Exasperating Elias

I used to think that Christian Hoover (1825-1887) was my most frustrating and exasperating ancestor. No more. That title now belongs to my presumed ancestor Elias Schneider (1733-1779).

Finding records for Elias and his descendants is proving to be a challenge. So far, I’ve got:

• 12 Aug 1733: Elias born in Pennsylvania to Conrad and Eva Catharina (Betz) Schneider
• 24 Jun 1752: Elias confirmed at Old Goshenhoppen
• 15 Apr 1753: Elias took communion at Old Goshenhoppen
• 2 Sep 1753: Elias sponsored Johann Elias, son of Johannes & Anna Maria Weicker, at Old Goshenhoppen with his father and Maria Margaretha Derr
• 4 Feb 1756: Elias and Anna Maria Nuss sponsored Elias, son of Jacob and Eva Catharina (Schneider) Bender, at Old Goshenhoppen
• 7 Dec 1756: Elias married Anna Maria Nuss at Old Goshenhoppen
• 20 Jun 1758: Elias & Anna Maria’s son Conrad (b. 18 Nov 1757) baptized at Old Goshenhoppen, sponsored by Conrad Grimm (single) & Elisabetha Nuss (single)
• 10 Aug 1759: Leonard and Elias took out an administration bond on their father’s estate, Elias Lang & Henry Vanderslice submitted their inventory and appraisal of Conrad’s estate
• 8 Apr 1761: Leonard and Elias filed their account administration for their father Conrad’s estate
• July 1764: Elias & Anna Maria’s daughter Anna Margaretha (b. 2 Jul 1764) baptized at Old Goshenhoppen, sponsored by George Gaugler & Anna Margaretha Nuss
• 1769: Elias taxed in Upper Salford Township
• 17 Nov 1771: Elias & Anna Maria’s daughter Catharine (b. 27 Oct 1771) baptized at Old Goshenhoppen, sponsored by Philip Gabel & Anna Margaretha [Schneider]
• 31 Mar 1779: Anna Maria Schneider, widow & relict of Elias Schneider, granted Letters of Administration on Elias Schneider’s estate, Oley Township, Berks County; takes out administration bond
• 5 Apr 1779: Daniel Guldin & Elias Waggoner filed their inventory and appraisal of Elias Schneider’s estate
• 1780: Widow Snyder & Conrad Snyder taxed in Oley Township
• 1781: Widow Snyder & Conrad Snyder taxed in Oley Township
• 1782: Widow Snyder & son taxed in Oley Township
• 3 Jan 1784: child born to Conrad Snyder & wife “Margreda” baptized at Oley (Salem) Reformed Church, sponsored by Elias Wagner & wife Eva
• 1786: Conrad Snyder taxed in Oley Township
• 10 Jan 1786: Margaretha Schneider married Jacob Reppert in Oley Township
• 1787: Conrad Snyder taxed in Oley township
• 17 Jun 1787: Conrad’s daughter Catharina (b. 7 Feb) baptized at Zion Spiess’ Reformed Church, sponsored by Jacob Dreher & wife Barbara
• 1788: Conrad Snyder taxed in Alsace Township
• 10 Mar 1789: Conrad and Margaretha sponsored Daniel, son of John Feger & wife at Zion Spiess’ Church
• 10 Mar 1789: Conrad’s daughter Catharina buried at Schwartzwald Church cemetery
• 4 Apr 1789: Conrad’s son buried at Schwartzwald Church cemetery
• 3 Aug 1789: Conrad’s son Daniel baptized at Schwarzwald Reformed Church, sponsored by Valentin Hartmann & Elisabeth [Schneider?]
• 1790: Conrad Snyder enumerated in Alsace Township
• 1791: Conrad Snyder taxed in Exeter Township
• 21 Aug 1791: Conrad’s daughter Catharina baptized at Schwartzwald Reformed Church, sponsored by Johannes Meyer & Catharina Papp
• 1792: Conrad Snyder taxed in Exeter Township
• 1793: Conrad Snyder taxed in Exeter Township
• 30 Jun 1793: Conrad’s daughter Anna Maria baptized at Schwartzwald Reformed Church, sponsored by Philip Lies & Anna Maria Kelchner
• 24 May 1795: Conrad’s daughter Elizabetha baptized at Schwartzwald Reformed Church, sponsored by Elizabetha [Schneider?] Seyer [Sayer/Sayre]

That might look like a lot of information, but it reveals relatively little about Elias and his family. Most of the records aren’t for him. They are for his presumed widow and son. I’m left with a number of questions that I can’t answer.

For instance, there are baptismal records for three children: Conrad in 1758, Anna Margaretha in 1764, and Catharina in 1771. There are 6-7 years between these children’s births. Were they the only children for this couple? If not, why weren’t the births of the others recorded at Old Goshenhoppen? Were they not born in Upper Salford? If not, where were they born?

If my 5x great grandfather Jacob Schneider was their son, he was born in one of those 6-7 year intervals. Why can’t I find a record of his birth?

The records—that I’d expect to find, but haven’t—raise additional questions. For example, Elias’ estate inventory was valued at about £1,100. That’s almost $190,000 today! When he died in 1779, his known children were 21, 15, and 8. Only one of them was of age, so there would have had to have been guardians appointed for his two daughters. Yet, I have found no Orphans Court record in Berks County for Elias Snyder and there absolutely should be.

The “Widow Snyder” and Conrad Snyder were consistently taxed on horses and cows in 1780 and part of 1781, but no land. But the third tax record from 1781 and the 1782 list show they were taxed on 200 acres. Where did the land come from? Was it part of Elias’ estate? If so, why were there no Orphans Court records regarding it? It should have been appraised and evaluated to determine if it could be divided between the heirs. I found no record of such.

Nor have I found evidence of a warrant, patent, purchase, or sale of land by Elias or his heirs in Berks County. By 1786, the Widow Snyder is not included in Oley Township tax records. But Conrad was and he was only taxed on his occupation (shoemaker) and 1 horse. No land. What happened to it?

See what I mean? Exasperating.

I honestly believe that Elias is the best candidate to have fathered my 5x great grandfather Jacob, but proving it may be very difficult—even with the DNA evidence. The generational distance between my mom and any DNA matches may prevent even the DNA evidence from actually telling us much about our degree of relationship.

But I’ll keep plugging away. Sooner or later, that exasperating man is going to yield up his secrets. At least, I hope so…

• Category: Research
• Tag: Maternal Line