| Notes |
- From The Meyer Family Tree compiled by John D. Meyer, Tyrone, PA, October 1937
The original Meyer from Germany was born in the Palatinate Germany was one of three brothers who came to America about 1723 or 24 to the Muhlbach then in Lancaster County Pa now Lebanon County, about a mile south of the present town of Sheridan and seven miles south east of Myerstown, Pa. His brother John remained in America but the third brother returned to Germany. Henry with his wife and probably two children, landed in New York and worked their way to Philadelphia, thence set out to find their new home in America.
Traveling westward they came to a small stream and following it to its source, came to a beautiful spring in the forest, and the husband said, Here we will start life in America. They unpacked their few belongings and the next day began building their log cabin. He named the stream Muhlbach (Mill Stream) after his native home in the old country. Theres a tradition that Henry and his family were members of Conrad Wiesers colony located at Womelsdorf which is only about five miles from Muhlbach.
[1]
- From GENEALOGY OF THE Meyer Family BY HENRY MEYER, 1890.
EARLY HISTORY OF THE MEYER SETTLEMENT IN AMERICA.
The Meyers seem to have been quite numerous in some parts of Germany. This may be inferred from the large number that have annually emigrated to this country from a very early period of its settlement by Europeans up to the present. It is not pretended that all the individuals of this name are blood relations, for in some sections it is almost as universal as the surname Smith or Miller. Before the Great West was opened for settlement, Pennsylvania received probably more of these Meyer emigrants than any other state. The land records at Harrisburg, Pa., show that from 1733 to 1752 the Meyer name occurs about fifty times in connection with tracts of land taken up in Lancaster County, but among them some names appear several times, as the same person took up different tracts. The Meyer immigrants were numerous in the early history of Pennsylvania. Which of these names belonged to our ancestors and relatives cannot now be ascertained.
It might be here stated, since the name Meyer is spelled in different ways by different members of this numerous family, that among the emigrant ship lists on file at Harrisburg, Pa., it is never found written Moyer; most frequently it is written Meyer. So also in old deeds and other papers signed a hundred or a hundred and fifty years ago the name is always spelled Meyer or Mayer. However, in the records at Harrisburg and other places, where clerks and officials wrote the name, we see it written in many different ways Meyer, Myer, Meyers, Myers, Mire, Meier, Meir, Mayer, Moyer. Of course our ancestors wrote German and spelled their name Meyer, which properly translated is Meyer, and this form has been adopted for this work.
Our ancestor Meyer who settled in this country came from the Palatinate, Prussia. After extensive inquiries among his descendants I have failed to ascertain his Christian name. My father (Henry Meyer, born 1795, died 1881) thought it was Christopher. Hon. Jacob G. Meyer. Aaronsburg, Pa., thinks so too. Several others have this impression, but none know positively. My opinion is that his name was Henry; reasons for which will be given in another place. Little is known about this Meyer while in this country, and still less about his history before he came across. Many genealogies are lost in the Atlantic Ocean. Maj. John Meyer, Rebersburg, Pa., states, he often heard his uncle Philip Meyer (grandson of the Meyer from Germany) say that two brothers came with our ancestor across from the old country, and that one of them returned to his home because he did not like this country, while the other went to the Carolinas in quest of a warmer climate. Father used to say that two daughters of our ancestor moved to one of the Carolina states, and it is quite probable that some male relative had preceded them. Samuel Meyer, Iowa, son of the Philip above mentioned, says that he was always told "that three brothers came together, two of whom settled in Pennsylvania, the other left there and was never heard from." Two separate tracts of land were taken up at the old Meyer settlement, Mühlbach, Lebanon County, Pa., one by John Meyer and the other by Henry Meyer, adjoining, and the probability is that these were brothers and that one of them was our ancestor. This subject will again be referred to in another place. In reference to the question whether one of those brothers above mentioned moved to Carolina (South Carolina), it is reliably stated that Meyer relatives from that section used to come to the old Mühlbach homestead, and visited also Michael Meyer, who moved to Ohio.
Our ancestor, Mr. Meyer, settled permanently at the beautiful spring or source of the small stream known by the name Mühlbach (Mill Creek), Lancaster County. Pa., but now in the south-eastern part of Lebanon County, as the latter was taken from the former. About this question there can be no doubt. It is a tradition in different branches of the Meyer family. I often heard father repeat the story how his great-grandfather and great-grandmother arrived at that Spring and began life anew in the new country ; and his circumstantial account of the event agrees substantially with versions given by Hon. Jacob G. Meyer, Maj. John Meyer, Mrs. Nancy (Meyer) Kryder and others. This spring is in Mill Creek township near the line between this and Heidleberg township (Mill Creek was taken from Heidleberg). As already stated, this spring is the source of the Mühlbach creek, a small stream which flows east and northeast into the historic Tulpehocken. I visited the place several times during the Spring and Summer of 1883. and a brief description of the old homestead and its neighborhood may not be inappropriate.
Getting off the train at Sheridan Station, L.V.R.R., one travels in a south-western direction through a fine farming region part way through beautiful meadows along the Mühlbach, a distance of about three miles to reach the spring. The Mühlbach post village, where stands the old Lutheran and Reformed Church in the old cemetery, in which are buried many of the first Meyer settlers, is passed within a mile of the spring. This is an old country, historic; it was settled as early as the year 1720. One will pass many buildings over a hundred years old. There are yet standing solid, fortress-like stone houses, which were constructed with a view of defense against attacks from the Indians, and several did good service in that way.
I found a beautiful spring at the old homestead supplying a small stream, which still is the abode of fine trout. It is limestone water. George Meyer of Dauphin, who was raised there, says that it discharges about one-fourth less water than formerly. He says they used to clean it once a year. I viewed the spot with peculiar interest, and the oft repeated traditions I had heard from my childhood came back vividly to my mind. I may have been standing on the very spot where our great-great-grandmother had prostrated herself on the ground in grief and tears, when she and her husband tarried here under a tree from their long and weary wanderings, seeking a home in the wild forest of a strange country.
No wonder that tears were shed. No house to shelter them and their children; no furniture of any kind; but little, if any, food; they had nothing but an axe and a few indispensable articles which they carried in a bundle. Nothing but forest wherever they turned their eyes, and for all they knew hostile Indians might even then be prowling around them on the adjacent ridges. Their few neighbors were far off and equally poor, and as the poor woman contemplated their forlorn situation, it is no wonder that her mind should revisit the scenes of her childhood-home across the wide, wide ocean. Yet it must have been a beautiful spot, and a more desirable location for their home could not have been found in that region. North of the spring is a considerable elevation and a slight one on the south still covered with woods, and between these flows the Mühlbach in an eastern direction for some distance, then bending its course north and north-east, receiving tributaries from a number of other fine springs all along until it empties into the Tulpehocken. The farm-house and barn are north of the spring. The house is the third on the place, and was preceded by a log-cabin which stood across the road, north of the present building. It was removed about the year 1840, and the material used in the construction of another house some- where in the neighborhood, and was burned down afterward. But there used to be a small cabin quite close to the spring, which it is supposed was the first dwelling house on the place. Widow Meyer, who lives on the farm at present (1883), describes the cabin as having been about ten by twelve feet, one story high, containing one low door, two small windows, one of which had but two panes, and a chimney at one end of the room. It was moved down the run some fifty rods about the year 1858, enlarged, and is there this day.
A small stable affording room for one cow stood nearby. The present buildings on the place are substantial; the house is of rough stones. Land there is worth from $150 to $175 per acre. The place has never been owned by any person except descendants of the Meyer who first settled on it1. My father used to say the old homestead was still owned by Meyers of the old stock. The genealogy of the Meyer families in that section will be given in its proper place.
1. Note. The farm was divided years ago, and the eastern part, which contains the spring, passed into the hands of J. M. Zimmerman, Dec. 9, 188-
The date of the arrival of Mr. Meyer in this country can be ascertained approximately only. He was without doubt one of the first settlers in the Mühlbach region, and from local histories it appears that the first white people located there about the year 1721-1723. "Among the early settlers on Mill Creek were Conrad Bissel, Joseph Shaeffer, Hans Meyer, Henry Hoehn and several Landises." "Conrad Bissel settled on Mühlbach in 1721. He and Sluntz built a house. They were soon joined by Isaac Von Barben, George Steifel and others." Rupps Hist. Lancaster County. In a recent history of Dauphin and Lebanon Counties by Dr. W. H. Egle, occurs the following: "Conrad Weiser, his wife and five children came from Schoharie, N. Y., in 1723, and settled at Mühlbach, afterward he moved to the present site of Womelsdorf. He was accompanied to Mühlbach by John Stump, Michael Meiser, John Noll, Michael Zeller, John Moore, Henry Moyer, Nicholas Lechner, John Grove and Christ. Seibert, all settled at Mühlbach." It will be observed that in the foregoing extracts we have the two names Henry Meyer and Hans (John) Meyer among the list of early settlers. There is a tradition that our ancestor did belong to Conrad Weiser's colony. Among the old papers of the Mühlbach Meyer homestead, I found a draft of 346▫ acres of land taken up by Henry Meyer, Sept. 29, 1738; the adjoining tracts being owned by John Moore, J. Baker, Wendel Loutermilk, Ben Scheffer and John Moyer1. This undoubtedly is the draft of the original tract on which our ancestor located, and it shows that there were at that time two Meyers, Henry and John. While there is no positive proof, my opinion is that Henry was our ancestor, and that John was his brother. But the following facts which are handed down to us may perhaps be of more value in determining the time when Mr. Meyer brought his family to America. On their arrival at Mühlbach the family consisted of husband, wife and one or two children. John was the oldest son and must have been the child (or one of the two) brought from Germany. As near as can be ascertained be was born in 1719. It would, therefore, be probable that the family came to Mühlbach sometime during the period between the years 1721 and 1725.
1. Note. Among the taxables in Heidleberg township in the year following the separation of Berks from Lancaster, 1752, are found John Mire and Henry Mire. Six years later, John Myer is assessed 0£. 8s. 6d ; Henry Myer, 0£. 6s. 0d. ; Isaac Meyer, 0£ 17s. 0d. This Isaac Meyer, the founder of Meyerstown, Pa., was assassinated in a public house at Meyerstown, Pa., July 15, 1770. Some person shot him through a window after night. He was born June 4, 17---; lies buried in the old cemetery of the Tulpehocken Reformed Church. Isaac Meyer had been a Justice of the Peace; was prominent in his section. He was related in some way to the Mühlbach Meyers. Heister Clvmer is a descendant.
It has been stated already that little is known of our ancestor's history while in this country, nor while still a resident of the Palatinate. The few facts that we have in our possession will, therefore, be the more interesting and should be carefully treasured, though of but little intrinsic value.
Mr. Meyer served a term of seven years in the army in the old country, and with this fact is connected a romance, which, while not of great importance, may, nevertheless, be of sufficient interest to preserve. Before entering the army Mr. Meyer became engaged to a young lady who subsequently became his wife. But while serving his time in the army his girl fell in love with another fellow, which brought on a lovers' quarrel with her betrothed. Mr. Meyer pretended to be quite indifferent about his former sweetheart, and while passing her home in going to and coming from his work he whistled and sang and in other ways showed his indifference. She relented and sent for him, when a reconciliation took place. He was a fine singer, which it is said had its effect in changing the lady's feelings. They were married and ere many years came to America. Most of their little property they sold to pay part of their passage across the ocean. Several pigs and a few pieces of furniture was all they had. They landed at New York, and after serving a time to pay the balance of their fare across the ocean, came to Philadelphia. Thence traveling on foot through the country, working a day or two occasionally to defray expenses, they finally arrived, while looking for a place to settle, at the beautiful spring in the forest, which seemed to have a strong attraction for Mr. Meyer, and he said, "Here we will stay."
1. Note. George C. Meyer, Freeburg, Pa., gives the following version of this part of the story: "Mr. Meyer had to make up a certain sum of money to pay his taxes, and he took his pigs to market to sell for that purpose. Meeting there some of his comrades, they repaired to a tavern, where the money was soon spent, and the taxes remained unpaid. Money and pigs gone, and being extremely poor, he became dissatisfied with his hard lot, and resolved to emigrate to America."
The bundles which they carried were unloaded under a large white oak tree, and the husband christened the stream Mühlbach, after the name of his native home in the old country. Their possessions were exceedingly limited, consisting of an axe, two tin plates, some clothing and a few other indispensable articles. It was sometime after harvest that the family arrived at the spring, about four o'clock in the afternoon of a certain day.
When Mr. Meyer died, how old he was or where he is buried, are questions that will, perhaps, never be answered. It is probable that he and his wife lie buried in the cemetery of the old Mühlbach church, as that would have been the most convenient, and there are buried many of his descendants. I visited the cemetery in company with Henry Meyer, Mühlbach, in the Spring of 1883, but found no tombstone with a record that might apply to him. Many graves have no markers, others have tombstones without inscriptions, and still others have inscriptions, but so much defaced and worn by the elements that they cannot be deciphered. I also visited both the Lutheran and Reformed Churches at the Tulpehocken, and the old Reed's Church, farther east, and examined old church records and cemeteries, but found absolutely nothing that I thought could apply to our ancestor.
[4]
- Came from Palatinate, Prussia - He named the stream Muhlbach (Mill Stream) after his native home in the old country. There’s a tradition that Henry and his family were members of Johann Conrad Weiser's colony located at Womelsdorf which is only about five miles from Muhlbach.
*NOTE - *Original spelling "Mühlbach" - Mill Creek is a small stream, It was originally in Lancaster Co., PA, but now in the SE part of Lebanon Co., PA.- The surname is spelled in at least eleven different ways, viz.: Meyer, Mayer, Myer, Meyers, Myers, Moyer, Moyers, Mire, Meier, Meire, and Maire. - Many graves have no markers, others have tombstones without inscriptions, and still others have inscriptions, but so much defaced and worn by the elements that they can not be deciphered. ref: Genealogy of the Meyer Family by Henry Meyer.
[3]
- Links about Palatinates and their immigration:
Early eighteenth century Palatine emigration; a British government redemptioner project to manufacture naval stores, by Walter Allen Knittle
https://archive.org/details/earlyeighteenthc00knit
Immigrant Ships, Transcribers Guild, Simmendinger Register M-Z
https://immigrantships.net/v4/1700v4/simmendinger17100100M_Z.html
The story of the Palatines. An episode in colonial history
by Cobb, Sanford H.
https://archive.org/details/storyofpalatines01cobb
The Skippack Palatines
David Jay Webber
https://www.angelfire.com/ny4/djw/WebberSkippackPalatines.pdf
History of the Palatine Immigration to Pennsylvania
as written by Daniel Rupp, 1876
http://www.searchforancestors.com/passengerlists/history.html
Becoming German: the 1709 Palatine migration to New York
by Otterness, Philip
https://archive.org/details/becominggerman170000otte
|
- 1758
[2] 
: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
: State/Province
: Country
: Not Set
