Andrew Ziegler

   Another name for Andrew was Saddler.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: sadler and farmer.

• Property. ⁸⁰⁴ Dillman Kolb bequeathed much of his wealth to my wife Elizabeth upon his death.

Dielman Kolb made his will July 8, 1748, and it was proved April 30, 1757, nearly nine years later. In this will, he named as trustees his “loving and trusty friends" Henry Funk” and John Ulrich Bergey. He provided well for his widow, Elizabeth, during her natural life; it is not know how long she survived him. Except for 50 acres of land to be laid out of that part next adjoining the land he had sold to his stepson, Jacob Snebley, which he left to his grandson Dielman Ziegler, he bequeathed to his only child, Elizabeth, wife of Andrew Ziegler, Sr., all his lands, plantations and tenements whatsoever. To his stepson, Matthias, and granddaughter, Catherine Ziegler, he left cash money and to the “Congregation of ye Dutch Mennonists in Salford” he bequeathed 2 pounds 1 shilling and to the Mennonists of “Perkyomin & Skepack,” he left a like sum.

The Dillman Kolb property was added to the large tracts of land I had acquired by purchase from my father which created a considerable estate. Some time before his death Dielman Kolb had sold two hundred and fifty acres of his own vast tract to his stepson, Jacob Snavely (Schnebli), who died intestate. His administrators sold this property to Andrew Ziegler, but a clear title could not be secured, as all the purchase money due Dielman Kolb had not been paid the the Schnebli family.

After several years, a satisfactory arrangemeant being impossible, I carried the case into the Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County. The Court ordered the land should be sold by the Sheriff, who after due notice put the property up for sale. Michael Ziegler, my son bought it for 350 pounds on September 3, 1755. On November 11, 1755 Michael transferred the property to me. I then paid to the Schnebli heirs 130 pounds and the matter was closed.

Bordering this tract was a strip thirty-eight perches wide, containg fifty acres, which Dielman Kolb devised to his grandson, Dielman Ziegler. The latter sold this tract to me and a deed was given for it in 1757. This entire tract, both my own and that of my wife, lay within the limits of Lower Salford and adjoined what is now Lederachville.

As early as 1728, Valentine Keely owned land in Perkiomen Township, part of which is now included in the Schwenksville Cemetery. In 1762, he donated a portion of his ground for the building of a log school and church. This building is no longer standing. The building was used by all denominations in this area at that time, including a group of Mennonites. The story is told that on one cold Sunday morning in 1818, the Mennonites prepared to hold service in the Keely school. When the fire was built and lit, the room quickly filled with smoke. Upon investigation, it was discovered that the stovepipe had been stuffed with wet rope! Because of this incident, the Mennonites felt that they were no longer welcome at Keely's and later built their own meetinghouse on ground purchased from Andrew Ziegler for the token sum of $1.00. The meetinghouse was located on Mine Hill, and in 1893, it was torn down and the church was built in Schwenksville, where it stands today. The sanctuary of Eden Mennonite Church was dedicated in 1895, and in 1947, the home of Henry Dorn, a blacksmith in town for many years, was purchased as a parsonage

• faith: Mennonite. I served as an elder of the Skippack Mennonite Church from 1740 to 1763. On April 16, 1747, I signed my name passing an account for a certain sum paid for a stove for the Assembly House, and in 1755, 1760 and 1761, with others, was a witness to the correctness of his father's accounts of the church funds.

After the organization of the Lower Salford Mennonite Church, which was a branch of the Skeppack Congregation, I became one of its ministers and so served them until my death. My property adjoined that of the church lands.

• letter. ⁸⁰⁵ In a Letter written by Isaac Kolb, Christain Funk and myself to the Mennonites in Germany in reply to one inquiring as to the conditions of the churches in Pennsylvania they stated the following: At Indian Creek Plains to which also belongs Salford Township, Rockhill Township and Swamp Township the preachers are Isaac Kolb chosen 1744, confirmed 1761, Christain Funk chosen 1756 confirmed 1769 and Samuel Bechtel. At Schuylkill meetings are held in 3 locations preachers are Martin Bechtel who was chosen 1739 confirmed 1758, David Longenacre (Longeneker, Longenaker), Joseph Showalter, John Longenacker chosen in 1772

• Newspaper Add. I submitted an add to Christopher Sauer's Newspaper.

Andreas Ziegler in Schipbach makes known that his son has found a watch in the street, between his house and Michael Zieglers. Whoever has lost it can give the correct description. He may have it by paying the cost of this advertisement.

• Property, 1745. In 1745, my father sold 185 acres of land to me, part of that which had been granted to him by the Properietaries of the Commonwealth, known as the Goshenhoppen tract situated in New Hanover Township. This property my wife, Elizabeth and I sold on March 27, 1754 to John Sleighter. On October 29, 1757, John and his wife sold to Heanry Heffelfinger one acre and one hundred and fifty perches, part of the two hundred and fifty acres of theKolb-Schnebli tract which the Sheriff sold to Michael Ziegler, Jr.

• executor, 1746. Jacob Gretter, of the Township of Perkyomie and Skepack, and myself of Salford, sadler, were named as executors to the last will and testament of Christian Allebaugh, weaver, of Salford Township, deceased.

• executor, 1 Feb 1762. ⁸⁰⁶ On February 1, 1762, Frederick Alderfer and I were appointed by Christopher Dock, the celebrated schoolmaster, as arbitrators over his will, which was entered for probate November 22, 1771, before Benjamin Chew.

A copy of the will is in the Christopher Dock Mennonite Historical Library, Christopher Dock High School, Lansdale, Pennsylvania, and also was printed in the Bulletin of the Historical Society of Montgomery County Fall 1961, p. 42.

• executor, 11 Dec 1762. ⁸⁰⁷ Philada 11th December, 1762, Then Personally appeared Andrew Ziegler and Abraham Clemens, two of the witnesses to the foregoing Will and on their solemn affirmation according to law did declare they saw and heard John Woolery Barkey the Testator therein named sign seal and Publish and declare the same Will for and as his Last Will and Testament and that at the doing thereof he was of sound mind memory and understanding to the best of their knowledge. Coram Wm. Plumsted Rgr. Gen.

• Controversey. During the Revolutionary war, he was involved in a controversy with Christian Funk. He resided most of his life in Lederach in Lower Salford, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. He was ordained a minister in 1746 in Perkiomen and Skippack.

• Sold, 27 Mar 1784. On March 27, 1784, I sold to Godshalk Godshalk ten acres of the same patent. (In this deed and those following there is no mentionof Elizabeth, his wife, who had heretofore signed all instruments in conmunction with her husband, and the fact that her name no longer appeared is very strong evidence that she was deceased).

• Family Event. I now began to make arrangements about the settlement of my great estate in the event of my death. I had four children, only one being a daughter, Elizabeth, who had married Abraham Detweiler, of Worchester Township; to them I transferred a certain fifty acres, which had been part of the Kolb Estate. By May 1, 1795, I had sold my son, Dillman one hundred and seventy eight acres, which adjoined this smaller farm.

After selling off these large portions of my possessions, I still had 500 acres to transfer to my three sons, Dillman, Andrew and Michael. A draft of my land was made showing how I divided it among them. “Beginning at a stone, a corner of the public road near Lederachville, then down the road 159 perches to a corner, then southwest 89 perches, then up the road 60 perches, then NE 40 perches to beginning, was a farm containing about 66 acres, which was cut off for his son Michael; then running a line southeast through the tract, yet antoher 124 acres werea added to Michael's share, thus giving him 190 acres. Opposite Michael's two tracts were set off for Andrew, Jr., including the old homestead, comprising one hundred and ninety acres. The remaining 180 acres, all in one tract, was given to Dillman for his shares.

While it was my intention to give my son, Michael, the full 190 acres of land as his share, for “disobedience to his father” (it has been suggested that he had a problem with drunkenness) his inheritance was cut to a mere 12 acres of the original 190, upon which was erected a house which he was to hold only so long as he did not marry again (his first wife, the daughter of Jacob Clemens and mother of his children, being deceased), and at his death, the house and ground was to be sold for the benefit of his children. However, on November 20, 1794, I conveyed to my grandson, Andrew Ziegler, 113 acres which included the 12-acre tract reserved for his father Michael.

• will, 10 Sep 1793. ⁸⁰⁸ Andrew made his last will and testament September 10, 1793, which was probated May 8, 1797. Andrew Ziegler was about ninety years old when he died.

• Property: land. ⁶⁵⁶ Zieglerville was founded on land owned by descendants of Andrew and Elizabeth Kolb Ziegler.

Andrew and his son Henry are credited with founding Zieglerville, Pennsylvania

• Biography: Strassburger Book. ²¹⁰ Andrew Ziegler, eldest son of Michael and Catherine Ziegler, was born about 1707, and was probably an infant when his parents came to America. He married in Lower Salford Township, Montgomery Co., PA, about 1727 or 1730, Elizabeth Kolb, only child of Dielman Kolb and his wife, Elizabeth Schnebli, whereby he came into possession of a large amount of property.

Dielman Kolb died in 1756, leaving a large estate, which (except for a small tract he devised to his grandson, Dielman Ziegler), he bequeathed to his daughter Elizabeth; and this, added to the large tracts of land Andrew Ziegler had previously acquired by purchase from his father and otherwise, made him the possessor of a considerable estate. Some time before his death, Dielman Kolb had sold two hundred and fifty acres of his own vast tract to his stepson, Jacob Snavely (Schnebli), who died intestate, and by decree of the Orphans' Court his lands and effects became vested in his son, Matthias Schnebli, who also died intestate, and his administrators sold this property to Andrew Ziegler, but a clear title could not be secured, as all the purchase money due Dielman Kolb had not been paid by the Schnebli family.

After several years, a satisfactory arrangement being impossible, Andrew Ziegler carried the case to the Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County. The Court ordered the land should be sold by the Sheriff, who after due notice put the property up for sale, and Michael Ziegler, son of Andrew, on September 3, 1755, bought it for 350 pounds and on November 11 following transferred it to his father. Andrew Ziegler then paid to the Schnebli heirs 130 pounds and the matter was closed. Bordering this tract was a strip thirty-eight perches wide, containing fifty acres, which Dielman Kolb devised to his grandson, Dielman Ziegler. This tract was sold by the latter to his father, Andrew Ziegler, and a deed was given for it in 1757. This entire tract, both his own and that of his wife, lay within the limits of Lower Salford and adjoined what is now Lederachville.

As early as 1746, Jacob Grater, of the Township of Perkyomie and Skepack, and Andrew Ziegler, of Salford, saddler, were named as executors to the last will and testament of Christian Allebaugh, weaver of Salford Township, deceased.

In 1745 Andrew Ziegler purchased from his father, Michael Ziegler, Sr., one hundred and eighty-five acres of land, part of that which had been granted to Michael byt he Proprietaries of the Commonwealth, known as the Goshenhoppen tract situated in New Hanover Township. This property Andrew and his wife Elizabeth, on March 27, 1754, sold to John Sleighter, of the latter place. On October 29, 1757, he and his wife sold to Henry Heffelfinger one acre and one hundred and fifty perches, part of the two hundred and fifty acres of the Kolb-Schnebli tract which the Sheriff sold to Michael Ziegler, Jr.

On March 27, 1784, he sold to Godshalk Godshalk ten acres of the same patent. In this deed and those following there is no mention of Elizabeth, his wife, who had heretofore signed all instruments in conjunction with her husband, and the fact that her name no longer appeared is very strong evidence that she was deceased.

Andrew Ziegler now began to make arrangements about the settlement of his great estate in the event of his death. He had four children, only one being a daughter, Elizabeth, who had married Abraham Detweiler, of Worcester Township; to them her father, Andrew, transferred a certain fifty acres which had been part of the Kolb estate. The date of this instrument is January 12, 1785. On June 2nd following, he made over to his son, Dielman (Dillman) Ziegler, in consideration of 210 pounds, thirty-four acres, including a messuage or dwelling house, adjoining land of Henry Lederach, and lands intended for his son. By a record of May 1, 1795, it appears that as early as 1770 he had sold his son Dillman one hundred and seventy-eight acres which adjoined this smaller farm.

Andrew Ziegler was about ninety years old when he died. his wife, Elizabeth Kolb, had apparently died before 1784, as her name does not appear in deeds after that date, nor is she mentioned in the will. They were undoubtedly buried in the graveyard adjoining Lower Salford Church, but no stones mark their graves.

Children of Andrew Ziegler and Elizabeth Kolb:

1. Dillman Ziegler, born about 1734, married Barbara C. Clemens; issue: six children, viz: Andrew Ziegler, Jr., Dillman Ziegler, Jacob Ziegler, Elizabeth Ziegler, wife of Godshalk Godshalk; Hester, wife of Garret Godshalk, and Barbara, wife of Jacob Godshalk. He died before May, 1797.

2. Michael Ziegler, born 1735; married [Strassburger here incorrectly lists a Clemens as Michael's wife, when Anna Clemens actually married his uncle, "Tanner" Mike Clemens, son of Michael and Catherine Ziegler.]

3. Andrew Ziegler, born March 14, 1737, married Margaret ______; he died October 26, 1811. Children: Elizabeth, Dillman, Michael and Andrew (also a weaver.)

Andrew married Elizabeth Kolb in 1730 in Lower Salford Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.⁵⁰ (Elizabeth Kolb was born in 1715 in Mannheim, Pfalz, Germany, died in 1780 in Lederachsville, Pennsylvania and was buried in Lower Salford Mennonite Cemetery.)

  Marriage Notes:

The name of Andrew Ziegler appears as one-time owner of this book; he married Elizabeth, the only daughter of Dielman and Elizabeth Schnebli Kolb.

Dielman Kolb made his will July 8, 1748, and it was proved April 30, 1757, nearly nine years later. In this will, he named as trustees his "loving and trusty friend Henry Funk" and John Ulrich Berger. He provided well for his widow, Elizabeth, during her natural life; it is not know how long she survived him. Except for 50 acres of land to be laid out of that part next adjoining the land he had sold to his stepson, Jacob Snebley, which he left to his grandson Dielman Ziegler, he bequeathed to his only child, Elizabeth, wife of Andrew Ziegler, Sr., all his lands, plantations and tenements whatsoever. To his stepson, Matthias, and granddaughter, Catherine Ziegler, he left cash money and to the "Congregation of ye Dutch Mennonists in Salford" he bequeathed 2 pounds 1 shilling and to the Mennonists of "Perkyomin & Skepack," he left a like sum.

Elizabeth was born about 1715 in Mannheim, Pfalz, Germany. She died in 1780 in Lederachsville, Lower Salford Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Her father was Dielman Kolb who was born November 10, 1691 in Wolfsheim, Hesse, Germany and died December 28, 1756 in Tinicum, Bucks County, PA. Her mother was Elizabeth Schnebli.

Elizabeth and Andrew had Dillman Ziegler, Michael, Andrew, and Elizabeth.

Dielman Kolb died in 1757, leaving a large estate, which (expect for a small tract he devised to his grandson, Dielman Ziegler) he bequeathed to his daughter, Elizabeth; and this, cc

Children of ELIZABETH KOLB and ANDREW ZIEGLER are:

i. ELIZABETH9 ZIEGLER, m. ABRAHAM DETWEILER; b. Worchester, Pennsylvania.
Notes for ABRAHAM DETWEILER: Grandson of Martin Kolb


ii. MICHEAL ZIEGLER, b. 1735, Lower Salford, Montgomery County, PA.; m. UNKNOW CLEMENS.
iii. DILLMAN ZIEGLER, b. Abt. 1734; d. May 1797; m. BARBARA UNKNOWN.
iv. ANDREW ZIEGLER, b. March 14, 1736/37, Lederachville, Pennsylvania; d. October 26, 1811; m. MARGARET UNKNOWN.

Family Tree Makers Descendants of Dielman Edward Kolb