Naturalizations, Germantown, Pa., 3/7/1691-2; Copia Naturalisationis of Francis Daniel Pastorius and of 61 Persons More of German Town from William Penn, Esq., National Genealogical Society Quarterly, 28 (1940), 7-8 [Lancour No. 129].
William Penn, Proprietary of the Province of Pennsilvania, etc. On the King & Queen's authority, to all to whom these Presents all come Sends Greeting, etc. Whereas:
- Paul Wolff
- Willm Rittinghuysen
- Claes Rittinghuysen - land owner
High and low Germans, Inhabitants and Owners of land in German-Town and in the County of Philadelphia, being foreigners, and so not freemen, according to the acception of the Law of England, Have requested to be made freemen of the said Province, pursuant to the Powers granted by the King's Letters patent, and Act of Union and Naturalization, etc. made in this Government, Now Know ye, that for the further Incouragement of the Industry and Sobriety of the said Inhabitants, And for the better and further Security of their Estates reall and personal, to them and their heirs, They the said Inhabitants having Solemnly
promised (upon Record in the County Court of Philadelphia aforesaid) faith and Allegiance to William and Mary, King and Queen of England, etc. and fidelity and lawful Obedience to me, according to the King's Letters, patents aforesaid, I doe declare and by these Presents Confirm them the said Inhabitants before named to be Freemen of this Government, And that they shall be accordingly held and reputed in as full and ample manner as any person or persons residing therein, And that they the said Freeman have liberty and freedom hereby to trade and traffick in this Colony or in any of the King's Dominions and Plantations, as other good Subjects do without any manner of Lett, Hinderance or Molestation whatsoever.
Witness Thomas Lloyd, Deputy Govern'r. of the Province of Pennsilvania, etc. Given at Philadelphia aforesaid, with the assent of the Provincial Council, the Seventh day of the third month Anno Domi 1691, and in the third year of the reign of King William and Queen Mary over England, etc. . . .
Diffenderffer, Frank. The German Immigration into Pennsylvania Through the Port of Philadelphia from 1700 to 1775 & the Redemptioners, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1979
A List of Ye Palatine Passengers Imported in Ye Ship William & Sarah, Will'm Hill, Mast'r, from Rotterdam, Philid'a Ye 18 Sept'bre 1727.
- Hans Bernard Wolf
- Hans Jerrick Wolf
- Martin Brill
While this German immigration was considerable in some years prior to 1727, it was irregular and seemingly spasmodic. Apparently it was gathering strength and courage for the half century of irrepressible exodus which was to follow. In the fall of 1727, five ships laden with German immigrants reached the wharves of Philadelphia. It was no doubt these numerous arrivals that alarmed the Provincial government anew and led to the imposition of the 40-shillings head tax on all aliens. From that time on the record of arrivals is almost continuous, and although there are several short breaks in it, we are enabled, nevertheless, to get a fairly accurate idea of its extent and also of the manner in which it was carried out.
Fulton, Eleanore & Barbara Mylin. An Index to the Will Books & Intestate Records of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania 1729-1850, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. - available on Ancestry
Columns - Name, Year, Book, Vol., Page
- Fuchs, Jacob, 1787, Y, 2, 159
- Galbraith, John, 1753, B, 1, 98
- Galbraith, John, 1769, C, 1, 174
- Galbraith, Robert, 1746, A, 1, 129
- Landis, Felix, 1739, A, 1, 59
- Landis, Felix, 1770, Y, 2, 121
- Landis, Henry, 1761, J, 1, 139
- Landis, John, 1756, Y, 2, 395
- Fox, Christian, 1793, -, -, -
- Fox, Christopher, 1788, -, -, -
- Fox, Edward, 1739, -, -, -
- Fox, James, 1748, -, -, -
- Fox, John, 1752, -, -, -
- Fox, John, 1786, -, -, -
- Groff, Abraham, 1788, -, -, -
- Groff, Barbara, 1784, -, -, -
- Groff, David, 1784, -, -, -
- Groff, Jacob, 1730, -, -, -
- Groff, Jacob, 1767, -, -, -
- Grove, Ann, 1806, -, -, -
- Landes, Abraham, 1790, -, -, -
- Landis, Henry, 1791, -, -, -
- Landis, Jacob, 1730, -, -, -
- Landis, John, 1756, -, -, -
- Grove, John, 1760, -, -, -
- Grove, Joseph, 1776, -, -, -
- Grove, Joseph, 1786, -, -, -
Gordon, Thomas. A Gazetteer of the State of Pennsylvania, New Orleans, LA: Polyanthos, 1975
Hawbaker, Gary & Clyde Groff. A New Index Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Before the Federal Census, Vol. 1 Index to the 1780 Tax Records, no imprint
This index contains 4,430 names of the taxables who lived in Lancaster County prior to the Federal Census of 1790. There are seventeen townships included as well as the borough of Lancaster.
This index contains not only the name of the individual taxed, but also the township or borough of residence (PL), the year from which the record was taken (YR), the taxable's classification (CLS), an indication of oath of allegiance to the Commonwealth if this information is given (ALG), the person's trade if noted by the tax collector (TRADE) and additional comments made by the tax collector or in some cases by the editors (COMMENTS).
Not every tax collector indicated whether a person was a land owner or a renter (inmate). Therefore in some cases we have avoided trying to classify persons. In some instances, we tried to infer from the taxes paid whether a person was landed or not, but since this was a matter of surmise, we discontinued the practice. In all cases, the single men were listed separately.
- Fox, Philip, Earl Twp., 1779, Freeman or single male
- Grof, Andrew, Donegal Twp., 1779, inmate / renter, no land, Not Sworn, Waggon maker
- Grof, Georg, Elizabeth Twp., 1779, inmate / renter, no land
- Grofe, Christian, Earl Twp., 1779, freeman or single male, son of Jacobs
- Grofe, David, Earl Twp., 1779, inmate / renter, no land
- Grofe, John, Earl Twp., 1779, inmate / renter, no land, at Ryan's Place
- Grofe, Marks, Earl Twp., 1779, inmate / renter, no land
- Grofe, William, Earl Twp., 1779, inmate / renter, no land
- Groff, George, Manheim Twp., 1779, taxable, landed
- Groff, John, Warwick Twp., 1781, taxable, landed
- Grove, Abraham, Cocalico Twp., 1779, taxable, landed
- Grove, Andrew, Lampeter Twp., 1780, taxable, landed
- Grove, David, Lampeter Twp., 1780, taxable, landed
- Grove, Hendry, Donegal Twp., 1779, taxable, landed, not affirmed, Oil & Hemp Mill
- Grove, Henry, Lampeter Twp., 1780, freeman or single male
- Grove, Jacob, Lampeter Twp., 1780, freeman or single male
- Grove, John, Donegal Twp., 1779, taxable, landed, Affirmed, Grist & Saw Mill
- Grove, Joseph, Cocalico Twp., 1779, taxable, landed
- Grove, Martain, Lampeter Twp., 1780, taxable, landed
- Hinkle, Antony, Earl Twp., 1779, inmate / renter, no land
- Hinkle, Barbara (widow), Earl Twp., 1779, taxable, landed
- Hinkle, Hendry, Donegal Twp., 1779, inmate / renter, no land, sworn
- Hinkle, Jacob, Earl Twp., 1779, taxable, landed
- Hinkle, Wentle, Earl Twp., 1779, freeman or single male
- Speer, David, Sadsbury Twp., 1779
- Speer, John, Colerain Twp., 1780, taxable, landed
Hawbaker, Gary & Clyde Groff. A New Index Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Before the Federal Census, Vol. 2 Index to the 1780 Tax Records, no imprint. See above for introduction, explanations.
- Fox, Antoney, East Hanover, 1780, taxable
- Fox, Christophr, East Hanover, 1780, over the mountain
- Fox, Henry, Bethel, 1780
- Fox, Jacob, Rapho, 1779
- Fox, James, Londonderry, 1780
- Fox, James, Derry, 1779, inmate / renter, no land
- Fox, John, Derry, 1779, inmate, renter, no land
- Fox, Peter, Rapho, 1779
- Fox, Peter, East Hanover, 1780, over the mountain
- Galbreath, Bartrim, Wiconisco District, 1780, located tract of land
- Galbreath, Bartrim, Upper Paxtang, 1780, located unimproved tract
- Grove, Jacob, Londonderry, 1780
- Grove, Peter, Bethel, 1780
- Grove, Widow, Bethel, 1780, Isaac in 1779
Hawbaker, Gary & Clyde Groff. A New Index Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Before the Federal Census, Vol. 3 Index to the 1750 Tax Records, no imprint.
Although the United States has failed to use tax records in census records, we have created a 1750 census from the tax records. By sticking to the year ending in zero, we have now gone thirty years from our 1780 list, which is another generation back. From the other end (the 1710 settlement) we are now finding we are two generations away, if you consider that some of the 1710 group had grown children and grand-children when they came or at least soon after they arrived.
By 1750 we still had no political areas like townships that contained majority groups of Germans or Welsh or Scotch Irish and also carried the names of places from whence they came. The very heart of our county was still held by the 1710 group and has in fact remained the same to the present day. That is to say that those families from 1710 that settled Lampeter, Strasburg, Manor, Conestoga, and Pequea maintained their hold. The Martic thru Sadsbury area and south was Presbyterian and Quaker area, with the large are of Drumore being split in 1738, under ten years after the 1729 formation of townships. Little Britain and Colerain were formed in 1738, followed by Bart in 1744, and then they held over one hundred years until 1853 when Providence was formed from Martic, Eden in 1855 from Bart, Fulton in 1844 from Little Britain. In this 1750 list you will find some names that are gone by 1780 and mostly they are the Scotch-Irish Presbyterians who left by whole congregations, such as Muddy Run in the southern part and several in the northern half of the Derry area.
By the 1750's, that area of Lancaster County which is now Dauphin County, had been settled by the great push of Scotch-Irish Presbyterians who were told by James Logan to settle along the border with Maryland. After reaching the Susquehanna River they pushed North and soon it was Donegal then on to a large area called Paxton or Paxtang. Here we see the tax collector was unable to cope with this large area, and thus he used "The Narrows of Paxton," "West Side of Paxton," and "South End of Paxton." In this area we have used these various lists to create a composite list of the entire area in an attempt to catch all of the people living in the widely settled area.
See above for explanations, introduction.
- Fox, Christian, Elizabeth, 1758, at ye furnace
- Fox, Jacob, Rapho, 1751
- Fox, John, Manheim, 1751
- Grove, Bastan, Manheim, 1751, Seboston Groff, 1756; Sebastian Graff, ed
- Grove, Daniel, Earl, 1750, Groves 1751, Graff, 1754
- Grove, David, Earl, 1750, Grofe 1751; Distiller; Graff, 1754
- Grove, Georg, Bethel, 1750
- Grove, Jacob, Lebanon, 1751
- Grove, Jacob, Derry, 1759, East End Derry, Groves, 1757
- Grove, John (Groff's Run) Earl, 1750, Grofe 1751; Graff 1754; 1717 settled Groffdale, ed.
- Grove, Joseph, Earl, 1750, Grofe 1751; Graff 1754
- Grove, Marks, Earl, 1750, Grofe 1751; Graff 1754, saw mill
- Grove, Martin, Earl, 1750, Grofe 1751, Graff 1754
- Grove, Peter, Bethel, 1750, freeman or single man, Graf 1756 - not a freeman
- Grove, Peter, Earl, 1750, Grofe 1751; Graff 1754, gristmill
- Grove, Samuel, Earl, 1750, Grofe 1751
- Grover, Martin, Lampeter, 1751, Grof 1754
Hawbaker, Gary & Clyde Groff. A New Index Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Before the Federal Census, Vol. 4 Index to the 1718-1726 Tax Records of Chester County Relating to Areas Later Part of Lancaster County, no imprint.
Columns - Name, Date, Place / Comments
- Grave, Jacob, 1726, Conestoga Rate (LCHS)
- Groff, George, 1724, Conestoga Twp. (LCHS)
- Groff, Hance, 1724, Conestoga Twp. (LCHS)
- Groff, Hance, 1724, Conestoga Twp., (LCHS)
- Groff, Hans Jr. 1718, Conestoga Twp., Dutch inhabitants (LCHS)
- Groff, Hans Sr., 1718 Conestoga Twp., Dutch inhabitants (LCHS)
- Groff, Jacob, 1719 Conestoga rate (LCHS)
- Groff, John Jacob, 1724 Conestoga Twp., (LCHS)
- Groffs, Hans, 1719, Conestoga rate, (LCHS)
- Groffts, Jacob, 1720, Conestoga assessment (LCHS)
- Groffts, Jacob, 1721 Palatines at Conestoga (LCHS)
- Groffts, John, 1721 Palatines at Conestoga (LCHS)
- Groove, Jacob, 1722 East Conestoga assessment (LCHS)
- Groud, Marton, 1721 Palatines at Conestoga (LCHS)
- Grove, Hance, 1726 Conestoga rate (LCHS)
- Grove, Hance Jr. 1719 Conestoga rate (LCHS)
- Grove, Jacob 1724 Conestoga Twp, (LCHS)
- Grove, Jacob 1725 Conestoga rate (LCHS)
- Grove, Jacob 1726 Conestoga rate (LCHS)
- Grove, Jacob (on Baker's Creek, 1726 Conestoga rate (LCHS) - most likely on Beaver Creek
- Grove, John 1721 Palatines at Conestoga (LCHS)
- Grove, John 1722 East Conestoga assessment (LCHS)
- Grove, John 1726 Conestoga rate (LCHS)
- Grove, John 1726 Conestoga rate (LCHS)
- Grove, John Jacob 1726 Conestoga rate (LCHS)
- Grove, Mart 1726 Conestoga rate (LCHS)
- Grove, Martin, 1722 East Conestoga assessment (LCHS)
- Grave, George 1725 Conistogoe rate
- Grave, Hance 1726 Conistogoe rate
- Grave, Jacob 1725 Conistogoe rate; on Baver Creek
- Grave, John 1721 Palatines at Conestogoe
- Grave, John 1722 East Conestogoe
- Grave, John 1726 Conistogoe rate
- Graves, Jacob 1719 Connestogoe rate
- Grove, Hance Junr. 1719 Connestogoe rate
- Grove, John 1724 Connestogoe rate by ye creek
- Grove, John 1726 Conistogoe rate
- Grove, John Jacob 1726 Conistogoe rate
- Grove, Martin 1722 East Conestogoe
- Grove, Martin 1725 Conistogoe Rate
- Grove, Martin 1726 Conistogoe rate
- Grove, Martin 1721 Palatines at Conestogoe
Hawbaker, Gary & Clyde Groff. A New Index Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Before the Federal Census, Vol. 5 Index to the 1770 Tax Records of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, no imprint.
See above for introduction, explanation.
Columns - Name, Year, Place, Comments
- Fox, Christian 1770, Elizabeth
- Fox, Christian 1770, Donegal
- Fox, Jacob, 1770, Rapho Fux, 1769
- Fox, John 1777, Derry assessment o nonassociators
- Fox, Michl 1770, Lancaster Borough see Martin Bentheisel
- Fox, Petter 1770 Rapho Fux, 1769
- Grove, Bengamon 1770 Lampeter crossed off; on list in 1769; crossed off in 1771
- Grove, David 1770 Lampeter also Grofe
- Grove, Frances 1770 Rapho Groff 1769; Grofe 1771; also Groof
- Grove, Henry 1770 Donegal
- Grove, John 1770 Donegal
- Grove, John 1770 Lampeter
- Grove, Joseph 1770 Cocalico Grofe 1769; also Groff
- Hinckel, Andony 1770 Earl Hinkle 1769
- Hinkel, John 1770 Conestoga Hingkle 1769
- Hinkell, George 1770 Earl, Inkeeber, Hinkle rent to Evan Davis 1769
- Hinkle, Henry 1769 Donegal
- Hinkle, Jacob 1770 Cocalico inmate / renter no land; Hinckle 1771
Hull, William. William Penn & the Dutch Quaker Migration to Pennsylvania, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1970.
Humphrey, John. Pennsylvania Births Bucks County, 1682-1800, Washington, DC: Humphrey Publications, 1993.
Columns - Name, Birth Date, Father, Mother, Page
Briel
- Anna Maria, 23 Oct. 1774, Christopher, Anna Margaret, 19
- David, 14 Mar. 1784, Christopher, Margretha, 20
- John, 14 ??, 1771, Christopher, Anna Margaret, 19
Brill
- Anna Margaret, 27 Dec 1798, John, wife, 19
- Anna Maria, 2 June 1775, Andrew, Elisabeth, 17
- Georg, bp. 23 Aug. 1778, Andreas, Elisabeth, 16
- John, 25 Aug. 1796, John, Margaret, 20
- John Jacob, bp. 24 Sep. 1781, Andrew, Elizabeth, 19
- Maria Elisabeth, 9 May 1778, Christopher, Margaret, 17
- Michael, 18 Mar. 1780, Christopher, Margaret, 19
- Samuel, 25 Mar. 1771, Christopher, Margaret, 19
Linn, John & William Egle, comp. Pennsylvania Marriages Prior to 1790: Names of Persons for Whom Marriage Licenses Were Issued in the Province of Pennsylvania Previous to 1790, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1979
- 1769, Jan. 10 Boyd, Anna & David Cloyd
- 1773, Aug. 16 Branon, Mary & Robert Galbraith
- 1774, June -- Bredin, Elizabeth & James Collins
- 1767, Aug. 22 Brooke, Bowyer & Hannah Reese
- 1762, May 21 Brooke, John & Elizabeth May
- 1772, Oct. 15 Brook, Owen & Elizabeth Hammer
- 1760, Mar, 13, Brooks, Andrew & Mary Burk
- 1776, Apr. 22, Brooks, Jacob & Mary Burk
- 1776, May 11, Brooks, John & Catherine Roberts
- 1762, Aug. 21, Brooks, John & Hannah Craven
- 1747, Oct. -- Brooks, Jonathan & Rebecca Hayes
- 1763, June 4, Brooks, Joseph & Anna Meshawn
- 1768, Oct. 21 Brooks, William & Rachel King
- 1763, Dec. 2 Brown, Clark & Christine Hinkle
- 1773, Oct. 5, Davald, Alexander & Elizabeth Johnston
- 1771, June 19 Davis, James & Elizabeth Parkes
- 1759, Nov. 28 Edwards, Andros & Rachel Parmel
- 1772, Nov. 5 Edwards, Alexander & Eliza Morgan
- 1767, March 13 Edwards, David & Mary Evans
- 1760, June 10, Edwards, Edward & Mary Grace
- 1765, Apr. 1 Edwards, John & Ann Griffith
- 1766, Aug. 13 Edwards, John & Margaret Brown
- 1771, Aug. 8 Edwards, John & Martha Moore
- 1774, July 2, Edwards, John & Mary Hallowell
- 1765, June 19, Edwards, John & Rachel Gregory
- 1761 Nov. 11, Edwards, Joseph & Hannah Register
- 1762, July 10, Edwards, Joseph & Margaret Read
- 1768, Oct. 13 Edwards, Marshall & Martha Holmes
- 1771, May 3, Edwards, Rev. Morgan & Elizabeth Singleton
- 1772, Aug. 14, Edwards, Thomas & Hannah Roberts
- 1768, Mar. 14, Edwards, William & Hannah Hall
- 1747, Oct. -- Edwards, William & Isabel Chalmler
- 1771, Aug. 20, Edwards, William & Jane Carson
- 1768, Aug. 1, Edwards, William & Mary White
- 1770, May 10, Edwards, William & Susannah Albertson
- 1774, Sep. 25 Fox, Abraham & Sophia Wasseman
- 1746, July -- Fox, Ann & Alexander Chambers
- 1775, June 28, Fox, Catherine & Jeremiah Much
- 1775, June 20 Fox, Francis & Sarah Thomson
- 1744, March -- Fox, John & (--?--)
- 1772, March 17, Fox, John & Elizabeth Gardiner
- 1762 Nov. 13, Fox, John & Judah Lanniell
- 1774, July 6 Fox, Mary & John Rasberry
- 1766, Dec. 31 Fox, Mary & Thomas Procter
- 1762, Dec. 8, Fox, Mary & Thomas Roberts
- 1771, Nov. 18, Fox, Peter & Catharine Jones
- 1748, Aug. 15 Fox, Thomas & (--?--)
- 1773 Aug. 16 Galbraith, Robert & Mary Brannon
- 1765 Aug. 28, Galbraith, Samuel & Margaret Miloy
- 1774, June 16 Galbreath, Archibald & Mary Galbreath
- 1768, March 17 Harbert, Ann & James Willson
- 1746, May -- Harbert, Benjamin & (--?--)
- 1767, Aug. 3, Harbert, Michael & Ellis Richards / Ellis Richards & Machael Harbert
- 1761, Apr. 6 March, Catharine & Jacob Baker
- 1770, Dec. 26 Rittenhouse, Benjamin & Elizabeth Bull
- 1772, Dec. 26 Rittenhouse, David & Hannah Jacobs
- 1768, June 6 Rittenhouse, Mary & Thomas Morgan
- 1744, March 26 Fox, John & Catharine Roche, Christ Church, Philadelphia
- 1748, April 15, Fox, Thomas & Anne Woodward, Christ Church, Philadelphia
Prowell, George. A Brief History of York County, York, PA: Prowell, 1906.
Soon after William Penn made his treaty with the Indians at Philadelphia in 1682, under the famous elm tree, he laid off the eastern part of his province into three counties, Chester, Philadelphia and Bucks. In 1696 an emissary was sent to central New York, the seat of government of the Five Nations of Indians, who by right of conquest over the native tribes along the Susquehanna, claimed the territory of what is now Central Pennsylvania. A provisional treaty was made January 15, 1696, with the five nations for all the tract of land lying on both sides of the Susquehanna. This treaty was confirmed by the Susquehannock Indians September 18, 1700, in a deed given by two chiefs of that tribe. But the Conestoga Indians, a small tribe located along the river a few miles south of the present site of Columbia, claimed that the Indians mentioned above had no right to make a treaty conveying the lands to the proprietor of Pennsylvania. William Penn, upon his second trip to America, visited the Conestoga Indians and in the presence of their chiefs, unfolded the deed or parchment; laid it on the ground before them and with the gentle words of a loving parent, said: "The lands along the Susquehanna shall tie in common between my people and your people and we will dwell in peace together."
In 1722, four years after the death of William Penn, Sir William Keith, governor of the province of Pennsylvania, met the chiefs of the Conestoga Indians and obtained permission to survey a tract of 2,000 acres west of the Susquehanna extending from the site of Wrightsville to the mouth of the Codorus. This he named his "Newberry Tract," which was believed to have rich mineral deposits. The same year, after another council with the Conestogas, he obtained permission of them to survey 64,000 acres of land on the west side of the river to prevent the encroachments of Maryland "squatters." Thus vast area, extending from the Susquehanna to several miles west of York, he named "Springettsbury Manor," in honor of Springett Penn, the eldest grandson of William Penn, who then was supposed to inherit the proprietory rights to the entire province; for his father, the eldest son of William Penn who had recently died in England. . . . . As the region east of the Susquehanna became settled, the county of Lancaster was laid off in 1729. It embraced its present area and included the present counties of Dauphin, Lebanon, Cumberland, York and Adams, without any well defined western and northern boundaries. Between the years 1733 and 1736, Samuel Blunston, agent of the Penns at Wright's Ferry, granted permits for settlers to locate on the Springettsbury Manor, and on the Newberry Tract. These were the first authorized settlements west of the Susquehanna. As yet these lands were not considered as purchased from the Indians, for even the five nations still claimed the rights to the western banks of the stream. They held a council in the country of the Onondagos and arranged to send twenty of their chiefs to Philadelphia, where, on October 11, 1736, these "red men of the forest," granted to John, Thomas and Richard Penn, "all the river of Susquehanna and all the lands on the west side of said river, to the setting of the Sun." After the treaty of 1736 was confirmed in Philadelphia, the fertile lands west of the Susquehanna were rapidly settled, and in August, 1749, the county of York, embracing Adams, and in 1750, Cumberland, covering a large area of territory, were organized as the fifth and sixth counties of Penn's princely domain.
An energetic and progressive class of Scotch-Irish Presbyterians took up most of the lands in the lower end of the county, and the region now Adams county. The rich limestone lands, extending from Wrightsville to Hanover and beyond, were settled by Germans of the Lutheran, Reformed, German Baptist and Mennonite faith. They came in large numbers, most of them direct from the Fatherland, the Palatinate country of the lower Rhine, or the German portion of Switzerland. Of the 6,000 people in York county in 1749, fully one-half were Germans, a thrifty, frugal and industrious people, who came to Pennsylvania by the invitation of the distinguished founder, William Penn.
The region north of the Conewago creek was settled by intelligent Quakers from Chester and Lancaster counties and New Castle county, Delaware. They, too, came rapidly and soon populated the northern part of the county. A number of them settled in and around York, which was founded in 1741 under the Quaker rule; for the Society of Friends, or Quakers, controlled the province of Pennsyvlania nearly a hundred years after the first landing of Penn. The Friends organized their meetings and built houses of worship in Newberry and Warrington townships immediately after the first settlement.
In 1739, the same year that the Monocacy Road was laid out through the present sites of Wrightsville, York and Hanover, to the vicinity of Frederick, Maryland, the provincial assembly of Pennsylvania passed a special act, which empowered the county court at Lancaster to "lay off that portion of Lancaster county west of the Susquehanna into townships." Under the provisions of this act, in 1739, the township of Hellam, which originally included most of the present York County, and Pennsborough Township, embracing all of Cumberland County, was laid out without any surveyed western boundaries. Soon thereafter the first named township was divided into Upper Hallam and Lower Hallam. When the Indian treaty was confirmed by the provincial authorities at Philadelphia in 1736, the rightful authority of Lancaster County extended west of the Susquehanna. From that date until 1739, the officers of Hempfield Township, which included the present site of Columbia, exercised authority on this side of the river. . . . During the first thirty years after 1739, the oldest township in this county was called "Hallam." In 1742 the townships of Manchester, Newberry and Shrewsbury were laid out by Thomas Cookson, deputy surveyor. Manchester extended north to the Conewago Creek and had no well defined western boundary. Newberry then included the present Fairview township. In 1783 it contained more inhabitants than the town of York, or any township in the county. Shrewsbury included the present Hopewells and Springfield townships. In 1745 Lower Hallam township was organized into Chanceford, embracing Lower Chanceford and Fawn, including Peach Bottom. Warrington was laid out in 1744. Monaghan in 1745. Dover, Codorus, Paradise and Manheim in 1747. All the foregoing townships were established by the Lancaster county court. Heidelberg was laid out in 1750; York, 1753; Windsor, 1757; Hopewell, 1767; West Manchester, 1800; Washington from Warrington, and Fairview from Newberry in 1803; Lower Chanceford from Chanceford, 1805; Franklin, in 1809; Peachbottom from Fawn, in 1815; Conewago from Dover, in 1818; Springgarden from Hellam and York, in 1822; Carroll from Monaghan, in 1831; Springfield from Shrewsbury, in 1835; Lower Windsor from . . .
The inhabitants of York County after the defeat of the French at Fort Duquesne were never endangered by incursions from the Indians. They turned their attention to the arts of Peace. The little town on the Codurus received a new impetus of life. Many new houses were built and the population was soon increased to 1,500. But there was trouble ahead for these honest burghers of York and the tillers of the soil in the entire county and all over the thirteen American colonies, which had been founded and settled by authority of the English Government. . . .
Meetings were held in opposition to the laws which were being enforced by the King and Parliament. . . . One of these convened at York in 1774, being presided over by Michael Swope, afterward a Colonel in the Revolution. At this meeting it was decided by unanimous vote that the inhabitants of York County would support their brethren in Philadelphia and other parts of the colonies in asking for redress, and relief for the distressed condition of the inhabitants of Boston. Delegates were appointed to attend the first Provincial Conference at Philadelphia. James Smith attended this Conference and, soon after his return home, organized in York, in 1774, the first military company in America to oppose British oppression and to defend the rights of the colonists.
Waite, Frances. The Bucks County Intelligencer & General Advertiser, Marriage Notices, Vol. I, 1804-1834, Doylestown, PA: Bucks County Genealogical Society, nd
Newspapers are a major source of information concerning marriage dates before marriage licenses were required by Pennsylvania law between 1852 and 1854 and from 1885 to the present. Church records, minister's records, Justice of the Peace dockets, the family Bible, marriage certificates and other items contain marriage records. However, many of these are lost or unavailable for research, making the newspaper notices the most systematic source of information for the pre-1885 time period in Bucks County.
- Bucks County Intelligencer & General Advertiser, weekly, 1827-1886
- Daily Intelligencer, daily, 1886+
- Bucks County Patriot
- Pennsylvania Correspondent & Farmers Advertiser, 1804-
- Doylestown Democrat, 1816-?
Johnson
- Agnes (see John Cope) 1 Aug. 1804
- Ann (see Nathan Brown) 6 Apr. 1815
- Ann (see Thos. Paxson) 22 Oct. 1817
- Ann (see Samuel J. Edgar) 24 Feb. 1831
- Anthony to Elizabeth d/o Edward Foulke of Quakertown by Everard Foulke, Esq. 9 Feb. 1826
- Mrs. Bathsheba (see William Barber) 9 Dec. 1819
- Charles to Joanna Cheston both of Bucks Co., 17 Mar. 1825
- Charlotte (see William Ennis) 6 Nov. 1813
- David to Mary McCullough, both of Newtown by Rev. Wm. Fisher, 18 Jun 1811
- David to Eliz. Adams, both of Falls by Isaac Hicks, Esq., 15 Jan. 1818
- Edward to Mary Ann Wright both of Bristol Twp., 13 Jun 1833
- Edward to Mary Yerkes, both of Bustleton, 18 Feb. 1834
- Eliza C. (see Robert E. M'Dowell, Jr.) 31 July 1828
- Eliz. (see Samuel Scott) 22 Jul 1819
- Eliz. (see Isaac Ridge) 11 Nov. 1819
- Elizabeth (see John Hile) 9 Oct. 1814
- Elizabeth (see Chas. Hudnot) 16 Apr. 1829
- Elizabeth (see Benjamin Barton) 21 Nov. 1834
- Grace (see Matthew Rue) 21 July 1817
- Hannah (see Charles Wolf) 7 Nov. 1820
- Hannah (see Phineas Stradling) 26 Dec. 1822
- Henry to Eleanor Rodden, both of Solevay by Isaac Hicks, Esq. 6 May 1815
- Huldah (see Maj. Phineas Kelly) 22 Jan. 1818
- Jacob to Elizabeth Thompson, both of Northampton Twp., by Rev. A. Boyd, 19 Feb. 1828
- Jacob of Upper Providence Twp., Montgomery Co., to Martha d/o Jos. Johnson of Worcester, montgomery Co., by Rev. Mr. Jenkins, 19 Feb. 1828
- Jacob to Eliza Welsh both of Homesburg by Rev. Mr. Biggs, 18 Dec. 1828
- James to Elizabeth Broadnax both of Bristol Twp., by Isaac Hicks, Esq. at Newtown, 14 Jan. 1813
- James of Bristol to Ann Jolly of Newtown, by Richard Beatty, Esq. at Bloomsbury, NJ, 4 July 1823
- James of Bristol to Mrs. Mary Ann Ferree of Philadelphia by Rev. Mr. Mann in Philadelphia, 25 Nov. 1824
- James son of Jesse of Northampton to Phebe H. d/o Rev. Wm. Wetherill of Wrightstown, by Rev. Nathan Suplee, 31 Dec. 1829
- Jane (see Dr. David Forst) 3 Feb. 1811
- Jane (see Jonathan Rhoads) 28 Jan. 1824
- Jane (see David Swain) 10 Apr. 1828
- Jesse to Rachel Dungan both of Northampton by Rev. Mr. Montayne 8 Jan. 1806
- John to Hannah Piller, both of Solebury by John Shaw, Esq. 29 Aug. 1805
- John to Catharine Starling, both of Buckingham by Joshua Vansant, Esq., 19 Oct. 1807
- John to Prudence Brown both of Hatborough by Rev. Nathl. Irwin, 2 Jan. 1812
- John to Sarah Fine both of New Jersey by Rev. Heckt, 15 Jun 1820
- John to Hannah Weasel both of Falls Twp., by Jos. Burton, Esq. 17 Aug. 1829
- John to Elizabeth Seiple, both of Springfield Twp., 12 May 1833
- John H. of Bristol to Louisa Henry of Philadelphia, Rev. Jos. Jaggett in Bristol, 12 Jul 1827
- Jonathan to Euphemia Ridge both of Bensalem Twp., by Isaac Hicks, Esq. 10 Sep 1822
- Jonathan to Sarah Starkey both of New Hope by Josiah Y. Shaw, Esq., 18 Jan. 1827
- Jos. of Bristol to Margaret Leeti of Falls, by Jos. Burton, Esq., 27 Aug. 1829
- Margaret S. (see Abraham Arndt, Jr.) 15 Jun 1820
- Maria (see Geo. Sterner) 27 Nov. 1831
- Mary (see John L. Rees) 15 Dec. 1831
- Mary Ann (see Isaac Harding) 15 Sep 1829
- Mercy (see Simeon Siegfried) 26 Oct. 1827
- Olive (see Solomon Davis) 7 Sep. 1834
- Osse (see Daniel S. Afflerbach) 24 Mar. 1810
- Pamela (see Jacob Vanhart) 14 May 1815
- Peter to Sarah Vandegrift, both of Bensalem by Isaac Hicks, Esq., 23 Dec. 1813
- Phebe (see William Hallowell) 26 Dec. 1805
- Phineas to Ann Green at Morrisville, 28 Feb. 1833
- Rachel (see Samuel B. Richardson) 19 Mar. 1829
- Rebecca (see Joshua Thackeray) 25 Feb. 1813
- Rebecca (see John Cox) 12 Sep. 1816
- Rebecca (see Matthew Shepherd) 2 Dec. 1821
- Richard to Adaline Hinkle, both of Philadelphia 16 Oct. 1833
- Samuel of Bensalem to Sarah Hellings of Middletown Twp., by Rev. Mr. Boyd 25 Jun 1821
- Sarah (see John Everitt) 9 Jan. 1817
- Sarah (see Henry Wharton) 16 Oct. 1817
- Sarah (see Adam Jennerankreim) 30 Sep 1826
- Sarah (see Daniel Donley) 14 July 1832
- Sarah W. (see Thos. H. Yardley, MD) 11 Mar. 1830
- Susanna (see Asa Ridge) 2 Feb. 1832
- Thos. C. of Buckingham to Rachel Paxson of Upper Makefield Twp., by Samuel Atkninson, Esq. 16 Oct. 1828
- William to Hannah Mude, both of Bensalem, by D.L. Hogelund Esq., 18 Aug. 1814
- William to Ann Walker both of Bristol Twp., by Isaac Hicks, Esq., in Newtown, 22 Jan. 1824
- William to Mary Carver both of Solebury, 23 Nov. 1833
- William H. of Buckingham to Mary Paxson of Abington, at Friends Meetinghouse, Abington, ca. 1818, published 12 Apr. 1818
Williams, Richard & Mildred Williams, comp. Index of Berks County, Pennsylvania Wills & Administration Records 1752-1850, Danboro, PA: Williams, 1973 - available on Ancestry
Columns - Year, Name, Administrator(s), Book, Page
- 1771 Fox, Adam, Anna Maria Fox, Adm. 3, p. 59
- 1788 Fox, Andrew, John & Barbara Burkhart, Adm. 3, p. 335
- 1797 Fox, Christian, John Fox, Adm. 5, p. 133
- 1764 Fox, Jost, Adam Fox, cta, Adm. 2, p. 123
- 1764 Fox, Jost, Adam Fox, Ad. cta, Will 1, p. 157
- 1778 Fuchs, Daniel, Catharine Fuchs, Adm. 3, p. 114
- 1784 Fuchs, Jacob, Christian & John Fuchs, Adm. 4, p. 6
- 1797 Fuchs, Adam, Abraham Herb & John Fuchs, Will B, p. 482
- 1779 Fuchs, Sebastian, Elizabeth & Christian Fuchs, Will 3, p. 2
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