c 1700 Cornelis Boumeester, View of Rotterdam.
A tile painting, composed of 33 Delft tiles (trimmed).
Courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston [8]
1691 Johannes Wildasin was born about this time, based on his immigration in 1739 at age 48.
1739 Johannes Wilderson immigrated at age 48 on February 7, 1739 to Philadelphia from Cowes, England and Rotterdam on the ship "Jamaica Galley" Robert Harris was the ship's Captain. Johannes Wiltensinn took the oath to the government. [1] [2] [3] [4] A biosketch of great-grandson Samuel Wildasin, published soon after his death reported "his grandfather [this refers to Samuel, son of Johannes, according to our research] having emigrated from Germany to this country prior to the Revolutionary War, when only eight years of age." [5] This suggests that son Samuel may have been on the ship with Johannes, which came from Germany. [6] [7]
1739 Johannes Wildasin and his family settled in the Lake Marburg area of Manheim Twp, York County, Pennsylvania in the Fall. This area is near Hanover, York County, where the Wildasin Meeting House and graveyard are found. [16] [17] [18] [19]
1740 George Carl Wildensinn, son of Johannes Wildensinn, was born on January 6, 1740. He was baptized on May 29, 1740 at a Lutheran church in Conewago, Pennsylvania. George Carl Barnitz was the sponsor. [20] [21] [22]
The births and baptisms of two children were recorded at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church [23]:
1743 Cathrina Barbara Wildensin, daughter of John Wildensin, was born on August 28, 1743. She was baptized the same year at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, York County, Pennsylvania with sponsors Elias Daniel Barnitz and Catherine Barbara Barnitz. [24] [25] [26] [27]
1747 Joh. Jacob Wildensin, son of John Wildensin, was born on October 8, 1747. He was baptized on April 27, 1747 at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, with witness Hans Jacob Scherer, wittwer [widower]. [28] [29] [30]
1754 John Wildasin may have died about this time.
1763 Henry Jung, child of Carl Jung and Elizabetha Jung, was baptized on January 15, 1764 at St Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Hanover, York County, Pennsylvania with sponsors Catharina Wildasin and Henry Eckert, both single. Henry Jung was born on December 26, 1763 in Pennsylvania. [31] Perhaps the female sponsor was daughter Catharine, who would soon marry George Mulheim.
1764 Catharine Wildasin paid [retroactive?] interest and quit rent fees commencing March 17, 1748 for land granted by a warrant dated 1764. [32]
1764 Catharine Wildesin entered a caveat at the land office, on March 6. [33]:
Catharine Wildesin enters a caveat agt. the acceptance of any Survey made or to be made for Geo. Stevenson or other Person on a Tract of Land in Manheim Township, York, which was Settled and Improved by her late Husband John Wildesin, who Dyed possess'd of it & She on his Death intestate applyed for a Proprietary Warr't for it in trust for herself and his Children & Paid said Stevenson the Proprietary Dues of £5 0 0 & also the Office fees ye 19th February, 1756, as by s'd Stevensons Receipt Appears.
1764 Catherine Wildesin of the county of York, widow of John Wildesin, and her children by him, were granted a warrant for 100 acres of land in Manheim Twp. The land was improved and had been settled since 1748. The warrant was dated on June 26. [34] [35]
Whereas Catherine Wildesin of the County of York Widow hath requested that we would allow her to take up one hundred acres of Land in trust for herself and Children by her late Husband John Wildesin, including the said John's Improvement adjoining Joseph Shirk, John DeGrange and Tobias Steyer in Manheim Township [for which 100 As of land the said Catherine on the 19 day of February 1756 pad into the hands of George Stevenson Deputy Surveyor of the said County Five Pounds towards our purchase money who then gave his Rect for the same which is now produced] …
the land for which ? ? granted having been settled upwards of Sixteen Years ago, the Interest and Quit Rent is to Commence from 17? of March 1748. …
1764 A land survey of two adjacent tracts, returned on July 26, 1809 (the year the patent was issued for the combined tracts) named Catharine Wildasine as the owner of a 165.9 acre tract named "Meadow Land" with an unnamed river running through it [perhaps the Codorus River]. George Charles Wildesine had an adjacent 163 acre tract called "Chesnut Hill". [36] A survey dated December 19, 1766, recorded the tract named "Chesnut Hill" for Samuel Wildesine in right of George Charles Wildesine. [37] A survey dated December 19, 1766, recorded the tract named Meadow Land for Samuel Wildesine in right of Catherine Wildesine. Adjacent land was for Samuel Wildesine in right of George Charles Wildesine. Other adjacent lands were held by John Aplee, John Scholl, and George Ross & Com. [38] A survey of the Chesnut Hill tract was dated July 13, 1676, perhaps for George Mülheim, now (November 21, 1838) in the hands of Christian Mülheim. [39] [40] A survey of an adjacent tract called "Wolf's Delight" for Henry Hoff in right of Tobias Styer was dated February 5, 1768 and showed adjacent lands of Samuel Wildesine and George Wildesine. [41]
1765 George Charles Wildasin paid [retroactive?] interest and quit rent fees commencing March 1, 1758 for land granted by a warrant dated 1765. [42]
1765 George Charles Wildasin received a warrant for 120 acres of land in Manheim Twp, York County, Pennsylvania. The warrant was dated April 30. [43] [44]
adjoining John Deckrosh Samuel Wildesin & John Sherrick in Manheim Township in the said County [York]. … quit rent of one half penny sterling for every acre thereof to commence from 1st March 1758.
By special Order - Interest & Quit Rent from 1st March 1758:
1809 Jacob Peter Wildasin and George Charles Wildasin [their son] received a patent for the land (166 acres) in 1809. [45] [46]
Know ye that in consideration of monies paid by Catharine Wildasin and George Charles Wildesine unto the late Proprietaries at the granting of the Warrants herewinafter mentioned and of the sum of Five hundred and fifty nine dollars and sixty nine cents now paid by Jacob Peter & George Wildasin of York County into the treasury Office of this Commonwealth there is granted … a tract of land called "Medow land" & "Chesnut Hill" situate in Manheim Township York County … by land of John Apple … by land of John Sholl … by land of George Ross Company … by land of George Martin … to the beginning … in pursuance of two warrants one dated the 26th June 1764 granted to the said Catharine Wildesine the other dated the 30th April 1765 granted to the said George Wildesine whose rights to the above described tracts of land by virtue of sundry good conveyances in law became vested in the said Jacob Peter and George Wildasin.
A brief history of Manheim Township reports [47]:
The first counties in Pennsylvania were established in 1681 under a charter granted to William Penn by Charles II, King of England. Settlement occurred mainly east of the Susquehanna River until the conclusion of the Indian Treaty of 1736, when the limits of Lancaster County were extended indefinitely westward. These fertile lands were soon occupied by immigrants from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Germany. During the period from 1739 to 1743, a colony of Germans from the Palatinate and a colony of Dunkers or German Baptist Brethren from the Upper Rhine settled in the region of present day Manheim Township
In 1740, Michael Danner, a leader among the Dunkers, purchased from the heirs of William Penn, a large tract of land within the present limits of Manheim and adjoining townships. When the Township boundaries were established in 1747, Danner requested to the Lancaster court that it be named "Manheim " after the historic old town of Manheim on the Rhine. He also headed a petition of German Signers for the organization of a new county seat west of the Susquehanna River and was appointed to a five member commission to lay out the County of York in 1749.
Research Notes:
Unverified: Several researchers name Catharine Barnitz as the spouse of Johannes Wildasin, perhaps because two Wildasin baptisms were sponsored by members of the Barnitz family. We seek documentation for this potential relationship.
Note that there is a 10 year gap in births between Samuel and George Charles, sons of Johannes Wiltensinn. Perhaps Johannes was a widow when he came to America with son Samuel and subsequently married Catharine in Pennsylvania.
Some of the notes above are edited from a story titled "Wildasin family arrives in America", Attributed to Arthur H. Laube. [48]
Several unverified family traditions have been reported:
"Johannes was born in 1691 in the old Duchy of Hess, [Baden] Germany …" [49]
"He [Johannes] was accompanied by his wife Catherine and their nine year old son Samuel." [50] A grandson of Samuel reported that "his grandfather [Samuel, son of Johannes] having emigrated from Germany to this country prior to the Revolutionary War, when only eight years of age." [51] This suggests that son Samuel may have been on the ship with Johannes, which came from Germany. I seek evidence that a wife was also on the ship. Perhaps there is a list of passengers who left Germany.
"It is believed that Johannes died about 1754 and that his widow remained in the area … until her death in the late 1760's." [52] Catharine was a widow in 1764.
"According to family history, Johannes was also accompanied by two of his brothers, one of which settled in Maryland and the other settled in western York county, Pennsylvania." [53]
Unverified: c1690 Johannes Wittensinn and his family lived near Alzey, the county seat of a county of the same name. Kresse or County Alzey was in the northeast corner of Königlich Bayrischen Lande am Rhein, The Kingdom of Bavaria's Country on the Rhine, later known as Pfalz. They spoke Rheinfränkisch, the local German dialect. He was born about 1690. [http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/PFALZ/2004-10/1097798696, Arthur Laube]
"Soon after they arrived in Philadelphia three families of Wildasins, Matters, and Runkles joined several others of like mind and religion and determined to claim land on the western frontier, west of the Susquehanna River. Even though they knew that it might be years before Penn's Proprietors could issue them warrants, survey their land and patent it to them, these Wildasin, Matter and Runkle families came seeking land on the eastern edge of Digges Choice. There was no one else there to contest their choice. They chose a large parcel of well watered fertile land, and divided it up into several individual tracts of 100 to 200 acres. Having chosen the location of their cabins they marked their boundaries, cleared their fields and built cabins and barns. They joined each other in prayer, thanking God for blessing them with this abundance. And as they checked their rifles to make sure they were ready for use, they prayed for Divine help in protecting their claim. As soon as they had provided shelter for their families and their animals they began to attend St. David's Church (Sherman's) which was organized in 1753." [http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/PAYORK/2001-05/0989102846, Arthur Laube]
1754 Georg and Anna Maria Matter were at St. David's Church (Sherman's), March 24, 1754, when their neighbors, Jacob and Ann Maria Runckel, Baptized their son Johannes. The church is on the present day border of Pennsylvania and Maryland, about 6 miles south of the Matter and Runkel property. The tracts of land marked out and claimed by Jacob Runkle, George Morter, and George Wildisin were contiguous - as documented in surveys 516, 517 and 521. Runkle's land is in Manheim Twp. The other two tracts are divided by the present day Manheim/West Manheim Twp border. [http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/PAYORK/2001-05/0989102846, Arthur Laube]
Several land surveys and warrants for neighbors of the Wildasin family are gathered here:
1759 A land survey for Jacob Shelling in Manheim Twp showed adjacent lands held by Wildesin Heirs and by Jacob Runkel. [54]
1767 Jacob Runkle received a warrant for land in Manheim Twp dated July 23. [55]
1767 George Matter received a warrant for land in Manheim Twp dated July 20, 1767. [56] A survey of the land of George Marter showed Samuel Wildesine, Jacob Runkle, and Ross & Co as adjacent land owners. [57]
1763 Penn and Lord Baltimore, in December 1763, agreed to the eastern starting point of the long disputed boundary. This starting point had been established by Mason and Dixon and the surveyors then began to extend the line to the west and the location of the boundary beyond the Susquehanna River was apparent. Penn could now issue warrants to such early settlers as the Wildasin, Matter and Runkle families. [http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/PAYORK/2001-05/0989102846, Arthur Laube]
1767 Veronica Hass, child of Matthäus Hass and Anna Sophia Hass, was born on January 16, 1767 and was baptised on February 5, 1767 at St Jacobs (Stone), Lutheran and Reformed church, Brodbecks, York County, Pennsylvania. Veronica Wildensinnin and Peter Ohlinger were sponsors. [61]
To do:
translated and edited by C. T. Zahn in cooperation with Frederick S. Weiser
"The earliest records of Saint David's, Sherman's Church, West Manheim Township, York County, Pennsylvania"
Der Reggeboge = The Rainbow - v. 11-12 (1977-1978) - v. 11, no. 2 (summer 1977)
p. 9-18 in v. 11 no. 2
Contains baptisms 1751-1769, 1774; marriages 1754; deaths 1753. Includes notes on pioneers.
Not available at UM
1789 Samuel Wildasin, George Aple, and Henry Danner were witnesses to the will of John Eply, of Manheim Twp. Jacob Barnitz, Esq was the registrar. The will was dated August 1. [62]
Other sources about Wright's Ferry: [63] [64] [65] [66] [67] [68]
[1] I. Daniel Rupp, A Collection of Upwards of Thirty Thousand Names of German, Swiss, Dutch, French and other Immigrants in Pennsylvania from 1727 to 1776, 2nd ed. (1875), 131, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust].
[2] Ralph B. Strassburger, William J. Hinke, ed., Pennsylvania German Pioneers, Vol. 1 (1934, Pennsylvania German Society), 252, of 252-3, citing List 68 C, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].
[3] John B. Linn and William Henry Egle, Pennsylvania Archives, Second Series, Volume 17. (Oath of Allegiance 1727-1775) (1890), 181, bottom, left, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[4] John B. Linn and William Henry Egle, Pennsylvania Archives, Second Series, Volume 17. (Oath of Allegiance 1727-1775) (1890), 182, bottom, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[5] Chapman Brothers, Portrait and Biographical Album of Muscatine County, Iowa (Chicago: Acme Publishing Co. 1889), 439, [GoogleBooks].
[6] U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s, [AncestryRecord].
[7] U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s, [AncestryRecord].
[8] Cornelis Boumeester, View of Rotterdam, A tile painting, composed of 33 Delft tiles. (about 1700–20, Courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston), [MFA], [MFA terms of use].
[9] 1675 Francis Place, Cowes Castle on the Isle of Wight (Used with permission from the Victoria and Albert Museum), [Victoria and Albert Museum].
[10] Thomas Jefferys, George Heap, An east prospect of the city of Philadelphia; taken by George Heap from the Jersey shore (London: 1768), [LibraryOfCongress], [LibraryOfCongress Catalog].
[11] Nicholas Scull, George Heap, A Map of Philadelphia and Parts Adjacent with a Perspective of the State House (Philadelphia: 1752), [LibraryOfCongress], [LibraryOfCongress Catalog].
[12] Thomas Kitchin, A map of the province of Pensilvania (London: 1756), [LibraryOfCongress Map].
[13] Susquehanna National Heritage Area, [URL].
[14] Pennsylvania State University, Palmer Museum of Art, [URL].
[15] Metropolitan Museum of Art, [URL].
[16] Steve Gilland, Early Families of Frederick County Maryland and Adams County Pennsylvania (Heritage Books: 2006), 69, [GoogleBooks].
[17] Wikipedia article about Codorus_State_Park, content subject to change, the Wildasin Meeting House and graveyard are now in a state park. See the 1764 survey map, [Wikipedia].
[18] YouTube video tour of the Meeting house and cemetery, [URL].
[20] John Casper Stoever, Rev. F. J. F. Schantz, trans., Records of Rev. John Casper Stoever. Baptismal and Marriage 1730-1799, 14, [InternetArchive], [RootsWeb], [Stoever_Biosketch].
[21] Pennsylvania, Lutheran Baptisms and Marriages, 1730-1799, [AncestryRecord].
[22] Private Church Registers to 1800, York County, Pennsylvania, [AncestryRecord].
[23] St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, York County, Pennsylvania, FamilySearch film 20489, image 419.
[24] St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, York County, Pennsylvania, 1743-99, [AncestryRecord].
[25] St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, York County, Pennsylvania, 1743-99, [AncestryRecord].
[26] Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985, [AncestryRecord].
[27] Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985, [AncestryRecord].
[28] St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, York County, Pennsylvania, 1743-99, [AncestryRecord].
[29] St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, York County, Pennsylvania, 1743-99, [AncestryRecord].
[30] St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, York County, Pennsylvania, 1743-99, [AncestryRecord].
[31] Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, York, Hanover, St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Baptisms (1743-1865), Baum translation, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[32] Pennsylvania, Land Warrants and Applications, 1733-1952, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[33] William Henry Egle, Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, Volume 2 (Minutes of the Board of Property, Proprietary (Old) Rights) (1894), 285, [InternetArchive].
[34] Pennsylvania, Land Warrants and Applications, 1733-1952, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[35] Pennsylvania Land Warrant, York County, W-89, [PHMC Warrant].
[36] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, D03-201, [PA Survey Map], [PASurveyBooksIndex].
[37] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, D03-202, [PA Survey Map], [PASurveyBooksIndex].
[38] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, D03-203, [PA Survey Map], [PASurveyBooksIndex].
[39] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, D57-90, [PA Survey Map], [PASurveyBooksIndex].
[40] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, A-22-229, [PA Survey Map], [PASurveyBooksIndex].
[41] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, C191-163, [PA Survey Map], [PASurveyBooksIndex].
[42] Pennsylvania, Land Warrants and Applications, 1733-1952, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[43] Pennsylvania, Land Warrants and Applications, 1733-1952, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[44] Pennsylvania Land Warrant, York County, W-94, [PHMC Warrant].
[45] Bureau of Land Records, Pennsylvania Land Patent Books, H1-256, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[46] Pennsylvania Land Patent Indices, H1-256, [Patent Index].
[47] Manheim History website, [URL].
[48] Attributed to Arthur H. Laube, [URL].
[49] Steve Gilland, Early Families of Frederick County Maryland and Adams County Pennsylvania (Heritage Books: 2006), 69, [GoogleBooks].
[50] Steve Gilland, Early Families of Frederick County Maryland and Adams County Pennsylvania (Heritage Books: 2006), 69, [GoogleBooks].
[51] Chapman Brothers, Portrait and Biographical Album of Muscatine County, Iowa (Chicago: Acme Publishing Co. 1889), 439, [GoogleBooks].
[52] Steve Gilland, Early Families of Frederick County Maryland and Adams County Pennsylvania (Heritage Books: 2006), 70, [GoogleBooks].
[53] Steve Gilland, Early Families of Frederick County Maryland and Adams County Pennsylvania (Heritage Books: 2006), 69, [GoogleBooks].
[54] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, I-J-270, [PA Survey Map], [PASurveyBooksIndex].
[55] Pennsylvania Land Warrant, York County, R-100, [PHMC Warrant].
[56] Pennsylvania Land Warrant, York County, [PHMC Warrant].
[57] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, C136-40, [PA Survey Map], [PASurveyBooksIndex].
[58] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, C163-293, Jacob Runkle, [PA Survey Map], [PASurveyBooksIndex].
[59] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, A-48-180, John DeGross, [PA Survey Map], [PASurveyBooksIndex].
[60] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, B-17-127, George Ross & Co adjacent to George Marter, [PA Survey Map], [PASurveyBooksIndex].
[61] Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1708-1985, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[62] Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994, IJ-233, [FamilySearchImage].
[63] Blog by Becky Fifield, [URL].
[64] Columbia Historic Preservation Society, [URL].
[65] Lancaster Historical Society, [URL].
[66] Wikipedia article about Wright%27s_Ferry, content subject to change, [Wikipedia].
[67] Wright Ferry Mansion, [URL].
[68] York Daily Record, York, Pennsylvania, July 3, 1976, page 37, [NewspapersClip].
