Byerland Hoovers – Page 2 – A Pennsylvania Dutch Genealogy

Who Were the Byerland Hoovers?

Kris Hocker on 10 May 2012

If you’ve been following my Huber/Hoover research, you may have seen me refer to some of them as “Byerland Hoovers.” Who were they? And why am I calling them the “Byerland Hoovers?”

The Byerland Hoovers were the earliest Hoover families to appear in the Lancaster County tax records. They were all Mennonites who settled in Conestoga and Pequea townships along Pequea Creek. They are called the Byerland Hoovers because of their proximity to the Byer/Boyer Mennonite Meeting House.¹

Joanne Hoover coded these Hoovers in her research as follows:

[H] Woolrich Hoover
[J] Jacob Hoover
[K] Henry Hoover
[D1] Jacob Hoover

Tracts at least partially owned by Byerland Hoover families

[H] Woolrich Hoover died prior to 23 Jun 1759 when his heirs sold his property (orange tract marked H) to his eldest son Johannes Hover.² He likely died in 1757 as an inventory was filed for his estate that year. He was listed amongst other immigrants who had been in Pennsylvania since 1718 in an 1729 naturalization list.³

[J] Jacob Hoover was also likely in Pennsylvania by 1718. He was assessed £10 on his property (blue tract marked J) in 1720.⁴ His land went to his son John who patented it and an adjoining tract (see J2). This land remained with John’s descendants for many, many years.

Joanne Hoover includes only one Henry Hoover and includes all the [K] and [K2] tracts as belonging to one man. Based on my land research, I believe there were two Henry Hoovers. [K] Henry Hoover died in 1757 and left his land (yellow tracts marked K) to his son John Hoover and daughter Elizabeth (Hoover) Boyer.⁵

[K2] Henry Hoover and his wife Catharine divided their property (yellow-orange tracts marked K2) between their sons John and Jacob Hoover in 1767.⁶ I traced this land through deeds from the children of Jacob (d. 1788) and John (d. ca 1810).

Joanne Hoover presumed that [H] Ulrich, [J] Jacob and [K] Henry “were the brothers named in the York County, Pennsylvania, will written Feb 15, 1771 by Christian Hoover who died without issue.”⁷ I have not been able to prove or disprove this theory. The fact that Christian named Johannes Huber and Johannes Line—two names seen often in Conestoga/Martic townships—as trustees of money Christian wanted paid out to the surviving children of his brothers Jacob, Ulrich, and Henry makes it a tantalizing possibility.

[D1] Jacob Hoover was the son of Hans Huber of Earl Township. His descendants are documented in the book The Huber-Hoover Family History by Harry M. Hoover.

There were other tracts in this same general location that belonged to Hoovers.

The two tract in lighter orange—H2 and H3—may have been purchased by sons of [H] Woolrich Hoover. [H2] was purchased by John Hoover from Jacob Eshleman in 1754.⁸ He had patented 25 acres just to the west in 1752.⁹

Part of [H3] was purchased by Ulrich Hoover [Jr.?] from the heirs of Henry Line in 1771.¹⁰ Ulrich’s eldest son sold this property to his step-father Christian Huber in 1788 and to Abraham Kendig in 1789.¹¹

The two gray tracts also belonged to Hoovers. The top one was warranted in 1803 and patented in 1811 to Martin Huber. I am not sure if this Martin was the grandson of [D1] Jacob Hoover or the grandson of [K2] Henry Hoover. The boot-shaped tract was warranted to Jacob Hoover in 1796 and patented to him in 1803. He may have been the son of [H3] Ulrich Hoover (one survey showed this tract as being of Ulrich Hoover), the son of [D1] Jacob Hoover or the grandson of [K2] Henry Hoover. Without information on the subsequent transfer of these properties it’s difficult to determine the owner’s identity.

So, these are the families that make up the “Byerland Hoovers.”

Surname Saturday: Jacob Huber Family

Kris Hocker on 28 Apr 2012

Jacob Huber was born circa 1698, and likely immigrated in 1717.¹ He appears on tax records for Conestoga Township, Chester County from 1718 through 1725, settling on Pequea Creek on a tract of land in Conestoga and Martic Townships (now Pequea and Providence) which adjoined Ulrich Huber’s land. He warranted 105 acres.² It was surveyed 28 Jan 1733. He is listed with four children in Lancaster County on a reconstructed 1732 census of Mennonite families.³

Jacob & John Huber Martic & Conestoga Township Tracts

Jacob likely died sometime prior to 23 Nov 1739. Hans Boyer, a neighbor, patented his land on 26 Nov 1739.⁴ Boyer’s survey refers to Jacob Huber’s tract as belonging to the Widow Hoober. This tract of 105 acres was patented to John Huber on 2 Oct 1744.⁵ The survey refers to this tract as being of “Barbara (the widow of Jacob) Hoover… in right of Martin Kendrick and John Heer.⁶ John Hoover patented an adjoining tract of land, containing 110 acres, on 25 May 1756. This tract was surveyed in 1738.⁷^,⁸

If you go by Davis’ 1732 reconstructed Mennonite census, then Jacob and Barbara (___) Huber had at least four children prior to 1732. Davis provides two possible birth years for Jacob—1675 and 1698. I do not know which is his most recent determination, however I am inclined to go by the 1698 date. A 34-year-old man is far more likely to have four children living at home than a 57-year-old—assuming, of course, the validity of the Mennonite census listing.

To date I have found only one possible child for Jacob and Barbara (___) Huber:

John Huber was born at or before 1723, probably in Lancaster County.⁹ He died sometime prior to 30 Apr 1785, possibly in 1784.¹⁰^,¹¹ He married Barbara (___) likely before 1751. Barbara died sometime after 30 Apr 1785. The couple had the following children:¹²
1. Henry Huber was born ca 1740-1750 in Conestoga (now Pequea) Township, Lancaster County. He married Mary (___), possibly Newswanger, prior to 30 Apr 1785.¹³^,¹⁴ If his wife’s maiden name was Newswanger, then the couple was living in York County by 4 Jun 1798.¹⁵ Henry Hoover and Mary Newswanger had children: John, Christina, Abraham, Susan, Barbara, and Elizabeth.
2. Abraham Huber was born circa 24 Sep 1752 and died 4 May 1825 in Conestoga (now Pequea) Township, Lancaster County. He was buried in Old Byerland Cemetery in Pequea Township. He may have married Anna (___), possibly Anna Huber, daughter of Jacob and Barbara (___) Huber Jr. of Martic Township. He was a farmer and a Mennonite and lived all his life on property he purchased from his father’s estate.¹⁶ Abraham had children: Barbara, Mary married Abraham Huber, John, Abraham Jr., Anna married Martin Snavely (brother of John below), Christianna, and Elizabeth. Except for Mary and Anna, his daughters never married.
3. Christian Huber was likely born prior to 1755 in Conestoga (now Pequea) Township, Lancaster County¹⁷ and died sometime between 1820 and 1830 in Martic (now Providence) Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.¹⁸ He may have married Anna (___), born 5 Apr 1762 and died 21 Feb 1845.¹⁹ Christian may have had two sons: Christian Huber Jr. and John Huber. Their administrator, Abraham Huber, son of John Huber, purchased land from the Orphans Court in 1892 that is similar in metes and bounds to the land Christian Huber [Sr.] received from his father John’s estate in 1792.
4. John Huber was born before 1759 in Conestoga (now Pequea) Township, Lancaster County. He was single in 1790.²⁰ No more is known about him.
5. Jacob Huber was born before 1764 in Conestoga (now Pequea) Township, Lancaster County. He married Margaret (___), possibly Margaret Shank, daughter of Christian & Barbara (Good) Shank.²¹ If so, Jacob and Margaret had children: Christian, Esther married John Snavely (brother of Martin above), Jacob, and Abraham.
6. Peter Huber was born circa 1760 in Conestoga (now Pequea) Township, Lancaster County. He likely died sometime after 25 Jul 1818.²² He married Mary Huber, daughter of John & Mary (___) Huber of Martic Township and granddaughter of Henry and Catharine (Good) Huber. Peter and Mary had children: Peter Jr., Esther married Jacob Eshleman, Barbara, Anna, and John.
7. Anne Huber was born prior to 1764 in Conestoga (now Pequea) Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She married a Brenneman who likely died prior to 30 Apr 1785.²³
8. Frena Huber was born prior to 1764 in Conestoga (now Pequea) Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She was named among the children of John & Barbara Huber in the deed where the widow and children sold land from John’s estate to his sons Peter and Christian Hoober.²⁴
9. Barbara Huber was born prior to 1764 in Conestoga (now Pequea) Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She was named among the children of John & Barbara Huber in the deed where the widow and children sold land from John’s estate to his sons Peter and Christian Hoober.²⁵

Jacob Huber may have been—depending on the birth year—either the elder brother or father of Ulrich Huber of Conestoga. He may have been related to either or both Henry Huber’s of Martic/Conestoga townships. If Joanne M. Hoover is correct in her assumptions, then Jacob, Ulrich, Henry (presumably the elder, d. ca 1757), Christian Huber of Heidelberg Township, York County, Pennsylvania, and Ann (Huber) Keny were all siblings as named in Christian’s will.²⁶ It is certainly a possibility. However, there were other men of these names living in York County to whom Christian’s will might have been referring.

Jane Evans Best indicates that Jacob may have been the son of Hans Heinrich Huber and Barbel Suter, baptized 30 Jun 1698 in Hausen, Switzerland.²⁷ If she is correct, this would make him the brother of one of the Henry Huber’s of Martic/Conestoga township and possibly a cousin of Hans Huber of Earl Township and his son Jacob Huber who settled nearby in Martic (now Providence) township—just up the Pequea, in fact.

Jacob Hoober’s 1736 Land Patent

Kris Hocker on 9 Jan 2012

Having written about how to use the online land records at the Pennsylvania State Archives, it’s only fair that I provide examples of what each document entails.

Jacob Hoober’s land patent

This is a transcription of the John Jacob Hoober’s patent for 210 acres situate on the southside of Pequea Creek in present-day Providence Township. Jacob Hoober received a warrant for the tract 24 Jan 1733. It was surveyed to him on 28 Jan 1733.

[150]

“John Penn Thomas Penn and
Richard Penn Esq^r true and absolute Proprietaries
and Governours in chief of the Province of Pennsylvania &
the Counties of New Castle Kent and Sussex on Delaware

To all whom these Presents shall come send Greeting
Whereas in and by a Warrant from the late Commissioners
of Property under the lesser Seal of our said Province bearing
Date the twenty second Day of November int he year of our
Lord 1717 the Quantity of five thousand acres of Land was
granted to be surveyed in several Tracts on Conestogoe and
Pequea Creeks in the County now called Lancaster unto
Martin Kundigg and hans heer both of the County adores^d.
in pursuance of which said warrant there was surveyed and
laid out on the twenty fourth Day of January in the year of
our Lord 1733 unto the said Martin Kundigg and hans heer
a certain Tract of Land situate on Pequea Creek afores^d
in the said County of Lancaster Beginning at an Ash Tree
on the southside of Pequea Creek near to Samuel Boyers
Land thence by a line of marked Trees south one hundred
sixteen perches to a Chestnut Tree thence East ninety eight
perches to a black Oak thence East North East one hundred
perches to a hickory thence North twenty four Degrees
West thirty seven perches to a hickory thence by Land of
Jacob Good North by West one hundred eighty eight
perches to a Chestnut Tree thence South by West ninety
six Perches to a Post by the said Creek thence down by
the same on several course one hundred & twenty seven
perches to the place of Beginning containing two
hundred and Ten acres and the allowance of six acres

[151]
in each hundred for Roads and highways as in and by the Survey
thereof remaining in our Surveyor General’s Office and from thence
certified into our Secretary’s Office may appear And Whereas the sd
Martin Kundigg and hans heer by a certain Deed or Instrument
in Writing bearing Date the twenty fourth Day of March in the
Year of our Lord 1734/5 for the consideration therein mentioned did
bargain and sell all their Right Title and Interest of and in the
said two hundred and Ten acres of Land and Premisses with the
appurtenances unto Jacob Hoober al^s John Jacob Hoober of the
said County of Lancaster his heirs and assignes Now at the Instance
and Request of the said John Jacob Hoober that we would be
pleased to grant him a confirmation of the said two hundred
and ten acres of Land according to the Situation of Lines and Bounds
aforesaid Know ye that in consideration of the sum of twenty one
pounds lawful Money of Pennsylvania to our Use now paid by
the said John Jacob Hoober the Receipt whereof we hereby
acknowledge and thereof do acquit and forever discharge the said
John Jacob Hoober his heirs and assignes by these presents
and also for the yearly Quitrent herein after mentioned and
reserved We have given granted released and confirmed and
by this Presents for Us our heirs and succession Do give
grant & release and confirm unto the said John Jacob Hoober
and his heirs the said two hundred and Ten acres of Land as the
same is now set forth bounded and limited as aforesaid with all
mines minerals Quarries Meadows Marshes Savannahs
Swamps Criples Woods Underwoods Tree and Trees Ways
Waters Water Courses Liberties Profits Commodities Advanta
ges hereditaments and appurtenances whatsoever to the
said two hundred and Ten acres of Land belonging or in any
wise appertaining and lying within the Bounds and Lines
aforesaid / [?] full and clear fifth Parts of all royal Mines
free from all Deduction and Reprisals for digging and
refining the same only excepted and hereby reserved and
also free leave Right and Liberty to and for the said John
Jacob Hoober his heirs and assignes to hawk hunt fish
and fowl in and upon the hereby granted Land and Premises
or upon any Part thereof To have and to hold the said
two hundred Ten acres of Land and Premises hereby
granted / Except before excepted / with the appurtenences
unto the said John Jacob Hoober his heirs and assignes
To the only Use and Behoof of the said John Jacob Hoober
his heirs and assignes forever To be holden of us our
heirs and successors Proprietaries of Pennsylvania as
of our Manner of Conestoga in the County of Lancaster
aforesaid in free and common Soccage [sic] by Fielty [sic] only in
Liew [sic] of all other Services Yielding and paying
therefore yearly to us our heirs and Successors at the Town of
Lancaster after upon the first Day of March in every year

[152]

from the first Day of march last past One English
Silver Shilling for each hundred acres of the same and in
proportion for the Ten acres or value thereof in Coin
current according as the Exchange shall then be between
our said Province and the City of London to such Person
or Persons as shall from Time to Time be appointed
to receive the same and in case of non payment thereof
within ninety Days next after the same shall become
due that then it shall and may be lawful for us our
heirs and successors our and their Receiver or
Receivers into and upon the hereby granted Land and
Premises to reenter and the same to hold & possess
until the said Quitrent and all Arrears thereof together
with the charges accruing by means of such none
payment and Reentry aforesaid be fully paid and
discharged In Witness whereof the said Thomas
Penn by virtue of the Power Authorities to him
granted by the said John and Richard Penn and of his
own right hath caused the Great Seal of the said Province
to be hereunto affixed at Philadelphia this twenty
second Day of October in the Year of our Lord one
thousand seven hundred & thirty six the Tenth Year
of the Reign of King George the second over great
Britain [?] and the nineteenth year of our Government

Tho Penn (seal)

Recorded y^e 4th March 1736/7 ¹

John Jacob Hoober’s land patent

Jacob Hoober’s 1733 Survey

Kris Hocker on 6 Jan 2012

New! Updated warrantee map indexes for Lancaster County townships are available for purchase through my store. Each document includes the warrantee, warrant number, patentee, patent reference, and surveyee with a direct link to the online survey record and warrantee map. More to come.

After a warrant is issued, the Surveyor General directed one of their surveyors to make and return a survey of the requested tract. Jacob Hoober’s warrant was issued 24 Jan 1733. On 28 Jan 1733 a survey was made of 210 acres in present-day Providence Township, then part of Martic Township, adjoining the property of Samuel Boyer and Jacob Good.

Here is an image of the survey¹:

Jacob Hoober 1733 survey

You can see this survey and many more at the Pennsylvania State Archives website.

Jacob Hoober 1733 Warrant

Kris Hocker on 5 Jan 2012

Having written about how to use the online land records at the Pennsylvania State Archives, it’s only fair that I provide examples of what each document entails.

This example features the 1733 land warrant of Jacob Hoober for 210 acres on Pequea Creek. This piece of property sits south of Pequea Creek in present-day Providence Township. It can be seen on the Providence Warrantee Township map to the right in the top row of tracts.

Jacob Hoober land warrant

The first page of the warrant indicates the date of the warrant, the warrant number, the amount of land and the name of the warrantee.

Jacob Hoober land warrant

The second page is the actual warrant. It states:

“Pennsylvania, SS.

By the Proprietaries.

At the Request of Jacob Hoober of the County of Lancaster that We would grant him to take up Two hundred & ten Acres of Land lying on a Branch of Pequea in the said County of Lancaster for which He agrees to pay to our Use at the Rate of Fifteen Pounds ten Shillings current Money of this Province for One hundred Acres and the yearly Quit-rent of one Halfpenny [?] for every Acre thereof; THESE are to authorize and require thee to survey or cause to be survey’d unto the said Jacob Hoober at the Place aforesaid, according to the Method of Townships appointed the said Quantity of 210 Acres that hath not been already survey’d or appropriated, and make Return thereof into the Secretary’s Office, in order for a further Confirmation; which Survey in case the said Jacob Hoober fulfill the above Agreement within six Months from the date hereof, shall be valid, otherwise to be void. GIVEN under my Hand, and the lesser Seal of our Province, at Philadelphia, this twenty fourth Day of January Anno Dom. 1733

to Benjamin Eastburn, Surveyor General

[signature?]”¹

These images are actual photos taken from the microfilm reader. A printed copy would be clearer and more legible.

Ulrich Huber’s Conestoga Tract

Kris Hocker on 29 Dec 2011

Last week’s article for the “Along the Pequea” series, traced the land transactions of Hans Line’s property. This week, we’ll follow the transactions of his neighbor, Ulrich Huber.

Ulrich Huber first appears in Conestoga in the 1728 survey of his Conestoga plantation (see figure 1).¹ John Taylor surveyed 226 acres, adjoining John Line, John Dehoof, and Jacob Hoober. However, we can presume he was in Pennsylvania by 1718. He was naturalized with a large group of Mennonite settlers in 1729 who had “transported themselves and estates into the province of Pennsylvania between the years one thousand seven hundred and one thousand seven hundred eighteen.” ²

Figure 1: Woolrich Hoober 1728 survey

Ulrich received a warrant for this property 19 Sep 1744.³ He patented the tract either 19 or 20 Sep 1744.⁴ He was taxed for property in Conestoga in 1751 and 1754.⁵

On 16 Nov 1750, Ulrich sold 15 acres to his neighbor Michael Hess.⁶ On 7 Dec 1754, Michael and Barbara Hess sold their 15 acres from Ulrich to Michael Harnis[h].⁷ I found no subsequent deed of sale from Michael Harnish for this 15 acres. However, when Ulrich’s tract was sold to John & Henry Brenneman in 1791, it included the entirety of the tract patented to Ulrich Huber.

Ulrich died prior to 18 May 1757.⁸ On 23 Jun 1759, his heirs—Jacob & Barbara Hover, Henry & Anna [Hover] Shank, Jacob & Maria [Hover] Boyer, Elizabeth Hover, Ulrick Hover and Henry Hover—transferred the land to the eldest son John Hover, witnesses were [Christian?] Line and Michael Shank.⁹

John and Mary, his wife, held on to this property for nearly a decade before selling it to Melchor and Ann (Good) Brenneman on 10 Oct 1767.¹⁰ The Brenneman’s held onto the land until 1783 when they sold it to their daughter and son-in-law John and Eve Bowman on 22 Mar.¹¹ Eight years later, John and Eve (Brenneman) Bowman sold the property to her brothers John and Henry Brenneman.¹²

John and Henry apparently partitioned the property. John and Catharine Brenneman sold their 113 acres, adjoining Jacob Smith, John Good, George Rathvon, Christian Line, and Abraham Huber, to Henry Zercher on 7 May 1794.¹³ Zercher later died intestate and John Brenneman bought back the property on 10 May 1806 when Zercher’s heirs refused the land at it’s appraised price.¹⁴ John and Catharine then sold the tract to Jacob Heidelbach on 12 May 1806.¹⁵

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.

Friday Finds: Henry Huber’s Strasburg Property

Kris Hocker on 7 Jan 2011

I’ve been researching the Hoovers of Lancaster County, doing a surname study. Recently, I’ve started a document to record the facts I’ve been compiling for each Hoover—especially the land transactions. This allows me to more easily see what I know and trace the information through generations.

I was recording the information I have for Henry Huber, youngest son of Ulrich Huber of Conestoga Township, and discovered that nearly every piece of information I’ve found for him puts him in Strasburg Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Consistency, that’s good. However, the only deed I’ve found for him shows him selling land in Lampeter Township.

Christian Herr tract, Lampeter Township

Anna Herr, Henry’s wife, was the daughter of Abraham and Feronica (__) Herr of Lampeter Township. When Abraham died in 1756 he left his property in Lampeter (now West Lampeter) Township to two of his daughters—Anna and Barbara.¹ Each daughter received 125 acres. On 14 Jun 1774, Henry and Anna (Herr) Huber sold 27 1/4 acres of their share to Christian Rohrer.

So, if Henry and Anna (Herr) Huber owned property in Lampeter Township, you’d expect them to live there, right? There is a Henry Hoover listed in Lampeter Township tax records in 1770, 1771², 1780³ and 1782.⁴ However, when Henry and Anna sold the 27 1/4 acres to Christian Rohrer in 1774, they were “of the Township of Strasburg.”⁵

Henry Hoover is listed in Strasburg Township tax records from 1771 through 1782 (the latest I have).⁶ He also appears there in the 1800⁷ and 1810 United States census enumerations.⁸ So, where did he live in Strasburg Township and when did he purchase the property?

After Henry Huber died, his heirs divided up his Strasburg Township property. In a series of deeds between the heirs, we learn that Henry owned 261 acres 123 perches, adjoining Conrad Hoak, John Neff & others, at the time of his death sometime prior to 8 Dec 1813.⁹ This Strasburg Township land was divided between Abraham (50 acres), Christian (103 acres), and David (107 acres).¹⁰

John Huber's Strasburg Township property purchased 1808

John Huber’s Strasburg Township properties, 1808

By the tax records, he probably purchased the property at or before 1770. The earliest deed record I’ve found is in a deed recording his son John Huber’s purchase of 103 1/2 acres from Jacob Graff on 2 Apr 1808.¹¹ This deed names one of the adjoining properties as that of Henry Hoover. A second deed for John Huber from 2 Apr 1808 also names Henry Hoover as the owner of an adjacent property.¹² Both of these properties were once part of the estate of Henry Resh, husband of John’s sister (and Henry’s daughter) Feronica.

John Resh Strasburg property

A look at the warrantee map for Strasburg Township shows us the location of Henry Resh’s property and the adjoining property that Henry Hoover most likely owned. The land from two properties—John Rush and John Resh—as well as #6 on the map were most likely owned by Henry Resh.¹³ I’d need to do a more detailed analysis to know for sure—Henry’s land was made up of several parcels purchased from Martin Kendick and two additional parcels purchased from his brother Jacob Resh after their father John’s death.

This survey from 1809 also shows the location of Henry Huber’s property—notice the adjoining property to the left owned by Jacob Neff (#13 on the warrantee map, patented to Anne Neff).¹⁴ It was actually the first piece I found which actually showed Henry Huber’s name on a Strasburg Township tract. This led me to several other surveys and to plot the tracts John Huber purchased in 1808.

Andrew Hook (Hoak) survey, Strasburg Township, ca 1809

Surname Saturday: Henry Huber Family

Kris Hocker on 1 Jan 2011

There were two Henry Hubers living near Pequea and Beaver Creeks in the Martic/Conestoga/Strasburg/Lampeter township area in the mid-to-late 1700s.¹ This post is about the family of the Henry Huber who married Catharine Good, daughter of Jacob Good.

Huber/Hoover/Hoober land patents

Jacob Good patented 106 acres on a branch of Beaver Creek in Martic Township (now Providence), Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in the right of Michael Shank on 12 Apr 1740. (see B3 on map)² He warranted another tract of 75 acres, also on Beaver Creek, on 24 Jan 1733.³ He did not comply with the conditions of the warrant and 68 acres were warranted to Henry Hoober on 14 Apr 1740. (see B4 on map)⁴ Both of these tracts are shown as being patented on 15 Apr 1740 to Henry Hoober on the Providence Township Warrantee Map.

Jacob Good wrote his last will & testament on 12 Sep 1739; it was proved 22 Jan 1741. In it he mentions his wife Barbara, brothers Peter and John, sisters Feronica Nisley, Margaret Metz, Ann Strum, and son-in-law Henry Hoover.⁵

Henry Hoover also patented a tract of 171 acres in Martic Township (now Providence) on 13 Nov 1744. (see B5 on map)⁶

Assuming he was at least 21 years of age in 1740 when he patented land, Henry was born ca 1719, quite likely before. He married Catharine Good sometime before her father wrote his will in 1739, possibly before 1736. He may be the “loving friend…Henry Huber” named in the 1757 last will & testament of Henry Huber, who owned the adjoining property. (see B1 and B2 on map)⁷ He was also likely the “loving friend Henry Hoover” appointed by neighbor Johan Jacob Hoover as an executor of his will along with Jacob’s sons John and Martin. (see A1, A2, A3 on map)⁸

Henry and Catharine (Good) Hoover had at least 3 children:

Jacob Huber, born bef. 1736 and died bet. 13 Mar and 9 Jun 1788, Martic Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.⁹,¹⁰,¹¹ Jacob married Barbara (___) before 1764. His will names his six children, as follows:
1. Henry Huber, born ca 1764, possibly the Henry Huber who married Anna Margaretta Boyer, daughter of Henry & Elizabeth (___) Boyer.
2. Jacob Huber Jr., born ca 1766¹²
3. Barbara Huber, born ca 1768¹³
4. Christian Huber, born ca 1771-1774¹⁴
5. John Huber, born ca 1771-1774¹⁵
6. Martin Huber, born ca 1774 (aged 16 by 25 Aug 1790)¹⁶
John Huber, born bef. 1746 and died bet. 19 Apr 1794 and 21 Apr 1810, Martic Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania ¹⁷ John married Mary (___) before 1770.
1. John Huber Jr.¹⁸
2. Mary Huber, born bef. 1786, married Peter Huber, son of John and Barbara (___) Huber, grandson of Jacob and Barbara (___) Huber of Martic Township.¹⁹, ²⁰
3. Barbara Huber, born ca 1770-1780 and died bef. 16 Jun 1841, never married²¹, ²²
4. Christina Huber, born ca 1770-1780, never married²³, ²⁴
5. Esther Huber, born bef 1802 and died 15 Mar 1832, never married²⁵, ²⁶
6. Abraham Huber, married Mary (___)²⁷
7. Ann Huber, died before 1 Jan 1828, never married²⁸
8. Susanna Huber, born ca 1790-1794, never married²⁹, ³⁰
9. Elizabeth Huber, born ca 1790-1794, married Henry Krieg sometime bet. 1825 and 3 Mar 1834³¹, ³², ³³
Daughter Huber (possibly Barbara), married Jacob Huber.³⁴ This Jacob may be Jacob Huber Jr., son of Johan Jacob and Anna (___) Huber, grandson of Hans Huber of Earl Township. Johan Jacob and Henry Hoover were neighbors and, presumably, friends.

Hoovers in Martic Twp Tax Lists, 1751-1772

Kris Hocker on 23 Dec 2010

An examination of Martic Township, Lancaster County tax lists available for the years 1751 through 1772 shows the following Hoovers in the township.¹

1751

Jacob Hover
Henry Houer
John Hover

1754

Jacob Hover
Henry Hover
John Hover
Jacob Huver (weaver?)

1756 (Tax list)

Jacob Hover (40 acres)

1756 (Assessment)

Jacob Hover
Jacob Hover
Wm Hover
John Hover
Henry Hover

1757

Jacob Huber
Jacob Hover
Henry Hover
Willm Hover
Henry Hover (weaver)
Freemen: Jacob Huber

1757

Jacob Hover (Jr.?)
Jacob Hoover “sener”
Henry Hover

1758

Jacob Hover (weaver)
Jacob Hover
Jacob Hover the bigg
Henry Hover
John Hover

15 Nov 1758

Jacob Hover (weaver)
Jacob Hover
Jacob Hover (ye bigg)
Henry Hover
John Hover

1759

John Hover
Jacob Hover (weaver)
Jacob Hover
Henry Hover
Ulrick Hover
Widow Hover

7 Dec 1769

John Hover (weaver)
John Hover
Woolery Hover
Jacob Hover (Henry’s son)
Freeman: Chr Huber

1770 (Assessment)

John Hover (weaver)
John Hover
Wolery Hover
Jacob Hover
Jacob Hover

1770 (Tax list)

Jacob Hover (Henry son, 80 acres)
John Hover (weaver, 100 acres)
Jacob Hover Jr. (100 acres)
Willery Hover (50 acres home place, 200 acres)

1771

Jacob Hover Sr. (100 acres)
John Hover (100 acres)
John Hover (on Beaver Creek, 80 acres)
Jacob Hover Jr. (100 acres)
Woolery Hover (weaver?, 80 acres)
Wilory Hover (200 acres)

1772

Jacob Hover Sr.
John Hover
John Hover (Beaver Creek)
Jacob Hover Jr.
Wilrick Hover (weaver)
Wilrick Hover
Mathias Hover

These Hoover families (4~5 families) have been referred to as the Byerland Hoovers because of their proximity to the Byerland Meeting house in Martic Township. They lived in southeastern Conestoga Township (now Pequea Township) and northwestern Martic Township (now Providence Township). The original settlers included Ulrich Huber (ca 1703—1757), Jacob Huber (ca 1698—bef 23 Nov 1739), Henry Huber (bef 1712—1758), Henry Huber (bef 1719—1767/69), and Jacob Huber (ca 1698—1759), son of Hans Huber of Earl Township.

Martic Township Hoover properties

Ulrich Huber’s Conestoga Township property was just to the north of and adjacent to Jacob Huber’s and Hans Boyer’s properties (see top left of the image).

Tag: Byerland Hoovers