Rev. Michael Ziegler

  Noted events in his life were:

• Immigration, 3 May 1709. ^193,194 I came to the United States on May 3, 1709 with my brother Melchior. We were included in a list of the first 6,000 Germans to arrive in the United States in 1709 from London. I was one of the early settlers of the Mohawk Valley. I came on the ship “Guy” with Henry and Arnold Kolb, Marcus Oberholtzer, Gerhardt Clemens and John Bien

Agents for the New York colony had told the Palatines that the Queen of England would assist them in their desire to immigrate to America. There were 13,146 immigrants “camping out” in London by October 13 of 1709, waiting to immigrate to America. There were food shortages causing hunger, crime and disease to flourish. I was blessed to have arrived in London early and to have secured travel arrangements for the Pennsylvania Colony promptly.

• land Deed, 14 Feb 1717. ¹⁹⁵ TO ALL PEOPLE, to whom these presents shall Come, David Powell of the City of Philadelphia in the province of Pennsilvania yeoman Sendeth Greeting, WHEREAS there is a certain Tract or piece of Land Scitauate, lying and being in the County of Philadelphia in the said province, Beginning at a reputed Corner of Hans George Reiff's land, thence by Bebber's Township's line One hundred and Sixty perches to a post, Thence North East One hundred perches to an other post, Thence South East One hundred & Sixty perches to a third post, thence South West one hundred perches to the place of Beginning, Containing One hundred Acres of land, part of Three tousand Acres, which the present Commissieners of Property Richard Hill, Isaac Norris and James Logan by a certain Warrant bering Date the tenth day of September in the year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Seventeen have granted unto the above s'd David Powell, to be Surveyed for him, his heirs and Assigns, NOW KNOW YEE, that the said David Powell for and inConsideration of the Sum of Twenty five pounds lawful Silver Money of America, to him at and before the Ensealing and Delivery of these presents in hand paid by Michael Ziegler of the afore s'd County of Philadelphia. Weaver The receipt whereof he the s'd David Powell doth hereby Acknowledge, and therof and of every part therof doth fully acquit and for Ever Discharge the said Micahel Ziegler, his heirs Executers Administraters and Assigns by these present, HATH given, granted, bargained, sold, aliened, Enfeoffed and Confirmed AND by these present dot Clearly and Absoltuely give, grant, bargain, Sell, Alien, Enfeoff and Confirm unto the s'd Michael ziegler his heirs and Assigns all the above mentioned One hundred Acres of land, together with all & singular the ways Wasts Water Water Courses, Woods, Underwoods, Timber and Trees, Soil, Meadows, Marshes, Criples, Swamps, Minerals, quarries, commodities, Priviledges, Hereditaments and Appurtenances whatsoever, to the said One hundred Acres of land & premises, or to any part and parcell therof belonging, or in any wise appertaining, AND the Reversions, Remainders, Rents, Issues and Profits of the same, As also all the Estate, Right, Title, Interest, Use, Possession, Property Claim and Demand whasoever of him the s'd David Powerll of, in and to the hereby bargained premises, TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said One hundred Acres of land Hereditaments and premises with the Appurtenances unto the said Michael Ziegler, his heirs and Assignes, To the only proper Use and Behoof of the said Michael Ziegler, his heirs and Assignes for Ever, AT and under the yearly Quitrent of One English Silver Shilling or Value therof in Coin Current, hencforth to become due and payable to the chief Lord of the Soil. AND the said Davodi Powell and his heirs the said One hundred Acres of land, Hereditaments and prmisses with its Appurtenances unto the said Micahel Ziegler, his heirs and Assigns against him the said David Powell, his heirs and Assignes, and against all and Every person or person whomsoever lawfuly Claiming or to Claim the same, by from or under him, them or any of them shall and will WARRANT and for Ever Defend by these presents, AND moreover within the Space of Seven Years now next ensuing at the Rquest and ONly Costs and Charrges of the said Michael Ziegler, his heirs or Assigns make and Execute all such Further Acts and Deeds, as also procure a Ptent from the Above s'd Commissioners for the better Assrance and Confirmation of the above granted One hundred Acres of land, Hereditaments and premisses unto the said Michael Ziegler, his heirs and Assigns, as by him, them or any of them shall be reasonbaly devised and required. IN WITNESS wherof the said David Powell hath to these present set his hand & Seal, Dated the fourteenth day of the Twelfth Month, called February, Anno Domi One Thousand Seven hundred and Seventeen-Eighteen.

David Powell

Signed Sealed and Delivered in the Presence of Fra. Daniel Pastorious

• Living, 1717, Perkiomen Township, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. ¹⁹⁶ I first lived in Germantown, but by 1717 I moved my family and settled in Perkiomen Township in Philadelphia County.

The earliest highway opened up in Perkiomen was the Skippack Pike which had been petitioned for by the inhabitants of Perkiomen in June of 1713. The road provided safer travel between Perkiomen and Salfordville. The Salfrodville to Sumneytown section was completed in 1728. Tracks for wagons forked off of the Skippack Pike leading into the Goshenhoppen district, a name given that region which lies in the angle formed by the boundaries of Berks, Bucks, and Montgomery Counties, with a strip of Lehigh County.

In 1734, there were forty-two householders in Parkiomen and Skippake, among the number being my family. I was credited with one hundred acres of land upon which I paid a proprietary tax. This, however, was a very small estimate of my possessions, as deeds and other records show that I owned at this time as much as six hundred and fifty acres, which was located in Skippack, Salford and other Townships adjacent or near by.

In 1717, Van Bebber and his wife in consideration of “true love and singular affection he the said Matthias Van Bebber bears to them and all theirs” conveyed one hundred acres of land to Henry Sellen, Claus Jansen, Henry Kolb, Martin Kolb, Jacob Kolb, Michael Ziegler and Hermanus Kuster in trust, upon which to build a school house. All of the trustees were Mennonites, their selection being due, to the fact that the greater number of the settlers were of that sect; this first school was conducted by Christopher Dock, “The pious school master on the Skippack.”

The school apparently prospered in that eight years later, March 30, 1725, feeling the need for a meeting house for worship the above named trustees, all living, executed a declaration of trust which set forth:

“Which said land and 'd convey'd unto us by the 'd belonging to the meeting of the people called Menonist (alias Menisten) & the above recited deed poll was so made or Intended to us in trust to the Intend only that we or such or so many of us as shall be & Continue in unity & religious fellowship with the s'd people & remain members of the s'd meeting of the Menonist (alias menisten) whereunto we now do belong should stand & be seized of the s'd land & 'd deed poll granted To the uses & Intends hereinafter mentioned & declared & under the Conditions provisos & Restirctions hereinafter 'd people called Menonist (alias Menisten) in BebbersTownship afores'd forever And for a place to Erect a meeting house for the use & Service of the s'd people, & for a place to bury their dead, as also for all & every the Inhabitants of the s'd BebbersTownship to build a school house & fence in a sufficient burying place upon the s'd one hundred acres of land there to have their children & those of their respective families taught & Instructed & to bury their dead Provided always that neither we nor any of us nor any other person or persons Succeeding us in this trust who shall be declared by the members of the s'd meeting for the time being to be out of unity with them shall be Capable to Execute this trust while we or they shal so remain. But that in all such cases as also when any of us or toerhs succeeding us in the trust afores'd shall I to depart this life then it shall & may be lawfull to & for the members of the s'd meeting as often as occasion shall require to make Choice of others to 'd trust 'd meeting either assign over the s'd trust or Convey & Settle the s'd one hundred acres of land & premises to such person or persons as the members of the s'd meeting shall order or appoint to & For the uses, Intends & Services afores'd Now Know Ye that we the s'd Henry Sellen, Claus jansen, Henry Kolb, Martin Kolb, Jacob Kolb, Michael 'd recited deed poll by & on the behalf of the s'd people called Menonist (alias Menisten) and that we are therein trusted only by & for the members of the s'd meeting and that we do not claim to have any right or Intrest in the s'd Land and premises or any part therof to our own use & benefit.

• Property, 14 Feb 1718, Parkeawming Creek. ¹³⁹ On February 14, 1718 I secured from David Powell, surveyor, of Philadelphia, a tract of one hundred acres situated on Parkeawming Creek,” in what was then called Bebber's Township, which was surveyed for me by Powell in December following

• Property, 7 Dec 1722. ¹⁹⁷ I began proceedings to purchase land from Gerhard Clemens on December 9, 1722. The sale was finalized on December 18, 1722. I purchased from Gerhard Clemens and his wife Ann, another fifty acres adjoining the original tract.

• Property, 18 Dec 1722. ¹⁹⁸ Catherine and I built our homestead upon the land that I purchased from Gerhart Clemens. (This homestead remianed in the family for one hundred and sixty two years. It lay in what is now Skippack Township.)

THIS INDENTURE made the third day of May In the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred & twenty Seven BETWEEN Andrew Shrager of Bebbers-twoship in the county of Phildadelphia in the province of Pensivlania Basket maker & Barbara his wife of the one part AND Michael Ziegeler of the s'd Bebbers-township yeoman of the other part WHEREAS William Penn Esquire late proprietary & governour of the s'd province of Pensilvania by his letters Patent under the great Seal of the s'd province bearing date the two & twentieth day of February in the year of our Lord 1702-3 for the Consideration theirn mentioned did grant & Confirm unto Matthias Van Bebber six thousand one hundred & Sixty six acres of land in the s'd county TO HOLD to him his heirs & assigns forever as by the recited patent recorded in the Rolls office at Philadelphia in patent Book A. Vol 2 page 463 &c. more fully appear.

AND WHEREAS the s'd Matthias Van Bebber by his Deed poll bearing date the Sixteenth day of December Anno Domi 1709 for the Consideration theirin mentioned did grant & Convey unto the above s'd Andrew Shrager one hundred acres of land (part of the s'd Six thousand one hundred & Sixty six acres of land (part of the s'd Six thousand one hundred & Sixty six acres of land) together with the appurtenances TO HOLD to him his heirs & assigns forever as by the s'd Recited Deed poll recorded in the Rolls office at Philadelphia in Book E6 vol 7 page 71 &c. more fuly may appear NOWTHIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH the said Andrew Shrager & Barbara his wife for & in Consideration of the sum of one hundred Pounds lawfull money of Pensilvania to them in hand paid by the s'd Michael Ziegeler the receipt wherof they do hereby acknowledge & thereof do acquit & forever discharge the s'd Michael Ziegler his heirs & assigns by these presents HAVE granted bargained sold aliened Enfeoffed & confirmed & by these presents DO grant barain sell alien Enfeoff & Confirm unto the s'd Michael Ziegeler his heirs & assigns all the s'd one hundred acres of land Scituate & lying in Bebber township aforesd Beginning at a line late of Herman in Hoven's land Now in the tenure of Peter Jansen thence by the s'd line North East one hundred & Sixty perches to a stake Set in the ground thence North West by a line of marked trees one hundred perches to a stake a Corner of Jacob colbs land thence by the same South west one hundred & sixty perches to a corner of the same land thence by a line of marked trees South East one hundred perches to the place of Beginning containing one hundred acres (as aforesd) be the same more or less) * * * IN WITNESSwhereof the s'd parties to these presents have Interchangeably set their hands & seals ye day & year frist above written.

Andrew Shraver
her Barbara Shrager
X her mark

Signed Sealed & delivered in the presence of us Dielman Kolb Johannes Kolb

Memorandum that on the day of the Date within written named Andrew Shrager did in his own person deliver full quiet & peaceable possession & Seizin of the land within granted with the appurtenances unto the within named Michael Ziegeler to be held by the s;'d Michael Ziegeler his heirs & assigns according to the form & Effect of the Indenture within written the which possession & Seizin was so delivered In the presence of us Johannes Kolb Dielman Kolb Dirlman Kolb one of ye Evidences to the written Indenture on ye 29th of this Instant personally appeared Before me Towland Evan Esquire one of the Jutices for ye County of Philadelphia And on his affirmation According to Law Doth declare & say that he saw & heard the grantors wthin Named /viz/ Andrew Shrager & Barbara his wife Sign Seal deliver And Acknowledge the within Indenture Respectively As their Acts & Deeds. In witness whereof I have hereunto Sett hand & Seal ye 29th September Anno Dom 1750.

Rowland Evans

• Occupation, 1725, Germantown. ^2,199,200 I was a minister and a weaver. I was the preacher for the Skippach Mennontie Church. I also preached at the Germantown Church. I served 30 years as elder of the Skippach Mennonite church.

The second church of the Mennonites in America was built in Skippack Township in 1725, the first having been that in Germantown. The first ministers of the Skippack Church were Jacob Godshall, Martin Kolb, Henrich Kolb, Dielman Kolb and I. We preached alternately in different churches, which method is still in vogue today. Jacob Godshall was the first acting bishop, and Skippack was the seat of the conference until 1833.

• Signed: The subscription to the Dortrecht Articles of Faith, 1725. ²⁰¹ I was one of the signers for the 1725 subscription to the Dortrecht Articles of Faith. The first Conference of the Mennonite Church in America was held in 1727 where we agreed to adopt the Articles as our foundation and doctrine in America. I preached in Skippack and Germantown

The Mennonites recoginizing the necessity for providing for the coming generations and to spread their peculiar doctrines among their English-speaking neighbors, had printed an English translation of their Confession of Faith:

At the end of the book is presented the statement:

“We the herunder written Servants of the word of God, and Elders in the Congregation of the People called Mennonists, in the Province of Pennsylvania do acknowledge and herewith make down, that we do own the afore-gooing Confession, appendix and Menno's Excusation, to be according to our opinion; and also, have took the same to be wholly our. In Testimony where o, and that we believe the same to be good, we have hereunto Subscribed, our Names.

Skippack

Jacob Gaedtchalk
Henry Kolb
Martin Kolb
Claes Jansen
Michael Ziegler

Canastoga

Hans Burgholtzer
Christian Heer
Benedict Heinrichs
Martin Bear
Johannes Bowman

Germantown

John Gorgas
John Conerads
Claes Rittinghausen

Great Swamp

Velte Clemer

Manatany

Daniel Langenecker
Jacob Beghtly

• Property, 1727. ⁵⁰ My neighbors were the Lederachs, Clemens and Kolbs. We all owned large farms which adjoined each other.

In March 1727, I made a second application to the land office and was granted by the proprietaries four hundred and fify acres in Goshenhoppen on a branch of the Perkiomen Creek, in the present New Hanover Township.

I acquired from Andrew Shrauger still another one hundred acres upon which was erected a tannery. It was upon this last mentioned tract that my wife, Catherine and I resided and which remained in the family for one hundred and sixty-two years. It lay in what is now Skippack Township, adjoining the town of that name


JOHN PENN, THOMAS PENN AND RICHARD PENN, ESQRS, TRUE AND ABSOLUTE PROPRIETARIES AND GOVERNORS IN CHIEF OF THE PROVINCE OF PENSILVANIA AND THE COUNTIES OF NEW CASTLE, KENT AND SUSSEX, ON DELAWARE.

TO ALL UNTO HOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, SEND GREETING:

WHEAREAS, by consent of the late Commissioners of Property there was surveyed in the Month called March anno 1738 unto Michael Zigler of Bebbers Township in the County of Philadelphia a certain tract of land situate on or near a Branch of Parkeawming Creek in the said County, BEGINNING at a white oak at a corner of Jacob Fisher's land thence by the same north fifty degrees west one hundred and seventy perches to another white oak, then north forty degrees east by the said Jacob Fisher's land twenty five perches, then by vacant land on the same course three hundred seventy five perches to a post, then by vacant land south fifty egrees east eighty six perches to a post, then north forty degrees east one hundred and five perches to a post, then north forty degrees east one hundred and five perches to a post, then south east eighty four perches to a post, then by the German tract south forty degrees west four hundred ninety eight perches to the place of Beginining: CONTAINING four hundred and fifty acres and the allowance of six acres on each hundred for roads and highways, which survey by virtue of our Warrant bearing date the tenth day of the first Month last past was duly returned into the Secretary's Office, now at the instance and request of the sai Michael Ziegler that we would be pleased to grant him a confirmation of the said tract of land KNOW YE, that for and in consideration of the Sun mof seventy two pounds of lawful Money of our said province, to our Use, paid by the said Michael ziegler the Receipt whearof we do hereby acknowledge and thereof do acquit and forever discharge the said Michael Ziegler this heirs assigns, by these presents, and for the yearly quitrent hereinafter mentioned and reserved, WEHAVE given, granted, released and confirmed, and by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, do give, grant, release and confrim unto the said Michael Ziegler and his heirs all those the said four hudnred and fifty acres of land, as the same is now set forth, bounded and limited as aforesaid * * * *

IN WITNESS whereof the said Thomas Penn, by virtue of the powers and authorities to him graned by the said John and Richard Penn, and of his own right, hath caused the Great Seal of the Province to be hereunto affixed at Philadelphia, this thirty first day of the fifth Month of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty three, the seventh year of the reign of King George the Second, over Great Britain, &c., and the fifteenth year of our Government.

Thos. Penn (L.S.)

• Petition, 1728. ^202,203 In the spring of 1728, the quiet and peace of the Perkiomen was disturbed by rumors of threatened attacks by bodies of hostile Indians. On April 29, a communication was sent to the governor at Philadelphia, signed by a number of people living in Benbrenors (Van Bebbers) Township and those adjacent, asking that steps be taken to protect them from the fate that had befallen their neighbors and friends about Faulkner Swamp and New Goshenhoppen. There were seventy-seven names signed to this document, the fiftyfifth being mine.

• Naturalization, 9 Jan 1731. ²⁰⁴ I was naturalized on January 9, 1731. Here is a partial list of those naturalized that day: Valentine Hunsicker, Michael Zeigler, Anthony Hallman and George Markle

• Property, 6 Aug 1734. ^205,206 In 1734, I made application to the land office, then situated in Philadelphia, for a reconfirmation and resurvey of this tract, whereas a patent was

Patent to Michael Ziegler 1734

JOH PENN, THOMAS PENN AND RICHARD PENN, ESQRS, TRUE AND ABSOLUTE PROPRIETARIES AND GOVERNORS IN CHIEF OF THE PROVINCE OF PENNSYLVANIA AND THE COUNTIES OF NEW CASTLE, KENT AND SUSSEX ON DELAWARE.

TO ALL UNTO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME SEND GREETING:

WHEREAS, in and by a warrant from the laste Commissioners of Property under the Lesser Seal of our said Province bearing dated the tenth day of September in the year of our Lord 1717 the quantity of three thousand acres of land was granted to be surveyed unto David Powell of the City of Philadelphia Surveyor In pursuance of which sia d warrant there was surveyed and laid out unto the said David Powell in part of the quantity therin granted a certain Tract of land sicuate on or near the Branches of Parkeawming Creek in the county of Philadelphia. BEGINNING at a post at a corner of Henry Penibaker's land and extending thence by a line of Bebber's Township North West one hundred and sicty perches to a post thence North East by the land of Jacob Colph one hundred perches to a marked black oak thence South East one hundred and sixty perches to a post thence South West by the said Panibaker's Land one hundred perches to the palce of I CONTAINING one hundred acrds as in and by the survey therof remaingin in the Surveyor General's Ofice may appear AND WHERAS in and by a certain Deed Poll duely executed bearing dated the fourtheenth day of the month called Febraury next ensuing the date of the said warrant for the considerataion therein mentioned the said David Powell did grant bargain and sell the said tract of one hundred acres of land with the appurtenances unto Michael Ziegler of the county of Philadelphia e would be pleased to grant hima confirmation thereof. KNOW YE, that in Consideration of the Sum of ten pounds lawful Money of Pensilvania to our use, heretofore, paid by the said Micahel Ziegler the Receipt whereof we herby acknowledge an thereof do acquit and forever discharge the said Michael Ziegler his heirs and assigns, by these presents, and also for the yearly quit=rent hereinafter mentioned and reserved, WE HAVE given, granted, released and confirmed, and, by these presents, do give, grant, release and confirm unto the said Micahel Ziegler his heirs and assignes, the said one hundred acres of land, as the same are now set forth, bounded and limited as aforesaid; with all Mines, Minerals, Quarries, meadows, Marshes, Savannahs, Swamps, Cripples, Woods, Underwoods, Timber and Trees, Ways, Waters, Water=course, Liverties, Profits, Commodites, Advantages, Hereditamesnts, and Appurtenances whatsoever to the said one unds and limits aforesaid, (Three full and clear fifth parts of all Royal mines, free from all deductions and reprisals for digging and refiing the same; only exepted and hereby reserved; and also free leave, right and liberty to and for the said Michael Ziegler his heirs and assigns, to hawk; hunt, fish and fowl, in and upon the hereby granted land and premises or upon any part therof;) TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said one heir appurtenances unto the said Michael Ziegler his heirs and assigns, to the only use and behoof of the said Micahel Ziegler his heirs and assigns forever: To be holden of us, our heirs and successors, Proprietaries of Pensivania, as of our Manor or repute manor of Springetsbury in the he first day of the first month March, in every year, from the first survey therof one English silver shilling for the whole one hundred acres or value theof 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 nonpayment 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 in to and upon the herby granted land and premises to re enter and the same to hold and possess until the said quitrent and all arrears therof be fully paid and dishchareged.

In WITNESSS wherof, the said Thomas Penn, by virtue of the powers and authorities to him granted by the said John and Richard Penn, and of his own right, hath caused the Great Seal of the Province to be hereunto affixed at Philadelphia, this sexth day of the sixth month.
August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty our the eight year of the

Tho. Penn (L.S.)

In 'd and set out unto Michael Ziegler, purchaser under the said David Powel, in December, 1717 a cerain tract or parcel of land in the county of Philadelphia, beginning at a post at a corner of Henry Penibaker's land and extending thence by a line of Bebbers Township north west one hundred and sity perches to a post then north east by the land of Jacob colph, one hundred perches to a balck oak, then south east one 's land one hundred perches to the place of I conftaining one hundred acres.

Certified at Philadelphia this 28th day of May 1720 by Jacob Taylor Surveyor General.

Returned into the Secretary's office the 6th of August 1734.

• Paid, 1735. ²⁰⁷ In 1735, I was paid five shillings out of the church funds for carriage (or rather conveyance) hire

• Signed, 1738. ²⁰⁷ In 1738, I signed my name as the auditor for the “Mennonite Congregation in Beberstown”

• Appears, 1740-1761. My name appears as either Elder or accountant, my son Andrew's name often showing up on the same lists, both of us serving at times on the committee for the care of the poor.

• Supported: The printing of the Martyr's Mirror, 1745. My dream of having the Martyr's Mirror printed in English was realized in 1745. On behalf of all the Mennonite Ministers, Martin Kolb, Dielman Godschalk, Heinrich Funk and Yellis Cassel were able to enlist the help of those in Ephrata Lancaster County to help them print the book. The book had 1500 pages and was a history of Christians put to death from the time of the Apostles to the year 1660.

The year was 1745 and war raged in Europe between France and Britain. In Pennsylvania the governor was pushing the Quaker-controlled assembly for money and men to ward off a feared French attack.

Six ministers from the Skippack Mennonite Church read the signs of the times. Sensing an urgent need to strengthen the nonresistant convictions of their young people, they sent a letter to the Dutch Mennonites. Could their Dutch brethren possibly help translate the Dutch Martyrs Mirror into German “so that our posterity might have before their eyes the traces of those loyal witnesses of the truth, who walked in the way of truth and gave their life for it.” Two years passed before the Dutch Mennonites replied to the Skippack brethren's letter. Their answer was disappointing. It would be too hard, they said, to find a reliable translator. Besides, the project would cost too much. Perhaps the American Mennonites themselves could translate some of the chief stories. Then their young people could copy those out by hand. Dielman Kolb and Henry Funk, two of the Skippack ministers, decided to tackle the project on their own. They had learned that the German Baptist Brethren at the Ephrata Cloister had just built a new paper mill and print shop. Also, it was rumored that Prior Peter Miller knew 14 languages and could translate the book. Kolb and Funk approached the Ephrata Dunkards about the task and they agreed to do it.

The first page was printed in 1748. As the new sheets came off the press, Kolb and Funk carefully proofread all 1,512 pages and found in the translation “not one false note”. It took three years to finish the Martyrs Mirror. The large volume was 15 inches high, 10 inches wide, and 5 inches thick, making it the largest book ever printed in colonial America.

The Mennonites now had the martyr stories in the language their young people could understand. It was none too soon. War clouds broke along the frontier in 1754. But the inspiring stories of their forebears encouraged them as they too faced troublesome times.

• Conveyed Land, 7 Aug 1745. ²⁰⁸ By a deed under date of August 7, 1745, I conveyed one hundred and eighty-five acres of my Goshenhoppen land to my son Andrew for 130 pounds, and ten days later I transferred two hundred and eight acres of the same to my son Christopher; and on May 16, 1749, for 80 pounds, I sold a “messuage and plantation” and part of this same warrant to John Sleighter, of New Hanover Township.

My intention was to pass over to each of my sons, for a cash consideration, a farm out of my large estate. I sold to my sons Andrew and Christopher parts of the Goshenhoppen patented land. My third son was my namesake, Michael, Jr., who was also a tanner.

• Sold, 6 Jan 1750. ¹³⁹ On January 6, 1750, my wife, Catherine and I sold parts of three tracts containing in all, seventy-eight and one-half acres, part of the Perkiomen and Salford accessions. The consideration in this trasaction was 100 pounds. The first of these tracts adjoined Dielman Kolb and was part of the fifty acres Gerhard Clemens and his wife, Ann, sold to me. The second contained three-quarters of an acre, being part of one hundred acres I purchased of Andrew Shrager and included the tannery; the third tract contained thirty-one and one-half acres

• French and Indian War, 1755. ²⁰⁹ What is the duty of the nonresistant Christian toward the government in time of war? This was a question facing the Quakers, Mennonites, German Baptists, Schwenkfelders, and Moravians at the beginning of the French and Indian War.

They first faced this question in 1755 when Braddock arrived in America. He wanted the colonies to supply men, weapons, and food. He also needed wagons and teams with their drivers to haul his supplies. The stingy colonial governments would not give him the supplies, so Benjamin Franklin asked the prosperous German farmers for wagons and teams. Surprisingly, a number of Mennonite farmers agreed to help. But they steadfastly refused to haul the army's guns. The Quakers even refused to haul food and hay for the army. Why did the Mennonites and Quakers respond differently? The Mennonites loaned wagons because they believed this was not directly participating in killing. The Quakers, however, thought that even hauling food for the soldiers was helping someone else to kill. Therefore, they refused to help.

The Quakers, however, faced an even thornier problem. How can a nonresistant Christian wield the sword of government? Quaker delegates controlled the Pennsylvania assembly. They made the laws in the assembly, and Quaker magistrates enforced them. The German-speaking nonresistant Christians supported the Quakers by voting them into office. In June 1755 the governor asked the assembly to raise a militia to protect the frontier from Indian attack. The Quaker politicians compromised their convictions and passed a militia bill. Still they exempted any person religiously opposed to war from serving.

When Indian raids struck the frontier, frontiersmen demanded that the assembly defend them. The assembly at first balked, but eventually voted money to build forts and raise troops to defend the frontier. This troubled Quaker ministers such as John Woolman and John Churchman. They warned the Quakers in the assembly that they were being inconsistent.

Meanwhile refugees from the Indian attacks flooded in from the outlying settlements. Destitute, they needed help. The Mennonites, Schwenkfelders, and Quakers quickly collected food and clothing to aid the refugees. They were willing to do anything that helped their fellowman. In April 1756 the governor declared war on the Lenape Indians. This was the last straw for the Quaker assemblymen. They resigned. Presbyterians took over the assembly. They voted for everything the governor wanted for fighting the war.

The Quakers continued to work for a peaceful solution to the conflict with the Indians. Israel Pemberton, one of the former assemblymen, formed the “Friendly Association for Regaining and Preserving Peace with the Indians by Pacific Measures.” Pemberton believed that cheating the Indians out of their land had caused the war. He suggested meeting with the Indians and working out a fair price for their land. To pay for the land, he asked the nonresistant Christians for donations. Two bishops, Andrew Ziegler of Skippack and Benjamin Hershey from Lancaster County, organized the collection of the Mennonite contribution.

The Friendly Association sent Christian Post, a Moravian missionary, to persuade the Indians to meet with the English in a peace conference. In October of 1758, the Lenape met with the British authorities at Easton. There they agreed to lay down their weapons. The peace-loving efforts of the Quakers had worked.

When Mennonites donated money to the Friendly Association, they wanted some of it to go toward buying white captives from the Indians. Among the redeemed captives were two boys from the Amish Hochstetler family.

Jacob Hochstetler had settled among his Amish brethren in the Northkill settlement in Berks County. In the 1750s this land was still frontier.

One night in September 1757, an Indian raiding party swooped down on the Hochstetler homestead. One of Hochstetler's sons opened the cabin door to see why the dogs were barking so loudly. He was shot in the leg. His two other brothers rushed to their guns. But Jacob would not allow his boys to shoot. He had not come across the wide ocean to surrender his nonresistant principles. The family barred the door and fled to the cellar. The Indians set fire to the cabin. Smoke forced out the family. The Indians killed the wife, daughter, and wounded Jacob's son. Jacob and two of his sons, Joseph and Christian, were captured and carried off.

The next spring Jacob managed to escape his captors. His sons spent four more years in captivity before they were released.

• Conveyed Land, 6 May 1762. ¹³⁹ On May 6, 1762, my wife and I conveyed to our son Michael, Jr., an additional thirty-six acres, part of which was woodland, and part of the tract purchased of Andrew Shrager, the latter tract being the homestead farm

• Conveyed Land, 1 Nov 1762. ¹³⁹ To my son William, I granted by deed November 1, 1762, the remainder of my Goshenhoppen tract. At this time, I had only a small woodlands in Lower Salford remaining which was not sold during my lifetime

• Family Event. I had concerns regarding my son-in-law David Allebach. David's father had made an agreement with Johannes Hall that if Johannes would furnish the money to buy land, he would furnish the manpower to farm it. The agreement worked well for them. However, I was uncomfortable with someone who didn't aspire to owning his own land and didn't trust Daivd with my land or money, therefore when I made my will I put the land in trust for my Grandchildren.

• will, 7 Feb 1763. On the 7th day of February 1763, I made my last will and testament, which was proved in Philadelphia on October 29, 1765.

My wife Catherine and I were now well advanced in years and therefore, my “usual health was frequently interrupted.” On the 7th day of February 1763, I made my last will and testament, which was proved at Philadelphia the 29th day of October 1765.

In the Name of God amen Whereas I Michael Ziegler, Sen. Of the Township of Perkiomen & Schibach back in the County of Philadelphia, yeoman am far advanced in age and thereby my usual health is frequently enterrupted. Therefore in consideration wherof I do this Seventh day of February in the year of our Lord 1763 hereby make my last Will and Testament in manner following vize: Imprimis I will and commend my Soul unto God my creator through the mercy of his beloved Son Jesus Chrsit my redeemer & my body unto the Earth to be buried according to the direction of my hereafter named Executors, and concerning my Worldly Estate I will that all my legal debts and funeral charges be paid by them before anything else. Item I give and devise unto my loving wife Catherine all my singurall my present estate (except what I have in Bill Bonds and Bookd Debts) for her use and for her heirs forever, and after payment of Several legacies der of my Eestate which interst is to be paid to her annually by my Executors and in case the said Interst is not suffieicent for her maintenance then so much of the principall hsall be taken as may fully suffice to maintain her, which said all my personalities I giver her besides the said Interest in Lew of her thirds or dowry. Item I give and bequeth unto the poor of the congregation I confess myself the sum of 9 pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania and to be paid to the Elders of the said Congregation of my Township wherein I now reside for that use within 3 months after my decease. Item I give and evise unto my 9 children namely Andrew, Christopher, Michael, William, Gertrude, Susanna, Margaret, Chaterine and Michael Ruth (son of my deceased daughter Barbara) all the residue of my estate in manner following that is to say **Wheseas I have already given to each of my Sons to the amount of L70 and to each of my daughter (except one) to the amount of L60 of ther Portion which they ere to have after my decease allowing each of my Sons L 10 more (as advance before my daughters) but whereas for reasons well known David Allebach as husband to my daughter Catherine hath already 44 pounds 15 shillings and 5 pence more in hand than the s'd L60 given to his wife my daughter Catherine therefore it is my Will and I do hereby ordain & direct my executors hereof shall make a true calculation of what of each the s'd my ild sixty nine pounds 7 shilling and three pens which makes his share in consideratio of his mother equal to the rest of my daughters and the said last sum my executors shall put out at Interst for the use of my 'd equal shares to each of my Sons and each of my daughters at the time above fixed the remainder of my Estate still outstanding in Bonds Bills Notes or toehrwise as my legal demand or property shal be left or put Interst for my Wife's use as above directed, but after her decease the said overplush shall be equally divided among all my 9 children counting my Grand child Michael ruth for one therof, but my son William's share my executors shall keep in hadn and only allow pay unto him annually theinterest therof at the rate of 5 percent; but after his death they shall pay ye same to his children in equal share according as they attain their lawful age like wise the said my executors herof shall keep my daughter's Catherine share of the said last dividend in hand and only pay or allow unto the said her husband David Allebach the interst therof at the rate of 5 percent during ye s'd my daughters his wife's natureal life and not longer; but after her decease the same shall be paid to her children in equal share or to their lawful issue after each of them hath attained his lawful age *** And I do hereby In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal dated the day and year abovesaid.

His Micahel M. Z Ziegler
X mark

Signed Sealed and declared in presence of us John Kiter Abraham Hendricks
Inventory gives value of his estate as $5,140.97

• Biography: Strassburger Genealogy, 1765. ²¹⁰

Michael Ziegler, born probably about 1680 in Germany, came to America with his brother Melchior before 1717, as in that year he was living in Perkiomen Township, then Philadelphia, now Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, where he died "far advanced in age" some time between February, 1763 and October, 1765.

The exact date of his arrival in this country is not known, the first record we have being his appointment as one of the trustees of the land upon which was erected the Skippack Mennonite Church, whose congregation he later served as minister; he also preached at Germantown. His occupation, however, is given as that of weaver.

The Christian name of his wife was Catherine, whose surname is unknown. In a number of deeds which she signed in conjunction with her husband she wrote her name in German "Catherinea Zieglerin," while Michael made his mark thus: M.Z.

The name Perkiomen is of Indian origin said to mean in Delaware or Lenape, "Where the cranberries grow." The earliest mention of the name is found in a deed of Jun 3, 1684, where it is called Pahkehoma; on a map of 1704, it appears as Perquamink; 1734, as Parkomen, and 1749, as Perkiomy, by which latter name it was more familiarly called by the German settlers, and in 1741, it appears on an old record that Perkiomen was also called Perkasie, which might account for the latter name. The Perkiomen creek flows through the township from north to south while the Skippack passes through the southeastern section, thus in 1734 this locality was known by the double name of "Perkomen and Skippack" and today the two are interchangeable, though the former is the most commonly used.

Some years after its settlement, this region was know as Bebberstownship or Bebbers Town, from Matthias Von Bebber, the Dutch Patroon, who purchased and later patented the whole six thousand and more acres comprising the entire Perkiomen township and reselling the land to his friends and compatriots.

In 1717, Van Bebber and his wife in consideration of "true love and singular affection he the said Matthias Van Bebber bears to them and all theirs" conveyed one hundred acres of land to Henry Sellen, Claus Jansen, Henry Kolb, Martin Kolb, Jacob Kolb, Michael Ziegler and Hermanus Kuster in trust, upon which to build a school house and to fence in sufficient ground for a burying place for the use of the inhabitants of Bebbers Township, a very unique and most unusual provision. The deed was written by Pastorius and all the trustees were Mennonites, their selection being due, doubtless, to the fact that the greater number of settlers were of that sect; this first school was conducted by Christopher Dock, "the pious school master on the Skippack."

The school apparently prospered so that eight years later, March 30, 1725, feeling the need for a meetinghouse for worship, the above named trustees, all living, executed a declaration of trust which, while maintaining the original trust providing for the education of the children of the township and the burial of the dead, endeavored to so extend its purposes that the land should be held for the benefit of the poor of the Mennonites, and for the erection of a meeting house; on the other hand the idea was to so restrict it that only members of good standing in the meeting could act as Trustees.

In 1734, there were forty-two householders in "Parkiomen and Skippake, " among the number being Michael Ziegler, who is credited with one hundred acres of land upon which he paid a proprietary tax. This, however, was a very small estimate of his possessions, as deeds and other records show that he owned at this time as much as six hundred and fifty acres, which was located in Skippack, Salford and other townships adjacent or near by.

Michael Ziegler's first purchase of land was made February 14, 1718, when he secured from David Powell, Surveyor, of Philadelphia, a tract of one hundred acres situated on "Parkeawming Creek," in what was then called Bebber's Township, which was surveyed to him by Powell in December following. In 1734, he made application to the Land Office, then situated in Philadelphia, for a reconfirmation and resurvey of this tract, whereas a patent was issued by the Proprietaries of the Commonwealth to Michael Ziegler, dated August 6, 1734, and a resurvey returned the same day.

On December 18, 1722, he purchased from Gerhard Clemens and wife, Ann, another fifty acres adjoining the original tract, and in 1727 acquired from Andrew Shrager still another one hundred acres upon which was erected a tannery. It was upon this last mentioned tract that Michael Ziegler, Sr., and wife, Catherine, resided and which remained in the family for one hundred and sixty-two years. It lay in what is now Skippack Township, adjoining the town of that name.

In March, 1727, Michael Ziegler made a second application to the Land Office and was granted by the Proprietaries four hundred and fifty acres in "Goshenhoppen" on a branch of the Perkiomen Creek, in the present New Hanover Township.

By a deed under date of August 7, 1745, he conveyed one hundred and eighty-five acres of his Goshenhoppen land to his son Andrew Ziegler, for 130 pounds, and ten days later he transferred two hundred and eight acres of the same to his son Christopher; and on May 16, 1749, for 80 pounds, he sold a "messuage and plantation" and part of this same warrant to John Sleighter, of New Hanover Township.

It was apparently the intention of Michael Ziegler to make over to each of his sons, four in number, for a cash consideration, a farm out of his large estate. As we have seen, he sold to his sons Andrew and Christopher parts of the Goshenhoppen patented land. The third son was his namesake, Michael, Jr., who was also a tanner, and to him Michael, Sr., and his wife, Catherine, of "Perkyomie and Skepack," January 6, 1750, sold parts of three tracts containing in all, seventy-eight and one-half acres, part of the Perkiomen and Salford accessions. The consideration in this transaction was 100 pounds. The first of these tracts adjoined Dielman Kolb and others and was part of the fifty acres Gerhard Clemens and his wife, Ann, sold to Michael Ziegler, Sr.; the second contained three-quarters of an acre, being part of one hundred acres he purchased of Andrew Shrager and included the tannery; the third tract contained thirty-one and one-half acres and adjoined "land of Michael Ziegler, Sr., and others."

On May 6, 1762, he and his wife also conveyed to their son Michael, Jr., an additional thirty-six acres, part of which was woodland, and part of that tract purchased of Andrew Shrager, the latter tract being the homestead farm. To his son William, evidently the youngest, he granted by deed November 1, 1762, the remainder of his Goshenhoppen tract. By this time Michael Ziegler had only a small woodland in Lower Salford remaining which was not sold during his lifetime.

Both Michael Ziegler and his wife Catherine were now well advanced in years and therefore, to quote his own words, his "usual health was frequently inter- rupted." On the 7th day of February, 1763, he made his last will and testament which was proved at Philadelphia the 29th day of October, 1765. Having disposed of all his lands, he provided liberally for his wife out of his personal estate; to each of his daughters he had already given 60 pounds as their portion, so he bequeathed them additional sums of money. He appointed his loving sons, Andrew and Michael, executors.

One bequest in his will is of particular interest; he left 9 pounds to be paid to the Elders of the "Congregation of my Township wherein I now reside for the use for the poor." This referred to the Skippack church, which he helped to organize, and to the congregation of which he served as a minister all his life. In an old account book of the "Mennonite congregation in Beberstown" we find that Michael Ziegler signs his name as auditor for the year 1738; in 1735 he was paid five shillings out of the church funds for carriage (or rather con- veyance) hire. From 1740 to 1761 his name appears as either Elder or accountant, his son Andrew's name often showing upon the same lists, both of them serving at times on the Committee for the care of the poor.

In 1764, before the will was probated, Valentine Hunsicker acknowledges on behalf of the congregation, "the receipt of nine pounds Pennsylvania money from Michael Ziegler in accordance with the last will and testament of his (Michael's) father for the poor of the Schippacher Mennonite Congregation."

There is no doubt that he and his wife, Catherine, were buried in the old Mennonite graveyard, adjoining the church with which he was so closely identified, but if so, there are no stones to be found today. Many of the inscriptions marking the last resting place of the oldest members of this church have become undecipherable and in numerous cases utterly obliterated.

Children of Michael and Catherine Ziegler:

1. Andrew Ziegler, born about 1707; died 1793; married Elizabeth Kolb; resided near Lederachville, Pennsylvania.

2. Christopher Ziegler, born 1714, died 1804; married Deborah Pauling; resided in New Hanover Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

3. Michael Ziegler; was a tanner; inherited the homestead farm in Skippack, where he died in 1822. His descendents remained on this farm until a few years ago, when it was sold by Mrs. William K. Hallman, by whom it was inherited.

4. William Ziegler, died 1790; married Hester (Esther) Clemens.

5. Gertrude Ziegler.

6. Susanna Ziegler.

7. Margareth Ziegler.

8. Catherine Ziegler, married David Allebach.

9. Barbara Ziegler, married Henry Ruth.

• Biography: Oberholtzer Genealogy, 1765. Rev. Michael ziegler bor probably about 1680 in Germany he came to America with his brother Melchoir before 1717, probably in 1707. In 1717 he was living in Perkiomen Township then Philadelphia now Montgomery County. the first record we have of him is his appointment as one of the trustees of the land upon which was erected the Skippack Mennonite Church, whose congregation he served later as preacher. He aslo preached at Germantown. He served 30 years a Elder of the Skippach Mennonite Church. His name is 55th on a list of 57 names, for military protection aginst the indians in the spring of 1728. In the Pennsylvania Archives, Series, vol 13 p 728 we find that he served in the Provincial Military Service. In 1734 he is credited with 100 acres of land, being one of 42 householders in Periomen and Skippake but the records show that he owned at this time, as much as 650 acres located in Skippach, Salford and other adjacent townships. His first purchase was on February 14, 1717/18 of 100 acres in Bebber's Township. His occupation was that of weaver. He was naturalized on January 9, 1729 or 1730.

Loomis, Elisha S. [View Citation] [Table of Contents] Some account of Jacob Oberholtzer who settled, about 1719, in Franconia Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania : and of some his descendants in America Cleveland, Ohio: unknown, 1931, 422 pgs. page 170

• Friend: Paul Freed, Sr. - Michael signed his will, 1765. From the Freed Book of 1919...

The first [Freeds to arrive in America] were Paul Freed, John Freed and Paul Freed, Jr. [apparently from Bavaria]. I take it for granted that it was the father and two sons and their families. They arrived in Philadelphia about 1727 or soon after. Settled in Germantown, where Paul Freed was naturalized in 1729 or 1730. They must have been here a few years before that time.

They next settled in Skippack, where Paul Freed owned 100 acres of land in 1729.

It will not be out of place to state right here that on February 22, 1702, a patent was granted to Matthias Van-Bebber for a tract of land of 6166 acres; recorded in Book A, Vol. 11, page 463, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This being the southeast half of Skippack township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Mr. Van-Bebber sold this in small tracts or farms to suit purchasers.

In 1734 all the Freeds owned land of said tract; and lived on them.

I failed to find any record of the death of Paul Freed, Sr., or where he is buried. The most likely place is the Germantown Mennonite meeting-house; the grave is not marked.

[His sons] John Freed and Paul Freed, Jr. were married before they came to this country, shown by arithmetical calculation. They came to America about 1727, seventeen years before John died (1744), 62 years old. The children are all grown and married.

Children of Paul Freed, Sr. are:

+ 2 i. John2 Freed, born Abt. 1682; died December 21, 1744.

+ 3 ii. Paul Freed, Jr., died Unknown.

• Friend: Hermanus Doors Custer, 1765. HERMANUS DOORS CUSTER, born Abt. 1681 in Kaldenkirchen, Germany; died February 1760 in Worcester Township, Philadelphia County, Pennyslvania; married ISABELLA SAVILLA CONRAD/KUNDERS 1705 in Kaldenkirchen, Germany OR PENNSYLVANIA; born Abt. 1683; died 1760 in Worcester Township, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania379.
More About HERMANUS DOORS CUSTER: Deed: 1717, For 100 acres in "Bebbers" Township from Matthias and Hermana Van Bebber to Henry Sellen, Claus Jansen,Henry Kolb,Martin Kolb,Jacob Kolb,Michael Ziegler, Hermanus Kuster trustees for a place to build schoolhouse/meetinghouse and to start a burial ground380 Descendant: Great Grandparent of General George Armstrong Custer381 Emigrated: 1684, From Germany to Germantown Occupation: Bluedyer, miller, farmer Office held: Trustee of Mennonite Meeting at Skippack Property: June 12, 1729, Purchased180 acres in Worcester Township, Montgomery County, about 1 1/2 miles from Evansburg Signed: 1725, Petition for erection of Perkiomen and Skippack Township from Bebber's Township

• Friend: Jacob, Martin and Dielman Kolb - signed all their wills, 1765. Martin Kolb married Magdalena Van Sintern in 1709 in Germantown. His brother Jacob married Magdalena's sister Sara in 1710. They all moved to Skippack and are buried at the Lower Skippack Mennonite Meeting House.

Jacob Kolb

born May 21, 1685; came to America in 1707 and settled at Germantown; was married to Sarah Van Sintern in the year 1710, May 2d, in the old log Mennonite Church at Germantown in presence of the full congregation. Dirk Keyser officiating.

Obituary for Jacob Kolb

On the 4th instant, October 1739, Jacob Kolb of Skippack. As he was pressing cider the beam of the press fell on one side of his head and shoulder and wounded him so that he languished about half an hour and then died, to the exceeding grief of his realtives and family, who are numerous, and concern of his friends and neighbors, among whom he lived many years in great esteem. Aged 54 years. He was also a trustee, in connection with his brother Martin of Skippack Mennonite Congregation as early as 1717, where he moved in 1709.

Martin Kolb

was born in 1680. Came to America and settled at Germantown in 1707. Married Magdalena, daughter of Isaac Van Sintern and Neeltje Claaasen, and great great grand daughter of Jan de Voss, Burgomaster in Flanders, in 1550. Martin Kolb moved to Skippack in 1709 and was ordained to the ministry in the Mennonite Church and served at Germantown and at Skippack as soon as an organization was established there. His signature also appears on the deed of the Mennonite Church at Germantown as a witness. He was one of the first trustees, with others, who held the property of the Mennonite Church at the Skippack in trust for many years. he died in 1761.

Dielman Kolb

was born November 10, 1691 in the Palatinate Pfalz at Wolfsheim. He married Elizabeth Schnebli in 1714 in his 23 year. On March 21, 1717 started at Ibersheim in the Palatinate for Pennsylvania in America arrived at Philadelphia on the 10th of August 1717. (See John Ulrich Barkey for more on Dielman Kolb)

(Cassel, Daniel Kolb, [View Citation] [View Image] A genealogical history of the Kolb, Kulp or Culp family and its branches in America, with biographical sketches of their descendants from the earliest available records from 1707 to the present time, including Dielman Kolb in Germany Norristown, Pa.: Morgan R. Willis, 1895, 598 pgs.

• Friend: Jacob Greter - signed his will, 1765. Jacob came to America from the Palatinate on the ship Samuel arriving on August 17, 1733. he was a weaver by trade in the "old country" but spent his time farming once he immigrated.

Jacob was a Mennonite. It is not clar whether Jacob Greter was a preacher when arriving in this country, but from the earliest entry in the minute-book of the Skippack Church we learn that he was one of its most active members, and is called the Vordiener und Altesten. He was of great influence and intellegence in the mennonite Church at Skippack.

Jacob Grater/Crater unlike most immigrants was not poor but wealthy. He purchased land as soon as he arrived in Philadelphia. Not only did he buy land but he bought stock as well. In 1756 he was reported as owning 220 acres of land with a saw mill and grist mill located at Grater's Ford. He was also a fair scholar judging from his records.

Jacob Crater was loyal to the cause for liberty during the Revolutionary War. While his beliefs against war prohibited him from fighting in the war, he helped indirectly by supplying grain to the officer in charge by telling him that he could take what ever he needed from his granery located at Grater's Ford.

Crater, Lewis, [View Citation] [Table of Contents] History of the Greter, Grater, or Crater family Reading, Pa.?: unknown, 1894?, 31 pgs.

• Friend: Jacob Godschalk, 1765. Jacob Godschalk was born in Holland about 1670 a native of the village of Gog in the County of Cleave, just over the border from Crefeld.

He came to Germantown before 1702 when he bought a tract of land (fifty acres) from Isaac Schumacher on which he built his house and lived for twelve years. The exact spot is 5273 Germantown Avennue. In 1714 he owned Germantown Lot #7 east side, containing 24 and 1/2 acres.

Jacob was a member of the German Mennonite Congregation was elected deacon and later preacher. Later he succeeded William Rittenhouse as Bishop. He was naturalized September 20, 1709. In February 1713-14 he and his son Goaetschalk were each assigned tracts of one hundred and twenty acres of land in Towamencin township from James Shattuck and removed from Germantown to Towamencin.

In 1728 the Mennonite Confession of Faith was translated into English and printed at Philadelphia by william Bradford, Jacob Godshalck was one of the signers who testified to the correctness of the transaltion. He also, in collaboration with preacher Dielman Kolb carefully read and corrected the proofs of the Ephrata Edition of Martyr's Mirror when it was translated from Dutch to German in 1748.

Less than half a mile above Kulpsville on the west side of the Sunnytown turnpike and near Skippack Creed, stands a Mennonite church. The first building was a log schoolhouse built about 1748-50, and used also for religious worship. It was burned down one night - when some one carelessly left hot ashes in a basket- and replaced soon after by a stone house. this second building was erected in 1805 and stood until 1868 when it was replaced by the present structure. The burying ground attached to this church is older than the building. One stone discovered there bears the date 1732 another of 1741. The old burying ground was given by Jacob Godschalk for the Mennonites, Baptist as well as other denominations to bury their dead. General Nash and trhee officers of the Continental Army lie iin the original Godschalk tract and no daubt Jacob himself is buried there.

Jacob's occupation was a turner

Storer, Agnes Williamson, [View Citation] [Table of Contents] Elenore C. Custer : her family and connections New Brunswick, N.J.?: Printed by C.A. Meyers & Co., 1937, 231 pgs.

page 42-43

• Friend: Bishop Henrich Funk, 1765. Bishop Henry Funck was born in Holland or the Palatinate emigrating to America in 1719, settled in Indian Creek, in Franconia Township, Montgomery County Pennsylvania where he died in 1760. He was married to anne Meyer, daughter of the pioneer Christian Meyer of Salford Township Montgomery County who emigrated from Europe to America about 1700. Ann wife of Henry Funck died July 18, 1758.

Henry Funck purchased three tracts of land in all 201 acres lying along the Indian Creek in Franconia Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania where he settled and built the first mill on the Indian Creek. He made this purchase on December 20, 1718 while he was living in Germantown. There were two dwellings on the land, one for the farmer and one for the miller. the house opposite the mill is a very old structure, and was probably built by henry Funck. The mill was twice burned down and rebuilt and nothing but the foundation of the original remains. He also owned land along the Perckyoming River.

Henry Funk was elected minister to serve the church at Franconia and later he was ordained bishop in which office he served a long time. He was a member of the Franconia Mennonite Church but also preached at Clemen's now Salford mennonite church in Skippack. Henry Funck was the author of two religious works one a small German Book entitled Spiegel der Taufoll and Eine Restitution, oder eine Erklaerung Einiger Hauptpunkte des Gesetzes. He also along with Dielman Kolb was appointed by the Mennonite church to supervise the translation of Van Bracht's Martyrs Mirror from the Dutch to the German. Bishop Funck was well educated for the times, and was a man of extensive influence in his church and community. He was a faithful and zealous servant for his Master, and did much to advance the interest of his church.

His will which was very lengthy and explicity, he wrote with his own hand June 13, 1759 in the German language. (Fretz, A. J. [View Citation] [Table of Contents] A brief history of Bishop Henry Funck and other Funk pioneers, and a complete genealogical family register with biographies of their descendants from the earliest available records to the present time Elkhart, Ind.: Mennonite Publishing Co., 1899, 941 pgs. pages 12-13

• Friend: Yellis Cassel, 1765. See Hubert Cassel under Gerhardt Clemens

• Neighbor: Hans George Reiff, 1765.

• Neighbor: neighbor to Andrew Lederach, 1765. ²¹¹ Andreas LEDDRAUGH and his brother, Johannes Leddraugh, emigrated to this country from the German Palatinate early in the eighteenth century and settled in what is now Lower Salford Township, known in early days as Skippack. They were Mennonites and members of the Lower Salford Meeting of that faith. This name appears under many spellings on the records. The present form is Lederach.

On September 12, 1718, James Steele and his wife, Martha, conveyed to John Lederach fifty acres of land adjoining his other land and that of his brother, Andrew Lederach, Dielman Kolb and others, being part of five thousand acres that William Penn, Proprietor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, conveyed to William Bacon, October 12, 1681. John Lederach applied to the Land Office for a patent for his whole tract of one hundred and fifty acres, which was granted him August 22, 1734. He lived here for thirty years and died in the fall or early winter of 1748.

He made a will, dated August 17, 1748, and proved December 12, following, in which he appointed his son, John Lederach, Jr., and his son-in-law, Jacob Groff, to be his executors, and Andrew Ziegler and Jacob Shoemaker trustees, to see that the provisions of his will were carried out. The executors advertised the farm would be sold at public auction.

The farm was eventually sold to George Weyker, or Weykert, for five hundred pounds, the deed of sale dated January 17, 1749/50, and signed by John Leddraff and Jacob Graff as executors and Andrew Ziegler and Jacob Shoemaker as trustees.

Andrew Lederach, the ancestor of this branch of the family, was a shoemaker by trade, but having acquired a large tract of land, followed the occupation of farmer. The Lederachs, the Zieglers, the Clemens and the Kolbs were all neighbors, owning large farms which adjoined each other.

In 1717 he purchased of David Powell one hundred and two acres which was surveyed and certified to him May 18, 1720. September 2, 1718, David Powell gave a deed of conveyance to Andrew Lederach for this tract, which was further secured by a patent July 23, 1735.

The greater part of the village of Lederachville is built on land originally belonging to the farm of Andrew Lederach. The village is located on a high ridge, at the intersection, or crossing, of three roads, and at the terminus of the Harleysville and Lederachville Turnpike. One of the roads passing through the town is the ancient highway known as the Skippack Road, which was opened in 1728, being the first leading from this section to the city of Philadelphia.

The village owes its origin to Henry Lederach, great-grandson of Andrew Lederach, who built the first house here in 1825. He put up a blacksmith shop, carried on smithing for several years, and then opened a store. In 1833, he obtained a license for a hotel. The store, originally built by Henry Lederach, in 1825, is now [1922] occupied by his grandson, John Lederach.

A stage line ran through the village before the railroads were built. The stage, drawn by four horses, came down from Allentown on Monday morning, passing through Lederachville between eight and nine o'clock a.m., where it stopped to discharge and take on passengers and then continuing on to Norris- town, the end of the line. It returned the next day, and so on during the week.

Situated as it is, on the top of a high ridge, the view from the village street is beautiful. Goshenhoppen Valley is magnificent. Standing on the Spring Mill Road, one looks across the intervening fields and orchards and sees rising over the tops of the trees on a high hill the tall white spire of the old Goshenhoppen Church. Winding its way across the fields in the valley is the creek, a branch of the Perkiomen, which passes under the bridge just above Groff's Mill, near which stood the old Gerhart Clemens mill. The road which crosses over the bridge leads from the Goshenhoppen Church, thence, making a sharp turn, winds up the hill, passing by the Mennonite Meeting House and separating the church property from the old Jacob Clemens house, to end at the pike about one-quarter of a mile away. Over to the immediate left, but shut off from view by buildings, is the original Andrew Lederach homestead, while still to the left and towards the valley stand the ruins of the Michael Ziegler house in the midst of the twelve-acre plot, which comprised his inheritance.

In the tax list of 1734, for Philadelphia County, Andrew Lederach is rated for one hundred and fifty acres, and in 1776 his son, Henry, is rated for one hundred and thirty-two acres. This last figure represents the exact number of acres comprising the farm, as a re-survey, made when the patent was granted in 1735, showed that to be the correct figure.

John and Andrew Lederach were naturalized April 12 and 13, 1743. Being Mennonites and opposed to taking an oath, they subscribed to the qualifica- tions.

The old homestead stands just off Harleysville Road, about an eighth of a mile east of the village, and here Andrew Lederach lived for fully forty-one years, and here he died in 1759. He made a will, dated March 5, 1758, which was probated December 28, 1759, wherein he amply provides for his wife, Magdalena, whom he married in Germany and whose maiden name is unknown, and for his two daughters, Magdalena and Esther. To his only son, Henry, he left the plantation "whereon I now dwell" and "the horse which I have heretofore long promised him," "my Bible and my journal." To his wife, Magdalena, he bequeathed, among other things, "her own apparel, and our large chest which we brought from Germany, and our cupboard in the old house." From the last item it is seen that he had built a new and, no doubt, more commodious house, the first, no doubt, being a log cabin such as the pioneers built upon their arrival for immediate occupation. The chest referred to was long ago turned into kindling wood, and no trace can be found of the Bible or the journal. He named as executors his son, Henry, and son-in-law, John Steiner, and one of the witnesses was Andrew Ziegler, Senior.

It is believed that both Andrew Lederach and his wife, Magdalena, are buried in the old Lederach family burial place on the farm, but no tombstones now mark their last resting place.

Michael married Catherine Schrauger, daughter of Andrew Gerhardt Schrauger and Barbara Hendricks, in 1710 in Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.¹²⁸ (Catherine Schrauger was born in 1695 in Richen, Baden, Germany ²² and died before 1765 in Zieglerville, Hanover Township, Pennsylvania.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Documents. ²¹² I was illiterate, so my wife Catherine signed my name for me on legal documents