Johann Martin Weidman (1698-1768)

Johann Martin⁴ (Johann Matthias³, Johann Peter², Hans¹), son of Johann Matthias and Anna Catharina (Scholl) Weidman, was born on 4 October 1698 in Gräben, Baden-Durlach and baptized the next day in the Gräben Evangelische church.¹ He died sometime between 14 October 1767² when he sold land to his son-in-law Bernard Gärtner and 11 October 1768 when his last will and testament was proven in Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania colony.³ He married Anna Margaretha Still, daughter of Hans Heinrich and Anna Barbara (Munck) Still, also of Gräben on 9 February 1723.⁴ Margaretha was born 19 May and baptized on 20 May 1703 in the village’s Protestant church.⁵ She died sometime after 5 December 1770 in Cocalico Township.⁶

Martin, like his father, was a farmer in Germany.⁷ Farmers were near the top of the social and economic strata in Germany.⁸ Martin’s grandfather had been a “citizen and procurator” for Gräben, a position of some importance in local government. His mother was the daughter of an anwalt and granddaughter of a former schultheiss of Gräben.⁹ So, the Weidmans were most likely amongst the most prominent citizens of Gräben. That did not change after they immigrated to Pennsylvania.

In 1733, Martin, his father, father-in-law, and other family members left Germany via Rotterdam on board the ship Elizabeth, arriving in Philadelphia on 27 August 1733.¹⁰ His wife Margaretha was pregnant during the voyage and I imagine the trip across the ocean was anything but pleasant for her.

On 23 March 1734, Martin warranted 200 acres in Warwick (now Penn) Township.¹¹(see Figure 2) He apparently didn’t settle on this land as it was surveyed to Jacob Eub in 5 July 1740¹² and later warranted to Nicholas Marret.¹³ Martin’s father also warranted 200 acres on 23 March 1734.¹⁴ His land, however, was located in what is today Clay Township. He died before it was patented and it was later patented to Lorentz Haushalter.¹⁵

On 26 October 1745, Martin warranted 387 acres on Cocalico Creek in Cocalico (now Clay) Township.¹⁶(see Figure 3) This land had been surveyed on 4 January 1733 to Valentine Miller and adjoined land of Jacob Graff, George Albert, and Peter Baker.¹⁷ It was patented to Martin on 10 December 1745.¹⁸ He warranted another 336 acres further north on Middle Creek, adjoining Henry Stiegle, Jacob Giles, John Weaver, and Michael Mowrer, on 13 February 1748  and had it surveyed on 22 May 1762.¹⁹(see Figure 4) Pieces of this land were later surveyed and patented to George Weidman, Peter Weidman, and Robert Coleman.

In 1749, Martin warranted on 30 March 104 acres on Cocalico Creek, adjoining the 387 acres he’d warranted in 1745.²⁰ This land had been previously warranted in 1733 to Michael Kitch, who died prior to 1743.²¹ Michael Shank patented the land in 1750.²² Martin also warranted 80 acres adjoining his 1745 tract on 25 March 1758, surveyed in on 4 April, then patented it on 17 September 1763.²³(see Figure 5)

Martin and his wife Margaretha sold to Abraham Brubaker on 16 November 1757 172 1/4 acres of the 387-acre tract that Martin had warranted in 1745 for £700.²⁴ On 2 July 1762, Martin sold 236 acres of his 336-acre tract on Middle Creek to his three sons: Christopher, Wendel and Jacob to be divided equally between them.²⁵ Wendel Weidman sold his share of this property to James Old on 1 February 1764 when he was living in Plymouth Township, Philadelphia County.²⁶ Jacob Weidman purchased from his parents 214 1/2 acres on 13 June 1766 for £900.²⁷ This was part of the 387-acre warranted lands and adjoined land Martin had sold to Abraham Brubaker in 1757. On 13 June 1766, Martin also sold his 80-acre tract to son-in-law Bernard Gartner.²⁸ On 14 December 1767, Martin sold Gartner one half moiety (share) of 153 acres in Elizabeth (now Clay) Township which Martin and his son Christopher had purchased from Michael Maurer on 2 July 1762.²⁹ This tract was patented to Christopher Weidman and Bernard Gartner on 30 April 1782 and they partitioned it on 11 April 1787.³⁰ Bernard Gartner sold his 84 acres on the same day to John Erb.

Martin was active in his church and community. He was named as a church trustee for the Warwick congregation on 24 February 1745 with Leonhard Mueller, George Albert, and David Behler and stood as a sponsor for children of Johann Christian Kling, Stephen Lauman (or Baumann), Balthasar Süss, Heinrich Heÿl, and Simon Merckle, among others.³¹

Martin signed his last will and testament on 6 June 1766.³² In it he left the interest of one third of his personal estate to his “beloved wife Margaretha” for her natural life, and added that she should have “use of my best bed and all my Linnen” and “the use of my best cow to by kept in fother by my son Jacob shall provide her with firewood during her life.” His son Christopher received £50 instead of his rightful double share of the estate. All of his children inherited equal shares of his estate, the children of his deceased son Wendell receiving their father’s share. Jacob was to pay £900 that he owed his father to his siblings in £60 yearly installments, one year to Christopher, then next to Elisabetha, etc. until the full amount was paid. This was likely the money he owed for the 214 1/2 acres he was to purchase from his father seven days later. By the time of his death, Martin had sold all of his land, most of it going to his sons—Christopher, Wendel and Jacob—or son-in-law, Bernhardt Gärtner.

Martin’s will was proven 11 October 1768 and letters testamentary were issued to his executors, sons Christopher and Jacob. The Lancaster County Orphans Court held on 5 December 1770 recorded the payment distribution from Martin’s estate to his widow Margaretha, eldest son Christopher, son Jacob, daughter Elizabeth wife of Adam Hacker, daughter Margaret wife of George Hacker, daughter Catharine wife of George Wächter, daughter Barbara wife of Bernhard Gärtner, and the [unnamed] children of son Wendel, deceased.³³

Children of Martin and Anna Margaretha (Still) Weidman:

1. Christopher⁵ Weidman was born 7 February 1724 and baptized the same day in the protestant church in Gräben, Baden-Durlach. He died before 10 December 1794 in Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He married Anna Maria (___). She died sometime between 28 May 1780 when she last took Communion at Emanuel Lutheran and 8 November 1785 when he married Barbara (Kissinger) Bricher.
2. Wendell Weidman was born 15 August 1726 and baptized the same day in Gräben. He was aged six when the family emigrated in 1733. He died prior to 23 February 1766, when he was buried, in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania colony. He married Esther (___) and had children, including a son Johan Wendel born in 1765, in Pennsylvania.
3. Matheus Weidman was born 21 March 1729 and baptized the same day in Gräben. He was aged 3 1/2 when the family emigrated in 1733 and was alive when they landed in Philadelphia. He is not mentioned in his father’s last will and testament, so it is likely he died prior to 6 June 1776 without heirs.
4. Maria Elisabetha Weidman was born and baptized 13 January 1731 in Gräben. She was aged two when the family emigrated in 1733 and died during the trip across the ocean sometime prior to 27 September 1733.
5. Maria Elisabeth Weidman was born 3 November 1733 in Lancaster County and baptized 14 November 1733 in the Muddy Creek Lutheran church, sponsored by Matthias and Catharina Weidman. She died sometime after 28 September 1806 and was likely buried on the family farm near Durlach. She married circa 1752, Johann Adam Hacker, son of Johann Christopher and Anna Margaretha (Jock) Hacker of Rußheim, Baden-Durlach and Cocalico Township. He was born 28 October 1727 in Rußheim and died in 1782 in Cocalico Township.
6. Johann Jacob Weidmann was born 12 March 1736 in Lancaster County and baptized 18 April 1736 in the Muddy Creek Lutheran church, sponsored by Johann Jacob Högie and his wife Magdalena. He died 20 December 1802 in Elizabeth Township. He married Barbara Huber, daughter of Johann Jacob Huber of Elizabeth Furnace fame and his wife Elisabetha, about 1758. She was born 15 February 1740 and died 8 October 1828. They were both buried in Emanuel Lutheran Church cemetery.
7. Anna Margaretha Weidman was born 4 November 1738 in Cocalico Township and baptized 12 November 1738 in the Muddy Creek Lutheran Church, sponsored by Johann George and Margaretha (Reinacher) Albert. She died 3 July 1816 at Erdenheim, Whitemarsh Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. About 1754, she married Johann Georg Hacker, son of Johann Christopher and Anna Margaretha (Jock) Hacker. He was born 14 April 1734 in Rußheim and died 14 October 1821 at Erdenheim.
8. Maria Barbara Weidman was born 8 February 1741 and baptized 11 February 1741 at the Muddy Creek Lutheran Church, sponsored by Balthasar and Maria Barbara (Pfizer) Süss. She died 8 April 1802 in East Hanover Township, Dauphin County. On 14 December 1758, she married Capt. Bernhardt Gärtner. He was born in 1741 and died 27 March 1807 in East Hanover Township. They were buried in the Zion Lutheran Church cemetery in Jonestown, Lebanon County.
9. Catharina Weidman was born 6 March 1746 in Cocalico Township. She died 10 March 1807 and was buried in the Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church cemetery in Brickerville. About 1762, she married Johann Georg Wächter, son of Johann Michael and Elisabetha (Ochs) Wächter. He was born 23 April 1731 in Liedolsheim, Baden-Durlach and died 9 April 1803 in Cocalico Township.