Janet and Robert Wolfe Genealogy --- Go to Genealogy Page for Jacob Neff --- Go to Genealogy Page for Anna Brechtbühl

Notes for Jacob Neff and Anna Brechtbühl

A biosketch reports: Jacob Neff was born on February 8, 1727 in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, Germantown. Jacob died on February 16, 1814 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Strasburg Twp. He married Anna Brackbill on August 20, 1755 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She was born on January 8, 1733 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Strasburg Twp. She was the daughter of Ulrich (Brechbuehl) Brackbill and Veronica (Fanny) Herr. Anna died on November 18, 1825 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Strasburg Twp. They had 5 known children. [1]

"Another rich section of farming land in southern Strasburg township and northern Providence township along the Big and Little Beaver Creeks, with their many small spring brooks flowing into them, formed rich bottom lands for grazing and natural grass and caused many early settlers to move into those valleys. Among the first ministers of the church living in that section was Johannes John Bowman who was one of the signers of the first conference report and who died in 1738. He owned several tracts of land. After Bowman, Preacher Jacob Neff, a son of Dr John Henry Neff and a son in law of Preacher Ulrich Brackbill, lived in this same section. He was assisted by Christian Shaub who lived near Martinsville. They were followed by Henry Brenneman who was a son of Henry Brenneman of Manor township and moved to the farm afterwards occupied by his son Henry Brenneman and also by his grandson Sheriff Henry N Brenneman. Brenneman moved into this community in 1792 and died in 1847 ... Jacob Neff, whose wife was Anna Brackbill daughter of Ulrich, served as preacher for over half a century in the southern end of the Pequea district He died in 1814 He and his co laborer Christian Shaub were largely the leaders although assisted by the Strasburg and Willow Street ministers in organizing the Black Horse district, where a small wooden meetinghouse was built in 1766. This was later used to shelter Revolutionary soldiers posted to guard the interests of the colonies in that section. Before Jacob Neff's death, Henry Brenneman was chosen as his assistant. While these early ministers of this section looked after the spiritual wants of that community, especially, their voices were often heard by the Brick and Strasburg congregations. ". [2]

From the Neff Times, Spring 2000: "Rev. Jacob Neff married Anna Brackbill, daughter of Uhlrich Brackbill and Veronica Herr. Jacob was a farmer, miller, and Mennonite minister. The family moved to Strasburg Township when Jacob purchased 46 acres from James Scott in May of 1775 for £300. At the time of this purchase, Jacob is listed "of Leacock Twp. Yeomen." The following year, on June 25, 1776, Jacob purchased an additional tract of 97 acres from James Scott called "Pulling Mill" which was patented to Scott in May of 1775 for £200. Scott was reported to have erected a fulling mill on the site as early as 1733 and sold first the mill to Jacob Neff in 1767 with the sale of the land following 9 years later. He was also taxed in Strasburg during 1771 for 200 acres, 4 horses, 4 cows, and 1 servant, but no mill is listed. Jacob would have earned this money himself since his father, Dr. Francis Neff, died in debt and the sale of his property went to settle his creditors. "Pulling Mill" cited in the deed of purchase and original Patent map should have been "Fulling Mill" or a woolen mill, though Jacob's mill was on the 46 acre tract. The property was located just to the north of Beaver Run Farm and its approximate location is shown on the accompanying map. This was later deeded to Jacob's son Jacob Jr. [A163]. [3] [4]
...
The will of Jacob Neff, Sr. [A16] was written in 1810 and he died in 1814. His will provided that his son John Neff, Sr.[A165] was to pay his wife, the widow Anna Neff, $900.00 and provide all her needs during the remainder of her natural life. The $900.00 was paid in 1815 and a release was recorded in the Lancaster County deed book records. At widow Anna Neff's death, John Sr. would receive the "mansion place" where Jacob, Sr. was living. Jacob Neff, Jr. [A163] "will receive my plantation where he now lives in Strasburg Township containing 2 tracts of land purchased from James & Rebecca Scott." These were the 97 and 46 acres with mill, mill building, pond, and water courses, etc. Jacob Sr. provided that John Neff, Sr. would have use of the spring on the property. Jacob further provided that John Sr. would "receive my 'mansion' where he lives, 200 acres purchased from Francis Brackbill, and access to water and water ditches on the south side of Little Beaver Creek on the same land devised to my son Jacob in the same way, to be shared equally." The will names Esther, wife of Jacob Weaver, Anna, wife of Francis Kindig, and Veronica, wife of Martin Barr." [5]

Research Notes:

Mennonite Notes name son John Neff with spouse Barbara Herr. [6] [7]


Footnotes:

[1] John F. Murray, A1-Line Dr. Francis and Barbara Neff (published online: Rootsweb, 2004, No longer found. Please let me know if there is a substitute for this resource).

[2] Martin G. Weaver, Mennonites of Lancaster Conference (1931), 42-43, 46.

[3] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Deed S-446 to 449, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].

[4] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Deed R-55 to 56, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].

[5] USGenWeb, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Will Abstracts (Gateway website), K-560, [USGenWeb].

[6] Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, Genealogical Card File (Lancaster, Pennsylvania), [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].

[7] Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, Genealogical Card File (Lancaster, Pennsylvania), [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].