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UNPUBLISHED

Compiled Biography of Daniel Christman (c1705-1760)

by: Ken Christman dated: 6 Nov 2006

Legend

• Bean: The History of Montgomery County by T. W. Bean 1884
• MC: Montgomery County
• FSRC: Falkner Swamp Reformed Church
• NHLC: New Hanover Lutheran Church
• Limerick tombstone: Tombstone in the Limerick Union cemetery
• MJ: Journals of Rev. Henry Melchior Muhlenberg
• Dotterer: Dotterer collection at the Pa. Genealogical Society library
• CCHS: Chester County Historical Society
• AELC: Augustus Evangelical Lutheran Church, Trappe, Family Tree Maker, CD 130
• Limerick History: Limerick Township: Journey Through Time 1699 – 1987 By Limerick Historical Society, 1987

THE FAMILY OF DANIEL CHRISTMAN

Daniel Christman arrived in the Port of Philadelphia on 5 September, 1730.  Pa. German Pioneers (Pennsylvania German Pioneers by Strassburger and Hinke, Genealogical Publishing  Co. 1966) indicates on page 35, “A list was presented of the Names of Forty six Palatines, who with their families, making in all about one hundred and thirty persons, were imported here in the Ship Alexr. & Ann, William Clymer, Master, from Rotterdam, but last from Deal.”  On the same day he took the Oath of Allegiance to the King of Great Britain.  He apparently was unable to write his name since he signed the passengers’ list and the list for the oath of allegiance with an “X”.

The History of Montgomery County by T. W. Bean indicates that Daniel was one of the first settlers in Worcester Township showing as a landholder there in 1734 (GSP volume 1).  On 26 and 27 March, 1735 Daniel purchased 62 acres, 138 perches from Martin Funck and Magdalena his wife in Frederick Township (Montgomery County deed book 2 page 567).  On 18 May, 1738 a patent was granted to Daniel Christman for 105 ¼ acres in Frederick Township adjoining the previous parcel (MC deed book 2 page 567).  Patent is in Philadelphia County Wide patent book (Volume 10 page 184 [confirm this]).  Note the releases of Daniel’s children in 1760 and 1786 refer to both parcel being purchased from Martin Funck.

The Releases being signed by the children after Daniel’s death and at the time of the sale of the property (MC deed book pages 557 to 567) describe the children:

• Felix, of Wentzen Township, Chester County, blacksmith dated 21 June, 1760
• Annelena and her husband John Grub, Coventry Township, Chester County yeoman dated 21 June, 1760
• Elizabeth of Frederick Township, Philadelphia County, spinster dated 21 June, 1760
• George of Frederick Township, Philadelphia County, joyner dated 21 June, 1760
• Henry of Vincent Township, Chester County saddler dated 2 August, 1766
• Jacob of Limerick Township, Montgomery County yeoman  date of Jacob release

The releases were offered after each child received 159 pounds and 8 shillings from Jacob who was to sell the land.  The property was sold to Henry Grob on 19 June, 1786 by Jacob Christman for 1000 pounds.  The releases and the sale were recorded in the MC deed book on August 18, 1786.  In the releases Daniel is described as a yeoman.

Daniel attended the New Hanover Lutheran Church where his children were confirmed and where in 1748 he donated 5 shillings to the church to purchase a bell. (History of Montgomery County by Bean (Bean)[Check Muhlenberg Journals])  His wife was Margaret according to the papers of administration but her maiden name and the marriage date have not been identified.  Daniel died in 1759 or 1760 and is buried in the Leidig Cemetery ( Biography and History of Chester Co., CCHS).  At the confirmation of his son, Henry, on December 25, 1760 at New Hanover Lutheran Church the record shows Henry, the son of the late Daniel Christman.  This would confirm that he died before the end of 1760.  His widow, Margaret, was granted papers of administration on 12 May, 1760 after an inventory on 27 Mar 1760. Also, the releases by the children which are dated 21 June 1760 also refer to the late Daniel. So he probably died in early 1760.

His issue of Daniel and Margaret are:

• Anna Ella, confirmed in 1744 at New Hanover Lutheran Church, birth is estimated as 1729. (NHLC) No age was actually indicated.  Married Johannes Grob (FSRC)
• Felix confirmed on 5 November, 1749 at New Hanover Lutheran Church (NHLC), age is shown as 16, therefore birth was in 1733.
• Elizabeth born 1733 baptized 4 January, 1734, at Augustus Evangelical Lutheran Church, Trappe, sponsors: Heinrich Huber and wife (AELC).  Elisabeth was confirmed on 5 November, 1749 at NHLC, age is shown as 15, which makes the birth in 1734, unless she was born after Nov 5.  The record in AELC indicates her birth as 1733.  She married Johannes Haas in Providence Township on 12 Mar 1761 (AELC).
• Jacob confirmed on 20 May 1753 at NHLC, age is shown as 16, therefore birth was in 1737.
• George (Jurg) confirmed on 20 April 1755 at NHLC, age is shown as 16 and he can read, therefore birth is in 1739.
• Henry (Heinrich) confirmed on 25 December 1760 at NHLC with notation that Henry is the son of the late Daniel Christman and is age 16; therefore, birth is in 1744.  Married Susanna Kiehl on 6 Aug 1767, died 1823 and is buried at Zion’s Lutheran Church, Spring City, Chester Co. (Dotterer)

Second generation

Jacob Christman, the son of Daniel Christman the immigrant, was born in 1736 and died in February 1804.  He signed his will on 16 February, 1804 and was buried on 27 February, 1804  Some secondary references give birth date as 12 March, 1736 but this is not confirmed.  Jacob married Elizabeth Shunk.  He is buried at the Zion Reformed Church in Pottstown.  When the church buildings were expanded they used the cemetery so, no tombstone remains.  A bronze plaque reports Jacob Christman born 1736 died 1804.

Jacob succeeded his father on the property in Swamp Creek Valley in Frederick Township.  As late as 1785 his name appears in the list of taxable's in Frederick (Bean). 

On 17 Jan 1764 Jacob is listed among the adjacent property owners for a survey of 111¾ acres in Frederick Township of the property of Christian Stadler.  The owners included were Jacob Christman, Christian Stadler, William Frey, Jacob Statler, Henry Smith, George Coontz, Philip Leidigh, and Frederick Antes.  See “The Journals and Papers of David Schultze 1726 to 1797”.

In 1769 Jacob paid Proprietary Tax of 12 pounds and 14 shillings on 160 acres, 3 horses and 3 cattle in Frederick Township.  In 1774 he paid 12£ 4s 8d as Provincial Tax on 160 acres, 2 horses and 3 cattle.  In 1780 his property was valued at 3250£ and he was taxed 97£ 10s.  In 1782 he paid 3£ 8s 1d Supply Tax on an evaluation of 676£.  In 1783 for the Supply Tax he is listed as owning 160 acres, 3 horses, 4 cattle and 7 sheep.  (Pa. Archives, Third Series, Volumes XIV, XV, and XVI)

In 1786 Jacob sold his father’s property to Henry Grob (MC deed book 2 page 567).  After selling this property, he moved to Limerick Township.  In the Census of 1790 he appears in the Remainder of Montgomery County, which would include Limerick Township.  In the Census of 1800 he remains in Limerick Township. 

Jacob was appointed as Overseer of the Poor in 1770 and Overseer of the Highways in 1775 in Frederick Township.

Jacob also served in the militia in 1777 and 1778 as a member of Captain Michael Dotterer’s company attached to the Sixth Battalion of the Philadelphia County militia. (Bean).  In 1777 two of his horses were used in Revolutionary service, as shown in a certificate described in the Dotterer collection at the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania which states:

           "This May Sertify that Jacob Christman has had two horses in the Servis and has received no pay.  January 5th, 1778.  Signed Methuselah Davis, Lt."

On the back is this endorsement:

            "I assign all my Right of the within Receipt to the Use of Isaac Shunk.  Witness my Hand August the 16th. Signed Jacob Christmann"

Jacob also served his church, the New Hanover Lutheran Church.  He was elected as a Deacon on 16 January 1780 (NHLC pg. 160).  The pastor, Rev. Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, writes in his Journal:

• v. 2, pg. 335 31 July 1780 Jacob Christman is member of Church Council.
• v. 2, pg. 406 Jacob Christman, a deacon of New Hanover, brought me 4 bushels of bread corn in gratitude for my services to the congregation.
• v 2, pg. 415 Jacob Christman came from New Hanover with two horses.
• v 2, pg. 478 Jacob Christman sent by his son from the Hanover Congregation 5 bushels wheat, 6 bushels rye, 36 s. and 7 d. for which he had a receipt. [check MJ for more].

The Leidig private burying ground is located in the southwestern part of Frederick Township.  It is one-quarter acre taken from the four adjoining farms: Christian Stetler, Rev. John Philip Leydich, Henry Smith and George Michael Kuntz.  In 1783 a stone wall was constructed and in that year Jacob Christman donated 7½ shillings to the cemetery.  (Bean)

Jacob of Limerick Township wrote his will on 16 February 1804 and states that he was weak in body but sound in mind, memory and understanding.  He was buried 11 days later.  His will provided for his wife Elizabeth using the farm and house until her death or until she remarries.  The farm was to be sold six months after his death and the Executors were to divide the estate among his children:            

• Son Henry
• Son Conrad
• Son Jacob
• Son Daniel
• Son George
• Son John
• Son in law George Nice
• Daughter Catharine
• Daughter Susanna, wife of Abraham Turner.  Her share to be put to interest by the Executors and the interest paid to her so long as they do not live together.  If they cohabited, she is not to receive her part.  When she dies the Executors are to pay her children 40 pounds divided equally as they arrive at age 21.
• Daughter Magdalena, late wife of Nicholas Iches.  Her children to receive 10 pounds each as they reach the age of 21.

- Sons Henry and Daniel are appointed as Executors and the will was proved 3 March 1804.

His wife was Elizabeth Shunk born March 1744 and died 20 November 1822 at the age of 78 years and 8 months.  She was buried in the Limerick Union Cemetery with her son John and his wife Susannah.

Jacob and Elizabeth Shunk had the following issue:

• Henry Christman, born 15 May 1762 baptized 29 April1763 (FSRC), died 14 July 1838 (Limerick Tombstone).
• Elizabeth Christman born 4 February 1765 died 20 November 1803 (Dotterer), married George Nyce (Neiss) on 19 May 1785 (FSRC).George was born on 15 February 1760 and died on 4 Dec 1838 (Dotterer).
• Conrad Christman born 25 January 1767 and baptized 10 May 1767 sponsors: Conrad Schunk and Maria Barker (NHLC).
• Johannes Christman [born Oct 1771] died 2 April 1773 at age 1y, 6m, 1w, 6d (NHLC).
• Jacob Christman born 4 September 1773 and baptized 11 January 1774 sponsors: Christian Stedler and wife (NHLC).
• Daniel Christman born 25 August 1775 died 2 March 1845 married Sarah Hahn  who was born on 2 February 1782 and died on 4 July 1853 (Limerick tombstone) ( Dotterer).
• George Christman born 21 December 1777 died 2 October 1830 married Mary who was born 4 June 1781 and died 5 Nov 1860 (Limerick tombstone).
• John Christman born 25 January 1785 died 31 March 1842, married Susannah Schwenk who was born on 19 June 1788 and died 9 June 1856 ( Dotterer & History & Genealogy of the Schwenk Family).
• Catharine Christman (Jacob’s will).
• Susanna Christman married Abraham Turner (Jacob’s will).
• Magdalena Christman married Nicholas Iches (Jacob’s will)