Janet and Robert Wolfe Genealogy --- Go to Genealogy Page for Christian Hirschi --- Go to Genealogy Page for Adelheit Oade

Notes for Christian Hirschi and Adelheit Oade

Who was Oade, spouse of Christian Hirschi? Based on the will of Christian Herschi, Richard Warren Davis suggests she might be a daughter of Benedict Scholi of Friedelsheim, Germany. Other researchers have suggested that she might have been a daughter of Daniel Stauffer of Eggiwill, Bern, Switzerland, although we have seen no basis for this claim other than plausibility and the shared name of Adelheit.

1718-1729 Christian Hershey died. In his undated will which is located at Chester County, Pennsylvania [not seen]. Christian left 500 acres of land to his widow "Ati Sheli" and children "Bennadick Herse, Andreass Herse and Anna Herse". His wife might have been Adelheit Scholi, the daughter of the Anabaptist Benedict Scholi who lived at Friedelsheim, Bayern in 1672 and 1692. [1] We seek a copy of the will of Christian Hirschi for further clarification.

1660 Adelheit, daughter of Daniel Stauffer and Barbara Walli (of GlaßHüten) [2], was baptized on February 12 at Eggiwill, Bern, Switzerland with sponsors Hans Furer, Christina Stauffer, and Catharina Liedty(?). [3]

c 1661, Christian Hirschi was born at Schangnau, Switzerland, perhaps. [4]

1699-1715 This may be the same Christian Hirschi who was a tenant listed at Friedelsheim, Bayern on December 20, 1699, February 27, 1708 and October 23, 1715. [5] [6]

Christian Hershey, a Bishop in the Mennonite Church, and his three children, Benjamin, Andrew, and Anna, located in Lancanster County, Pennsylvania. [7] [8]

1717 Three ships arrived in Philadelphia with Mennonite passengers. [9] [10]. Christian Hershey, age 47, died 1720, Lancaster County, Wife, Oade, Children: Benjamin, age 21; Anna, age 19; and Andrew, age 15; have been named as being on one of the ships. [11]

1717 "The Swiss settlement (near Pequea and the Conestoga in Lancaster County) received an augmentation in 1715-17...Christian Hearsey..." Christian Hershey and Adelheit Hershey arrived in Philadelphia in August of 1717 with their two younger sons and one daughter and a large group of Mennonites. [12] [13]

1717 Christian Hersey and Hans Pupather warranted 1000 acres on the Little Conestoga Creek in Lancaster County [then Chester County] on October 14. [14] [15] [16] [17] The land was next to land of Hans Tubert, Isaac Kauffman, and Melchor Erisman. They paid £10 per C't, near Conestoga, patent dated 30,9,1717. [18] [19] [Photocopy] [Photocopy, Lancaster survey D73-156.] [20] [21]
The survey stated [22]:

"... Whereas by virtue of a warrant from my present Commissioners of Property bearing date the seven and twentieth day of September last past there was surveyed and laid out on the fourteenth day of October then next ensuing unto Hans Pupather and Christian Hearsey late of the Palatinate of the Rhine in Germany but now the Township of Strasburg in the said Province of Pennsylvania a certain Tract or Parcel of land situate in the said Township.

Beginning at a Hickory Tree at a corner of a Tract laid out to Hans Hubert Isaac Coffman & Melker Erisman thence by the same West North West Four hundred and Eighty Perches to another Hickory Tree thence North North East three Hundred and Fifty-four Perches to a third Hickory tree, thence East South East by Hans Pupather's other land Four Hundred and Fifty-four Perches to the place beginning, containing One Thousand Acres with the usual allowance of six acres on every hundred for Roads and Highways. ... for 100 pounds ... paid by the said Hans Pupather and Christian Hearsey the receipt whereof is acknowledged

1717 Christian Hersey and Hance Pupather warranted 700 acres, on the Little Conestoga Creek in Lancaster County [then Chester County], on September 27. [23] [24] [25] [26]
[Photocopy] Lancaster survey D73-158

1718 Hans Brubaker and Christian Hersey divided the tract into two parts of 500 acres each. Hans had the SSWest tract and Christian had the NNEast tract. Christian died soon after and left the tract to his heirs. [27] [Photocopy, Lancaster patents.]

1718 There were three apparently different entries naming Christian Hershy and son, perhaps this Christian and son Benjamin Hershey, on tax lists in Conestoga. "Christian Hershey and son" were on the Conestoga Twp, Lancaster County tax list, value 20 pounds. [28] "Christian Hearse & son" were taxed 5 shillings, Conestogoe Rate. [29] "Christian Hearsey and son" 30 [pounds] £0.7.6 appeared on the tax list for Conestogoe Rate, Dutch Inhabitants, Chester County, Pennsylvania. [30]

1719-1726 Tax records for the Hershey family in Conestoga [31] [32]:

1719 Christian Hourse & son value 52 pounds was taxed £0.17.4 in Conestogoe Twp. [33] [34] [35]

1720-22 Christian Hershey was not on the tax list for East Conestoga Twp and son Benedict/Benjamin was on the list. [36] [37] [38] Andrew and Benedict were listed in 1721. [39] Andrew and Benedict were listed in 1722-23. [40] [41]

1724-25 Andrew and Christian were listed on the Conestoga Twp, Lancaster County tax list. [42] [43] [44] 1724-25 Benjamin was listed. [45] 1725-26 Andrew was listed. [46]

1725 Andrew and Benjamin were listed on the Conestoga Twp, Lancaster County tax list. [47]

1726-27 Andrew and John Herey and Christian were taxed. [48] [49]

1718-1729 Christian Hershey died. In his undated will which is located at Chester County, Pennsylvania [not seen], Christian left 500 acres of land to his widow "Ati Sheli" and children "Bennadick Herse, Andreass Herse and Anna Herse". His wife might have been Adelheit Scholi, the daughter of the Anabaptist Benedict Scholi who lived at Friedelsheim, Bayern in 1672 and 1692. [50]

1729 Christian Hershey's heirs: Andrew, Benjamin, widow Ode, and daughter Ann wife of Henry Long, did remise, release, and quit claim unto Hans Brubaker their interests in the SSWest side (Hans Brubaker's tract) of the dividing line, on May 12. [51] [52]

1730 Hans Pupather and Christian Hershi received a patent for 1000 acres of land in Lancaster County, on November 30, which had been surveyed in 1717. [53] [54] [55] [56]

1733 Hans Brubaker, of Hempfield Twp, Lancaster County, and some of the heirs of Christian Hershey, late of the county of Chester, sold land to Christian's eldest son Benjamin, of Lancaster, Lancaster County, on December 21. The other heirs were youngest son Andrew (signed in german), daughter Ann wife of Herman Long, and widow and relict Ode Hershey. [57]

1734 Part of Christian Hershey's 1717 patent was surveyed to Peter Baumgarner. The tract was adjacent to land of Jacob Brubaker, Daniel Ashleman, and Hans Brubaker [Pupather]. [58] [Photocopy, Lancaster survey D82-29.] [Photocopy, Lancaster survey D82-29.]

1735 Christian and Andrew Hershey, perhaps sons of this Christian Hershey, received separate warrants for land in Lancaster County. (see their respective marriage notes for details)

1745 The will of Christian Hersha was written High Dutch. On March 27, witnesses Benjamin Hersha and John Long verified the will. Christian Hershy, son of Christian, was party to a deed in 1762, so this will must be for Christian Hirshi Sr. Since widow Oade was not named in the administration, perhaps she had recently died, which precipitated this probate proceeding for the will of Christian Hirschi Sr. [59]

1755 Three daughters of Christian Stoneman, deceased, and his first wife Elizabeth and their three husbands sold land, on January 9, to John Stoner, all of Lancaster County. The 150 acre tract on the Little Conestoga Creek; next to land of Isaac Kauffman, Melchior Erisman, and John Mires; had been sold to Christian Stoneman by Hans and Ann Brubacher on 13 May 1729. The tract was part of a 500 acre tract released by the heirs of Christian Hershey to Hans Brubacher on the day next before the date of the now recited indenture (which would have been 12 May 1729?). The heirs of Christian Hershey who released the land to Hans Brubacher were eldest son Benjamin Hershey, other son Andrew Hershey, daughter Ann and husband Herman Long, and widow Oade Hershey. Christian Stoneman died intestate and his heirs were eldest son John Stoneman deceased, minor son Christian Stoneman, minor son Jacob Stoneman, widow Elizabeth Stoneman, and three daughters Elizabeth wife of John Newcomer, Susanna wife of Jacob Brubaker, and Maria wife of Christian Hershey. The three daughters shares were three sevenths of Christian Stoneman's estate. [60]. Two wives of Christian Stoneman named Elizabeth and their children were named in the estate [61]. The 1729 sale by Hans Brubaker to Christian Stoneman was mentioned in the estate [62].

Research Notes:

One possible ancestry for Christian Hershey was suggested by early research of Richard Warren Davis [63] which named his parents as Christian Hirschi and Anna Rehs [64]. The descendants shown here are largely consistent with research of Richard Warren Davis and others, except we show an extra Benjamin Hershey generation for descendants of son Benjamin [65] [66]. Alternative ancestries have been proposed by other researchers, as noted below. I don't know which is correct [67] [68].

A different ancestry has been reported for Adelheit: "Christian Schmidt Hershey, born 1664 Emmental Switzerland; died 1729 in Conestoga Twp, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He married Adelheit Galle Stouffer 1692. Adelheit Galle Stouffer, born February 12 1659. She was the daughter of Daniel Stouffer and Barbara Neukommet Galli." [69]

Christian has also been reported to be son of Christian Hirschi born 8 January, 1641 in Schangnau, Bern, Switzerland and son of Isaac Hirschi born about 1615 in Schangnau, Bern, Switzerland and Elisabeth Schmidt.

"Hershey Family History" by Henry Hershey, 1929, reports that there were two Hershey immigrants: Bishop Christian Hershey (apparently the one in these notes) who immigrated 1709 with children Bishop Benjamin, Andrew, and Anna (page 9); and Andrew who immigrated 1719 with sons Andrew, Benjamin, and Christian (page 13). The second immigrant family (Andrew immigrated in 1719) is followed through his son Andrew, born 1702 died 1792.

Scott Funk Hershey reports 2 immigrants: Christian immigrated in 1709 with children Benjamin, Andrew, and Anna (page 17); and brothers Andrew and Benjamin who immigrated in 1719 with their father Hans and another brother Christian who arrived later (page 17). The first immigrant family (apparently the Christian Hershey in these notes) is followed 1709 Christian Hershey, a Bishop in the Mennonite Church, and his three children, Benjamin, Andrew, and Anna, located in Lancanster County, Pennsylvania. [70].

Christian Hershey (father of Bishop Benjamin, Preacher Andrew, and Preacher Christian), who died in 1720, and others applied for land in central Conestoga. [71]

Other potential parents? Unlikely:

1657 Christian Hirschi and Anna Zuricher were married on November 16 at Schangnau (recorded at Trub), Bern, Switzerland. [72]

1659 Antoni, son of Christian Hirschi and Anna Zuricher, was baptized on December 25 at Trub. [73]

1662 Niclaus and Magdalena, children of Christian Hirschi and Anna Zuricher, were baptized on January 24 at Trub. [74]

1663 Christen, son of Christian Hirschi and Anna Zuricher, was baptized on December 28 at Trub. [75]

1690 Christen Hirschi and Elsbeth Fasler(?) were married on May 8 at Trub (something) zu Signa. [76]


Footnotes:

[1] Richard Warren Davis, Mennosearch.com Family Notes, Hershey B2, [Website].

[2] Janet and Robert Wolfe, Genealogy Page for Daniel Stauffer, spouse of Barbara Walli, [JRWolfeGenealogy].

[3] Kirchenbüch 1, Bern, Eggiwil, Taufrodel Nr. 1, 1648 - 1697, K1-67, 2 from top, [BernStateArchivesImage], [BernStateArchivesCatalog].

[4] Richard Warren Davis, Mennosearch.com Family Notes, Hershey B2, [Website].

[5] Gail Breitbard, "Some Names from the 1725 Pequea Tax Lists, Lancaster County, PA. (Conestoga Township)," The Lost Palatine 35 (1986), 7-11.

[6] Richard Warren Davis, Mennosearch.com Family Notes, Hershey B2, [Website].

[7] Scott Funk Hershey, History and Records of the Hershey Family from the Year 1600 (New Castle, PA: The Petite Book Company, 1913), 16, [InternetArchive].

[8] Henry Hershey, Hershey Family History (Mennonite Publishing House, 1929), 9, [GoogleBooks].

[9] Ralph B. Strassburger, William J. Hinke, ed., Pennsylvania German Pioneers, Vol. 1 (1934, Pennsylvania German Society), xvii, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].

[10] Minutes of the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania, Vol. 3 (1852), 29, [HathiTrust].

[11] Richard Warren Davis, "Swiss and German Mennonite Immigrants from the Palatine, 1704-1717," Mennonite Family History 13 (1994), 9-16, at 14.

[12] I. Daniel Rupp, History of Lancaster County (1844), 117, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive], [GoogleBooks].

[13] Richard Warren Davis, Mennosearch.com Family Notes, Hershey B2, [Website].

[14] Pennsylvania Records of the Land Office, RG-17, Old Rights index, Chester County, 1682-1740. (series #17.78), page 70, item 25, [PAHistoricalMuseum].

[15] Bureau of Land Records, Pennsylvania Land Patent Books, Patent A5-268, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].

[16] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, D73-156, [PA Survey Map], [PASurveyBooksIndex].

[17] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, D82-{5}, Survey D82-29, [PA Survey Map], [PASurveyBooksIndex].

[18] William Henry Egle, Pennsylvania Archives, Second Series, Volume 19. (Minutes of the Board of Property, Volume 1) (1890), 622, [InternetArchive].

[19] William Henry Egle, Pennsylvania Archives, Second Series, Volume 19. (Minutes of the Board of Property, Volume 1) (1890), 628, [InternetArchive].

[20] John F. Meginness et al, Biographical annals of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[21] John F. Meginness et al, Biographical annals of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[22] Phares Brubaker Gibble, History and Genealogy of the Brubaker, Brubacher, Brewbaker Family in America (1951, reprinted 1971), 37.

[23] Pennsylvania Records of the Land Office, RG-17, Old Rights index, Chester County, 1682-1740. (series #17.78), page 70, item 27, [PAHistoricalMuseum].

[24] Pennsylvania Land Patent, A5-271, [PAPatentBookLinks].

[25] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, D73-158, dated 27 November, 1717, [PA Survey Map], [PASurveyBooksIndex].

[26] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Deed R-187 to 190, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].

[27] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Deed R-187 to 190, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].

[28] H. Frank Eshleman, "Assessment Lists and Other Documents of Lancaster County Prior to the year 1729," Historical Papers and Addresses of the Lancaster County Historical Society 21, No.7 (1916), 155-194, at 163, 1718, 10 from top, [HathiTrust].

[29] William Henry Egle, Notes and Queries Historical Biographical and Genealogical Relating Chiefly to Interior Pennsylvania, Reprint First and Second Series in two Volumes, Vol. 2 (1895), 132, 1718, left column, 9 from bottom, [GoogleBooks].

[30] Chester County, Pennsylvania Tax Records, 1718, right column, 4 from bottom, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].

[31] Tax list of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 1718-1726 (viewable only at FamilySearch libraries), [FamilySearchImage], [FSCatalog].

[32] Tax list of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 1718-1726 (viewable only at FamilySearch libraries), [FamilySearchImage], [FSCatalog].

[33] Chester County, Pennsylvania Tax Records, page 11, left column, 14 from top, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].

[34] Chester County, Pennsylvania Tax Records, 1719, page 24, column 2, 19 from top, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].

[35] H. Frank Eshleman, "Assessment Lists and Other Documents of Lancaster County Prior to the year 1729," Historical Papers and Addresses of the Lancaster County Historical Society 21, No.7 (1916), 155-194, at 159, 1719-20, listed as Christian Houser & son, 29 from top, [HathiTrust].

[36] H. Frank Eshleman, "Assessment Lists and Other Documents of Lancaster County Prior to the year 1729," Historical Papers and Addresses of the Lancaster County Historical Society 21, No.7 (1916), 155-194, at 1611, 720-21, 19 from top, [HathiTrust].

[37] Chester County, Pennsylvania Tax Records, 1720 page 23, right, top, Benedictus, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].

[38] H. Frank Eshleman, "Assessment Lists and Other Documents of Lancaster County Prior to the year 1729," Historical Papers and Addresses of the Lancaster County Historical Society 21, No.7 (1916), 155-194, at 166, 1721, 11 from top, [HathiTrust].

[39] Chester County, Pennsylvania Tax Records, 1721, page 3, right, Benedict 19 from top, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].

[40] Chester County, Pennsylvania Tax Records, 1722, left page, left column, middle third down, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].

[41] H. Frank Eshleman, "Assessment Lists and Other Documents of Lancaster County Prior to the year 1729," Historical Papers and Addresses of the Lancaster County Historical Society 21, No.7 (1916), 155-194, at 169, 1722-23, 26 from top, two lines, [HathiTrust].

[42] Chester County, Pennsylvania Tax Records, 1724, page 34, Andrew 14 from bottom, Christian 2 from bottom, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].

[43] H. Frank Eshleman, "Assessment Lists and Other Documents of Lancaster County Prior to the year 1729," Historical Papers and Addresses of the Lancaster County Historical Society 21, No.7 (1916), 155-194, at 174, 1724-25, [HathiTrust].

[44] H. Frank Eshleman, "Assessment Lists and Other Documents of Lancaster County Prior to the year 1729," Historical Papers and Addresses of the Lancaster County Historical Society 21, No.7 (1916), 155-194, at 180, [HathiTrust].

[45] H. Frank Eshleman, "Assessment Lists and Other Documents of Lancaster County Prior to the year 1729," Historical Papers and Addresses of the Lancaster County Historical Society 21, No.7 (1916), 155-194, at 173, 1724-25, [HathiTrust].

[46] H. Frank Eshleman, "Assessment Lists and Other Documents of Lancaster County Prior to the year 1729," Historical Papers and Addresses of the Lancaster County Historical Society 21, No.7 (1916), 155-194, at 177, [HathiTrust].

[47] Chester County, Pennsylvania Tax Records, 1725, page 5 right column, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].

[48] Chester County, Pennsylvania Tax Records, 1726, page 6, right column, Andrew+John bottom half, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].

[49] H. Frank Eshleman, "Assessment Lists and Other Documents of Lancaster County Prior to the year 1729," Historical Papers and Addresses of the Lancaster County Historical Society 21, No.7 (1916), 155-194, at 184, 1727, [HathiTrust].

[50] Richard Warren Davis, Mennosearch.com Family Notes, Hershey B2, [Website].

[51] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Deed R-187 to 190, at 189, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].

[52] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Deed QQ-517 to 519, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].

[53] Pennsylvania Land Patent, A5-271, [PAPatentBookLinks].

[54] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Deed R-187 to 190, at 188, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].

[55] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Deed X-551 to 557, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].

[56] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Deed QQ-517 to 519, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].

[57] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Deed R-187 to 190, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].

[58] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, D82-29, [PASurveyBookLinks].

[59] Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994, Lancaster, Will A-98, image 53, [FamilySearchImage].

[60] Recorder of Deeds, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book D, 240-242, [240], [241], [242], [FHLCatalog].

[61] Recorder of Deeds, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book D, 235-240, [235], [236], [237], [238], [239], [240], [FHLCatalog].

[62] Recorder of Deeds, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book G, 139-142, [139], [140], [141], [142], [FHLCatalog].

[63] Richard Warren Davis, Mennosearch.com Family Notes, Scholli/Shelley person 1, Hershy B2, [Website].

[64] Janet and Robert Wolfe, Genealogy Page for Christian Hirschi, spouse of Anna Rehs, [JRWolfeGenealogy].

[65] Daniel K. Cassel, History of the Mennonites (1888), 299, [InternetArchive].

[66] Martin G. Weaver, Mennonites of Lancaster Conference (1931), 40.

[67] Frederick Lewis Weis, The colonial clergy of the middle colonies, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania 1628-1776 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co, 1978), 72, [GoogleBooks].

[68] Luther Reily Kelker, History of Dauphin County, Vol. 3 (1907), 597, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust].

[69] Lawrence Berger-Knorr, The Relations of Milton Snavely Hershey (2005), 13, person 65, [GoogleBooks].

[70] Scott Funk Hershey, History and Records of the Hershey Family from the Year 1600 (New Castle, PA: The Petite Book Company, 1913), 59, [InternetArchive].

[71] Ira David Landis, The Lancaster Mennonite Conference: History and Background (1956), 56.

[72] Staatsarchivs des Kantons Bern, K Trub 21, Eherodel, 1629 - 1750, 31, bottom right, [BernStateArchivesImage], [BernStateArchivesCatalog].

[73] Staatsarchivs des Kantons Bern, K Trub 3, Taufrodel, 1640 - 1674, 197, [BernStateArchivesImage], [BernStateArchivesCatalog].

[74] Staatsarchivs des Kantons Bern, K Trub 3, Taufrodel, 1640 - 1674, 219, [BernStateArchivesImage], [BernStateArchivesCatalog].

[75] Staatsarchivs des Kantons Bern, K Trub 3, Taufrodel, 1640 - 1674, 237, [BernStateArchivesImage], [BernStateArchivesCatalog].

[76] Staatsarchivs des Kantons Bern, K Trub 21, Eherodel, 1629 - 1750, 74, top left, [BernStateArchivesImage], [BernStateArchivesCatalog].