Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Christman Lineage and Property

The grandsons that my wife and I provide childcare for are named Ethan, Isaiah, Caleb, and Asher. Their surname is Christman and they are related to most of those with that last name here in the Lehigh Valley. Tracing the name back through the last 300 years is as follows:

Ethan/Isaiah/Caleb/Asher
Matthew (1979-)
James W (1949-)
James Paul (1925-2014)
Paul D (1902-1969)
Edward Solomon Tilden (1876-1955)
Daniel (1839-1907)
Daniel (1811-1856)
John Henry (1777-1854)
Philip (1755-1825)
Jacob (1711-1761) aka Johann Jacob

Jacob was a native of Wurtemburg, Germany. His parents had come to Philadelphia in 1733 and were living in Skippack. Jacob arrived in the Port of Philadelphia on the ship named the Princess Augusta on September 16, 1736 at the age of 25. The Master of this ship, Samuel Merchant has him listed as Jacob Christman. Only the male names are listed and the Master's report states that the number of "Palatines with their Families", "in all 330". Jacob appeared at the Court House in Philadelphia, where he took the Oaths required of Immigrants. Then on all documents he wrote his name Jacob Christman.

He settled in Upper Milford Township, (in what was then Northampton County but known today as Lehigh County), near what later became known as Sigmund's Furnace close to the Berks County line. (See *4 for the history of Sigmund’s Furnace. It was not actually called that until the early 1800s.) He married, probably after his arrival, Eva Margaret whose maiden name is unknown. He purchased a 150-acre piece of property which he farmed (see deed below) and his eldest son George took over the farming when he died out in the field. The account of his death reads, “The horse coming to a gutter refused to cross, when, standing on the loading wagon, he urged him with a Hay-Fork which he held in his hand. This caused the horse to take a sudden spring forward, and he was thrown from the wagon upon the fork, one of the prongs of which pierced his heart, resulting in is almost instant death.”

Jacob was a deacon of Zionsville Reformed congregation in 1757.

As an interesting historical side-note, Jacob’s widow Eva soon after Jacob’s untimely death married Francis Wesco (The Huguenot) in 1762 and moved a short distance north of the borough of Macungie. Francis and Eva’s first child, Philip Henry Wesco was born in 1763. As noted in (*1), Philip bought a hotel in 1828, deeded it to his son Israel in 1837 when he retired at the age of 64, and the village of Wescosville, PA was named after Israel when he was named the postmaster of that area in 1844. This hotel was on the NW corner of what is now Brookside Road and Route 222 and later became Widow Brown’s restaurant and now Hunan Springs restaurant.

The Christman family had many sons, grandsons, etc. and they spread throughout Lehigh County in the years following. An 1876 map of Lehigh County shows three Christman families living in Upper Milford Township and at least one living in Macungie (*2).

Following is the text of the deed of Jacob Christman’s homestead from (*3). Note that this property was originally deeded by the sons of William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, in 1735. Jacob purchased these 150 acres in 1754. The measurements for this large rectangle are given in perches as 120x212 perches, an old form of measurement which equates to roughly 2000x3500 feet. This rectangle spans what is now the Berks and Lehigh border in the area along the Perkiomen Creek near Victory Valley Camp. The large stone home just up Beryl Road from the camp was built by the Christman family in 1850  and this property occupies 25 of those 150 acres.

THE DEED OF JACOB CHRISTMAN'S HOMESTEAD

Thomas Penn and Richard Penn Esquires true and absolute proprietaries and Governors in Chief of the province of Pennsylvania and Counties of Newcastle Kent and Sussex on Delaware. To all unto whom the presents shall come Greetings.

Where as by virtue of a warrant under the Lesser Seal of the said province bearing date the fourth day of February One Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty Five there was surveyed unto John Dater (alias Tecter) A Certain Tract of Land situate in Hereford Township formerly in the County of Philadelphia now in the County of Berks and the residue there of situate in Upper Milford Township formerly in the County of Bucks now in the County of Northampton bounded and described as follows vit. Beginning at a marked Black Oak Sapling thence by Land of John Tecter Jun. and vacant Land North West two hundred and twelve perches to a stone, thence by vacant Land South West One hundred and twenty perches to a stone in a line of George Sailor's Land, thence by the same vacant land South East two hundred and twelve perches to a post in line of John Westkays Land thence by the same North East One Hundred and twenty perches to the place of beginning, Containing one hundred and fifty Acres of Land and the usual allowance of six Acres. $, Cents for roads and Highways. As in and by the Survey thereof remaining in our Surveyor General Office and from thence certified into the Secretary's Office may appear.

And Whereas the said John Dater by a certain agreement in writing bearing date the eighth day of April one thousand seven hundred and fifty-four did for the consideration therein mentioned sell alien and confirm the said described Tract of Land and premises unto Jacob Christman of Upper Milford Township aforesaid, Yeoman in Fee.

Now at the one instance and request of the said Jacob Christman that we would be pleased to grant him a Confirmation of the same Know Ye that in consideration of the sum of twenty three pounds five shillings lawful money of Pennsylvania to our use paid by the said Jacob Christman the receipt whereof we hereby acknowledge and thereof grant and forever discharge the said Jacob Christman his Heirs and assigns by these and of the yearly Quit writ hereinafter mentioned and reserved. We have given, granted, released, and confirmed, and by these presents for us our Heirs and Successors, Do give grant release and confirm unto the said Jacob Christman his Heirs and Assigns the said one hundred and fifty Acres of Land at the same are now set-forth-bounded and limited as aforesaid with all Mines, Minerals, Quarries, Meadows, Marshes, Savannah's, Swamps, Cripples, Woods, Underwoods, Timber and Trees, Ways, Waters, Water Courses, Liberties, profits Commodities Advantages Hereditament and Appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining and lying with the Bounds and Limits aforesaid Three Till and clear fifth parts of all Royal Mines free from all Deductions and Reprisals for digging and refining the same. And also one fifth part of the Ore of all other mines delivered at the Pittsmouth only excepted and hereby reserved and also free Leave Right and Liberty to and for the said Jacob Christman his Heirs and Assigns to hawk, hunt, fish and foul in and upon the hereby granted Land and premises or upon any part thereof To have and to hold the said One Hundred fifty Acres of Land apremises hereby granted (except as before excepted) with their Appurtenances unto the said Jacob Christman his Heirs and Assigns to the only use and behoove of the said Jacob Christman his Heirs and Assigns forever to beHolden of us our Heirs and Successors, Proprietors of Pennsylvania as also of our Manor of Fermor or in the County of Northampton aforesaid in free and common So cage by Fealty only in lie of all other Service Yielding and Paying therefor Yearly unto us our Heirs and Successors at the town of Easton in the said county at or upon the first day of March in every year from the first day of March last. One halfpenny Sterling Farthing for every Acre of same Value thereof in coin and Current according as the exchange shall then be between oursprovince, and the City of London to such person or persons as shall from time to time be appointed to receive the same. And in cases of Nonpayment thereof within ninety days next after the same shall become due that then it shall and may be lawful for us our Heirs and Successors and their Receiver or Receivers into and upon the hereby granted Land and premises to Re-enter and the same to hold and possess until the said Quite Rent and all arrears thereof together with the charges accruing by means of Nonpayment's and Re-entry be fully paid and discharge Witness James Hamilton Esquire Lieutenant Governor of the Province who by Virtue of certain powers and authorities to him for the purpose ( ) granted by the said proprietaries hath hereunto set his hand and used the Great Seal of said province to be here unto Affixed at Philadelphia this ninth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred sixty the Thirty fourth Year of the reign of King George the second over Great Britain, V and the Forty third year of the said Proprietaries Government.
James Hamilton
Recorded in the Office for recording of
Deeds for the city and County of
Philadelphia in the Book A. A. Vol. & Page
125 - the 18th day of December 1760


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