Research – Page 22 – A Pennsylvania Dutch Genealogy

The PA Origins of John Hocker of Montgomery Co., Ohio Tracing John Hocker's Dauphin County Family Connections

Kris Hocker on 12 Jul 2011

Just the other day I had reason to go looking for the articles I had written on my research on John and Jacob Hocker, sons of my ancestor Johan Adam and Sophia Maria (Hershey) Hocker. I wanted to send links to someone who had emailed me regarding another Jacob Hocker, son of Adam and Eve (Hamaker) Hocker. To my surprise, I could only find one of the two articles I’d written online—part one On the Trail of John and Jacob Hocker. So, I went looking for the second half. Here’s what I found.

John Hocker of Montgomery County, Ohio

In my previous article, I mentioned a lead from an article by Gaius M. Brumbaugh in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly. He wrote an article in Volume 19, Number 3 (1931) that states that John Hocker, son of Martin Hocker, married Catharina Sterling and settled in Hummelstown, Pa. where he was a minister in the River Brethren Church.¹ The article states that the family moved to Montgomery County, Ohio in 1839. Additional Ohio and Brethren research provided more information on this family.

John Hocker was a farmer and minister of the River Brethren Church in Salem (now Englewood), Randolph Township, Montgomery County, Ohio.² John was born in Pennsylvania circa 1788.³ His was one of six families to emigrate from Dauphin County, Pennsylvania to the area to found the Fairview Church.⁴ According to Catharine (Steirling) Hocker’s obituary, they came to Salem in 1839. ⁵ His family remained in the Salem, Ohio area and can be found in the 1840, 1850, and 1860 U.S. census for Montgomery County, Ohio. John died about 1868 in Salem, Randolph Township, Montgomery County, Ohio.

John “against the wishes of the father [married] Catharine Sterling, recently from Germany. John & Catharine (Sterling) Hocker settled in Hummelstown, Dauphin Co., Pa. where he was a minister of the River Brethren Church. They had 5 ch. in Pa. Anna, Adam, Catharine, Christiana and John. They moved to Oh. in 1839, where their dau. Mary K. Hocker was b. near Salem, Montgomery Co., O. Feb. 18, 1841. Dec. 4, 1862 she m. Rev. Jesse K. Brumbaugh.”⁶

John and Catharine had six children that lived to maturity. The eldest child was Anna. She was born 15 October 1824 in Hummelstown.⁷ Adam, the eldest son, was born 11 September 1828 in Dauphin County.⁸ Christiana was born 1 September 1830 in Dauphin County.⁹ Catharine was born 21 October 1832 in Hummelstown.¹⁰ John, Jr. was born 5 November 1834 in Dauphin County.¹¹ The couple’s youngest child, Mary, was born 18 February 1841 in Salem, Ohio.¹² The obituary records indicate that the family came to Ohio when Adam was aged 11, Catharine was aged 6, and John was aged 5. This put their immigration to Ohio in late 1839.

Pennsylvania Origins

According to census records for Derry Township in 1830 there were two head of households named John Hocker living in the township. The household of the first John Hocker was adjacent to that of Jacob Hocker. There were two males living in the household—one under 5, the other 40 to 50—and two females—one 5 to 10, the other 20 to 30.¹³ John Hocker was the older inhabitant, placing his birth between 1780 and 1790.

The second John Hocker household contains five males, ages under five (2 males), 5 to 10, 15 to 20, and 20 to 30.¹⁴ As the eldest female is also aged 20 to 30, this John Hocker is probably aged 20 to 30, placing his birth between 1800 and 1810.

The first John Hocker household best matches that of our subject both in his details—born 1788—and that of his family—wife Catharine, born 1802; daughter Anna, born 1824; and son Adam, born 1828.

An examination of tax records for Derry Township for 1838 reveals four entries for John Hocker. The first lists John Hocker, a landowner, with approximately 144 acres, valued at $5,226. His name is crossed out and “A. Greiner” is written next to it. The second lists John and Jacob Hocker with 101 acres and a property valuation of $4,300. Their names are crossed out and “to Benjamin Hocker” is written in. The third entry is for John Hocker, a tenant; and the fourth entry is for John and Jacob Hocker, tenants.

Apparently, there were at least two John Hockers in this area who sold their property about 1838. The tax records consistently place both of these property owners in Derry Township between 1825 and 1838. John and Jacob Hocker first appear in 1823 as the heirs of Adam Hocker. John Hocker, owner of the 144 acres, first appears as a property owner in 1826.¹⁵ He appears in 1825 as a single man.¹⁶

The third John Hocker, the tenant, may have been either the John Hocker who transferred property to A. Greiner, or he may have been another John Hocker. There is not enough information in the 1838 tax records to make a final determination.

An examination of other years, both prior to and after 1838, reveals that John Hocker, tenant, was a miller. He first appeared in the records in 1837, also appears in 1838, but is apparently gone by 1840. It is also likely that he married in 1837. There are two entries for him, one as a tenant, the other as a single man, which is crossed out.¹⁷ Given his occupation and his change from single man to tenant, it is likely that this John Hocker is a third man.

So, in 1838, there are three men named John Hocker living in Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Who are they? And which of them is John Hocker, our subject?

John and Jacob Hocker

John and Jacob Hocker sold their Derry Township property to Benjamin Hocker on 2 April 1839. This property consisted of two pieces of land in Derry Township that had previously been owned by Adam Hocker, containing a total of approximately 114 acres. The first tract had been conveyed to Adam Hocker on 6 April 1803 by Jacob and Christina Frank, the second on 6 April 1815 by Jacob and Maria Krause. The Dauphin County Orphans court had granted the properties to “John Hocker, eldest son and Jacob Hocker, third son of the said Adam Hocker, deceased” after the partitioning of Adam Hocker’s estate.¹⁸ John Hocker and Catharine, his wife, and Jacob Hocker and Barbara, his wife, all signed the deed. Their brothers George and Adam Hocker were their sureties. George and Adam were awarded from the estate another property located in Swatara Township.

According to the 1790 census of Harrisburg, Adam Hocker had one male under sixteen living in his household.¹⁹ The 1800 census of Derry Township, Dauphin County shows two males under ten and one between 16 and 26, living in Adam’s household.²⁰ In the 1810 census, Adam had two males under ten (born after 1800), two males between ten and 16 (born 1795-1800), and one male between 16 and 26 (born 1785-1794) living in his household.²¹ The 1820 census shows males (one each) between the ages of 10-16, 16-18, 16-26, 26-45 and 45 and up.²²

As the eldest son, John would have been the male under 16 years of age in 1790 and the male born between 1785 and 1794 in the 1810 census. At the time of the 1800 census enumeration either John was not living at home or the enumerator mistakenly recorded him as being over 16. John was most likely the 26-45 year old male living in Adam Hocker’s household. Adam’s second and third sons, George (age 26) and Jacob (age 24), were living on Adam’s property in Upper Swatara Township about 1820, and therefore would not appear in the 1820 census enumeration for their father.²³

Neither John Hocker, nor Jacob Hocker were found in Dauphin County records after 1838. It is interesting to note, however, that both a John Hocker (the subject) and a Jacob Hocker were found in the 1840 census for Montgomery County, Ohio. John is listed in Randolph Township, while Jacob is listed in Perry Township. Additionally, John Hocker is listed as debtor in Jacob’s administration accounts by his widow, Barbara in 1849. ²⁴

John Hocker and A. Greiner

Anthony Greiner and his wife Catharine transferred 111 acres along Walnut Bottom road in Cumberland County to John Hocker in a deed dated 30 March 1838.²⁵ John continued purchasing land in Cumberland County, buying land from George and Mary Witters and Thomas Miller in 1840, and from the estate of Sarah Harper in 1849.²⁶ In 1859 and 1860, John sold his property in Cumberland County and purchased land from Peter Hocker in Middle Paxton Township, Dauphin County.²⁷

John Hocker was born 6 May 1803/04 in Hockersville, Derry Township; he died 28 June 1884 in Dauphin Boro, Middle Paxton Township, Dauphin County.²⁸ According census records, John’s wife’s name was Elizabeth and their eldest child, Martin, was born circa 1827.²⁹ A John Hocker married an Elizabeth Henrich (or Henry) on 14 Dec 1826 in the Tabor First Reformed Church, Lebanon, Pennsylvania.³⁰ John and Elizabeth (Henry) Hocker were living in Derry Township in 1831, so it is likely that this is the couple that purchased land from Anthony Greiner in 1838.³¹ The 1803/04 birth date makes this John Hocker the second, younger man listed on page 116 in the 1830 census for Derry Township.

John Hocker, the tenant

The third John Hocker living in Derry Township in 1838 was a miller and was apparently married in 1837. John Hocker married Sarah Beinhower 3 Dec 1835 in Hummelstown, Derry Township.³² The couple is found in the 1840 U.S. census living in Lower Swatara Township and the 1850 U.S. census living in Highspire, Lower Swatara Township, Dauphin County.³³ Deed research reveals land transactions in Swatara Township from 1854 through 1878. John Hocker was born 6 July 1815 and died 21 January 1882 in Churchville, Swatara Township.³⁴

Thus, it would appear that the John Hocker, son of Adam Hocker, who sold land with his brother Jacob in 1839 best matches our subject. He was born in approximately the correct time period, his wife was named Catharine, and both John and Jacob Hocker appear in Montgomery County, Ohio in 1840. However, the “Hocker Bible Record” states that John Hocker was the son of Martin Hocker, an innkeeper at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.³⁵

John Hocker, son of Martin Hocker

Martin Hocker was born to Adam and Elisabetha (Weidman) Hacker on 21 October 1768 near Brickerville, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and baptized on 29 November 1768 at the Emanuel Lutheran Church in Brickerville.³⁶ He died in Derry Township, Dauphin County on 25 April 1862, aged 93 years, 6 months and 4 days.³⁷ He moved from Lancaster County to Harrisburg about 1790 when he appears in the 1790 U.S. census for Harrisburg, Dauphin County. Martin was married twice; first he married on 22 March 1799 Christiana Beinhauer, daughter of Peter and Christina (Stober) Beinhauer, in the Salem Lutheran Church.³⁸ Christiana died on 15 December 1808. Second, he married Barbara Smith about 1809.³⁹

According to Martin Hocker’s Last Will and Testament, he had the following children: “Peter, Catharine intermarried with Anthony Greiner, John, George, Christina intermarried with Henry Landis, Elizabeth intermarried with John Foorman, Martin, Mary, Jacob, Susannah intermarried with Christian Welpmer, Sarah intermarried with John Kaufman, Anna intermarried with Henry Seltzer, Barbara intermarried with Uriah Cassel, Molly intermarried with Daniel W. Miller.”⁴⁰ Peter, born 1801; Catharine, born 1802; John, born 1804; George, born 1806; and Christina, born 1808, were the children of Martin and Christiana (Beinhauer) Hocker.⁴¹ Elizabeth, born 1810; Martin, born 1812; Mary, born 1814; Jacob, born 1818; Susannah, born 1822; Sarah, born 1824; Anna, born 1827; Barbara, born 1827; and Molly, born 1829, were the children of Martin and Barbara (Smith) Hocker.⁴²

According to the International Genealogical Index [IGI], John Hocker, born 1804, was the son of Martin and Christiana (Beinhower) Hocker. This is supported by the 1810 census of Londonderry Township where Martin Hocker has 3 males (Peter, John, and George) under 10 years of age in his household, and the 1820 census where he has two males between 10 and 16 (John and George).⁴³

This is the John Hocker who was married to Elizabeth Henry. According to the 1850 U.S. census, John Hocker, age 45, and his wife Elizabeth, were living in Upper Dickinson Township, Cumberland County. The 1860 and 1870 U.S. census enumerations show John, age 56 and 66 respectively, living with his wife Elizabeth in Upper Paxton Township, Dauphin County. This means that the John Hocker who bought land in Cumberland County from A. Greiner in 1838 and from Peter Hocker in Upper Paxton Township in 1860, was purchasing land from his brother-in-law and brother. ⁴⁴

Conclusions

Thus, of the three men named John Hocker who were living in Derry Township in 1838, the best match to the subject is John Hocker, eldest son of Adam Hocker. John Hocker, son of Johan Adam Hocker and Sophia Maria Hershey, left Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania circa 1839 with his brother Jacob Hocker and moved to Randolph Township, Montgomery County, Ohio where he settled with his family. He died there 25 Mar 1868.

Additional information has turned up indicating that John’s wife Catharine’s maiden name may have been Kern. Her obituary reads:

“Hocker—Died near Union, Montgomery co., Ohio, March 18, 1892, aged 90 years, 1 month and 2 days, Christianna Catharine Hocker, maiden name Steirling, born in Kairchheim, Wurtemberg, Germany. Came to this country in the year 1817, married John Hocker of Hummelstown, Pa., came to Ohio, near Salem, in 1839. Her husband preceded her to his long home about twenty-four years. Both were members of the Brethren in Christ, known as the River Brethren. He, having been a minister in that church for years, and we believe he adorned his profession by an “upright walk” and a “chaste conversation” and his “works do follow him.” Funeral services at Fairview church by brethren Abraham Engle and Elder Jesse Stutsman, from Rev. xiv, 13 to a large concourse of people.”⁴⁵

The information for the obituary was provided by her son-in-law Jesse K. Brumbaugh.

However, in her 1922 will Barbara Mae Kern, who never married, left money to the children of her “deceased sister Catharine Hocker,” namely Adam Hocker, John Hocker, Christiana Hershey, Catharine Herr and Mary Brumbaugh; also to Ann Felker (1825-1914) wife or widow of Jacob Felker and previously the widow of Jacob Moist (1820-1879) husband of the late Anna Hocker. These children match those of John and Catharine (Sterling) Hocker, so additional research/information is needed to clear up the question regarding Catharine’s maiden name.

Mortgage: Henry Snyder, 1830

Kris Hocker on 17 Jun 2011

1830 Mortgage of Henry Snyder

Among my grandfather’s papers, I found the original document of a mortgage between Henry Snyder and George Hillegas for 62 acres 40 perches in Upper Hanover Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The document was dated 17 Aug 1830! Here’s what it says:

“This Indenture made the third day of April in the year of our LORD One Thousand Eight Hundred and thirty Between Henry Snyder of Upper Hanover township in the County of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania Cordwainer ~ of the first part, and George Hillegas Seneor [sic] of the same township county and state~ aforesaid Storekeeper ~ of the second part.

Whereas, the said party of the first part, in and by A certain obligation or writing obligatory bearing the date herewith, standeth bound unto the party of the second part, in the sum of fourteen hundred Dollars Lawful Money of Pennsylvania conditioned for the payment of the sum of seven hundred Dollars of lawful Gold of Silver Money current in the State of Pennsylvania, on the first day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty one, with the Lawful Interest for the same, as in and by the said Recited Obligation, and Condition thereof ~

as by the said obligation and the condition thereto, will fully appear: Now this Indenture witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, for and in consideration of the aforesaid obligation, and of the debt therein mentioned, and for the better securing the payment of the same at the times and in the manner in the said obligation specified, and for further consideration of one Dollar him in hand paid by the party of the second part, at and before the sealing and delivery of those presents, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, HATH granted, bargained, sold, released, and confirmed, and by these presents, DOTH, grant, bargain, sell, release and confirm unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, all that certain Messuage tenement and tract of land situate in Upper Hanover township in the County of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania Beginning at a stone a corner of George Hillegas land by the same North thirty five degrees west one hundred fourteen perches and seven tenth of a perch to a stone a corner of the Reformed Congregation land by the same north forty one and one half degrees East forty perches six tenth of a perch to a stone a corner in said line of Jacob [?]oyers land, by the same south forty five degrees East twenty one perches and three tenth of a perch to a stone by the same North twenty seven degrees East nineteen perches to a stone by the same South fifty one degrees East seventeen perches and seven tenth of a perch to a stone by the same South thirty eight degrees West thirteen perches and [one?] tenth of a perch to a stone [?] the same South forty two degrees East twenty two perches to a stone by the same north forty eight and one half degrees East forty two perches to a stone in a line of Henry [?] land by the same South forty one & one half East twenty five perches and nine tenth of a perch to a stone by the same North fifty four degrees fifty minutes East eighty three perches and seven tenth of a perch to a stone by the same South forty seven degrees East eight perches to a line of James Ashmead land by the same South forty two and one quarter degrees west one hundred eighty eight perches and seven tenth to the place of Beginning Containing sixty two Acres forty perches of land (It being the same which Jacob Stoyer[?] Administrator to the will annexed of Godfreyd Wissler yeoman deceased by his Indenture dated the day previous the date hereof duly Acknowledged have granted and Confirmed unto the said Henry Snyder (party hereto) to hold the same to him his heirs and Assigns in fee as in and by said Recited Indenture, intended to be Recorded, Relation being thereunto had appears)

Together with all and singular the hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging, and the remainders and reversions, rents, issues and the profits thereof; and all the estate, right, title and interest of him the said party of the first part, his heirs and assigns, of, in and to the same: To have and to hold the premises hereby granted, with the appurtenances, unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns; to the use of the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever. Provided always nevertheless, that if the said party of the first part, his heirs, executors or administrators, do and shall pay or cause to be paid to the said party of the second part, his executors, administrators or assigns, the aforesaid debt or sum of money in the said obligation and condition mentioned, at the times and in the manner therein specified and provided, then and thenceforth as well this Indenture as the estate hereby granted, shall determine and become void, any thing herein before contained to the contrary notwithstanding. In Witness whereof the said parties to these presents have hereunto interchangeably set their hands and seals the day and year first above written.

Henry Snyder (seal)

Sealed and delivered in the presence of
[written in German, can’t read]
Jacob Gerhard

Montgomery County Ss

On the third day of April Anno Domini 1830 before me Jacob Gerhard Esquire one of the Justices of the peace in and for said County personally appeared Henry Snyder the grantor above named and acknowledged the foregoing Indenture to be his act and deed. Witness my hand and seal the day and year just above written.

Jacob Gerhard (seal)

I haven’t done much primary research into this family, but I can’t imagine this document being saved and passed down unless either Henry Snyder was a relative or the document pertained to the farm of my great-great grandfather Henry D. Snyder. Additional research is needed to determine the truth of either hypothesis.

Friday Finds: An Old German Midwife’s Record

Kris Hocker on 10 Jun 2011

Update (7/4/2011): I’ve added the possible names of children and their parents where I have information. As you can see there’s more to add. If you have information that fits, please send me an email. Thanks.

An Old German Midwife’s Record, 1795-1815

Yesterday, I was poking around online trying to find Huber information when I came across the most wonderful article. I found a book entitled The American Ethnographical Survey, Conestoga Expedition, 1902. In it there was an article that included a transcription of an old German midwife’s record.¹

Susanna (Rohrer) Müller (aka Miller) lived in Martic (now Providence) Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and served as a midwife from 1792 through 1815 when she died. She kept a careful record of her practice. It included the date, the number of children, the name of the family, and how much she charged them in pounds, shilling and pence. She scrupulously tried to capture the family name as she heard it. This record is a wonderful find for a genealogist—both as a possible source for birth information and as a German speakers record of both German and English names.

Scrolling through the pages, I recognized many, many names from my deed research in the Martic and Conestoga townships area. The following is a list of Huber/Hoover families she served and the relevant dates:

20 Dec 1795: Henrich Huber
24 Apr 1796: Martin Huber
5 Oct 1796: Hans Huber
19 Mar 1797: Abraham Huber [Christianna, daughter of Abraham & Anna (Huber) Huber?]
29 Sep 1797: Henrich Huber
20 Nov 1797: Hans Huber
11 Dec 1797: Marde [Martin] Huber [Jacob, son of Martin & Mary (Miller) Huber]
23 Feb 1799: Henrich Huber
20 Mar 1799: Abraham Huber [Anna, daughter of Abraham & Anna (Huber) Huber?]
19 Nov 1799: Peter Huber [Esther, daughter of Peter & Mary (Huber) Huber?]
28 Mar 1800: Marde [Martin] Huber [Martin Jr., son of Martin & Mary (Miller) Huber]
29 May 1800: Hener [Henry] Huber [Benjamin, son of Henry & Barbara (Huber) Huber, daughter of Jacob Huber Jr.?]
4 Jul 1800: Christle [Christian] Huber [Christian Jr., son of Christian Huber]
17 Mar 1801: Abraham Huber [Mary, daughter of Abraham & Anna (Huber) Huber?]
1 Aug 1801: Martin Huber, Schreiner [Martin, son of Martin & Mary (Eshleman) Huber?]
6 Oct 1801: Hans Huber
1 Feb 1802: Abraham Huber
2 Sep 1802: Martin Huber [Samuel, son of Martin & Mary (Miller) Huber]
12 May 1803: Henner [Henry] Huber [child of Henry & Barbara (Huber) Huber, daughter of Jacob Huber Jr.?]
28 Jun 1803: Marden Huber, Schreiner [Anna or Elizabeth, daughter of Martin & Mary (Eshleman) Huber?]
26 Mar 1804: Abraham Huber
8 Apr 1804: Peder [Peter] Huber [John, son of Peter & Mary (Huber) Huber]
21 Jun 1804: Henrich Huber
17 Sep 1805: Hanes [Johannes] Huber, Maurer
27 Mar 1806: Abraham Huber [Elizabeth, daughter of Abraham & Anna (Huber?) Huber]
27 Feb 1807: Jacob Huber
26 Apr 1807: Jacob Huber, living with Peder [Peter] Guth [Good]
25 May 1807: Christle Huber
17-23 Jun 1807: Marde Huber, Schreiner² [child of Martin and Mary (Eshleman) Huber?]
3 Mar 1808: Mardin Huber, Schreiner [child of Martin and Mary (Eshleman) Huber?]
20 Sep 1808: Hans Huber, Maurer
14 Apr 1809: Abraham Huber, Schumacher [Jacob, son of Abraham & Mary (Huber?) Huber]
23 Mar 1810: Marde Huber [possibly David, son of Martin & Mary (Miller) Huber]
14 Aug 1810: Hans Huber, Maurer
5 Apr 1811: Henrich Huber
5 Sep 1811: Abraham Huber, Wewer
17 Oct 1811: Mardin Huber, Schreiner [Barbara, daughter of Martin & Mary (Eshleman) Huber?]
15 Nov 1811: Jacob Huber
24 Dec 1811: Abraham Huber
17 Oct 1812: John Huber, Maurer
30 Nov 1812: Marden Huber [possibly Mary, daughter of Martin & Mary (Miller) Huber]
2 Dec 1812: Henrich Huber
9 Jul 1813: Jacob Huber
18 Sep 1813: Abraham Huber
15 Feb 1814: Abraham Huber
13 Sep 1814: Abraham Huber, Wewer
12 Apr 1815: John Huber, Maurer
21 Apr 1815: Abraham Huber, Schum. [daughter of Abraham & Mary (Huber?) Huber?]
24 May 1815: Daniel Huber [Catharine, daughter of Daniel & Susanna (Moyer?) Huber?]
19 Sep 1815: Abraham Huber
30 Mar ??: Martin Huber

Some of the entries indicate an occupation. I’ve translated them, as follows:

Schreiner = carpenter
Maurer = mason
Schumacher = shoemaker
Wewer = weaver?

Unfortunately, the entries do not include the names of the babies she delivered. However, using other documents that provide approximate birth dates with the dates in this record could help determine exact birth dates for children born in this area in the late 1790s and early 1800s.

You never know what you’ll find online. I’m certainly glad that I followed this search result!

Oops! That Can’t Be Right…

Kris Hocker on 8 Jun 2011

I’ve been going through Lancaster County deeds for the Conestoga/Pequea/Martic/Providence/W. Lampeter/Strasburg townships area for Hoovers, taking notes and trying to attribute them to Hoover family members. Sometimes I can easily figure out who the deed belongs to; sometimes I just don’t have enough information. One deed I’ve been working on helped me catch an error in my database.

In this deed, John Hoover’s heirs were releasing two tracts of his land to his son John Hoover Jr. So, I looked through the database to find a matching family. Unfortunately, I didn’t find one—I found two. Two exact matches—John, his children, even his father’s name! Furthermore, some of the source records matched.

Obviously, I had made a mistake!

So, I pulled the information I had on John and John’s father—Abraham Huber—and started again.

On 26 Mar 1862, John Huber’s heirs—namely, Anna Huber, Mary Huber, Jonas Huber, Susan and Christian Kreider, and Lydia and Jonas Shank—released two tracts of land owned by their father to John Huber Jr.¹ These tracts included: 1) a mansion tract of 91 acres 107 perches, adjoining Christian Harnish, Benjamin Bare, and Daniel Good and 2) a woodland tract of 41[?] acres 94[?] perches, adjoining John Huber, John Wilson and others.

In another deed two years later, John Huber’s administrators sold the woodland tract—31 acres 153 perches—to Edward Davis, Henry Potts Jr. and Howard Potts.² At the end of this deed, Mary Huber, widow of John Huber Sr., released her dower rights to this property to Davis & Potts. Additionally, this deed specifically states that this property was originally part of a larger tract owned by Abraham Huber and bequeathed to John Huber, his son.

Abraham Huber of Conestoga Township died 4 May 1827. He wrote his will 23 Jul 1817 and it was proven 9 Jun 1827.³ In it he stated:

“…Item, It is my will that my son John shall have the plantation
where I now live on, a part in Canastogoe [sic] and a part in Martick [sic]
township, together with thirty eight acres of woodland in said Martick [sic]
township…”

John Huber’s Martic twp tracts

This not only reaffirms that John was Abraham’s son, but also helps to identify Abraham’s parentage.

On 30 Apr 1785, Abraham Huber purchased two tracts of land from his father’s estate.⁴ The first was a tract containing 67 acres; the second was 38 acres 53 perches. Both were in Martic Township. This deed states that the first tract was part of a 105-acre tract patented to John Hoover 2 Oct 1744 by the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania.⁵ The second tract was part of a 110-acre tract patented to John Hoover 25 Apr 1765.⁶

Abraham was the son John and Barbara (___) Huber of Martic Township. His brothers Christian and Peter also purchased land from their father’s estate—a 112-acre tract that they partitioned into two 64-acre tracts.⁷ Their tract sat between Abraham’s two tracts. Abraham’s “mansion tract” sat the north end of John Huber’s 105 acres (see #3 on map). Abraham’s woodland tract was a wedge in the southwest corner of John Huber’s 110 acres (labelled John Hoover on map).

Other children of John and Barbara (___) Huber mentioned in these deeds included:

Jacob Huber and wife Margaret [possibly Shank??]
John Huber
Henry Huber and wife Mary [possibly Neiswanger??]
Anna Huber Brenneman (widow)
Frena Huber
Barbara Huber

Reviewing these documents also allowed me to determine where I made my error. On 3 Oct 1807 Christian Huber and his wife Mary, former widow and relict of Ulrich Huber, sold 95 acres in Martic Township to Abraham Huber.⁸ Since this land was part of the estate of Ulrich Huber Jr., I had incorrectly attributed the deed to Ulrich and Mary’s son Abraham. He had been underage in 1785 when the estate was settled, but by 1807 would have been old enough to purchase the property, even if he’d been an infant in 1785.

Add the incorrect attribution of this deed to the following from Abraham Huber’s 1827 will and you have an instant family mix-up.

“…Item, And it is my will that my son Abraham shall have the plantation
that I bought of Christian Hoover and where my said son Abraham
now lives on…”

The 1807 deed between Abraham and Christian and Mary (Funk) Huber Huber does not state that Abraham was Ulrich & Mary’s son—unlike the 1785 deed between Abraham Huber and his mother and siblings which states he was “another son of said deceased” [John Huber]. Futhermore, both the 1785 and the 1807 deed were recorded in Lancaster County Deed Book 10 on 13 Nov 1813, one right after the other, strengthening the likelihood that they both refer to the same Abraham Huber.

So, one database error fixed. One family line straightened out. All by following the inheritance of land from one generation to the next.

Daniel Hoover, late of Conestoga (now Pequea) Township

Kris Hocker on 3 Jun 2011

Daniel Hoover of Conestoga Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania was born ca 1783 and died sometime between 24 Sep 1850, when he was enumerated with his wife Susanna and daughter Magdalena in the 1850 U.S. Census, and 17 Nov 1851 when a valuation of his property was accepted by the Lancaster County Orphan’s Court.¹,² His property included “…six acres more or less, with a story and a half Log dwelling house, a Carpenter Shop and other improvements…” and was assessed at $1400.

Apparently, Daniel had quite a large family—15 children (in no real order):

Benjamin, born bef 1831
Daniel Jr., born bef 1831, second son
Catharine, born bef 1831, married Christian Swartly
Abraham M., born bef 1831
Jacob, born bef 1831
Henry, born bef 1831
Susan, born bef 1831
Susan, born bef 1831
John, born bef 1831
Christian, born bef 1831
Anna, born bef 1831, married John Newcomer
David M., born bef 1831
Amos, born bef 1831
Samuel, born aft 1831
Mary, born ca 1835
Magdalena “Matty,” born ca 1837

Daniel Hoover Jr., second son of Daniel Hoover, accepted the property. On 27 Mar 1852 he paid 9 of his siblings—Benjamin Huber, Catharine Swartly, Abraham M. Hoover, Jacob Huber, Henry Huber, Susan Huber, and John Kendig (guardian for Mary, Samuel and Matty)—$63.27 for their share of the estate.³ He also sold the property on this date to Abraham Harnish, a neighbor. On 5 May 1852, he paid his other siblings—John, Christian, Anna Newcomer, David and Amos—their share of the estate.⁴

David M. Huber was of Henry County, Indiana when he signed the release in 1852.⁵

Mary M. Huber signed a release to John Kendig, her former guardian, on 5 Apr 1856 after she reached full age (21 years).⁶ She was of West Lampeter Township at the time.

Susanna Huber, Daniel’s widow, died in 1870 in East Hempfield Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.⁷ Her son Benjamin and daughter Magdalena were also deceased by 26 Mar 1870. The following heirs signed a release to their brother Abraham M. Huber, executor of their mother’s will: Christian M. Huber, David M. Huber, Mary Kreider, Henry M. Huber, Catharine Swartley, Amos M. Huber, John M. Huber, Susan M. Huber, Anna Newcomer, Jacob Huber, Samuel M. Huber, and Daniel Huber. At the time Christian M. Huber was in Richland County, Illinois. David M. Huber was in Henry County, Indiana, as he had been in 1852. Henry M. Huber was in Greene County, Ohio. And John M. Huber was in Wells County, Indiana. All the rest of the children were still in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

UPDATE!: Daniel may be the Daniel Hoover, born 24 Jan 1782 and died 26 Aug 1851 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, son of Johannes Huber and Barbara Veit/Feit.

Where Did My Christian Hoover Live?

Kris Hocker on 2 Jun 2011

One of the difficulties in researching Christian Hoover has been trying to find the location of his property. Through family stories, I know he lived in Clearfield County—either Covington or Karthaus townships. My grandmother remembers having family picnics there when she was growing up—the family moved from Clearfield County to Pine Glen, Burnside Township, Centre County when she was two—so it couldn’t have been too far away from the Pine Glen/Karthaus area.

I’ve searched for deeds for Christian Hoover with no luck. All I’ve been able to find are the deeds where his children and widow sold his property after his death in 1888. I’ve no idea when or from whom he received the property. These deeds place Christian Hoover’s 50-acre farm in Covington Township and as being part of the “Dodge lands” and warrant no. 5404.¹

Now, this map shows the tract for Dodge, James & Stokes, no. 5404 (see top right corner of pink area).

Northern Covington Township, 1878

According to this map, Christian Hoover’s farm was on a branch of the Mosquito Creek. A modern atlas shows this tributary as Twelvemile Run. Given it’s location, it’s possible that the deed was recorded not in Clearfield County, but in the county to the north—Cameron County.

Unfortunately, a search in the Cameron County deed index does not turn up any deeds for Christian Hoover.

So, when did Christian and family arrive in Covington Township? The family, I believe, is in Henderson Township, Jefferson County at the time of the 1860 US Federal census.² Christian was of Gaskill Township, Jefferson County in 1863 when he was drafted for the Civil War.³ I haven’t found any of the family in the 1870 census. But Caroline (Kinnard) Hoover was of Covington Township, Clearfield County when she died in Feb 1877.⁴

So, sometime between 1863 and 1877, Christian Hoover moved his family from Jefferson County to the northern section of Covington Township, Clearfield County. Tax records—if they exist—might help to pinpoint when Christian moved onto his 50-acre farm, but beyond that I’m all out of suggestions.

Do you have any research ideas? If so, please send them my way!

Christian Hoover of Heidelberg Township, York County

Kris Hocker on 21 May 2011

Christian Hoover of Heidelberg Township, York County, Pennsylvania wrote his last will and testament on 15 February 1771. It was proven on 21 Mar 1771. He died without issue. He named his wife Mary as his sole executor, leaving her all his property, but settling £300 on the surviving children of his brothers Jacob, Ulrich and Henry Hoover. In the will he also names two sons of his sister Ann Keny: Johannes and Henry Keny.¹

I’ve been curious about this Christian Hoover for some time. The fact that he names his brothers and sister is a tantalizing clue and I’m eager to connect them as a family. Unfortunately, there are several matches for these names and since he does not provide any location information for his nieces and nephews, I’m currently stumped.

Deciding to research Christian more, I went looking for his estate files. Since he left money to his brothers’ children, I’d expect an account or receipts or some proof that the heirs were paid. After contacting the York County Archives, I learned that his estate file included only an inventory. While it included a list of bonds and notes, none were for Hoovers.

Sometimes quitclaims or releases for estates are recorded in deed book registers. A check of both the grantor and grantee indices for Christian Hoover yielded only one possible match—a deed from the Christian Hoover estate to John Whelty in 1799. There were several other deeds for Christian Hoover of Heidelberg—one in 1774 and one in 1786, but I already had them and they were from a Christian Hoover who was still alive at the time each deed was written. Not a match for a man who died in 1771.

The deed to John Whelty was written 16 June 1777 and recorded 30 March 1799. In it Jacob Coghanour and Mary his wife of Frederick County, Maryland sold property in Heidelberg and Manheim townships, which had belonged to Christian Hoover, to John Whelty of Manheim Township, York County, Pennsylvania. Christian Hoover had left the land to his wife Mary in his will, but she had since died intestate and without issue. Jacob Coghanour, as Mary’s brother, inherited the land—and the £300 debt owed from the estate to the children of Christian’s brothers— so, Jacob and Mary sold the land to John Whelty “in order to dispose of the said three tracts or parcels of land and premises to the best advantage and to pay the said sum of three hundred pounds agreeable among all the legal representatives as well of the said Christian Hoover deceased…”² John Whelty, a brother-in-law of Mary (Coghanour) Hoover, turned around and sold the land 9 May 1781 to John Spitler of Hanover Town.³ These deeds were recorded in March 1799, probably when John Conrad—the owner after Spitler—sold it to John Mumma.

While all this is useful information, it doesn’t tell me anything more about Christian’s nieces and nephews. A closer, re-examination of the will reveals that the estate was…

…subject nevertheless at her decease to the Payment of three Hundred Pounds Lawful Money of Pennsylvania to be paid by her Heirs or assigns in three equl [sic] Anual [sic] payments of one Hundred pounds each payment, the first of which payment to be made in one Year after her decease…

So, the payment of the £300 wasn’t to start until a year after Mary’s death.

The question now is: when did Mary die? She was obviously alive when Christian wrote his will in February 1771. She signed the inventory on 21 April 1771. But she was deceased by 16 June 1777 when her brother sold Christian’s land to their brother-in-law John Welty. A deed from Valentine Eyler in 1776 mentions Mary as the widow Hoover, owner of one of the properties adjoining that which he was selling.⁴ So, she was most likely still alive on 18 January 1776, placing her death sometime between January 1776 and June 1777

The next step is to find Mary’s estate file. She died intestate, so there won’t be a will. There should be an administration account, especially since her estate owed money to Christian’s nieces and nephews, maybe a bond… If I’m lucky there will be a list of payments made from the estate to the heirs, perhaps even receipts from those heirs. Looks like I’ll be writing the York County Archives again to see if Mary (Coghanour) Hoover’s intestate file still exists. Wish me luck!

Friday Finds: York County Archives

Kris Hocker on 20 May 2011

I‘m accustomed to visiting the websites of state and county archives to learn more about their holdings to determine if I should plan a visit or request information by mail. Sometimes you can find quite a bit more. Such is the case with the York County Archives (Pennsylvania).

I’ve been pondering additional research on Christian Hoover of Heidelberg Township. His will names his brothers Ulrich, Jacob and Henry and his sister Ann Keny, but doesn’t provide any additional information. The will specifically leaves money for the surviving heirs of his brothers and two of his sister’s sons John and Henry, but again does not provide any other clues, no other names or locations.

Wondering what estate information was available for research and where I could write to get it, I did a search for York County estate files and wound up at the York County Archives website. The site provides a list of available records and additional information on each records group. It also provides access to indices for many of the records groups. You can search by surname and the site will provide a link to an index in PDF format for that name.

Although the Estate Files (1749-1958) were not indexed, I emailed the archives and they very quickly got back to me with a list of available records from Christian’s estate file AND suggested some additional files for a Ulrich Hoover that might be relevant. I ordered the files, paying by credit card online, and received them as PDF files the NEXT morning via email. Since then I’ve also ordered several deed files and experienced the same friendly, efficient and fast turnaround.

Talk about customer service!

If you know specifically what document you’re looking for and can’t get to York County yourself, this is a fantastic alternative to hiring a researcher or ordering films through the FHL. I know I’ll probably be ordering more records in the near future!

Henry Hoover (Strasburg), d. ca 1833

Kris Hocker on 16 May 2011

Going through Lancaster County deeds, I discovered two deeds that referenced the heirs of Henry Hoover (alias Huber) of Strasburg Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.¹,² According to these deeds, Henry Hoover died intestate, unmarried and without issue. John Stauffer was the administrator of his estate.

On 18 Dec 1833 Martin Hoover of Franklin County, Pennsylvania in right of himself and also as the attorney for John Hoover, Christian Hoover, Abraham Hoover, Samuel Hoover, Jeremiah Hoover, Jeremiah Sensinig (Senseny) & Catharine his wife, and John Whitmore & Martha his wife—“being the eight children & representatives of Christian Hoover dec’d who was one of the eight brothers & sisters of Henry Hoover (alias Huber) late of Strasburg Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania”—acknowledged the receipt of monies from the estate. Martin was also the representative of one of the sisters of Henry Hoover—possibly Ester Ream/Beam?—and also of the only son & issue of another sister. The document is difficult to read through that section but it might be Jacob Zimmerman[?], son of Elizabeth Zimmerman[?].

On 3 Oct 1834, Samuel Brand of Chambersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania and Christian Brand of Waynesboro, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, being all the issue of Freny Brand, one of the eight brothers & sisters of Henry Hoover of Strasburg Township, acknowledged the receipt of their shares of the estate. According to both deeds, the executor, John Stauffer, entered the estate account into the Register’s Office on 17 Dec 1833.

So, who was Henry? Since he died intestate and unmarried without issue, this Henry Hoover can not be the man I wrote of in Friday Find: Henry Huber’s Strasburg Property. That Henry was married to Anna Herr, daughter of Abraham and Feronica (___) Herr and granddaughter of Christian and Anna (___) Herr.

At this point it’s hard to know where he fits in to the Lancaster Hoovers. I’ve found no record of a sale of land from his estate, so even if I were able to find a deed where a Henry Hoover purchased land in Strasburg, I might not be able to adequately determine that it was purchased by this Henry Hoover as there were several in this general area. The two deeds I’ve seen only refer to his siblings Christian, Ester?, Elizabeth?, and Freny. If there were eight siblings, then I’ve got four more to find. His intestate records may have more information.

If you have any information on this Henry Hoover, his siblings or nieces and nephews, please drop me a line! I’d love to learn more about them.

Friday Finds: Order LDS Films Online (Soon?)

Kris Hocker on 8 Apr 2011

I’ve known that you could order microfilm online from the Church of the Latter Day Saint’s FamilySearch if you lived in Australia for a little while. Now, however, if you live in Utah you can do it, too. And it’ll soon be available to the rest of us in the United States.

“You can sit at home and order microfilms and microfiche from FamilySearch in Salt Lake City. All you need is a computer with an Internet connection and a user ID, which is free.

The films and fiche will be delivered to a Family History Center near you and you will be notified when they arrive. You then must go to the Family History Center and use the microfilm and microfiche readers there to view the materials.”

This makes so much sense to me. I haven’t actually ordered films in recent years because of the inconvenience—having to drive to the nearest Family History Center—over 30 minutes away—to spend mere minutes writing up the order and paying for it. Then driving back down when the microfilm arrived. There are so many other avenues of research I can follow from home that I couldn’t be bothered. Now I’ll be able to conveniently follow-up on research that I’d tabled due to the inconvenience factor. Yay!

Update: This has been available for some time now. I’ve been ordering films from them and having them sent to a local library that is part of the FHL’s program. It’s incredibly convenient and—except for one bobble that was quickly corrected—has been a smooth and reliable process!

Category: Research