Year: 2013

Best of 2013

Now that 2013 is almost over, it’s time to look back and reflect on the year past. Here’s a list of the top 10 most viewed posts for this year.

  1. 5,000 Acres—Where Did It All Go? with 165 views (#7 in 2012)
  2. Pennsylvania Township Warrantee Maps with 177 views (#4 in 2012)
  3. Andreas Huber (1723—1784) with 180 views
  4. Huber Immigrants with 198 views (#5 in 2012)
  5. Jacob Hoover (ca 1746—1800) with 212 views
  6. Andreas Huber Origins: Trippstadt, Ellerstadt, or Ittlingen? with 241 views (#8 in 2012)
  7. Friday Finds: Trinity Lutheran Birth and Baptismal Records Online with 250 views
  8. How to Use the Online Land Records at the PA State Archives with 396 views (#3 in 2012)
  9. Pennsylvania Genealogical County Map with 1,919 views (#1 in 2012)
  10. Home page / Archives with 3,964 views (#2 in 2012)

Apparently, I was not particularly helpful or interesting this year as all of these pages were written in prior years—except perhaps whatever people were looking at on the home page! Most of theses posts—with the exception of the pages on Andreas and Jacob Huber—were fairly general, either providing information on how to use an online resource, directing readers to a resource, or providing information on multiple surnames. That two pages on specific people made the list was somewhat surprising—until I realized that although neither was related to President Hoover, both names were used in his family.

So, did you have a favorite post in 2013? What was it about and where was it posted? Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Understanding Colonial Legal Definitions

During genealogical research, it is common to come across terms which you may not understand—either because they are legal terms or because the context doesn’t fit your understanding of the word(s). This can create difficulties in interpreting a document and fully understanding its implications for your ancestor and their family.

Robert Baird (Bob’s Genealogy Filing Cabinet) has a list of colonial legal terminology and other articles that are incredibly useful in explaining terms and practices with which you may not be familiar.

Abraham Smith’s Conestoga Tract

This 84 acre tract in Conestoga Township on Pequea Creek was warranted to Martin Kendig and John Herr as part of a larger 5,000 acre warrant.1 It was surveyed to Martin Kendig and Hans Herr, one of four tracts labelled Hans Boyer, Jacob Hoober, Martin Boyer/Abrm Smith, and Christian Stone/Jacob Boyer.2 On 24 October 1735, Abraham Smith patented 84 acres [Patent Book A8:55].3

Abraham Smith Conestoga tract

Abraham Smith’s 84-acre tract in Conestoga (now Pequea) township

By 23 December 1750, this tract was owned by Henry Boyer.4 On 1 May 1776, Henry’s heirs—Jacob Boyer, Jacob & Anna (Boyer) Lehman, Henry & Margaret (Boyer) Hoover, and John Hoover and John Line, guardians of the minor children Barbara (Boyer) Leiaberger and Henry Boyer—sold their share of this 84-acre tract, along with two others, to Rudy Miller, husband of Elizabeth, widow of Henry Boyer.5

On 14 October 1780, Henry Boyer Jr., now of full age, and his wife Barbara sold their share of the three tracts to Rudy Miller, as well.6 Rudy Miller’s heirs—Rudolph Miller, Stephen & Mary (Miller) Rine, and Hugh & Barbara (Miller) Evans—sold their interest in Rudy Miller’s four tracts of contiguous land in Conestoga and Martic townships, including this 94 acres, to John Miller, another of Rudy Miller’s children.7

Pennsylvania Dutch Funny Cake

Pennsylvania Dutch Funny Cake
Yum! Funny cake is a holiday tradition in our house. It features a chocolate filling beneath a moist cake, all in a pie shell with a crunchy topping. It makes a perfect breakfast, snack or dessert. And every taste brings back memories of holidays past.

Deed: Samuel McAfee to John Funk Dec’d Executors (1833)

Trying to find the descendants of a target person can sometimes feel like a game of “six points of separation” when you have to widen your scope to research family and friends. However, the indirect path can yield results—as in a series of deeds I found for John Funk of Strasburg Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania which gave me the names of the grandchildren of his sister Anna Maria (Funk) Hoover. This deed is one example of what I found.1

LancDeedY5-305_McAfeeFunkExorsSamuel McAfee to John Funk Executors

MC AFEE SAMUEL }

“TO }

JOHN FUNK DECD EXORS }

KNOW ALL MEN by these presents that I Samuel McAfee of Bertr township in Lincoln county in the province of Upper Canada intermarried with Sophia only child of Henry Hoover one of the seven children of Mary Hoover a sister of John Funk late of Strasburg in Lancaster county in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania deceased do hereby acknowledge that I have and received of and from Ann Funk Jacob Hoover and Jacob Newswanger executors of the last will and testament of the said John Funk deceased five hundred and seventy seven dollars and sixty eight cents lawful money in full satisfaction and payment of all monies legacies and bequests to which I am entitled in right of my said wife Sophia due and coming toher [sic] in right of her deceased father Henry Hoover aforesaid as one of the seven children of the said Mary Hoover deceased under and by the last will and testament of the said John Funk deceased of in and to / [the following written interline to be inserted:] all and singular his estate real and personal whatsoever and wheresoever according to [resume text] the said executors account filed in the Registers office at Lancaster. Therefore I the said Samuel McAfee in right of my said wife Sophia do by these presents release acquit and forever discharge the said Ann Funk Jacob Hoover & Jacob Newswanger executors aforesaid their heirs executors and administrators of and from all monies legacies bequests aforesaid and of and from all dividends shares and parts of and in all the estate of the said John Funk deceased and of and from all actions suits payments account reckonings claims and demands for or by reason thereof.

In Witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals the twenty ninth day of April Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and thirty three.

Samuel McAfee (SEAL)

Sophia McAfee (SEAL)

Sealed and delivered in the presence of us:

‘and the said Sophia’ interlined before signing: Charles L. Hall  Alex Mackie

Lincoln county

Province of Upper Canada to wit:

Personally appeared before me James Muirhead Esquire chairman and preciding Judge of the court of quarter sessions for said county the above named Samuel McAfee and Sophia his wife and acknowledged the above release to be their act deed and desired the same to be recorded as such according to law.

In Testimony whereof I havehereunto [sic] set my hand and seal the twenty ninth day of April Anno Domini 1833.

J. Muirhead Chairman (SEAL)

Upper Canada District of Niagara

Lincoln County to wit:

I Charles Richardson of the town of Niagara in the district of Niagara Esquire Clerk of the peace in and for the said district do hereby certify that the within names James Muirhead is chairman and presiding Judge of the court of Quarter Sessions in and for the said district and is authorized to Bar Down and within that there is no court of common pleas in the province of Upper Canada that the signatures of the witnesses to the release are known to me as well as the chairmans and that they are just and true. Given under my hand and seal of office this twenty ninth day of April Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and thirty three.

Charles Richardson (SEAL)

Clerk of the Peace

Recorded June 25th 1833

Per
Jacob Peelor Rec.”

Ulrich and Anna Maria (Funk) Hoover had the following children:

  • Catharine married Christian Hershey
  • Jacob married Susanna Miller
  • Henry
  • Anna married Leonard Anwater/Awerter
  • Abraham
  • Christian
  • Mary married Nathaniel Dodge (also of Upper Canada)

The Jacob Hoover who served as one of John Funk’s executors was most likely the son of Jacob and Susanna (Miller) Hoover of Strasburg as all of Anna Maria (Funk) Hoover’s children were deceased before 1833.

Samuel Boyer’s Conestoga Tract

Samuel Boyer Conestoga tract

Samuel Boyer’s Conestoga Township Tract

This 115 acre tract in Conestoga Township on Pequea Creek was warranted to Martin Kendig and John Herr as part of a larger 5,000 acre warrant.1 On the 20th day of the 8th month [October] 1729, John Taylor surveyed the tract, adjoining John Goughnower, Christian Stone, and Jacob Hoober, for Samuel Boyer in right of Martin Kendig and John Herr.2 On 27 November 1739, Samuel Boyer patented 115 acres on Pequea Creek. (See Patent Book A9:127)3

Nearly 50 years later, Jacob Boyer and John Barr, executors of Samuel Boyer’s estate, sold 16 acres to Henry Gochenour on 2 March 1786.4 On the same day, they also sold 82 acres from Samuel Boyer’s two tracts in Conestoga and Martic townships to Henry Resh.5 They also sold 97 acres from these tracts to Christopher Ord.6

Samuel Boyers tracts 1786

Samuel Boyer’s tracts as divided in 1786

  • Tract A: Henry Gochenour’s piece of Samuel Boyer’s Conestoga tract
  • Tract B: Henry Resh’s piece of Samuel Boyer’s Conestoga tract and his Martic tract
  • Tract C: Christopher Ord’s piece of Samuel Boyer’s Conestoga tract and his Martic tract

Land below the purple line was part of Samuel Boyer’s Martic township lands.

The Problem with Owning Land as a German in Colonial Pennsylvania

Non-British residents of the Pennsylvania colony did not have the same rights as British citizens, especially when it came to land ownership. “The Board taking into Consideration the Circumstances of those People [Palatines arriving in 1717] in Relation to their holding Lands in the Dominions of Great Britain, were asked if they understood the disadvantage they were under by Reason of their being born Aliens, that therefore their Children were uncapable of Inheriting what they purchased, according to the English laws…”1 The board members informed them about a law passed in 1700 (see below) and told them that if they were to petition the Assembly, they might be granted the same privileges.

[Section X.] Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That if any alien who is or shall be a purchaser, or who doth or shall inhabit in this province or territories thereof, shall decease at any time before he can well be naturalized, his right and interest therein shall notwithstanding descend to his wife and children or other his relations, be he testate or intestate, according to the laws of this province and territories thereof in such cases provided, in as free and ample manner to all intents and purposes as if the said alien had been naturalized.2

They had petitioned for the privileges as early as 1721 (just four years after the application for land warrants for those who’d arrived in 1717), but it was not passed until 14 October 1729 when they were naturalized.3 The following spring an act was passed granting them the privileges of a “natural-born subject” of Britain.

An Act for the Better Enabling Divers Inhabitants of the Province of Pennsylvania to Hold Lands, and to Invest Them with the Privileges of Natural-Born Subjects of the Said Province

Whereas by the encouragement given by the Honorable William Penn, Esquire, late proprietary and governor of the province of Pennsylvania, and by the permission of his late Majesty, King George the First, of blessed memory, and his predecessors, Kings and Queens of England, &c., divers Protestants who were subjects to the Emperor of Germany, a prince in amity with the Crown of Great Britain, transported themselves and estates into the province of Pennsylvania between the years one thousand seven hundred and one thousand seven hundred and eighteen, and since they came hither have contributed very much to the enlargement of the British Empire and to the raising and improving sundry commodities fit for the markets of Europe, and have always behaved themselves religiously and peaceably, and have paid a due regard and obedience to the laws and government of this province.

And whereas many of the said persons, to wit, Martyn Mylin, Hans Graaf, Christian Stoneman, Jacob Funk, Francis Neiff, Francis Neiff, Junior; George Kendick, John Burkholder, John Burkholder, Junior; Abraham Burkholder, Michael Bohman, John Hess, John Frederick, Christopher Preniman, Martin Harnist, Joseph Buckwalter, Felix Landas, Junior; Adam Preniman, John Funk, John Bohman, John Taylor, Henry Neiff, Michael Mire, Henry Bare, Peter Bumgarner, Melchor Hufford, Melcor Erishman, John Brubaker, Jacob Nisley, Jacob Snevely, Jacob Goot, John Woolslegle, Jacob Mire, Christopher Sowers, Joseph Stoneman, Daniel Ashleman, Christian Peelman, John Henry Neiff, John Henry Neiff, Junior; Abraham Hare, John Ferie, Jacob Biere, Peter Yordea, Peter Leamen, John Jacob Snevely, Isaac Coffman, Andrew Coffman, Woolrick Rodte, Henry Funk, Roody Mire, John Mylin, Jacob Bheme, John Coffman, Michel Doneder, Charles Christopher, Andrew Schults, John Howser, Christian Preniman, Jacob Miller, black; Henry Carpenter, Emanuel Carpenter, Gabriel Carpenter, Daniel Herman, Christian Herman, Philip Fiere, Mathias Slaremaker, big John Shank, Jacob Churts, Jacob Snevely, Junior; John Woolrick Houver, John Croyder, John Leeghte, John Hampher, Martyn Graaf, Peter Smith, Peter Newcomat, Jacob Bare, Junior; John Henry Bare, Jacob Weaver, Henry Weaver, John Weaver, David Longanickar, George Weaver, Abraham Mire, Woolrick Houser, John Mire, Henry Musselman, Michael Shank, Jacob Miller, Jacob Miller, Junior; Martin Miller, Peter Aybe, Hans Goot, Christian Staner, John Jacob Light, Adam Brand, Christopher Franciscus, Caspar Loughman, Frederick Stay, John Line, John Shwope, Bastian Royer, Jonas Lerow, Simeon King, John Aybe and Everard Ream, all of Lancaster county in the said province; and John Negley, Bernard Ressor, John Wistor, John Frederick Ax, John Philip Bohm, Anthony Yerkhas and Herman Yerkhas, of the county of Philadelphia in the same province, in demonstration of their affection and zeal for his present Majesty’s person and government, qualified themselves by taking the qualification and subscribing the declaration directed to be taken and subscribed by the several acts of Parliament made for the security of His Majesty’s person and government and for preventing the dangers which may happen by Popish recusants, &c., and thereupon have humbly signified to the governor and the representatives of the freemen of this province, in general assembly met, that they have purchased [and do hold] lands of the proprietary and others His Majesty’s subjects within this province, and have likewise represented their great desire of being made partakers of those privileges which the natural-born subjects of Great Britain do enjoy within this province, and it being just and reasonable that those persons who have bona fide purchased lands and who have given such testimony of their affection and obedience to the Crown of Great Britain should as well be secured in the enjoyment of their estates as encouraged in the laudable affection and zeal for the English constitution:

[Section I.] Be it enacted by the Honorable Patrick Gordon, Esquire, [Lieutenant-] Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania, &c., by and with the advice and consent of the freemen of the said Province in General Assembly met, and by the authority of the same, That Martyn Mylin, Hans Graaf, Christian Stoneman, Jacob Funk, Francis Neiff, Francis Neiff, Junior; George Kindick, John Burkholder, John Burkholder, Junior; Abraham Burkholder, Michael Bohman, John Hess, John Frederick, Christopher Preniman, Martin Harnist, Joseph Buckwalter, Felix Landas, Junior; Adam Preniman, John Funk, John Bohman, John Taylor, Henry Neiff, Michael Mire, Henry Bare, Peter Bumgarner, Melcor Hufford, Melcor Erishman, John Brubaker, Jacob Nisley, Jacob Snevely, Jacob Goot, John Woolslegle, Jacob Mire, Christopher Sowers, Joseph Stoneman, Daniel Ashleman, Christian Peelman, John Henry Neiff, John Henry Neiff, Junior; Abraham Hare, John Ferie, Jacob Biere, Peter Yordea, Peter Leamon, John Jacob Snevely, Isaac Coffman, Andrew Coffman, Woolrick Rodte, Henry Funk, Roody Mire, John Mylin, Jacob Bheme, John Coffman, Michael Doneder, Charles Christopher, Andrew Schults, John Howser, Christian Preniman, Jacob Miller, black; Henry Carpenter, Emanuel Carpenter, Gabriel Carpenter, Daniel Herman, Christopher Herman, Philip Fiere, Mathias Slaremaker, big John Shank, Jacob Churts, Jacob Snevely, Junior; John Woolrick Houver, John Croyder, John Leeghte, John Hampher, Martyn Graaf, Peter Smith, Peter Newcomat, Jacob Bare, Junior; John Henry Bare, Jacob Weaver, Henry Weaver, John Weaver, David Longanickar, George Weaver, Abraham Mire, Woolrick Houser, John Mire, Henry Musselman, Michael Shank, Jacob Miller, Jacob Miller, Junior; Martin Miller, Peter Aybe, Hans Goot, Christian Staner, John Jacob Light, Adam Brand, Christopher Franciscus, Caspar Loughman, Frederick Stay, John Line, John Shwope, Bastian Royer, Jonas Lerow, Simeon King, John Aybe, Everard Ream, John Negley, Bernard Ressor, John Wister, John Frederick Ax, John Philip Bohm, Anthony Yerkhas and Herman Yerkhas be and shall be to all intents and purposes deemed, taken and esteemed His Majesty’s natural-born subjects of this province of Pennsylvania as if they and each of them had been born within the said province, and shall and may and every of them shall and may within this province take, receive, enjoy and be entitled to all rights, privileges and advantages of natural-born subjects as fully to all intents, constructions and purposes whatsoever as any of His Majesty’s natural-born subjects of this province can, do or ought to enjoy by virtue of their being His Majesty’s natural-born subjects of His Majesty’s said province of Pennsylvania.

Passed February 14, 1729/30. Apparently never considered by the Crown, but allowed to become a law by lapse of time, in accordance with the proprietary charter.4

The 1729/30 statute granted all the rights of a citizen, regarding their land, to those Mennonites who had been naturalized in 1727/8, but had been in Pennsylvania since prior to 1718.

Jacob Behme’s Conestoga Tract

On 22 November 1717, Martin Kendig (Kendick, Kendrick, Cundigg) and John Herr (Heer) were warranted 5,000 acres in Lancaster County by the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania.1 On 10 October 1731, John Taylor surveyed 381 acres, 50 acres of which had been surveyed on 20 June 1719.2 This property was adjacent to tracts of Christian Prennaman, Henry Hoober, Christian Heer, Hans Hess, Robert Creage. Jacob  Behme patented this tract on 12 August 1737. (See Patent Book A8:268)3

Jacob Behme Conestoga tract

Jacob Behme’s Conestoga Township tract

Jacob & Barbara Beam sold 180 acres, adjoining Abraham Beam, Robert Creague, and Hans Hess, to their son Martin Beam on 6 March 1750.4 On 9 January 1755, the couple sold Henry Rech [Resh] also of Conestoga 100 acres northwest of Pequea Creek, adjoining land of Abraham Beam.5 On the same date, they sold 100 acres to their son Abraham Beam.6

On 10 January 1767, Abraham & Barbara Beam of Bart Township sold 100 acres northwest of Pequea Creek to Martin Beam.7 Several months later, on 25 March 1767, Martin & Eve Beam of Conestoga Township sold to Henry Rush of Conestoga Township 10 acres 40 perches, adjoining Henry Rush’s other land.8

Martin & Eve Beam of Conestoga Township sold to John Beam of Conestoga Township 96 acres 100 perches, adjoining land of Henry Rush and Martin Beam, on 20 June 1783.9 The next day, Martin & Eve Beam sold 174 acres 20 perches acres, adjoining Samuel Hess and Martin Beam’s other land, to Jacob Beam.10