2014 – Page 5 – A Pennsylvania Dutch Genealogy

52 Ancestors: John Nissley (c1722—1789) of Donegal Township

Kris Hocker on 13 Apr 2014

I’ve fallen a bit behind with my 52 Ancestors posts. Hopefully, I can get myself back on track.

I’ve been able to trace my ancestry back to Michael Frantz and his wife Feronica “Fanny” Nissley, through their son Michael and his daughter Anna, who married Levi Hocker. Fanny, I’ve determined, was the daughter of John Nissley of Donegal Township, who died before 19 July 1789 in Donegal Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.¹

John Nissley

John Nissley of Donegal Township wrote his last will and testament on 8 June 1784 and it was proven on 19 July 1789.² The abstract names his wife Mary and children: Feronica, Michael, John, Jacob, Abraham, Samuel and Martin. John’s wife was likely Mary Segrist, daughter of Michael and Anna (___) Segrist of Hempfield Township.³

John Nissley is listed in Donegal Township tax records in 1750, 1751, and 1756.⁴ He bought and sold land in Donegal Township between 1743/4 and 1774, according to the deeds I reviewed. He warranted 100 acres in Donegal Township on 23 May 1743/4 and another 50 acres on 29 April 1749. Both tracts were patented together as 173 acres on 23 May 1754.⁵ On 20 March 1764, he purchased 209 acres from Philip Kloninger, adjoining his patented lands, and patented it on 18 November 1771.⁶ On 23 August 1765, John warranted 274 acres, neighboring Jacob Eversole, Michael Shank, and Jacob Good.⁷ He patented another 79 acres, adjoining these lands on 23 October 1766, and 76 acres on 15 May 1768.⁸

On 22 November 1771, John sold his neighbor Peter Ruth 104.5 acres.⁹ He sold him another 104.5 acres on 31 Dec 1772.¹⁰ On 17 October 1774, he sold his son Michael 137 acres and his son John 112 acres.¹¹

Based on John’s land purchase and tax records, he was born by 1722 at the latest.

Who Was John’s Father?

I found no record of John Nissley selling land previously owned by another Nissley—which may have helped me to identify his father. I’ve seen this “John” identified as “Hans Jacob,” son of Jacob and Maria (Funk) Nissley of Manheim Township in online family trees. However, I’m pretty sure that this is incorrect.

First the names are not a match. John ≠ Hans Jacob. According to German naming traditions, “Hans Jacob” would have been Jacob, and that is how Jacob, son of Jacob and Maria (Funk) Nissley is identified in records. Furthermore, Jacob’s wife was named Barbara, not Mary.

According to deeds regarding the settlement of his father’s estate, on 18 June 1752 Jacob (Jacob¹) purchased 211 acres of his father’s land from his siblings—Henry (eldest son), Martin, Abraham Whitmore and Frena his wife, Jacob Brubaker and Mary his wife, and Valentine Metzler and Ann his wife.¹² The next day, Jacob and Barbara Nissley sold Valentine Metzler 60 acres of the 211 Jacob had purchased.¹³

When Jacob Nissley of Manheim Township died in 1763, his last will and testament, dated 5 February 1763, named his two children Jacob and Barbara, and empowered Jacob to sell his lands.¹⁴ Jacob (Jacob², Jacob¹) sold two tracts—one of 120 acres and one of 16 acres—to Sebastian Graffe on 12 June 1776.

This deed explicitly states the inheritance of this land from Jacob Nissley, the original patentee, through his son Jacob to his grandson, also named Jacob, reading in part: “The said one hundred and twenty acres…being part of a tract of one hundred and fifty acres and allowance…confirm[ed] unto Jacob Nissley the grandfather of the said Jacob Nisely party hereto (by the name Jacob Nutt) in fee Who died seized in fee thereof intestate leaving several children…the eldest son Henry refusing to take and hold the premises… [they] were confirmed unto Jacob Niseley the second son.”

So, that’s a dead-end for determining the parentage of my ancestor. He may have been an immigrant himself or it’s possible he descends from Jacob¹ Nissley’s brother John. Or perhaps he’s related to the “Martin Neasley,” who warranted land nearby in 1741.

This post is part of an ongoing, blogging challenge entitled 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, created by Amy Crow of No Story Too Small. Participants must write about one ancestor every week. This is my thirteenth 52 Ancestors post and part of week fifteen.

52 Ancestors: A Walk Down Memory Lane

Kris Hocker on 11 Apr 2014

When I went to Pennsylvania several weeks ago for my great-aunt, Betty Jean (Hocker) Wingeard’s memorial service, I had the good fortune to find my Grandmother on a talkative day. So, I took advantage of her good mood, asking questions and prompting her reminiscences of her childhood.

Hoover house at Pine Glen

My grandmother grew up in the mountains of central Pennsylvania, up in Centre County. The family was living in Lescontes Mills in Girard Township, Clearfield County, where her father Clyde supported the family farming and working as a lumberman, when she was born. They moved to Pine Glen, Burnside Township in Centre County before she was 10 years-old.¹

Clyde Leroy Hoover Sr. was born and raised in Pine Glen. So, with the move, the family returned to his childhood home. If you crossed the road and followed a path back through the woods, you’d eventually come out at the home of Samuel and Victoria (Walker) Hoover, Clyde’s parents.

The house they lived in²—while sizable enough for a family of 12 children—did not have electricity or running water. There was a well for water and an outhouse. Still is for that matter. When they needed water for cooking or washing, one of the children was sent either to the creek across the road or out back to the well. ³

When I asked about her favorite summer pastimes, she recalled that with chores there wasn’t a lot of free time. They baked their own bread, raised their own food—both animal and vegetable, harvested and preserved the food from the garden in the fall, and washed their clothes—and with 12 kids there was a lot of it—by hand. The girls worked in the house and gardens while the boys worked the farm and farm animals, hunted, and cut firewood.

But when there was time, she especially liked wood hikes (with her father, I believe), picnics, reading books from the library her mother ran from their front room, and splashing in the creek. The boys, she remembered, sometimes played baseball.

As she was talking, I realized the her childhood wasn’t so different than that of her parents and grand-parents and so on, even though she was raised in the 20th century. Even though I think of my grandmother as a “modern woman,” she gave me a close-up view of the lives of our ancestors, merely by taking a walk with me down memory lane.

David Hoober of Upper Canada

Kris Hocker on 19 Mar 2014

In his will written on 9 January 1793, John Huber Sr. of Martic Township named his eight children: “Henry, Mary, Jacob, John, Christian, David, Ann & Christina.”¹ He named his friend John Hoober and son Henry Hoober, both of Martic, as his executors.

David Huber of Upper Canada named Moses Byer of Bertie, Lincoln County, Upper Canada as his attorney to demand his inheritance from John Hoover of Martic Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, executor of his father’s last will and testament.² According to the deed, David Huber was a soldier in “his Majesty’s second Battalion of Royal Canadian Volunteers” at the time. The deed included a testimonial and signature of Alexander Stewart, a Notary Public at Niagara in the Province of Upper Canada.

Now, thanks to the Olive Tree Genealogy’s Searching Ontario Canada Land Records, eh?, I think I may have found record of David in Canada.

David Hoover Upper Canada Land Petition 1803

David Hoover’s 1803 Upper Canada Land Petition

On 22 January 1803, David Hoober of York, Upper Canada petitioned the Lieutenant Governor for 200 acres land.³ The petition included a note written by Capt. R. Ferguson, late of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Volunteers, certifying that David served “for three years and upwards” and that he was “an honest & Industrious man.” An Isaac Swayze also attested to David being of good family and ready to become a farmer.

The petition was apparently approved as David paid £5 sterling and £1 10s 6p to Peter Russell on 10 March 1803 for the patent and survey. According to the file, the transaction was recorded in Land Book No. 5, page 203.

David’s petition also provides additional information. He received 200 acres of land in Pelham Township on 16 July 1795, but sold it to Robert Hamilton in 1798 when he entered the Royal Canadian Volunteers. He served in his Majesty’s service until the “late Reduction in the Army” when he was discharged. And he had a wife and seven children at the time of the petition for an additional land grant (1803).

Based on his initial land grant of 1795 and the fact that he had seven children by 1803, I’m going to have to adjust my initial birth year estimate back a few years. My initial estimate was that he was born before 1780—aged 21 by 1801 when he assigned an attorney for the recovery of his inheritance from his father’s estate. Now, I’d estimate that he was born prior to 1771, likely even before 1768.

How did I get there? I’m estimating 1.5 to 2 years between the birth of each of his children, placing the birth of his first child between 1789 and 1792. If I assume—yes, I know the danger of assumptions, but we’re ballparking here!—that he was at least 21 at the birth, then he was born by 1771 at the latest, and quite likely earlier.

If the order John listed his children in his will is of importance—and it might be as Henry, one of his executors, is named first though he is not explicitly named as the eldest son—then David was most likely born before 1768. John’s daughter Ann married Abraham Gochenour.⁴ This couple is buried in Old Byerland cemetery and, I believe, her gravestone reads: “Hier Ruhet die Gebene von Anna Gochenauer begatten? von Abraham Gochenauer geboren den 16ten January 1768 and gestarben den 25sten Martz 1830, seines alter 62 jahre 2 monate und 9 tage.”⁵ Her age at death—62 years 2 months and 9 days—agrees with 16 January 1768 as a birth date. If David was the preceding child born, then he may have been born in early to mid 1766 (or earlier).

So, my next questions are: 1) Where were the 200 acres he was granted located? and 2) What were the names of his wife and children? I wonder what I can dig up… What do you think?

Deed: 1745 Hans Hoober to Jacob Hoober in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Kris Hocker on 11 Mar 2014

On 21 September 1745, Hans Hoober sold 200 acres to his son Jacob in “Martick” Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He had warranted this property 15 May 1735¹ and patented it 8 August 1735.² One hundred and fifty acres had been surveyed 21 June 1721, the other fifty acres on 25 October (8th month) 1726.

[page 3]
Hans Hoober & wife To Jacob Hoober }

This Indenture made the twenty first day of September in the
year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty-five
Between Hans Hoober of the Township of Martick in the county of
Lancaster yeoman and Margaret his wife on the one part and Jacob Hoober
of the same Township and County son of the said Hans Hoober of the other part Witnesseth
that the Hans Hoober and Margaret his wife for and in consideration of the sum of
three hundred pounds lawful money is hereby acknowledged have granted bargained sol aliened
enfeoffed and confirmed as by these presents Do grant bargain sell alien enfeoff ad
confirm unto the said Jacob Hoover his heirs and assigns All that certain plantation
and tract of land situate lying and being in the Township of Martock bounded as
follows viz. Beginning at a white oak in a line of Hans Mussleman’s land thence
by vacant land East one hundred and forty perches to a post thence near a marked black
oak thence by vacant land south two hundred and forty three perches to a post thence
by vacant land West one hundred and forty perches to a post thence by vacant
land and by land of Hans Mussleman North two hundred and forty three perches
to the place of Beginning, Containing two hundred acres and the allowance of six

[page 4]

acres on each hundred for roads and highways which said tract or parcel of land was
granted to the said Hans Hoober his heirs and assigns by patent from the Proprietors
and Governors in Chief of of the said Province under the hands of the said John Penn
and Thomas Penn and the great seal of the said province bearing date the eighth day of August
in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty five as by the said Patent Recor
ded in the office for recording of deeds for the city and county of Philadelphia in patent
Book A vol 7, page 222 &c. Relation being thereto had may appear Together with all
and singular the improvements rights members and appurtenances whatsoever to
the same belonging or in anywise appertaining and the reversions and remainders rents
issues and profits thereof and all the estate right title Interest claim and demand of them
the said Hans Hoober & Margaret his wife of in and to the premises hereby granted and here
unto of all deeds evidences and writings concerning the same to be had and made at the
proper costs and charges of the said Jacob Hoober his heirs and assigns To have and
to hold the said tract of two hundred acres of land hereditaments and premises hereby
granted with their and every of their appurtenances unto the said Jacob Hoober his heirs
to the only proper use and behood of the said Jacob Hoober his heirs and assigns forever.
Under the yearly quite rent hereforth growing due and payable to the Chief Lord or Lords of the
fee thereof. And the said Hans Hoober for himself his heirs executors administrators and
for the said Margaret his wife doth covenant promise and grant to and with the said
Jacob Hoober his heirs and assigns by these presents that he the said Hans Huber
and Margaret his wife and their heirs & all and every other person and persons whatsoever
having or lawfully claiming or to clam an estate right title or interest of in or to the
said premises hereby granted or any part thereof by from or under them or any of them shall
and will at any time or times hereafter at the reasonable request costs and charges in the
law of the said Jacob Hoober his heirs and assigns make execute and acknowledge or cause
so to be all and every such further and better assuring and confirming of the afore
said tract of two hundred acres hereditaments and premises hereby granted with
the appurtenances unto the Jacob Hoober his heirs and assigns as by him or them or by his heirs or
their councel learned in the law shall be reasonably devised advised or requested.
In witness whereof the parties to these presents have interchangeably set their hands and
seals the day and year first above written
Sealed and delivered in the presence of us           Hans Hoober (seal)
Michael Downer    Martin Grof

Received the twenty first day of September in the year of our Lord 1745 of the above named
Jacob Hoober the sum of three hundred pounds lawful money of pennsylvania being the
full consideration money above mentioned I say received by me
Witness present                       Hans Hoober

Before me the subscriber one of his Majesties Justices of the peace for the county of Lancaster
came Michael Downer one of the persons within named and on his solemn affirmation declared
he saw Hans Hoober and Margaret his wife the grantors within named sign seal
and deliver on their act and deed the within Jacob Hoober within named and
that the same Michael Downer is the proper hand writing of this affiant
and that he saw Martin Graf sign his name as a witness to the same time In
witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 6th January (1746)
Thos Cookson
Recorded January 24th 1890           Edwin L Reinhold   Recorder³

While the deed specifies the land was in Martic Township, an examination of the Warrantee Township maps shows that the land was actually in Earl Township.

52 Ancestors : The Last of Her Generation

Kris Hocker on 7 Mar 2014

Yesterday was a sad day for my family. My grandfather’s last surviving sibling—Betty Jean (Hocker) Wingeard—passed away at the age of 90 years 4 months and 3 days.

Betty Jean Hocker, ca 1924-25

Betty Jean was born 3 November 1923 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She was the third daughter and fourth child (of five) of William Howard and Isabella Aitken (Smith) Hocker. She graduated from John Harris High School in 1941 and attended the Central Pennsylvania Business College.

On 24 April 1952, she was married by Reverend L. E. Barton at Epworth Methodist Church in Harrisburg to William Osbourne Wingeard Jr., son of William Osbourne and Edna May (Rudy) Wingeard. My great grandparents had concerns about Bill because he had been married and divorced previously, but Bill and Jean’s 46-year marriage was very happy. And Bill won the family over. Bill treasured Jean, calling her “the love of my live” in the blurb he wrote about her in his book on her ancestry, A German-American Hacker-Hocker Genealogy, which he also dedicated to her.

Betty Jean Hocker, Easter 1949

During their marriage, Bill and Jean lived in various locations around Harrisburg and for a time in Montoursville in Lycoming County. Bill worked for Pennsylvania Power & Light and Jean worked for a number of companies, including the YMCA, Allison Hill Trust Company, Market Street Trust Company, and the Dauphin County division of the American Cancer Society. She also volunteered with the Methodist churches they attended, Meals on Wheels, and the Divine Providence Hospital in Williamsport.

Bill and Jean never had children. But they always had time for and were interested in their nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews. To me, they were another set of grandparents.

All of my best childhood memories include Bill and Jean. Every summer when I was a child, my sister and I would spend part of our vacation with Grandma and Grandpa in Harrisburg. Grandma always saw that we got enough to eat—more than enough, actually (Is that a Grandma thing?). When Jean was there it usually included hot dogs—Jean loved hot dogs. And potato chips. And ice cream. A perfect meal to us children. Those meals brought back childhood memories for Jean of going to her grandparents’ farm in the summer and eating hot dogs and ice cream and riding in the wagon into town for treats.

Jean Wingeard, 3 Nov 2013 (photo © Karen Hocker Photography)

During those summers, Grandpa kept us entertained, taking us fishing and playing cards. Bill and Jean would come over for lunch or supper and we’d play cards for hours. It didn’t matter what the game was, at some point Bill would throw down his cards and complain that Grandpa—rapscallion that he was—was cheating again. Jean would just shake her head, long accustomed to Grandpa’s tricks.

On several occasions my sister accompanied Bill, Jean, Grandma and Grandpa on one of their summer trips to the Jersey shore—something Grandpa and his sisters had also done with their Aunt Bess—aka Elizabeth Marian (Smith) Lutz.

Since Bill’s death in April 1998, Jean had faced a number of health challenges. She faced them all—no matter the severity—with a grace and dignity that was both inspiring and humbling. She wasn’t one to whine or bemoan the unfairness of life; she just quietly did what needed doing. “Kris,” she’d say, “it is what it is.” And she’d move on.

Family was important to Jean and she was important to her family. We love her and we’re going to miss her very much.

52 Ancestors: Joel Wolf (1810-1895)

Kris Hocker on 3 Mar 2014

My 3x great-grandfather Joel Wolf died 18 November 1895 in Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. He was 85 years, 5 months and 24 days old.¹ He was buried in Fairview Cemetery, Allentown on Thursday, 21 November 1895.

Obituary
Joel Wolf died at his home, No 130 South Penn Street, at 2 o’clock yesterday morning of enlargement of the heart and dropsy, from which he suffered a long time. He was born 85 years ago in Upper Hanover township, Montgomery County. Sixty years ago was married to Elizabeth Krauss. They were parents of sixteen children, five of whom died. The mother and the following children survive: Henry, of Philadelphia; Edwin, Joel and Horace of this city; Daniel of Salisbury, Jonathan of Newberry, Lycoming County, Carolyn, wife of Charles Gierlich, of East Greenville, Emeline, wife of Joseph Miller of Bucks County; Sarah, wife of Albert Lentz of Allentown and Leanne and Elmira, single who reside at home. Besides these there are twenty-two grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. The deceased was a laborer by occupation and was thirty-five years a resident of Allentown. His wife is 81 years of age. The funeral will take place on Thursday morning at 10 o’clock. Services in Zion’s Reformed Church.²

Joel Wolf was born 25 May 1810 in Upper Hanover Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania³, possibly the son of Jacob Wolf of Milford Township, Bucks County. He married Elizabeth Krauss, daughter of George and Christina (Schultz) Krauss, about 1831. Elizabeth was born 13 June 1814⁴ and died in 1900.⁵

According to the Genealogical Record of the Schwenkfelder Families, Joel and Elizabeth (Krauss) Wolf had children:

David K. Wolf, d. Aug 1832
Emeline K. Wolf, b. 30 Mar 1837, d. 18 Apr 1910, married Joseph S. Miller
Henry Washington K. Wolf, b. 1 Apr 1839 married, but no children
Christina M. K. Wolf, b. 23 Sep 1840, d. 10 May 1864
Susanna K. Wolf, b. 9 Nov 1841, d. 3 Jun 1863, married Charles P. Greulich
George K. Wolf, b. 1843, d. 7 Aug 1844
Caroline K. Wolf, b. 17 Feb 1845, d. 24 Apr 1915, married Charles P. Greulich
Mary Elizabeth K. Wolf, b. 15 Sep 1846, d. 12 Jan 1868
Leanna K. Wolf, b. 12 Mar 1848
Edwin K. Wolf, b. 5 Jul 1849, d. 31 Jan 1914, married Emma Bealer
Sarah J. K. Wolf, b. 26 Dec 1850, married Albertus J. Lentz
Oswin K. Wolf, b. 8 Apr 1852, d. 2 Oct 1852
Joel K. Wolf, b. 30 Oct 1853 [, d. 12 Feb 1937]
Jonathan K. Wolf, b. 4 Mar 1855
Daniel K. Wolf, b. 21 Mar 1857, married Lizzie B. Smith
Horace K. Wolf, b. 16 Jan 1860, married Alice Trumbower
Elmira K. Wolf, b. 14 May 1861

Joel’s daughters Susanna Krauss Wolf and Caroline Krauss Wolf were each married to my 2x great-grandfather Karl Philipp “Charles” Greulich, a German-immigrant and shoemaker, who settled in East Greenville, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Charles and Susanna were married on 30 November 1861. Susanna (Wolf) Greulich died 3 Jun 1863⁶ and Charles married her sister Caroline on 17 August 1864.⁷

The Krauss family can be traced back to immigrant Anna (Heidrig) Krauss, who came to Pennsylvania in 1733 as the widow of Melchoir Krauss, arriving with the second group of Schwenkfelder families.

52 Ancestors: George Hocker (1794—1873) Will

Kris Hocker on 26 Feb 2014

George Hocker, of Swatara Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, was the son of Johan Adam and Sophia Maria (Hershey?) Hocker Jr. He was born 21 January 1794¹, most likely in Harrisburg, and christened at Salem Reformed Church.² He died 6 November 1873 and was buried at Churchville Cemetery in Oberlin.

He wrote his last will and testament on 13 September 1873 and it was proven one month later on 14 November.³ George named his youngest children—daughter Margaret Hocker and son George Hocker Jr.—as his executors. His will also names his widow Catharine and elder children: daughter Isemiah, wife of Henry Wagner, and son Levi Hocker. Not named in the will was his son David who died 4 November 1862 of Typhoid Fever in Jeffersonville, Indiana after enlisting in the Union Army during the Civil War.

[page 353]
“Last Will and Testament of
George Hocker dec^d }
In the name of God amen.
I George Hocker of Swatara town-
ship Dauphin County Penn^a
being of sound mind and memory thanked be God for the same
do hereby make the following as an for my last will and testament
Item. I give and bequeath to my widow Catharine all my household and
kitchen furniture in the house at my decease except what belongs
to my Daughter Margaret or son George she to have her choice of two
cows and two hogs and I give her five hundred dollars in cash out of
my Government bonds to by paid in one month after my death Item
I devise to my widow during her lifetime the house and buildings gardens
&c where I now live in Swatara township in said county adjoining
my farm and the land of Josiah Espy including the small potato
pach east of the garden containing in the yard &c all about one acre
more or less with the right to go into the adjoining fields to put on
weather boarding and repair her buildings I also give her the Interest
on five thousand dollars to be paid her yearly out of my farm [illegible]
after the payment of my debts and funeral expenses I give [illegible]

[page 354]

out of my personal estate as shall be necessary with the crop of the
year to pay for the cattle and farming implemments lately purchased
and I give the balance of my bonds notes stocks &c. to my daughter Margaret
and I devise to her during her lifetime and after her mothers death the house
grounds and buildings where I now live and after Margarets decease
I give and devise the fee simple in said house lot of ground and
buildings to my son George and his heirs / Item. I give and devise all
my farm in said township adjoining the Harrisburg and Ephrata
thrnpike [sic] lands of Josiah Espy G. Snavely Samuel Gray and others
containing except as above devised about one hundred and seventeen
acres to my son George Hocker Jr. and his heirs and assigns with the
right to the water at the pump where I live he paying half the ex-
penses of keeping the pump in good repair. Item. I hereby charge the
sum of Five thousand dollars on said farm for the use of my widow
and I direct that George or whoever holds the said farm shall pay
to my widow yearly the Interest on said five thousand Dollars at six
per cent / Item I direct that my share in the crop of this year and
all my cattle and farming implements except the widows shall belong
to my son George Item / At the death of my widow I direct that the five
thousand dollars charged on my farm shall be paid out in the following
manner. One year after the widows death five hundred Dollars to be paid
to my daughter Isamiah Wagner wife of Henry Wagner the next
year five hundred Dollars to be paid to my son Levi the third year
alike sum to Mrs. Wagner and then five hundred dollars a year
to be paid to Levi until he gets two thousand dollars and then the
remaining two thousand Dollars to be paid to my said daughter
Margaret in payments of five hundred Dollars each yearly and
additional payments shall also be made by George our of said farm
to Margaret to make her share out of my whole estate seven thousand
dollars in payments of five hundred dollars a year after the other payment
of five hundred dollars a year after the other payments made as aforesaid /
Item I direct and intend all said payments to be without interest
Item I order that George shall furnish his mother sufficient grain for
her use this year and feed for her hogs and cows for this year and also
that he furnish her off the farm yearly the pasture for two hogs and
two cows four tons of hay two load of corn fodder and as much straw as
necessary for bedding purposes during her lifetime and at her death George
to give the same yearly to Margaret during her lifetime Item I hereby
give and devise to my son Levi Hocker and his heirs and assigns my
piece of mountain land in West Hanover township in said County
containing about ten acres Item I have given to my daughter Isamiah
and son Levi Hocker in this will less than I have my other children
because I have given them heretofore what I consider their full share in
my estate Lastly I nominate and appoint my daughter Margaret and
my son George to be the Executors of this my last will and testament
hereby revoking all former wills by me heretofore made In witness
whwereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this thirteenth day
of September Anno Domini Eighteen hundred and seventy
three
George Hocker Sr.

[page 355]

Signed sealed executed declared & pronounced
by the testator in presence of us.
George Metz
Herman Alrick } Sworn Nov. A.D. 1873 before me
Simon Duey Register

Margaret Hocker & George Hocker sworn as executors of the last will
and Testament of George Hocker sen. dec^d according to law
and Letters Testamentary granted to them Nov. 14^th A.D. 1873
by Simon Duey Register

Recorded Nov. 14th 1873

George Hocker was my 4x great grandfather.

This post is part of an ongoing, blogging challenge entitled 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, created by Amy Crow of No Story Too Small. Participants must write about one ancestor every week. This is my ninth 52 Ancestors post and (catching up) part of week eight, but will show up in week nine.

Will: Jacob Teysher (1804)

Kris Hocker on 20 Feb 2014

In trying to trace my Deisher ancestors, I followed a path to Jacob Teysher (aka Deischer) of Maxatawny Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. He wrote his last will and testament on 17 December 1803 and it was proven on 6 January 1804. Here is a transcript.¹

[page 209]

In the name of God Amen I Jacob Teysher
of Maxatawny Township in the County of Berks & State of Pennsylvania Yeoman being
very sick and weak in body but of sound mind memory and understanding Blessed be God for
the same do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form follow
ing, to wit, _ Principally and first of all I command my immortal Soul into the hands of
God who gave it, and my body to the earth to be buried in a decent and Christian like man
ner at the discretion of my Executors hereinafter named and as to such worldly estate where
with it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life I give and dispose of the same in the following
manner, to wit, I give devise and bequeath unto my Daughter Magdalena who is intermarried
with Michael Weaver as her & their full share & dividend of my real and personal estate in
addition to what they have already received & had four Spanish mill’d Dollars. Igive
devis and bequeath unto my son Daniel in addition to what he has already had and
received four Spanish mill’d Dollars I give devise and bequeath unto my said son Daniels
children, to wit, Jacob, Maria, John, Esther, Peter, Catharine, Deborah & Elizabeth and to
their Heirs and assigns forever as Tenants in Common and not as joint tenants a certain
messuage or tenement & Plantation situate & being in Hereford Township in the County of Berks
aforesaid adjoining lands of Casper Yeakel Leonard Grisemer and others containing two hun
dred and fifteen acres more or less, and the said Daniels eight children before named are to
pay unto my Executors seven hundred pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania in manner
following, twenty five pounds in one year from the day of my death and twenty five pounds
annually thereafter untill the whole is paid, and further they are to provid sufficient meat drink
apparel lodging and washing for the said Danial their father and their Mother during
their or either natural lives. I give devise & bequeath unto my daughter Esther who is
intermarried with Henry Romich as her & their full share & dividend of my real & personal
estate six hundred and fifty pounds gold or silver money in manner following one
hundred and twenty five pounds in one year from the day of my decease and the like
sum every succeeding year untill the whole is paid. I give devise and bequeath unto
my Daughter Deborah intermarried with Philip Miller as her & their full share and
dividend of my real and personal estate seven hundred pounds gold or silver money in
manner following one hundred and twenty five pounds in one year from the day of my

[page 210]

deceased and the like sum every succeeding year untill the whole is paid. I give devise
and bequeath unto my son Jacob two Spanish mill’d Dollars. I give devised & bequeath unto my
son John and to his Heirs and Assigns forever A certain Messuage and Plantation situate
and being Maxatawny Township aforesaid adjoining lands of Jacob Sweyer, Jacob Kutz
Kutztown lots & others containing one hundred eighty acres more or less my son John is to pay
unto my Executors seven hundred pounds lawful money in manner following, one hundred
pounds in one year from the day of my decease and the like sum yearly untill the whole is
paid. I give devise and bequeath unto my Daughter Maria intermarried with Daniel
Bitting as her & their full share and dividend of my real and personal estate seven hundred
pounds lawful money in manner following one hundred and twenty five pounds in one
year from the day of my decease & the like sum every succeeding year untill the whole is paid, and
as touching all the rest residue and remainder of my estate real and personal of who him or
nature soever the same may be in the County of Berks aforesaid or elsewhere, I give devise &
bequeath the same unto Peter (except therefrom one acre of Ground lying on the road leaving
from Reading to Kutztown adjoining lands of Jacob Baldy Adam Kutz and said Road, as
also a certain tenement & piece of land situate in Greenwich Township & County of Berks
aforesaid adjoining lands of John Hildenbrant John Witrant and other containing three
acres Together also one hundred pounds lawful money) they sever sums to be paid by my sons Daniels
children, Joahn, and are to be in full as consideration money for the several Plantations or
pieces of land that I have bequeathed unto them & the said several sums are to be paid
unto my Daughters as Legacies I bequeathed unto them or as much therefrom as is
necessary to be paid by my Executors, the Grain in the Ground on the several plantations
are to be and remain with the plantation. And lastly I nominate and appoint my
son John & my son Peter to be the Executors of this my last Will & Testament hereby
revoking all other Wills Legacies & bequests by me heretofore made and declaring this to
be my last Will & Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the
seventeenth day of December Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and three.—
Jacob [his mark] Teysher (seal) ~ Signed Sealed published pronounced & declared by the said Testator as
his last will & Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request have subscribed
as Witnesses. Jacob Humbert, Jno M. Hyneman ———

Registers Office Reading in Berks County January 6th, 1804.
Then appeared Jacob Humbert & John M Hyneman the subscribing Witnesses of the foregoing
Wil who being duly swor did Depose and say that they were present together and did
see and hear Jacob Teysher the Testator sign (by making his mark) seal publish pronounce
and declare the same writing as and for his last Will and Testament and that at the
time of the doing thereof he the Testator was of sound mind memory and understanding to the
best of their knowledge & as they verily believe and further that the names Jacob Humbert &
John M Hyneman are of the Witnesses own hand writing thereto subscribed in the presence of
each other and in the presence and at the request of the Testator.
loram Me PFrailey Register

Registers Office in Berks County January 6th AD 1804
Letters Testamentary in common form under the seal of said Office on the afore written Will were
granted to John Teysher and Peter Teysher, the Executors therein named, they being first duly
affirmed thereto Inventory to be exhibited on or before the 6th day of February next, and
an amount of their Administration when thereto legally requested.
Registered & examined by

PFrailey Register

Jacob specifically named the children of his son Daniel—Jacob, Maria, John, Esther, Peter, Catharine, Deborah & Elizabeth—and places them in Hereford Township by 1803. So, his son Daniel is most likely the Daniel Teysher/Deisher/Tisher in Hereford Township in 1790², 1800³ and 1810.⁴ Thus, the Jacob Tisher/Deisher in Hereford in 1810⁵ and 1820⁶ is most likely Daniel’s eldest son. And the John and Peter also listed in Hereford in 1820, Daniel’s other two sons.

So, in all probability my 4x great grandfather Peter Deischer was the son of Daniel Deisher, grandson of Jacob Teysher, and, I believe, quite likely the great grandson of Johannes Teisher of Richmond Township.

The fact that Jacob left the land in Hereford Township to his grandchildren and instructed them to care for their mother and father for their natural lives makes me believe that there’s a story there. Why didn’t Jacob leave the land to his son Daniel as he did with the property he bequeathed to sons John and Peter? Was Daniel not capable of providing for his family? Was he a wastrel, a spendthrift? Disabled? I wonder what I can find out.

52 Ancestors: Peter Deischer (1793-1861)

Kris Hocker on 18 Feb 2014

Last week I wrote about Joseph Snyder and my search for his father. This week I’m turning my attention to his father-in-law, Peter Deischer of Hereford Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania.

Peter Deischer was born 12 August 1793 and died 23 April 1861.¹ He married Maria Trump² by summer 1815.³ Maria (Trump) Deischer was born 22 August 1791 and died on 10 September 1874 (or 1875).⁴

The family resided in Hereford Township from 1820 through 1870, where Peter was a farmer. In 1820, the family was enumerated with “Peter Deisher” as the head of household:⁵

2 males, <10
1 male, 26-45
1 female, <10
1 female, 26-25

Adjoining households in the census list included Jacob Deisher, John Deisher and Henry Trump.

Ten years later, “Peter Deshard” was listed as the head of household and the family included:⁶

1 male, 10-15
1 male, 30-40
4 females, <5
1 female, 5-10
1 female, 10-15
1 female, 30-40

Nearby households of interest included: Jacob Deshar.

In 1840, “Peter Deisher” was the head of household. It included:⁷

1 male, 40-50
1 female, <5
2 females, 5-10
2 females, 10-15
2 females, 15-20
1 female, 40-50

Other households of interest on the page include: Jacob Deisher, George Deisher, Charles Deisher, and Michael Trump.

Peter’s household in 1850 had thinned out somewhat. It included:⁸

Peter Deischer, 55, M, Farmer, $1700 in real estate, b. in Pennsylvania
Maria Deischer, 56, F, b. in Pennsylvania
Amanda Deischer, 17, F, b. in Pennsylvania
Elmira M. Schulz, 3, F, b. in Pennsylvania
Charles Deischer, 31, M, Farmer, b. in Pennsylvania
Barbara Deischer, 25, F, b. in Pennsylvania
William Deischer, 10, M, b. in Pennsylvania

In 1860, “Peter Dysher’s” household included:⁹

Peter Dysher, 67, M, Gentleman, $2000 in real estate, $1000 in personal estate, b. in Pennsylvania
Mariah [ditto], 68, F, b. in Pennsylvania
Elmira [ditto], 12, F, b. in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year

Peter died in 1861. In 1870, Maria (Trump) Deischer was included in Charles Deysher’s dwelling:¹⁰

Deysher Charles, 53, M, W, Farmer, -, $2266, b. Pennsylvania
[Ditto] Barbara, 49, F, W, Keeping house, b. Pennsylvania
[Ditto] Charles, 7, M, W, Home, b. Pennsylvania, attended school within the year
[Ditto] Sarah, 4, F, W, Home, b. Pennsylvania
Deysher Mary, 77, F, W, Keeping house, -, $100, b. Pennsylvania, cannot write

Charles Deischer served as administrator for his parents’ estates. He did not file paperwork until 1875, after his mother’s death.¹¹ There was some dissension in the family about Charles’ handling of the estate—in particular payment for the building of a barn on the farm. Charles expected the estate to pay for it as the farm was not rentable without a barn. His sisters did not recall discussing and approving it and the court was required to step in. As a result, the paperwork includes the names of several of his sisters and their spouses.

Based on the probate and census records, Peter and Maria (Trump) Deischer had children, as follows:

Charles Deisher
Clara Deisher, married Joseph Hallman
Elizabeth Deisher, married David Gery
Mary Deisher, married Everard Roberts
Catharina Deisher, married Solomon Schiffert
Judith Deisher, married Joseph Snyder
Amanda Deisher
Sarah Deisher, married Copeland G. Stichter

It’s possible there were more children born to the couple who did not survive. Church records would be a next step to find out. I’m also wondering if Peter was related to Daniel Deisher/Teysher who can be found in the 1790 and 1800 census records for Hereford Township and if Maria (Trump) Deischer is related to the Henry Trump who was listed just after Peter in the 1820 census. Two tantalizing prospects for additional research. Wonder what I’ll be able to find about them.

Peter and Maria (Trump) Deischer are my 4x great grandparents.

Archaeological Evidence Reveals Prehistoric Blue-Eyed Hunter-Gatherers

Kris Hocker on 11 Feb 2014

Scientists used to think that blue-eyes were introduced to Europe by farmers who arrived late to the continent. New research shows that the genes responsible for blue eyes may have already been there amongst dark-skinned hunter-gatherers.

An analysis of the DNA of a 7,000 year old skeleton found in a cave in Spain showed that the male carried the African version of genes responsible for the light skin pigmentation of Europeans—meaning he had dark skin—along with the genetic variation that causes blue-eyes.

Makes me wonder where along the line the genetic variation occurred. I doubt this is the very first blue-eyed person.

I’d always thought it likely that blue-eyes and light skin were a genetic response to the need for less pigmentation due to the weaker sunlight of northern Europe. But maybe not. I’d hardly call Spain a northern climate.

I guess we’ll have to see what future scientific discoveries can tell us.

Year: 2014

John Nissley

Who Was John’s Father?