Tag: Hoover Surname Study

The Hoover family has become a favorite research subject of mine, especially the Huber/Hoober/Hoovers of early Lancaster County. These pages include links to all the posts I’ve written as part of my personal Hoover surname study, including articles and transcriptions of deeds, wills, etc. I hope you find information on your Hoover, but if you don’t drop me a line. Maybe I can feature them in an upcoming post.

Ulrich Hoover: Visualizing Connections

Kris Hocker on 5 Feb 2013

There are several questions that have come up in researching Ulrich Hoover of Adams and York counties. In a previous post, I suggested that there were two Ulrich Hoovers married to women named Anna Maria in this general area. Were there? If so, how do I determine which one records pertain to? Was there a familial relationship between them? If so, what was it? Were they related to any other families in the area? How?

I could go on and on with questions. But the next step—answering them—is not so clear. I have data I’ve found through Ancestry, but what does it really mean? Since I think better visually, I decided to create a diagram to show the links that I’ve found between Ulrich Hoover(s) and other individuals/families.

Hoover baptism relationships

Connections diagram (click to enlarge)

I separated the two Ulrichs somewhat arbitrarily. Since I’m using mostly baptismal records, I split the overlapping records by source—Rev. Jacob Lischy’s private pastoral records vs. the records from St. Jacob’s (Stone) Church. There is some overlap in the births in the two families. For instance, I believe Johan Daniel Huber1 was baptized the same year as Susanna Huber.2 Ulrich Huber [1] and wife Anna Maria were sponsoring children after Ulrich Huber [2] was having children with his second wife Susanna.

In the diagram, I found the Keller name popping up repeatedly. Jacob and Esther (Sprenckel) Keller were sponsors for Jacob Huber, son of Ulrich and Anna Maria (__) Huber [1].3 Ulrich Huber [2] was one of the executors of George Keller’s estate.4 Ulrich Huber’s [2] son-in-law, John Philip Keller, was the administrator of Matthias Brodeck’s estate. Matthias Brodbeck was married to Catharina Keller, daughter of George Keller, for whom Ulrich was an executor.5

The Linckefelder (Lingenfelter) name also shows up. Jacob Lingenfelter was a neighbor of Ulrich Huber [2]6  for some years and Ulrich’s third wife was his daughter, Maria Eva.7 Görg Linckefelder, a possible sibling of Jacob, was a baptismal sponsor for Anna Maria Huber, daughter of Ulrich Huber [1].8 Abraham Keller, possibly father of John Philip Keller, was the sponsor for Elisabetha Barbara Linckefelder, Jacob’s daughter.9 Johannes and Magdalena (__) Keller were sponsors for Johannes Linckefelder, Jacob’s son,10 and also Anna Magdalena Runck, daughter of Peter and Anna Catharina (___) Runck.11

The multiple connections between the Kellers and Lingenfelders was curious and made me wonder about the relationship. In 1774, Jacob Lingefelter was named as guardian for Valentine, Margaret, Magdalena, and Anna Maria Runck, children of Peter and Catharina Runck.12 As guardians are usually relatives or people of standing in the community, this pointed to the possibility that Catharina was Jacob’s sister.

I believe that they most likely were siblings. An Anna Catharina Lingenfeldter, daughter of Michael and Maria Barbara Lingenfeldter, was born on 30 May and baptized 31 May 1722 in Rohrbach-Steinweiler, Pfalz, Germany.13 Michael and Maria Barbara Lingenfeldter also had a daughter Magdalena, born 30 Jan 1713,14  a son named Johan Jacob, born 5 May 1725,15 and a son Georg, born 13 May 1730,16 among others, all baptized in Rohrbach-Steinweiler, Pfalz, Germany.

Searching the FamilySearch Germany indexes, I also found a marriage between Johannes Keller, son of Hans Michael Keller, and Magdalena Lingenfelder, daughter of Hans Michel Lingenfelder, on 20 Jan 1736 in Rohrbach-Steinweiler.17 In the German births index, I found the following children of Johannes and Maria Magdalena (Lingenfelder) Keller:

  1. Maria Margaretha Keller, born 27 Oct 1737, bapt. 1 Nov 173718
  2. Abraham Keller, born 3 Jul 1740, bapt. 3 Jul 174019
  3. Johann Philipp Keller, born 9 Nov 1743, bapt. 11 Nov 174320
  4. Johannes Keller, born 12 Dec 1746, bapt. 16 Dec 174621
  5. Johann Michael Keller, born 1 Dec 1749, bapt. 3 Dec 174922

The sibling connection explains the multiple ties through the baptism records. Jacob, Görg, Magdalena, and Anna Catharina were all Lingenfelder siblings. John and Magdalena Keller’s son Abraham was the sponsor for his cousin Elisabetha Barbara Lingenfelder in 1760. Abraham’s brother Philip Keller was the sponsor for his son Johan Philip Keller in 1765.23 This also explains the continued connection between Philip Keller and his nephew (and most likely namesake), John Philip Keller, who married Magdalena Huber, daughter of Ulrich and Anna Maria (__) Huber.24

Conclusions

While I didn’t really learn a great deal about the two Ulrich Hubers, the diagram I created provided insight and research direction for those connected to them. I learned a great deal about the family of Ulrich Huber’s [2] third wife, Maria Eva Lingenfelder. And I’m very curious about the connections between the various Kellers.

Hopefully, if I expand this type of exploration to the other people connected to the two Ulrichs, I may make additional connections that tell me something about these families, their origins, and/or relationship to other Huber families in the area.

Lancaster County Hoover Families of the 18th Century

Kris Hocker on 28 Jan 2013

18th Century Lancaster County Hoover FamiliesI‘ve just finished indexing my latest writing endeavor “The Huber-Hoover Families of 18th Century Lancaster County.”

This book is a compilation of raw data I’ve gathered and includes deed abstracts, warrant and patent lists, and last will & testament transcriptions for Hoovers across Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in records from 1729 through 1800.

It represents a large chunk of my Hoover surname research and the data has been instrumental in helping to build a clearer picture of these early families. I hope it will help you!

Stay tuned for the publication information or sign-up for the mailing list for the book “Hoover Families of Lancaster County.”

Will: John Philip Keller (1812)

Kris Hocker on 25 Jan 2013

John Philip Keller signature

 In researching Ulrich Huber of Adams and York counties, I’ve been looking for Philip Keller, husband of Ulrich’s daughter Magdalena. All I really knew about the couple was that Magdalena had died prior to her father’s death and that she and Philip had children: Eve, Catharine, Elisabeth and John.1

Today, I came across a possible clue—a gravestone for a Magdalena Keller who died in July 1805 and was buried in Middletown, Frederick County, Maryland. According to her gravestone, she was approximately 40 years of age at the time of her death. Since this fits the parameters of Ulrich’s daughter, I decided to search for records for Philip Keller in Frederick County Maryland, starting with estate records. I found two wills, one of which is a match.

“In the Name of God I John Phillip Keller of Frederick County and State of Maryland being weak in Body but of sound mind and memory calling to mind the uncertainty of Life do make this my last will and Testament in manner and form following to wit that Body by Buried in a Christian like manner — I give and bequeath unto my son John Keller his heirs and assigns all my real Estate consisting of Several Tracts of Land he yielding and paying therefor Six hundred pounds Lawfull [sic] money in the following manner that is to say one year after he shall arrive to the age of twenty one years Seventy five pounds and the yearly sum of Seventy five pounds without Interest untill [sic] the said whole sum of Six hundred pounds shall be fully paid & shall be Devided [sic] between all my Daughters in manner and form hereafter mentioned — I give and bequeath unto Catharine Hoover her heirs and assigns five hundred Dollars lawfull [sic] money — I Give and Bequeath all the residue of my personal Estate unto my three Daughters Eve, Catharine and Elisabeth to be Equally divided share and share alike taking into view at the same time Two hundred and fifty pounds advanced to my son-in-law Barnit Whip and two Hundred and fifty pounds advanced unto my son in law Michael Motter as a part of their Estate

It is my will that all my real Estate herein Devised to my son John shall be rented out to the best Advantage and so as not to have any part of it destroyed by my Executor hereafter named until my said Son shall arrive to the age of Twenty one years or untill [sic] he shall choose a Guardian which said rents Shall be for the sole use and benefit of my said son John — It is my will that before an Equall [sic] Division of my personal Estate shall take place Between my Daughters my Youngest Daughter Elisabeth shall first have forty pounds lawfull [sic] money after which a Division shall take place Equally share and share alike — And Lastly I constitute and appoint my friend Peter Coblentz my whole and sole Executor of this my last will and Testament this twenty first day of November in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and twelve — In Witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal”2

John Philip Keller signature

Philip’s will was witnessed by Joseph Swearingen, Adam Shank, and Michael Keller. The will was proven on 30 Nov 1812.

The children listed in this will match those listed in Ulrich Hoover’s probate records as those of his daughter Magdalena, wife of Philip Keller. No wife is listed, making it likely that John Philip Keller was a widower, also a match. Additionally, he left a bequest to Catharine Hoover. Magdalena had a sister named Catharine who was unmarried at the time of her father’s estate probate circa 1805-1813.3 It’s possible that she went to live with her brother-in-law to care for her sister’s children after Magdalena died.

Part 3: Ulrich Hoover of York & Adams Counties, Pennsylvania

Kris Hocker on 9 Jan 2013

Last time, in Part 2 I provided a long list of information pertaining to Ulrich Hoover in a chronology. As you read through it, however, you’ll notice a number differences between this information and what we learned about Ulrich from his estate records. Additionally, you can see several inconsistencies between the individual pieces of data.

First, while there are birth/baptism records for most of the children listed in Ulrich’s estate records, there are several who are missing from the list. Those whose birth/baptism records are listed include:

  1. Susanna, daughter of Ulrich & Anna Maria
  2. Michael, son of Ulrich & Susanna
  3. Anna Catharina, daughter of Ulrich & Susanna
  4. Eva, daughter of Ulrich & Eva
  5. Johan George, son of Ulrich & Eva
  6. Peter, son of Ulrich & Eva
  7. Maria Elisabeth, daughter of Ulrich & Eva
  8. Anna Maria, daughter of Ulrich & Eva
  9. Barbara, daughter of Ulrich & Eva

Ulrich’s eldest son Johannes, daughter Magdalena, son Henry, son David and daughter Sarah are not found in the church records—though Henry was likely the unnamed son baptized on 25 Oct 1780.

There are also several children listed who are not included in the Orphans Court records. They include:

  1. Jacob, son of Ulrich & Anna Maria
  2. Daniel, son of Ulrich & Anna Maria
  3. Johan Daniel, son of Ulrich & Anna Maria
  4. Anna Maria, daughter of Ulrich & Anna Maria
  5. Maria Barbara, daughter of Ulrich & Susanna
  6. Johann Jacob, son of Ulrich & Susanna
  7. Christian, son of Uli & Catharina

If these are all children of our subject, Ulrich had a lot of children, many of whom predeceased him. Are they really all his?

This is where the inconsistencies become very important. Did you notice that after Ulrich & Susanna’s daughter Anna Catharina was baptized in Aug 1767, Ulrich & Anna Maria not only sponsored several children, but also sold land in Taneytown in 1768? Then Ulrich & Susanna had a son Johan Jacob born on 4 Aug 1769.

We know from the probate records that Ulrich had a daughter named Susanna. This was likely the Susanna, daughter of Ulrich & Anna Maria, who was baptized at St. Jacob’s (Stone) Church on 25 Mar 1760.1 So, he must have been married to Anna Maria. We also know that two of the children of Ulrich & Susanna Huber—Michael & Anna Catharina—match children of Ulrich listed in his probate records. So, he was married to Susanna. We also know that Ulrich left a widow named Eve.2 And six of the children of Ulrich & Eva listed in the church records match those listed in Ulrich’s probate file.

Logically, it would appear that Ulrich was married three times—first to Anna Maria, second to Susanna, and third to Eva. However, what about the references to Ulrich & Anna Maria after children were born to Ulrich & Susanna?

I believe there were two Ulrichs, both married—initially at least—to women named Anna Maria. Both may have started in the same general area,3 but by the early 1760s, one of them was most likely living in Taneytown.

I believe this is supported by the multiple warrants in Codorus Township. The first warrant (1751) is separate from the subsequent three (1765 & 1774) which were grouped together in location. Additionally, Smallwood reported that Ulrich’s gravestone states that he was born 27 Mar 1734.4 That date would have made him only 17 years old in 1751, too young to own land.

The 1758 start date for quit rent and interest on 250 acres warranted in 1765 fits better. Ulrich would have been 24 by then. Also, the names some of the surrounding land owners—Werley and Keller (sons-in-law)—tie to Ulrich’s family. Furthermore, these tracts are identified in Ulrich’s estate records as belonging to him and subsequently belonged to his sons John, Henry and George.

Separating out the two Ulrichs married to women named Anna Maria may prove problematic—at least where their children are concerned—without additional research on the Ulrich Huber of Taneytown. The only child we can be fairly certain belonged to Ulrich & Anna Maria Huber of York & Adams counties was Susanna. But based on this research, I would list Ulrich’s children as follows.

Children with wife Anna Maria:

  1. Johannes, born before 1760
  2. Susanna, born before 25 Mar 1760, baptized 25 Mar 1760

Children with wife Susanna:

  1. Michael, born before Dec 1763, baptized Dec 1763
  2. Maria Barbara, born before Dec 1765, baptized Dec 1765, may have died before 1793, but before 1805
  3. Anna Catharina, born 7 Aug 1767, baptized 11 Aug 1767
  4. Johann Jacob, born 4 Aug 1769, baptized 8 Aug 1769, may have died prior to 1778, but before 1805

Children with wife Eva.

  1. Eva, born 31 Dec 1773, baptized 2 Jan 1774
  2. Johann George, born 10 Jan 1776, baptized 3 Mar 1776
  3. Jacob, born 20 Aug 1778, baptized 4 Oct 1778, most likely died before 1805
  4. [Henry], born 26 Sep 1780, baptized 25 Oct 1780
  5. Peter, born 3 Oct 1785, baptized 18 Dec 1785
  6. Maria Elisabeth, born 18 Dec 1788, baptized 29 Jan 1789
  7. Annmaria, born 30 May 1791, baptized 10 Jul 1791
  8. Barbara, born 12 Mar 1793, baptized 9 May 1793
  9. David, born about 1797
  10. Sarah, born about 1797

I’ve placed Johannes first simply because he was the eldest son. He may have been born after Susanna, but before Michael, say late 1761 or very early 1762. Ulrich also had a daughter Magdalena, but I don’t know when she was born. I’d need to know more about her before I could even “guesstimate” her position in the birth order. But there are four years between Johann Jacob and Eva and five years between Henry and Peter.

Update: A gravestone from the Christ Reformed Church in Middletown, Maryland, states Magdalena Keller died 24 Jul 1805, aged about 40 years.5 We know that Ulrich’s daughter died before 21 Nov 1805, because her children are named in the petition to partition her father’s land. That same document indicates that she was the wife of Philip Keller. John Philip Keller is also buried in this cemetery. So it’s quite possible—maybe even likely—that this is Ulrich’s daughter.

“Aged about 40 years” would place her birth in 1765—when her sister Barbara was born. It’s possible that they were twins. But there’s that word about.6 It’s more likely that she was slightly older or younger than 40 years. Given that Michael was born in 1765 and I have most often seen wives who are younger than their husbands, I would theorize that Magdalena was born between 1769 and 1773. Since I don’t have a death date for Susanna or an exact marriage date for Ulrich and Eva, I can’t determine which woman was her mother.

So, if there were two Ulrich Hoovers in this general area, were they related? Were they related to any of the other Hoovers in the area? Who was the Christian Hoover listed as a neighbor to Ulrich Hoover’s 1751 land warrant? Was he related to the George Hoover who later owned the tract adjoining this land?

All these questions—and research—because Christian Hoover of Heidelberg Township bequeathed money to the surviving children of his brothers—Ulrich, Jacob and Henry—without naming any of them.

Read more:

Part 2: Ulrich Hoover of York & Adams Counties, Pennsylvania

Kris Hocker on 7 Jan 2013

While I was researching Ulrich Hoover of York & Adams Counties, I decided to put together a timeline that included all the information I’d found for “Ulrich Huber” in York County & the surrounding area for the late 1700s. I wanted to see what I had, whether or not it made sense, and whether or not I could determine that it all applied to the same man.

Here’s what I found:

18 Dec 1751: John Ulrick Hoover warranted 50 acres in Codorus Township, York County.1

10 Feb 1754: Ulrich & Anna Maria Huber’s son Jacob was baptized by Rev. Jacob Lischy.2 Jacob and Esther Keller were the sponsors.3

8 Aug 1756: Ulrich & Anna Maria Huber’s son Daniel was baptized by Rev. Jacob Lischy.4 Daniel and Elisabeth Renolly were the sponsors.5

25 Mar 1760: Ulrich & Anna Maria Huber’s daughter Susanna was baptized at St. Jacob’s (Stone) Union Church.6

26 Jun 1760: Ulrich & Anna Maria Huber’s son Johan Daniel was baptized by Rev. Jacob Lischy.7 Daniel and Elisabeth Renolly were the sponsors.8

4 Nov 1760: Ulrich Hoober sold 50 acres in Codorus Township to Conrad Supinger.9

15 Aug 1762: Ulrich & Anna Maria Huber’s daughter Anna Maria was baptized by Rev. Jacob Lischy.10 Görg & Anna Maria Lickefelder were the sponsors.11

 6 Dec 1763: Ulrick Hoover purchased lot 78 in Taneytown, Carroll County, Maryland from Raphael Taney.12

 Dec 1763: Ulrich & Susanna Huber’s son Michael was baptized by Rev. Jacob Lischy.13 Michael & Catharina Böhler were the sponsors.14

22 Jun 1764: Ulrich Hoover purchased “Resurvey on Brothers Agreement” from Raphael Taney.15

5 Feb 1765: Ulrich Hoover purchased lot 89 in Taneytown from Raphael Taney.16

30 Apr 1765: Ulrich Huber received a warrant for 50 acres in Codorus Township, York County. 17 He also received a warrant for 100 acres in Codorus Township.18

 Aug 1765: Ulrich & Anna Maria Huber were sponsors for Johan Jacob Schreyer, son of Johannes and Maria Margreth Schreyer, and Johan Peter Sprengel, son of Heinrich and Anna Maria Sprengel.19

27 Dec 1765: Ulrich & Susanna Huber’s daughter Maria Barbara was baptized by Rev. Jacob Lischy.20 Michael Noll and Anna Marg. Fischbornin [Fischborn] were the sponsors.21

5 Jun 1766: Ulrich Hoover purchased lot 3 from Andrew Stiger in Taneytown.22

Jul 1766: Ulrich & Anna Maria Huber were sponsors for Anna Maria Kohn, daughter of Jacob & Magdalena Kohn.23

11 Aug 1767: Ulrich & Susanna Huber’s daughter Anna Catharina was baptized in St. Jacob’s (Stone) Church.24 She was born 7 Aug 1767.

23 Sep 1768: Ulrich & Anna Maria Hoover sold lots 3, 7, 8 in Taneytown and Resurvey on Brother’s Agreement to Mark Alexander.25

 4 Aug 1769: Ulrich & Susanna Huber’s son Johan Jacob was born.26 He was baptized in St. Jacob’s (Stone) Church on 8 Aug 1769.

28 Aug 1769: Ulrich Hoover purchased lot 15 in Taneytown from Robert Owings.27

8 Sep 1769: Ulrich Hoover sold 2 horses and a cow to Jacob Good.28

31 Dec 1773: Ulrich & Eva Huber’s daughter Eva was born.29 She  baptized in St. Jacob’s (Stone) Church on 2 Jan 1774.30

13 Sep 1774: Ulrick Hoober received a warrant for 100 acres adjoining his lands near George Werly & Stephen Peter.31

 10 Jan 1776: Ulrich & Eva Huber’s son Johann George was born.32 He was baptized in St. Jacob’s (Stone) Church on 3 Mar 1776.33

20 Aug 1778: Ulrich & Eva Huber’s son Jacob was born.34 He was baptized on 4 Oct 1778 in St. Jacob’s (Stone) Church.

1779: Ulrich Hoober was taxed on 300 acres in Codorus Township, York County, Pennsylvania.35

1780: Ulrich Huber was taxed on 200 acres in Codorus Township, York County, Pennsylvania.36

 26 Sep 1780: An unnamed child was born to Ulrich and Eva Huber.37 This child—most likely Henry—was baptized on 25 Oct 1780.

1781: Ulrich Huber was taxed on 300 acres and 3 mills in Codorus Township, York County, Pennsylvania.38

1782: Ulrich Huber was taxed on 300 acres in Codorus Township, York County, Pennsylvania.39

28 Oct 1782: Uli & Catharina Huber’s son Christian was born.40 Christian was baptized at St. Jacob’s (Stone) Church.

3 Oct 1785: Ulrich & Eva Huber’s son Peter was born.41 He was baptized on 18 Dec 1785 in St. Jacob’s (Stone) Church.

18 Dec 1788: Ulrich & Eva Huber’s daughter Maria Elisabeth was born.42 She was baptized in St. Jacob’s (Stone) Church on 29 Jan 1789.

30 May 1791: Ulrich and Eva Huber’s daughter Annmaria was born.43 She was baptized on 10 Jul 1791 in St. Jacob’s (Stone) Church.

9 Dec 1791: George Keller of Manheim Township names his “trusty friend Ulrich Huber” to be one of the executors of his estate.44

12 Mar 1793: Ulrich and Eva Huber’s daughter Barbara was born.45 She was baptized in St. Jacob’s (Stone) Church on 9 May 1793.

13 Apr 1798: Letters of Testamentary were issued on the estate of George Keller of Manheim Township to Ulrich Huber and Michael Miller.46

 Aug 1807: The York County Orphans Court appointed Christian Lentz as guardian for David and Sarah Hoover, aged 10, children of Ulrich Hoover, late of Reading Township.47

Did you see the inconsistencies? Looking at the data in an integrated timeline helped me come to a couple of conclusions. I’ll tell you about them in my next post.

Read more:

Ulrich Hoover of York & Adams Counties, Pennsylvania

Kris Hocker on 6 Jan 2013

Ulrich Hoover of York and Adams counties became of interest to me because of a possible connection to Christian Hoover of Heidelberg Township, York County. Ulrich had come up in the data I’ve been compiling on Hoovers of Pennsylvania and Maryland, but since I’ve been focusing on Lancaster County Hoovers, I hadn’t researched him.

Most of what I know about Ulrich came from a Hoover mailing list posting by Richard Smallwood. However, his estate records have been enlightening.

Ulrich’s estate records—from both Adams and York counties—are consistent in the names of his children and, for the most part, list them in the same order. Based on these records alone, I would list his children as:

  1. Johannes “John” Hoover
  2. Susanna Hoover, m. Johannes “John” Rohrbach
  3. Michael Hoover
  4. Catharine Hoover
  5. Eve Hoover, m. George Werley
  6. George Hoover
  7. Henry Hoover
  8. Peter Hoover
  9. Elizabeth Hoover
  10. Mary Hoover
  11. Barbara Hoover
  12. David Hoover
  13. Sarah Hoover
  14. Magdalena Hoover, dec’d., m. to Philip Keller

Johannes is consistently named as Ulrich’s eldest son.

When he died in 1805, Ulrich Hoover owned property in York County spanning the border between Manheim and Codorus townships and in Adams County in Reading and Latimer townships.1 Henry Hoover— “fourth son of Ulrich Hoover”—took 132 acres on the border of Manheim and Codorus townships in York County that included the merchant and saw mills.2 His brother George— “third son of the intestate”—took a tract of 300 acres in Codorus Township.3  Eldest son John initially refused to take any of the York County land, but eventually accepted a third tract of 111 acres in Manheim Township, adjoining the other tracts.4

According to Adams County Orphans Court records, John also accepted land in Reading Township, containing 223 acres.5 John accepted the second Adams County tract, containing 105 acres in Latimer Township, acting as Michael Hoover’s assignee.6

While I did not find any warrants for Ulrich Hoover in Adams County, I found several for “Ulrich” in York County. The first warrant was for John Ulrich Hoober for 50 acres in Codorus Township, dated 18 Dec 1751.7 I believe Ulrich sold this tract to Conrad Supinger on 4 Nov 1760.8 At the time of the land warrant, this tract adjoined land that had recently belonged to Christian Hoober. While this tract picques my interest the most, I’m not entirely convinced that it applies to this Ulrich Hoover.

Ulrich received another land warrant on 30 Apr 1765 for 50 acres in Codorus Township, adjoining Stephen Peter and Johan George Werley.9 It was noted on the warrant that the interest and quit rent were to be from 1 Mar 1758.10 This tract was surveyed on 14 Jul (5th month) 1766.11 Ulrich received a warrant for 200 acres, adjoining land of Philip Miller, George Keller, Francis Hoff, Anthony New/Neu, and Jacob Lingefelta on the same day.12 This warrant, too, noted that the interest and quit rent were to start from 1 Mar 1758. It was originally surveyed on the same day as the first tract, but two surveys were recorded for this tract—one in the name of George Hoover13 and one for Jacob Keller.14

A third warrant was issued for Ulrich Huber on 13 Sep 1774 for 100 acres, adjoining his other tracts.15 It was surveyed on 12 Sep 1794 for 108 acres and 12 perches.16

Based on these land warrants, Ulrich was probably living in York County by 1758, and possibly as early as 1751. This means he was probably living in York County from the time he was a young adult, so his children were likely born there. Check back next time to see what records I was able to find for them.

Read more:

A Theory Regarding Christian Huber’s Sister Ann

Kris Hocker on 24 Dec 2012

A little while back I did a series of posts about Christian Hoover of Heidelberg Township, York County, including a transcript of his inventory and the clues—or lack thereof—found in his wife’s probate file. Yesterday while researching the estate of Henry Küny (aka Keuny, Kuny, Kiny, Keiny, Keny), presumably the husband of Christian’s sister Ann, I came up with a new theory.

Let’s start with Christian’s will. In it he states: “and whereas Johannes Keny son of my Sister Ann is Justly indebted to me in the Sum of Nine Pounds Ten shillings it is my Will that he pay unto my Executrix the Sum of six Pounds part there of and unto his Brother Henry Keny the sum of one pound fifteen shillings also part thereof and the remaining Sum of one pound fifteen shillings I do bestow unto himself.”1

Christian does not name his sister’s husband, just her sons Johannes and Henry. Information I found online named Henry Keuny of Germany Township as the husband of Ann Huber. And indeed this Henry had a wife named Ann and sons named Johannes and Henry.2 Seems like a match, right?

And here’s the rub. At an Orphans Court on 26 Mar 1782, Ann Keiny petitioned the court for guardians for her children “John Keiny aged thirteen and upwards and Anna aged nine years and upwards and Henry aged seven years and upwards, and Barbara aged four years and upwards, and Jacob aged about eleven months.”3 John, son of Henry and Ann Keuny, would have been three years old in 1771 when Christian wrote his will; their son Henry wouldn’t have been born yet! How can a three year old be indebted to his uncle? And was Christian a psychic to know Ann would have a son named Henry about four years after his death?

The answer, of course, is that it’s not really possible that Christian was referring to the children of Henry Küny of Germany Township in his will. Here’s where my eureka moment comes in. I believe that Christian was referring to Henry Küny of Germany Township as his sister’s son in his will. So, where’s Henry’s brother, Johannes Küny?

John Küny of Germany Township was named guardian of Henry and Anna Küny’s children Magdalena, John, Anna, Henry, Barbara, and Jacob. So, there was both a Henry Küny and a John Küny, most likely a relative and quite possibly his brother, living in Germany Township. Both John and Henry Kiny are listed in the 1779 and 1780 tax lists for Germany Township.4 Henry Küny died in 1781 and only John Kenney and the Widow Kenney are listed in the 1781 tax list for Germany Township.5

At an Orphans Court on 30 Nov 1790, “Henry Keeny aged fifteen years and upwards” petitioned the court for a new guardian, as did “Henry Danner, Executor of the Last Will and Testament of John Keeny deceased,” on behalf of Barbara and Jacob Keeny.6 So, John Küny died in 1790.

A search of the Pennsylvania probate records on FamilySearch.org shows John Küny of Germany Township wrote his last will and testament on 16 Jan 1790. It was proven on 4 Jun 1790. It named his wife Anna, only daughter Anna, wife of Adam Gissler, granddaughter Magdalena Gissler, grandson John Gissler, and niece and nephew, Barbara and Jacob Küny, children of his brother Henry.7 Henry Danner and John Kehr were named as his executors. The will was witnessed by George Miller, John Thomas and John Summer.

So, Henry and John Küny of Germany Township were, in fact, brothers. What else can we learn about them?

John Küny land survey

John Küny land survey

John Küny (as Kieny) warranted a tract of land containing 100 acres in Germany Township on 16 Jun 1763 and a tract of 50 acres on 30 Apr 1765.8 The tracts were surveyed on 10 Aug 1765.9 This means that John was in York County by Jun 1763 at the latest. I found no warrants or patents for Henry Küny though the tax lists indicate he owned 100 acres in Germany Township.

A Johannes Küny arrived in Philadelphia aboard the ship Brothers on 30 Sep 1754.10 Also onboard were a Jacob Huber and a Christian Huber—relatives, perhaps?11 A Henrich Küny arrived aboard the ship Myrtilla on 21 Sep 1765.12

What does this mean for researching Christian Huber? To be  entirely honest, I’m not exactly sure. I believe it makes it more likely that Christian—and apparently his brothers, too—were immigrants, not first-generation Americans. Although that’s always a possibility in colonial research, 1749 is late enough that Christian’s parents might have been early immigrants.

Since Johannes and Henry Küny were presumably immigrants, born in Europe, finding their parents in Europe may also provide the location of Christian Huber’s birth. That, in turn, may provide additional information on his brothers that helps me to identify them in Pennsylvania. At least, that’s what I’m hoping.

1805 Petition for Partition of Ulrick Hoover’s Real Estate

Kris Hocker on 23 Dec 2012

Ulrick Hoover Partition Petition

I’ve been researching Ulrich Huber of Adams and York County recently. Here’s a transcript of the petition to partition his York County property put forth by his son Henry Hoover.

To the Honorable the Judges of the Orphans Court of York County
The Petition of Henry Hoover one of the sons of Ulrick Hoover late of Adams County who died Intestate Humbly Showeth—

That the said Ulrick Hoover lately died Intestate leaving a widow named Eve; and John Hoover his eldest son, Susanna intermarried with John Roerbach, Michael, Catherine, Eve, intermarried with George Werley; George, Henry Peter, Elizabeth, Mary, Barbara, David and Sarah; and Eve, Catherine, Elizabeth and [empty space], grandchildren of said Intestate, being children of Intestates daughter Magdalena who was intermarried with Philip Keller, and died in the lifetime of her father; all lawfull issue or their Representatives to Survive him—

That said Intestate died seized in his Demesne as of fee of three messuages one Merchant mill one saw mill and five hundred acres or there abouts of land situate in Manheim Township, York County, adjoining land of Jacob Keller, George Werley, Andreas Miller George Peter & Peter Sabel—

That the widow children and grand children of said intestate hold the said messuages mills and tract of land as tenants in common and undivided—

Your Petitioner, therefore prays your Honors to direct an Inquest, to make division or partition of the Real estate of said Intestate, to and amongst the widow children and children of his deceased daughter Magdalena if the same will admit of such division or partition without prejudice to or spoiling the whole but if the same can not be so divided without prejudice to or spoiling the whole then to divide the same into as many parts or parcels as the same will admit of without prejudice to or spoiling the whole and value the same each parcel separately

But if the same will not admit of division or partition as all without prejudice to or spoiling the whole then to value the whole undivided according to the writ of General Assembly in just case made & provided & your Petitioner shall prey [?]

Henry Huber [signed in German]1

I received a digital version of his estate files from the York County Archives. It included this partition request, a draught of Henry Hoover’s portion and a draught of George Hoover’s portion of the partitioned lands, and Michael Hoover’s refusal to take any of his father’s real estate.

The clerk’s record of this petition also included the following:

Whereupon it is ordered by the Court that the Sheriff of the County of York, in his proper person with twelve good and lawful men of his Bailiwick in the presence of all the parties who shall choose to attend, or the Guardians of such of them as are Minors, they having  respectively had due due [sic] and legal notice thereof Do hold an Inquest on the aforesaid premises and make partition thereof to and amongst the Widow and children and grand children of the said deceased (preference being give to the eldest son)

If the same will admit of such partition without prejudice to or spoiling the whole. Otherwise to value the who undivided According to the Act of Assembly in such case made and provided and that the said Sheriff do make return of said Inquisition as well under his own hand and Seal as the hands and seals of said Inquest to the next Orphans Court after the same shall be held.2

Follow-up: From Deed to Land Warrant and Back Again

Kris Hocker on 28 Oct 2012

John Hoover 1752 Conestoga Township land patent
John Hoover 1752 Conestoga Township land patent

John Hoover 1752 Conestoga twp land patent

In my last post, “From Deed to Land Warrant and Back Again,” I found that John Huber had patented 25 acres in Conestoga in right of Michael Hess and surveyed a 110-acre tract that he had purchased from Jacob Eshleman. My next step was to determine what happened to this tract. Did John sell it or perhaps leave it to his heirs?

I was unable to locate a deed of sale from John Hoover. However, I found two deeds documenting the later sale of these tracts. One deed was from Leonard May for a mortgage on the property from Joseph Cauffman.1 May had purchased the land from Daniel Keeports of Lampeter Township in 1765. The second was from Daniel Keenports, selling the land to David Hess.2 Leonard May and his wife Christina had sold the land back to Keeports/Keenports on 23 August 1768.

Jacob Eshleman Conestoga Township tract

Jacob Eshleman Conestoga Twp tract

While there is no explicit mention of John Hoover in these documents, the description of the properties is a match to those previously owned by John Hoover. He had apparently either sold the tracts to Daniel Keeports—or someone who then sold it to Daniel Keeports—sometime before 10 January 1765 when Keeports sold it to Leonard May.

John—presumably this one—had inherited his father’s land up the Pequea in Conestoga Township in 1757.3 He, then, sold this property on 10 Oct 1767 to Melchoir and Anna (Good) Brenneman.4 It is believed he left the county soon after.

John Hoover of “Timber Hill”

Kris Hocker on 26 Oct 2012

John Huber's Timber Hill tract

In reviewing some information on John Hoover (Ulrich1), I came across the following: “May also be the John [Hoover] who had 50 acres surveyed on May 10, 1768, in York Co. called “Timber Hill.”1 It sounded familiar, so I looked it up. The tract was warranted to Andrew Hershey on 24 October 1738 and patented to John Hoover on 17 August 1772 for 146 acres and 80 perches, Patent AA13:193.2

I recalled seeing land transactions between Andrew Hershey and John Hoover—although in connection to another Hoover family—and decided to dig a little deeper. John is a very common name. Which John Hoover patented Timber Hill?

John Huber's Timber Hill tract

John Hoover’s Timber Hill tract in Manheim Township

John Hoover had 140 acres known as “Timber Hill” in Manheim township surveyed on 10 May 1768.3 This land was adjacent other lands of Andrew Hershey, Jacob Bollinger, Thomas Wilson and Mark Furney. Ownership of this land must have been contested at one point, because there were multiple surveys, including several in the name of Jacob Gotshalk.

Jacob Gotshalk had applied for a patent on this land in 1767, but apparently never lived on it according to several later surveys.4 In any case, John Hoover purchased the rights to the land from Gotshalk in 1771 for £35.5 In this deed John Hoover was of Hempfield Township, Lancaster County. John Hoover, Miller, of Hempfield and his wife Ann sold this tract and another that they’d inherited from her father Andrew Hershey to Jacob Burkhard in 1775.6

Andrew Hershey made his will on 9 December 1754, it was probated on 19 February 1755 and left his property—except for one tract left by name to his grandson Christian Hershey—to be divided equally amongst his heirs.7 In 1766, Andrew’s heirs—including John and Anna Hoober—quitclaimed a tract in Hempfield Township to Benjamin Hershey.8

While I don’t know for certain where John Hoover (Ulrich1) was after he sold his father’s tract in Conestoga Township on 10 Oct 1767, I do know that at that time his wife’s name as Mary.9 Furthermore, John Hoover of Hempfield and wife Anna bought and sold property in Hempfield and Manheim Townships, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania from the 1760s through the 1780s—a period that overlaps John Hoover’s (Ulrich1) life in and eventual disappearance from Conestoga Township.

From these records, I would conclude that John Hoover (Ulrich1) was not the man who patented Timber Hill. Instead, it appears to me that John Huber of Hempfield Township was. This John Hoover was most likely the son of Christian Hoover of Hempfield Township who died prior to 27 November 1757. John lived his entire life in Hempfield Township. He wrote his will on 30 August 1798 and it was probated in Lancaster County on 17 September 1803.10