Category: Research

Family research

James BUCHANAN

Kris Hocker on 17 Mar 2009

I’m seeking information on James Buchanan, husband of Sarah “Sally” Craig, and possibly the son of John Buchanan and Mary Irvine(?). I’d like to prove/disprove that the James Buchanan who was married to Sarah Craig was the son of John and Mary (Irvine) Buchanan,  identify a birth place, and prove/disprove that he also married Margaret Tatlock

James BUCHANAN was born circa 1812/22 in Ireland and he may have died 17 Apr 1888 in Shotts, Lanarkshire, Scotland of bronchitis. In various census records, he was listed as a coal miner and ironstone miner. About 1845, James married Sarah CRAIG. She was born circa 1809 in Ireland and died sometime between 1851 and 1861 in Scotland.

James and Sarah had two children that I know of:

  1. Elizabeth Buchanan (1845/7—13 May 1828) married Peter Purvis Bonnington. Scottish census records place Elizabeth’s birth place most consistently in Lanarkshire, Scotland.
  2. Sarah Buchanan (ca 1847—?)

The 1851 Scottish census found him in Cambusnethan, Lanarkshire, Scotland with his wife Sarah, daughters Elizabeth and Sarah, and widowed mother Mary, living at #9 Barnhall Row. He was a coal miner. All the family was listed as born in Ireland. I’m fairly certain that this is, indeed, my James Buchanan.

I believe the 1861 Scottish census found him in Bathgate, Linlithgow, Scotland with his daughter Sarah. He was listed as being a coal miner. Both father and daughter were listed as born in Ireland. Daughter Elizabeth was living with a family in High Church, Edinburgh, Scotland, working as a dairymaid. According to this census, Elizabeth was born in Shotts, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

I may have found him in Shotts, Lanarkshire, Scotland in 1871 and 1881. Unfortunately, while the birth place matches and he’s still a miner, the ages do not match. Additionally, neither daughter is living with him. Instead he’s living with what would be a second family—wife Margaret Tatlock and children: Mary, Catherine, James, William, and John. I think this may be the same James Buchanan, but I need more proof before I can say for certain.

Do you know anything about this Buchanan family? If so, please add a comment.

Adam and Eve (Hamaker) Hocker

Kris Hocker on 17 Mar 2009

Sometimes during your research you come across families with the same surname you’re researching, but you don’t know how or if they fit into your family. The family of Adam and Eve (Hamaker) Hocker is one such family.

Originally, William Wingeard attributed Adam as a son of John and Christianne Catharine (Steirling) Hocker—primarily, I believe because of his age and proximity to where John and Catharine were living in Pennsylvania. However, subsequent research proved that John and his brother Jacob moved their families—including John’s son Adam—to Ohio about 1839. Since Adam and Eve (Hamaker) Hocker remained in Pennsylvania, Adam can not be John’s son.

I am seeking any additional information on this family, especially any data that may lead to an identification of Adam’s parentage.

Adam Hocker was born 19 Oct 1812, possibly in Hummelstown, Derry township, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania and died 26 Sep 1870 in Swatara township, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania.1 He was buried in Churchville Cemetery in Oberlin, Pennsylvania. Adam was a farmer, and he first showed up in Dauphin county tax records in 1834 (age about 22).

Adam married Eve Hamaker, daughter of Adam Hamaker (25 Dec 1778—15 Nov 1828) and Magdalena Snavely (17 Oct 1776—5 Apr 1845), on 22 Feb 1838.2 Eve was born 24 Jun 1817 and died 14 Nov 1892. She, too, was buried in Churchville Cemetery on 18 Nov 1892.3

Adam and Eve (Hamaker) Hocker had the following children:

  1. Jacob H. Hocker (1839—1911)
  2. John Hocker (1841—1905)
  3. Adam H. Hocker (1843—1902)
  4. Mary Elizabeth Hocker (1946—1930)
  5. Sarah Hocker (1848—1930)
  6. David R. Hocker (1850—1887)
  7. Malinda Hocker (1853—1926)
  8. Martin M. Hocker (1855—1928)
  9. Anna C. Hocker (1860—1947)

John Hocker

Kris Hocker on 12 Mar 2009

John Hocker was born on 12 Nov 1781 in Elizabeth Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, presumably the eldest son of Frederick and Catharina (Fuchs) Hacker.1,2 He was christened on 18 Nov 1781 in Emanuel Lutheran Church, Brickerville, Warwick township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, sponsored by Johannes Zieger and wife Barbara.3 John died in Reamstown, Cocalico township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1847; he was 65.

John Hacker appears on the census for Cocalico township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1810, 1820, and 1830. 4,5,6  On 20 Mar 1812, John-with his brother-in-law, Michael Klein-petitioned the court to award an inquest on his father’s estate.7  John subsequently refused his rights his father’s farm, in favor of his younger brother George.8

John first married about 1804 Salome/Sarah Moser, daughter of Johan Adam Moser (8 Nov 1746-26 Jan 1823) and Christina Prunner (5 Nov 1752-5 Nov 1823), in Pennsylvania. 9 Salome was born on 9 Aug 1783 in Pennsylvania and christened in Muddy Creek Lutheran Church, East Cocalico township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania.10 Salome/Sarah died in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, sometime before 1823, possibly as early as 1807. She is referred to as deceased in both her father and mother’s estate documents of 1823.11 She was buried in the Lutheran and Reformed Cemetery, Reamstown, Cocalico township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania.

They had the following children:

  1. John Hocker Jr. was born about 1804, probably in Cocalico township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania and may have died sometime after Aug 1896 in West Cocalico township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. He was likely a farmer in West Cocalico township, Lancaster Pennsylvania. And he may have been the John Hocker who married on 25 Oct 1832 Rebecca Bucher, daughter of Jacob Bucher.
    1. Susanna B. Hacker (ca 1833-?)
    2. John B. Hacker (Jan 1839-1929)
    3. Isaac B. Hacker (5 Mar 1855-24 Jul 1921)
  2. George Hocker was born about 1805, probably in Cocalico township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. He was still alive in 1828, but nothing more is known about him.
  3. Lydia Hocker was born about 1807, probably in Cocalico township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. She was still alive in 1828, but nothing more is known about her.

Sometime before 1823, John married second Susanna Moser, daughter of Johan Adam and Christina (Prunner) Moser, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. Susanna was born 3 Aug 1781.12,13 Susanna died in Durlach, Clay township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, on 29 Nov 1863; she was 82.14

John and Susanna may have been married as early as 1811, and quite possibly had a son and two daughters, all born between 1811 and 1820. These children are not mentioned in the will of their grandfather Adam Musser as John’s three children with his first wife are named, because their mother Susanna was still living and therefore she was their grandfather’s direct heir.15

Susanna (Moser) Hacker was listed on the census for Elizabeth township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1850, living with Samuel Weich’s family.16 She was listed on the census for Clay township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania in 1860, living with Samuel Wike’s family.17 Samuel’s wife Sarah was likely the “Sara Hacker,” daughter of John and Susanna, born 22 Mar 1822 and baptized at Salem Lutheran church in Reamstown on 1 Jan 1826.18

Johan George Hacker

Kris Hocker on 28 Feb 2009

George2 Hacker (Johan Adam1) is another Hacker/Hocker family member I’ve had some difficulty finding information on.

Johan George Hacker was the fifth son of Johan Adam and Maria Elisabetha (Weidman) Hacker. He was born 9 October 1766 and christened 12 October 1766 in the Emanuel Lutheran Church in Brickerville, sponsored by Lorenz Haushalter and wife (his uncle and aunt).1 He died 12 September 1846 and was buried in the Emanuel Lutheran Church cemetery.2 This is all William Wingeard found on George.

I managed to find reference to him (most likely) in the 1814 Lancaster county will of Christopher Miller (Mueller) of Cocalico township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania.3 In the will, George Hacker is named as his son-in-law, husband to Christopher’s daughter Christina. This tells us who he married, but doesn’t provide much additional information. Christina is buried in the Emanuel Lutheran Church cemetery with her husband.

Census records don’t show George until 1810 when he is included in the list for Cocalico township.4 He is in Lebanon township in 1820, living alongside Christopher Miller, possibly his brother-in-law.5 I have been unable to find him either 1830 or 1840 U.S. Federal census records. Christopher Miller, however, is back in Lancaster county, in Elizabeth township in 1830 through 1850.

Lancaster county tax records show a George Hacker in 1791, his status “freeman.”6  I’m assuming that this is Johan Adam’s son George as Adam’s brother Johan George had moved his family to Erdenheim (outside Philadelphia) in 1763 and Frederick’s son George (Johan George’s nephew) was an infant.

He is listed in 1796—1799 tax records together with Frederick, his brother. In 1800, he’s listed separately, but in 1801—1803 they are listed together again. In 1805, George is listed as having 10 acres valued at $600, having 1 saw or grist mill. George, the miller, is also listed in 1806, 1807, and 1808.  There my tax records end.

In 1817 George purchased land in Lebanon county with his brother-in-law Christopher Miller.7 On 21 July 1816, George and Christina had a child, Joseph, baptized in Shaefferstown at St. Luke’s church, and sponsored baptisms at Shaefferstown in 1815 and 1817.8 In November 1817, George sponsored a child’s baptism at Salem Lutheran church in Lebanon.9

However, that’s where the trail goes cold. I have nothing on him, including the births of other children, tax records, or land transactions, until his burial at Emanuel Lutheran Church. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!

Levi Hocker’s Sad and Mysterious Death

Kris Hocker on 22 Feb 2009

In researching the family William Wingeard found several articles about Levi Hocker’s mysterious disappearance and the subsequent discovery of his suicidal drowning. I’ve included transcriptions of the newspaper accounts below.

Mysterious Disappearance

The Harrisburg Daily Patriot (Monday, October 30, 1876)

Friday night about 11 o’clock Mrs. Levi Hocker, who resides at the toll gate on the turnpike, a few miles east of this city, discovered the absence of her husband, who had accompanied her to bed at eight or nine o’clock. The premises were searched, and Saturday morning several parties scoured the woods in the vicinity and other points without finding the least trace of Mr. Hocker. At ten o’clock in the morning the search had proved abortive, and fears are entertained that evil has befallen him. On leaving the house Mr. Hocker placed the key on the outside of the door at which he passed to the outside and locked it. All of the other doors were found unlocked. Mr. Hocker is an old citizen of this county and has been held in high esteem. Of late he has been suffering from dyspepsia.

Still Missing

The Harrisburg Daily Patriot (Friday November 3, 1876)

Up to last evening no clue has been had of the whereabouts of Levi Hocker the missing farmer of Swatara township. The dams at Walker’s Mill and at the poor house have been “drawn off”, we have been informed, to ascertain whether the missing man had drowned himself, but no trace of him has been found. Photographs of him have been left at the Mayor’s office for the purpose of identifying the missing man.

Miscellany

The Harrisburg Daily Patriot (Thursday, November 9, 1876)

No clue has yet been ascertained as to the whereabouts of the missing man, Levi Hocker, of Swatara Township, this county.

False Rumor

The Harrisburg Daily Patriot (Monday, November 13, 1876)

A rumor circulated Saturday morning that the body of the missing man, Levi Hocker, was found floating in the new reservoir, a Patriot reported made diligent search after the facts relating to the matter, visiting the coroner and other parties who would be likely  to know the truth in regard to the matter but no confirmation of the report could be obtained from any source.

The Missing Farmer Levi Hocker found

The Remains Buried at Churchville Yesterday

The Harrisburg Daily Patriot (April 30, 1877)

Most of the readers of the Patriot are conversant with the facts attending  the disappearance of Levi HOCKER, a wealthy farmer residing on the Reading pike, about three miles east of this city, sometime in October last. Mr. Hocker, it will be remembered, quietly left his home in the night, with only a small amount of money in his possession. His relatives and friends instituted a rigid search for him, “dragging” several streams in the county, and pumping out the water from an abandoned well on the old homestead near Hummelstown, supposing, rightly, that he had committed suicide. A reward of $300 was offered for the recovery of Mr. Hocker, dead or alive, but up to Saturday morning no trace of him was had. On Saturday morning about eight o’clock, Messrs. Samuel Keller, a constable residing in Middletown, and a companion named Slack, proceeded to Fry’s dam, near that borough, for the purpose of lifting fish nets, and while so engaged found the body of a man entangled in the roots of a tree in the water in an advanced stage of decomposition. His features were nearly destroyed by the fishes, and were, therefore, not recognizable; but the friends of the deceased were notified of the finding of the body, and upon proceeding to Middletown, fully identified Mr. Hocker. Some, however, who had read the description given of Mr. Hocker, were positive, before his friends arrived that is was the body of the missing man. The body was fearfully offensive, and it was with considerable difficulty that Esquire Croll was enabled to hold the inquest over it. The body was properly coffined, taken away by the friends and was intered at the cemetery at Churchville, near Mr. Hocker’s late residence, at four o’clock yesterday afternoon. The verdict of the jury was death by suicide while laboring under a fit of mental aberration.

Photo: Josiah Hocker and wife

Kris Hocker on 22 Feb 2009

Josian and Amanda (Hamilton) Hocker

JosiahHocker and wife

Josiah HOCKER, son of Johannes W. and Elizabeth (HENRY) HOCKER married Amanda Catherine HAMILTON, possibly the daughter of William and Elizabeth (___) HAMILTON on 30 Dec 1852 in York Springs, Pennsylvania. Amanda died in 1877.

Josiah married second Martha J. (___), probably in Cumberland county sometime between 1877 and 1880. In 1886, Josiah moved—with some of his family—to Maywood, Nebraska, then to Atchison, Kansas, and later Lincoln, Nebraska.

Given their approximate ages, this photo is most likely NOT Josiah and Amanda, but Josiah and Martha, his second wife.

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Hoke

On the Trail of John and Jacob Hocker Part One: Dauphin County, Pennsylvania

Kris Hocker on 22 Feb 2009

Adam3 Hocker (Adam2, Christoph1) came to Dauphin County in the late 1780s. He is listed as a tavern owner in the Harrisburg tax list of 1787. About 1787, he married Sophia Maria [Hershey?], probably in Harrisburg. This couple had eight children, as follows:

  1. John4 Hocker, born 30 Aug 1788, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
  2. Anna Barbara Hocker, born 26 Apr 1791, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
  3. George Hocker, born 21 Jan 1794, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
  4. Jacob Hocker, born 22 Sep 1796, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania and possibly baptized 12 Feb 1797, Zion Evangelical Church, Hummelstown1
  5. Benjamin Hocker, born 1 Mar 1799 and died 14 Mar 1799, Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
  6. Johan Adam Hocker, born 19 Jun 1802, Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania and baptized 19 Jan 1803, Zion Evangelical Church, Hummelstown2
  7. Benjamin Hocker, born 1 Dec 1805, Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
  8. Elizabeth Hocker, born 5 Jan 1811 and died 25 Aug 1811, Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania

Adam died in testate about Nov 1821 in Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. His heirs petitioned the Orphans Court to partition Adam’s estate in May 1822.3 John and Jacob Hocker purchased two tracts of land in Derry Township from their father’s estate in 1823.4 George and Adam Hocker purchased their father’s Swatara Township property from the estate.

John and Jacob Hocker appear in the 1830 U.S. census for Derry Township, Dauphin County, living adjacent to each other.5 The households were enumerated as follows:

John Hocker

  • Male under 5 (born 1826-1830)
  • Male 40-50 (born 1780-1790)
  • Female 5-10 (born 1820-1825)
  • Female 20-30 (born 1800-1810)

The eldest male in this household was John Hocker, the eldest female, most likely his wife, Catharina. The baptisms of two daughters of John and Catharina were recorded in the Zion Evangelical Lutheran church in Hummelstown prior to 1830. Either Margareth Hocker, baptized on 27 Jul 18236, or Anna Hocker, born 15 Oct 1824 and baptized 12 Jun 18257, died prior to this census enumeration. Because later records include Anna, it can be inferred that it was Margareth that died. Otherwise, the members of this household match the known information about John Hocker, son of Adam Hocker.

Jacob Hocker

  • Male born under 5 (born 1826-1830)
  • Male born 30-40 (born 1790-1800)
  • Female under 5 (born 1826-1830)
  • Female 20-30 (born 1800-1810)

The eldest male in this household was Jacob Hocker, the eldest female, his wife Barbara. The younger male and female were likely children of this marriage.

Although, no marriage record has been located for the marriage of Jacob and Barbara, we know they married based on two documents. The first was the inquest for the estate of John Noll. In it the petitioner Jacob Hocker is named as being “intermarried with Barbara Noll, eldest daughter and heir at law of the late John Noll, late of Derry Township…”8 The second, mentioned below, was the sale of property John and Jacob bought from their father’s estate.

John and Jacob Hocker do not appear in the records of Derry Township after 1838. They appear in township tax records between 1823, when they appear as the heirs of Adam Hocker, and 1838 when their names are crossed out and “to Benjamin Hocker” is written in.9 The brothers sold their Derry Township property to Benjamin Hocker on 2 April 1839.10 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.

What happened to John and Jacob after 1838? We know from the tax records that they did not remain in the area, but these records provide no hint as to their destination. A possible lead appeared in an article in the National Genealogical Society Quarterly. Gaius M. Brumbaugh 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.11 The article states that the family moved to Montgomery County, Ohio in 1839.

The next installment will examine this article as a lead on John and Jacob’s destination after they left Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

Adam Howdyshell/Houdeshell

Kris Hocker on 22 Feb 2009

I am struggling to locate Adam and Mary (Sine) Howdyshell and their sons, Adam, Jr., Daniel, Isaac, John W. and George Westfall after the Civil War. Census records place them in Hardy County, Virginia (West Virginia) in 1860, but not in 1870 or 1880. The sixth son, James Benjamin turns up in Pennsylvania in 1870, but there is no indication that the rest of his family moved north, too.

UPDATE: I’ve located Adam Howdyshell living with his son George W. Houdeshell in Bear Creek, Henry County, Missouri in 1880. I haven’t located them in 1870, yet. Adam Jr. and Isaac Howdyshell were living in Newton Township, Licking County, Ohio in 1870. Daniel and John W.’s whereabouts remain a mystery.

UPDATE: I’ve located Adam Howdyshell/Houdeshell Jr. in 1880 in Elm Creek township, Morris county, Kansas. His sons Daniel and John appear in the 1900 Elm Creek township, Morris county, Kansas census; Daniel in the 1910 census for the same location; and Daniel’s son Samuel in the 1920 census, same location.

Christopher Hocker/Hacker

Kris Hocker on 22 Feb 2009

I am looking for information on Christopher HOCKER (original spelling: Hacker). He was born ca. 1776 at Erdenheim, Whitemarsh Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, to Johann George HOCKER and Margaretta WEIDMAN. Christopher married Catherine DAUB 10 Apr 1799 in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

However, sometime around 1808, finding himself deep in debt, Christopher apparently fled Pennsylvania and his wife. He wound up in Ohio, where he married again and raised a family. I do not know who he married or where they lived. They had at least one child – George Washington HOCKER, born 16 Aug 1814, Ohio – who returned to Pennsylvania and married Elizabeth SCHEETZ, born Nov 1820, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Christopher/Christian Hoover

Kris Hocker on 22 Feb 2009

Christopher HOOVER is also giving me some trouble. According to family “legend,” Christopher came to Pennsylvania with seven brothers. However, according to his sons’ census records, Christopher was born in Pennsylvania. While I have been able to locate Christopher’s sons – Reuben, Samuel Thomas, Simon Edward, and George from 1870 to 1920 – and his wife Caroline KINNARD in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania in 1860 in census records, so far there’s been no sign of Christopher.
I have been “collecting” Hoovers from the 1850 census. Unfortunately, since I do not know the names of Christopher’s parents or siblings or his approximate date of birth, this has not proven fruitful.

UPDATE: With estate records for Thomas KINNARD of Armstrong county, I’ve been able to tie my ancestress Caroline KINNARD to both the Caroline in Jefferson county and to Thomas’s family. According to these records, Thomas’ daughter, Caroline, was married to Christopher HOOVER and the couple was in Jefferson county ca 1865. This gives me hope that I’ll be able to tie Christian/Christopher to the family of Philip HOOVER, also of Armstrong county.