Notes for Christian Good

c 1715 Christian Good, son of Peter Good, was perhaps born in Germany about this time. [1]

1727-1732: Christian Good may have immigrated to America with his father Peter Good in 1727 (at about age 12), or he may have come five years later in 1732 with brother Jacob Good and sister Anna and her husband John Musselman when they immigrated.

Christian Good first married Susanna Schmidt, perhaps. [2] Some reports suggest that she was born about 1715 and died about 1741, although this marriage and her name are undocumented.

c 1737 Christian Good and his wife, his brother Jacob Good and wife Susannah, and their sister Anna and her husband John Musselman all settled along Muddy Creek in Brecknock Twp, Lancaster County, near what would later become Bowmansville, Pennsylvania. [3] [4] [5] [6]

1738 A description of Brecknock Twp, Lancaster County reported [7]:

In 1738, the number of taxables, in Lancaster county, was 2560. About the year 1738, many emigrants from the Palatinate, Germany, settled in Brecknock township; among these were Jacob Guth, Christian Guth, who erected the first grist mill in the township; John Mussleman, Francis Diller, who erected the first distillery in Brecknock; Jacob Schneder, Francis Eckert, Herman Deis, Christopher Waldhauer, William Morris, Englishman, and some others. — S. Bowman's Letter.

1738 Christian Guth received a warrant for 200 acres of land "situate on Middle Muddy Creek, adjoining Jacob Good" [near the village of Bowmansville in Brecknock Twp] dated on June 15. Returned October 28, 1760. [8] [9] A survey showed the tract was separated from land of Jacob Good by a creek. A creek on Christian's land joined that creek. Other neighbors were George Hudson and David Jones. [10] Christian was granted warrants in 1749 and 1751 for adjacent lands. Christian's children received a patent for the tracts in 1760.

1738 Christian and brother Jacob Good owned adjacent tracts.
Brother Henry Good later purchased part of tract E-9 in Brecknock township.
(Courtesy of Donald Good website)

1738 Survey of Christian Good's tract adjacent to Jacob. [11]

Christian Good was a miller and built Good's Mill, the first grist mill in the township. It became a hub of the community. [12] [13]

Christian Good married Magdalena, based on Christian's estate records. This may have been a second marriage. [14]

1745 Christian Good was the first Mennonite minister of the area. He was ordained prior to 1745. [15]

1748 Brother Hantsch, a Moravian missionary, visited several families in Pennsylvania, including Christian and Jacob Good. His diary gave the following account of the visit [16]:

We Ride Out to Muddy Creek
Saturday, July 9, 1748: With Brother Brandmiller I rode to Muddy Creek [Moden Crick]. On the way we came to a widow's, Mrs. Rodi Herschi. She loves our Brethren genuinely, so that she was glad we had come to visit her. She has six growing children, whom it was nice to meet, for they appeared to be very agreeable children.

We also came to the mill, where Abraham Rihm had lived, wanting to visit George Brändeln, but he was not at home. His wife was most happy that we had come thither, but she gave us to understand that he had no inclination anymore for the Brethren. Then we came to the Westhöfer's, where we were quite welcome. Brother Brandmiller had appointed a sermon at his place for the morrow. …

Monday, July 11, 1748: We made our way to Michael Rang's. On the way we visited first Jacob Oberholtzer, a Mennonite. We found him mowing in the field. He showed himself friendly toward us. We were able to speak quite reasonably with him. He said too, that he had no objection to our visit, but that he liked it.

Visited next Johannes Muselman, also a Mennonite, who was just as friendly toward us. They gave us dinner. We also had an opportunity to say something of our Dear Savior, but we noticed that it was a foreign language to them.

No arguments Today!
Christian Guth's was our next stop. He is a preacher, who was quite friendly to us, and quite satisfied with us over the conversation we had on the Dear Savior. Toward the end he wanted to begin on Infant Baptism, but because we did not want to become involved in this discourse, we made it as short as we could. He directed us to his brother, Jacob Guth, who however was not at home. His wife came in at once from the fields. She was friendly to us, but we left again shortly.

1749 A warrant was granted to Christian Good, dated March 23, for 25 acres in Brecknock Twp, Lancaster County, adjacent to Hans Herman Dice (perhaps named in the 1738 description of Brecknock township). Returned December 2, 1760. [17] [18] [19] Adjacent surveys showed the tract of 25 acre tract as adjacent to lands of Christian Fry, John Herman Dice, Henry Weaver, and Richard Peters, . [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] Christian's children received a patent for the tract in 1760.

1749 land warrant to Christian Good
for land in Brecknock township adjacent to Herman Hermandice.

1750 Christian Good was taxed in Brecknock Twp, Lancaster County, for 50 acres of land, 2 corn, 2 horses, 0 mares, 2 cows. He was "able". Brother Jacob Good was also taxed. [25]

1751 Christian and Jacob (perhaps Christian's brother) Good were taxed in Brecknock Twp, Lancaster County. [26]

1751 Christian was granted two warrants, dated on October 23, for 25 acres and 96 acres. [27] [28] One survey returned 96 acres adjacent to the tract granted by the warrant of 1738. [29] The other survey returned 58 acres. [30] Christian's children received a patent for the tracts in 1760.

1754 Christian Good was taxed in Brecknock Twp, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Jacob Good was also listed. [31]

1756 Christeen Good was taxed in Brecknock Twp, Lancaster County for 100 acres, 4 corn, 2 horses, 3 cows, 2 sheep. He was on a shorter list, not labeled as an inhabitant. [32] Henry Good and John Good were named as sons of Christian Good on the tax list of Freemen (not married) in Brecknock Twp, Lancaster County. Also "Jacob Good has 2 sons of age." and "Each of Jacob Goods two sons ten shillings apiece.". [33] [34]

1757 Christian Good and brother Jacob Good were taxed in Brecknock Twp, Lancaster County. Sons Henry Good and John Good were taxed as freemen. [35]

1757 Christian Good died about August 13, in Brecknock Twp, Lancaster County [36]. "His will dated 'Muddy Creek, August 11, 1757 commences with a quotation from Hebrews 9:17, and provides for the widow, Magdalena, to keep the family together until the youngest is fourteen. The oldest son John is to be a proper example to the remainder and they are to be obedient and subject to him. He shall teach them to be honest and keep themelves from wickedness as much as possible. His will was written on his deathbed by Christian Eicher, a Mennonite neighbor, in the presence of Hans Moselman and Jacob Good." [37]. A will abstract reports that Christian Good named wife Magdalena in his will. The executors were Hans Mossmann and Christian Eker. He only mentioned one son, John, by name in his will but he had other children [38]. The will book records date 11 August, as witnessed by Jacob Good and Christian Eicher, with probate 28 October 1757 with administrators Martin Graff and John Good [39]. [40] [41]

1757 The Provincial tax list for Brecknock Twp, Lancaster County named Hans, Henry [perhaps sons of Christian, deceased], Jacob, and Peter [perhaps son of Jacob] Good. [42] [43] [44]

1758 Widdow Good [perhaps Magdalena, the widow of Christian Good], Peter Good [perhaps son of Jacob], and Jacob Good were taxed at Brecknock. [45] John Good and Henry Good [perhaps sons of Christian, deceased] were listed as freemen with their parents. [46] [47] Widow Gut was taxed for 200 acres, 30 clear, 15 grain, 4 horses, 14 horned cattle, 0 sheep, grist-mill. [48] Another listing crossed out Widdow Good, perhaps replaced by John [illegible]. [49] The corresponding list of freemen named Henry Good, but the name John Good was crossed out. [50]

1759 Hans, Henry, Jacob, and Peter Good were taxed in Brecknock Twp, Lancaster County. [51] [52] [53] [54]

1760 Son John Good et al received a patent for several tracts of land, which had been originally granted to Christian Good by warrants dated in 1739, 1749, and 1751. The patent clarifies that all of the tracts were warranted by one person named Christian Good, who lived adjacent to Jacob Good and that Christian had 17 children, which match the names and order in deeds and orphans court records related to his estate. The patent recorded the following [55] [56]:

Christian Good died in 1757 leaving seventeen children viz: John, Henry, Peter, Christian, Jacob & Samuel his sons and Ann Magdelin Barbara Mary Frances Elizabeth Susannah Ester Catharina Eve and Christiana his daughters having first made his last will and testament (without date) in the German language whereby after making some particular provisions for Magdalena his widow and that if his eldest son John should marry that he should have one hundred Acres in manner therein set forth he orders that every thing shall be divided right and equitably that one child inherit like another. And of his said will appointed Mark Graff and John Good executors who have since proved the said Will and taken upon them the execution therof as in and by the said Will and the English translation thereof remaining in the Register Generals Office (reference thereto being had) more fully appears And Whereas the said John Good the eldest son of the said Christian Good by his Deed poll of the twelfth day of February one thousand seven hundred and Sixty in order to obviate and remove any Doubts or Objections that may arise or be made touching this partition of his said Fathers Estate and to signify and declare his desire that the same Shall be held and divided amongst him and his said Brothers and Sisters and their Heirs (equally share and share alike as Tenants in Common and not as Joint Tenants) hath released unto them and their Heirs all his estate Title Claim and Demand in and to sixteen parts (the whole in seventeen equal parts being divided) of and in the Estate Real and personal of his said late Father saving to the said John Good the above mentioned Liberty of having a plantation of about an hundred acres allotted to him on the Lines of Abraham Ecker and Casper Measner's Land as in the said Will directed) as by the same Deed poll appears now at the special Instance and Request of the said Executors Widow and Children of the said Christian Good that we would be pleased to grant unto all his children and their Heirs our patent of Confirmation of and for the said four several described tracts of Land in manner hereinafter expressed. …

Close-up Map of Good patents in Brecknock Twp, Lancaster County [57]
[Photocopy, Corresponding Google map in Brecknock Twp, Lancaster County.]
[Photocopy, Overlay Google and warrant map in Brecknock Twp, Lancaster County.]
[Photocopy, Corresponding map Conestoga River watershed in Brecknock Twp, Lancaster County.] [Lancaster County Geographic Information System]

1763 Hans, Peter, Henry, Jacob, and Peter Good were taxed in Brecknock Twp, Lancaster County. Peter Good miller was the tax collector. [58] Christian Good was listed as a freeman. [59]

1769 Jacob, Peter, Christian, Henry, Peter (farmer), and Henry (carpenter)[younger brother of Christian] Good were taxed in Brecknock Twp, Lancaster County. [60] [61] Saml Good and Jacob Good were listed as freemen. [62] Hans Good was listed as an inmate (millanchiers?). [63]

1769 Magdalena Good the elder, relict of Christian Good, and all the heirs of Christian Good made extensive arrangements with John Good, the eldest son of Christian about the estate, documented in several deeds, dated May 27. The sons and daughters of Christian Good were named in these deeds. [64] [65] [66] The heirs were named, perhaps in birth order separately for sons and daughters as:

Magdalena the elder (the widow)

Sons:
John (eldest son) and wife Barbara
Henry and wife Christina
Peter and wife Anna
Christian
Jacob
Samuel

Daughters:
Leonard Cloper and wife Anna
Christian Swartz and wife Magdalena
Samuel Hoober, spouse of Christian's deceased daughter Barbara. Samuel and Barbara had a daughter Magdalena.
Mary Good
Frances (Freana) Good
Elizabeth Good
Susanna Good
Esther Good
Eve (a minor)
Catharine (a minor)
Christina(a minor)

1770 Samuel and Jacob Good were listed as inmates, or perhaps were on an unlabeled Freemen list. [67]

1772 Hans Good (gristmill), Peter Good (sawmill), Jacob Good, Henry Good, Peter Good Junior, Christian Good, Samuel Good, Jacob Good Junior, and Henry Good (carpenter) were taxed in Brecknock Twp, Lancaster County. [68]

1772 Magdalina Good was taxed in Lancaster Borough for a house and lot. [69]

1789 The distribution of the estate of Christian Good, deceased, was recorded in the Lancaster County Orphans Court records dated August 5. Perhaps the distribution occurred after the death of Christian's second wife Magdalena. [70] The heirs were named as:

Sons:
John (acting executor)
Henry
Peter
Christian
Jacob
Samuel

Daughters:
Ann wife of Leonard Cloper
Magdalena wife of Christian Swartz
Representatives of Barbara, late wife of Samuel Huber
Freana (perhaps Frances) Good
Representatives of Mary Good late wife of John Showalter
Elizabeth wife of George Klopfer
Susanna Good
Esther wife of John Johns
Eve wife of Michael Wenger
Catharine Good
Christina wife of Peter Good

Research Notes:

The 1760 land patent, 1769 deeds, and 1789 orphans court records provide relatively consistent orderings of the names of sons and daughters, suggesting that the order was based on the birth orders of the sons and daughters. The ordering of Mary and Feronica/Freana is reversed in the orphans court records. Perhaps they were twins. Henry and Magdalena were also plausibly twins. The ordering of children shown here is one possible blending of the ordering of sons and daughters into a single ordering of all children. This ordering is largely based on the research of Romaine Stauffer [71] and Ed Wevodau. Research from Ed Wevodau's website for South Central Pennsylvania Settlers is reproduced in the note below. [72]

1. Anna Good, b.c.1731: She had married Leonhard Klopfer by 27 May 1769. Only one man of that name is taxed in the region: Leonhard Klopfer of Earl tp., from 1751 to 1773, always listed as a freeholder. Presumably Leonhard & Anna had married prior to 1751. As such, I have placed her as Christian's oldest child, as no sons appears on tax lists until 1757. Their marriage likely occurred c1750. Of note: Daughter Magdalena Huber affirmed Deed II-580 on 12 Sep 1789.
2. John Good, b.c. 1733: John Good is identified in land records as Christian's oldest son. He is first taxed in 1757. He is listed as a freeman in 1757 and 1758 before being taxed as a freeholder, suggesting that he married c1759. His wife's name is given as Barbara on 27 May 1769. Concern: John should have been on the 1756 tax list (1755 is not extant). It is not unusual for young, unmarried men to appear one or two years later than expected (presumably since age verification was impossible), but it is also possible that he was born after sister Magdalena.
3. Magdalena, b. 8 Mar 1735, d. 10 May 1818: Magdalena married Christian Schwartz by 27 May 1769; Christian Schwartz is taxed in Brecknock tp. from 1769 to 1782 as a freeholder. He acquired lands adjoining the Christian Good estate. It is presumed that Christian & wife Magdalena migrated to Paxton tp., Dauphin County, c1785. They sold their Brecknock lands in 1783 and then disappeared. About the same time, a Christian Schwartz & wife Magdalena-Mennonites-purchase land in Paxton tp. in 1786 (see Dauphin Deed Q145). In the referenced indenture, John Brand's heirs granted certain land in the township to Christian Schwartz. Among the grantors are Christian Good & his wife Barbara and Samuel Good & his wife Mary, all of Brecknock tp., Lancaster County (an Abraham Brand of Brecknock tp. is another grantor). From 1769 to 1789, only one Christian Good and only on Samuel Good are taxed in Brecknock tp.-and these men are sons of Christian Good (died 1757). Logic suggests that the grantor, Christian Schwartz, is their brother-in-law. Later conveyances of the property prove that it belonged to a Christian Schwartz with a wife named Magdalena-the same couple buried in the nearby Swartz-Nissley cemetery. Magdalena's vital dates (given above) are taken from this cemetery. They fit perfectly with the projected date based on birth order. The only question: Where was Christian taxed prior to 1764? He would have been taxable by 1753, according to his tombstone date of birth. Might they have resided in Dauphin County, then moved back to Brecknock about the time when Christian Good's estate was settled?
4. Henry, b.c. 1736: Henry Good first appears in tax records in 1757, at the same time as his brother John. They could possibly be twins, or the eldest son could simply have evaded the taxman for one or two years-not uncommon in the days before recorded births. He is taxed as a freeman in 1757 and 1758, and then as a freeholder from 1759 to 1782, when he disappears. By 27 May 1769, Henry had married a woman named Christina, whom he likely married c1759. NOTE: The possibility of twins should not be ruled out in the Christian Good family. If there were twins, Henry & Magdalena are likely pairs.
5. Barbara Good, b.c. 1738: She was identified as the widow of Samuel Huber on 27 May 1769. They had one child named Magdalena. The fact that she left only one child suggests that Barbara died young. I find only one Samuel Huber in regional tax lists: Samuel Huber of Warwick tp., first taxed in 1754 as a freeholder. I presume that Samuel & Barbara married c1754, with their child Magdalena b.c. 1756. Barbara likely died young. It would appear that she married rather young-unless the Samuel Huber of Warwick tp. is a different man (certainly possible).
6. Peter Good, b.c., 1740: Peter Good is taxed in the township from 1763 to 1789+ on 100A. Another Peter Good is taxed from 1758 to 1789+ on nearly 300A, including a sawmill. At this time, I cannot determine which Peter belongs to Christian (the other Peter would be the son of Christian's brother Jacob Good). Regardless, by 27 May 1769, Peter Good (son of Christian) had married a woman named Anna.
7. Christian Good, b.c. 1742: Christian Good of Brecknock tp. is taxed from 1763 to 1789+. He was an inmate in '63; thereafter, he was taxed on land. Christian Good must have married Barbara Brand, the daughter of Joseph Brand, late of Paxton tp., Dauphin County (see the writeup on sister Magdalena above).
8. Jacob Good, b.c. 1744: The Jacob Goods of Brecknock tp. are difficult to trace at this time. I presume Christian's son to be the man taxed from 1769 to 1789+, listed as a freeman in '69-70, suggesting a 1771 year of marriage. Deed LL-261, dated 19 Aug 1786, identifies Jacob as a widower. By 20 Apr 1801, he had another wife named Frances (see Deed K3-213 or L3-363). Further research is necessary; however, the referenced indentures prove that Jacob remained in the township until at least 1802.
9. Maria Good, b.c. 1745: Maria Good was single on 27 May 1769 when he father's lands were divided. By 1789 she was listed as the deceased wife of John Schowalter. Only one John Schowalter is taxed in the region: John Schowalter of Earl tp., 1770-1789+ (freeman '69 living with his parents; inmate '72; land thereafter). The tax data suggests that John & Maria married circa 1770.
10. Feronica Good, b.c. 1745: Feronica Good was single on 27 May 1769; she was also single in 1789. She may never have married. Twins are needed in the Christian Good family-and I have assumed her to be the twin of sister Maria.
11. Samuel Good, b.c. 1747: Samuel Good was of full age but unmarried on 27 May 1769. He is taxed in Brecknock tp. from 1769-1789+, listed as a freeman in 1769-1770-suggesting a marriage circa 1771. He must have married Maria, the daughter of Joseph Brand, late of Paxton tp. (see the write-up above on sister Magdalena).
12. Elizabeth Good, b.c. 1748: Elizabeth Good was single on 27 May 1769; by 1789 she had married George Klopfer. George Klopfer is taxed in Earl tp. from 1775 to 1789+ on 120A. George appears in tax lists the same year that Leonard (see above, under sister Anna) disappears. It is presumed that George & Elizabeth married circa 1774.
13. Susanna Good, b.c. 1748: Susanna Good was single on 27 May 1769; she was also single in 1789. She may never have married. Twins are needed in the Christian Good family-and I have assumed her to be the twin of sister Elizabeth.
14. Esther Good, b.c. 1750: Esther Good was single on 27 May 1769. By 1789 she was the wife of John Tschantz. The said John Tschantz is taxed in Brecknock tp. from 1779 to 1789+. On 5 Nov 1794, Esther was now the wife of Abraham Scherck, residing in Hanover tp., Dauphin County (see Deed K3-208). The deed recounts that her first husband died intestate, leaving no issue. Of note: John Tschantz likely resided in Lampeter tp. prior to removing to Brecknock. A John Tschantz, freeman, is listed on the 1776 Lampeter tax list. Deed K3-208 helps prove that John's father resided in Lampeter tp. If this is him, they may have married c1777.
15. Eva Good, b.c. 1752: Eva Good was a yet minor on 27 May 1769. She had married Michael Wenger by 1789. Michael Wenger of Earl tp. is taxed from 1769 to 1789+. This Michael Wenger previously had a wife named Maria Graff, the daughter of Marx Graff (Ref. Deed B3-503). The referenced indenture proves that Michael & Maria had but one child, Joseph. Michael Wenger & his wife Eva (certainly Eva Good) sign an indenture dated 10 Apr 1787. I find no evidence to pinpoint when they married. Since Michael obtained land from his father in 1764, I presume that he first married around that time. Wife Maria appears to have died young. I imagine that Michael Wenger married Eva Good c1770. Deed YY-195 suggests that they may have had four children. Jacob Good of Brecknock tp. (surely the brother-in-law) is the guardian for one of Michael's children in 1795. Michael Wenger died intestate in 1794. Estate records give his wife's name as Anna. Several deed records prove the same. Unless her name was Anna Eva, this might suggest that Michael Wenger had a third wife. Regardless, his widow Anna next married Christian Oberholtzer (see Deed YY-201). Note that both Christian Oberholtzer and Michael Wenger appears as witnesses to Deed II-577, dated 28 Sep 1782, which involves the Brecknock Good family. I imagine that Michael & Eva had to be married by that date.
16. Catharina Good, b.c. 1754: Catharina Good was a yet minor on 27 May 1769; she was also single in 1789. She apparently never married. Catharina Good of Earl tp. wrote her last will & testament on 10 Oct 1814, naming brothers Jacob, Samuel, Christian, and Peter. It was probated 26 Jan 1815.
17. Christina Good, b.c. 1756: Christina Good was yet a minor on 27 May 1769; by 1789, she had married Peter Good. The Cocalico Reformed Church records the marriage of Peter Guth, single, no religion, and Christina Guth, Mennonite, daughter of Christian Guth, on 15 Dec 1777. This Peter Guth may be the son of Jacob Guth, the brother to Christian Guth/Good (died 1757). For obvious reasons, it can not be her brother or one of her nieces or nephews.

See Pennsylvania Mennonite Vital Records. [73] [74]

Letters written by Robert's grand-father and great-grandfather suggest that the search for past family history has been carried out over generations:

1916 Irby Good (Christian Good's great-great-great-grandson) wrote a letter to his brother James and explained what he knew of their ancestry. The Good ancestry back to Christian Good was summarized, with an extra generation for a John Good, between Christian Good and Jacob Good, compared to what we show. [Photocopy, Excerpt of letter.]

c 1900 Christian Good's great-great-grandson, Isaiah Reed Good, wrote to a cousin, Tobias Bowman, asking about their ancestors. Tobias' letter in response was preserved. The return letter, dated 1902, from Tobias Bowman to Isaiah Reed Good describes the home of Christian's brother, Jacob Good, and then refers to Christian (great great grandfather of Isaiah). As indicated in the letter, much of this letter is quoted from John B Good, the great-grandson of Christian Good. [75]:

… Half a mile higher up on the south fork of said branch of Muddy creek, and about a quarter of a mile south from Bowmansville, Christian Good, brother of Jacob Good the elder, settled, and erected the first grist-mill in the township, occupying the spot where the large flouring-mill of Mr. Henry Von Nieda is now situated. Whether the mill was built originally of wood or stone is not known, but tradition says that the mill and the dwelling were all under one roof. Later a stone mill and separate stone dwelling-house were erected, which were removed to make places for more modern structures within the memory of many persons now living. In one of these dwellings religious services were held before the erection of a separate meeting-house. It is possible that there was a time when the same building simultaneously served the purposes of a mill, dwelling-house and church. Christian Good raised a family of seventeen children, six sons and eleven daughters. One of the sons, named Jacob, was the grandfather of the compiler of these memoirs. His will remains on file among the old and musty papers in the register's office at Lancaster. It is dated Muddy Creek, Aug. 11, 1757. There is a paper filed with it which serves but a poor apology for a translation. A memorandum of its probate in will-gook B, page 184 states that the will, being in German, could not be recorded. The will commences with a quotation from Hebrew ix, 17, "A testament is of force after men are dead," and provides that the widow (named Magdalena) and children should continue the family till the youngest was fourteen years old. The executors were Marks Groff and John Good, the oldest son (of Christian's first wife), and concludes with an exhortation to the latter to be a proper example to his younger brothers and sisters, while they in turn are admonished to be obedient and subject to him.

Your grand mother Elizabeth Bowman was a sister of my grandfather Joseph Bowman who died Jan 9th 1841 aged near 57 years lived and died in Brecknock Twp Berks County Pa. consequently your father Benaville B. Good, and my father Isaac W. Bowman were first cousins, you and I are second cousins. My father died Feb 27th 1881, aged 67 years. died in Bowansville. I am not able to give you a fill history of the Good family, but I will give you what I could find out as yet, the forefathers are buried here but there are no stones, some of them are sunk in the ground, I tryed but I could do nothing in that way. Your uncle says Christian Good had 6 sons and 11 daughters. I found out about five sons who lived and died in this neighborhood. I do not know the order in which they come according to age, (1) John was the oldest and lived at the old homestead, he was married to Barbara Bowman sister of my great-grandfather Christian Bowman she died in 181-, (2) Jacob who was your great-grandfather he was twice married I do not know the name of the first wife his sons are John who emigrated to Canada in 1818, was the father of Joil Good now living, Jacob your grandfather he lifed a few miles from here, I cannot give you the date of his death at present, have you his family record? perhaps I can get that for you if you have it not, Christian was married but died without children, your grandfather's second wife was an Oberholtzer he had one son Samuel with her, Samuel was the owner of the old homestead but he was never married. (3) Samuel had a number of children. (4) Christian had one son and a number of daughters. (5) Peter had also a number of children.

I will close for the present if you wish to know something hereafter just ask and I will try to answer the best I can.

I would be pleased to hear how your business goes from time to time. Your well wishing friend, Tobias Bowman.

Note: Tobias was the gg-grandson of Anna Huber and Christian Bowman, the parents of grandson Jacob Good's wife.

A biosketch reported [76][may include errors]:

Good. The ancestors of this family came from Switzerland in 1737. Three brothers whose names were Abraham, Christian, and Peter left their native home (Switzerland) and came to Pennsylvania in spring of 1737. After spending a few weeks in Philadelphia they were informed that many of their co-religionists have formed settlements in Lancaster County and were all doing remarkably well. They, being desirous to settle among their own country-men, moved to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, near Muddy Creek. Here Abraham died in 1743, leaving no heirs. Christian was married to Anna Schmidt. Peter Good moved to Virginia about the year 1759. No further information has been received of his descendants. We shall follow the descendants of the old progenitor, Christian Good, who was born in Switzerland about the year 1690 and settled in Lancaster County in 1737. Their family consisted of two sons and three daughters, the daughters' names were not given but the sons' names were Peter and John.

Other resources: [77] [78] [79] [80].

Richard Warren Davis reported no second wife for Christian and attributed all children to Magdalena. [81]

Index for Lancaster County deeds: [82] [83]

1757 The findagrave memorial for Christian Good shows a stone from a different graveyard than is reported. The "facts" reported are perhaps correct, but they are not based on graveyard records: Christian Good died on August 13 and was buried at Pine Grove Mennonite Cemetery, Bowmansville, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Christian Good was born in 1713. [84] [85]

1823-34 Esther and Catherine Good (perhaps daughters?) were taxed in Brecknock Twp, Lancaster County. [86] [87] [88] [89] [90] [91] [92] [93] [94]

Footnotes:

[1] Jane Evans Best, "Six Good Families of Early Lancaster County, Pennsylvania," Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 12 (July, 1989), 11-28, at 21, GC3.

[2] Jane Evans Best, "Six Good Families of Early Lancaster County, Pennsylvania," Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 12 (July, 1989), 11-28, at 21, GC3.

[3] Franklin Ellis and Samuel Evans, History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania with Biographical Sketches (1883), 674, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust].

[4] Ruth I. Good, The Good Family Record (1904), 3, [FHLCatalog].

[5] Viola G. Herr, The Family Record of John G. Good and Mary S. Zimmerman (1966), 5, [FHLCatalog].

[6] Mary Elizabeth Good, A lineage of Jacob Good and his brother Christian Good (c 1954), 1, [FHLCatalog].

[7] I. Daniel Rupp, History of Lancaster County (1844), 238, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive], [GoogleBooks].

[8] Pennsylvania, Land Warrants and Applications, 1733-1952, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].

[9] Pennsylvania Land Warrant, Lancaster County, G-78, [PHMC Warrant].

[10] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, C058-76, [PA Survey Map], [PASurveyBooksIndex].

[11] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, C058-76, [PA Survey Map], [PASurveyBooksIndex].

[12] I. Daniel Rupp, History of Lancaster County (1844), 273, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive], [GoogleBooks].

[13] Ira D. Landis, "Our Good Brethren," Mennonite Research Journal 1 (1960), 11-12, at 11.

[14] Jane Evans Best, "Six Good Families of Early Lancaster County, Pennsylvania," Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 12 (July, 1989), 11-28, at 21, GC3.

[15] Ira D. Landis, "Our Good Brethren," Mennonite Research Journal 1 (1960), 11-12, at 11.

[16] download The Pennsylvania Dutchman, Vol. III, No 11. November 1, 1951, [URL].

[17] Pennsylvania Land Warrant, Lancaster County, G-260, [PHMC Warrant].

[18] Pennsylvania, Land Warrants and Applications, 1733-1952, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].

[19] Pennsylvania Archives Land Office Survey, C058-85, [PA Survey Map], [PASurveyBooksIndex].

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[32] Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Tax Records, 1756, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].

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[36] Jane Evans Best, "Six Good Families of Early Lancaster County, Pennsylvania," Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 12 (July, 1989), 11-28, at 21, GC3.

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[38] USGenWeb, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Will Abstracts (Gateway website), B-184, abstract reports date 16 Sep 1757 and probate 28 Oct 1757, [USGenWeb].

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[40] Family Document, Tobias Bowman, letter of 1902, reported date August 11, 1757.

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[71] Romaine Stauffer, "The Children of Christian Good," Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 39.2 (2016), 58-61, at 58.

[72] Ed Wevodau, South Central Pennsylvania Settlers, [URL].

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[76] Ezra E. Eby, A Biographical History of Waterloo Township, Vol. 1 (1895), 702, [GoogleBooks].

[77] Herbert Good, ed., Good/Gut/Guth Newsletter, 31.

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[79] Ruth I. Good, The Good Family Record (1904), 3, [FHLCatalog].

[80] Elias Hosea Good, History of the Good Ancestry (1929), 6-8.

[81] Richard Warren Davis, Mennosearch.com Family Notes, Good D13, [Website].

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