MAY 1992 NEWSLETTER
We had a great experience for our spring vacation by researching at the Salt Lake FHL. We uncovered some more material on Charles GEISSINGER and found 3 previously unknown children of Michael and Catherine (GEISSINGER) MOWER.
RESEARCH UPDATE FOR CHARLES GEISSINGER We decided that one way to find where Charles came from in Germany would be to locate where other GEISSINGERs came from in Germany. We knew that Lehigh and Northampton Counties in Pa had many GEISSINGERs located in them, and we thought that perhaps our Charles might be related, so we began an investigation of the origins of those families. We learned that the first GEISSINGER into Lehigh County was Philip GEISSINGER, born in the Palatinate, (Western Germany) in 1701.
Philip GEISSINGER, a Mennonite from the Palatinate, seems to have arrived in this country and settled at some point in Bucks County about 1725. He was naturalized by Act of Assembly in 1731. About 1737 he settled near the site of the present Blue Church in Upper Saucon Twp. His wife's name was Anna Mary; they had 11 children: Philip, Jacob, Henry, Daniel, John, Samuel, David, Abraham, Anna, Elizabeth, and Barbara. Of these David died in infancy. Philip is not known to have had offspring. Jacob with his wife, Magdalena, had 5 children---Henry, wife Barbara, had 12; John, twice married, first wife, Anna, had 10, second wife, Anna, had 1; Samuel, wife, Anna, had 4; Daniel, wife, Elizabeth, had 8; Anna, husband, Christian Baer, had 10; Elizabeth, husband Rudopph Kauffman, had 7; Barbara, husband, Isaac Bauer, had 7 children. All these seem to have removed from the township at an early day. Abraham remained in the old homestead, and his descendants were still located there in the late 1800's. His wife's name was Barbara. They had 4 sons: Henry, Philip, Jacob, and Abraham. Of these, Henry had 3 children---Ephraim, who remained in the old homestead, and died, married, but had no issue; Mary, the late wife of David Stover; and Elizabeth, late the wife of Israel Walter. Philip had 2 children--Abraham, of New Zionsville; and Mary, who is not known to have any descendants. Jacob had 3 sons: Rev. John, Jacob, and Abrahamn; Abraham, of Bucks County was a son of Rev. John. Among Abraham's children were: Samuel, David, Abraham and Jacob, all of Centre Valley. Lots of GEISSINGERS huh? FHL 974.827 D2 r, History of Lehigh County, Pa, pg 947
30 DEC 1757, Philip GEISSINGER entered into an agreement in behalf of the Lutheran Congregation of Saucon to sell land, (4 acres total) to the church... became known as the Evangelical Reformed Congregation in Upper Saucon Twp., called the Organ Church.... eventually became a Union Church. In 1816 David GEISSINGER, to whom the land originally belonged conveyed to the Lutheran and Presbyterian additional land. FHL 974.827 D2r, History of Lehigh County, Pa, pg 935
We located these Lehigh Co., Pennsylvania GEISSINGER births: Philip GEISSINGER bn. 22 Jun 1701 Germany; Mary, his wife, bn. 1711 in Germany Philip Jr. bn 14 Mar 1732 in Bucks Co. (Son); Jacob bn. 19 Sep 1733 Lehigh Co. (Son) Philip GEISSINGER, son of Abraham, bn 14 May 1774 at Lehigh Co; Veronica Hiestand GEISSINGER bn 4 Mar 1786. no father listed; John GEISSINGER bn 1794 Montgomery Co. no father listed; Jacob, bn 27 Feb 1772 in Lehigh Co. son of Jacob GEISSINGER; Catherine, bn 9 Dec 1774 in Lehigh Co., dau. of Jacob GEISSINGER; George, bn 1758, Lehigh Co., son of George GEISSINGER; Mary Magdalene, bn 9 Oct 1794, Lehigh Co. dau. of George GEISSINGER Jacob, bn 3 Jul 1798 in Lehigh Co., son of George GEISSINGER; Catherine, bn 1 Aug 1809, Lehigh Co., dau. of George GEISSINGER Early Pennsylvania Births, 1675-1875 page 65. FHL 974.8 V2F 1975 John GISINGER, served in the Revolutionary War and was listed as member of Captain Peter Mantz' company, "Flying Camp". This group was organized out of Frederick County, Maryland. This Flying Camp was authorized 21 Jun 1776. FHL975.2 F2n The Pennsylvania German in the Settlement of Maryland, by Daniel Wunderlich, page 217
Philip GEISINGER purchased soon after 5 Mar 1730 the greater part of 372 acre tract of land in Upper Saucon Twp. from William Allen. FHL 974.827 D2 r, History of Lehigh County, Pa, pg 923
Henry GEISSINGER owned tract no. 81 in Upper Saucon Twp. Andrew GEISSINGER owned tract no. 101. FHL 974.827 D2 r, History of Lehigh County, Pa, pg 928
TAX LIST: Philip GEISSINGER owned 60 acres in 1762 in Upper Saucon Twp., Henry GEISSINGER owned 16 acres, Jacob GEISSINGER owned 25, Philip GEISSINGER Jr. owned 20. Single man: John GEISSINGER FHL 974.827 D2 r, History of Lehigh County, Pa, pg 929
TAX LIST 27 DEC 1781 lists: Philip GEISSINGER, Henry GEISSINGER, Abraham GEISSINGER, John GEISSINGER, Conrad GIESS. for Upper Saucon Twp. FHL 974.827 D2 r, History of Lehigh County, Pa, pg 929
Knowing that a good way to track people is through tax and property records we checked a tax book for Pennsylvania and found a surprising entry for Charles GEISSINGER:
Carl GEISINGER listed in Paradise Twp., York County, Pennsylvania in 1780. John GEISSINGER listed in Upper Saucon Twp., Northampton, Pennsylvania in 1780. (Source: Pennsylvania Tax Lists 1780, Southwest Pennsylvania Genealogical Services)
We knew Charles had escaped his indenture in 1767 in New Jersey, was recaptured, sold, and escaped again in 1768, but from that time to the Revolution we had lost him. Now we learned that he was in York Co., Pa in 1780. We then looked at York County records to see if we could find more on GEISSINGERs and we found this:
Bartholomew MAUL A, 109, 4 April 1755 pr. 19 Sept 1755. Wife: Mary Elisabeth. Ch: George, Catherine GIDINGER (oldest daughter), Mary Elisabeth RUDISILY, Tullinar MAUL (daughter). Wife's son: Peter LOWER. EXECUTORS: Sons-in-law John GETTINGER, Jonas RUDISILY (Genealogical Excerpts from WILL BOOK A 1749-1762, York Co., Pa)
[Note from JM]: Perhaps the Catharine RUSSELL that Charles GEISSINGER is supposed to have married (according to our family tradition), is Catherine RUDISILY of the York Co. RUDISILS? It might be that John GEISSINGER is a relative to Charles, that they joined the War effort together and following the war settled near each other in and near York County. RUDISILL marriages may reveal this. Needs to be checked out.
Anna Maria, dau. of Johannes GEISZINGER and the mother, Magdalena, born 4 Aug 1781. Witnesses: Christian MIELHEIM and his wife Catharine. York County, Pennsylvania Church Records of the 18th Century, by Bates and Wright. St. Matthew's Lutheran Church. FHL 974.841 K2 b Vol. 1 p. 208
Maria Catharina of Peter GEISINGER and Catharina, bn. 20 Mar 1789, bap. 24 May 1789. Sponsors: Elizabeth GEISINGER. York County, Pennsylvania Church Records of the 18th Century, by Bates and Wright. First Reformed and Trinity First Reformed Church. FHL 974.841 K2 b Vol. 2 page 95
Jacob, born 27 Aug; bapt. 31 Aug 1789 Parents: Christian Staebler and wife Elisabeth. Sponsor: Andreas GIESSINGER. Personal Record of Pastor Jacob Goering (1755-1807) and records of Baptisms he performed 1788-1789 in the vicinity of York, Pennsylvania. FHL 974.841 V2g page 8.
FHL #22246 Tax Record Transcripts of York County, Pa for 1780 page 60 in Paradise Twp. lists Carl GEISINGER, no property, no inhabitants. No tax assessed. Also see: Pennsylvania in 1780, A Statewide Index of Circa 1780 Pennsylvania Taxlists, by John Stemmons, page 67 We then began looking carefully at the military records of this era and area and we learned the following:
REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORD [Reported in our last NL] FHL 973 W2 smn no. 27, Some German-American Participants in the American Revolution: The Rattermann Lists, by Clifford Neal Smith, pages 21-22, 29 lists Karl Geisinger (Gysinger) taken as a prisoner of War at the Battle of Trois Rivieres 9 Jun 1776.[Canada]. Karl belonged to Company No. 6 under Captain David Greier, of the Seventh Continental Regiment, formerly the Sixth Battalion from Pennsylvania. Company 6 (or "G") was raised in York County, Pa which was authorized to enlist as of 4 Jan 1776.
New Material We Have Learned: Karl was also listed under Freiherr Von Ottendorf as an enlisted man who signed up again on 13 Jan 1777, following his release as a prisoner. This was a second enlistment. His first enlistment was with an infantry divison, this enlistment was with a cavalry unit. [I guess this ancestor of ours liked to fight and figured a horse was better than on foot! JM]
Listed with him was Johannes Geisinger who enlisted 16 Mar 1777. Ottendorf was authorized to recruit mainly German speaking soldiers for a 3 year enlistment.. This unit was an independent corp of light infantry which was later reorganized into a cavalry unit.
I think you'll find it interesting what activities Charles' unit was involved in during the Revolutionary War. Taken from: The Pennsylvania Line, Regimental Organization and Operations 1776-1783 by John Trussell, pages 95-99, 287
"The 6th Pennsylvania Battalion was authorized on January 4, 1776. The original plan to recruit the battalion exclusively in Cumberland County was modified during the period of actual organization, with six of the eight companies being raised in Cumberland County and the remaining two in York County." [Note York County---where Charles shows up in 1780 on the tax list]
"The companies of the battalion were as follows:...Company G, raised in York County, was commanded by Capt. David Grier... On the return of the 6th Pennsylvania Battalion to Carlisle in March 1777, [Battle of Three Rivers June 1776] large numbers of its members enlisted in the 7th Regiment, the battalion's successor unit. While the muster rolls of the two organizations give less than a definitive picture, a comparison of those rolls shows 139 enlisted veterans [Grandpa Charles was one!] of the battalion serving in the regiment. As the initial strength of the battalion had been 710 and as it sustained considerables losses from disease and enemy action, together with experiencing the inevitable desertions, it appears that upwards of at least one fourth of the survivors of the 6th Pennsylvania Battalion joined the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment...The battalions uniform consisted of a blue coat and breeches, the coat 'turned up' with red, and a small round hat, bound with braid or tape.
"Col. William Irvine had been captured at the fiasco at Three Rivers on June 9, 1776....In the meantime, when the regiment was first formed, Major David Grier had been promoted to lieutenant colonel...and it was Grier who actually commanded the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment until he was wounded at Paoli on September 20, 1777. He did not return to duty....Many of the men of the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment continued to wear the same 'regimentals' they had been issued when serving in the 6th Pennsylvania Battalion....
"Companies G and H of the 6th Pennsylvania Battalion were raised chiefly in York County and the other companies primarily in Cumberland County....Thus, the ...companies continued to be essentially York County units, and the other companies were manned mainly by Cumberland County residents."
Operations of our Grandpa GEISSINGER's Unit: "The 6th Pennsylvania Battalion, then at Carlisle, received orders on March 14, 1776, to join the forces at New York City. Evidently, it was rapidly uniformed and equipped, for by April 24 the entire battalion had arrived as ordered; but on April 26 it was directed (along with three companies of the 4th Pennsylvania Battalion) to go to Albany to join the army attacking Canada. The battalion reached Albany on May 10, leaving three days later. On May 24, as part of a force under Brig. Gen. John Sullivan, it passed Lake George; it reached Chambly on June 3, and joined the main army at Sorel the next day. On June 5, with other troops under the overall command of Brig. Gen. William Thompson, it was sent on to Nicolette to reinforce troops under Col. Arthus St. Clair. It was this force which was involved in the fiasco at Three Rivers on June 9.
"In that action, seventy-eight of the members of the 6th Pennsylvania Battalion were killed or captured. Among the prisoners was the battalion commander, Col. William Irvine. [and Grandpa GEISSINGER!] ...The survivors of the battalion, with the rest of the American force, fell back to Isle Aux Noix. While still camped there on June 24, Captains McClean, Adams, and Rippey, along with Lieutenants Samuel McFerren..[others]... and four privates, decided to leave camp 'to fish and disport themselves,' going across the lake to a point about a mile away from camp but still within sight....they went unarmed. After a time, they went into a nearby house and were drinking spruce beer when they were attacked by a group of Indians who had been watching their movements....[4] were scalped 'in a most inhuman and barbarous manner'.
"The American force at Isle Aux Noix retreated to Crown Point, which it reached July 1. While the other troops moved on to Ticonderoga, the 6th Pennsylvania Battalion remained behind forming the outpost for the army. For the next three and a half months it continued in this mission, having occasional brushes with the enemy and sustaining some casualties....The battalion stayed at that post as part of the garrison unitl the men's enlistments ran out. It then returned to Carlisle, where it was mustered out on March 15, 1777.
"With so large a portion of veterans re-enlisting, the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment was ready for field duty in a short time. As part of one of the brigades under Brig. Gen. Anthony Wayne, the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment marched south with Washington's army...". Grandpa GEISSINGER is listed as joining again for a 3 year enlistment on 13 Jan 1777, just 6 months after having been taken prisoner in the Battle of Three Rivers---so he wasn't a prisoner long, and he didn't hesitate to join up again. By 1780 he was released and living back in York County. I will see if I can find out what happened to him 1777-1780 during the war and report it in a future newsletter.
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT CHARLES GEISSINGER 1. Born about 1740-1743 (estimate) in German-speaking lands 2. 1766 Soldier in Lisbon, Portugal 3. Came to America on the ship, Cullodian Oct 1766 3. Oct 1766- 9 May 1768: Indentured servant in Salem Co., New Jersey (est. age 27). Escaped, recaptured, escaped again. 4. Whereabouts unknown 1768-Nov 1776 ? (York Co., Pa?) 5. 1776-1780 REVOLUTIONARY WAR Soldier 6. 1780 York Co. Tax List (est. age 35-40) 7. 1780-1790 ? Probably York Co., PA and/or Frederick Co., MD 8. 1790-1800 Frederick Co., Maryland--on census records 9. 1804-until death, presumed to be in Bedford Co., Pennsylvania
After we found Charles in 1780 in York Co., Pa, we searched for about a day and a half for records to tell us more about him there. We could not find him in a church anywhere, which is odd because these people were generally church-going people, but Charles may have not been that kind of a man. We then checked the Catholic records of Adams County, Pa which lies next door to York Co., Pa and found a very interesting entry: Michael GEISSIN of Charles and Catharine GEISSIN; b. 9 Aug 1793; bap. 14 Mar 1794; Sponsors: Michael and Elisabeth RITELMOSER; I-13. Conewago Chapel Roman Catholic Records, page 189 in Adams County Church Records of the 18th Century. FHL 974.842 K2a
John GEISSIN of John GEISSIN and Barbara BERN; born Feb 1805; FHL 974.841 D2o Founding Catholic Families of Conewago, page 28
Could be this is John GEISSINGER and Charles and Catharine GEISSINGER, but that is not proved at this point. We didn't find more of this time period---yet. We then moved to where he is next known to have lived (Frederick Co., MD) Frederick Co. records have been analyzed a hundred times, by Mower researchers over the years, so I got out a copy of the map of Maryland, and laid it next to a corresponding map of Pennsylvania and drew a straight line from Frederick, MD to Bedford, PA. The line runs right through Washington Co., MD.
We then spent a day researching records of Washington Co., MD and to our utter surprise, found the greatest find of our research trip. It had nothing to do with Charles GEISSINGER per se, but did involve GEISSINGERs. We were looking for churches in which our people attended and we found these entries in FHL 975.291 K28w Washington County, Maryland Church Records of the 18th Century.
Zion Lutheran Church, Williamsport, Washington Co., MD (just across the Frederick Co., MD line) Baptisms:
John Jacob of Matthias Behley and wife Juliana (born GITTINGARIN), born 25 Jan 1792, bapt. 22 Apr 1792. Godparents: John George GITTINGER and wife Elizabeth
Elizabeth of Henry Fyster and wife Catharine, bap. 21 Apr 1794. Godparents: George GITTINGEN and wife.
John George of Michael MAURER and wife Catherine, born 27 Feb 1794. Wit: John George GITTINGER and wife Elizabeth.
Anna Maria of George KITTINGER and wife Elizabeth, born 5 Dec 1795, bap. 14 Dec 1795. Wit: Barbara Wethmauer
Maria Elizabeth of George KITTINGER and wife Elizabeth, born 10 May 1797, bap. 14 May 1797. Wit: George Kershner and wife, Maria
Margaretha of Peter Ekeberger and wife Maria, born 26 Nov 1796, bap. 5 Jun 1797. Wit: Michel MAURER and wife Catherine
William of John GEISSINGER and wife, Susanna, born 31 Dec 1798, bap. 14 Apr 1799. Wit: George Maudi and wife Margaretha
Maria of Michael MAURER and wife Catherine, born 18 Apr 1799, bap. 13 May 1799. Wit: Henry Reitenauer and wife, Eva
Catharine of Michael MAURER and wife Catherine, born 12 Feb 1801, bap. 15 Mar 1801 Wit: Philippina Reitenauer
Now comes the question, could this be our Michael and Catherine (GEISSINGER) MOWER? My first thought was "no" because Michael MOWER shows up in the 1800 Census, just across the Pennsylvania border from Williamsport, therefore he was living in Bedford County in 1801. Then Tedi Jeen found a record which may explain why I believe he may have had two farms during this period. The record she found states: A lease recorded at the request of Michael MOWER on 6 Sep 1797 for 99 years on property (plot #111) in town of Williamsport, Washington Co., MD. Annual payment: 3 bushel of markable wheat and within 3 years to erect a home on the property and to fence it. (FHL #14607 page 410) Michael retained this property for 20 years and finally sold the lease to Joseph WELTY on 23 Aug 1817 (FHL #14616 page 173).
We checked the 1800, 1810, 1820 Washington Co., MD census records for Michael MOWER and all of the Mower name variations. No Michael listed in any Washington Co. census records for those years. Why? The answer I believe is that he MAY HAVE lived across the border in Bedford County, where he shows up on the census records for those years. If he lived in Williamsport for all those years, why would he never show up on a census record? My guess is because he was an absentee land owner.
I then checked the birth records of what is known on Michael MOWER's children and found that two of the three new births could fit into what is currently known about the family. I do not believe however, that the children John George or Maria survived infancy because they are not listed on the Bedford County census of 1800. The birth of a female child (could be Catherine) does show up on the 1810 Census for Michael MOWER however. And we have carried her as an un-named child since we did not know her name.
The conflict occurs with the birth of Maria---just 4 mos. after Henry MOWER Sr. supposedly was born, oddly enough on the 18th of the month like him. Maybe the original German Church records from which these were transcribed was mistranslated, and her birth month year was December 1798, but likely not. Maybe she was born in 1797 and not baptized until 1799---this was very common for the era and maybe the pastor entered the wrong birth year. We have seen this happen a lot.
Never-the-less we will NOT enter them into the family without more conclusive proof, and if we later find conclusive proof, we can add them on our family group sheets. Personally, I FEEL they are ours based upon the fact that the witness for the baptism of John George MAURER in 1794 was John George GITTINGER (which obviously is GEISSINGER). We KNOW that Michael MOWER's wife was born Catherine GEISSINGER. John George was probably her brother. Feelings however, are not good documentation in genealogy, even though they may be correct. Thus we will hold off making the statement that these children definitely are the children of Michael and Catherine (GEISSINGER) MOWER.
We continue to feel that we are being helped beyond our abilities. Everything we learn about the family is interesting and may prove helpful. So far this winter 654 BRILL names have been cleared for temple work. These are all descendants of Michael MAURER through his daughter Margaret MAURER who married Christopher BRILL, son of Martin BRILL and Anna Maria MAURER. I am constantly receiving mail and phone calls from non-members of the Church who are tying into the line or getting information about our line from our submissions to the IGI and the Ancestral File. These people are great sources of clues and help. Tedi Jeen and I will be concentrating our efforts on research. She is tracking down Charles GEISSINGER leads and translating German script. I am tracking GEISSINGER leads, and doing the computer submissions mop-up work, as well as studying immigration records on MAURERs and GEISSINGERs. We certainly aren't pros, but we aren't doing too badly.
I want to add a map of where Charles GEISSINGER fought and was captured and if I can I'll put a picture of the type of uniform he wore during the era. I obtained this information from the same text documented in his story. Thanks to all who help in any way. Hope you enjoy this NL!
ZWEIBRUECKEN AREA MARRIAGES continued... FHL# 1676260 Item 10, Marriages of Waldmohr, page 6 lists Johann Nicklas Boesshaar, son of Johann Albrecht Boesshaar who died at Breitenbach, married on 8 Nov 1691 to Catharina Scherer, daughter of Johann Eberhardt Scherer of Breitenbach.
Michael Maurer, linen weaver, s/o deceased Hans Adam Maurer, a private marriage, 29 Sep 1729 at Minbach with Anna Maria Binckle, d/o deceased Peter Binckle. FHL #475795 entry 2951
Isaac Lindinger, s/o Jacob Lindinger, a mason, married on 19 Feb 1726 to Ursula, d/o deceased Hans Adam Maurer, weaver from Minbach. FHL #475795 entry 2930
Andreas Lindinger, s/o Jacob Lindinger with Mar. Christina, d/o deceased Nickel Goeltzer. Married at Minbach 22 Feb 1735. FHL #475795 entry 2988
Georg Lindinger, a mason, s/o Jacob Lindinger with Anna Catharina d/o deceased Georg Hussong. Married 11 Mar 1738 at Minbach. FHL #474795 entry 3008
Heinrich Haberstich, s/o deceased Friedrich Haberstich of Breytfurth with Anna Gertrauda, d/o Isaac Lindinger. Married 31 Mar 1750 at Minbach. FHL #475795 entry 3075
Johann Nickel Wolf, s/o deceased Caspar Wolf with Catharina Christina, d/o Isaac Lindinger. Married Feb 1752 at Minbach. FHL #475795 entry 3085
Georg Henrich Moschell, s/o Bernhardt Moschell with Johanna Catharina, d/o Isaac Lindinger. Married 16 Mar 1756 at Minbach. FHL #475795 entry 3113
Johann Nickel Berger, s/o Georg Berger of Wattweiler with Anna Ursula, d/o Isaac Lindinger. Married 5 Jun 1759 at Minbach. FHL #475795 entry 3129
Daniel Schwartz, s/o deceased Georg Schwartz of Webenheim with Maria Magdalena, d/o Isaac Lindinger. Married 24 Mar 1761 at Minbach FHL #475795 entry 3141
Caspar Maurer, s/o deceased Michael Maurer with Gertrauda Lindinger, d/o deceased Georg Lindinger. Married 23 Sep 1766 at Minbach. FHL #475795 entry 3186
Frantz Georg Schilb, s/o Daniel Schilb from Molsbacher Hof with Maria Elisabetha, d/o deceased Michael Maurer. Married 10 Oct 1769 at Minbach. FHL #475795 entry 3216
Daniel Schneider, s/o Georg Schneider of Webenheim with Anna Gertrauda, d/o deceased Michael Maurer. Married 21 Apr 1768 at Minbach. FHL #475795 entry 3203