From: Kathleen LoucksDate: 21 Feb 2007Time: 20:15:48 -0700
I am also an Overholt and Stauffer descendant. My g-g-grandparents were Rev. Martin and Nancy (Stauffer) Loucks of Scottdale. Rev. Martin was the son of Peter and Anna (Overholt) Loucks, and Nancy was the daughter of Abraham O. and Elizabeth (Meyers) Stauffer. I wonder if you can tell me anything more about the sources for your list of the ancestors of Christian Stauffer (c1715-1759), particularly what evidence or source documents exist to identify Christian's parents? Your point about a Stauffer connection coming to America on the same ship as our Overholt ancestor is intriguing. Here is another interesting coincidence: Christian Stauffer is said to have arrived in America in 1749. According to A. J. Fretz's book on the Henry Stauffer family of Bucks Co., PA, Henry Stauffer arrived in America on Sept. 9, 1749. Checking passenger lists identifies the ship as the Palatine ship St. Andrew, and shows that there was a Christian Stauffer on board also. I wonder if this could be our Christian, and if Henry and Christian were related? Is it possible that Martin and Henry Overholt first considered moving West because they had heard reports of Fayette Co. from their Stauffer neighbors in Bucks Co. who already had relatives living there? Posted by Ron Stauffer from e-mail thread
From: Ron StaufferDate: 21 Feb 2007Time: 20:20:03 -0700
From what I see and is consistent with the Online Book on Richard Davis' MennoSearch.com website, Christian's father was probably Daniel of Alsheim. This presumption is based on Richard's research of a 1753 Mennonite Census in Switzerland.
From: Kathleen LoucksDate: 23 Feb 2007Time: 10:24:54 -0700
Thanks. I had seen some other trees at Rootsweb, which also seemed to be based on info. from Richard Davis, that identified Christian as arriving in America 22 Dec. 1744 on the ship "Muscliffe Galley" and his father being Hans Stauffer (born abt. 1687 in Ibersheim.) This arrival date disagrees with info. from other sources I've seen. History of Westmoreland County says Christian emigrated from the Palatinate in 1749, bringing with him his wife and two sons. A book published to celebrate the Centennial of Scottdale, PA says "Christian Stauffer came to America at age 28 on the ship 'Virtuous Grace', landing at Philadelphia Sept. 24, 1737." By the way, in reviewing my original email to Karen Critchfield, whose article on the ancestors of Christian Stauffer first prompted mt question, I realized that I left out a "great" when describing my Stauffer line of descent: Rev. Martin and Nancy (Stauffer) Loucks were my g-g-g-grandparents.
From: Ships Lists and Death Info. point to Muscliff ChristianDate: 23 Feb 2007Time: 12:40:55 -0700
Emigrations: Virtuous Grace 24 Sep 1737 ship list contained a Christian Stauffer 1709 Friedelsheim, Gr. Christian-Wife 1 Child (Johannes 1734) He died in 1747, Warwick Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Muscliffe Galley 22 Dec 1744 ship list: Christian Stauffer 1711 Mückenhäuserhof, Gr. Christian-Wife 2 Children He died in 1759, Donegal Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. St. Andrew 9 Sep 1749 ship list: Christian Stauffer 1712 Ibersheim, Gr. Christian – Wife 4 Children (3 sons) He died in 1776, Lampeter Township, Lancaster County, Phoenix 15 Sep 1749 ship list: Christian Stauffer 1699 Eggiwil, Sw Chistian – Wife 6 Children (3 sons) He died on 27 May 1782, Lebanon Township (now Annville Township), Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Source: Richard Davis, Stauffer/Stouffer Part 1, MennoSearch.com