Rosina Bilheimer who was born November 28, 1792. Their daughter Caroline Bundstein married Valentine Smith on May 18, 1834 in Bethlehem, PA. They had a son named Edmund who married Camelia Engler whose son Arthur married Estella Kunkle. Art and Estella's son Russell was Ronnie's grandfather thus making Jacob and Catherine Bunstein Ron's 5X great grandfather. There ya go!

Sources:

Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 30 October 2018), memorial page for Jacob Bonstein (12 Feb 1755–12 Apr 1840), Find A Grave Memorial no. 70128281, citing Dryland Reformed Cemetery, Hecktown, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, USA ; Maintained by Paula Koehler (contributor 46839152) .
John Humphrey, Gravestones of Northampton County
History of Northampton County [Pennsylvania] and the Grand Valley of the Lehigh Vol. 2, William Jacob Heller, American Historical Society, 1920, page 230
First Reformed Church (Easton, PA), published by H. M. Kieffer in 1902 under title “Some of the first settlers of the Forks of the Delaware”
Dryland Church Records
Auerbach, Inge and Otto Froehlich. HETRINA (Hessische Truppen im Amerikanischen Unabhangigkeitskrieg = Hessian Troops in the American Revolution) 6 vols. Marburg : Archivschule Marburg, 1972-1987, a listing compiled from original German records of all who served from the principalities of Hesse-Cassel, Hesse-Hanau, and Waldeck. HETRINA III, 3181 [Page 64] The HETRINA is now available as an online database at: http://lagis.online.uni-marburg.de/en/subjects/index/sn/hetrina
Ken Miller, Dangerous Guests: Enemy Captives and Revolutionary Communities during the War for Independence (Cornell Univ. Press, 2014)as found at Wikipedia, "Hessian Soldier"
Johannes Schwalm Historical Association, Inc. online at http://jsha.org/jsharegis.htm
Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society, Easton, Pennsylvania

Please see this list of all My Revolutionary War Ancestors.

Please see the Index to my "Who's Your Grammie" Blog

GENEALOGY IS A WORK OF HEART

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.

Monday, October 29, 2018

Jacob Hubler (1711 – 1789)

Have you ever heard of the Committee of Observation of Northampton County? Yeah, neither had I. But a little online research turned up an excellent article by Thomas Verenna for the Journal of American Revolution regarding the vital role they played in the success of the war effort. Among other duties it was their job to oversee the security of the frontier borders and to ensure that the militia and army were supplied with guns and ammunition. Our ancestor, Jacob Hubler, who was too old to serve in the Revolutionary War, was elected to represent Plainfield township on the Committee of Observation in Northampton County on October 2, 1775, a service record recognized by the DAR. That is pretty impressive!

Jan 27,1768, Jacob Hubler, 100 acres adjoining his other land

In fact our Jacob Hubler was a very impressive character to say the least. He amassed an estate of over 400 acres in his lifetime and built an impressive structure, The Jacobsburg Inn, which was a residence,store and tavern serving the local area. He practiced farming and was a merchant in Plainfield Township, Northampton County. After the war he was taxed 1 pound, 1 shilling in the first federal tax of 1788 on 350 acres of land, 3 houses and 5 cows. He called his estate Jacobsburg, a name recognized to this day as the Jacobsburg State Park. Yes, that's right! Jacobsburg State Park in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, well known for its Environmental Education Center and over 18 miles of trails, takes its name from the very property once owned by Jacob Hubler.

Hans Jacob Hubler was born December 4, 1711 in Twann, Switzerland where his family had lived for generations. He was 26 years old when he immigrated to America. He arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania aboard the ship "Virtuous Grace" on September 24, 1737. On the original list his name was spelled as Jacob Howbolare.

Johann Jakob Hubler died on May 7, 1789 at Jacobsburg, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, at the age of 77. He was buried in an unmarked grave on the Jacobsburg farm. His estate was probated on May 9 of that year. He left all the legacies he was to receive from the estate of his father, Hans Jacob Hoobler in Switzerland to his son, Jacob. Son Frederick received 100 pounds. His son-in-law, Michael Glass, who was married to daughter Christina, received 50 pounds. To granddaughter Magdelena Hollman, he bequeathed 25 pounds and to his son-in-law, Christian Hollman, 100 pounds. His sons, Abraham and Isaac, were given the land in Plainfield township known as Jacobsburg.

He married Anna Barbara (1712 -1795). Their children were Jacob Hubler (2 Oct 1742-19 Dec 1811); Frederick Hubler born around 1745; Christina Hubler (14 Jun 1747-11 Apr 1813); Gottlieb Hubler born around 1748; Rosina Hubler (c 1749 - 6 Sep 1828); Abraham Hubler (20 Feb 1761-23 Dec 1838) and Isaac Hubler (c 1764 - c 1794). Sons Frederick, Abraham and Isaac all saw service in the Revolutionary War as well as Christina's husband, Michael Glass and Rosina's husband, Christian Hollman. Imagine the conversation around that family reunion table back in the day!

So, where do we fit into this family tree? Christina Hubler married Michael Glass and they had a daughter Elizabeth who married Michael Diehl. Their daughter Catherine married Frederick Immick and had a son named Aaron who married Catherine Morey. Their daughter Sarah E. Immick married Samuel Frey. Sam and Sarah had a son named Isaac Lantz Frey who married Mary Alice Fangboner. And that brings us right to Edna Frey, our dear Gram Good.

Sources:

Pennsylvania Archives, Second Series, Volume 14, page 597
Daughters of the American Revolution, http://www.dar.org, Ancestor #:A059558
Verenna, Thomas, Journal of the American Revolution, 'The Importance of Observation and Inspection' (2014), accessed September 29, 2018, https://allthingsliberty.com/2014/01/importance-observation-inspection/
'Jacobsburg and the Henry Family', http://www.jacobsburghistory.com/history/
"Pennsylvania German Pioneers", by Ralph Beaver Strassburger; edited by William John Hinke, Genealogical Pub. Co. 1966 (pgs 507-509)
Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Land Warrants and Applications, 1733-1952 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Original data: Warrant Applications, 1733-1952. Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania State Archives. Land Warrants. Pennsylvania State Archives, Harrisburg, PA.
“An Index of Names Appearing in Church Records of Twenty-Eight Churches in the Easton Pubic Library” compiled by Personnel of the Works Progress Administration, Robert F. Ehret and the Staff of the Easton Public Library. Easton, Pa, 18042.
John Eyerman, Index of Wills of Northampton County, Will Abstracts.
"Hubler Family File", 'The Early Jacobsburg Purchases', Charles Sandwick, Northampton Co. Historical and Genealogical Society, Easton, PA.

Please see this list of all My Revolutionary War Ancestors.

GENEALOGY IS A WORK OF HEART

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.