Although the parents of Jacob Sowder (1734-1819) remain unproven, a great deal of research and family information has been passed down over the generations for us to build on. Most of what is known about Jacob Sowder (1734-1819) takes place after his marriage in 1788 to a 20 year-old daughter of a Swiss-German emigrant named Anna Prillaman in Franklin County (Virginia) when he was already believed to have been in his mid-fifties. In the following detailed analysis, family traditions and speculations have been incorporated with available documentation along with historical narratives to provide greater insight into the life of Jacob Sowder (1734-1819) and his extended family. Similarly, incorporating the limited results of DNA testing that have been shared exposes where additional research and DNA testing are still required.
Jacob Sowder (1734-1819) and his wife Elizabeth
are the 4th-Great paternal Grandparents of Eula Claudine Reed
Due wide variance of literacy in the American colonies, there are numerous phonetic spellings of the surname of the germanic surname Sowder found in the historical records (i.e. Sauer/s, Sauter, Sauder, Sawder, Sautter, Sawter, Sodder, Souder/s, Souther, Sowers, Sowter, Suter, & Sutter) make it particularly difficult to research. Similarly, the variety of handwritten script or penmanship often necessitated the art of subjective transcription which has at times resulted in the uppercase letter “S” having been mistakenly transcribed as a capital “L” in printed records from this time period. Consequently, the handwritten script for the surname of “Sowder” has been found to have been transcribed as “Lowder” exposing added importance of reviewing the original documentation whenever possible.
Illustrating this importance of examining original documents when possible, researchers had struggled for years to learn more about the father of Jacob Sowder’s second wife Anna Prillaman despite having a copy of his original will. In the original will, the author of the will spelled the name of Anna Prillaman’s father as “Jacob Prillaman” which was how it had been subsequently transcribed and recorded down through the years. However, a closer inspection of the will revealed her father had signed his will “Jacob Brüllmann“. Likewise, an original copy of Anna Prillaman’s marriage bond had been signed “Jacob Brüllmann“. Based on this information, a researcher reviewed copies made of the actual signatures of passengers arriving in Philadelphia between 1727-1776 and found a match for “Jacob Brüllmann” on the 1747 list of signatures for the Oath of Abjuration of the ship Lydia which had transcribed his name as “Hans Jacob Grüllmann” (see The Prillaman Family-research).
As documented below, Jacob Sowder (1734-1819) and his wife Elizabeth were living in Franklin County (Maryland) in and around 1768. After his marriage to Anna Prillaman in Franklin County (Virginia) in 1788, Jacob Sowder (1734-1819) and his children from his first marriage settled near Hans Meadows (present-day Christiansburg, Virginia) where they were members of close-knit community of German Baptist that were just beginning to fully assimilate into the english America. In his report published in 1896 by the Frederick County (Maryland) Historical Society, Edward Thomas Shultz noted that “the early German and Swiss settlers” in western Maryland “were essentially a religious people, and a history of their churches and congregations is a history of themselves” adding they were remarkably less separated by the religious sects “into which the German settlers of Pennsylvania were divided” with most having been “followers of the teachings of (Germany’s Martin) Luther (1483-1546) and Switzerland’s reformist Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531)“.[1]
Fortunately, there are numerous rich historical narratives regarding the German Baptist as they moved from Pennsylvania south to settled in western Maryland as it was formed into Frederick County and later split to include Washington County. Referring to themselves as “the Brethren” and commonly known by the english as “Dunker” or “Dunkards“, historical narratives regarding the German Baptist were recorded within a few generations providing the identities of members along with details as to when, why, and where they moved. This includes documentation of ties to a close relative (possible the father) of Anna Groff (John Hans Graff) in 1724 along with identifying members that have been long considered to be related to Jacob Sowder (1734-1819). In addition, the limited Y-DNA test results that have been posted do support that Jacob Sautter (husband of Anna Groff) was a direct relative (father, brother, or uncle) of Jacob Sowder (1734-1819). However, as noted addition information regarding the lineage of the descendants tested is needed to clarify why one descendant was not a match.
Although distant autosomal DNA (DNA from both parents) matches (indicating 5th-8th cousins) are far less reliable at identifying a specific ancestor due to the increasing number of variables involved with each additional generation, distant autosomal DNA matched can be effective when used in conjunction with traditional genealogical methods. Consequently, it was notable that distant autosomal DNA matches on ancestry.com for a 5th great-granddaughter of Jacob Sowder (1734-1819) were found with close relatives of both men (John Rohrer & Martin Funck) who were named as the husbands of Jacob Sautter’s daughters (Mary & Susanna) following the probation of his will (1737) and in his will and subsequent land transactions. Similarly, distant autosomal DNA matches indicate that Henry Souther (1712-1784) could be the uncle of Jacob Sowder (1734-1819); along with suggesting kinship with Catherine Sowers (1760-1840) and her husband Jacob Epperly.
Interestingly, there were multiple first person accounts (including Benjamin Franklin & George Washington) that were part of the historical narratives detailing both how and why the German immigrants where forced to move back from Virginia and Maryland to the safety of Pennsylvania (later Maryland) on multiple occasions to escape the political unrest and attacks by the Native American tribes they were displacing. Not only could this account for the different places of birth claimed by some of Jacob Sowder’s other children, this indicates that it was conceivable that by 1770 Jacob Sowder (1734-1819) and his wife Elizabeth had removed back to the relative safety of the Pennsylvania and Maryland border where “Jacob Souder and wife” were listed as members of “the Brethren” congregation of the Little Conewago Church. In addition to providing a deeper understanding as to the personal hardships Jacob Sowder (1734-1819) and his extended family members endured as they transitioned into an english colonial society due to their commitment to their faith, language, and culture; the correlation of additional facts to this timeline of unrest and corresponding movements provides greater clarity as to how pieces of this puzzle may fit together (including some that had previously seemed completely unrelated).
Unfortunately, nothing was found (family stories or documentation) that indicated Jacob Sowder’s wife Elizabeth was “Elizabeth Story” or that her parents were Jakob Daniel Fink (Funk) and Barbara Bergner (please contact us if you have anything to support this). Similarly, nothing was found indicating Ann Gatewood (1712-1818) as the wife of Jacob Sowder (1712-?); and records of her parents (Richard Gatewood & Rachel Kemp) were focused in counties (Middlesex & Essex) located over 150 miles south of the Maryland/Pennsylvania border suggesting no connection. If and when information supporting these relationships are provided, the pieces can be added to see how and where they fit in this puzzle.
Although this puzzle remains far from complete, sifting through the detailed documentation along with the historical narratives does provide greater insight as to who these remarkable ancestors were along with new insights as to the identities of Jacob Sowder (1734-1819) parents and extended members of his family. As the search continues, please contact us if you have any additional information and/or find any error or mistakes. Likewise, if anyone can share additional documentation and/or information regrading the referenced participates in the Sowder related Y-DNA Surname Project, please contact us. Although the science is precise, as long we are only testing DNA samples from living descendants, our understanding of the matches are dependent on the accuracy of participants lineage found through traditional genealogy. As more pieces are added and or properly realigned, the better we will understand how the remaining pieces of the puzzle fit together.
God Bless!
Detailed Analysis & Summary
Prior to settling in Virginia, Jacob Sowder’s grandson Joseph Sowder reported that his father Michael Sowder was born in Frederick County (Maryland) sometime around 1768 along with listing Michael Sowder’s parents as Jacob Sowder (1734-1819) and his wife Elizabeth.[2] After settling in Virginia on the waters of Little River (by 1789), records indicate Jacob Sowder (1734-1819) and his family were members of a German-Swiss community of German Baptist that were also known as “the Brethren” and were often referred to as “Tunkers” (Die Täufer) or “Dunkers/Dunkards” for their insistence of full subversion under water baptism (aka: Baptist) thrine (three times). In 1796, Jacob Sowder’s eldest daughter Mary Sowder (transcribed Lowder) married Jesse Deweese (son of William DeWeese & Hannah “Nellie” Gearhardt) in Montgomery County, Virginia.[3] Baptized at the age of twenty in St. Gabriel’s Lutheran Church in the Swedish village of Morlatton (Berks County, Pennsylvania) on the Schuylkill River, William DeWeese (transcribed Derveese) was one of the two elders representing the “Head of Little River” church that attended the Strawberry Baptist Association meetings in 1787, 1788, and 1792.[4] Reported to have been the first church in the region, the “Head of the River” church was also known as “Salem Church” and was formally established by 25 chartered members in 1784. Although many of the early gravestones were removed or marked by simple field-stones, gravestones dated from 1803 when the first wife of Jacob Sowder’s son Michael Sowder (Elizabeth Beath) was buried; to 1854 when Jacob Sowder’s daughter Sarah Poff and husband Henry Adam Poff (grandson of Johann George Pfaff [1752-1819]) were buried; have been found in the church cemetery.
William DeWeese and Hannah “Nellie” Gearhardt are the
4th-Great paternal Grandparents of Eula Claudine Reed
The German Baptist originated from the “Pietism” movement within the German Lutheran Church that combined the emphasis on biblical doctrine along with stressing individual piety as vital to living a vigorous Christian life that embraced pacifist views similar to the Quakers. Similar to the Mennonites, “the Brethren” refused to take oaths or to bear arms and rejected established state churches for which they suffered severe persecution. Much like the Amish, “the Brethren” retained “to a certain degree the simplicity of the their forefathers” with the men growing long beards (without mustaches) called “Bartleute” while wearing black coats with no collar and the women wore long dark colored dresses. They placed “little attention to education” (formal education) resulting in the head of the colonial Moravian movement Count Zinzendorf to describe “the Brethren” he encountered in Pennsylvania in 1742 as “unenlightened, but well-meaning and seriously inclined“.[5] That same year (April 4, 1742) the 16 year-old George Washington encountered a German settlement while surveying the Shenandoah Valley and noted bluntly in his journal “I really think they seem to be as Ignorant a Set of People as the Indians they would never speak English but when spoken to they speak all Dutch“.[6]
Unlike the other denominations, the early rural Brethren congregations would rotate their weekly worship services at the farms of the key members instead of building a common meeting house or church. Rejecting the need for formal education or training, worship services were taught by members (laymen) within the congregation which was advantageous due to the shortage of formally educated clergy in the colonies. The early rural congregations tended to be small and autonomous, with a presiding elder who was not paid for their pastoral work and there was relatively little oversight from the “mother church” in Germantown (Pennsylvania) resulting in few records of the membership, marriages, and baptisms.
Generally referred to as “German Palatines“, thousands of fervent protestants fled the devastation of war and persecution in southwestern region of Germany know as the Palatinate to the American colonies. Known by the Germans as “redemptioners“, as many as one-half to two-third of the Swiss-German immigrants arriving in Pennsylvania were extremely poor forcing them to pay for their passage by agreeing to indentured servitude (usually 2-7 years), often with German speaking colonist.[7] By the mid 1700s it was estimated “one-third to three-fifths” of Pennsylvania population (200,000-300,000) were “German Palatines” raising the concerns of men like Benjamin Franklin due to their religious pacifist views. Although he had first been supportive of the “Germans Palatines“, Benjamin Franklin voiced the concerns shared by many of the english speaking colonist when in 1751 he referred to his German speaking neighbors as “Palatine Boors” that “swarm into our Settlements, and by herding together establish their Language and Manners to the Exclusion of ours” warning they “will shortly be so numerous as to Germanize us instead of our Anglifying them, and will never adopt our Language or Customs“.[8] In a letter to Lord Halifax (dated November 15, 1754), Virginia’s Virginia Governor Robert Dinwiddie expressed his concerns that “the Germans in Pennsyl’a live all in a Body together, as if in a Principality of Germany, may they not in Time throw off their Obedience and Submission to the British Crown? It was, I think a very imprudent Step in the first Settlem’t of y’t Province not to mix them in their Settlem’ts with the Eng., and have English School Masters &c. Whereas there are now many Thousands cannot speak one word of English“.[9]
The formation of “the Brethren” can be traced from the small village of Schwarzenau on the Eder River in the rural district of Siegen-Wittgenstein (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany) where “Alexander Mack, of Schreisheim, in the Palatinate” in 1708 “entered into a covenant” with “George Graby and Lucas Fetter of Hesse Cassel…Andrew Bony, of Basle, in Switzerland; and John Kipping, from Wurtemberg;” along with “the sisters…Johanna Bony, Anna Margaretta Mack and Johanna Kipping“. As their numbers increased, a second congregation was established 600 kilometers northwest in the village of Marienborn in the district of Börde (Saxony-Anhalt, Germany). The Marienborn members were subjected to severe persecutions (including imprisonment) and many of their followers were forced to seek asylum about 400 kilometers west in the city of Crefeld (present-day Krefeld) on the western shore of the Rhine River. In 1719, about twenty of “the Brethren” in Credfeld led by Peter Becker immigrated to Philadelphia and they formed a small settlement in Germantown (Pennsylvania).[10]
- Germantown (Pennsylvania) was first settled in 1683 by thirteen Mennonite families from Crefeld (Germany). Mennonites were followers of Menno Simons (1496-1561), a Dutch Catholic priest from the Province of Friesland (the Frisian version of his name is Minne Simens) in the Dutch Republic that left the Catholic Church in 1536 and joined “The Swiss Brethren” (originated in 1525 in Zurich, Switzerland) as part of the Anabaptism movement (did not believe in infant baptisms) and became a prominent pacifist leader in the Protestant Reformation.
In 1720, to escape the persecution the remaining members of “the Brethren” in Schwarzenau (including Alexander Mack & the other the original members) removed over 1,000 kilometers west to the village of Surhuisterveen in the Dutch province of West Friesland. Located in the Dutch province of West Friesland, Surhuisterveen was within 30 kilometers east of Leeuwarden where the great-great grandfather of Jesse DeWeese (Cornelius de Wees) was born before emigrating with his parents to the American Colonies. After hearing reports from the Credfeld families led by Peter Becker in Germantown, many of “the Brethren” in Friesland decided to join “the Brethren” members in Pennsylvania and sailed from Rotterdam onboard the “Allen” on July 7, 1729.[11]
Cornelius de Wees is the
6th-Great paternal Grandfather of Eula Claudine Reed
According to the research of Jim Souder “the earliest known record of a Sauter/Sowder family in America is a land deed dated 16 May 1719, in which Jacob Sauter purchased 300 acres of land from Hans Graff and his wife, Susanna, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania“.[12] Born in Switzerland, John Hans Graff reportedly emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1695 and settled in Germantown where he is reported to have married Susanna Kendig in 1703. In November 1724, Peter Becker along with other members of “the Brethren” visited members of their faith in Conestoga (Pennsylvania) and stayed at the home of John Hans Graff indicating he had been baptized into “the Brethren” or was supportive of their ministry.[13] Some researchers have concluded, without providing any documentation, that the daughter of Johannes Jacob Groff (1670-1730) and mother Anna Meili (1670-1730) was born near the city of Mannheim (Baden-Württemberg, Germany) prior to emigrating to Pennsylvania where she married this Jacob Sauter (1688-?) and their son was Jacob Sowder (1734-1819).
The research of Albert Lawrence Rohrer states that Jacob Sautter was the son-in-law of Hans Graeff (Johannes Jacob Groff); and that Jacob Sautter’s will was written in German or “High Dutch” and never was fully transcribed. This will was dated March 8, 1733; and was presented to the Court (Lancaster County, Pennsylvania ?) on August 3, 1737; and named two daughters (Mary & Susanna) along with his wife Ann Sowder. An indenture dated March 26, 1740 (recorded May 8, 1748), confirms the conveyance of land from Hans Graeff to Jacob Sowder in 1719 which was passed on to Jacob Sowder’s daughter Susanna Sowder (aka Anne Sowder) who had married Martin Funk (1716-1790) before her death; and Jacob Sowder’s daughter Mary Sowder (Maria Souder) who had married John Rohrer (aka John Royer/Roer). This research adds that the surname Graeff was also spelled Graff and Groff before it was finally anglicize to Groves along with providing the following genealogical information.[14]
- Children of John Rohrer (born May 13, 1696; died November 23, 1771) and Maria Souder (born February 24, 1716; died May 11, 1769) were Jacob Rohrer (born June 26, 1734; died April 19, 1803) who married Magdalena Weaver; Ann Rohrer (born February 2, 1738) who married Jacob Houser; Christian Rohrer (born October 23, 1741; died June 27, 1804) who married Lizzie Neff; Elizabeth Rohrer (born November 17, 1744) who married Franz Smith; John Rohrer (born March 18, 1746; died January 10, 1814) who married Maria Neff (born August 16, 1752; died July 1, 1825); Maria Rohrer (born January 28, 1749) who married John Baughman; Martin Rohrer (born September 4, 1761) who married Christina ?; and Susanna Rohrer (born March 16; 1756; died November 23, 1815) who married Peter Nicholas Müller (born December 28, 1742; died December 28, 1831).
Detailed research shared on a “Souders” project on geni.com asserts Y-DNA from an descendant of Jacob Sowder (1734-1819) was submitted to FamilyTreeDNA (Kit #888308) in 2010 and found to have matched other descendants of Jacob Sautter (1678-1733) who was reported to have been born in the city of Hirzel in northeast Switzerland (near Zurich) and died in Lancaster County (Pennsylvania). This corresponds to the Y-DNA Surname Project for the surnames “Souder, Souders, Sauder, Suter, Sautter, Sowder, & Sodders” that matched the Y-DNA from Kit #888308 to two descendants of Jacob Sautter and Anna Groff (Kits #19561 & #111745) were matched in family “Group 2” along with the descendant of Jacob Sautter (1678-1733) and another Jacob Souder descendant (Kit #162314) who did not provide any additional information.[15] However, research published by Mary Fern Souder in 2003 reported a descendant of Jacob Sowder (1734-1819) through his grandson John Souders (1806-1872) participated in the same Y-DNA Surname Project (Kit #113656) and was not a match to any of the other participants and was placed alone in “Group 8“.[16] If the lineage of both of these descendants of Jacob Sowder (1734-1819) are proven to be accurate, this indicates there was an undocumented adoption and/or infidelity at some point in one of the family trees. An example of this was noted with Peter DeWeese (a relative of Jesse Deweese) who was born out of wedlock in Botetourt County (present-day Floyd County, Virginia) in 1791 (see Discovering the parents of Allen Green Wilson [Y-DNA Testing]). In addition to sharing the lineage of each participant, testing of additional descendants of Jacob Sowder (1734-1819), particularly from other lines if possible, will be needed to clarify this discrepancy.
- If you have any additional information regarding the descendants that participated in this Y-DNA Surname Project, including documentation of lineage that can be shared, please contact us.
It should also be noted that Mary Fern Souder’s published report revealed a descendant (Kit #121267) of Casper Sauder Jr (1765-1816) and his wife Catherine Newswenger (1779-1821) formed a separate family “Group 6” with a descendant (Kit #111628) of John Souders (died 1817 in Bedford County, Pennsylvania) and a Sauter descendant (Kit #67945) whose family never left Württemberg, Germany. Casper Sauder’s father (Casper Sauder Sr) was a Swiss-German Mennonite who arrived in Philadelphia on the ship “Neptune” in 1746 with Peter Sutter (presumed relative) and settled in Lampeter Township (Lancaster County, Pennsylvania).[17] Curiously, a descendant (Kit #158501) of Christian Souder who arrived in Philadelphia in 1736 was subsequently found to be a match to “Group 6“.[18] Considered a strong possibility as a close relative of Jacob Sowder (1734-1819), the 23 year-old Christian Suder (Sutter) was among the Palatines that arrived in Philadelphia onboard the ship “Harle” from Rotterdam on September 1, 1736.[19]
During “the Brethren” missionary work in 1724, a number of the residents living near Conestoga Creek were baptized (including Conrad Beissel & Jan Meyle) resulting in the organization of the Conestoga congregation (located about 60 west of Philadelphia) of twelve members with Conrad Beissel as minister on November 12, 1724. As Conrad Beissel increasingly embraced the doctrines of “the Sabbatarians of French Creek” along with advocating celibacy in a communal lifestyle that separated “husband from wife…and parents from children” there was a growing split in the congregation. Near the end of 1728, Conrad Beissel dramatically split from “the Brethren” by renouncing his baptism by Peter Becker and formed his Ephrata monastic community nearby on Cocalico Creek with many of the members of his congregation. The remaining Brethren members of the Conestoga congregation were later led by “Johannes Hildebrand who had moved to the Conestoga from the mother congregation at Germantown“.[20]
On October 29, 1724, Johann Christopher Sauer (Sower) I (1695-1758) along with his wife (Maria Christina Sower), his wife’s children (including Heinrich, Anna Elizabeth, & Ludwig Höcker), and his 3 year-old son (Christopher Sower II) arrived in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) from the Pfalz region of Germany (Baden-Württemberg or Siegen-Wittgenstein). By the end of 1726, Christopher Sower moved his family to Lancaster County (Pennsylvania) where he was baptized by Conrad Beissel on June 9, 1728. In 1730, his wife left her family and joined Conrad Beissel’s celibate community at Ephrata where she stayed as sub-prioress until 1744 when her son she convinced her to return to her family. After his wife left, Christopher Sauer (Sower) moved back to Germantown with his son and step-children where he was a leader of Brethren building a large home where the principal Germantown Brethren congregation worshiped until 1760. He acquired a german printing press that rivaled Benjamin Franklin publishing the first german almanac, newspaper, and bible (“Saur Bible“).[21] Although there are no known family ties between Jacob Sowder (1734-1819) and Christopher Sauer (1695-1758), Christopher Sauer (Sower) obtained his printing paper from a paper mill started by Cornelius de Wees’s brother Wilhelm de Wees (William DeWees) from 1747-1750 when it was operated by Jacob Flaga.[22]
- The only child of Christopher Sauer (Sower) I (1695-1758) and Maria Christina Gruber (?-1752) was Christopher Sower II (1721-1784) who continued the printing business after his father died. About 1751, Christopher Sower II (1721-1784) married Catharine Sharpnack (?-1777) and they had the following children: Maria Christiana Sower (1752-1753); Christopher Sower III (1754-1799); Daniel Sower (1755-1812); Samuel Sower, (1757-1757); Peter Sower (1759-1785); Catherine Harley (1761-1823); Esther Zimmerman (1762-1786); David Sower (1764-1835); and Samuel Sower (1767-1820).
As the global tensions between Great Britain and France continued, the British officials in Pennsylvania were becoming increasingly alarmed with the ever increasing number of “German Palatines” that had lived along the norther border with France arriving in Philadelphia. Unable to speak english, the vast majority of the poor Swiss-German protestants sought refuge within the other german speaking communities that shared their particular religious beliefs. On September 14, 1727, Pennsylvania’s Lieutenant Governor Patrick Gordon called together the Provincial Council “to inform them that there is lately arrived from Holland, a Ship with four hundred Palatines” adding “they will be very soon followed by a much greater Number…without any leave obtained from the Crown of Great Britain” making it “highly necessary to concert proper measures for the peace and security of the province, which may be endangered by such numbers of Strangers daily poured in, who being ignorant of our Language & Laws & settling in a body together” as “a distinct people from his Majesties Subjects” adding “it’s requisite that in the first Place they should take the Oath of Allegiance…until some proper Remedy can be had from Home, to prevent the Importation of such Numbers of Strangers into this or others of His Majesties Colonies“. In response, Pennsylvania enacted a law that required all non-British males that were 16 years-old or older to make the following oath of allegiance (see below) to King of Great Britain providing documentation of the flood of Swiss-German protestants arriving in Pennsylvania following this date.[23]
“We Subscribers, Natives and Late Inhabitants of the Palatinate upon the Rhine & Places adjacent, having transported ourselves and Families into this Province of Pensilvania, a Colony subject to the Crown of Great Britain, in hopes and Expectation of finding a Retreat & peaceable Settlement therein. Do Solemnly promise & Engage, that We will be faithful & bear true Allegiance to his present MAJESTY KING GEORGE THE SECOND, and his Successors, Kings of Great Britain, and will be faithful to the Proprietor of this Province; And that we will demean ourselves peaceably to all His said Majesties Subjects, and strictly observe & conform to the Laws of England and of this Province, to the utmost of our Power and best of our understanding“.
In compliance of the new law, the captain of the ship “James Goodwill” provided a list of “Fifty-three Palatines, who with their Families making in all about two hundred Persons were imported….from Rotterdam” that had arrived in Philadelphia on September 27, 1727. Included on this list were several men who were, or would soon become, prominent members of “the Brethren“. This included Michael Danner (listed as “Michael Tanner”), Daniel Leatherman (listed as “Tewalt Letherman”), Hans Longnecker (listed as “Hans Langneker”), Christian Miller, Ulrich Stauffer (listed as “Ulrich Stoupher”), Henrich Wolf (listed as “Hendrick Wolfe”), and Peter Zug. The father of Jacob Danner, Michael Danner settled on the 200 acres near the farm of John Hendricks on Conestoga Creek that was later claimed by Charles Carroll of Maryland as part of the Pennsylvania-Maryland border dispute. Daniel Leatherman was a leader in “the Brethren” when he help to organize congregations on Little Conewago Creek (1738) and Conewago Creek (1741) before moving to Fredrick County (Maryland) where he organized the first Brethren congregation (Middletown Valley) with 15 members in 1760.[24]
- The majority of the passengers of the ships “James Goodwill”, “Molley”, “Friendship” and the galley “Adventure” were believed to be Mennonites fleeing the Pfalz region that had received assistance from Dutch Mennonite Commission for Foreign Needs (Commissie voor de Buitenlandsche Nooden) to pay for their passage to Pennsylvania. Due to their concern of “the large number of emigrants who travelled through Rotterdam on their way to Pennsylvania, the Commission sent a strong statement to church leaders in the Palatinate ordering the ministers to make no promises of help under any circumstances” and “to encourage their congregants to remain in the Palatinate where the Commission promised continued support”.[25]
A few days later (September 30, 1727), the ship “Molley” had arrived in Philadelphia from Rotterdam with about 300 Palatine passengers. The captain’s list of Palatine men “Above ye age of 16 yeares” included “Hans Adam Soulder” (Sowder ?) and “Michell Frances“. Although “Michel Frantz” was listed on the corresponding list recorded by the Provincial Council of passengers from the “Molly” taking the oath of fidelity, “Hans Adam Soulder” was not. Yet, the Provincial Council list did included Christian Miller and Peter Zug who had arrived on the ship “James Goodwill” indicating the passengers of the ships were intermixed and likely interrelated. Michael Frantz settled in Lancaster County (Pennsylvania) where he was ordained as a minister of “the Brethren” in 1734 and led the Conestoga Church from 1735 to his death in 1748.[26]
On October 2, 1727, the captain of the galley “Adventure” (“Adventure Galley“) provided a list of 55 “Palatine Passengers imported…from Rotterdam” that “arrived at Philadelphia” which included “Jn Sower” (Sowder ?). That same day (October 2, 1727), a second list of 53 “Palatines who with their families” numbered “about one hundred and forty Persons” (including Jacob Bauman/Bowman) was recorded by the Provincial Council as taking the oath of fidelity that was now required before they could disembark the ship in Pennsylvania.[27] Interestingly, detailed research of Johann Michael Mueller identified that at least four of the passengers (Michael Miller, Johann Jacob Stutzman, Johannas Ulrich, & Christopher Ulrick) were members (or soon would be) of “the Brethren” that settled in York County (Pennsylvania) where “Jacob Stutzman was a charter member of the Little Conewago Church” (see below). This detailed research tracks Michael Miller and his step-brother Jacob Stutzman along with their related families as they moved to Fredrick County (Maryland) with other members of their Brethren congregation[28] which appears to have included Jacob Sowder (1734-1819) and/or members of his extended family.
- John Sowers Sr was reported to be a stone mason who moved to Little (York County, Pennsylvania) where he had four sons. His son John Sower Jr (1757-1820) married Mary Ann Kramer (?-1848); fought in the Revolutionary War for 4 years as a substitute for his father; and after the war settled near Gwinn’s Mills (18 miles from Baltimore) before moving to Monroeville (Ohio) in 1815 where he died in 1820.[29]
- In March 1726, Gerhart Clemons contracted with Jacob Souder (married to Anna Groff?) to build a mill “to be well made and to give good satisfaction, for which he (Jacob Souder) was to receive £33, one half thereof to be paid when the mill was finished and the other half in six months afterwards”. On February 26, 1727, “Jacob Souder again received £3″ and Gerhart Clemons “remain in debt yet eight pounds and eight schillings”.[30] Located on the east branch of Perkionmen Creek in Salsford Township (Bucks County, Pennsylvania), Clemon’s mill was about 50 miles east of the Brethren members living on Cocalico Creek in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (more research needed).
With the border tensions between Pennsylvania and Maryland heating up, the Pennsylvania Assembly passed “an Act for the Better Enabling Divers Inhabitants of the Province of Pennsylvania to Hold Lands, and to Invest them with Privileges of Natural-Born Subjects of the Said Province” on February 6, 1731 (see below). The act specifically named a number of German protestants (including Jacob Souder of Bucks County) that had previously transported themselves to Pennsylvania and “have purchased and do hold lands of the proprietary“. This indicates that the listed Germans had arrived in Pennsylvania prior to the 1727 law requiring all non-British males to take an oath of allegiance when they arrived in Pennsylvania if they wished to get off the ship.
“Whereas by the encouragement given by the Honorable William Penn, Esquire, late proprietary and governor of the province of Pennsylvania, and by the permission of his late Majesty, King George the First of blessed memory, and his predecessors, Kings and Queens of England, &c., divers Protestants who were subjects to the Emperor of Germany, a prince in amity with the Crown of Great Britain, transported themselves and estates into the province of Pennsylvania, and since they came hither have contributed to the enlargement of the British Empire, and have always behaved themselves religiously and peaceably, and have paid a due regard and obedience to the laws and government of this province. And whereas many of the said persons, to wit, Peter Wentz, Martin Kolb, Dielman Kolb, Jacob Kolb, Michael Ziegler, Paul Fried, Johannas Fried, Hans Datweiller, Valantine Hunsucker, Jacob Scheimer, Johannes Kocken, George Markl, Hubbard Gassell, Johannes Leseber, Jacob Herman, Gerhard Clements, Christopher Zimmerman, Jacob Metts, Bastian Smit, Mathias Gemelin, Ulrick Mayer, Christian Bowman, Abraham Schwaartz, Hermanus Kuster, John Joder, John Joder Junior, Joest Joder, Philip Keilwein, Bans Hoch, Peter Endreas, John Dieterich Kreiner, Peter Balio, Abraham Levand, Isaac Levand, Nicholas Lescher, David Kauffman, Jean Bartolett, Hans Martin Gerich, Martin Schenkel, Jonathan Herbein, John Bowman. Arnold Huffuagle, Johannes Laugenecker, Johannes Buckwalter, Johannes Eckstein, Isaac Vansintern, Johannes Dewalt End, Johannes George Bentzel, Blasius Daniel Mackinet, Mathias Adams Hogermoed, Harts Rup, Lorence Belitz, Johannes Nicholas Kressman, Christopher Funk, John Joseph Schrack, Philip Schrack, Johannes Shaffer, Jacob Seltzer, George Rowse, George Jager, Samuel Gouldin, Christopher Gouldin, Henry Pennebecker, Hans Sigfried, Peter Trexier, Henry Schaut, Jacob Hettlestein, Daniel Langenecker, Hans Jacob Bechtley, Melchor Hoch, Jacob Hoch, George Hollenbaik, John Jacob Schrack, John George Reif, John George Reif Junior, Jacob Reif, Conrad Reif, Peter Reif, Antonius Hillman, Henry Antis, Gerhard Peters, John Isaac Klein, Johannes Mayer, Samuel Hoch, John Snyder, George Bechtley, Joest Hendrick Zaatzmentzhoussen, all of Philadelphia county; Marcus Huhl, John Keller, Jacob Kasdrop, Johan Baker, Abraham Kinking, of the city of Philadelphia; Jacob Kiemmer, Jacob Souder, Philip Keisinger, George Bachman, John Driestle, of the county of Bucks; Christian Mary, Johannes Roth, Casper Aeker and Jacob Acker, of the county of Chester, in demonstration of their affection and zeal for his present Majesty’s person and government, qualified themselves by taking the qualification and subscribing the declaration directed to be taken and subscribed by the several acts of Parliament made for the security of His Majesty’s person and government and for preventing the dangers which may happen by Popish recusants, &c, and thereupon have humbly signified to the governor and the representatives of the freemen of this province in general assembly met that they have purchased and do hold lands of the proprietary and others His Majesty’s subjects within this province, and have likewise represented their great desire of being made partakers of those privileges which the natural-born subjects of Great Britain do enjoy within this province; and it being just and reasonable that those persons who have bona fide purchased lands and who have given such testimony of their affection and obedience to tile Crown of Great Britain should as well be secure in the enjoyment of their estates as encouraged in their laudable affection to and zeal for the English Constitution“.[31]
In 1731, Thomas Cresap was forced to leave Virginia and move back to Maryland before settling about 25 miles north of the provisional Maryland-Pennsylvania border where he vowed to rid “northern Maryland of all Pennsylvania squatters and Indians“. The following year, Thomas Cresap was appointed as a justice of the peace in Baltimore County (Maryland) and granted “a patent for a group of Susquehanna River islands at Blue Rock” that were located “just a few miles west of Lancaster” (Pennsylvania).[32] In a letter to the Pennsylvania Governor in 1732, Samuel Blunton reported that Thomas Cresap associate Charles Higgenbotham had led a company of Marylanders that had seized Brethren member Michael Danner and several other Dutch men while they dug a grave to bury the child of Henry Smith and had taken them to a prison in Annapolis (Maryland). Blunton named the Dutch (German) men taken were “Michael Danner, Conrad Stickler, Henry Bacon, Jacob Welshaver, Charles Jones, and Joseph Evans“. Blunton added that the “incident has so terrified the rest that they have all left their houses” and fled back over the Susquehanna River.[33]
In 1732, Maryland’s Charles Calvert (5th Lord Baltimore) and William Penn’s sons (Thomas, John, & Richard) reached a compromise over the dispute over the border between Maryland and Pennsylvania that placed the northern border 15 miles south of Philadelphia. Soon thereafter, Charles Calvert learned of errors in the maps he had relied on in the negotiations had resulted in Maryland mistakenly ceding claims of thousands of acres to Pennsylvania; and he immediately disputed the agreement claiming he had been defrauded by his own maps. The disputed area along the northern border of Frederick County (including Conowago, Codorus, & Pipe Creeks) was claimed by both Maryland and Pennsylvania (including Adams & York Counties) until the British Crown intervened in an agreement in 1760 and a survey of the border was completed in 1767 by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon establishing the present border (Mason-Dixon Line).
Cropped from map drawn in 1740 including the border agreed in 1732 in red and the temporary limit of Pennsylvania & Maryland authorities established in 1738 in the line above. Map was surveyed by Benjamin Eastburn and engraved by John Senex (Copy in Library of Congress).
The Maryland-Pennsylvania border dispute erupted into open warfare (known as Cresap’s War) when Lancaster County (Pennsylvania) Sheriff John Emerson along with six deputies interceded on the behalf of Michael Danner’s neighbor John Hendricks. In January 1733/1734, Thomas Cresap represented a tract of land as in Maryland and sold it to William Glasspil ignoring the fact that Pennsylvania had already granted the land to John Hendricks. During Sheriff John Emerson’s failed attempt to arrest Thomas Cresap, “two of the Pennsylvanians…were beaten while another, Knowles Daunt, was shot in the leg” and would die from his wounds. A man not to be trifled with, Thomas Cresap targeted the pacifist German farmers by fraudulently asserting their farms were now in Maryland and they had to pay him or be forced off their land.[34]
Brethren member Michael Tanner (Danner) attested in 1736 that “by Virtue a Grant from Proprietors of Pennsylvania” (dated September 7, 1734) had “settled on a tract of two hundred Acres of Land on Ye West side of Sasquehanna River, about six miles South Westerly from John Hendricks“. He added that later in 1734, Thomas Cresap claimed to have surveyed the land for Maryland and sold Michael Tanner’s farm (land & buildings) to Daniel Law and Michael Tanner was subsequently required “to pay said Law Eight Pounds” rent to live in the home he built on his own land to avoid his family being left “without Shelter or means to Earn their bread“. On September 5, 1736, Pennsylvania authorities issued an arrest warrant for Thomas Cresap charging him with the murder of Knowles Daunt. On September 13, 1736, Michael Tanner and Henry Hendricks were asked to take a petition (see below) to the Pennsylvania Governor in which the “Dutch inhabitants of the west side of the Sesquehanna River” be placed under the protection of Pennsylvania on September 13, 1736. In response, Pennsylvania authorities issued an arrest warrant (dated September 5, 1736) for Thomas Cresap charging with the murder of Knowles Daunt.[35]
“The Oppression and ill Usage We have met with from the Government of Maryland, or at least from such Persons who have been empowered thereby and their Proceedings connived at, has been a Treatment (as We are well informed) very different from that which the Tenants of your Government have generally met with, which with many other cogent Reasons, give Us good Cause to conclude the Governor and Magistrates of that Province do not themselves believe Us to be settled within the real Bounds of his Lordships Dominions, but we have been seduced & made Use of, first by fair Promises, and afterwards by Threats and Punishments to answer Purposes which are at present unjustifiable, and will if pursued tend to Utter Ruin.…We therefore the Subscribers with many Others Our Neighbours being become at last truly sensible of the Wrong we have done the Proprietors of Pensilvania in settling on their Lands without paying Obedience to their Government do resolve to return to our Duty and live under the Laws and Government of Pensilvania, in which Province We believe Our selves seated…To this We unanimously resolve to adhere ’till the Contrary shall be determined by a legal Decision of the Disputed Bounds, and Our honest and just Intention we desire may be communicated to the Governor of Maryland or whom else it may concern.…Signed with Our Own hands this Eleventh day of August Anno Dom. 1736” by “Michael Tanner, Jacob Welshoffer, Charles Jones, Nicholas Baun, Henry Lib Hart, Henry Hendrix, Jacob Lawnius, Martin Schultz, Christian Crowler, Francis Worley junr, Tobias Fray, Balthar Shambargier, Jacob Seglaer (his X mark), Martin Fray, George Scobell, Nicholas Birij, Jacob Grable, Jacob Seglaer, Philip Sanglaer, Henry Stantz, Caspar Sanglaer, Tobias Bright & al“.[36]
On October 21, 1736, Maryland’s Governor issue “a proclamation offering a reward of one hundred pounds each for the arrest of Samuel Blunston and John Wright, magistrates, Samuel Smith, sheriff, and Edward Smoute; twenty pounds each for the arrest of Michael Tanner, Christian Crowie, Mark Evans, Charles Jones, the constable, and Joshua Minshall; and ten pounds each for the arrest of the following persons: Jacob Grabill, Jacob Seglaer, Conrad Lowe, Christian Lowe, Jacob Seglaer, Jr., Michael Aringall, Philip Seglaer, Dennis Myer, Hance Stanner, Tobias Spright, Tobias Henricks, Leonard Immel, Balchar Sangar, Michael Wallack, Michael Evat, Michael Miller, Jasper Carvell, George Swope, George Philler, Nicholas Butchlere, Andrew Phlavlere, Henry Stantz, Henry Lephart, Peter Gartner, Jacob Lawnious, Nicholas Conn, Conrad Strlcklaer, Henry Bowen, Francis Worley, Jun””., Martin Sluys, Jacob Hoopinder, Michael Raishlere, Tobias Fry, Martin Fry, Henry Smith, Jacob Welshoffer, Henry Henricks, Adam Byard, Godfrey Fry, Methusalem Griffith, Bartholomew Shambarriere, Nicholas Hatchey, Yorrick Cobell, Henry Young, Michael Waltz, Kelyon Smith, Caspar Varglass, Martin Wyngall, Nicholas Peery, Bryonex Tandre and Eurick Myer.” Lancaster County (Pennsylvania) Sheriff Samuel Smith responded by leading a posse of about 30 men to the home of Thomas Cresap to arrest him. On November 24, 1736, the posse surrounded Thomas Cresap’s home and after a shootout in which Cresap supporter Lauchin Malone was killed, Cresap was arrested and taken back to Philadelphia. On August 18, 1737, King George II ordered the Governors of Maryland and Pennsylvania to end the conflict and no land grants could be issued in the disputed territory until the boundary question was resolved. In 1738, King George II ordered a provisional border be surveyed (fifteen and a quarter miles south of the southern limits of Philadelphia) “which was not to interfere with the actual sessions of the settlers, but was merely to suspend all grants in the disputed territory until the final settlement of the boundary question“.[37]
To avoid the Maryland-Pennsylvania border dispute, some of the Swiss-German immigrants followed the “Indian Road/Warrior’s Path” (became known as the the “Great Wagon Road”) west over 100 miles past Conestoga Creek to Williams Ferry where they crossed the Potomac River and traveled another 100 miles into Virginia wilderness (see Tracing Millers Migration from Pennsylvania to South Carolina). In 1733, nine Germans (Adam Mueller, Abraham Strickler, Mathias Selzer, Philip Lang (Long) Paul Lung (Long), Michael Rinehart, Hans Rood, Michael Kaufman & Abraham Strickler) stated they had moved from Lancaster County (Pennsylvania) and established farms on land conveyed to them by Jacob Stover. Known as the Massanutten Settlement, there were a total of 51 colonist living on the farms with two additional families (possibly including Jacob Sowder) on their way.[38]
- The will of Jacob Sautter (Sowder ?) was reported to have been dated March 8, 1733; and proven in Lancaster County (Pennsylvania) on August 3, 1737; indicating this Jacob Sowder may never have settled in the Massanutten Settlement.
On June 17, 1730, an entry was recorded in the Virginia Council Journal of the petition by land agent Jacob Stover (Stauffer/Stauber) “in partnership with others…for 10,000 acres of land on the west side of the Great mountains and on the Second fork of Sherando River on both sides of the branches…for settlement of himself and divers Germans and Swiss“. After a challenge by land speculator William Beverly was dismissed, the petition was granted to the native of Switzerland “on condition that he brought over one family for each thousand acres“. On December 15, 1733, Jacob Stover was granted two 5,000 acres patents; with the northern grant (see below) known as the “Massanutten Patent” that stretched from above the present-day town of Luray (Page County, Virginia) to “Bear Lithia Spring) north of present-day town of Elkton (Rockingham County, Virginia).[39]
On December 15, 1733, George the Second (King of England) conveyed to Jacob Stover 5,000 acres in St. Mark’s Parish Spotsylvania County (Virginia) known as “Stover’s Upper Patent, Below Port Republic” recorded in Patent Book No. 15, Page 127: “George the second &c. To all &c. Know ye that for divers good causes and Considerations—but more Especially for and in Consideration of the Importation of One Hundred persons to dwell within this our Colony and Dominion of Virginia whose Names are Jacob Miller, Catherine Mill(er), Abraham Miller, Christian Miller, Isaac__Miller, Jacob Miller, Joseph Miller, Matthew Miller, Sarah Miller, Catherine Miller, Anna Miller, Susannah Miller, Barbary Miller, Dorothy Miller, Rachel Miller, Jacob Mire, Anna Mire, Isaac Mire, Abraham Mire, John Mire. Jacob Mire, Joseph Mire, Peter Mire, Geo. Mire, Calpins Mire, Christopher Mire, Anna Mire, Rachel Mire, Catherine Mire, Sarah Mire, Sarah Mire, Susannah Mire, Barbary Mire, Dorothy Mire, John Mire, Anna Mire, Jacob Mire, John Mire, Abraham Mire, Isaac Mire, Rosina Mire, Susanna Mire, Catherine Mire, Ragley Mire, Henry Sowder, Catherine Sowder, Henry Sowder, John Sowder, Isaac Sowder, Catherine Sowder, Anna Sowder, Rachel Sowder, Henry Hain, Christiana Hain, Jacob Haine, Henry Hain, Paul Hain, Rudy Hain, Joseph Hain, Peter Hain, Isaac Hain, John Hain, Hansrudy Hain, Stapher Hain, Susannah Hain, Rachael Hain, Barbary Hain, Claphi Hain, Margaret Haine, Elizabeth Hain, John Funk, Barbet Funk, Rudy Funk, Christopher Funk, John Funk, Matthew Funk, Joseph Funk, Isaac Funk, Peter Funk, David Funk, William Funk, Anna Funk, Christiana Funk, Trenly Funk, Robby Funk, Dorothy Funk, Jacob Sowder, Trina Sowder, Christian Sowder, John Sowder, Isaac Sowder, Rudy Sowder, Matthew Sowder, Stapher Sowder, Peter Sowder, Joseph Sowder, David Sowder, Jacob Sowder, Jane Sowder, Dorothy Sowder and Christiana Sowder. * WE HAVE given granted and Confirmed and by these presents for us our Heirs and Successors do give grant and Confirm unto Jacob Stover One Certain Tract or parcel of Land Containing five Thousand Acres Lying and being in St. Marks parish in Spotsylvania County on the West side the Great Mountains and bounded as followeth (to wit) BEGINNING at Two black Walnuts and a Hickory on Sherando River under the foot of the Great Mountains and runing thence E. 30 pole up to the foot of the mountain. Thence S. 37 Degrees W. 610 pole to the River thence up the Several Courses of the River to two Sycamors Thence S. 57 Degrees W. to the foot of a Naked Mountain at the upper end of a Large Island in the River….Witness our Trusty and Welbeloved William Gooch Esqr. our Lieut. Govr. and Comaiuler in Chief of our said Colony and Dominion at Williamsburgh under the Seal of our said Colony the fifteenth day of December One Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty three In the Seventh Year of our Reign.”[40]
On December 15, 1735, in Deed No. 5 Jacob Stover conveyed to Henry Souter 300 acres “on the South Side Gerundo” (Gerundo River) in Orange County (Virginia) reportedly located five miles west of Luray Cave (Page County, Virginia). Soon thereafter, Henry Souter apparently transferred the land to Ludwick Stone as the same 300 acres where conveyed from Ludwick Stone to Martin Coffman in Deed No. 11 dated February 23, 1737.[41] Curiously, Henry Souter, Jacob Mire (wife Anna), and Jacob Miller (all listed in Jacob Stover patent) were living in Bethel Township (bordering Berks County) of Lancaster County (Pennsylvania) by 1751 along with Michael Frantz (cousin of Michael Frantz 1687-1748), Peter Groff (son of Johannes Jacob Groff ?) Adam Kline, Conrad Gearhart, and Valentine Gerhart (related to Hannah “Nellie” Gearhardt ?); indicating they may have been (or soon would be) members of the Brethren congregation of the Little Swatara Congregation founded by Jacob Meyer (1713-1801) and Michael Frantz (1726-1796).
- Henry Souter may have been Henry Souther (1712-1784) who moved to German Ridge (about 25 miles south of present-day Luray) on the east-side of the Blue Ridge Mountains (parents may be Johann Jacob Souther/Schluchter & Anna Barbara Schone. According to researchers, Henry Souther appears in Orange County (Virginia) records in 1736 on two deeds; listed in Northern Neck Grants 1730-1754 (page 46); listed as Henry Shiter in Orange County Road orders 1734-1749 (pages 16, 26, & 28); listed as Henry Sluter as overseer of road in 1736; Henry Shlucter in 1737 as overseer of road of the German Ridge to Burke River; Henry Souther (Sauder) in 1748 grant of 124 acres (chain-carriers were Daniel Crisler & Stephen Hansburger); and Henry Souther, grant of 324 acres (German Ridge) in Culpeper County (Virginia) at the Rappidan River fork (Robinson River) dated August 7, 1750 dated (Northern Neck Grants G, page 406). In his will (dated September 2, 1783) “Henry Souther of Culpeper County in the Parish of Bromfield” named his “Daughter Barbary Hufman”, his daughter “Catharine Cannada”, his “son Stephen Souther”, his son “Michael Souther” (named executor), and his son “Jacob Souther”. The will (probated May 17, 1784) was signed by his mark (indicating he was illiterate and witnessed by Henry Wayland, Henry Cristler (his mark), Joseph Cristler.[42]
- Autosomal DNA matches on ancestry.com for a 5th great-granddaughter of Jacob Sowder (1734-1819) revealed a distant match (16 cM across one segment after 9 generations) with a descendant of Henry Schlucter Souther (1697-1784) through his daughter Barbara Souther (1738-aft1815) and her husband Jacob Hoffman Sr (1733-1815); a distant match (16 cM across two segment after 7 generations) with a descendant of Barbara Souther (1738-1815) and her husband Jacob Johann Huffman (1733-1815); a distant match (16 cM across two segment after 7 generations) with a descendant of Barbara Souther (1738-1815) and her husband Jacob Johann Huffman (1733-1815); a distant match (12 cM across two segment after 9 generations) with a descendant of Michael Souther (1744-1798) and his wife Mary Margaret Fisher (1744-1819) through their son Abraham Souther (1776-1843) and his wife Elizabeth Wilhote (1779-1832); and a descendant of Henry Souther (1712-1784) through his daughter Barbara and Souther (1735-1815) and her husband Jacob M Hoffman(1733-1815). This could indicate that Henry Souther (1712-1784) was the uncle of Jacob Sowder (1734-1819).
Cropped from 1775 map (Fry, Thomas, Jefferson & Sayer) of “most inhabited” areas of Virginia along with Maryland and part of Pennsylvania. From Philadelphia “The Great Waggon Road” traverses west past the “Great Conewaga” Creek (highlighted in yellow-upper right), to below the Conegogee Creek (highlighted in yellow-upper middle) and turns south near Andietum (Antietam) Creek (highlighted in yellow-upper middle) crossing into Virginia down into the Shenandoah Valley past the Massanutens (Massanutten) settlement (highlighted in yellow-lower left) which was west of the Robinson River (highlighted in yellow-lower left).
As the will of Jacob Sautter (dated March 8, 1733) was reportedly proven in Lancaster County (Pennsylvania) on August 3, 1737; he may never have settled in the Massanutten Settlement. Yet, records indicate other Sowder/Souder families moved into the Massanutten Settlement including Frederick Souder (1732-1786); and (possibly his son) Fredrick Sowder/Souder (1769-1823) who was reported to have been born in the eastern side of the settlement (present-day Shenandoah County, Virginia) and later moved to Greene County (Tennessee) where he reportedly co-owned a “200 acre farm on Caney and Lick Creeks” with Christian Souders (1765-1823) prior to both moving to Washington County (Indiana) in 1816. Although these men appear to have close family ties, family records provided by John Souders listed Christian Souders’ father as Jacob Sowder (1735-1819)[43] indicating Fredrick Sowder/Souder (1769-1823) may have been a cousin.
- On September 17, 1753, J. Frederick Souter (Fredrick Souder 1732-1786) arrived in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) from Rotterdam onboard the Ship “Richard & Mary” and signed with an “X” indicating he was illiterate.[44] Fredrick Souder (1732-1786) and his wife Mary “Polly” Kesner reportedly had the following children: Martin Sowder, Jonas Souder, John Souder, Lizy Souder, Christina Souder, and son (Frederick?) believed to have emigrated to Kentucky and Indiana.
Interestingly, researchers have speculated that the Frederick Sowers that lived east side of Massanutten Mountain (between New Market & Luray) was probably related to Jacob Sowder (1734-1819). This appears to have been Frederick Sowers (Saurs) that lived Shenandoah County (Virginia) when he enlisted against the British as a private in Captain Benjamin Roberts Company (Major Slaughter’s Battalion) in the fall of 1779 and joined George Rogers Clark’s Regiment where he served in Captain Abraham Tipton’s Company under Colonel Joseph Crocket until his discharge at Fort Nelson (present-day Louisville, Kentucky) on October 11, 1781. This Frederick Sowers married Ann Mary Randolph in Shenandoah County (Virginia) on March 12, 1783; and attested (on November 4, 1821) to his service with William Brinkley in Captain Tipton’s Company; and died in Shenandoah County (Virginia) on August 11/12, 1832. This Frederick Sowers was reported to have an unnamed son and it was an Adam Sower (no relationship given) that testified the date of the death of Frederick Sowers.[45]
Appointed as one of the York commisioners, Brethren member Michael Danner established a road following an old Indian trail from York County (Pennsylvania) down into Fredrick County (Maryland) that served as the primary route followed by colonist (likely including Jacob Sowder’s family). The Monocacy Road passed down from the Conewago settlement through Hanover township to what would latter be known as Kleina Stedtle (in english “Little’s Town”) and later was known as Petersburg before changing its name back to Littlestown (Adams County, Pennsylvania). From Petersburg, the trail continued north crossing into Fredrick County (Maryland) following the Piney Creek past present-day Tanneytown (Maryland) and crossed the Big and Little Creeks above their juncture with the Monocacy River down past present-day Woodsboro (Maryland) to crossing the Monocacy River just above the junction of Israel Creek (where his son Jacob Danner [Brethren minister] & his wife Elizabeth Boechtel settled in 1762) and continuing on to the settlement of Fredrick (Maryland).[46]
- Elizabeth Boechtel was the daughter of Samuel Boechtal I of Manheim Township (York County, Pennsylvania) who died in 1756 or 1758.[47] Elizabeth Boechtel’s sister, Suzanna Agnes Berchtol, was married to Johann Michael Mueller (Michael Miller); and Elizabeth Boechtel’s brother, Samuel Boechtel (Bechtol) II, was partners with Michael Miller in several land purchases; and married Anna Simon (daughter of Isaac & Magdalena Simon). The children of Samuel Bechtel II (1732-1820) and his wife Anna Simon were Esther Bechtel who married Joseph Bowman (Jacob Bowman’s son with German Baptist Brethern background); Susannah Bachtel who married John Myers; Magdalena Batchel who married John Funk; Anna Batchel who married ? Kissler; Samuel Bachtel who married Elizabeth Rohrer; Isaac Bachtel who married Christina Rohrer, Jacob Bachtel who married Catherine Kershner; Maria Batchel who married Jonathan Wolff; Martin Bachtel who married Barbara Snively; Elizabeth Bachtel who married John Wingard; and Barbara Bachtel who married Martin Wingard.[48]
In 1735, the remaining Brethren members (including Michael Pffauts, Rant Woolf, John Frantz, Emick Reyer, George Reyer, John Landis, Samuel Good, Henry Sneider, Philip Rouland & others) in Cocalico Township on the Conestoga River/Creek in Lancaster County (Pennsylvania) were reorganized into the “Conestoga Church” under Reverend Michael Frantz. A native or Switzerland, as previously noted Michael Frantz emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1727 and was ordained in 1734. In 1770, the membership of this congregation included “Rev. Jacob Sonday and wife, John Landis, exhorter, and wife, Peter Eychelberger and wife, Michael Frantz and wife, Henry Mohler and wife, Peter Reyer and wife, Tobias Millar and wife, Christopher Becker and wife, Elizabeth Lessley, Catharine Harlacher, Ann Mohler, Magdalene Millinger, Daniel Ballinger and wife, John Rosh and wife, Daniel Reyer and wife, John Reyer and wife, Martin Meyer and wife, Jermiah Woolf and wife, George Schwarts and wife, Jacob Landis and wife, David Landis, Christopher Westenberger and wife, Jacob Sponhauer and wife, Christopher Widder and wife, Jacob Knodel and wife, Salome Harlacher, Barbara Frantz, Catherine Reyer, Margaret Landis, Barbara Steiner, Barbara Schob, Henry Schneider and wife, Daniel Hollinger and wife, Christopher Reyer and wife, John Meyer and wife, Samuel Good and wife, Eva Sychrift, Jermiah Woolf, Jr., and wife, Jonas Joner and wife, Jacob Heller and wife, Mrs. Histant, Mrs. Moser, Mrs. Behr, Christopher Haas and wife, Jacob Harnley and wife, Magdalene Landis, Mary Frantz, Magdalene Bellenger, Mary Koch, Barbara Koch, Henry Schneider, Jr., and wife, Susannah Landis, Catherine Landis“.[49]
- Additional research is needed to determine how, if at all, Emick Reyer and George Reyer were related to Jacob Sautter’s brother-in-law John Rohrer (1696-1771); nonetheless, it remains possible that 1770 member John Reyer may have been John Rorhrer’s son John Rorher (1746-1814). Similarly, it is not known if Michael Pffauts is related to Jacob Sowder’s son-in-law Henry Adam Poff (grandson of Johann George Pfaff [1752-1819]).
- Autosomal DNA matches on ancestry.com for a 5th great-granddaughter of Jacob Sowder (1734-1819) revealed a distant match (11 cM across one segment after 8 generations) with a descendant of Johannes Michael Rohrer (1701-1772) & his wife Elizabeth Snavley through their daughter Magdalena Rohrer (1745-1803) & her husband John Huffer (1741-1802); a distant match (11 cM across one segment after 9 generations) with a descendant of John Rohrer (1701-1771) & his wife Elizabeth Snavley (1710-1787) through their son John Jacob Rohrer (1735-1805) & his wife Anna Barbara Weidman (1736-1806); a distant match (17 cM across one segment after 8 generations) with a descendant of Joseph Rohrer (1750-1841) & his wife Mary Rasor (1759-1841) through their daughter Barbara Rohrer (1788-1870) & her husband John Splitter Sr (1785-1874); a distant match (14 cM across one segment after 9 generations) with a descendant of Joseph Rohrer (1750-1841) & his wife Mary Rasor (1759-1841) through their daughter Barbara Rohrer (1788-1870) & her husband John Splitter Sr (1785-1874); a distant match (12 cM across one segment after 8 generations) with a descendant of Johannes Rorrer (1710-?) & his wife Barbara Kuntz (1710-?) through their son John Rorrer (1735-1805) & his wife Anna Barbara Weidman (1735-1806).
In 1738, members of “the Brethren” (including Bigler, Deardorff, Eldrick, Gripe, Stutsman & others) established “The Little Conewago church” about 20 miles from York City in Hanover Township (York County, Pennsylvania). Prior to moving to Monocacy (Maryland), “Elder Daniel Leatherman… had oversight of the congregation” and then “Brother Nicholas Martin was…appointed to take his place“. After Martin “moved to Conococheaque, Maryland“, Jacob Moyer and James Henricks would takeover the ministry of the church. In 1770, the forty families with 52 members of the congregation of the Little Conewago Church included “Jacob Moyer (minister) and wife, Rudy Brown and wife. Brother Dobis and wife, Mrs. Bowser, Maud Bowser, Barbara Bear, Eliza Bearing, Henry Donner (tanner) and wife, Christian Etor, John Geiny, Henry Geiny and wife, James Henrick (minister) and wife, Nicholas Housteter and wife, Christian Housteter, Henry Hoeff and wife, Great Hyman, Michael Kouts and wife, John Moyer and wife, Mrs. Moyer, Jacob Miller and wife, Joseph Moyer and wife, Stephen Peter, wife, and daughters, George Peter, Hans Adam Sneider and wife, John Swartz and wife, Jacob Souder and wife, Barbara Sneider, Michael Tanner and wife, John Peter Weaver, George Wine and wife, Daniel Woods and wife, Hester Weiss“.[50] During this period, on a rotational basis the members would met at the farms of the members “scattered over a distance of 50 miles between Westminster, Carroll County, Maryland, and York County, Pennsylvania“[51] indicating this Jacob Souder and his wife may have lived in Maryland near the border of Franklin and Carrol County.
- Born in the town of Grötzingen (Baden-Württemberg, Germany), Johann Michael Mueller (Michael Miller) and his wife Suzanna Agnes Berchtol were reported to left Germany due to their opposition of military conscription and emigrated to Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) in 1727 with their children along with Jacob Berchtol (Suzanna’s brother) and her Jacob Stutzman (Michael Miller’s brother-in-law). On February 7, 1744, “Michael Miller, Nicholas Garber, Samuel Bechtol, Hans Jacob & Elizabeth Bechtol” were reported to have purchased 400 acres northeast of Hanover Township in York County (Pennsylvania) where they were reported to be members of the “the Brethren” congregation of Little Conewago Church (see The Miller Family Tree).
Cropped from 1770 map of Pennsylvania by William Scull, the Cocalico Creek in Lancaster County is highlighted in yellow in the upper right; and the Little Conewago Creek and the Great Conewago Creek are highlighted in yellow (center & lower left) as they flow through York County (Pennsylvania).
On March 26, 1740, an indenture was recorded between “Martin Funck and Susanna his wife, one of the daughters of Jacob Souder of the one part and John Roser (Rohrer) of the other part, for 300 acres“. On July 10, 1741, a survey was recorded for a warrant for Martin Funk (husband of Susanna Souder) of Lancaster County (Pennsylvania) for 238 acres in “the Manor of Conestogo in the said County” (returned March 2, 1758). Born on August 4, 1716, Martin Funk was a son of Heinrich Funck (Henry Funk [1675-1735]) and his wife Margaretha who emigrated from the Baden region of German and were among the first colonist to settle in Conestoga Township when it was still part of Chester County (1712). Martin Funk’s siblings were John, Henry, Jacob, Samuel, Barbara (married Michael Meyer), Mary (married Jacob Nissley), and Frena (married Joseph Musser). The Children of Martin Funk (1716-) and his wife Susanna (1720-?) were Samuel Funk (1739-?), Anna Funk (1741-?), Susanna Funk (1743-?), Jacob Funk (1745-?), Martin Funk (1747-?), Susanna Funk (1750-?), Johannes Funk (1752-?), Heinrich Funk (1756-?), Franie Funk (1759-?), and Michael Funk (1782-?). The will (written in German) for “Martin Funk late of Manor Township in the County of Lancaster” was proven in Lancaster County (Pennsylvania) on February 3, 1790.[52]
- It is unclear how Heinrich Funck (Henry Funk [1675-1735]) who settled in Lancaster Copunty (Pennsylvania), is related to Bishop Henry Funck (?-1760) of Franconia Township in Buck County, Pennsylvania. Born in Europe, Bishop Henry Funck (?-1760) emigrated to the colonies in 1719 and was married to Anne Meyer (Christian Meyer’s daughter). Bishop Henry Funck (?-1760) was elected as the Mennonite minister in Franconia Township and authored “Spiegel der Taufe” (Mirror of Baptism) published in German. The children of Bishop Henry Funck (?-1760) and his wife Anne were John Funk, Henry Funk (married Barbara Showalter), Reverend Christian Funk (married Barbara Cassel), Abraham Funk (married Mary Landis), Esther Funk, Barbara Funk (married Jacob Souder), Anne Funk, Mary Funk Fronicka Funk, and Elizabeth Funk (married Jacob Bare)[53]
- Martin Funk’s son Jacob Funk/Funck (1745-1809) married Barbara Schock (1746-1824) and their daughter (Susanna Funk) was married John Souder (per will dated November 12, 1809).
In July 1735, Henry Willis conveyed to Jacob Funck (Funk) “2,030 acres of land lying on the north side of the North Branch of the Shenandoah River, commonly called ‘Stony Lick’ in Orange Co., Virginia” (about 35 miles north of present-day Luray, Virginia). In an indenture dated February 1734, Jacob Funck conveyed 180 of the 2,030 acres to his brother “John Funck of Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania“. The brother of Martin Funk (Jacob Sowder’s son-in-law), it is believed that Jacob Funck had converted and “was a member of the society of the Ephrata Brethren” by the time he and his brother John Funck settled in Virginia (near present-day Strasburg)[54]
- Autosomal DNA matches on ancestry.com for a 5th great-granddaughter of Jacob Sowder (1734-1819) revealed multiple matches with descendants of Jacob Funk/Funck (1695-1746). Two of the matches (16 cM across one segment after 7 generations & 11 cM across one segment after 8 generations) were through his son Jacob Funk (1725-1794) and his wife Ann Roland (1727-1794) who lived in Washington County (formerly Frederick County), Maryland. Another two matches (13 cM across one segment after 9 generations & 11 cM across one segment after 9 generations) were through his daughter Frances Veronica Funk (1721-1795) and her husband Peter Hess Stauffer/Stover (1715-1799); with two more matched (12 cM across one segment after 8 generations & 10 cM across one segment after 9 generations) through his son Henry Funk (1726-1790) and his wife Susannah Simon (1726-1783). Another match (11 cM across one segment after 9 generations) with a descendant of Elizabeth Funk (1722-1803) and Samuel Boehm (1715-1797) through their daughter Magdalene Boehm (1742-1798) and her husband Abraham Hiestand (1740-1813); may have been the daughter of Jacob Funk (1695-1746).
Interestingly, in 1741 the members of “the Brethren” that formed “the Conewago church” 14 miles from York City in neighboring Reading Township of York County (Pennsylvania) on the “Big Conewago Creek” included “Joseph Latshaw, Peter Neiper, John Neagley, Jacob Swigart, Adam Saur (Sower), and others“. The minister (George Adam Martin) left after a short time and was followed by Elder Daniel Leatherman. When Leatherman “removed to Maryland“, he was succeed by Nicholas Martin who “remained but a short time” before he too “moved to Maryland” and George Brown would lead the congregation “up to 1770” at which time the 77 members included “George Brown (minister) and wife, Samuel Arnold, Barnet Achenbach and wife, Rudolph Brown, Sarah Brissel, David Brissel and wife, Henry Brissel and wife, Marilas Baker, Nicholas Bakener, Jr., Nicholas Bakener, Laurence Bakener and wife, Matthias Bouser and wife and daughter, Velten Brissel and Baker and wife, Michael Bosserman and wife, Manass. Bruch and wife, Adam Dick and wife, Peter Dierdorff and wife, Henry Dierdorff and wife, John Dierdorff and wife, Anthony Dierdorff and wife, David Erhard and wife, Peter Fox and wife, Christian Frey, John Heimer and wife, Mary Latzcho, Nicholas Moyer and wife, John Nageley and wife, Ustace Reinsel and wife, Abraham Stauffer and wife, Catharine Studebaker, Philip Snell and wife, Adam Saur (Sower) and wife and two daughters, Andrew Trimmer and wife, George Waggoner and wife“.[55]
Similar to the naming conventions followed by the British, the Germans would commonly name the first son after the father’s father, the second son after the mother’s father, and the third son would be named after the father. Consequently, it is likely that Jacob Sowder’s eldest son Adam Sowder was named after Jacob Sowder’s father. As an elder of the neighboring Conewago Church in 1741, Adam Saur (also transcribed as Sower) warrants serious consideration for being the father of Jacob Sowder (1734-1819). It should also be noted that on the death certificate of Jacob Sowder’s daughter Sarah Poff, the name of her father was listed as Adam Sowder[56] indicating Jacob Sowder (1734-1819) was likely named Adam Jacob Sowder as Germans commonly had two personal names.
Curiously, a report of a robbery of Martin Funk (husband of Susanna Sowder?) and Jacob Souder (relative of Jacob Sowder?) “on Germantown Road” was reported in the German newspaper (Pensylvanische Berichte) published by Chrisopher Sower (Sauer) on August 25, 1749. John Ruth of the Mennonite Heritage Center provided the following translation of the published article. John Ruth added that according to “other sources“, the two thieves were named “Fielding and Johnson” and following “an unsuccessful attempt at breaking out of the jail” they “were executed” (see Glimpses of “Skippack” Mennonite Life [1745-1760]).
“On [Friday] evening after eight o’clock Jacob Souder and Martin Funk, residents of the Perkasie area, were riding on horseback with a servant between Germantown and Philadelphia in the vicinity of Nageli’s plantation, with the intention of carrying what they had to market. A couple of Irishmen came to them and rode along with them for awhile, and had two pistols with them. They put the pistols to Martin Funk and Jacob Souder’s breast and said they should give up their money, and at the same time grabbed at their wallets. The men were terrified, and gave up what they had. Then they released them. Also, Mr. Green came along with a chaise toward Philadelphia [and they robbed him too]. However, when the highway-robbers went by Mr. Green’s house in Philadelphia the boy who had been in the chaise recognized them, and so an alarm was raised on the street, that the thieves should be caught. They were seized, and brought to Justice Mr. Allen. Martin Funk and his servant with Jacob Souder were also brought there, where the robbers already were, and were required to testify that these were the actual people. What they had taken was all found with them. One of their pistols was loaded with twenty-five pellets, and the other had even more. They were put into jail prior to the [meeting of] the Supreme Court.”
Located between Virginia and Pennsylvania, Frederick County (Maryland) was created (June 10, 1748) from Price George’s County and originally included all the western most sections of Maryland until 1776 (September 6) when the western section of Franklin County was separated along the South Mountain range to form Washington County (Maryland) and the southeastern section was set off to form Montgomery County (Maryland). Due to the border dispute, the area along the northern border of Frederick County (including Conowago, Codorus, & Pipe Creeks) continued to be claimed by both Maryland and Pennsylvania (including Adams & York Counties) until the British Crown intervention resulted in the 1760 agreement in 1760 along with a survey completed in 1767 by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon establishing the present border (Mason-Dixon Line).
Cropped from a 1795 map of Maryland, the Little Conawago Creek (highlighted in yellow) is located near Hanover (Pennsylvania) and just north of Fredrick County, Maryland (1796 Vallance Map, Library of Congress).
Prior to 1732, there were few if any colonist that had settled “in the vicinity of the Manocacy” river due to the risk of raids from native Indians that transversed along the “Indian Road” (aka “Warrior’s War Path”) that passed through the region. With the 7,000 acre grant of “Tasker’s Chance” in 1745, by “1750 a large number of Germans and their descendants had found their way into Maryland via settlements in York and Lancaster counties” to settle along the waters of the Manocacy River in the newly created Frederick County, Maryland. In 1756 Hans Daniel Leatherman (1718-1797) moved from York County (Pennsylvania) where he had led “The Little Conewago” Brethren church down past the settlement of Fredrick and crossed over the Catoctin Mountain range through Nolands Gap into Middleton Valley where in 1760 he organized the first Brethren congregation (Middletown Valley) with 15 members. Unfortunately, “the early records of the church were not carefully preserved“.[57] Although surveyed in 1743, the 100 acres on a branch of Catoctin Creek (near present-day Ellerton & the Grossnickle Church of the Brethren) that had been assigned to Daniel Leatherman would not be recorded until May 21, 1762.
By 1752, members of “the Brethren” from “The Little Conewago church” in Hanover Township (York County, Pennsylvania) had moved past Middletown Valley crossing over the South Mountain range through Turner’s Gap to settle in the Antietam Creek Valley while others followed the “Indian Road/Warrior’s Path” (became known as the the “Great Wagon Road”) west over 100 miles past Conestoga Creek to settle on the along the waters of Conococheague Creek. In 1752 “the Brethren” organized the Conococheague District (aka Antietam District) with members living along the waters of Conococheague Creek and Antietam Creek near present-day Hagerstown, Maryland. Born Johann Wilhelm Stober (Stuber) in the village of Staffort in the Karlsruhe District of Baden-Wuerttemberg (Germany), Elder William Stover (1726-1800) was the first resident Elder of this congregation and “Brother Jacob Miller was elected to the to the Ministry” prior to moving to Virginia in 1765.[58] In Virginia, Elder Jacob Miller was the first Brethren minister in Franklin County (Virginia) where he ministered in “the German language” and was joined by William Smith who ministered in english.[59] Believed to have been born about 1735 in Pennsylvania, Elder Jacob Miller has reported to have been married to Barbara Lybrook and appears not to have moved to Franklin County (Virginia) until around 1773 when he is reported to have purchased land near Adney’s gap which he sold in 1802. Elder Jacob Miller moved on to Kentucky/Indiana and then Montgomery County (Ohio) where he died in 1815.
- Although originally believed to have been a son of Johann Michael Mueller (Michael Miller) and his wife Suzanna Agnes Berchtol, Y-DNA test results indicate Jacob Miller was not the son of Michael Miller.[60]
- Early Brethern members of “The Little Conewago church” that relocated to Conococheague settlement included Stephen Ulrich Jr. (1715-1785), John Ulrich (1721-1804), and Elizabeth Ulrich (1724-1815) who later married Jacob Gripe; Johann Jacob Stutzman (1706-1775); Hans Johann Michael Mueller (Miller); and Johannes Nicholas Martin (1721-1795) (see Dunker Conococheague Settlement).
- The father of Jacob Sowder’s second wife, Jacob Pryliman/Priliman was listed as owning land near by in Conococheague Manor (115 acres dated June 13, 1763 & 100 acres dated March 5, 1763).
Following the defeat of General Braddock (July 9, 1755), “the war upon the defenseless settlers of this County was so ferocious that for a time scarcely a white person was left west of South Mountain” as “all had fled to the older settlements for safety and were pursued by parties of Indians within thirty miles of Baltimore“.[61] In 1756, a letter from Isaac Baker from the Conococheague (Maryland) settlement was published in the Maryland Gazette (transcribed below).
“My last was of the 26th instant. On our march to Toonaloways, about five miles this side Stoddert’s Fort, we found John Meyers’ house in flames, and nine or ten head of large cattle killed. About three miles and a half farther up the road we found a man (one Hynes) killed and scalped, with one arm cut off and several arrows sticking in him; we could not bury him, having no tools with us for that purpose. Half a mile farther (within a mile of Stoddert’s Fort) we found Ralph Watson’s house burnt down, and several hogs and sheep killed. When we came to Stoddert’s Fort we found them all under arms, expecting every minute to be attacked. From thence we went to Combe’s Fort, where we found a young man about twenty-two years of age killed and scalped; there were only four men in this fort, two of which were unable to bear arms, but upwards of forty women and children, who were in a very poor situation, being afraid to go out of the fort, even for a drink of water. The house caught fire during the time the Indians were surrounding the fort, and would have been burnt down, but luckily there was some soapsuds in the house, by which they were extinguished. The young man mentioned above was one Lynn’s son, and was sitting on the fence of the stockyard with Combe’s son, when they discovered the Indians, upon which they ran to get into the fort, and before they reached it Lynn’s son was shot down, and an Indian pursued the other man with a tomahawk within thirty yards of the fort, but he luckily got into the fort and shot the Indian. We searched the woods to see if we could see where the Indian was buried (as they supposed him to be mortally wounded). We found in two places great quantity of blood, but could not find the body. We saw several creatures shot, some dead, and others going around with arrows sticking in them. About half a mile on this side Mr. Kenney’s (in Little Toonaloways) we found a load of oats and a load of turnips in the road, which two boys were bringing to Combe’s, and it is imagined the boys are carried off by the Indians. When we came to Mr. Kenney’s we saw several sheep and cattle killed. From thence we went to one Lowther’s, about two miles farther, where we found his grain and two calves burnt, two cows and nine or ten hogs killed, and about fifty yards from the house found Lowther dead and scalped, and otherwise terribly mangled ; his brains were beat out, as it is supposed, with his own gun barrel, which we found sticking in his skull, and his gun broken; there was an axe, two scythes, and several arrows sticking in him. From here we returned to Combe’s and buried the young man, and left ten of our men here to assist them to secure their grain, which soon as they have done they purpose to leave that fort and go to Stoddert’s, from hence we went to Stoddert’s Fort, where we laid on Friday night and yesterday. On our way down here we buried the man we left on the road.“
Clipped from page 3 of the Maryland Gazette published on March 11, 1756.
Placed in command of all the Virginia forces defending the Virginia western frontier in 1755, in 1756 the 23 year-old Colonel George Washington established his base in Winchester (Virginia), about 38 miles south of Williams Ferry where the great Wagon road crossed the Potomac River from Maryland into Virginia. On August 29, 1756, Colonel George Washington was in Winchester (Virginia) when he wrote in a letter to Lord Fairfax that “…the whole Settlement of Conogochieg (Conococheague) in maryland, is fled; and there now remain only two families from thence to Frederick-Town” adding “the maryland Settlements are all abandoned, is certainly fact; as I have had the accounts transmitted to me by several hands, and confirmed yesterday by Henry Brinker; who left Monocasy the day before; and also affirms, that 350 waggons had passed that place, to avoid the enemy, within the space of three days“.[62]
On March 16, 1763, John Rohrer (1696-1771) of Lampeter Township (Lancaster County, Pennsylvania) purchased 320 acres known as “Piney Hills Enlarged” lying on the “East side of the Elk Ridge Mountain and in the Draught of Waters of the Little Antiatum” (Little Antietam Creek) from from John Swearingen for “450 Pounds Current Money of Pennsylvania“. The 320 acres bordered (to the north) 228 acres comprising three tracts of land (John & William, Frywell, & Manadan) purchased by Samuel Rohrer from William Bowers in on September 25, 1752. Although separated by the South Mountain ridge, the land was located about 15 miles southwest of Daniel Leatherman’s settlement in the Middleton Valley and is now part of the unincorporated rural community of Rohrersville (Washington County, Maryland) which is less than 7 miles west of the Potomac River (border with West Virginia). Martin Rohrer (1761-?), son of John Rohrer (1696-1771) and Maria Souder (Jacob Sowder’s daughter), inherited “Piney Hills Enlarged” following the death of his father.[63]
- The relationship between John Rohrer (1696-1771) and Samuel Rohrer (1728-1788) is unknown. Samuel Rohrer (1728-1788), Frederick Rohrer (1700-1762), Michael Funck (Samuel Rohrer’s brother-in-law?), Jerg Adam Eppler (relative of Henry Epperly), Jacob Seytter (Sowder?) were listed among the 201 Palatinate passengers (134 men & 67 women) that arrived in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) on the ship “Restauration” on October 9, 1747.[64]
According to the abstracts from the Debt Book of Provincial Land Office of Maryland, the only surnames resembling Sowder listed in 1768-69 were Felix Sawder on 100 acres known as “Crocus Chance” and Frederick Sower on 31 acres known as “Sweat“.[65] Both Felix Sawder and Frederick Sower appear to have been part of the Swiss-German communities that were established in the Maryland western frontier.
On February 12, 1762, the patent for Frederick Sower (assignee of John Langley) of 31 acres known as “Sweet” located “on a small branch a Draught of Great Pipe Creek” in Frederick County (Maryland) was recorded and the survey was made on February 12, 1764.[66] On June 11, 1765, Frederick Sauer was married to Juliana Elisabetha Morgenstern in St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in neighboring York County, Pennsylvania. On April 4, 1789, the will of Phillip Morningstar (Johann Philipp Morgenstern) of Manheim Township in York County (Pennsylvania) was proven listing his children as “George, Henry, Catharine wife of Peter Shultz, Juliana wife of Frederick Sower, Ann wife of Nicholas Hull, Elizabeth wife of John Felty, Salome wife of Philip Morningstar, John, and Adam“.[67] According to the first Federal Census in 1790, the heads of households in Frederick County (Maryland) included Frederick Sowers, Jacob Sowers, Sophia Sowers, William Sowers, Balser (Barber) Sawers, and George Sower. The last record was the 1800 Census, where the 45+ year-old Frederick Sowers was living in Liberty Township of Frederick County (Maryland) with his 45+ year-old wife 16-25 year-old son, and 10-15 year-old daughter.
- According to family research, Phillip Morningstar (Johann Philipp Morgenstern) was baptized in a German Lutheran church in Schleswig-Holstein (Germany); emigrated to Baltimore (Maryland) in 1738 with his father John Morningstar and two sisters (Elizabeth & Joanna); and married Maria Eve Kuntz in the German Lutheran Church in Conewago (Pennsylvania) on June 18, 1739.
Interestingly, George Jacob Sowers (1750-1834) and Catherine Sowers (1760-1840) were married to siblings Anna Elizabeth Epperly (1764-?) and Jacob Epperly (1762-1849) that reportedly moved from Frederick County (Maryland) with the families of two brothers (Christian Epperly [1762-?] & George Epperly [1760-?]) to Montgomery County (present-day Floyd County, Virginia) sometime between 1792-1795. The Epperly brothers and their sister’s father was Hans Jacob Eberle (1735-1811) who was a member of the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church (Woodsboro, Maryland) and lived in West Cocalico Township of Lancaster County (Pennsylvania) where he married his wife Elizabeth (Wade?) after he arrived in Philadelphia from Rotterdam on the ship “St. Andrew” with his brother Johann Geörg Eberle on September 23, 1752.[68] Not only did Heinrich Eberle (Epperly) arrived in 1727 on the ship “James Goodwill” along with several key members of the Brethren (Michael Danner & Daniel Leterman), he appears to have lived near the Ephrata community on Cocalico Creek (Lancaster County, Pennsylvania) prior to Jacob Epperly’s family moving down by Israel Creek in Frederick County (Maryland) near Michael Danner’s son Jacob Danner.
According to a Daughters of the Revolution Application (DAR #A107454), George Sowers Sr (1755-1836) was reported served in the Pennsylvania Continental Line with his brother Jacob Sowers and Jacob Epperley; George Sowers served as a private in Captain Andrew Foreman’s York County (Pennsylvania) militia from October 10, 1781 to December 10, 1781; George Sowers and Jacob Epperley served in the same company in York County (Pennsylvania); and Jacob Epperley’s daughter married Jacob Sowers “and came to Virginia with George Sowers“. Although some appear to use a deed (dated February 22, 1836) to documented the death of George Sowers Sr (see below), his headstone in Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery in Floyd County (Virginia) is dated March 8, 1824 (findagrave.com). Yet, other researchers assert this George Sowers married Elizabeth Spangler (daughter of Jacob & Christina Spangler); and list his parents as Henrich “Henry” Sowers and Mary Magdalene Kraunk/Cronk (see Spangler-Sowers Connections).
Copy posted in blog (Eva’s Story-A Story of Sacrifice and Love).
However, Catherine Sowers (1760-1840) was the daughter of John Sowers (1740-1785) who died in Frederick County (Maryland) in early 1785. According to abstracts from the Chancery Court of Frederick County (Maryland), the will of John Sowers was (dated December 31, 1784) was witnessed by Frederick Lower (Sower), Michael Ovelman (?), and Nicholas Copble; and was proven on February 19, 1785. His estate included 149 acres known as “Come by Chance” and the “estate went through Chancery Court because the will didn’t elect anyone to handle the sale of the property which was to take place upon his youngest son reaching the age of 15“. The court records named his widow Sophia (now wife of ? Neiman), his son John (of York County, Pennsylvania), his daughter Catherine Sower (now wife of Jacob Epperly of Montgomery County, Virginia), Jacob Sower, Margaret Sower (now wife of Philip Coppel of Rowan County, North Carolina), Juliana Sower, and Philip Sower.[69]
Copy of the will of Johannes Sauer (John Sower) provided by researcher on ancestry.com.
- According to a descendant, Johannes (John) Adam Sowers was the son of Johannes Adam Sauer (Sowers) Sr (1704-1782) and Maria Catharina Barbara Schaefer (1700-1762) and was born in Germany (Sauernheim, Landkreis Ansbach, Bavaria [Bayern]) on September 23, 1741. He arrived in Philadelphia in 1754 with his parents and married Sophia Mutchier (1748-1825) in Baltimore County (Maryland) in 1761. His parents and his brother, Reverend Johann Jacob Sowers Sr (1738-1829), are buried in Adams County, Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Adam Friedrich Sauer (1663-1692) was born and died in Germany (Eberbach, Hohenlohekreis, Baden-Wuerttemberg).
While reviewing matches autosomal DNA matches on ancestry.com for a 5th great-granddaughter of Jacob Sowder (1734-1819), a distant match (10 cM across one segment after 7 generations) was revealed with a descendant of Catherine Sowers (1760-1840) and her husband Jacob Epperly (1762-1849) through their son Daniel Epperly (1808-1880) and his wife Elizabeth Lawrence (1809-1874). In addition, there was another distant match (11 cM across one segment after 6 generations) revealed with a descendant of John Jacob Sowers Sr (1811-1888) and his wife Margaret Blume (1812-1896) through their son David W. Sowers (1836-1897) and his wife Sarah Martha Stevens (1843-1908).
- Although some researchers have listed both George Jacob Sowers (1750-1834) and Catherine Sowers (1760-1840) as descendants of Christopher Sower II (1721-1784), the dates do not appear to match other documentation.
Following the end of the French and Indian War, Pontiac’s War (also known as Pontiac’s Conspiracy or Pontiac’s Rebellion) was launched when Indians in May 1763 that would destroy eight forts in the frontier. The Maryland Gazette, written at Frederick on July 19, 1763 said, “The melancholy scene of poor distressed families driving downwards through this town with their effects…enemies…now daily seen in the woods….panic of the back inhabitants, whose terrors at this time exceed what followed on the defeat of General Braddock” (see below). Indian raids escalated In the spring/summer of 1764, Indian raids killed more than 100 settlers in Virginia resulting in the Pennsylvania issuing a bounty of 130-134 “Spanish dollars” for the scalp of any Indian (male or female) that was at least 10 years older.[70] Expeditions by British and colonial forces crushed the Indians later that year forcing an end of Pontiac’s War by early 1765.
Clipped from page 2 of the Maryland Gazette published on July 28, 1763.
On September 1/11, 1765, Felix Souder of Frederick County was one of 14 Germans that were naturalized in Maryland (witness by Conrad Grosh & Carl Schell).[71] Researchers have traced this Felix Souder/Sawder to the Felix Sautter that was listed (no other similar surnames listed) as one of the German passengers on the ship “Edinburg” which arrived in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) from Rotterdam on September 5, 1748.[72] This may be Felix Sauter (1722-1816) who reportedly married Susanna Sturm/Storm. Born on April 21 , 1726 (Schifferstadt, Pfalz, Bavaria), Susanna Sturm was the daughter of Johann Jacob Strum who was an elder in the (Reformed Church at Monocacy) and married to Anna Sauer. Jacob Storm reportedly removed to Maryland between 1742-1743 from Lancaster (Pennsylvania) after emigrating from Germany in 1728 on the ship “Mortonhouse“.
The patent for “Cronces Chance” was originally recorded for “Hans Jerig Cronny a German Protestant” of 100 acres on the “East Side of (Bens?) Branch Run into Monococy” (Monocacy River) in Frederick County (Maryland) on August 8, 1753.[73] Researchers have identified Hans Jerig Cronny as Johannes George Kroneisz (Cronise/Kroneiss) who was naturalized along with nine other men at the German Reformed Congregation in the Catoctin Mountains on April 6, 1760. According to their research, “George Crownisen of Frederick County” conveyed the 100 acres “called Cronices Chance” located “on the East side Bens Branch running into Monocacy” to Adam Eckert (farmer of Frederick County) on August 8, 1761.[74] Additional research is needed to see when the land was conveyed to Felix Sawder. However, records of the German Reformed Church of Frederick County (Maryland) are reported to show that Adam Echert married Eva Reisz (Rice) on August 16, 1757 (need to verify). Interestingly, this Hann Adam Eckard is suspected to have moved to present-day Catawba County (North Carolina) from Pennsylvania about the year 1770 which is about the same timeframe Jacob Sowder (1734-1819) is suspected to have moved from Frederick County to Montgomery County, Virginia.
In December of 1768, John Koontz (Koones) was baptized into the english Baptist church in Fraquier County (Virginia) and after returning to his home (near present-day Front Royal) in Frederick County began preaching to his neighbors. Although he had not yet been ordained, in November 1770 John Koontz (Koones) traveled about 30 miles down to visit his brother George Koontz (near present-day Luray, Shenandoah County) where he shared the gospel in german and english to the mostly German Mennonites (including Martin Kauffman). Although he would be “sorely beaten on several occasions“, Reverend John Koontz and Martin Kauffman established the Baptist congregation of White House Church (also known as Mill Creek Church) along with the neighboring congregation on Smith’s Creek. When the Revolution War started, Reverend John Koontz along with most of the congregation supported the American cause with many joining the army which “gave great offense to Martin Kaufman” due to his pacifist views which led to al small number (10 or 12) to leave and form their own congregation led by Reverend Martin Kaufman that would “swell to 60 to 70” members.[75]
About 1769, Bishop Henry Funck’s daughter Barbara Funk (born November 25, 1752) married Jacob Souder (cousin to Jacob Sowder [1734-1819]?) and lived on a farm in Franconia Township (near present-day Telford, Pennsylvania) that was later “owned and occupied by John Souder, a grandson“. Jacob and Barbara Souder “lived on the old homestead in Franconia Township” were they raised eight children: Christian Souder (1770-1854) who married Catherine Nice; Susanna Souder; John Souder who married ? Clemmer; Anna Souder who married Andrew Swartz; Barbara Souder who married John Huttle; Maria Souder who married Christian Yeakel; Elizabeth Souder who married Isaac Bergey; and Chatherine Souder who married Isaac Swartz.[76]
On March 24, 1772, territory west of the Blue Ridge Mountains (including the Massanutten Settlement) that had been part of Augusta County (1738-1753) and Fredrick County (1738-1772) was organized into Dunmore County (renamed Shenandoah County in 1778). From 1775-1778, Brethren Elder John Garber and his sons (six were or would be ministers) led a group of colonist as they removed from Fredrick County (Maryland) to settle on the water of Holmans Creek (near present-day Florestville) in Shenandoah County (Virginia) to escape the persecution for his refusal to support the fight against the British due to his pacifist views. Married to Johann Michael Miller’s daughter Barbara Miller (1733-1808), John Garber Sr had lived in Cordorus Township (York County, Pennsylvania) from 1751-1761 when he moved to Bedford County (Pennsylvania) where he was a leader of “the Brethren” Brothers Valley congregation prior to moving to Fredrick County (Maryland) in 1767 where “he was ordained an elder at Beaver Dam German Baptist Church where he served as an assistant to Elder Jacob Danner“. Land owned by Jacob Danner and John H. Garber on Israel Creek (near present-day Woodsboro, Maryland) were later confiscated by Captain Wood of the Patriots in 1781.[77]
- Born about 1728-1732, Johannes H. Garber (John H. Garber Sr) was the son of Niclaus Gerber (1698-1748) and the brother of Martin Gaber Sr (1737-1804). Illustrating the close family ties, the widow of Niclaus Gerber (1698-1748) married Johann Michael Miller. Interestingly, Martin Gaber Sr (1737-1804) was a Brethren elder in Fredrick County (Maryland) where his son Christian Garber (1776-1850) married Mary Morningstar[78] (daughter of Johannes Adam Morgenstern & granddaughter of Johann Philipp Morgenstern). As previously noted, Johann Philipp Morgenstern’s daughter Juliana was the wife of Frederick Sower.
On March 6, 1778, Jacob Souder (Sowder) was on of 13 (mostly illiterate) men drafted as a private in Captain John Stith’s Company of Foot (Infantry) of the 4th Virginia Regiment under the command of Major Isaac Beall in the Continental Army. The other 12 men listed were Thomas Ayers (Ayris), James Grove, David Cockrum, Henry Duckwell, John Drane (Drain), John Freshous (John Freshour/Freshower), George Johnson, Adam Sureman (Adam Shoeman/Shuman), Henry Deiling, Henry Barns, Robert Cowen, and James Perkull (Pearthalls); with all of them listed in Captain Burnley’s detachment marched to Headquarters (likely following smallpox inoculation – see Our Ancestors in Washington’s Battle with Smallpox [revised])[79] With enlistments due to expire, the Virginia General Assembly instituted a draught/draft (An Act for speedily recruiting the Virginia Regiments…) to be held in February 1778 “from the single men of the militias of the several counties” that were “above the age of eighteen years of age” and “who have no child…shall be entitled a bounty of fifteen dollars” to “be compelled to serve one year, or find an able bodied man to serve” for him (as a substitute).[80] As a result, as a married man with several children Jacob Sowder (1734-1819) would not have been subjected to the draft and would have had to have served as a substitute suggesting it was more likely his son (Jacob Sowder Jr) that had been drafted.
- Jacob Sowder (1734-1819) did not re-enlist and was detailed as an orderly in the hospital at Valley Forge for 2-3 months indicating he was not suited for military action due to health or possibly his faith.
A review of the available Revolutionary War Pension records indicated the drafted men had been residing in Berkley County (Virginia) across the Potomac River from the settlements on Conococheague Creek and Antietam Creek in Maryland.[81] Prior to being drafted with Jacob Sowder (1734-1819), Adam Shoeman/Shuman (1750-1832) had lived in Pennsylvania where had enlisted (Flying Camps?) as a private in Reading (Berks County) during the spring of 1776 (served under John Smith, Jacob Felton, & Captain Walker in Colonel Richard Butler’s Regiment).[82] Men drafted from “for 18 months in the county of Shenandoah in Capt. John Steed’s company of Regulars” (including Henry Aleshite) “joined the 8th Regiment commanded by Col Abraham Bowman” and then were consolidated into Captain John Stith’s Company of the 4th Virginia.[83] Although Jacob Sowder was not listed, a 1784 petition of men (likely land owners) in Berkeley County on “a petition protesting against the division of the county” included the names Jacob Coons (brother of John & George Koontz?), William Souden (Sowder ?), Thomas Louden (Sowder ?), and Adam Louden (Sowder ?).[84]
Copy of signatures for a petition by inhabitants of Berkeley County (Virginia) that were against division of the county dated in November of 1784 (Library of Virginia, Digital Collection for Berkeley County).
- On February 10, 1772, Berkeley County was created from the northern section of Frederick County (Virginia) from which the southern section would be split-off to form Jefferson County in 1801 and the northern section would become Morgan County in 1820 (all three counties are now part of West Virginia).
- On July 28, 1795, the will for William Louden was probated in Berkeley County (Virginia) naming his wife Elizabeth Louden, four sons (William, Thomas, John, & Samuel), and daughter Sarah Clark. However, the handwritten transcription of the will indicates William Louden was illiterate and that his two youngest sons (Samuel & William) had not reached the age of twenty-one.[85]
[1] First settlements of Germans in Maryland by Edward Thomas Shultz, Page 8.
[2] The Descendants of Christian Sr. & Polly Souders of Washington County, Indiana by Jim R. Souder, Page 4 (need copy of Death Certificate).
“The fact that Jacob (Sowder) resided in Fredrick County (Maryland) was established by his son Michael Sowder’s death certificate, which is filed in Montgomery County Courthouse at Christianburg, Virginia. According to the death certificate, Michael Sowder died on Elliott’s Creek on the 19 June 1868 at the age of one hundred years. Place of birth is given as Fredrick County, Maryland, and the name of his parents as Jacob & Elizabeth Sowder. The informants were Michael’s grandson, Joseph Sowder, and his wife Elizabeth.“
[3] Virginia Compiled Marriages (1660-1800); Virginia Select Marriages (1785-1940).
[4] The early trails of the Baptists: A History of the Strawberry Baptist Association (1776-1976) by Kenneth E. Crouch, Page 12; Strawberry Baptist Association Minutes (1787-1822), Page 3, 5, 47 (Library of Virginia in Richmond – per Greg Meland).
[5] “The Early History of the Church of the United Brethren, (Unitas Fratrum) Commonly Called Moravians, in North America, A.D. 1734-1748” by Levin Theodore Reichel (Transactions of the Moravian Historical Society; Volume 3 (1888), Pages 37-39).
[6] Journal of My Journey Over the Mountains by George Washington, Page 45.
[7] “German Settlement of Pennsylvania, An Overview” by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
[8] “Franklin and the Pennsylvania Germans” by John B. Frantz (Pennsylvania History: A Journal of Mid-Atlantic Studies, Volume 65, No. 1, Pages 21-34).
[9] The Official Records of Robert Dinwiddie (Volume 1), Page 406.
[10] The German Baptist Brethren or Dunkers by George N. Falkenstein, Pages 15-23.
[11] The Old German Baptist Brethren by Charles D. Thompson Jr, Page 8; A History of the German Baptist Brethren in Europe and America by Martin Grove Brumbaugh, Page 45; The German Batist Brethren or Dunkers by George N. Falkenstein, Page 63.
[12] The Descendants of Christian Sr. & Polly Souders of Washington County, Indiana by Jim R. Souder, Page 2.
[13] A History of the German Baptist Brethren in Europe and America by Martin Grove Braumbaugh PHD, Pages 161.
[14] John Rohrer of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania by Albert Lawrence Rohrer, Pages 5-6.
[15] Souder,Souders,Sauder,Suter,Sautter,Sowder,Sodders – Y-DNA Colorized Chart (FamilyTreeDNA).
[16] The Souder Family by Mary Fern Souder.
Note: Mary Fern Souder reported the descendants of Jacob Sautter (Souder) and his second wife Ann Goff to be “the great grandson of Charles C.’s son, Frank Jason Souders, born 1882” (Kit #19561) and the other as “the great great grandson of Charles C.’s son, Harley Hogan Souders, born 1879” (Kit #111745); with their common male ancestor reported to be Charles C. Souders (son of Joseph Souders [1818-1872] & Angeline Close) who was married to Amanda Hogan. However, other researchers have been unable to identify the father of Joseph Souders (1818-1872) while documenting his 67 year-old son Charles C. Souders died in 1918 and is buried in Mount Washington Cemetery (Jackson County, Missouri) along with his wife Amanda Clara Souders who died in 1935.[a] Consequently, additional research in needed to confirm the lineage to these two participants along with the two additional participants that have been included in “Group 2” of this surname project.
[a] Marriage Certificate of Charles Souders and Amanda Hogan dated October 7, 1874 (Bates County [Missouri] Certificates of Marriage [1860-1886], Page 130); Charles C. Souders Memorial (Findagrave.com).
[17] The Souder Family by Mary Fern Souder.
“Participant 111628 descends from John Souders, born ca. 1740, birthplace unknown. The first record for John was when he was enumerated on the 1790 Bedford County, PA, census, and was a neighbor of Jacob Souder(s).” John Sounders “made his will in March of 1817 in Bedford County, and left everything to his son, Henry Souders. In April of 1817 he wrote a codicil to his will and instructed son Henry to pay daughters, Elizabeth Hull and Margaret Myers, ten dollars each”.
“Participant 121267 descends through Casper Sauder, Jr. (1765-1816) and his wife Catherine Newswenger (1779-1821) > John Sauder (1802-1865) and his wife Mary Martin (1797-1850) > Martin M. Sauder (1831-1888) and his wife Barbara Burkhart (1833-1904) > Amos B. Sauder (1875-1954) and his wife Anna N. Hoover (1876-1916)”; and his siblings were “John Sauder (1752-1814), Barbara Sauder (1753-after 1803; married Benjamin Gehman), Henrich Sauder (1755-1826), Jacob Sauder (1757-1820), Eva Sauder (1761 -??), Anna Sauder (1762-??), and Fronica Sauder (1764-1822; married Abraham Martin)”.
[18] Souder,Souders,Sauder,Suter,Sautter,Sowder,Sodders – Y-DNA Colorized Chart (FamilyTreeDNA).
[19] Pennsylvania German Pioneers (a publication of the original lists of arrivals in the port of Philadelphia from 1727 to 1808) compiled by Ralph Beaver Strassburger, Pages 154-161.
[20] The German Baptist Brethren or Dunkers by George N. Falkenstein, Pages 42-57.
[21] “A Palatine Boor, A Short Comprehensive History of the Life of Christopher Sauer I” by Herbert Harley, Pages 286-291 (Bulletin of the Historical Society of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Volume XVI, No. 4, Spring 1969); A History of the German Baptist Brethren in Europe and America by Martin Grove Braumbaugh PHD, Pages 165; History of the Church of the Brethren of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Page 101;
[22] “Additional Memorandum for the History of Printing” by Isaiah Thomas, Pages 144-145 (American Antiquarian Society).
[23] Pennsylvania German Pioneers (Volume 1, Colonia Period 1727-1775) by Ralph Beaver Strassburger, Pages 3-4.
[24] History of the Church of the Brethren in Maryland by J. Maurice Henry, Pages 34-39 & 57-66; Pennsylvania German Pioneers (a publication of the original lists of arrivals in the port of Philadelphia from 1727 to 1808) compiled by Ralph Beaver Strassburger, Pages 10-12; History of Frederick County, Maryland (Volume 1) by Thomas John Chew Williams & Folger McKinsey, Page 460.
[25] “Distributing Aid to Believers in Need: The Religious Foundations of Transatlantic Migration” (Pennsylvania History) by Rosalind J. Beiler, Page 82 (citing Palatines, Liberty, and Property:
German Lutherans in Colonial British America by A. G. Roeber, Pages 95-132).
[26] Pennsylvania German Pioneers (a publication of the original lists of arrivals in the port of Philadelphia from 1727 to 1808) compiled by Ralph Beaver Strassburger, Pages 12-12; The German Batist Brethren or Dunkers by George N. Falkenstein, Pages 85-88.
[27] Pennsylvania German Pioneers (a publication of the original lists of arrivals in the port of Philadelphia from 1727 to 1808) compiled by Ralph Beaver Strassburger, Pages 14-15.
[28] “Johann Michael Miller (Mueller) the Second (1692-1771), Brethren Immigrant, 52 Ancestors #104” posted by Roberta Estes on December 27, 2015 (DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy).
[29] Doctor Henry Skilton and his Descendants edited by John Davis Skilton, Page 171-177.
[30] History of Lower Salford Township by James Y. Heckler, Page 216.
[31] The Statutes at Large of Pennsylvania Volume IV (1724-1744), Pages 210-212.
[32] “Cresap’s War: Expansion and Conflict in the Susquehanna Valley” by Paul Doutrich (Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission), Pages 89-104.
[33] History of the Church of the Brethren in Maryland by J. Maurice Henry, Pages 34-39;
[34] “Cresap’s War: Expansion and Conflict in the Susquehanna Valley” by Paul Doutrich (Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission), Pages 89-104.
[35] History of the Church of the Brethren in Maryland by J. Maurice Henry, Pages 34-39; The Pennsylvania-German in the settlement of Maryland by Daniel Wunderlich Nead, Pages 133-139.
[36] The Pennsylvania-German in the settlement of Maryland by Daniel Wunderlich Nead, Pages 133-139.
[37] The Pennsylvania-German in the settlement of Maryland by Daniel Wunderlich Nead, Pages 133-139; “Cresap’s War: Expansion and Conflict in the Susquehanna Valley” by Paul Doutrich (Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission), Pages 89-104.
[38] Massanutten Settled by the Pennsylvania Pilgrim by Harry M. Strickler, Pages 27-30.
[39] “Documents Relating to a Proposed Swiss and German Colony in Western Part of Virginia” edited by Charles E. Kemper, Page 183 (The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Volume XXIX).
[40] Massanutten Settled by the Pennsylvania Pilgrim by Harry M. Strickler, Pages 122-124.
[41] Massanutten Settled by the Pennsylvania Pilgrim by Harry M. Strickler, Pages 126-130.
[42] Virginia Survey for Henry Souther dated August 12, 1748; Culpeper County (Virginia) Land Grant for Henry Souther dated August 7, 1750; Culpeper County (Virginia) Mixed Records Volume C (1781-1791), Pages 63-64.
[43] The Descendants of Christian Sr. & Polly Souders of Washington County, Indiana by Jim R. Souder, Pages 2 & 7-9.
[44] Pennsylvania German Pioneers (a publication of the original lists of arrivals in the port of Philadelphia from 1727 to 1808) compiled by Ralph Beaver Strassburger, Pages 531-533.
[45] Revolutionary War Pension Application of Frederick Sowers #W6114; Revolutionary War Pension Application of William Brinkley #R1215.
[46] History of the Church of the Brethren in Maryland by J. Maurice Henry, Pages 34-39; “The Brethren Migration Roads” by Merle C. Rummel.
[47] History of the Church of the Brethren in Maryland by J. Maurice Henry, Page 40.
[48] From the Rhineland to the Promised Land of the Shenandoah by W. Harvey Wise IV, Pages 68 & 140.
[49] The German Baptist Brethren or Dunkers by George N. Falkenstein, Pages 85-88.
[50] Holsinger’s history of the Tunkers and the Brethren Church by Henry R. Holsinger, Pages 176-177; A History of the German Baptist Brethren in Europe and America by Martin Grove Brumbaugh, Pages 326-327.
[51] A History of the Church of the Brethren in southern district of Pennsylvania by John Linwood Eisenberg, Pages 190-191.
[52] A brief history of Bishop Henry Funck and other Funk pioneers by Abraham James Fretz (1849-1912), Pages 747-749; Pennsylvania (Lancaster County) Land Warrant No. 12 for Martin Funk dated July 10, 1741; An Authentic History of Lancaster County in the State of Pennsylvania by Jacob Isidor Mombert, Pages 413-416; Lancaster County (Pennsylvania) Mennonite Vital Records (1750-2014) for Henry Funk; Lancaster County (Pennsylvania) Mennonite Vital Records (1750-2014) for Martin Funk; Lancaster County (Pennsylvania) Will Book E-F (1784-1796), Page 207.
[53] A brief history of Bishop Henry Funck and other Funk pioneers by Abraham James Fretz (1849-1912), Pages 11-20 & 782-787.
[54] A brief history of Bishop Henry Funck and other Funk pioneers by Abraham James Fretz (1849-1912), Pages 747-749; The Mennonites of America by C. Henry Smith, Pages 200-201.
[55] Holsinger’s history of the Tunkers and the Brethren Church by Henry R. Holsinger, Pages 150-151; A History of the German Baptist Brethren in Europe and America by Martin Grove Brumbaugh, Pages 327-328.
[56] Death Record for Sarah Poff dated September 1854 (Floyd County [Virginia] Deaths Index [1853-1882).
[57] History of Frederick County, Maryland (Volume 1) by Thomas John Chew Williams & Folger McKinsey, Page 460.
[58] A History of the Church of the Brethren in southern district of Pennsylvania by John Linwood Eisenberg, Page 7.
[59] The History of the Brethren in Virginia by Daniel H. Zigler, Pages 166-167.
[60] “Johann Michael Miller (Mueller) the Second (1692-1771), Brethren Immigrant, 52 Ancestors #104” posted by Roberta Estes on December 27, 2015 (DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy).
[61] A history of Washington County (Maryland) by Thomas John Chew Williams, Page 40.
[62] Letter from George Washington to Lord Thomas Fairfax dated August 29, 1756; The Pennsylvania German in the Settlement of Maryland by Daniel Wunderlich Mead MD, Page 154.
[63] John Rohrer of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania by Albert Lawrence Rohrer, Page 8; Research of Michael W. Rohrer “Landholdings of Samuel Rohrer and His Son John in Washington County, Maryland 1758-1835“; Frederick County (Maryland) Deed (Book/Liber H, Page 314).
[64] Pennsylvania German Pioneers (a publication of the original lists of arrivals in the port of Philadelphia from 1727 to 1808) compiled by Ralph Beaver Strassburger, Pages 364-366.
[65] Debt Book of Provincial Land Office of Maryland for Frederick County, Volume IV (1768-1769), by V. L. Skinner Jr, Pages 128-129.
[66] Maryland Land Patent Certificate #4687 (MSA S1197-5110).
[67] York County (Pennsylvania) Wills (1749-1819).
[68] Pennsylvania German Pioneers (a publication of the original lists of arrivals in the port of Philadelphia from 1727 to 1808) compiled by Ralph Beaver Strassburger, Pages 484-486; My Epperly Family History.
[69] Frederick County (Maryland) Chancery Court Abstracts for Estate of John Sowers dated December 8, 1795 (MSA S512-4672; 1/37/1/46-4505); Frederick County (Maryland) Chancery Court Papers (1713-1853) S512 (S512-4672), Chancery Record 32, Page 505.
On April 4, 1796, the 149 acres were sold to “John Deal for 560 pounds 6 shillings, with bond held by Christian Sailor and Abram Hardman“. John Sowers’ son John Sower “sold his land rights to Hugh Hagan on 30 Apr 1796 and remaining interest rights to Isaac Mantz and Charles Schell on 27 Mar 1802“. “The Epperly’s assigned their rights to George Fox on 14 Dec 1801, who then transferred them to Isaac Mantz and Charles Schell on 20 Jan 1802, verified by Abraham Crapster. Sophia Neiman sold her dower rights to Isaac Mantz and Charles Schell for 37 pounds 10 shillings cm of Pennsylvania on 18 May 1802“. On December 13, 1815, “distribution made as follows: Sophia, 1/3 or $376.35; each 1/6 share was $125.45“.
[70] Haughty Conquerors by William R. Nester, Page 194.
[71] Colonial Maryland Naturalizations by Jeffrey A. Wyand & Florence L. Wyand, Pages 57-58.
[72] Pennsylvania German Pioneers (a publication of the original lists of arrivals in the port of Philadelphia from 1727 to 1808) compiled by Ralph Beaver Strassburger, Page 371.
[73] Maryland Land Patent Certificate #1026 (MSA S1197-1090).
[74] Frederick County (Maryland) Liber (Book) G, Pages 119-121.
“8 August 1761, George Crownisen of Frederick County in the Province of Maryland, Farmer, to Adam Eckert of the same place, Farmer, 100 acres, all that tract or parcel of land lying and being in the County aforesaid called Cronices Chance, on the East side Bens Branch running into Monocacy.“
[75] A History of the Rise and Progress of the Baptists in Virginia by Robert Baylor Semple, Pages 242-250 (183-190); Massanutten Settled by the Pennsylvania Pilgrim by Harry M. Strickler, Pages 36-40.
[76] A brief history of Bishop Henry Funck and other Funk pioneers by Abraham James Fretz (1849-1912), Pages 600-624.
[77] History of the Brethren in Virginia by Daniel H. Zigler, Page 179; From the Rhineland to the Promised Land of the Shenandoah by W. Harvey Wise IV, Pages 50-51, 85-87.
[78] From the Rhineland to the Promised Land of the Shenandoah by W. Harvey Wise IV, Pages 14, 37-37, 90, & 206.
[79] Pension Application of Garland Cosby #S30334; Proceedings of the Virginia Historical Society “Payroll date April 14, 1778 for the month of March“, Virginia Magazine of History and Biography (Volume 1, October 1893, No. 2), Page 207.
Men assigned to the 4th Virginia Reigiment: John Smith, Daniel Collett, Jas. Pearthalls, Henry Desplin, John Frasnour, James Grove, Adam Shurman, Thomas Ayris (Ayres), Job Lucas, David Cochran, Charles Harris. John Stackpole, John Parkinson, James Lemon, John Bell, John Wallis, Robert Cowan, Jacob Sowder, (illegible name), John Smith, John Fleece, Conrod Pennybaker, Andrew Skillen, Henry Barns, John Drain, John Horn, George Johnston, James Knight, and James Ryley (Henry Duckwall was listed on full payroll).
[80] The Statutes at Large; Being a Collection of All the Laws of Virginia from the First Session of the Legislature in the Year 1619 (Volume 9) edited by William Waller Hening, Pages 337-340.
[81] Revolutionary War Pension Application of John Freshour (Freshower) W7607; Petition of Henry Duckwall dated June 20, 1780 (Library of Virginia, Digital Collection for Berkeley County);
Per John Freshour: “I was Born in Fredrick [sic: Frederick] County State of Maryland the 13th Day of may in the year 1756 and when I was 14 years old my Father moved to Virginia Berkly [sic: Berkeley] County…In the year 1778 in the Month of March my Cap’n. of Militia was called upon to Draft three men of his company and have them redy [page torn] be sent on a Certain Day to Martinsburgh which was our County town, and from [the]re to be sent on to our Continental Army to serve a tour of 12 Months as a Draft [page torn] the Continental Service, – this caused a great Dread on the most of the company then I and some more of the company made a proposal to the Cap’n. and the Company that we would throw in 2 Dollars a piece and if every one of the company would do so we would stand no Draft But let 3 of the company take that mony and serve the tour of 12 months as a Draft in the Militia Servise, – and in a little time they were all agreed to do so then I and two more of the company took the mony Bought our seves some good Cloaths and went to Martinsburgh where all the Drafts had to meet on a Certain Day in the Month from there we started the last week in March or the first in April for the army which then lay at the Vally forge on Scoolkill [sic: Valley Forge near Schuylkill River]“.
[82] Revolutionary Pension Application of Adam Shoeman #S40409.
The son of Hans Georg Schuhmann and Anna Barbara Hanlin, Adam Shoeman (Shuman) married Elizabeth Kurtz about 1785 and lived in Manchester (Maryland) prior to returning to York County (Pennsylvania) where he died in 1832. After serving in the 4th Virginia, Adam Shoeman (Shuman) served again in Pennsylvania until his discharge in 1783 in Lancaster County (Pennsylvania) where he was awarded a pension (Certificate #102050) on May 1, 1819.
[83] Revolutionary Pension Application of Henry Aleshite #S29579.
On February 23, 1778, Henry Aleshite Sr (1754-?) enlisted (drafted) “for 18 months in the county of Shenandoah in Capt. John Steed’s company of Regulars” and “marched to Valley Forge Pennsylvania” where they “joined the 8th Regiment commanded by Col Abraham Bowman” and afterwards “the 8th and the 4th Regiments were…put together and then commanded by Col. John Nevill [John Neville], in Gen Scott’s [Charles Scott’s] Brigade Va. Line” prior to fighting the British “at Monmouth…on Sunday the 28th day of June 1778“.
[84] Signatures from 1784 petition protesting against the division of Berkeley County, Virginia (Library of Virginia Digital Collection; Legislative Petitions of the General Assembly, 1776-1865, Accession Number 36121, Box 26, Folder 28).
[85] Berkeley County (Virginia) Will Index and Abstracts (1772-1823), Page 25; Berkeley County (Virginia) Wills Volume 1-2 (1772-1796), Pages 320.
Wilson Family Tree Album Blog 
In response to our post, the Souder descendant that submitted the Y-DNA test (Kit #111745) contact us and graciously shared the following additional information to add to our post:
Souder descendant (Kit #111745) and his cousin (Kit #19651) are exact matches, tracing their lineage through Jacob Sautter and Ann Groff’s son John Souder (1726-1788);
Souder descendant (Kit #111745) descends from Harley Hogan Souders and has documentation that “Frank Jason and Harley Hogan were brothers and sons of Charles C. Souders”;
After immigrating to the colonies, Jacob Sautter is only known to have had three children by his second wife Ann Groff: John (1726-1788), Ann (1730-1795), and Jacob (1734-aft1787);
Since no documentation had been identified, his professional genealogist concluded that based on naming patterns Jacob Sowder (1734-1819) was not the son of Jacob Sautter and Ann Groff as there where no record of anyone named Adam in all their research of the proven descendants of Jacob Sautter and Ann Groff.
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Hello, once again…
I am again kit #111745 from FTDNA. Recently, we have had several more DNA participants with many more Big Y-700 markers testing in our Group 2
One of our researchers is a genealogical DNA expert and pioneer.
Briefly, after over two decades, we now believe the DNA results are strongly supporting the assertion that Jacob Sowder (1734-1819) of Virginia is the second son of Jacob Souder, (1678-1737), Lancaster/Soudersburg PA and his second wife Ann Groff.
We are still analyzing the data, and more is expected in the near future.
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Fantastic! Looking forward to learning more about this.
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