Loose Leaves: Unaligned Hacker/Hockers in My Family Database

Kris Hocker on 7 Apr 2012

I’ve been working on my Hacker/Hocker family book recently and am wondering what to do with the unconnected Hacker and Hocker families in my database. Ideally, I’d like to be able to trace them back and identify parents and other family members. Realistically, I may not be able to do so.

For the purposes of the book, I’ll most likely include them in either separate chapters or appendices. In the past I’ve shared some of these families here on the website. I thought I’d list out these families in hope that someone out there recognizes them and might have some clues to offer…

Adam and Eve (Hamaker) Hocker

Adam Hocker was born 19 October 1812 and died 26 September 1870. He was buried in Churchville Cemetery in Oberlin, Swatara Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. On 22 February 1838, he married Eve Hamaker, daughter of Adam and Magdalena (Snavely) Hamaker of Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. She was born 24 June 1817 and died 14 November 1892. She was buried with her husband in Churchville Cemetery. The family lived in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

Adam and Eve (Hamaker) Hocker had children:

  1. Jacob H. Hocker (10 Jan 1839-1 Mar 1911) m1. Catharine Eshnour (ca 1838-31 Dec 1862), m2. Barbara A. Leonhart
  2. John Hocker (17 Jan 1841-18 Feb 1905) m. Rebecca Brenner (26 Nov 1842-19 Jul 1928)
  3. Adam H. Hocker (15 Jan 1843-11 Jun 1902) m. Martha Shope
  4. Mary Elizabeth Hocker (ca 1844/5-?) m. George Cumbler (31 Oct 1841-14 Apr 1904)
  5. Sarah Hocker (19 Sep 1848-13 Apr 1930) m. Peter Page
  6. Dr. David R. Hocker (1 Dec 1850-21 Nov 1887) m. Hettie Esther Rudy (3 Jan 1854-11 May 1894)
  7. Malinda Hocker (Jan 1853-aft 1920) m. Wilson G. Smith
  8. Martin M. Hocker (15 May 1855-25 Apr ?) m. Mary Elizabeth Marbuger (9 Apr 1856-5 Aug 1918)
  9. Anna C. Hocker (1859/60-?) m. Charles Leonhart

John and Sarah (Beinhower) Hocker

John Hocker was born 6 July 1815 and died 21 January 1882 in Swatara Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. He was buried in Churchville Cemetery. On 3 December 1835, he married Sarah Beinhower, daughter of John Peter and Mary Ann (Smith) Beinhower). She was born 12 January 1814 and died 12 November 1901. She, too, was buried in Churchville Cemetery. The family lived in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

John and Sarah (Beinhower) Hocker had one child:

  1. Maria Ann/Anna Maria Hocker (2 Jan 1840-11 Sep 1873/83) m. Christian Gingrich (4 Mar 1837-8 Sep 1886)
Note: Adam and John Hocker were mistakenly identified as children of John Hocker (Adam4 Jr., Hans Adam3, Christoph2, Stephen1) in William Wingeard’s Hacker/Hocker genealogy. I subsequently discovered that John’s sons—Adam and John Jr.—went to Ohio with the family circa 1835 and settled in Montgomery County.

Jacob and Maria (Krieg) Hacker

Jacob Hacker was born 28 September 1803 in Lancaster County and died 26 July 1873. He was buried in Emanuel Lutheran Church cemetery in Brickerville, Elizabeth Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Circa 1841, he married Maria Krieg, daughter of John Elias and Anna Maria (Gibbons) Krieg. She was born 5 August 1819 and died 22 March 1898. The family lived in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Jacob and Maria (Krieg) Hacker had children:

  1. William Harvey Hacker (ca 1841-bef 1873)
  2. Elias K. Hacker (Jun 1845-6 Nov 1920) m. Isabella Weidman (11 Nov 1846-31 Jan 1912)
  3. Allen K. Hacker (31 Mar/1 Apr 1847-24 Mar 1928) m. Lydia Eitnier (5 Sep 1850-12 Jul 1925)
  4. Martin Kissinger Hacker (25 Jan 1850-16 Nov 1906) m. Annie Kissinger (27 Jun 1863-5 Apr 1894), m2. Sadie Bates (Jan 1881-aft 1915)
  5. Henry K. Hacker (16 Sep 1852-3 Oct 1925) m. Kate (___)
  6. Benjamin K. Hacker (Apr 1856-1938) m. Annie H. (___)

 Jacob R. and Sarah (___) Hacker

Jacob R. Hacker was born 26 August 1838 and died 16 February 1906 in Ephrata. He was buried in Bowman’s Cemetery in Ephrata. Circa 1870, he married Sarah (___). She was born 6 February 1849 and died 26 July 1921. The family lived in Lancaster and Lebanon counties.

Jacob R. and Sarah (___) Hacker had children:

  1. Franklin K. Hacker (ca Dec 1870-1952) m. Maggie M. Rishel (ca Sep 1876-1957)
  2. Amanda K. Hacker (ca 1872-?) m. John S. Turner (ca 1873/4-?)
  3. Jacob Hacker (Feb 1879-aft 1910)
  4. Emma K. Hacker (Dec 1883-?) m. Frank A. Crall (ca 1881-?)
  5. Annie K. Hacker ( May 1886-?) m. William I. Mull (ca 1885-?)
  6. Elizabeth Hacker (Nov 1888-?)
  7. Lottie Hacker (27 Aug 1892-11 Nov 1895)

 Rev. Dr. Thomas Jefferson and Susan (Meckly) Hacker

Thomas Jefferson Hacker was born 24 September 1854 in Lincoln, Lancaster County and died 4 March 1924 in Wyomissing, Berks County. He was the son of Levi and Harriet (Yagle) Hacker. Circa 1874/5, he married Susan Meckly, daughter of William and Lucinda (___) Meckly. She was born 25 December 1855 and died 31 January 1943. The couple are both buried in Bergstrasse Cemetery in Ephrata.

T.J. and Susan (Meckly) Hacker had one child, a son:

  1. Dr. Oswald William Hacker (24 Oct 1875-14 Jul 1915)

 Maurice Elwood and Margaret Wilhelmina (Murray) Hacker

Maurice Elwood Hacker was born 28 July 1868 in Akron, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and died 21 Dec 1915. He was buried in Mt. Tunnel Cemetery in Elizabethtown. On 23 February 1894, he married Margaret Wilhelmina Murray in Lancaster County. She was born 22 September 1870 and died 3 January 1955. She, too, was buried in Mt. Tunnel Cemetery.
The couple had children:

  1. Ida M. Hacker (ca 1897-?) m. Joseph J. Faltine?
  2. Margaret S. Hacker (ca 1899-?)
  3. Maurice M. Hacker (27 Oct 1900-27 May 1901)
  4. Harry F. Hacker (ca 1902-?)
  5. Florence M. Hacker (ca 1905-?)
  6. Frederick C. Hacker (26 Jun 1908-2 Dec 1908)
  7. John E. Hacker (28 Jul 1910-11 Aug 1996)

In addition to these families, there are several from Wingeard’s genealogy that I’m researching and wondering about, questioning their placement in the family tree. More on them later.

Do you have Hacker/Hockers from Pennsylvania that you’re researching? Drop me a line and tell me all about them.

Settling Johannes Hocker’s Estate

Kris Hocker on 5 Apr 2012

After Johan “Hans” Adam Hacker died circa 1782 and the settling of his estate, several of his sons—Johannes, Christopher, Johan Adam Jr., Martin, and perhaps for a time, Johan George—left Lancaster County and came to Harrisburg. The earliest record of them in the city is a mention of the Adam Hocker tavern in the 1787 tax records.

The brothers engaged in business with each other—Adam and Christopher likely operating the tavern together as they were taxed together in 1791 and 1793.1 John and Martin purchased land together in Lower Paxton Township in 1796.2

By 1796, John had moved to East Pennsborough Township, Cumberland County. He and his wife Catharina Scholl purchased 50 acres of land there on 13 Jun 1796.3 They sold one of their lots in Harrisburg purchased also in 1796.4

In May 1801, John and Catharine sold the 50 acres they’d purchased from Andrew Lee.5 By 10 Feb 1802, John Hocker was dead.6 He was 44 years old.

John died intestate—without a will. Here are transcriptions for the settling of his estate.

Letters of Administration

John Hocker, deceased~
Be it Remembered that on the 10th day of February A.D. 1802 Letters of Administration Issued in Common Form to Jacob Miller of East Pennsborough and George Coover of Allen Township, all and singular the Goods and Chattles rights and credits which were which were of John Hocker deceased. Inventory and Accounts to be Exhibited into the Registers Office in the Borough of Carlisle in time appointed by Law~
Witness my hand George Kline, Register7

Petition to Sell Land

Came into Court Jacob Miller and George Coover Administrators of the Estate of John Hocker late of East Pennsbro [sic] Township deceased and passed a petition to the Court setting forth that the personal estate of the said deceased amounting to the sum of five hundred and eighty two pounds nineteen shillings and six pence hath been sold be the petitioners That by the terms of the sale the money was not yet due or payable That there had come to the knowledge of the petitioners debts due by the Intestate to the amount of three thousand two hundred and thirty four pounds and upwards There was no fund in the hands of the petitioners from which the said debts could be paid or the minor children supported other than the amount arising from the sale of the personal estate above stated That the intestate died seized of a plantation containing one hundred and eighty one and one half acres situate in East Pennsbro [sic] & Allen Townships The petitioners therefore prayed the Court to make an order that they might sell the whole of the said tract of Land or such part of it as the Court may think necessary for raising a fund to pay the Debts of Intestate and to support the three minor children of the said deceased.

Whereupon it is considered by the Court and ordered that the said Jacob Miller and George Cover Administrators aforesaid make public sale of the tract of land aforesaid on Tuesday the fifth day of October next between the hours of twelve [ink spot] and four o’Clock in the afternoon of that day on the premises and by six written notices to be made our on good paper and delivered to the Sheriff or Constable to be fixed up in the most public places of the County at least ten days before the day of the said sale and that the said Administrators make return of their proceedings to the next stated Orphans Court.

~ By the Court8

Administration Account

Came into Court Jacob Miller and George Koover administrators of all singular the goods & chattles [sic] rights & credits of John Hocker deceased & produced an account of the Administration The Court upon consideration having adjusted & passed the same find a balance of nine hundred & fifty six pounds and eight pence in the hands of the administrators subject to distribution according to law see page 186.

~By the Court9

Revised Administration Account

Came into Court Jacob Miller and George Koover Administrators of all and singular the goods and chattles [sic] rights and credits which were of John Hocker late of the township of East Pennsborough township deceased and produced as supplemental Administration account of the Estate of the said deceased The Court having adjusted and passed the same find a balance of one hundred and ninety two pounds and four shillings in the hands of the Administrators subject to distribution according to Law.

~By the Court10

Guardianship Petitions

Came to the Court Mary Hocker minor above the age of fourteen years Orphan daughter of John Hocker deceased and prayed to the Court to appoint Christopher Eigelberger Guardian over her person and estate. The Court upon consideration appoint the said Christopher Eigleberger Guardian over the person and estate of the said Mary Hocker minor Orphan Daughter of the said John Hocker deceased during her minority or until another Guardian or Guardians be appointed in his Room

~By the Court

Came to the Court Catharine Hocker mother & next friend of Elizabeth Hocker and Sally Hocker minors under the age of fourteen years Orphan Children of John Hocker deceased and prayed the Court appoint a proper person Guardian over the persons and estates of the said Elizabeth Hocker and Sally Hocker minor Orphan Children of the said John Hocker deceased. Whereupon the Court appointed John Rupley Guardian over the persons & estates of the said minors during their minority or until another Guardian or Guardians be appointed in his Room

~By the Court11

Johannes and Eva Catharina (Scholl) Hocker had three daughters:

  1. Mary Hocker was born sometime between 1786 and 1790 in Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania and died sometime after 1804. No more is known about her.
  2. Elizabeth Hocker was born circa 1787 in Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania and died 31 Mar 1861 in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. On 25 Dec 1812, she married Samuel Eberly in Zion Lutheran Church in Harrisburg. He was born in 1788 and died 15 Aug 1846 in Mechanicsburg. The couple was buried in Trindle Springs Lutheran Church cemetery.
  3. Sarah “Sally” Hocker was born 6 Dec 1793 in either Harrisburg or Cumberland County and baptized in Salem Lutheran Church in Harrisburg. On 12 Dec 1816, she married Peter Eberly in Zion Lutheran Church in Mt. Holly Springs, Cumberland County. Peter was born 15 Jun 1795 and died 10 Mar 1866 in Mechanicsburg. The couple was buried in Trindle Springs Lutheran Church cemetery.

Identifying the Children of Johan George Hacker

Kris Hocker on 3 Apr 2012

Recently, I’ve been dedicating some time to updating and revising rewriting my great uncle William Wingeard’s A German-American Hacker-Hocker Genealogy. Because Bill did not footnote his data, I’ve had to redo quite a bit of research that he’d already done. Additionally, I have done quite a bit of new research and I’m trying to add that to the book, as well.

In the first edition, Bill did not include any information on Johan “Hans” Adam Hacker’s son Johan George (1766-1846). Fortunately, I have found some information on my 6 times great uncle. Unfortunately, it’s causing some consternation as I try to determine whether it actually refers to Johan George, son of Adam, or George, son of Frederick—Johan’s George’s older brother.

Johan George Hacker (1766-1846)

Most of the information that I’ve located on Johan George can be found on his page in the “My Family” section of the site. I won’t repeat it here.

The problem I’m running into is in trying to identify his children. I have one definite child—Joseph Hacker (1816-1891). His baptism record lists Johan George and Christina Hacker as his parents and Christopher and Ann Miller as his sponsors. This is consistent with Johan George’s data, including his association with his brother-in-law Christopher Miller.

I also found a communion list from 1825 that lists what appears to be Johan George and Christina with two daughters—Catharina and Elisabetha. Three other Hackers—George, Peter, and Lydia—are listed with those receiving confirmation.

1825 Salem Lutheran Communion list

6 Nov 1825, Communion List at Salem Lutheran Church

I’m wondering if the George, Peter and Lydia listed are Johan George and Christina’s children. There are no other Hackers listed in the communion list and it seems plausible that Johan George and Christina would want to see their children confirmed. I know little about the confirmation process in the Lutheran or Reformed Church, but if I recall correctly my friends who were confirmed did so at about the age of 14 years. Assuming that there could be some leeway to either side, that would put the birth years for George, Peter and Lydia as approximately 1810-1815 (aged 10-15).

According to the 1810 census record for Johan George in Cocalico Township, his family was composed of the following members:1

  • 1  male under 10 (George or Peter?)
  • 1 male 16-26 (?)
  • 1 male 26-46 (George)
  • 2 females under 10 (Catharina?, Elisabetha?)
  • 1 female 26-45 (Christina)

So far, this looks a good match for these children belonging to Johan George and Christina. Let’s look at the 1820 census enumeration for the family:2

  • 2 white males up to 10 (Joseph?, Peter?)
  • 1 white male 16 to 18 (George?)
  • 1 white male 16 to 26 (same as 16 to 18)
  • 1 white male 45 & up (George)
  • 1 white female up to 10 (Lydia?)
  • 2 white females 10 to 16 (Catharina?, Elisabetha?)
  • 1 white female 26 to 45 (Christina)

Again, it seems plausible that George, Peter, Lydia, Catharina and Elisabetha were the children of Johan George and Christina (Miller) Hacker. Joseph, born in 1816, would likely have been too young for confirmation in 1825.

George Hocker (1785/90-?)

However, George’s nephew, George Hocker—son of Frederick Hacker—allegedly had sons named George and Peter and a daughter Christina. I say allegedly, because Bill included the information in his book, but did not include his source for this information, making it difficult to verify.

From what I can tell he may have posited them as children from the 1840 census enumeration of Ephrata Township. In 1840, there are four Hacker families in Ephrata Township—George Hacker, George Hacker Sr., John Hacker, and Peter Hacker. Here are their households:

George Hocker3 George Hocker Sr.4 John Hocker5 Peter Hocker6
  • 2 males <5
  • 1 male 10 to 15
  • 2 males 20 to 30
  • 1 male 30 to 40
  • 2 females <5
  • 1 female 10 to 15
  • 1 female 20 to 30
  • 1 male 15 to 20
  • 1 male 20 to 30
  • 1 male 30 to 40
  • 1 male 50 to 60
  • 1 female 15 to 20
  • 1 female 30 to 40
  • 1 male 20 to 30
  • 2 males 30 to 40
  • 1 male 50 to 60
  • 1 female 15 to 20
  • 1 female 20 to 30
  • 1 female 50 to 60
  • 1 male <5
  • 1 male 10 to 15
  • 1 male 20 to 30
  • 2 females <5
  • 1 female 5 to 10
  • 1 female 20 to 30

Neither of the two Georges appears to be a match to Johan George Hacker, both men being too young. They could be George Hocker, son of Frederick, and his alleged son, George Hocker Jr., with a few extra household members. Peter Hocker’s household is a good match to that of Peter and Hannah (Reinhold) Hacker of Lancaster County.

If so, what were they doing back in Lancaster County? And is proximity enough to identify them as immediate family?

George received his father’s property after Frederick died in 1812 and his older brother John refused it. George sold the property in 1813 and purchased property in Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania in 1814.7 George and his wife Elizabeth had children baptized at Zion Lutheran Church in Harrisburg in 1814 (Catharina) and 1817 (Sarah). They also had children baptized at Shoop’s Church in 1819 (Andrew), 1821 (Daniel), and 1824 (Eli).

According to my family members, George’s property was in the southwest corner of Lower Paxton, near where Lower Paxton, Susquehanna and Upper Swatara townships meet. I found one tax record for George Hocker in Lower Paxton Township in 1813. I found multiple tax records for Susquehanna Township for George Hocker between 1816 and 1829.

I believe I found George Hocker in Upper Swatara Township in the 1830 census. The household included:

  • 2 males 5 to 10 (Daniel, Eli)
  • 1 male 10 to 15 (Andrew)
  • 1 male 20 to 30 (George or Peter?)
  • 1 male 30 to 40 (?)
  • 1 male 40 to 50 (George Sr.)
  • 1 female < 10 (?)
  • 2 females 10 to 15 (Sarah, Catharina)
  • 1 female 15 to 20 (?)
  • 1 female 40 to 50 (Elizabeth)

I also found records of a George Hocker as a tenant taxed in Upper Swatara in 1830 through 1832, and 1834 where his name is crossed out and removed written in.

I haven’t found gravestones for George or Elizabeth, so he may have moved back to Lancaster County. The evidence places him in Dauphin County until at least 1834, then I have no more data until the possible 1840 census enumeration. If George did move back to Lancaster County, not all of his family went with him. Two of his children were married in Salem Reformed Church in Harrisburg in 1840. Andrew Hocker married Susan Wannamacher on 27 Aug 1840.8 Sarah Hocker married Jacob Ruth on 12 Nov 1840.9

The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia, Dauphin County states that Joseph Hocker, son of George and Mary “Polly” (Brubaker) Hocker, was born in Lancaster County on 19 Feb 1839.10 That would make him one of the 2 males under 5 years old in the 1840 census enumeration for George Hocker in Ephrata Township. But this isn’t enough to prove that George was the son of George Sr. and grandson of Frederick Hacker.

By  1850, George and Mary “Polly” (Brubaker) Hocker were in Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania and they remained in this area until their deaths in 1872. Both were buried in Dauphin County, perhaps in Crum’s cemetery. Today their tombstones can be found in Shoop’s Cemetery in Lower Paxton Township.11 George and Polly (Brubaker) Hocker have similarities of location to George and Elizabeth (Hassler) Hocker. It’s possible that George Sr. moved back to Lancaster County where he’d grown up and George Jr. eventually moved back to Dauphin County where he’d grown up.

Conclusions?

So, while this is all very interesting information, it doesn’t help me to identify Johan George’s children. If George, Peter and Lydia, Catharina, and Elisabetha were the children of Johan George and Christina (Miller) Hacker, what happened to them? Do the 1840 enumerations of Ephrata Township refer to this George and Peter or to George Hocker’s children—if they were, indeed, his children?

At this point, I don’t have any answers. Baptismal records for the early 1800s—specifically from 1804 through 1815—may help identify the parentage of Catharina, Elisabetha, George, Peter and Lydia. Tax records for Lebanon (1810—1825) and Lancaster (1820—1846) counties may help to pinpoint Johan George’s exact location and whether or not George Hocker moved back circa 1834. I’m hoping I can find some evidence.

Oh, did I mention that Frederick’s eldest son John also had a son named George and daughter named Lydia?! Wish me luck.

On This Date: Weidman, Leedy, Frantz & Neidig

Kris Hocker on 19 Mar 2012

On 19 Mar 1743, Mathias Martin Weidman, my 8x great grandfather, died in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

On 19 Mar 1912, my 3x great grandfather Samuel Krehl Leedy died in Upper Mifflin Township, Cumberland County. He’s buried in the Hill Cemetery near New Buffalo, Pennsylvania.

On 19 Mar 1812, Michael Frantz, my 4x great grandfather, and Elizabeth Neidig were married in Salem Lutheran Church in Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

Wordless Wednesday: Unknown Pennsylvanian Woman

Kris Hocker on 14 Mar 2012

Unidentified woman

Do you know me?

Unidentified woman

The next installment in the Unidentified Pennsylvanians series features a photo of a young woman. She may have lived in the Montgomery County, Pennsylvania area and may have been either a friend of or related to either the Greulich, Wieder, Waage, Snyder, or Witmer families. The photo was likely taken in the early 20th century.

For more photos visit the Unidentified People photo gallery.