Ancestors of Isaac T. Lafaver 1801

by Jeffrey La Favre
jlafavre@gmail.com


1.Abraham Lefever abt. 1659-1733

2. Johannes Lefever, Sr.

[John Lefever or John Lefevre or John Lefebre or John Lefeber]
b: ABT 1702 in Europe [probably southwest Germany, possibly in or near Landau]
d: January 1779 in Hereford Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. At the time of his death John is believed to have been living with his daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth and Leonard Griesemer, who had property in Hereford Twp.3

Christina Hallman/Heilman (wife)
d. after 24 FEB 1775 but presumably before 28 OCT 1778, when her husband wrote his will (she applied her mark to deed in Loudoun Co., VA, land she and John gave to son Henry on 24 FEB 1775)

Children of Johannes and Christina

Catherina (or Anna Catherina) Lefever
b: 15 DEC 17243 New Bristol, Philadelphia Co., PA
d: 19 MAR 18163 Easton, PA burial: Hay's Cemetery, Easton
From her gravestone: Anna-Catharina, wife of Jacob [Best], b. 15 Dec 1724, d. 19 Mar 1816, children John, Conrad, Ann Uhler, Christina Dech.79

Jacob Best (husband)3
m: 1742 Northampton Co., PA
b: 17183 or 27 SEP 1721 Northampton Co., PA
d: 9 MAR 17893 Northampton Co., PA burial: Hay's Cemetery, Easton
First Reformed Church of Easton has this entry for Jacob:"buried 11 MAR 1789 across the Lehigh ("uber der Lechau") the aged Jacob Best. Aged 67 years 5 months 1 week 5 days." If he died on March 9, then his birth according to this record calculates to 27 SEP 1721. However, on his gravestone, there is this: "In memory of Jacob Best was born in America 1718 and died Mar 9th 1789 in the 71st year of his age"79.
Jacob is listed on Williams Township, Northampton Co. tax list for 1772, but not in 1785

Children of Anna Catherina and Jacob

Johannes b. DEC 1742,d. 6 JUL 1823, Elizabeth, his wife, b. 26 MAR 1754, d. 16 APR 181579

Conrad79

Ann, her married name Uhler79

Christina, her married name Dech.79

Abraham Lefever [I]
b. 1728 New Bristol, Philadelphia Co., PA
d: ?

Elizabeth (wife)

See page on Abraham and Elizabeth for their children

Anna Mary Lefever [Anna Maria]
b:

Peter Mellig (husband)
m: 23 MAY 1749 Bucks (now Northampton) Co., PA - CONGREGATION OF THE AUGSBURG CONFESSION IN SAUCON AT PHILIP SCHLAUGH'S, NOT FAR FROM THE BIG LEHIGH AND FORKS OF THE DELAWARE, Church Book, p. 65.80 Peter Mölich, widower, married Anna Maria Feber, May 23, 1749.
A Peter Melig (also Mellick, Melick) is on the tax lists for Wyoming twp., Northumberland Co., PA in 1778-80, 1781, 1782, 1783-84, 1786 and 1787 (some of these years there is a Sr. and Jr. listed). In addition, in 1781, there is a Peter Melig and Peter Melig Jr. on the tax list for Augusta twp., Northumberland Co., PA

Children of Anna Mary Lefever and Peter Mellig

Anna Christina, b. 22 MAY 1750, Bucks (now Northampton) Co., PA, bapt. 28 MAY 1750, sponsors Johannes Feber and wife Anna Christina, CONGREGATION OF THE AUGSBURG CONFESSION IN SAUCON .... p. 10 80

Peter, b. 2 APR 1753, Northampton Co., PA, bapt. 22 APR 1753, sponsors Peter Seiler and Catharina Hess, CONGREGATION OF THE AUGSBURG CONFESSION IN SAUCON ....p. 13 80

Michael, b. 9 OCT 1754, Northampton Co., PA, bapt. 25 NOV 1754, sponsors Michael Raupp and wife Maria Elisabeth, CONGREGATION OF THE AUGSBURG CONFESSION IN SAUCON .... p. 15 80

Christina Lefever
b:
d: 1778

John Mellig (husband and brother of Peter)
m: 21 MAR 1751, "Blue Church" (St. Paul's Lutheran) - now in Upper Saucon twp., Lehigh Co., PA
(Johann Molig and Christina Le Feber)
A John Melig is on the tax list for Augusta twp., Northumberland Co., PA in 1787. A John Meelick is on the tax list in Wyoming twp., Northumberland Co., PA in 1783-84. A John Mellich (also Melick) is on the tax list in Douglass twp., Philadelphia Co., PA in 1782 and 1783. A John Melick is on the tax list in Brothers Valley twp., Bedford Co., PA in 1784. A John Melick married Anna Marga. Steinrock on April 8, 1775, Lutheran Church, New Hanover twp., Philadelphia Co., PA

Margaret Lefever [Anna Margaretha]
b:
d: Rowen Co., NC
moved to Rowan Co., NC in 1775
In the records of CONGREGATION OF THE AUGSBURG CONFESSION IN SAUCON AT PHILIP SCHLAUGH'S, NOT FAR FROM THE BIG LEHIGH AND FORKS OF THE DELAWARE, Church Book, p. 7,80 Gehrhard Mohr and wife Anna Margaretha Feber are sponsors at the baptism of a daughter of Pädric and Catharine Dewenne, 31 MAY 1747. Gehrhard Mohr apparently died and Anna Margaretha then married John Van Etten. Again on p. 11 80 of the church record we find that Margaretha Mohr along with Georg Kiefer are sponsors at the baptism of Christina Feber, parents Abraham and Elisabeth, on 21 MAR 1751.

Gehrhard Mohr (first husband)
m. before 31 MAY 1747

John Van Etten, Capt. (second husband)
m: 1757
b: 17 APR 1720
d: 20 MAR 1786 Rowan Co., NC
John's marriage to Margaret was his second marriage as well. His first wife was Marritje Westfael. John and Marritje were married 26 March 1738 in Minisink, Orange, New York. They had nine children: Helena baptized 1 Nov 1738;Jacob baptized 17 Jun 1740; Daniel baptized 25 Jul 1742; Cathrina baptized 23 Apr 1743; Maria baptized 9 Feb 1746; Daniel baptized 5 Jul 1747; Margarita baptized 6 Mar 1748; Samuel baptized 27 May 1750; Margrieta (Grietje) baptized 5 Nov 1752; all nine children born in Minisink, Orange, New York (source: Minisink Valley Reformed Dutch Church Records, 1716-1830, facsimile reprint by Heritage Books, Bowie, MD, 1992.) Samuel died in 1761 and was buried in the Forks or Salem Church Yard, Churchville, PA79, not far from the land where John Lefever had his tavern. Samuel's grave stone provides the year of death (1761) and age (11 years). Then in the same cemetery, there is the grave of Abraham Van Etten, died 29 JUN 1763 in the 4th year of his age, son of John Van Etten. The burial of these two children near the home of John and Margaret connects John's two families.

Children of John and Margaret

John, b. 11 FEB 1758, bapt. 15 APR 1758, witness John Lefeber6

Abraham, b. 5 APR 1760, bapt. 2 MAY 1760, witnesses Abraham Lefeber & wife6 d. 29 JUN 176379

Nicholas Lefever
b:
Resided in Loudoun County, VA between 1774 and 1781

Susanna Lefever
b:

Gabriel Frey (husband)
There is a Gabrial Frey on the 1767 and 1769 tax lists, Hatfield twp., Philadelphia Co., PA, who might be the husband of Susanna? This Gabrial Frey is not listed in Hatfield twp. on tax lists for 1774 and 1779. Gabrial is listed with an occupation of smith on the 1767 tax list. On the tax list for Fermanagh twp., Cumberland County, PA, there is a Gabriel Frey (also Fry and Frye) for the years 1778, 79, 80, 81, 82 and 85. He is listed as a smith for 1781 and 1782 and as a distiller in 1779.

Isaac Jacob Lefever
b: 21 JUL 1732 New Bristol, Philadelphia Co., PA
d: 20 AUG 1799 Oxford Twp., Chester Co., PA
On tax lists in Worcester twp., Philadelphia Co., PA in 1767, 69, 74, 79, 80, 81, 82 and 83.

Mary Magdalina Seiffert (wife) (source: baptism of sons Isaac and Jacob, parents Isaac Lefeber and wife Maria Magdalena, July 21, 1765 - Wentz Church records)
m: 1758
b: 1740
d: 1799

Elizabeth Lefever
b: 4 OCT 1739 New Bristol, Philadelphia Co., PA
d: 14 JAN 1814 Upper Hanover Twp., Montgomery Co., PA

Leonard Griesemer (husband)
m: 30 JUN 1757 New Goshenhoppen Reformed Church
baptized: 11 JUN 1732 New Goshenhoppen Reformed Church
d: 5 JAN 1821 Upper Hanover Twp., Montgomery Co., PA
resided in Hereford twp., Berks Co., PA

Henry Lefever
b:
d: 1807, Loudoun County, VA - will 1 NOV 1807, proved 14 DEC 1807
moved from Worcester twp., Philadelphia Co., PA to Loudoun Co., VA in 1774.

Annes (wife) named in will

Johannes (John) Lefever
b:
d: 1813
On tax lists for 1767, 74, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, but not 1769, in Worcester twp., Philadelphia Co., PA. Resided in Northampton Co., PA, in 1784, where his wife, Anne, died.

Eva (wife) (source: baptism on September 5, 1773 of son Johannes Wilhelm Lefeber, parents Johannes and Eva - Wentz Church records)

Catherine (wife) (perhaps Anne Catherine, same person listed below) (source: sponsors Johannes Lefeber and wife Catharina at baptism of Maria Catherina Sperr, March 26, 1775 also, baptism of Johannes Matthaer, July 2, 1780 - Wentz Church records)

Anne [Catherine?] (wife) d. JAN 1784 in Northampton Co., PA (source: certificate of 17 AUG 1784 gives death, related to Loudoun County, VA property sale recorded in Deed Book O page 20177)

The colonial government of Pennsylvania did not maintain vital records of its citizens. Births, baptisms and marriages during this time were recorded by churches and we must seek out the records of these religious institutions in order to document vital statistics. We have already learned that Abraham, father of Johannes, belonged to the Reformed faith in Germany. And there is documentation that Johannes held memberships in German Reformed churches in Pennsylvania.

Dominie Van Vlecq, an early Reformed minister, baptized three children of Hendrick Pannebecker in Skippack in 171082, about the time of the arrival of Johannes with his father. Abraham and Johannes probably attended services officiated by Van Vlecq. Ten years later, a German schoolmaster arrived in Philadelphia. John Philip Boehm probably arrived on the ship "Laurel" from Liverpool, August 30, 1720.82 At the time, there was an acute shortage of ministers of the Protestant faith available to German settlers in the northern areas of Philadelphia County. Boehm quickly made his way from Philadelphia to settle in this region and began to serve the German population as a reader in their Reformed congregations. After five years, Boehm dedicated himself full time in the service of his fellow German immigrants and became the pastor of three congregations at Falkner Swamp, Skippack and Whitemarsh.

In September of 1727, the ordained German Reformed minister George Michael Weiss arrived in Philadelphia. Not long afterward, Weiss invaded the congregations of Boehm, attempting to displace him on the grounds that he lacked ordination and was not qualified to serve as their religious leader. At the time, Johannes was an elder of the Skippack congregation and he signed a document July, 1728, sent to the Classis of Amsterdam in support of Boehm.4 Hinke, in his biography of Boehm, provides this on page 26: "John Lefeber was one of the officers of Boehm's congregation at Skippack in 1728. In 1730, he sided with Rev. G. M. Weiss."82 Hinke informs us that the 1728 letter was clearly composed by Boehm, who had his elders sign the letter. Perhaps Johannes had a change of heart regarding Boehm or it could be that he did not understand what he was signing in 1728. An examination of a 1730 letter suggests that the latter was the case. "For in our name and with the additon of some signatures he [Boehm] asked and petitioned a Reverend Classis about things which we have not even thought of."84

The letter sent to the Classis in 1728 ultimately resulted in the ordination of Boehm at the Dutch Reformed Church of New York on November 23, 1729. While this was cause for great joy for Boehm's congregations in Falkner Swamp and Whitemarsh, the congregation at Skippack was split regarding the ordination. Those who opposed the ordination continued to support Weiss as their pastor. When Weiss left to visit Holland in May of 1730, he carried two letters of protest of Boehm's ordination, which were delivered to the Classis of Rotterdam and the Classis of Amsterdam. This was the 1730 letter that Johannes also signed.

It is important to identify the pastor for Johannes in our quest for additional family records. With the arrival of Weiss, the Skippack congregation was split into those who followed Boehm and those who followed Weiss. Those who followed Boehm enjoyed his service over a long period of time. Such was not the case with Weiss, who had a series of successors over a short period of time. And it is apparently these ministers that may have recorded the births and baptisms of Johannes' children. Thus, it is important to list these men here and give some details of their service, in hope of making further progress in researching the Lefever family

The last service Weiss provided at Skippack was May 17, 1730. Shortly thereafter, he traveled to Holland to collect funds donated there for the Reformed Church in America. He arrived back in Philadelphia in the summer of 1731 and shortly thereafter accepted a call to serve at Huntersfield, Schoharie Co., NY. The next pastor to serve at Skippack was John Peter Miller, who arrived in Philadelphia August 29, 1730. Miller studied at the University of Heidelberg, but had not been ordained prior to leaving for America. He applied to the Presbyterian Synod of Philadelphia for ordination and was ordained near the end of 1730. He served at Skippack until the fall of 1731, by which time he had taken on the congregation of New Goshenhoppen. John Bartholomew Rieger replaced Miller at Skippack in 1731. He studied briefly at the University of Heidelberg in 1724 and then matriculated at the University of Basel. Nothing else is known of him until he arrived in Philadelphia in September of 1731. He was elected pastor at Philadelphia, Germantown and Skippack. He served at Skippack until 1734.

The Reverend Maurice Goetschy arrived in Philadelphia with his family on May 29, 1735. He died the next day, leaving his 17 year old son, John Henry, to care for the family. John Henry matriculated at the Latin school in Zurich on March 23, 1734, but studied there less than six months before leaving for America. His limited education was apparently enough for the congregations in America where he began to minister in Philadelphia, Skippack, New Goshenhoppen and Great Swamp. On May, 27, 1737, Goetschy applied to the Synod of Philadelphia for ordination. Due to his lack of education, his application was deferred but he was given a license to preach. Goetschy developed an extensive missionary activity in Pennsylvania, serving congregations at Skippack, Old Goshenhoppen, New Goshenhoppen, Great Swamp, Saucon, Egypt, Maxatawny, Moselem, Oley, Berne and Tulpehocken. He eventually became the victim of opposition due to lack of training and left for New York in 1740 for further study where he was ordained in 1741. He remained in New York. The last regular pastor of the Weiss faction at Skippack was John William Straub, a schoolmaster from Gronau, Germany. He served Skippack from 1739 to 1741.

I have been able to document the birth of only one child of Johannes and Christina Lefever, Anna Catherina, and only due to the date on her gravestone. I give dates for the births of some other children, which have been supplied by undocumented sources. I believe that further progress in documenting the births of the children of Johannes and Christina may occur by seeking the records of the ministers mentioned above, if they exist.

Now let us move on to the documentation of naturalization of Johannes, which proves that he was not born in America.

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ANNO REGNI QUARTO GEORGII II REGIS. CHAP. CCCXXII. (1730.)

An Act for the better enabling divers Inhabitants of the Province of Pennsylvania, to hold Lands; and to invest them with privileges of Natural born Subjects of the said Province.

WHEREAS, by the encouragement given by the Honourable William Penn, Esq., late Proprietory and Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania, and by the Permission of His late Majesty King George the First, of blessed Memory, and his Predecessors, Kings and Queens of England, &c., divers Protestants, who were subjects to the Emperor of Germany, a Prince in Amity with the Crown of Great Britain, transported themselves and Estates into the Province of Pennsylvania, and since they came hither have contributed to the enlargement of the British Empire, and have always behaved themselves religiously and peaceably, and have paid a due regard and obedience to the Laws, and Government of this Province.

AND WHEREAS, many of the said persons, to wit:

Peter Wentz,

Martin Kolb,

Dielman Kolb,

Jacob Kolb,

Michael Zeigle,

Paul Fried,

Johannes Fried,

Hans Datweiler,

Valentine Hansucker,

Jacob Scheimer,

Johannes Koocker,

George Marckl,

Hubbard Kassel,

Johannes Lefeber,

Jacob Herman,

Gerhard Clements,

Christopher Zimmerman,

Jacob Metz,

Bastian Smit,

Mathias Gemelin,

Ulrich Mayer,

Christian Bowman,

Abraham Schwartz,

Hermanus Kuster,

John Joder,

John Joder, Jun.,

Joest Joder,

Philip Keilwein,

Hans Hock,

Peter Endreas,

John Dietrick Kriener,

Peter Balio,

Abraham Levand,

Isaac Levand,

Nicholas Lescher,

David Kauffman,

Jean Bartolett,

Hans Martin Gerich,

Martin Scheukel,

Jonathan Herbein,

John Bowman,

Arnold Huffnagle,

Johannes Langenecker,

Johannes Buckwalter,

Johannes Eckstein,

Isaac Van,

Johannes Dewalt End,

Johannes George Bentzel,

Blassius Daniel Mackinet,

Mathias, Adam H.,

Hans Rup,

Lorence Belitz,

Johan Nicholas Kressman,

Christopher Funk,

John Joseph Schrack,

Philip Schrack,

George Jager,

Samuel Gouldin,

Christopher Gouldin,

Henry Pennebecker,

Hans Sigfried,

Peter Trexler,

Henry Scheat,

Jacob Hottlestein,

Daniel Langenecker,

Hans Jacob Bechtley,

Melchor Hoch,

Jacob Hoch,

George Hollenbach,

John Jacob Schrack,

John George Reif,

John George Reif, Jun.,

Jacob Reif,

Conrad Reif,

Peter Reif,

Antonias Hilman,

Henry Autis,

Gerhard Peters,

John Isaac Klein,

Johannes Mayer,

Samuel Hoch,

John Snyder,

George Bechtley,

Joesh Hendrick Zaatzmentzhous, sen.

All of Philadelphia County.

Marcas Kuhl,

John Keller,

Jacob Kasdrop,

Johan Baker,

Abraham Kintzing.

 

Of the City of Philadelphia.

Jacob Klemmer,

Jacob Souder,

Philip Geisinger,

George Bachman,

John Driessler.

 

Of the County of Bucks.

Christian Mary,

Johannes Roth,

Casper Acker,

Jacob Acker.

Of the County of Chester

 

In Demonstration of their Affection and Zeal for his present Majesty's Person and Government, qualified themselves by taking the Qualification and subscribing the Declaration directed to be taken and subscribed by the several Acts of Parliament made for the security of his Majesty's Person and Government, and for preventing the Dangers which may happen by Popish Recusants, &c., and thereupon, have humbly signified to the Governor and the Representatives of the Freemen of this Province, in General Assembly met, that they have purchased and do hold Lands of the Proprietary and others, His Majesty's subjects within this Province, and have likewise represented their great desire of being made Partakers of these Privileges, which the natural born Subjects of Great Britain do enjoy within this Province, and it being just and reasonable that the Persons who have bona-fide purchased Lands, and who have given such Testimony of their Affection and obedience to the Crown of Great Britain, should as well be secured in the enjoyment of their Estates as encouraged in their laudable Affections to, and Zeal for the English Constitution. Be it enacted by the Honorable Patrick Gordon, Esqr, Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania, &c., by and with the advice and Consent of the Representatives of the Freemen of the said Province, in General Assembly met, and by the authority of the same, That (Names repeated as above,) be and shall be to all intents and Purposes, deemed, taken and esteemed His Majesty's natural born subjects of this Province of Pennsylvania, as if they and each of them had been born within the said Province; and shall and may, and every of them shall and may, within this Province take, receive, enjoy, and be entitled to all Rights, Privileges and Advantages of natural born subjects, as fully to all Intents, Constructions and Purposes, whatsoever, as any of His Majesty's natural born Subjects of the Province can do or ought to enjoy, by virtue of their being His Majesty's natural born Subjects of his Majesty's said Province of Pennsylvania.

[source: Pennsylvania Archives series 2 vol. 7, p. 119]

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"John Lefebre was naturalized in 1729. On February 6, 1734, he paid quit-rent for fifteen years on 500 acres in Worcester township, and in that year he was taxed in Worcester township."3 He obtained his father's land in Worcester Township by "several conveyances and descents." The 500-acre property was resurveyed by Nicholas Scull by a warrant dated April 8, 1743 and found to be 576 1/2 acres. This survey mentions the following abutting property owners: George Good, Peter Wentz, John Negley, Paul Hendricks, John Newberry and James Bean. A scan of this survey is available here. At the time of the resurvey, the land was subdivided into four tracts: 300 acres to William Johnson, 53 acres to Robert Jones, an unspecified acreage (est. 50 acres) to Lawrence Piersen, and the remainder retained by Johannes. A scan of the subdivided survey is available here.

The subdivision survey is plotted below on a modern topographic map (WJ300 = William Johnson, JL = John Lefever [Johannes], RJ53 = Robert Jones, LP = Lawrence Piersen).

 

While I have not located deeds of sale for Johannes' property in Worcester, the survey indicates that he did sell off a substantial portion of his 576 1/2 acres. He was preparing to make a move north and presumably used some of the proceeds from the sale of the Worcester land to purchase 368 acres in the northern portion of Bucks County (now Northampton County).

At this point it may be helpful to review some history of Pennsylvania. On March 4, 1681, King Charles II of England granted William Penn a colony in America as payment for a debt owed to Penn's deceased father. It was the policy of William Penn, the Proprietor of Pennsylvania, to extinguish the Native American title to his grant by purchase. Large tracts of land were purchased by treaty with various tribes and nations. Four years after Penn arrived in America, it was alleged that a treaty was made with the Delaware Native Americans on August 30, 1686. This treaty was the foundation for a later treaty, the infamous Walking Purchase of 1737, a land fraud committed against the Delaware by William Penn's heirs and their conspirators. A few years later the Penns enlisted the help of the Iroquois, enemies of the Delaware, to force them out of the Forks of the Delaware, the major region included within the Walking Purchase. This was accomplished by a treaty with the Iroquois in Philadelphia in 1742.

 

image

 

In colonial times the Lehigh River was considered the west or south fork of the Delaware River. Thus, the Forks of the Delaware was the region enclosed by the two forks of the Delaware River and the Blue Mountains to the northwest.

With the exit of the Delaware Native Americans from the Forks, the land was open more freely to white settlement. William Allen, a wealthy resident of Philadelphia, was a land speculator in colonial Pennsylvania. He acquired several large tracts of land within the Forks of the Delaware.

As Johannes Lefever considered the developments of the early 1740s in the region north of his home, he decided it was time to seek a new life in a wilder part of Pennsylvania. We cannot know for certain his motivation, but for some reason, Johannes was attracted to land in the Forks of the Delaware. Chidsey suggests that Johannes may have been influenced in his decision by some of his Moravian neighbors in Worcester, who moved to Nazareth in the Forks, about 2 miles west of land later purchased by Johannes1.

In August, 1743, Johannes purchased 368 acres from William Allen, just north of the present-day town of Tatamy, Pennsylvania. The Proprietors issued a confirmatory patent for the 368 acres on June 5, 1745. Sometime between 1743 and 1745, Johannes moved to this property and constructed a log cabin not far from the banks of the stream known as Tatamy's Creek, a short distance above the point where it joins Lehicton Creek (now known as Bushkill Creek). When Chidsey published his book in 19401, he claimed that the east branch of Bushkill Creek, where the cabin was located, was still sometimes called Lefevre's Creek. Currently there is a road in Stockertown named Le Fevre Road, which crosses the east branch of Bushkill Creek [Little Bushkill Creek].

 

Map of Greater Area Around Northampton County

Before we continue with our story, here is a map that will help you visualize various important locations.

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When John moved to the Forks, he had just one close neighbor, a Delaware Native American named Moses Tunda Tatamy. The remaining land surrounding John's tract was owned by William Allen of Philadelphia. Tatamy owned property that abutted John's tract on the east side. This Delaware Chief was converted to Christianity by the missionary David Brainerd. As a reward for services to the Province of Pennsylvania, Tatamy was provided with 315 acres by the Proprietors on April 28, 1738. Thus, he was one of the Christianized Delaware that remained in the Forks after 1742.

Tatamy could speak English and was employed as a translator at the famous treaties between Native Americans and the government of Pennsylvania, which were held in the 1750s in nearby Easton. He was married to a white woman. We can guess that John was on friendly terms with Tatamy and perhaps Tatamy was a source of information regarding Native Americans. Information that might be valuable to John during the 1750s when hostilities arose as a result of the French and Indian War.

John was certainly not one of the earliest settlers in the Forks. There were white settlers there before the Delaware were forced out. Two of the earliest settlements were located in what later became Allen and Mt. Bethel Townships. Both townships were settled by Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. The settlement in Mt. Bethel was known as Hunter's Settlement, established by Alexander Hunter about 1730. Hunter brought about 30 families to settle in this area. The other was known as Craigs' Settlement in Allen Township, established by Thomas and William Craig.85

John's log cabin was on a path or road between the Scotch-Irish settlements and was a convenient resting place. Recognizing a business opportunity, John started to use his cabin as a tavern and later constructed a stone building to replace the log tavern.3

The Lefevers gained new neighbors to the west in the 1750s when William Allen sold 324 acres to Henry Antes, who in turn sold the property to the Moravian trustees in 1752. Antes started construction of a mill early in 1750, which went into operation on August 21, 1750. The Moravian settlement that developed around the mill was known as Friedensthal. The Lefever meadows were a short mile below this mill.1

On March 21, 1747, Patrick Deveny purchased 50 acres on Lefevre's Creek, about 2 1/2 miles above the Lefevre tract. This property became vested in John Weidmen and in 1752 he started construction on a mill. When Weidmen ran short of cash, he borrowed about £46 from John Lefevre and Dill Bower. Weidmen mortgaged his property to John and Dill to secure the loan. The mortgage document lists John Lefevre as an innholder and Dill Bower as a smith, both residents of Forks of Delaware.1

William Parsons, the foremost citizen of the county seat of Northampton County, often stayed at Lefevre's Tavern during his trips. We know this because he had an outstanding tab of £80, a considerable sum, at the time of his death. John engaged Lewis Gordon as his attorney, to file a suit at the December Court of 1758 in Easton, to recover the funds from Parsons' executor. The papers filed state that £80 was due for services rendered during Parsons' lifetime for meat, drink, washing, lodging, hospitality for himself, servants and divers other persons, pasturage and fodder for horses.1 From this list we can get a good idea of the offerings at the Lefevre Tavern. Considering the social standing of Parsons, one might imagine that John's tavern was of a higher quality than many in the same area at that time.

During the spring of 1752, while Parsons and Nicholas Scull were surveying for the layout of Easton, Pennsylvania, they stayed at John's tavern.1 On June 19, 1753, John Lefever petitioned the Justices, Court of Quarter Sessions of Northampton County, for license to keep a public house or tavern. The petition states he had previously been licensed to keep a house of Public Entertainment, so it is likely he was licensed when Parsons and Scull lodged at the tavern in 1752.1 In Parsons' account of expenses for the survey of Easton, we find under the date of May 7, 1752, traveling expenses, £3 14 shillings "At John Lefever's." Presumably this was the cost for lodgings. Then on May 21, "Cash paid Workmen for clearing the Streets at Easton," Isaac Lefever (John's son) was paid 4 shillings. Also on May 21 "Expences when the Secretary was at Easton in order to eject the Setlers on the Dry Land," £3 10 shillings paid to John Lefever, presumably an additional charge for lodgings. And then on the same date, "Cash paid on Acco of the Well," 6 shillings for gun powder paid to John Lefever. The gun powder apparently was used as an explosive to aid in excavation of the town water well. Two other men also sold gun powder to Parsons: John Fricker, £1 11 shillings, and Nathaniel Vernon, 12 shillings.86

John Lefever attained the age of 50 about the year 1752. In thinking of his approaching old age, he may have pondered some options for his retirement years. During the days that Parsons and Scull lodged at the tavern, there is no doubt that they discussed the future of Easton, the town they were in the process of laying out. We might imagine that John listened with interest to these conversations. Perhaps Easton would be a place where he could enjoy his golden years, just five miles from his property on Lefever's Creek. He could hand the property over to his children to manage, while enjoying an easier existence in Easton. Chidsey tells us that John selected lot 76 in Easton for purchase, but that he never carried through with the purchase. As John watched Easton develop, and worried over the French and Indian War, he may have decided that Easton was not the best place for his retirement. In May or June of 1752, John also started another real estate transaction in Plainfield Township that was never completed. Perhaps for the same reason.

John Lefever's mother tongue was German but I imagine he had some grasp of the English language. He would need to communicate with his English customers at the tavern, particularly William Parsons. John served on the Grand Jury in Easton at various times and the proceedings of all court sessions were in English. When William Parsons submitted his recommendations for local trustees of the proposed school in Easton, John was on the list. John Lefever was one of six trustees appointed on July 31, 1755. The other five trustees were English. Yet it is interesting to note that John did not contribute any money, labor or materials for the new school in Easton. At the time, most or all of his children were adults, and his grandchildren too young for school. If his children were younger, would he have sent them to this English school?

On November 24, 1755, the atmosphere in the Forks changed with the massacre of white settlers by Native Americans at the Gnadenhuetten settlement on the west fork of the Delaware River [Lehigh River]. The anger of the Delaware and other natives was due no doubt, at least in part, to the theft of their land in the Forks some 13 years earlier. These hostilities were part of a greater conflict between Britain, including her colonies, and the French with their Native American allies. The French and Indian War commenced with the Battle of Jumonville Glen fought on May 28, 1754 near what is present-day Uniontown in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. This battle was between Lieutenant Colonel George Washington's colonial militia of Virginia and French troops. As the Native American attacks on the settlers in the Pennsylvania wilderness escalated, the citizens demanded action from their government.

An act was passed on November 25, 1755, providing for a militia to protect the settlers on the frontier. Benjamin Franklin, James Hamilton and Joseph Fox were appointed to a commission to investigate the hostilities. The commissioners arrived in Easton on December 23rd to learn first hand about the Native American attacks. While at Easton, Benjamin Franklin commissioned William Parsons a Major, in command of troops in Northampton County.

On January 1, 1756, Teedyuscung, the Delaware King, initiated a series of raids on the north side of the Blue Mountains, extending over the mountains and overran the county from Lehigh Gap to Nazareth. At this point a series of forts were hastily constructed along the Blue Mountains from the Delaware Water Gap to the Maryland line. On April 8, 1756, Governor Morris declared war against the Native Americans.

Now we turn to the story of John Van Etten, who came into the life of the Lefevers about this time. John was living in the upper northeast reaches of Northampton County at the outbreak of the hostilities (Delaware Township, present-day Pike County). On January 12, 1756, Benjamin Franklin commissioned John Van Etten a Captain in the militia and issued a set of instructions, some of which will be summarized here. 1) You are to proceed immediately to raise a company of 30 able men, with which you are to protect the inhabitants of Upper Smithfield 2) you are to post your men as follows: eight at your own house, eight at Lieutenant Henshaw's, six plus a sergeant at Teshhock, and six plus a sergeant at or near Henry Cortracht's 3) every man is to be engaged for one month 4) you are to furnish the men with provisions 5) you are to keep a daily journal or diary 6) the men will be rewarded $40 for each scalp of an Indian enemy killed 7) take care not to waste your provisions 8) if you gain any intelligence regarding the enemy you are to notify the Governor and other local companies 9) you are to keep good order among your men 10) you are to insure that the men keep their weapons in good repair 11) you are to make a muster roll at the end of each month to be used in paying your men. Apparently, Benjamin Franklin was very optimistic about the prospects of putting down the hostilities. It soon became necessary to extend the enlistments of the men. A small fort was erected, presumably near Lieutenant Henshaw's home, at an undetermined time. This fort was given the name Ft. Hyndshaw [Henshaw] and it was the first command of Captain Van Etten.

We are fortunate that at least part of the dairy of Captain Van Etten has survived, with entries starting December 1, 1756. In addition, there is a record of his activity at an earlier time of the same year. Extract of a letter from Easton, January 30, 1756: "Last Friday a party of Capt. John Van Etten's men fell in with a party of Indians in Upper Smithfield, and killed and scalped two of them, and have good reason to believe they wounded four or five more mortally." (Pennsylvania Gazette, No. 1415, February 5, 1756)

A close analysis of the various entries in the Captain's diary provides an interesting story if we read between the lines. It is the story of a blooming romance between John Van Etten and Margaret Lefevre, John Lefever's daughter. While Margaret is never mentioned in the military dairy, as we would expect, the details the Captain does provide allow the detective to weave an interesting tale, as did Chidsey in his book.

To set the story, we need to know the location of two important forts. Fort Hamilton was located about 20 miles north of Easton, where the present town of Stroudsburg, PA is located. Fort Hyndshaw was located about 12 miles northeast from Fort Hamilton, close to the Delaware River. Here is a map that marks the location of forts and other points of interest.

As part of his duties, it was necessary from time to time for Captain Van Etten to report to Major William Parsons in Easton. And as it would happen, the route from the above mentioned forts would take the good Captain right past John Lefever's tavern on his way to Easton. Another important fact to keep in mind is that the tavern was about five miles north of Easton. So, now let us take a look at selected entries from the Captain's journal:87

March 21, 1757 - [currently located at Ft. Hyndshaw] Went on my Journey for Easton in order to attend Court, Leaving the Charge of the Company wt the Leut., and being Detaind by Reson of Bad weather I attended the whole term.

March 28 - I Returnd Safe to my Company at Fort Hyndshaw, finding all thing in good order and my men in health.

[There are no other entries in the diary between March 21 and 28. In the case above, we can't determine how long the ride to Easton was because the Captain probably spent more than one day in Easton, attending the whole term of the court (I have not determined the amount of time court was in session)]

April 9 - [currently at Ft. Hamilton] A Coppy of a Letter from Majr Willm Parsons, sent to then commander at fort Hambleton, I being there and no other. I opend the same, and found it to be a Coppy from the original, sent by Jacob Snyder, Insign, being then Commander at fort Norris, with which I could not content my self, but went of immediately to Easton to see the Majr.

April 10 - Then spoke with the Majr at his own House, who orderd that the Leut., with 25 men of my Company, should immediately march to Riddin, to the Corlls, there to Recd further orders.

April 11 - Returned home to fort Hyndshaw, Receiving the Original of the Majrs order by the way, and acquainted the Leut. With the affair.

[Again it is difficult to judge the amount of time needed to travel from Ft. Hamilton to Easton.]

April 16 - [currently at Ft. Hyndshaw] Went to see the Majr.

April 20 - Returnd to Fort Hyndshaw, visiting Fort Hambleton on my way, and found all things in good order at both Forts. The Night following an Express came from fort Hambleton to me at fort Hyndshaw, with an accompt of a murder Committed about Sun set.

April 21 - Went to Fort Hambleton with 7 men, and found it to be one Cuntryman [Casper Gundryman], a Lad of about 17 years of age, Killd and Scalpd by the Indians, about 100 Rods from the fort Hambleton, which I took up and Buried the same day; Returnd safe with my men to fort Hyndshaw.

[Again it is difficult to judge the travel time needed from the forts to Easton because we don't know what time of day the Captain left and the time of day when he returned. So let us jump to a later part of the dairy at this point.]

June 24 [at Ft. Hamilton] - Att about nine in the morning, having made redy, I went with 18 men and buried the man, then went from the grave in search and found 15 Cattle, Horses and hogs dead, besides two that was shot, one with 5 bulits, the other with one, and yet there are many missing, out of which the Enemy took, as we Judg, the value of two Beaves and almost one Swine - in the Evening sent an Express by two men to the Majrs.

June 25 - Disciplined the men, nothing Extraordinary hapned, all Kept the fort that night; the two men that went with the Express to Easton Returned in safety to the Fort.

June 28 [at Ft. Hamilton] -[in the evening the Captain sends two men with a letter to Easton]

June 29 - [the two men return from Easton during the night]

[Thus, it was possible to ride to Easton from Ft. Hamilton and return in the space of perhaps a little more than 24 hours. Furthermore, Captain John Van Etten made three trips to Easton during the period March 21 to April 20, and could apparently have had plenty of time to visit with the Lefevers along the way. Perhaps he even lodged at the tavern during his attendance at the court during March? Now let us return to the most interesting entries yet in the dairy.]

June 3 - [at Ft. Hyndshaw] I sett of on my Journey for Philadelphia, about 4 O'Clock in the after noon, with 6 men as a Guarde, and came all safe to Fort Hambleton, and found every thing in good order there.

June 4 - At 8 O'c in the morning Dissiplind the men, and gave strict orders to the Sergant to keep the men Exact to there duty, and about 4 O'c afternoon I persued my Journey.

June 5 - I lay sick by the way within five milds of Easton

June 6 - Came to Easton and paid my Respects to Majr. Persons.

June 7 - Not withstanding the Ill Surcomstance of Body I was in I persued my Jorney.

June 8 - About 4 in the afternoon I came to Philadelphia, and Deliverd the Express sent to Majr Persons, just as it was sent to him to his Honr the Governor, who Desird me to wait on him at 12 O'c the next day

June 9, 10, 11, 12 - [John is waiting to complete his business in Philadelphia]

June 13 - About 3 O'c in the afternoon I left the Town [Philadelphia]

June 14 - About two in the afternoon I came to Easton, I directly paid my Respects to Majr Persons, who told me that I should take a Supply of Ammonicion, where upon I provided Sacks and took 100 LB of powder, 100 LB of Lead, and 100 of Flints, and also Recd a Coppy from his Honour, the Governors orders to Remove to fort Hambleton, and left Easton about 6 O'c and went about five milds.

June 15 - Came safe to fort Hambleton with the Ammonicion, about 6 O'c afternoon, and found all things in good order.

[now we skip to the last entry in the diary]

July 21 - In Compliance with the Corlls order early in the morning I Sent to Samll Depues for the [should be the word mare here] he had in keeping in order to send my message to the Corll at Easton, who returned with sd Mare safe in the Evening, also 4 men Guarded John Drake at his harvest with orders to give an account of what hapdn, which was all was well, but as to their behaviour after their coming to the fort, I shall acquant the Corll of the matter.

[end of diary entries]

The entries in the diary end abruptly with the July 21 entry above, leaving the reader to wonder what happened to Captain Van Etten. In the Colonial records we find a letter composed by [Lt.] James Hyndshaw to Governor Denny, dated October 11, 1757.88 Quoted here is the first paragraph of that letter:

 

I beg leave to Acquaint your Honour I have now in my Company Seventy-two Men, Several of which is yet on the one Year's Enlistment, and of the Company of the late Capt Van Etten, and many of them has had no pay this Ten Months, and Several of them not fit for the three Years' Enlistment, and to discharge them without paying them off seemeth hard.

 

Clearly something happened to Captain Van Etten. Some historians have come to the conclusion that he died, which seems perfectly logical if you read the entire diary. Captain Van Etten and his men did come into deadly conflict with the Native Americans periodically during his tenure at Forts Hyndshaw and Hamilton. The bronze plaque placed to mark the location of Fort Hamilton indicates that Captain Van Etten lost his life while serving at the fort. But if we look further for records in Northampton County, we find that John Van Etten was alive and well after 1757.

If we look in the valuable Pennsylvania Archives, we find an important entry for Captain Van Etten. In a table for the Second Pennsylvania Regiment, First Battalion, there is listed "John Vanetten, Resigned."89 Unfortunately, a date of resignation is not supplied. Then there is another interesting item in the Votes of Assembly of Pennsylvania on October 7, 1757: "John Van Etten, for his Account of Dieting and Liquors supplied Provincial Forces - £174 12 shillings 3 pence"90 And again from the Pennsylvania Archives we find that John Van Etten was Coroner for Northampton County, October 4, 1759.91 Now I believe one final reference will enable us to complete our detective work. In the records of the Tohickon Union Church there is this entry in the baptismal records: John Van Etten, son of John and Margaret Van Etten, b. 11 FEB 1758, bapt. 15 APR 1758, witness John Lefeber6

Now we have the story of the romance of John Van Etten and Margaret Lefever. We can't be sure of the date of their first encounter, perhaps during 1756, before the entries of the Captain's dairy begin. Perhaps late in the month of March 1757. On his way to Easton from Fort Hamilton, March 1757, John probably stopped at the Lefevre Tavern before arriving in town. Perhaps Margaret was on duty that day and provided the gallant Captain with a drink while another Lefever attended to his horse. Then he made his way on in to Easton to attend the current session of court. In his diary, the Captain informs us that the weather was bad, so he decided to stay for the entire court proceedings, which must have spanned more than one day. Perhaps there was another reason why the good Captain decided to prolong his stay in the vicinity of Easton! As luck would have it, less than two weeks later, Captain Van Etten found the need to travel back to Easton again. This was a shorter trip, lasting about three days, leaving from Ft. Hamilton, but returning to Ft. Hyndshaw. We know that the round trip from Ft. Hamilton to Easton and back took just over 24 hours if those making the trip were in a hurry. And we must add part of a day to make the extra trip of 12 miles between the forts. Nevertheless, it seems that the Captain's trip to Easton in early April was a bit leisurely. Less than a week after Captain Van Etten's arrival back at Ft. Hyndshaw, he found it necessary to take a third trip to Easton, returning to the fort four days later. I believe if he had sent some of his men to Easton in his place, they would have arrived back in 2 days. Of course up to this point I could be accused of just having a wild imagination. But the final evidence really is hard to deny. On June 5, 1757, the Captain "... lay sick by the way within five milds of Easton," which was the distance of Lefever's Tavern from Easton. Thirty-six weeks later, John and Margaret had a son, born February 11, 1758. Birth after thirty-six weeks of gestation, according to contemporary medicine, is just one week premature. Thus, we have the reason why Captain Van Etten resigned his commission, probably late in July of 1757. He learned that his sweetheart was expecting a child!

We have also learned that the colonial government of Pennsylvania voted to pay John Van Etten for dieting and liquors supplied to Provincial Forces. The vote was on October 7, 1757. Was this payment for supplies that the Captain provided while still on duty or after he resigned his commission? Was he working with his new father-in-law, just outside Easton, when he supplied the troops?

While the Lefevers were never attacked by the Native Americans, the effects of the hostilities did reach their neighborhood late in 1755. On December 13th the first refugees arrived at Friedensthal, the Moravian settlement next door to the Lefever property. By January 13th of the next month, 75 refugees had gathered in the stockaded mill, seeking protection against the Native Americans.

Survival during this period required a constant awareness of activity in the area. The Lefevers were doing their part to monitor the neighborhood. When the roof of the mill at Friedensthal caught fire due to sparks from the bake oven, August 24, 1756, the Lefevers where there to help extinguish the flames.

 John Lefever must have been concerned for his family during these trying times, and it is apparent that he was able to summons courage in the face of danger. According to a court record in Easton, John was traveling in the region north of his home, in Lower Smithfield, in April of 1757, very close to the time when Captain Van Etten was returning to his fort in the same general area. In fact, it is interesting to note the entry in the Captain's diary for April 21: "Went to Fort Hambleton with 7 men, and found it to be one Cuntryman, a Lad of about 17 years of age, Killd and Scalpd by the Indians, about 100 Rods from the fort Hambleton, which I took up and Buried the same day; Returnd safe with my men to fort Hyndshaw." Cuntryman was the same person, Casper Gundryman, mentioned in a court record quoted below. Taking into account the Captain's diary entry for April 21 and the court record below, it seems possible that John Lefever was in contact with his soon-to-be son-in-law on April 21 or close to that time. Or perhpas John heard the news from someone else. In any case, it is clear they were both in the same general area at that time.

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"Deposition of Michael Roup"

"The 24th day of April, one thousand, seven Hundred and Fifty Seven, appeared before me, William Parsons, Esquire, one of His Majestys Justices of the Peace for the County of Northampton, Michael Roup, of Lower Smithfield, in the said County, aged 52 Years, a Person to me well known and worthy of Credit, and being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, did depose and declare, That His Neighbour, Philip Bozart, being at Fort Norris last Saturday week, heard a letter read there, which was dispatched by Major Parsons to acquaint the Garrison that he had receiv'd information that some Enemy Indians intended shortly to come and attack the inhabitants at and about Minisink and to desire them to be upon their Guard; which was soon made known to all the Neighboring Inhabitants. And this Deponent further saith, That on Friday Morning last [April 22] John Lefever, passing by the Houses of Philip Bozart and this Deponent, informed them that the Indians had murder'd Casper Gundryman last Wednesday Evening [April 20]; Whereupon This Deponent went immediately to the House of Philip Bozart to consult what was best to be done. Their House being about half a Mile apart. That they concluded it best for the Neighbors to collect themselves together, as many as they could in some one House. And this Deponant further saith, that he immediately returned home and loaded his Waggon as fast as he cou'd with his most valuable Effects which he carried to Bozart's house. That as soon as he had unloaded his Waggon he drove to his Son-in-Law Peter Soan's House, about two miles, and loaded as much of his Effects as the Time and hurry wou'd admit, and took them also to Bozart's, where 9 families were retired; That a great Number of the Inhabitants were also retired to the Houses of Conrad Bittenbender & John McDowel; That Bozart's House is 7 Miles from Fort Hamilton and 12 miles from Fort Norris."

The Indian Forts of the Blue Mountains by H.M.M. Richards, p. 287-88. In Report of the Commission to Locate the Site of the Frontier Forts of Pennsylvania, vol. 1, Clarence M. Busch, State Printer of Pennsylvania, 1896.

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An enumeration of horses and wagons in 1758 lists John Lefever as owning 1 wagon and 3 draught horses. His son Abraham owned 1 wagon and 2 draught horses. His son Isaac owned one pack horse.1

Sometime after 1761, John moved back to the property in Worcester Township, which he still owned. By 1764 he had sold all of the 368 acres on Lefevre's Creek. During John's absence from Worcester, the Skippack congregation became scattered, with the last known formal church meeting taking place in 1755. Old members of the congregation met in conference in 1760 for the purpose of planning a new church building. Neighbors John Lefever and Peter Wentz each donated one acre for the new church. Construction began in 1762 but was not completed until 1771.9 The new church was known as Wentz Church and exists today as Wentz's United Church of Christ. The building finished in 1771 served the community for 89 years.

John Sr. purchased 350 acres on April 6, 1769, from Sebastian "Boston" Cline [Jr.], land located presently in Lincoln County, North Carolina. John's purchase is recorded in the deed of sale by his son, Abraham Lefever (Lincoln County [old] Deed Book 15, pages 342-344). The deed for John's purchase is said to be recorded in the county of Mecklenburg. The deed of sale indicates that John was of Berks County, PA. I have seen a claim that John's deed of purchase indicates that "John Leufever" was living on the land at branches of Lyles Creek at the time of the purchase. This land was not mentioned in John's will, but was inherited by his oldest son, Abraham, as heir-at-law. Abraham sold this land to John Cressimore on November 11, 1789 (old Deed Book 15 p. 342, Lincoln Co., NC). The 1789 deed is key in connecting Abraham Lefever, living in Augusta Co., VA, with his father, John, of Berks County, Pennsylvania. It is not clear to me that John Sr. lived on this land, perhaps it was his son John? In the 1767 tax list for Worcester Twp., John Sr. is listed with 100 acres and his son, John Jr. is listed with no property. In 1769 in the same township, John Sr. is listed again with 100 acres, but there is no listing for John Jr. Perhaps it was John Jr. who lived for a short time in North Carolina. Then in 1774, John Sr. is listed for the last time with 100 acres in Worcester Township, but this time John Jr. is also listed, without any land. John Jr., was living in Philadelphia County, PA on September 5, 1773, when his son was baptized at Wentz Church.

On April 2, 1774, John Sr. and his wife sold to Jacob Schneider, of Worcester township, for £900, 187 acres3, presumably the only remaining land he owned in that township. It is not clear why he was listed with only 100 acres in the 1767 and 1769 tax lists.

John Sr. purchased 266 acres in Loudoun County, Virginia from John Vestal on June 9, 1774 (Deed Book K pages 254 - 257 [lease] and pages 257 - 262 [release]). In an abstract of this deed, the amount of land is listed at 145 acres.77 However, a careful reading of the original deed reveals that three tracts were purchased: 145 acres, 76 acres and 45 acres. A transcription of this deed is available here.

In John Sr.'s will, he gave to son John, 125 acres, and prior to his death, to son Henry, 150 acres.1 The tract of 150 acres mentioned in the will is the same tract listed accurately as 136 acres in Loudoun County Deed Book L page 56 and page 58, 23 FEB 1775.77 In 1784, John Jr. sold his inherited land in Loudoun County to Peter Harbourt (Deed Book O page 201, 17 AUG 1784, 138 acres77). The tracts owned by the two brothers totaled 274 acres (136 + 138) while the purchase by their father is listed at 266 acres. The discrepancy can be accounted for by the fact that the land was resurveyed after John Sr.'s purchase. A plot of the two tracts owned by John Jr. and Henry is available here.

John Sr. wrote his last will on October 28, 1778 in Hereford Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. His wife was not mentioned in the will, presumably because she preceded him in death. He bequeathed to his favorite son, Isaac, his Dutch Bible, which contained birth, marriage and death dates of his children.1

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Lincoln County, North Carolina - [old] Deed Book 15 pages 342-344

Transcription by Jeffrey La Favre - November 11, 2010

July Court AD 1790

This indenture made the eleventh day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine between Abraham Lefever of Augusta County State of Virginia and Elisabeth his wife of the one part and John Cressimore of Lincoln County State of North Carolina of the other part --- Whereas John Lefever late of the county of Berks father of the above named Abraham Lefever of the State of Pennsylvania purchased a certain tract or parcel of land of Sebastian Cline then of the county of Mecklenburgh of the State of North Carolina bearing date the 6th day of April 1769 - granted unto the said Sebastian Cline by patent bearing date the 28th day of April 1768 and whereas the said John Lefever hath since departed this life Did by his last will and testament bearing date the 28th day of October 1778 Did grant & divide his lands & tenements amongst his children in the State of Pennsylvania, but did not grant nor mention any part or parcel or convey the above described tract of land to any of his children as by the said will & testament duly registered in the county of Berks Pennsylvania reference being there unto said will more fully and at large appear. Whereas it is adjudged that the above named Abraham Lefever eldest son of John Lefever to be the heir at law for the same. Now this Indenture witnesseth that the said Abraham Lefever and Elisabeth his wife for and in consideration of the sum of Fifty pounds money of the State of North Carolina to them well and truly in hand paid by the said John Cressimore at and before the ensealing & delivery here of the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged & forever discharged __?__ hath granted bargained sold released & confirmed and by these presents do grant bargain sell release and confirm unto the aforesaid John Cressimore his heirs and assigns the aforesaid tract of land. Beginning at a Red Oak in Pope's line thence South ten degrees East ninety two poles to a White Oak in Frys line, thence by his line, East three hundred & sixty two poles to a White Oak, thence North one hundred & sixty six poles to a red oak, thence west two hundred & thirty six poles to pointers in Popes line thence south sixty two degrees west one hundred & sixty poles to the beginning containing by estimation three hundred & fifty acres be the same more or less together with all & singular the improvements houses outhouses buildings barns stables gardens orchards meadows field fences ways woods water water courses rights liberties privileges hereditaments & apppurtenances thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining and all the Estate Right __?__ claim & demand of him the said Abraham Lefever and Elisabeth his wife of into or out of the same or any part or parcel thereof to have and to hold the aforesaid described tract or parcel of land hereby granted mentioned or intended so to be, unto the said John Cressimore his heirs & assigns forever and the said Abraham Lefever for himself his Executors Administrators doth further proprise grant & agree to & with the said John Cressimore his heirs and assigns that he the said Abraham Lefever & Elisabeth his wife the aforesaid tract of land containing three hundred & fifty acres with the appurtenances unto the said John Cressimore his heirs assigns against him the said Abraham Lefever and his heirs and against all and every person or persons whomsoever lawfully claiming or to claim the same or any part thereof by from him them or any of them shall and will warrant and forever defend by these presents. In witness whereof the said Abraham Lefever & Elisabeth his wife have here unto set their hands & seals the day & year first above written.


Abraham Lefever [his x mark] [seal]

Elizabeth Lefever [her x mark][seal]

Sealed & Delivered in the presence of

John Jarrett
Michael Garber
Henry Mowrey

Lincoln County July __?__ 1790 the written deed was proved in open court and ordered to be registered

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Will of John Lefever Will Bk R p. 229, Phila. Co. PA

In the name of God Amen, I John Lefever of Hereford Township in the County of Berks in the State of Penna Yeoman And far advanced in years, find myself weak in body but of perfect mind memory understanding, God be Thanked, do this eight twentieth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight make and ordain this my last Will & Testament in manner following. First I recommend my soul into the hands of Creator, my body to the earth to be decently buried at the discretions of my executors & as for my worldly good and effects wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I give and devise the same in manner following. First I will that all my just debts & funeral expenses with the probate thereof be duly satisfied and paid out of my estate.

Item  I give and bequeath unto my son John Lefever all that piece or tract of land now belonging to me situate & lying in Loudon County in the State of Virginia adjoining to my son Henry's land that hath been a part thereof containing one hundred and twenty five acres of land be it more or less with all and singular the appurtenances there unto belonging to hold to him and his heirs & assigns forever & which is to be in full of his part share and portion out of my whole estate Real & personal And where as I have given unto my youngest son Henry Lafever a certain piece or tract of land situate and lying in Loudon County in the State of Virginia adjoining to my son John's land and hath been a part thereof containing one hundred and fifty acres of land be the same more or less with all & singular the appurtenances thereunto belong to hold to him his heirs & assigns forever which also shall be in full of his part share and portion out of my whole estate both real & personal.

Item  I give and devise unto my two daughters Margaretha now wife of Jno. Van Eaten to Susanna now wife of Gabriel Frey the sum of five shillings to each of them money of Penna. which shall be in full of their shares & portions out of my whole estate as I have given to them in my lifetime sufficient for their part and share & which shall be paid unto them within twelve months after my decease.

Item  I give to my son Isaac Lefever my dutch bible in folio, first and foremost before he shares with the rest of my children.

And all the remainder & residue of my whole estate whatever I leave behind me at the time of my decease, I give to all my children here after named share and share alike named Abraham, Isaac, Nicholas, Catharina now wife of Jacob Best, Anna Mary now wife of Peter Mellig, Christina late wife of John Mellig and Elizabeth now wife of Leonard Grisemer to be equally divided amongst them only share and share alike.

                                                                                                 Will of John Lefever p. 2

Lastly I nominate constitute and appoint my son Isaac Lefever and my son-in-law Leonard Griesemer to be my sole executors of this my last Will and testament and I will and decree that they will do and perform the same according to true intent and meaning thereof. And I do hereby disannull & make void all former Wills and Bequests by me theretofore made ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will & Testament. In witness whereof the said Jno. Lefever Gent have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.

                                                                                                           John Lefever (seal)

Signed sealed published and declared by the said Jno. Lafever Gent as his last will Testatment to us in the presence of us the subscribers, Nicholas Marsh, James Krieble

Phila Feb 3, 1779. Personally appeared Nicholas Marsh and James Krieble the witnesses to the foregoing Will and on their soiemn oath did declare that they saw and heard John Lefever Gent the testator therein named sign seal and publish & declare the same for and as his Last Will and Testament & that at the doing thereof he was of sound disposing mind, memory and understanding to the best of their knowledge and belief.               David Morris Regst.

Be it remembered that on the 3rd day of Feb 1779 the last Will and testament of Jno. Lefever Gent in due form of law was proved and probate letters testamentary thereof granted to Isaac Lefever and Leonard Griesemer executors therein named they having first been duly qualified according to law well & truly to administer the said deceased's estate to bring an invy (inventory) thereof into the Registers office on or before the 3rd of Feb 1780. Given under the seal of the said office
                                                                                          David Morris Regst.

 

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During the colonial period in Pennsylvania, vital statistics were recorded by religious institutions, not by the government. We must hunt for church records to find the marriages of John's children and the births of his grandchildren. Searches to date in Northampton County (part of Bucks Co. prior to 1752) have located records for the Lefever family in the books of the Tohickon Union Church, the "Congregation of the Augsburg Confession in Saucon at Philip Schlaugh's, not far from the Big Lehigh and Forks of the Delaware," and the "Blue Church," Upper Saucon (now Lehigh Co.). The early pastors of these churches were "itinerant ministers," who traveled circuits in Northampton County to serve various congregations. Further study of the early churches in Northampton County may yield more Lefever records. To that end, I have prepared a map of early churches. The map is not complete and should be considered a work in progress.

Map of early churches in Northampton County, Pennsylvania

 

Religion of Johannes Lefever in Northampton County, PA

When Johannes moved to the Forks between 1743 and 1745, he left behind a more settled region in Worcester Township to take his chances on the Pennsylvania frontier. With that move, he also found worship according to the Reformed religion more challenging. The area was served by an array of ministers of various qualifications, many not sanctioned by any established religion. Judging from his religious choice in Worcester, we can presume that he would prefer a Reformed congregation for worship. However, it appears that Johannes had to compromise by attending a Lutheran congregation, which in reality was probably a mixture of German immigrants of the Reformed and Lutheran faiths. Thus, we find 5 baptisms of interest in the records of the CONGREGATION OF THE AUGSBURG CONFESSION, IN SAUCON, AT PHILLIPP SCHLAUCH'S, NOT FAR FROM THE BIG LEHIGH AND FORKS OF THE DELAWARE, a Lutheran congregation. These baptisms cover the period 1747-1754. There are the baptisms of three of the children of Anna Christina Feber Mölich, one of which Johannes Feber and wife Anna Christina were sponsors. And we find that another of Johannes and Christina's children, Anna Margaretha Feber Mohr, was the sponsor at two baptisms. In addition, at the same congregation, we find the marriage record of Peter Mölich to Anna Maria Feber (daughter of Johannes and Christina).

In a paper about the first Lutheran congregation at the forks of the Delaware, Heller informs that the CONGREGATION OF THE AUGSBURG CONFESSION, IN SAUCON, AT PHILLIPP SCHLAUCH'S, NOT FAR FROM THE BIG LEHIGH AND FORKS OF THE DELAWARE disbanded about the year 1755 and affiliated with what is now [in 1909]the old Williams township church.81 Heller also states that some of these congregation members "became identified with and were very active members of the Reformed denomination in Lower Saucon township." Johannes and his family made the move to a Reformed congregation by 1757, as we find family records in the Reformed books of the Tohickon Union Church of Bedminster Township, Bucks County.6 The Reformed ministers of the Tohickon Union Church also served congregations in Northampton, including one at the Forks. The Rev. John Egidius Hecker entered baptisms in the Tohickon Reformed record for the period 1756-1762, the same time period where we find four records of interest. These are: baptism of Balthasar Lefeber, son of Abraham and Elizabeth, June 12, 1757; baptism of John Van Etten, son of John Van Etten and Margaret [Lefeber] Van Etten, April 15, 1758, witness John Lefeber; baptism of Abraham Van Etten, son of John Van Etten and Margaret [Lefeber] Van Etten, May 2, 1760, witnesses Abraham Lefeber and wife; baptism of Susanna Catharine Bruch, October 2, 1757, witnesses Jacob Best & wife [Anna Catherina Lefeber].

The maiden name of Elizabeth, wife of Abraham Lefever (b. abt. 1728) has, to my knowledge, eluded researchers. The marriage records of Tohickon Union church begin in 1755, after the time of Elizabeth's marriage. The records of the Williams Township Congregation, including the Congregation in Saucon, cover the period 1740-1760, which covers the time span when Elizabeth married Abraham. But alas, their marriage record is not in these records either. The fact that researchers have not been able to find the marriage record may be due to the fact that it has not survived. However, the structure of religious organization in Northampton County during the time around 1750 presents a confusing mixture of Reformed and Lutheran records, kept by many different ministers. We cannot conclude that the marriage record does not exist until an exhaustive search of all existing records has been concluded. Perhaps not an easy task.

3. Abraham Lefever (I) abt. 1728-aft. 21 JUN 1796


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last updated December 17, 2010

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