1749 Benjamin Musser was born on July 13, in Manor Twp, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. [1] [2] [3] "1749 Den 13t Hai monad ist der bentz ? Mosser gebohren am donstag im storbion." [4]
1748 Barbara Engle, daughter of Ulrich Engle and Anna Brechbill, was born on May 1. [5] [6] [7]
1770 Benjamin Musser and Barbara Engel were married on March 8. [8] [9] [10] [11]
1771-1781 Benjamin Musser and Barbara Engel had the following named children: Jacob, born Jan. 8, 1771 ; Ann, Oct. 24, 1772; Maria, Nov. 2, 1774; John, March 20, 1777; Henry, March 5, 1779; and Christian, April 5, 1781. [12] [13]
1771 Benjamin Musser appeared in tax lists as owning 75 acres in Manor Twp. [14]
1773 Benjamin Musser purchased the homestead on Turkey Hill from his brother Jacob and operated what was perhaps the first private hospital in Lancaster County in the old stone house [15]
"Dr. Benjamin Mosser lived at Turkey Hill, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Practicing there at Lancaster, Columbia, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, visiting the places periodically to meet his patients. He was not a graduate of any school but made a special study of herbs, and was skilled in the art of administering home remedies. He had a large practice and soon no little fame for his cure for White Swelling, and for his medical combination known as 'White Salve' of great value for the treatment of ulcers." [16] [17] [18]
c 1776 Benjamin Musser served in the Revolutionary War. [19]
1783 Barbara Engel Musser died on December 21. [20] [21] [22] [23]
1784 Dr. Benjamin Musser married Magdalen Bossier on March 23. [24] [25] [26]
1786-1800 Benjamin Musser and Magdalen Bossier had children: Twins, who both died in infancy; Benjamin, born July 16, 1786; Joseph, Aug. 7, 1787; Barbara, Sept. 1, 1789; Benjamin, April 2, 1791; Martha and Martin, twins, March 15, 1793; Daniel, Feb. 6, 1796; EHzabeth, July 7, 1797; and Susan, Nov. 27, 1800. [27]
1790 Benjamin Musser lived in Manor Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in a household with Males: 5 (age Under 16), and 2 (age 16 and over); Females: 4. Henry Brenneman and John Mellinger were listed on the same page. [28]
1802 A land transaction involved several people who are likely the children of Maria Hershey-Musser-Mellinger. Christian Mellinger and Elizabeth, his wife, sold, to David Mellinger, John Mellinger, and Benjamin Musser, for 5 shillings, a tract that John Bernhart and wife Barbara had sold to Christian Mellinger in 1794. The goal was to save harmless and indemnified the said parties from debts due to Henry Brenneman, Christian Hershey, Jacob Carle, John Brenneman, Isaac Kauffman, Ann Stoner and John Stoner. [29]
1810 Benj Musser lived in Manor, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in a household with Males: 1 (age 10 thru 15), 3 (age 16 thru 25), and 1 (age 45 and over); Females: 1 (age Under 10), 2 (age 10 thru 15), and 2 (age 16 thru 25). Abram Hershey and John Brenneman were listed on the same page. [30]
1820 Benjamin Musser's will was dated April 10, 1820 and was proved on January 6, 1821. Called himself "Doctor of Physics". Mentioned wife Magdalena, son Benjamin, other children Jacob, John, Henry, Christian, Joseph, Martin, Ann wife of Henry Breneman, Mary wife of Jacob Souder, Barbara wife of Michael Kauffman, Magdalena wife of John Hess, Eliza wife of Abraham Hess. Executors son Benjamin and kinsman Benjamin Mellinger [31] Transcription [32]:
In the name of God Amen. I Benjamin Musser in the Township of Manor and County of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania Doctor of Physics being far advanced in years and weak in body but of Sound and Disposing Mind Memory and Understanding Praised be God for it and Considering the Certainty of Death and the Uncertainty of the time thereof and to the End I may be the better prepared to leave this world, whenever it shall Please God to Call me hence, I do therefore make and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner following, to wit. First and principally I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God my creator, hoping for free pardon and remission of all sins and to enjoy everlasting happiness in the heavenly Kingdom, through Jesus Christ my Redeemer and my body to the earth to be decently interred at the discretion of my Executors hereinafter named, and as to such worldly estate wherewith God hath been pleased to bless me I do give devise and bequeath or dispose of the same in Manner following, to wit. Imprimis it is my Will and I do order and direct that my Just Debts and funeral Expenses be Paid and satisfied as soon as Conveniently may be done after my decease. Item I do give and bequeath unto me beloved wife Magdalena one ten Plate Stove with the pipe And other things thereto belonging and also so much and such part of my Household Goods and Kitchen furniture beds and bedding and linen cloth as she may choose to take to and for her proper use and benefit for and during the term of her natural Life. I do also give and bequeath unto my said wife Magdalena two Milch Cows and one Horse or Mare allowing her the Choice among those of which I shall die Possessed of to and for her proper use Benefit and disposal, and I do further give and bequeath unto my said Wife Magdalena two fat Hogs each weighing at least one hundred and twenty pounds one quarter pounds Beef at least one hundred pounds one half quarter of an acre of Ground to be sowed with Clean Flax seed yearly and every year during the time before Mentioned and further as much Firewood Cut and Hauled to the house sufficient for her use as much as she has need for during the time before mentioned and it is my will that her Cows and Horse or Mare shall be fed sufficiently with feed and Hay and Pasture along with his own and stable room where the now stand that is with my son Benjamin Mussers cattle. And it is my Will and I do hereby order and direct that my said wife Magdalena Shall and may have full Right Liberty and privilege to live and Reside in and possess and Enjoy the new Dwelling House where we now reside with the Kitchen and Cellar belonging to and under the same and the New bu9ilding attached thereto with the use and benefit of the part of the Garden which we now occupy and also the Right and Privilege of the well and pump and of the Water thereof and of the Bake oven near the said Dwelling House with full and efice(?)Ingress Egress and Regress to and from the same for and during the Term of her natural Life with full and free Right and Privilege also to and for my said Wife to take as many Apples and Cyder and other fruit in the orchard and other trees in my plantation yearly and every year when there is Fruit on the premises as she has possession for or want during the term aforesaid and as much Grain Conssissting(?) of Wheat Rye and Corn as much as she has use for and the same to be paid and Reducted out of the Money bequeathed to her hereafter and further it is my will that my aforesaid Wife Magdalena shall have the above bequeathed articles and to be Given yearly and Every year During her natural life. Item I do give and bequeath to my said Wife Magdalena the sum of one Hundred and fifty six Dollars Lawful Money of Pennsylvania to be to her paid yearly and Every year During her natural life which sum is to be paid out of my Estate yearly and out of the aforesaid Sum the above articles bequeathed to my aforesaid wife Magdalena are to be Reducted and further all the above Mentioned Legacies and bequests Privileges and provisions to and for my said wife are hereby declared to be and shall be deemed and taken for and in lieu and in full satisfaction of and for her dower or thirds at Common law and all Claims and Demands whatsoever of in to and out of my Estate. Item it is my will and I do hereby direct that the amount of all and every the said privileges provisions Articles and things herein Given and allowed to my wife in upon and out of my plantation or tract of land whereon I now Reside shall be allowed unto my said son Benjamin according to the true and just and equitable value thereof yearly and every year and be deducted and retained by him out of the said sum of one hundred and fifty six Dollars herein before directed to be paid by him to my said wife yearly and every year during the term of her natural life as aforesaid so and in such manner as the my said wife and son shall or may agree or compromise the Matter between themselves without any Intervention Interference or Contradiction of any or either of my other Children or and other person or persons whomsoever. Item I do give and bequeath unto my said son Benjamin Musser one family waggon, it being the largest of the two now in my Possession to and for his Proper use and benefit for ever. Item I do give and devise and bequeath unto my said son Benjamin Musser his heirs and assigns all this my Plantation and tract of Land whereon I now reside Situate and being in the township of Manor in the county of Lancaster aforesaid, adjoining the several lands of Adam Preneman Abraham Hershe Benjamin Hostetter John Mellinger and others Containing one hundred and six Acres be the same more or less, the same being Composed and made up of the Greater part or residue and remainder of that tract or part of the Lands of my late father Jacob Musser which after his Death became vested in me and of part of one of the adjacent tracts or parcels of Land Purchased by me of James Pratt Together with all and singular the Building Improvements Rights Privileges Hereditaments and Appurtenances whatsoever therein and thereon belonging or in any wise appertaining TO have and to hold the said Plantation and tract or parcel of Land and premises with the Appurtenances unto my said son Benjamin Musser his heirs and assigns To and for his and their proper Use and Benefit and behoof forever Under and subject to the privileges and Liberties herein before given unto my said Wife Magdalena and to provisions of the sundry Articles and necessances(?) for my said Wife during the term of her natural life to be Found provided and delivered by him or them to her in Manner herein before Mentioned and Directed. And I do value and charge the same Premises to my son Benjamin Musser at and with the sum of Eight thousand Dollars lawful Money of the United States. And I do direct and Appoint the payment and Disposition of the said sum in Manner following to wit, the sum of two thousand six hundred Dollars is to be and Remain unpaid till the deceased of my said Wife Providing the lawful Interest to be paid to my said Wife Magdalena to make the sum of One hundred and fifth six Dollars to her given and bequeathed as before Mentioned yearly and every year during the time aforesaid and Twelve hundred Dollars to be paid in one year after My decease and the further sum of six hundred Dollars to be paid in two years after my decease and also such other Payments of six Hundred Dollars yearly till the sum of Five Thousand four hundred Dollars are paid without Interest til due and Further after one year from the decease of my said Wife Magdalena my son Benjamin is to pay one thousand Dollars of the remaining Two thousand six Hundred Dollars and the Remaining Sixteen hundred Dollars are to be paid in two equal annual Payments as the Follow, still allowing my son Benjamin to have his Equal share or part in every Payment and the above sums as they become due or payable in Manner aforesaid Respectively in Equal shares to and amongst my Children herein after named and the Legal Representatives of such of them as shall be then dead allowing unto my said son Benjamin or his legal Representatives an Equal share thereof with my other Children hereinafter named. Item as to all the rest residue and remainder of my Moneys Goods and Chattles Effects Estate and property not hereinbefore Particularly given devised or bequeathed of what Nature or Kind soever the same may be including the valuation of the Plantation and Lands herein before given and devised unto my said son Benjamin and Payable in Manner herein before directed I do give devise and bequeath the same unto all my Children to wit Jacob Musser, John Musser, Henry Musser, Christian Musser, Joseph Musser, Benjamin Musser, Martin Musser, Ann the wife of Henry Breneman, Mary the wife of Jacob Souder, Barbara the wife of Michael Kauffman, Magdalena the wife of John Hess, Eliza the wife of Abraham Hess to be Equally Divided amongst them or their legal Representatives. Respect being had to the sums and Articles which they have severally had and received from me in my Lifetime, and to the Charges which I have entered or made against them respectively for the same. Still allowing my son Benjamin to have his Choice to take my Plantation at the valued price and payments and if my son Benjamin is not willing to take the same then in such case any of my other Children to take the same in manner before mentioned if he or she are willing to move here on the premises where my son Benjamin now Lives and not to sell it, but in case it has to be sold the advance of sale if any be it is to be Equally divided amongst all my Children share and share alike. And lastly I do hereby nominate Constitute and appoint my son Benjamin Musser and my Trusty friend and Kinsman Benjamin Mellinger of the Township of manor in the County of Lancaster aforesaid and the survivor of them Executors and Executor of this my last will and testament, Hereby Revoking all former and other will or wills Testament or Testaments by me made and declaring this and no other to be and Contain my last will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this tenth day of April In the year of our Lord one Thousand Eight hundred and twenty. Benjamin Musser.
Signed sealed published pronounced declared by the Testator Benjamin Musser as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of use who in his presence and Request have Subscribed our names as witnesses thereto John Wissler, John Mellinger.
Lancaster County SS. On the 6th day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and twenty one before me the subscriber personally appeared John Wissler and John Mellinger the two subscribing witnesses to the annexed Will who upon their affirmations according to Law did severally declare and say that they were present and saw and heard Benjamin Musser the testator therein named sign seal publish pronounce and declare the annexed Instrument in writing as and for his last Will and Testament and that at the time of the doing thereof he was of sound and well disposing mind memory and understanding according to the best of their knowledge observation and belief. Benj Bauman, Register.Be it Remembered that on the 6th day of January in the year of our Lord one Thousand Eight hundred and twenty one the last Will and testament of Benjamin Musser deceased was proved in due form of law and Letters testamentary thereon where granted to Benjamin Musser and Benjamin Mellinger the Executors therein named, they having first been duly qualified according to Law well and truly to administer the Estate of said deceased and especially to exhibit a true and perfect Inventory thereof into the Registers office at the City of Lancaster within one Month from the date thereof and to render a just and true account of their Executorship on said Estate in one year or when thereto Lawfully required. Given under the seal of said Office. Benjamin Bauman, Register.
1820 "Died on Saturday last, In Manor Twp. Dr. Benjamin Musser, in the 72d year of his age." Dated November 25. [33] [34] [35] [36]
Research Notes:
Lancaster County Pennsylvania Recorder of Deeds, Deed books 1729-1867. SLC: GeneSocUT, 1947. Book TT, 1793-1795, LDS Film#0021401#2. Lancaster County Court House, Office of Records and Archives, 50 N Duke St, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Lancaster County Pennsylvania Recorder of Deeds, Deed books 1729-1867. SLC: GeneSocUT, 1947. Book Y, 1782-1786, LDS Film#0021390#2. Lancaster County Court House, Office of Records and Archives, 50 N Duke St, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Lancaster County Pennsylvania Register of Wills, Wills, Book Y-2. Not Filmed by LDS. Lancaster County Court House, Office of Records and Archives, 50 N Duke St, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Musser, Edgar A, John Musser's Plantation in Southeast Lancaster, in Journal of the Lancaster County Historical Society, vol 83, no 3, Trinity 1979. LMHS.
Musser, Edgar A, Musser Genealogy. Lancaster, Pennsylvania: author, 1980. LMHS CS71.M9892 1980.
Sider, E Morris, More than Names: A Story of John and Barbara Martin. Nappanee, Indiana: Evangel Press, unk. JSMB 929.273 M364s
Stoltzfus, Irma Hess, Wanners - An Early Lancaster County Mennonite Family, Coatesville, Pennsylvania: author, 1992. NYPL APV (Wanner) 93-3216.
DNA [37] [38] [39] [40] [41] [42]
[1] John F. Meginness et al, Biographical Annals of Lancaster County Pennsylvania (Beers: 1903), 250, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[2] "Early Lancaster County Mennonite Mussers," Mennonite Research Journal 17 (1976), 13-14, 22 at 14.
[3] Morris M. Engle, The Engle History and Family Records of Dauphin and Lancaster Counties (Mt Joy, Pennsylvania: Bulletin Press, 1927), 21, [InternetArchive], [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[4] H. W. Kriebel, "A Musser Family Record," The Pennsylvania German 10 (1909), 393-395, at 393, 395, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust].
[5] "Early Lancaster County Mennonite Mussers," Mennonite Research Journal 17 (1976), 13-14, 22 at 14.
[6] John E. Engle and Eugene K Engle, "A Letter from Immigrant Ulrich Engle to Switzerland," Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 16 (July, 1993), 11-18, at 17.
[7] Morris M. Engle, The Engle History and Family Records of Dauphin and Lancaster Counties (Mt Joy, Pennsylvania: Bulletin Press, 1927), 21, [InternetArchive], [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[8] John F. Meginness et al, Biographical Annals of Lancaster County Pennsylvania (Beers: 1903), 250, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[9] "Early Lancaster County Mennonite Mussers," Mennonite Research Journal 17 (1976), 13-14, 22 at 14.
[10] John E. Engle and Eugene K Engle, "A Letter from Immigrant Ulrich Engle to Switzerland," Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 16 (July, 1993), 11-18, at 17.
[11] Morris M. Engle, The Engle History and Family Records of Dauphin and Lancaster Counties (Mt Joy, Pennsylvania: Bulletin Press, 1927), 21, [InternetArchive], [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[12] John F. Meginness et al, Biographical Annals of Lancaster County Pennsylvania (Beers: 1903), 250, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[13] M. B. Mosser, A genealogy record or general family register of lineal descendants of Dr. Benjamin Mosser (1944), not seen, [FHLFilmCatalog].
[14] Charles Recker, The People of the Marsh from the Rhine Valley to Pennsylvania, Moser, Mosier, Mosser, Musser, Vol. 2 [Newsletter of the Musser Family 1972-75] (Grenada Hills, CA: 1972-5), 1, [GoogleBooks].
[15] Wilmer J. Eshleman, "The River Brethren Denominations: Old Order of River Brethren, Brethren in Christ, United Zion's Children," Papers Read Before the Lancaster County Historical Society 52 (1948), 208, not seen.
[16] Morris M. Engle, The Engle History and Family Records of Dauphin and Lancaster Counties (Mt Joy, Pennsylvania: Bulletin Press, 1927), 21, [InternetArchive], [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[17] John F. Meginness et al, Biographical Annals of Lancaster County Pennsylvania (Beers: 1903), 250, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[18] Franklin Ellis and Samuel Evans, History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania with Biographical Sketches (1883), 261, [GoogleBooks], [HathiTrust].
[19] Charles Recker, The People of the Marsh from the Rhine Valley to Pennsylvania, Moser, Mosier, Mosser, Musser, Vol. 2 [Newsletter of the Musser Family 1972-75] (Grenada Hills, CA: 1972-5), 1, [GoogleBooks].
[20] John F. Meginness et al, Biographical Annals of Lancaster County Pennsylvania (Beers: 1903), 250, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[21] "Early Lancaster County Mennonite Mussers," Mennonite Research Journal 17 (1976), 13-14, 22 at 14.
[22] John E. Engle and Eugene K Engle, "A Letter from Immigrant Ulrich Engle to Switzerland," Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage 16 (July, 1993), 11-18, at 17.
[23] Morris M. Engle, The Engle History and Family Records of Dauphin and Lancaster Counties (Mt Joy, Pennsylvania: Bulletin Press, 1927), 21, [InternetArchive], [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[24] John F. Meginness et al, Biographical Annals of Lancaster County Pennsylvania (Beers: 1903), 250, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[25] "Early Lancaster County Mennonite Mussers," Mennonite Research Journal 17 (1976), 13-14, 22 at 14.
[26] Morris M. Engle, The Engle History and Family Records of Dauphin and Lancaster Counties (Mt Joy, Pennsylvania: Bulletin Press, 1927), 21, [InternetArchive], [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[27] John F. Meginness et al, Biographical Annals of Lancaster County Pennsylvania (Beers: 1903), 250, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[28] United States Federal Census, 1790, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[29] Recorder of Deeds, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book F3, 615-621, [615], [616], [617], [618], [619], [620], [621], [FHLCatalog].
[30] United States Federal Census, 1810, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[31] USGenWeb, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Will Abstracts (Gateway website), M-463, [USGenWeb].
[32] USGenWeb, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Will Abstracts (Gateway website), M-463, [USGenWeb].
[33] Rita Schive Mowrer, "Genealogical Gleanings from The Lancaster Journal, (1814-1817)" Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 31 (1979-1980), 27-46, at 39.
[34] John F. Meginness et al, Biographical Annals of Lancaster County Pennsylvania (Beers: 1903), 250, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[35] "Early Lancaster County Mennonite Mussers," Mennonite Research Journal 17 (1976), 13-14, 22 at 14.
[36] Pennsylvania Vital Records From the Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine and the Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 2 (1983), 626.
[37] The family tree of a person who has a DNA match to Robert's family suggests a lineage to this sibling of Robert's ancestor. The lineage is through a descendant shown on our website, [Link].
[38] The family tree of a person who has a DNA match to Robert's family suggests a lineage to this sibling of Robert's ancestor. The lineage is through a descendant shown on our website, [Link].
[39] The family tree of a person who has a DNA match to Robert suggests a lineage to this sibling of Robert's ancestor. The lineage is through a descendant shown on our website, [Link].
[40] The family tree of a person who has a DNA match to Robert's family suggests a lineage to this sibling of Robert's ancestor. The lineage is through a descendant shown on our website, [Link].
[41] The family tree of a person who has a DNA match to Robert's family suggests a lineage to this sibling of Robert's ancestor. The lineage is through a descendant shown on our website, [Link].
[42] The family tree of a person who has a DNA match to Robert suggests a lineage to this sibling of Robert's ancestor. The lineage is through a descendant shown on our website, [Link].