I have been trying to find info on the family of Elizabeth Myers/Meyers (5 Dec 1782-11 Nov 1879), wife of Abraham O. Stauffer (22 Feb 1786-31 May 1853). Along the Banks of Jacobs Creek by Winifred Paul gives Elizabeth's parents as Christian and Mary Myers. The following info was compiled by Charlotte Westerman, a descendant of Elizabeth and Abraham O. Stauffer:
Charlotte Westerman's (national DAR #340621) DAR application. says:
Elizabeth Meyers was the child of Christian Meyers born 1750 at Montgomery Co, PA, died at Wooster , OH in 1789, and his wife Mary, married c.1782. Reference for this says Christian went to the Northwest Territory near Wooster, OH to take up a land grant. His death occured there.
Christian Meyers was the child of Jacob Meyers born 1730. Reference for this is Proceedings Pa German Soc on Tohicken Reformed Church, 1920 pg 142. Jacob Meyers and wife present Maria Elizabeth b. Nov. 24, 1783 for baptism.
Christian Meyers's military service is given as follows:
Christian Meyers of PA served in the German Battalion. The name of Christian Meyers appears as "substitute" Sept. 23, 1777 Pa. Archives S2 Vol. 13, p655. Served also as a private, Captain Adam Faulke Co. August 2, 1777 S2 Vol. 13, p666. At the the War Dept. in Washington, DC, Christian Meyers is recorded as commissioned 2nd Lt, 1st Lt. and Captain March 12, 1778. His name last appears on the payroll of his company from August to December 17, 17?? Luella Moore Robbins NSDAR 59013 , 78233 , 97818 , 94223 , 81996 , 97822 , 97829 .
S2v13 p. 655 Private Capt. Christian Shaffer's Co. Associated Battalions and Militia of the Revolution. Capt. Adam Faulk's Co. Philadelphia Militia.
I found a website at www.angelfire.com/mo/stauffer3 that gives summaries of all the NSDAR member numbers cited. All of these records say Christian was born in Bucks Co., PA. #59013 seems to be the earliest to give Elizabeth as the daughter of this Christian Meyers. Charlotte also had some 1972 letters from Tom Ridenour, another descendant of Elizabeth and Abraham O. Stauffer. They're handwritten and didn't photocopy real well, so parts are a bit hard to read. Tom says Christian was a Captain from 1778-81. The regiment was declared supernumerary Jan. 1, 1781 and was discharged. Sources for info on Christian Meyers are given:
1. Archives of Maryland Vol. XVIII p181, 266, 270, 271, 365, 521.
2. The Maryland Line by Rieman Stewart, 1969, p. 39, 112.
3. Penna. Archives Series 2 Vol. 11 p. 73-83.--gives history of German Regiment.
4. Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army by F. B Hietman(?)
Tom wrote to the GSA for copies of Bounty Land records for Christian Meyers, and learned that "Christian Meyers was living in Baltimore Co. Maryland. This is probably why he is not listed in the 1782 tax records of Bucks Co, Pa. We belive that Christian Meyers was a widower. Elizabeth Meyers Stauffer was probably only 7 years of age & was left in the care of John Snyder family when Christian went to investigate his bounty land. No doubt Elizabeth was brought by the Snyder family to Pa from Maryland after her father's death...Elizabeth Meyers must have been the only heir as far as I can see & her guardian being John Snyder."
I checked Ancestry.com for records of the Tohickon Union Reformed Church, Bucks Co. PA and found the baptism record for Maria Elizabeth Meyers that is mentioned in the Charlotte Westerman DAR application. Ancestry transcribes it, with all related names, as:
Maria Elizabeth Mayer born 24 Nov 1783
Maria Elizabeth Mayer baptised 26 Dec 1783
Jacob Mayer father
Mrs. Jacob Mayer mother
John Follmer sponsor
Maria Elizabeth Klinger sponsor
So it looks like this record has nothing to do with Elizabeth Meyers Stauffer.
Thanks for the follow-up. I guess we are not descended from two Stauffers. Well, it was good while it lasted.
I searched the Revolutionary War section of the Heritage Quest database for Christian Myers, and found what must be the records Tom Ridenour had regarding Christian's bounty land claim. Also included were two letters written in response to queries, which summarize the records. A letter dated 1914 states:
"a warrant No. 1,487, for 300 acres of land issued in favor of Christian Myers, a Captain in the late Maryland Line, and was dated May 25, 1789. This warrant was deposited in the hands of William Alexander, Surveyor and returned by him to the War Office, unlocated. On May 7, 1808, said warrant was delivered to John Snyder, administrator on the estate of Christian Myers.
The Register of Wills for Baltimore County, Maryland stated in 1808 that Elizabeth Myers and John Snyder of that county were the administrators of Christian Myers, late of said county, deceased.
Their relationship to the soldier is not stated, nor is there any further data on file as to his family or services.
The Revolutionary War records of this Bureau fail to afford information in regard to any other soldier named Christian Myers under any spelling of the name."
A letter of query from a Mrs. Annie Brandt Gould regarding her ancestor Conrad Moyer (1768-1848) says she's not certain but thinks his father's name was Christian--she says she has a record from MD archives that Christian Moyer was a soldier, and she knows that the Moyers came from MD into Somerset Co., PA before 1795 and "he" (Christian or Conrad?) served as Justice of the Peace in 1822. So not sure if this is related or not--obviously, if Christian Myers was dead by 1808, he couldn't be the one who was Justice of the Peace in 1822.
Finally, Carol Westerman and I were speculating on whether Elizabeth Myers could be connected to the other Myers who married into the Overholt/Loucks family:
Anna Meyer, daughter of Hans Meyer (d. ~1748, subject of the Fretz book on descendants of Christian and Hans Meyer), married Jacob Beidler (~1708-1810); their daughter Anna Beidler (1745-1835) married Henry Overholt (1739-1813); their daughter Anna Overholt (1770-1845) married Peter Loucks (1760-1825).
Maria Overholt (b. 1766), daughter of Henry Overholt and Anna Beidler, married John Myers. No children.
Maria's brother Henry Overholt (1779-1809) returned to Bucks Co. to be married to a Miss Myers, but was kicked by a horse and died before the wedding.
Henry Loucks (c1794-1854), son of Peter Loucks and Anna Overholt, married Mary Myers (1807-1840). I found a family tree from Chuck Hess at Rootsweb, that has Mary (Polly) Myers, d. 9 Nov 1821 in Westmoreland Co., wife of Henry Loux, children John and Peter. Her father is given as John Myers, b. before 1775 in PA, d. 1829 in East Huntington Tnshp., Wedstmoreland Co., PA. A note says " John Myers may have been an immigrant as we have seen some Bible records that indicate he forbade the speaking of the Dutch language in his house, however we are not certain. The only thing we can confirm for certain is that he apparently lived the last years of his life in Westmoreland Co., PA"
I just received a copy of the DAR application for Elizabeth Stauffer Moore (DAR #59013), which was accepted 1-9-1907. It says: she is the daughter of Martin B. Stauffer and Charlotte Hough, granddaughter of Abraham Stauffer and Elizabeth Meyers. Elizabeth Meyers is the daughter of Christian Meyers (b. in Bucks Co., PA about 1750 and d. in Wooster, OH) and wife Mary; Christian was the son of Jacob Myers. Note for name of Christian's wife says "from applicant." Note for Christian's birthdate says "birth date determined from old deeds wills etc." Note for Christian's place of death says "his daughter Mary, born 1789." Also given are children of Christian Myers: Elizabeth married Abraham Stauffer; Margaret married Rosenberger; Mary married Dillinger--note for this also says "from applicant." As for military service, application states "it is shown by the records" so I'm not fully convinced that our ancestor and Capt. Christian Myers of Baltimore are necessarily the same person. Can we even assume all the military records cited are for one man named Christian Myers/Meyers? I suppose we can assume that Elizabeth Stauffer Moore has some reason to believe our ancestor Christian did serve in the Revolutionary War, but so far I can't see any proof other than a coincidence of names that Capt. Christian Myers is our ancestor. I'm trying to find the estate records of Capt. Christian Myers of Baltimore to see if that gives any further info that might help.
As for Christian Myers of Baltimore, so far I have found:
There were two Christian Myers in the 1790 Baltimore City, MD census.
From the AGBI at Ancestry.com :
Christian Myers, birth date 1750, birthplace Maryland, biographical info. Capt., reference Maryland Rev. recds; pension claim/ms, bounty land applications, marriages of soldiers. By Harry Wright Newman, 1938.
Christian Myers, birth date 1750, birthplace Maryland, reference Heads of fams. at the first U.S. census MD. By U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1907.
From Maryland Marriages, 1655-1850 at Ancestry.com:
Christian Myers, marriage date 10 June1795, spouse Elizabeth Koh, Baltimore Co., MD.
From American and Commercial Daily Advertiser, Baltimore, MD, March 21, 1807:
"Baltimore County. Orphans Court, March 14, 1807. Ordered by the court, that the second Tuesday in April next, be appointed for the taking of the probate of the last will and testament of Christian Myers, late of Baltimore county, deceased, unless cause can be shewn to the contrary; and provoded a copy of this order be served on as many of the persons interested in the establishment of the will as may be conveniently found; and also a copy thereof be published in two of the Baltimore newspapers, and in those printed at Lancaster, in the state of Pennyslvania."
From Records of the city of Baltimore (City commissioners) 1797-1813:
Record dated 31 May 1813, of a meeting to establish the intersection of Bridge and High Streets which mentions "the late Capt. Christian Myers' house."
From U.K. and U.S. Directories, 1680-1830 at Ancestry.com:
Christian Myers, Baltimore, occupation dry goods store, address 32 Bridge Street, Old Town, source 1807 Baltimore Directory and Citizens' Register.
From Maryland State Archives, Baltimore County Circuit Court, Land Survey, Subdivision, and Condominium Plats:
MSA S1190-1321. Patented certificate 3003, date 1789/01/08, lot number 52 part of My Ladys Mannor, Christian Myers, 130 acres. Included are images of handwritten documents pertaining to the purchase and sale of this Lot--one granting a deed to Robert McClung is signed "Christian Myers, Capt" and dated Oct, 1782; another signed "Christian Myers" and dated Baltimore, Jan. 6, 1789 certifies that the land has been purchased by Robert McClung.
So--is the Elizabeth Myers who is an administrator of Capt. Christian's will more likely to be his widow than his daughter? There was a John Snyder who owned land in East Huntington Tnshp., Westmoreland Co. in 1790-1809, some of which was deeded by John Snyder, Jr. to John W. and Martin Stauffer in 1817 (source: Scottdale 100 Years, Scottdale Centennial Assn., 1974, p6), but checking Rootsweb trees gives no indication this John Snyder ever had a connection to Baltimore--he seems to have come to Westmoreland Co. from Northampton Co., PA. Did Capt. Christian Myers really die in 1789? Is he the Christian Myers who had a dry goods store on Bridge St. in 1807? Would anyone still be referring to the "late Capt. Christian Myers' house" 24 years after his death? Why would the Orphan's Court want notice of the probate of Christian's will published in Lancaster, PA newspapers? Finally, in answer to a query I posted on the Rev. War board at www.genealogy.com, I was told that bounty land warrants for service in MD Rev. War regiments could be applied to land located in present-day Allegany and Garrett Cos, MD--not in OH, though that doesn't mean Christian couldn't have bought or otherwise obtained a land warrant for OH.
Many questions to ponder.
I just took a closer look at Elizabeth Moore's DAR application next to Charlotte Westerman's, and realized that Elizabeth includes some dates Charlotte did not, which definitely seem to indicate we are looking at military records for two different men. Elizabeth and Charlotte both say the name of Christian Meyers appears as substitute, Sept. 23, 1777; also as private, Capt. Adam Faulk's Company Philadelphia Militia, Aug. 2, 1777. Elizabeth's application, however, gives dates for all of Christian Myers's officer commissions: Christian Myers served as 2nd Lt.--commissioned July 12, 1776; 1st Lt.--May 10. 1777; Capt.--March 12, 1778; served to Dec. 1780. So it seems that one Christian Meyers was a private in 1777, while the other Christian Myers was a 2nd Lt. in 1777.
So, now I'm back to wondering if the "wild and roving" Christian Meyer of the A. J. Fretz book , A Genealogical Record of the Descendants of Christian and Hans Meyer , p.81 (who was the son of Rev. Jacob Meyer (1730-1778) of Montgomery Co., "lived at one time in Philadelphia. Late in life he married and lived for some time in Ohio, where several daughters were born to him, but infelicities came and he lived apart from his wife. His latter days were spent with one of his daughters in Westmoreland Co., Pa.") might actually be our ancestor. After all, Fretz's info on this Christian Meyer is very "hearsay-ish" and, if it were only partially correct, is suggestive--but again, lots of speculation and no proof.
I've been looking for info on Elizabeth Myers Stauffer's supposed sisters and found:
I found a list of DAR gravesites in Westmoreland Co. that showed a Christian Myers buried in Old Ligonier Cemetery, but turns out he's not our Christian, even though he did have a daughter Elizabeth--according to his will, her husband's name was Peter Brenizer. This Christian Myers died 12 July 1843, aged 82y 4m 17d, and owned a farm in Ligonier Township. His will mentions by name his deceased son John and John's children Eliza, Susanna, Joseph, and Johnston; deceased son Christian and Christian's children Barbara, Mary, John, Catharine, and Susanna; sons Michael and Henry; daughter Elizabeth married to Peter Brenizer; and son-in-law Edward Clifford. The will is recorded in Westmoreland Co. Will Book 3, p84, probated 1843.
I looked at microfilm of Baltimore Co. wills between March, 1807-May, 1808--if the will of Capt. Christian Myers was there, I couldn't find it, so I checked the Index of Baltimore County Maryland Wills 1659-1850 compiled by Bettie S. Carothers and Robert W. Barnes in 1979, and found no listing at all for Christian Myers. I don't know what to make of that--I'm considering whether to try writing to the Baltimore Register of Wills Office directly.
In the meantime, I decided to go back to the Baltimore City Directories to see if I could find an Elizabeth Myers listed. In the 1814-15, 1817-18, and 1819 directories, Elizabeth Myers is listed at 30 Bridge St. If you recall, I had already found entries up to the 1808 directory for a Christian Myers who had a dry goods store at 32 Bridge St.--his entry from the 1796 Directory gives his dwelling at 30 Bridge St. and the dry goods store at 32 Bridge St. So I see this as evidence that these are Capt. Christian Myers and the Elizabeth Myers who was an administrater of his estate.
From Peden, Henry C., Jr. Revolutionary Patriots of Baltimore Town and Baltimore County, Maryland 1775-83. MD: Family Line Publications, 1988, p193:
Myers, Christian (or Chrostopher). (Ed. note: Various sources have mixed up the name between Christian and Christopher, but the proper name appears to have been Christian) He enlisted in the Baltimore Mechanical Company of Militia on Nov. 4, 1775. On July 11, 1776 he was 2nd Lieutenant in Capt. Graybill's German Regiment, and became Captain in the German Regiment on March 12, 1778, serving to at least July, 1779. He received 200 acres (lots 2075, 2114, 2116, 2119) in western Maryland for his service.
From Retzer, Henry J. The German Regiment of Maryland and Pennsylvania in the Continental Army 1776-1781. MD: Family Line Publications, c1991, p77:
Myers, Meyers, Myer: Christian, sadler of Baltimore city, Md. In Balto Mechanical Co. of Militia 04 Nov 1775. Commissioned 2nd Lt in GR as of 12 Jul 1776; prom to 1st Lt 12 May 1777; prom to Capt 12 Mar 1778; in GR when disbanded 01 Jan 1781, took supernumerary's half-pay retirement. Was 1788 Md Soldier Land assignee 200A.
On p5 of this source, his hometown is given as Baltimore, MD.
Given everything I've found so far on Capt. Christian Myers, my personal opinion currently is that he's not our ancestor, but I leave to it you all to make up your own minds.
I then loked at the DAR Patriot Index for all other Christian Myers/Mayer/Meyer/ Moyer/Myer of PA and hunted for their family trees on Rootsweb:
Christian b. 2-25-1761 PA d. 7-12-1843 PA. Pvt. Spouse Barbara Beachley This is the one buried at Ligonier. He had a daughter Elizabeth who married Peter Brenizer/Breniser.
Christian b. c.1755 PA d. c.1826 PA. Pvt. Spouse Anna L. Bauer. He had a daughter Elizabeth who married Abraham Hunsberger.
Christian Jr. b. 1-29-1728 PA d. after 4-16-1782. Pvt. Spouse Susanna Detweiler. He had a daughter Elizabeth who married John Shoemaker/Schumacher.
Christian Kolb b. 3-27-1763 PA d. post 1784 PA. Pvt. Spouses Mary Landis, Sarah Overholt. He had a daughter Elizabeth who married Jacob Gehman/Gayman.
Granted, Rootsweb trees are not necessarily correct, but do we conclude from this that our Christian Myers did not after all serve in the Revolution? At this point, do we even trust the assertion that Elizabeth Myers Stauffer's parents were named Christian and Mary, especially if Mrs. Moore (whose DAR application started the claim that Capt Christian Myers of Baltimore is our ancestor) might be the source of that assertion?
Finally, I looked at the PA Archives service records cited in both Mrs. Moore's and Mrs. Westerman's DAR applications to see exactly how the surname was spelled there:
PA Archives, 2nd Series, Vol. 13, p655: Christian Mayers, Sept. 23, 1777; substitute. Capt. Christian Shaffer's Company, Philadelphia Militia commanded by Col. Robert Knox.
PA Archives, 2nd Series, Vol. 13, p667: Christian Meyer, August 2, 1777; private. Capt. Adam Foulk's Company, Philadelphia Militia commanded by Jonathan B. Smith.
Are these two different men, or could one man have served as a substitute in Aug., and then served his own term in Sept.?
I wrote to the Baltimore Register of Wills about the estate of Capt. Christian Myers, and found out that he died intestate. They said their microfilm for the estate inventory is missing, but they sent me a copy of the first account by administrators John Snider and Elizabeth Myers of the estate of Christian Myers, dated 28 May 1808. Unfortunately, it's very hard to read--they said the microfilm was blurred. It looks to me like Elizabeth Myers was his widow, and he also had a sister Elizabeth who was married to Andrew (last name looks like Tryer or Pryer.) Also receiving money from the estate was Catherine Myers who was married to Leonard (last name looks like Rickholt). I can't tell what her relationship was to the deceased, but her husband and the husband of Christian's sister Elizabeth each was disbursed $912.51, with Elizabeth the widow retaining the remainder of the estate. At any rate, there seems to be no mention of anyone who could be our Elizabeth Myers Stauffer.
I checked Rootsweb for any Elizabeth or Catherine Myers who might match the ones mentioned in the estate records. The closest I could find was an Elizabeth Myers married to Andrew Dreyer. They had no info on this Elizabeth's parents, but Andrew was born abt. 1749 in Frederick, MD, died 21 March 1822 in Lancaster, PA, and married Elizabeth abt. 1777. So maybe this was the connection to Lancaster, PA that caused the Orphans Court to publish notice of Christian's estate in the newspaper there.
I am a DAR member through Elizabeth Meyer Stauffer and her father Christian. Back in early 1980's I was on a sabbatical in Wasington DC. My mother insisted spend sometime learning more about the meyer family. At that time I was not hooked an genealogy. But a few days working on this, hooked me. I have researched and researched this, but I have come to believe that our Christian Meyer is not the Captain Christian Meyer my DAR record shows but is probably one of the many other Christian Meyers who served in the Revolution (usually as privates) and that he is the "wild and roving" son of Jacob in the Fretz genealogy. But as this discussion shows there is little documentary evidence to support this.
This discussion reminds me that i need to go back and recheck my original notes now almost 30 years old. The copy of the Fretz genealogy that i purchased as a reprint from the Higginson company, did not match my notes from DC leading me to believe that there are two editions of this genealogy. I am not sure about the rest of the info in the Fretz genealogy, i.e. that daughters were born in Ohio. I think the other edition indicated daughters born in east and I don't remember it mentioning OH. I'm sorry that i can't quote that other paragraph but that material is not with me. I now live in a small apartment in CA and I left most of ths research in MO for my sisters family. I'll do some looking into this again.
In the interests of thoroughness (and stubbornness), I contacted the Maryland State Archives to see if they had more legible copies of the estate records of Capt. Christian Myers, and they sent me a clearly readable copy of the first accounting of his estate. The estate is divided among three people: "Elizabeth Myers the widow of the deceased", "Leonard Rickholtz who intermarried with Catherine Myers the sister of the deceased", and "Andrew Pryer (or Tryer) who intermarried with Elizabeth Myers sister to the decd." Also mentioned is a payment for the deceased's subscription toward the Lutheran Church--yet another reason to question his connection to our Mennonite Elizabeth Myers Stauffer. So I now completely agree with Ann that Capt. Christian is not our ancestor. Could Fretz's "wild and roving" Christian Meyer be our ancestor? If he is, Ron, then we're back to possibly being descended from two Stauffers.