Category: Research

Family research

Will: John Frantz (Manor), 1787

Kris Hocker on 30 Jul 2014

John Frantz (Manor) Will

John Frantz of Manor Township wrote his last will and testament on 3 March 1786 when he was “old but of sound understanding & memory.” It was proven on 10 February 1787 when letters testamentary were issued to his “friend” Jacob Brubaker and “son” Jacob Frantz, his executors.

John Frantz, Dec’d
In the Name of God Amen.
I John Frantz of Mannor Township in the County of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania Farmer being old but of sound understanding & memory (God by thanked) and calling to mind the mortality of my Body and Knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die I therefore do hereby make my last will and Testament
First I recommend my soul into the Hands of the Almighty God who gave it and my Body to be interred in hopes of a glorious resurrection through the merits of my Redeemer Jesus Christ and as to my Worldly Estate I give and bequeath the same in manner following
First It is my Will that all my just Debts shall be paid out of my Estate
Item I bequeath unto my four sons viz John Christian Jacob and Michael their Heirs & assigns to each of their Heirs & assigns the same of Five hundred Pounds of Good money which each of them has received already in the lands which they have got of me
Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Elizabeth her heirs and assigns the sum of five hundred and seventy Pounds in good money in gold or silver coin which my hereafter named Executors shall pay to her as soon as it can be made up out of my estate as her own property and that on account of my having given to my sons their lands something under price
Item I further order that if when my said Daughter Elizabeth has received her sum of money then the remainder of my estate shall be divided into equal shares to my children which I hereby name viz John Christian Jacob Michael and Elizabeth and each of them shall have as much as the other and none more than the other
Item I make constitute and appoint my Friend Jacob Brubacker and my son Jacob Frantz to be my  whole & sole Executors of this my Last will and Testament making hereby null and void all my former wills & Testaments declaring this and no other to be my Last will and Testament In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand & seal the third day of March in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty six
sealed signed & pronounced by the said John Frantz as his last will
& testament in the presence of us Jacob Kilheffer John Kilheffer

John Frantz (seal)

Lancaster County to wit On the tenth Day of February Anno Domini 1787 Before me the subscriber Personally appeared Jacob Killhefer and John Killhefer the two subscribing witnesses to the within Instrument of writing and on their solemn affirmation according to Law did Declare affirm and say that they were present and saw and heard John Frantz the Testator within named sign seal Publish pronounce and Declare the within writing as and for his Last Will and Testament and that at the doing thereof he was of sound and well disposing mind memory and understanding to the best of their Knowledge observation and Belief James Jacks Regr.
Be it remembered that on the Tenth day of February Anno 1787 the Last will and Testament of John Frantz late of Mannor Township Yeoman Deceased was proved in Due form of Law and Letters Testamentary thereon were granted unto Jacob Brubaker and Jacob Frantz the Executors in the said will named they having first been duly qualified well and truly to administer the estate of the said deceased and especially to exhibit a true and perfect Inventory thereof into the Registers Office at Lancaster within one month from the Date and to to render a just and true account of their administration on said Estate within one year or when thereof Lawfully required given under the seal of said office P me    James Jacks Regr.1

Based on this last will & testament and the deeds mentioned in previous Frantz articles, Hans and Catharine Frantz of Manor Township had five surviving children (in order listed in will):

  1. John Frantz (of Warwick), married Elizabeth Hostetter[?]
  2. Christian Frantz (of Manheim), married Mary (___)
  3. Jacob Frantz (of Manor & Lampeter), married Barbara Hostetter [?], married 2nd Maria (___)
  4. Michael Frantz (of Londonderry and Lower Paxton), married Fannie Nissley
  5. Elizabeth Frantz

 

Henry Line’s Conestoga Tract

Kris Hocker on 20 Jul 2014

Henry Line Conestoga twp land

Henry Line tract

On 20 May 1734, John Taylor surveyed 218 acres on Pequea Creek in Conestoga Township for Thomas Lindley, based on a warrant dated 21 January 1733.1 Lindley must have abandoned or sold the rights to this tract, because Henry Line warranted it on 27 April 1751 and patented it 4 November 1751.2

Henry and Barbara (Boyer)3 Line sold 20 acres from this tract to Christian Shenk on 25 November 1759, along with the saw mill, boring mill, and a grist mill erected on the land.4 Several years later, Henry and Barbara sold 150 acres from this tract to Solomon Kaufman on 9 February 1762.5

Henry  died sometime prior to 5 June 1764.6 On 30 October 1765, John Line and his wife Elizabeth released their share of the estate to his brothers Christian and Samuel.7 Christian released his third share of the estate to his brother Samuel four years later on 4 February 1769.8 Samuel Line and Barbara Line, Henry’s widow, sold the residue of this tract along with other land in Martic Township to Ulrich Huber.9

Solomon Kaufman and his wife Mary sold the 150 acres they’d purchased from Henry Line in 1762 to Christian Shenk on 8 April 1774.10 Christian Shenk, in turn, sold his two tracts—one of 20 acres and another of 150 acres—to Christian Shenk Jr. on 5 November 1795.11

This is the twelfth entry for my Along the Pequea series. These posts trace land transactions for early Lancaster County settlers from the first land owner—the warrantee—through subsequent transfers up to 1800, using deeds, other land records, and estate records, as available.

Hans and Catharine Frantz of Manor Township

Kris Hocker on 18 Jul 2014

The Sons of Hans & Catharina Frantz

In my last post, I reported that based on deed research Michael Frantz of Londonderry and Lower Paxton townships was the son of Hans and Catharina Frantz of Manor Township. When Michael died two men—Jacob Frantz of Manor and Christian Frantz of Manheim—were the administrators of his estate and guardians of his underage children. Were they Michael’s brothers?

The last will and testament of John Frantz of Manor Township was proven 10 February 1787. It was a German will, recorded in Will Book Y2, so it is not available online at FamilySearch. Is there any other way to determine the names of Hans’ children?

On 18 April 1785, Hans and his wife sold 224 acres in Derry Township to his son Michael.1 This could be part of a pattern I’ve seen fairly often in researching Lancaster County families and their land transactions—aged parents selling their land to their children in the years before their deaths. Land was wealth. So, selling to his children was a means for a father (most often) to disperse his estate exactly as he wanted while he was still alive. It also allowed him to generate an income to support himself, his wife, and possibly younger children who hadn’t yet moved out into the world.

It’s a pattern that I believe held true for Hans Frantz of Manor Township. In the years just prior to writing his will, Hans and Catharine sold several tracts of land to Christian, John, Michael and Jacob Frantz. At least three of the tracts were outside Manor Township, possibly indicating that they had been purchased specifically for their children.

Christian Frantz

Christian Frantz tract, DonegalOn 27 December 1783, Hans and Catharine sold Christian Frantz 296 acres in Donegal Township, adjoining that of Ephraim Moore, Robert Allison, John Allison, Elizabeth Mitchell, William Bryan, and Samuel Fulton.2 Hans had purchased this land from Simon Snyder on 23 August 1769.3 Christian and Mary Frantz, of Manheim Township, sold the land in Donegal on 14 May 1785 to Christian Nisle.4

John Frantz Jr.

John Frantz Jr. land, DonegalOn 12 March 1785, Hans and Catharina sold 175 acres in Donegal to John Frantz (the younger), of Donegal.5 They had purchased it from David and Grace Caldwell on 18 May 1761. This land had been patented to Patrick Allison, Grace’s father, on 20 May 1737.6 The following spring, on 3 May 1786, John and Elizabeth Frantz, of Warwick Township, sold this tract of land in Donegal to John Longenecker.7

Jacob Frantz

Hans Frantz Manor Township landOn 7 November 1785, Hans Frantz sold 166 acres of land in Manor Township to Jacob Frantz. This tract adjoined that of Rudy Herr, Henry Kilhover, and George Ziegler.8 Hans bought this land from Christian and Barbara Frantz in 1746/7.9 It was originally part of the Andrew Hamilton tract. It passed from Hamilton to Michael Baughman, then part of it to Christian Frantz. I believe this was likely the “mansion tract” or Manor land where Hans and Catharine resided.

While these land sales follow a pattern that seems to indicate a familial relationship between the parties, these deeds—unlike Michael’s land sale of 1790—do not specifically name Christian, John, or Jacob as the children of Hans Frantz.

However, when Jacob wrote his will on 16 April 1799, he directed that his “wife and children shall keep house together on my Plantation in Mannor township for the use of my Estate until my Eldest son John shall arrive to the age of twenty one years…”10 Furthermore, he nominated his brothers John and Christian to be his executors. On 22 January 1803, John Frantz and Christian Frantz, executors, and John Frantz, the eldest son of Jacob Frantz of Lampeter, appointed appraisers for the Manor Township property on Little Conestoga Creek, adjoining land of John Kilheffer and Rudy Herr.11

In his will, Jacob left his Lampeter Township land, where he lived, to his sons Jacob and Christian. This land adjoined that of “Andrew Heller, Jacob Kreder, George Bards, Conestogo Creek and others.”12 On 7 February 1807, Jacob Frantz of Lampeter received a mortgage on the Lampeter property from “John Frantz of Warwick Township and Christian Frantz of Manheim Township both of the county and state aforesaid,” executors of the last will and testament of Jacob Frantz, deceased.13

Jacob’s will and the related deeds indicate that his brothers John and Christian were of the same locations as the men who purchased land from Hans and Catharina Frantz. Additionally, Christian Frantz of Manheim was both the administrator of Michael Frantz’s estate and guardian of his daughters Mary and Elizabeth, and executor of Jacob Frantz’s will.

While there could have been multiple men of the same names in these locations, bit-by-bit I am building a case that Michael Frantz of Lower Paxton, Jacob Frantz of Manor and Lampeter, Christian Frantz of Manheim, and John Frantz of Warwick were the sons of Hans and Catharina Frantz of Manor Township.

52 Ancestors: Henry Moyer Eshbach (1807-1872)

Kris Hocker on 15 Jul 2014

52 Ancestors - Henry Moyer EshbachAccording to her death certificate, Lydia (Eshbach) Waage’s parents were Henry Eshbach and Lydia Bobb.1 Henry was born 23 April 1807 in Hereford Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania and died 18 August 1872,2 quite likely in Selinsgrove, Snyder County, Pennsylvania where he had been a bartender 2 years previously.3 He was buried at Pennsburg Reformed Church cemetery, Pennsburg, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Henry was at various times a tailor,4 an innkeeper,5 and a bartender.6

About 1836, Henry married Catherine Lydia Bobb, daughter of Daniel and Anna Margaret (Herb) Bobb Jr., of Hereford Township. She was born 6 November 1805 and died 16 March 1859.7 She was buried at Pennsburg Reformed Church cemetery.

After Lydia’s death in 1859, Henry moved his family to Lancaster Borough.8 He may have married again as there was a 46 year-old Maria living in the household with the family in 1860.

To the best of my knowledge, Henry and Lydia had children:

  1. Amanda Catharine Eshbach (27 Feb 1838—23 Jan 1904), married Rev. Jacob Kehm
  2. Anna Maria Eshbach (3 Apr 1841—5 Jan 1908), married John Troxel
  3. Reichel Eshbach (1 Feb 1843—bet 25 Jun & 1 Jul 1862), Reichel died during the Seven Days Battles at Richmond during the Civil War.
  4. Lydia S. Eshbach (3 Oct 1845—7 May 1910), married Dr. Charles T. Waage
  5. Rufus Thomas Eshbach (17 Mar 1847–17 Dec 1912), married Jane Wylam
  6. Elizabeth Eshbach (ca 1848—?)
  7. Elias Eshbach (ca 1852—?)

The first five children are all included in Rev. Fretz’s A Genealogical Record of the Descendants of Christian and Hans Meyer and Other Pioneers. Elizabeth and Elias are not. It’s possible that they are Henry’s step-children, if he did, in fact, marry again after Lydia’s death, but before the 1860 census.

Henry and Lydia (Bobb) Eshbach were my 3x great grandparents.

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 eighteenth 52 Ancestors post and part of week twenty-eight.

A Father for Michael Frantz

Kris Hocker on 11 Jul 2014

I wrote about Michael Frantz of Lower Paxton Township in an earlier post, regarding his estate in 1797. Based on that research, I posited that Michael possibly had two brothers—Jacob Frantz of Manor Township and Christian Frantz of  Manheim Township. They were the administrators of his estate and guardians of his minor children. So, I set out to learn more about Michael, Jacob and Christian to see if I could prove a family connection.

Michael Frantz

When he died, Michael was of Paxton Township. Working backward, I found a number of deed transactions for him. On 23 June 1793, Michael and Franey his wife sold seven acres and sixty-seven perches of land to Susanna Eaglea.1 This was part of two tracts of land purchased by Michael Frantz and John Nissley on 15 April 1790 from Samuel and Joseph Hutchinson.2 On 19 August 1790, Michael and John Nissley had divided the land they’d purchased from the Hutchinsons into two tracts of 187 acres.3 All of these deeds place Michael in Paxton Township.4

After Feronica’s father, John Nissly, died in 1789, the couple acknowledged the receipt of £300—£185 during his lifetime and £115 from his executor, Michael Nissley.5 At the time, the couple was recorded as being “of Londonderry in the County of dauphin.” Michael was taxed at Londonderry in 1787, 17866, 17807, and 1779.8

Chestnut HallDeed records show that Michael Frantz purchased “Chestnut Hall,” a tract of 224 acres then located in Derry Township, on 18 April 1785 from Hans and Catharina Frantz of Manor Township.9 The deed does not specify any relationship between Michael and Hans and his wife.

However, when Michael and his wife Feronica sold this land on 6 May 1790 to George Myer, the deed named Michael as “one of his [Hans’] sons and one of the parties hereto belonging.”10 Hans had purchased this tract from John and Catharine Chestnut on 8 May 1775.11 The fact that Michael was taxed in Londonderry in 1779 and 1780—before he bought it—may indicate that he was living and working this land by then, even though his father still owned it.

According to a biography of Michael A. Frantz, Michael’s grandson, Michael was “born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and in early manhood removed to Dauphin County, where he purchased a tract of land… He was highly esteemed in the community and spent the remainder of his life there.”12 This is consistent with the deed research.

Based on this deed research, Michael Frantz was most likely the son of Hans Frantz of Manor Township. Did Hans have sons named Jacob and Christian? Check in next week as the research continues.

52 Ancestors: Jacob C. Walker (1833-1915)

Kris Hocker on 8 Jul 2014

52 Ancestors - Jacob WalkerJacob Walker was born 3 November 1833 in Runville, Boggs Township, Centre County.1 He died 24 July 1915 of “parenchymatous nephritis” in Centre Hall, aged 81 years, 8 months and 21 days. He was buried 27 Jul 1915 in the Reformed and Lutheran cemetery in Centre Hall. According to his obituary, he was the son of George and Ellen Walker.2 However, I believe Jacob was the son of George and his first wife, Catharine.3

Jacob was a farmer and made his home in Pine Glen, Burnside Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. In 1854,4 he married Mary Eckley, daughter of John D. and Catharine (Walker) Eckley.5 Mary was born 8 July 1836, quite likely in Boggs Township, and died 18 July 1911 in Centre Hall of breast cancer. She was buried with her husband in the Reformed and Lutheran cemetery in Centre Hall.

Jacob and Mary had 10 children:

  1. Susanna Walker (1856-1910) married Nicholas Vallimont
  2. Victoria Walker (1858-1938) married Samuel T. Hoover
  3. Henrietta Walker (1860-1862)
  4. Benner Walker (1861-?) married Viola “Ollie” White
  5. Jackson S. Walker (1863-1947) married Mary (___)
  6. Simon C. Walker (1864-aft 1920) married Emma Bell (___)
  7. Nancy Jane Walker (1867-1906) married Henry Lee Borger
  8. Lucy Walker (1868-?) married John Eisele
  9. William Walker (1872-aft 1930) married Hattie Malone
  10. Ada Bell Walker (1874-1892)

Jacob and Mary (Eckley) Walker are my 3x great grandparents.

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 seventeenth 52 Ancestors post and part of week twenty-seven.

1911 Hocker Family Reunion

Kris Hocker on 3 Jul 2014

I came across a newspaper article entitled “Hocker Family Meets in Reunion” from the Harrisburg Patriot about the first annual Hocker family reunion that was held 7 September 1911 in Reservoir Park, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Nearly 200 local family members attended, most from around Penbrook.

The article read:

Hocker Family Meets In Reunion
Penbrook Furnishes Big Delegation to Reservoir Park Outing
Officers Are Elected

The first annual reunion of the Hocker family was held yesterday at Reservoir Park. It was attended by two hundred persons, for the most part from the vicinity of Penbrook. The meeting for the reports of the committees and election of officers started at noon and lasted until four o’clock. Members of the family began to assemble in the park at about ten o’clock in the morning and continual arrivals kept up all day.

The idea of having a family reunion originated over a month ago with several of the members of the family and they held a meeting on the evening of August 9 at the home of T.H. Hinely in Penbrook. At this meeting temporary officers were elected and at the reunion yesterday these officers were re-elected to serve one year.

The meeting yesterday was held in the pavilion on the hill above the reservoir and was opened by the Rev. C.F. Rupp, who also gave the address of welcome. Following this George E. Shaffer gave a brief historical account of the family. The minutes were read by the secretary, H. E. Hocker, after which the committee for deciding the date for the reunion next year was appointed.

Officers Elected

The following officers were elected: President, George B. Hocker, of Lower Paxton township; vice president, George L. Hocker of Penbrook; secretary, H. E. Hocker, of Penbrook; assistant secretary, G. Lester Hocker, Lower Paxton township; treasurer, Harry Holtzman, Susquehanna township; historian, George E. Shaffer, Harrisburg. These officers constitute a committee to decide the date of meeting next year. The place is Reservoir Park.

The following made up the committee that made the first annual reunion a success: George E. Shaffer, chairman; David Smith, F.J. Hinley and Joseph Hocker, all of Penbrook. Several of the oldes members of the family were present yesterday, and were able to be about with the younger ones. Among them were Joseph Hocker, aged seventy-three years, and Martin Hocker, aged seventy-one years, whose wives are still living, and Mrs. Lettie Smith, aged seventy-four years, all of Penbrook.

This article mentions a number of Hocker family members—most of whom I immediately recognized. But there were several names that I didn’t know, including some of those elected as officers of the reunion committee.

Here is a list of the elected officers:

  • George B. Hocker, Lower Paxton twp
  • George L. Hocker, Penbrook Borough
  • H. E. Hocker, Penbrook Borough
  • G. Lester Hocker, Lower Paxton twp
  • Harry Holtzman, Susquehanna twp
  • George E. Shaffer, Harrisburg

Other names mentioned in the article included:

  • T.H. Hinley, Penbrook
  • David Smith
  • F.J. Hinley
  • Joseph Hocker

My interest piqued, I decided to do a little research to see if I could connect the names I didn’t recognize to the family. Here’s what I found.

The three eldest members of the family that attended the reunion—Joseph Hocker (aged 73), Martin Hocker (aged 71), and Lettie Smith (aged 74)—were all children of George and Mary (Brubaker) Hocker, and grandchildren of George and Elizabeth (Hassler) Hocker.

George and Mary (Brubaker) Hocker had the following children:

  1. Anna Maria Hocker (1835-1880), married Isaac Holtzman (1832-1892)
  2. Lydia Hocker (1837-1923), married David Smith (1827-1899)
  3. Joseph Hocker (1839-1928), married Lydia Keller (1844-1940)
  4. Martin Hocker (1841-1915), married Rosa A. Smeltzer (1847-1921)
  5. Emanuel Hocker (1842-1862)
  6. Wilhelmina Jane Hocker (1845-1888), married Clinton Ezra Shaffer (1841-1911)
  7. Mary Elizabeth Hocker (1847-1923), married Frank W. Miller (1849/50-1928)
  8. Susanna Emma Hocker (1849-bef 1896)
  9. George Benjamin Hocker (1851-1929), married Catharine Kelchner (1852-1894), married Elizabeth M. Balsbaugh (1859-1930)
  10. Henry Harrison Hocker (1854-1930), married Anna Heisey (1853-1934)
  11. Samuel Augustus Hocker (1856-1931), married Amanda Elizabeth Crum (1862-1947)
  12. Elizabeth Ellen Hocker (1859-1922), married William Henry Jones (1864-1921)

So, I identified the officers as:

  • George B. Hocker -> son of George and Mary (Brubaker) Hocker
  • George L. Hocker -> son of Martin and Rosa A. (Smeltzer) Hocker
  • H. E. Hocker -> son of George B. and Catharine (Kelchner) Hocker
  • G. Lester Hocker -> son of George Albert and Jennie Elizabeth (Miller) Hocker, grandson of Joseph and Lydia (Keller) Hocker
  • Harry Holtzman -> son of Isaac and Anna Maria (Hocker) Holtzman
  • George E. Shaffer -> son of Clinton and Wilhelmina Jane (Hocker) Shaffer

These men had all been identified through previous research. So, too had Joseph Hocker, son of Joseph and Lydia (Keller) Hocker. I wondered about David Smith, because Lydia Hocker’s husband was deceased. A little census research turned up David and Lydia (Hocker) Smith’s son, David R. Smith. F.J. Hinely was Frank J. Heinly, the husband of Jennie Hocker (1873-1949), daughter of George B. and Catharine (Kelchner) Hocker. I’m not sure who T.H. Hinely was , possibly a relation of Frank’s?

This family is descended from the immigrant Adam Hacker through his eldest son Frederick, older brother to my ancestor Johan Adam Hocker Jr. After Frederick’s death, his son George sold his property in Lancaster County in 1813 and moved to the Harrisburg area with his wife Elizabeth (Hassler) Hocker, possibly to be near his uncles, four of whom—Johannes, Christopher, Adam, and Martin—had moved to Harrisburg in the late 1780s.

52 Ancestors: Mary Ann Hocker (1834—1903) Finding Relatives in Unusual Sources

Kris Hocker on 1 Jul 2014

I was scanning some gravestone photos the other day to add to Findagrave and became intrigued with a couple that I had photographed, but that didn’t ring any bells. I had included them in the plastic sleeve with those of Adam and Eve (Hamaker) Hocker. The two gravestones—for Mary Ann Hocker and Solomon Hocker—captured my attention because the markers were of the same style as Adam and Eve’s.

 

Mary Ann Hocker (d.1903) gravestone

Gravestone for Mary Ann Hocker

I had to wonder if Mary Ann and Solomon were children of Adam and Eve. According to the information I have, Adam Hocker married Eve Hamaker, daughter of Adam Hamaker and Magdalena Snavely, on 22 February 1838 in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.1 Calculating Mary Ann’s birth date from her age at the time of her death, as recorded on her gravestone, I got 30 November 1834—before Adam and Eve were married.

Could she have been the child of a previously unknown former marriage? In an 1870 probate petition Adam Hocker Jr., Adam’s son, reports that his father left a widow and nine children: “Jacob, John, Adam, Elizabeth Cumbler, wife of George Cumbler, Sarah, David, Melinda, Martin and Anne.”2 Going by this, Adam did not have a daughter named Mary Ann.

However, I found a newspaper announcement from the Harrisburg Patriot of 2 June 1871 that named the heirs and legal representatives of Adam Hocker, late of Swatara Township as: “Mary Hocker, Jacob Hocker, John Hocker, Adam Hocker, Elizabeth Cumbler, wife of George Cumbler, Sarah Hocker, David Hocker, Melinda Hocker, Martin Hocker and Anna Hocker.”3 This indicates that Adam did have a daughter named Mary.

So, I had two conflicting pieces of information. Which was correct?

Reviewing census records (18404, 18505, 18706, 18807), I found Mary living in Adam and/or Eve’s household for each of the years. In the case of the 1840 census, there was a female in the appropriate age group to have been born in 1834 who presumably could have been Mary. Only the 1880 census enumeration provided the relationship to the head of household—Eve—as “daughter.”

However, the most illuminating source was a legal report from the 12th Judicial District, reporting on the estate of Mary Hocker of Steelton, Pennsylvania. Apparently, Mary lived with her sister Annie (Hocker) Longenecker, wife of William Longenecker, for the last ten years of her life.8 After Mary died, Annie applied for compensation for “$3,120 [from Mary’s estate] for boarding, washing, lodging and care for six years immediately preceding her death.” The report mentions by name the administrator (John Hocker) as well as siblings—Adam Hocker and Mrs. Cumbler [Elizabeth (Hocker) Cumbler]. Ultimately, the court ruled against Annie, but the case provides evidence that Mary Ann Hocker was the daughter of Adam Hocker.

Whether Adam was married previously or not, I don’t know. Eve (Hamaker) Hocker’s obituary states that she had 8 children survive her.9 My information shows that her children—Jacob, John, Adam, Elizabeth, Sarah, Malinda, Martin and Annie—all were still living in 1892. Only David had predeceased her, having died in 1887 at the age of 36.10 Mary Ann was still alive, not dieing until 1903, so it is possible that she was the child of Adam and an as yet unknown first wife.

In this case, two somewhat unusual sources—a newspaper announcement and a court report—provided the information required to connect Mary Ann Hocker to Adam and Eve Hocker, showing her to be a child of Adam Hocker.

Adam and Eve’s relationship to my Hacker-Hocker lines is currently unknown. William Wingeard incorrectly identified Adam as the son of Rev. John4 Hocker (Johan Adam3, Johan Adam2, Christopher1, StephenA) and Christianna Sterling. However, that Adam moved to Montgomery County, Ohio in the late 1830s with the rest of Rev. John Hocker’s family. Other possible fathers for Adam include: George Hocker, son of Frederick3; John Hocker, son of Frederick3; and George Hocker, son of Adam2.

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 sixteenth 52 Ancestors post and part of week twenty-six.

 

52 Ancestors: Anna (Frantz) Hocker (1827-1918)

Kris Hocker on 24 Jun 2014

Anna (Frantz) Hocker, widow of Levi Hocker, died on 3 February 1918 in Pennsylvania.1 Her death certificate began my research into her family.

Anna Frantz Hocker death certificate 1828-1918What did I learn from this death certificate?

  • Anna died at 102 Tuscarora Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
  • Anna was a widow.
  • Anna was born 13 September 1828.
  • Anna was 90 years, 3 months and 20 days old when she died.
  • Anna died 3 February 1918.
  • Anna died from a cerebral hemorrhage of 13 days duration.
  • Anna was born in Pennsylvania.
  • Anna’s father was named Michael Frantz.
  • Michael was born in Pennsylvania.
  • Anna’s mother was named Eliza Walters.
  • Eliza was born in Pennsylvania.
  • Anna was buried in Oberlin Cemetery on 7 February 1918.

Some of the information in this record is likely to be more reliable than the rest. Since this is her death record, information regarding her death was completed at or about the time of her death. If you look at #15 on the certificate, you will see that it was filed on 6 February 1918, 3 days after her death by D.H. Ellinger, the local registrar. This information is more likely to be accurate than secondhand information like her birth date. That’s not to say the secondhand data isn’t correct, just that it must be verified through other records.

Anna died at 102 Tuscarora Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

In this case, Anna died at the same address as that of the record’s informant: H. Hershey Hocker, who turns out to be Anna’s son. According to an article about her 88th birthday celebration, Anna had made her home with her son for several years.2 As early as 1910, Hershey, Anna and Sarah, Hershey’s wife, were all living at 102 Tuscarora.3

The house was still standing as of June 2011 and can be seen on the “street view” at Google Maps.

Anna was a widow.

Her husband Levi Hocker had died 31 October 1876.4

 Anna was born 13 September 1828.

According to her death certificate, Anna was born 13 September 1828. Her gravestone indicates that she was born in 1827. Two newspaper articles were written—one each for her 88th and 89th birthdays in 1915 and 1916, placing birth in 1827.5 Her age in census records is consistent with a late 1827 birthday. The 1900 census states she was born in September 1827.6 So, Hershey was only off by one year on his mother’s date of birth.

Anna was born in Pennsylvania.

Census records consistently state that Anna was born in Pennsylvania.

Anna’s father was named Michael Frantz; Michael was born in Pennsylvania.

According to the History of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania by Luther Reily Kelker, “Anna, [wife of] Levi Hocker, deceased” was the daughter of Michael Frantz and his second wife Elizabeth Walters.7 Michael Frantz was born to Michael Frantz and Feronica Nissley in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania8 on 24 May 1789 [calculated] and died 5 June 1865.9 His death occurred four days before Anna gave birth to her youngest surviving son, Herbert Hershey Hocker.10 While, Hershey may not have known his maternal grandfather, I’m fairly certain he knew of him. Especially because…

Anna’s mother was named Elizabeth Walters.

In 1880, an Elizabeth Frantz, “mother,” was living in Anna Hocker’s household with Anna and some of her children—Francis Michael, Curtin, Maggie and Hershey—as was Maggie Frantz, “sister.”11 Hershey was 14 years old at that time, so he certainly knew—and remembered—his maternal grandmother and Aunt Maggie.

Elizabeth’s gravestone in Churchville cemetery names her as “Elizabeth Walters wife of Michael Frantz.”12

Eliza was born in Pennsylvania.

Per the 1880 census, Elizabeth and her parents were all born in Pennsylvania.

All in all, Hershey only made a minor error in the information he provided for his mother’s death certificate and this information led me to additional information on Anna and her parents.

Summary

Anna Frantz, daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (Walters) Frantz, was born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania—most likely on her father’s property near Oberlin. She married Levi Hocker on 6 February 1851 and the couple settled in Swatara Township where Levi was a farmer. Levi died in 1876, but Anna survived to the age of 90, dieing 3 February 1918 at her son Hershey’s home in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Anna and Levi had 9 children:

  1. Benjamin Franklin Hocker (1852-1919)
  2. Francis Michael Hocker (1854-1919)
  3. Mary Elizabeth Hocker Farnsler (1855-1939)
  4. Emma L. Hocker Brinser (1857-1942)
  5. George Warren Hocker (1858-1868)
  6. Albert Curtin Hocker (1860-1940)
  7. Margaret A. Hocker Hughes (1863-1957)
  8. Herbert Hershey Hocker (1865-1946)
  9. John Edward Hocker (1869-1873)

Anna and Levi were my 3x great grandparents.

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 fifteenth 52 Ancestors post and part of week twenty-five.