| Notes |
- According to the Pennsylvania Archives series 6 volume 1 page 295, Christopher Meyer served in the Revolution, Fourth Battalion Penna Militia, and served his tour.
- From The Meyer Family Tree compiled by John D. Meyer, Tyrone, PA, October 1937.
The youngest son of Henry the original Meyer from Germany was born at Mulbach (sic) in 1734. About 1764 he bought a tract of 700 acres of land between the present site of Campbellstown and Hershey, Pa. A number of the farms comprising this tract are still owned and occupied by members of the Meyer family. He married Anna Maria Schaeffer, daughter of Alexander Schaeffer, who came from Germany in 1740 and settled at Mulbach and was a neighbor of the Meyer family.
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- From Genealogy of the Meyer Family by Henry Meyer, 1890. Pages 89-92.
CHRISTOPHER MEYER (son of the Meyer from Germany) was born at Mühlbach (Heidleberg township, Lancaster County, then) and was the youngest son of the family, but I am not certain that he was the youngest child as there was one daughter (if not two) and she may have been younger. Of the early life of Christopher and his brothers but little is known. Their childhood days were passed amid the stirring scenes and dangers of frontier life. The Mühlbach and the Tulpchocken witnessed not a few deadly encounters between the early settlers of that region and the hostile Indians. Conrad Weiser, a prominent character in the early history of Pennsylvania, was their friend and near neighbor. Through his influence over the Indians and his wise diplomacy many threatened dangers from that source were averted. There is a tradition that the Meyer who came from Germany was a member of Col. Weiser's colony. Christopher and his brother Michael left Mühlbach and purchased a tract of 700 acres near the present site of Campbellstown, Lebanon Co., Pa. It is said their father did not approve of the venture, supposing that the soil was not of much account. And it appears Michael shared his opinion as he sold out to his brother Christopher and returned to Mühlbach. This must have occurred about the year 1769 as shown by bonds of this date which Christopher and his father-in-law Alexander Schaeffer had given Michael for his interest in the tract.(1)
1. Note. Christopher and Michael Meyer and Alexander Schaeffer executed bond for part of said tract to Robt. McLeary, dated April 10, 1769. In the same year, May 1st. Christopher Meyer and Alexander Schaeffer gave bond to Michael Meyer for £200. It seems Michael sold that time and returned to Mühlbach. It is said he then purchased the old Mühlbach homestead. On one of these bonds is Michael's receipt for £100, dated Aug. 12, 1771, which shows that he was then still living. Michael was never married. See page 129.
The land, however, was of the best in the State, and the old gentleman's opinion on the subject had been at fault. If I mistake not the tract was subsequently divided into five or six farms and apportioned among Christopher's sons. That part on which is located the old homestead is now owned by one of Christopher's grandsons. Christopher put up good substantial stone buildings on his farm modeled after the style of architecture then in vogue throughout the rural districts. I visited the place in 1883 and found the buildings still in good repair. Here Christopher remained until his decease, but all his children, except several of his grandchildren, moved to other parts. His descendants are found principally in Lebanon, Snyder and Centre Counties, Penna., and a number have moved West. It is remarkable how families migrate. Of his brother Jacob's descendants (male) not one remains, as far as I know, neither in Lebanon nor Snyder County. Christopher was married to Anna Maria, daughter of Alexander Schaeffer. She was a sister of Catharine, wife of John Meyer of Mulbach, who was Christopher's nephew. "We designated," says Michael Meyer of Mulbach, "our cousins of Cambelltown the big Meyers.'" A term not inappropriate as some of them were giants in stature and physical strength. For example, Michael who removed to Spring Bank, Centre Co., Pa., was a man of prodigious proportions. He weighed 386 lbs. and when passing through an ordinary door his shoulders would almost touch the sides of it. John, also, was a man of large stature, towering head and shoulders above his fellows. The descendants of Christopher, subject of this sketch, were nearly all fine singers; many of them have been, from generation to generation, instructors in music both vocal and instrumental, and have been leaders of choirs in the churches of the neighborhoods in which they resided.
Honorable Jacob G. Meyer furnishes the following scrap of history illustrating this fact, which may appropriately be inserted here: -George Meyer, youngest son of Christopher and father of Hon. Jacob G., led singing in the Reformed Church, Cambelltown, Pa., from the time he was sixteen years of age (born March 25, 1782) until 1827 when he removed to Pine Creek, south of Aaronsburg, Pa. His nephew Henry Meyer, son of Michael, then conducted singing at Cambelltown until his death in 1873, and his sons now lead the choir in the same church. After George came into Pennsvalley in 1827 he conducted singing in the Reformed Church at Aaronsburg, until about the year 1832, when George, his son, took his place until 1840; then Hor. Jacob G., another son, took charge of the choir until about the year 1878, when he was succeeded by his son William T. Henry Meyer, Christopher's oldest son, moved into Pennsvalley, near Boalsburg, Pa., in 1823, and became the leader of the choir in the Reformed Church there, assisted by his sons Henry, Philip, Jacob and Joseph, continuing in that capacity until his decease in 1844. At present "big" Henry's sons Philip, Henry, Calvin and Jacob lead singing in the same church. Christopher Meyer, son of the subject of this sketch, settled at Freeburg, Pa., in 1800; he led singing in the church there for twenty years and his sons and grandsons ever since. His son Frederick C. is the founder and Director of the Musical College, Freeburg, an institution which has achieved merited popularity in central Pennsylvania. The Meyers of Freeburg are widely celebrated as musicians and through their zeal and efficiency in this noble profession their town has acquired a reputation as a musical centre.
Some of the Meyers were excessively fond of the chase. Grandfather Henry, several of his brothers, and Christopher's sons Michael, Jacob and George frequently visited each other at their respective homes in Penns, and Brushvalleys, and joined in the pursuit of game which was then abundant. There was no lack of dogs, and when several packs had been brought together and let loose there was sufficient music to inspire the hunters. The Mulbach Meyers, descendants of John, were also fond of the chase.
Christopher Meyer died Aug. 2, 1801; aged 67 years. His wife Anna Maria was born Feb. 19, 1744; died Jan. 1, 1823. Both are buried in the German Reformed Cemetery, Cambelltown, Pa. [3]
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1734 - 1801 (66 years)
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