| 14. | Christopher* Moyer, Sr (immigrant) was born on 3 Feb 1708 in Gross Sachsenheim, Wurttemberg, Germany (son of Hans* Georg Moyer (Mayer), Jr (immigrant) and Anna Babara* Landis (?), (Immigrant)); died after 1756 in Germanna, Orange Co, Virginia. Other Events and Attributes:
- Emigration: 1717, Gross Sachsenheim, Wurttemberg, Germany
- Immigration: 1717, Germanna, Orange Co, Virginia
- Property: 24 Mar 1740, St Mark Parish, Orange Co, Virginia
- Other-Begin: 24 Feb 1743, Orange Co, Virginia; road orders
- Other-Begin: 28 Jun 1745, Orange Co, Virginia; road orders
Notes:
Immigrated from Germany 1717
(from : Bryan David Hall in Ft. Hood, TX. web page
(Note: The following is included as information on Christopher as there was some land deals with the Klaar family and apparently Christopher was involved in the plight in Germany described herein, leading them to the New World.)
Hans Michael Klaar, born ca. 1687, and Maria Barbara emigrated to Virginia in 1719. Their children were baptized in Germany, Lutheran Church of Gemmingen - Wuerttemberg - Germany. Listed as godparents to the children were "Michael Grab, farmer, from here, of Reformed religion, and Anna Barbara, Hannss Wendel Schaepfer, estate farmhand, in Stetten and his wife and Agnes Margaretha, their underage daughter." Also listed in the records of Lutheran Church of Gemmingen - Wuerttemberg - Germany: "On 22 June 1713 died Hans Michael, little son of Hans Michael Klaar, local citizen and farmer, of dysentery, and he was buried the following day. At age 4 years."
Lutheran Church of Gemmingen - Wuerttemberg - Germany. The pastor wrote:
"In the Year 1717, on the 12th of July, the following listed parents, together with their children, expect to move away from here, wanting to take a ship to Pennsylvania, and there in the hardship of the wilderness better earn their piece of ad than they could here. Not just from here, however, but many people are leaving other villages as well, with the same intention.
Lorentz Bekh and his wife Anna Martha, both 40 years old
Lorentz, a little son, age 14 years, a student, took communion twice
Maria Margaretha, age 13 years, catechism student
Hans Georg, age 10 years, catechism student
Anna Catharina, age 8 years, catechism student
Hans Michael Mihlekher, and his wife Sophia Catharina, both 30 years
Anna Margaretha, a little daughter, age 7years, catechism student
Anna Catharina, age 4 years, infant
and his wife's sister
Hans Michael Klaar and his wife Maria Barbara, both 30 years old
Agnes Margaretha, a little daughter, age 5, an infant
Andreas, 4 years old, an infant
Hans Georg, age 1 1/4 years old, an infant
Matthaeus Schmidt and his wife Regina Catharina, 25 and 26 years old
Matthaeus, a little son, age 3 1/2 years old, an infant
Anna Margaretha, age 1 1/2 years old, an infant
Joseph Weber and his wife Susanna, 30 and 25 years old
Hans Dietrich, age 7 years, catechism student
Sophia, age 4 years old, an infant
Hans Michael Schmidt and Anna Margaretha, both 28 years old
Hans Michael, age 5 1/2 years old, catechism student
Christoph, age 1 1/2, an infant
his brother - and sister-in-law also went along
and 3 month later went Niclaus Hammler and Eva, his wife, both 40 years old
Niclaus, a little son, 14 years old, a communicant
Eva, 8 years old, a catechism student
Johannes, 4 years old, an infant
... 2 years old, an infant.
Heinrich Behr, an estate caretaker, 24 years old, owed some money and also was told to go at that time, with wife and children.
Christian Weber, Pastor
The Weaver (Weber) and Clore (Klaar) families were both from Gemmingen,
in Baden.
In 1714, Queen Anne sent some Germans to Virginia. They called their settlement Germanna. It lay beyond Col. Spotswood's furnace above the Falls or Rappahannock river, within view of the vast mountains.
In 1717, a number of German Lutherans had contracted Capt. Scott to carry them to Pennsylvania where they had been invited by William Penn. His ship was delayed in London for a number of months as Capt. Scott was in debtor's prison. This dexhausted their provisions, and when finally the voyage continued, many of them died from deprivation. Whether driven by storm or deliberate intention of the Captain, they were landed in Virginia. Cpt. Scott refuses to release them charging they had not paid the full costs of transportation. (Old Churches, Ministers and Families of Virginia, 2:75; circular prepared in 1720 by the 1714 group, Reformed and 1717 group, Lutheran, to church leaders in Germany with an appeal for aid. Circular in Rare Book Room, Library of Congress. )
Johann Caspar Stoever wrote an account of their voyage. It was published by him in Hanover, Germany, in 1737: "In the year 1717 some Evangelic Lutherans from Alsace, the Palatinate and adjacent places, emigrated on account of severe opprn and went to England with the intention of going to Pennsylvania. But as the captain who had taken them on board was detained in prison in London several weeks, shortly before their departure because of his debts, a part of their victuals was consumed before they sailed, and as a result many people died of starvation during the journey, the rest were sold by the captain to Englishmen to pay for their passage..."
These 20 families from the Palatinate were forced by Governor Spotswood to serve eight years for the passage money he paid for them. He settled them at Germanna, along with the 1714 colony about 20 miles from Fredericksburg. (Keith, Arthur e, The German Colony of 1717, William and Mary Quarterly, Series I, 26:189 to 199 & 245).
Cavaliers and Pioneers: Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents, 1695-1732
(Richmond, VA: Virginia State Library, 1979) III:412, by Nell Nugent notes Governor Spotswood's importation of 48 people, which matches closely with Gemmingen's church records, when on 12 July 1717 Hans Michael Klaar and his wife Maria Barbara, both 30 years old, Agnes Margaretha, a little daughter, age 5, an infant Andreas, 4 years old, an infant Hans Georg, age 1 1/4 years old, an infant left for the New World.
George M. Smith notes in this Hebron Church Register translation: "Although a number of the surviving passengers were 'scattered through their servitude', as the Frankfurt newspaper reported in 1720, it becomes evident from later court rehat Spotswood was the master of most of them. As the year went by and the governor made no move for their release, the immigrants grew restless. They were not altogether without contact with the outside world. Their best friend was an adventurer and ex-officer of St. Gallen, Switzerland, Jacob Christoph Zollikoffer, who had a trading post on the Rappahannock. When Zollikoffer went to Europe in 1719 he combined his business trip with a collection tour for the Germanna settlers. His appeals were published in Germany.
Just before he left on his trip, the miners of 1714 had begun to become impatient with their lot at Spotswood's mercy and were looking for land of their own. Col. Spotswood, no longer governor by 1723, sued several of them for breach of co. When the dissatisfaction spread, more than 25 Germans were arrested. Michael Koch and Zacharias Fleischmann sent a petition to the Council in Williamsburg detailing their grievances. Although they had prevailed on Spotswood to furnish them with a copy of the covenant made with them when they arrived in Virginia, he refused to do so. The justices owed them a lawyer for their defense. After lengthy battles in a prejudiced court, compromise agreements were finally reached in most cases. Three cases were dismissed altogether.
In 1724, Michael Clore was successful in his suit, as he agreed to pay the cost of transportation. The others had to serve another year to complete their eight years.
In 1725, upon completion of their eighth years, many of the Germans moved to crown lands in the Robinson River valley, where they were later joined by others who had arrived directly in Virginia in 1719 and 1720. At the same time, some ofr number went back to Germany to solicit funds for a church and to inform relatives of their new settlement. From time to time, newcomers arrived via Pennsylvania. They built Hebron church. Slowly a thriving community evolved. The memory of the trials of the immigrant generation, however, was still so much alive with later generations that they were recited in the 1786 petition of the 'German Congregation of the County of Culpeper to the President and Delegates of the Convention of the Commonwealth of Virginia: 'Our Fathers who lived under an Arbitrary Prince in Germany .. ventured their lives and fortunes to come into a land of Liberty from a European Egypt to an American Canaan, to enjoy those sweets of Freedom, which God created for all Men. '
Cpt. Scott's passengers did not come from any confined area in Germany. They represent the geographical mix that was to become so frequent of emigrants ships: people from various sections boarded ships as they became available. Zacharias nbuechler and Hans Thomas came from territories under the secular jurisdiction of the Bishop of Speyer, Johann Zimmermann's hometown appears as Saltzfeld, Germany. Conrad Breul was one of the many Wuerttembergers whose departure caused concern to the Ducal authorities. Hans Motz and wife Maria Appolonia left Bonfeld near Heilbronn, where they had married the previous year. Nikolaus Jaeger was from Wickersbach in Hesse, but his son Adam was born near Duesseldorf in the Dukedom of Neuberg. The composition of the next shipload of immigrants who arrived in January 1719 was similar. Many were from Wuerttemberg, others from the Electorate of Mainz. Their names appear in the Hebron records: Oehler, Walk, Wieland, Uhl, Wilheit, Manspeil...
Michael Clore played a leadership role in the German community. Along with George Utz. Michael Clore became a large land owner in this settlement. In 1726, he obtained a patent for 400 acres on the Robinson River. Criglersville, Madison Co, Virginia is located on the western part of this land. (Virginia Land Office, Patent Book 12:477).
In 1728, on September 28, Michael Clawre and John Clawre obtained 698 acres adjoining Michael Clawre's former patent. (Virginia Land Office, Patent Book 13:391).
On 3 June 1729, on petition of Michael Clore to have the road cleared from Mr. John Lightfoot's plantation into Germanna Road, and to have more hands added to their gang with another overseer was granted.
In 1730, on petition of Michael Clore and Georg Wood (Utz) for themselves and the rest of the Germans, the court is asked that they be free and exempted from all road work except the road from Smith's Island to the main road that goes to Gera Ferry, 2 March 1730. Petition was granted.
On Feb. 5, 1733, on petition of George Utz in behalf of themselves, and the rest of the Germans to have the road that Michael Clore is overseer of divided. His petition was continued again on 6 March 1733. It was rejected on 2 April 1734.
In 1734, Michael Clore and George Utz signed the bond of Susanna Creagler as admin. of Jacob Creagler, deceased on 3 April 1734.
In 1735, on May 20," Michael Claure's land being 698 acres for which he has taken out a patent on his own and his son John Claur's name is divided between him the said Michael Claure and his son John Claure. ... the upper part being 400 acres appropriated for John Claure and the lower one being 298 acres to Michael Claure.' ( Orange Co. Deed book 1:32)
On 20 August 1740, Michael Clore bought 197 acres at a sheriff's sale which he sold on 21 August 1745 to Timothy Terrell.
22 August 1744, Michael Clore bought from CHRISTOPHER and CATHERINE MOYER 300 acres on the north side of Robinson River. This land Michael Glore and wife Barbara Glore sold to George Glore 'for natural love' 15 Nov. 1750. (Orange Co. DB 97-199: Indenture 21 Aug 1744 between CHRISTOPHER MOYER, Saint Mark's Parish,Orange Co., and Michel Clore of same .. deed of lease and release .. payment of L37 .. for 300 a. on north side of Robinson River .. it being part of a patent of GEORGE MOYER.. 28 Sept. 1728,
Witnesses : William Henderson, George (X) Moyer, Michel (X) Moyer
Christopher (X) Moyer (seal)
Recorded in Orange Co. 27 Sept. 1744 Catherine, wife of sd. Christopher examined privately.
There were several other land purchases by Michael Clore.
Michael Clore was warden of the Hebron Lutheran Church from 1733-34. On 24 September 1734, Michael Clore was paid for two quarts of brandy which he provided for use at the raising of the minister's house.
In 1747, Georg Clore was appointed overseer of the highway from the German Ridge path to Tennant's old field, and Michael Russell, Courtly Broyl, Courtly Slaughter, Courtly Delp, Lawrance Crease, Timothy Swidle, Michael Utz, Peter Weaver,as Rouce, Jacob Brouzy, and the male laboring tithables belonging to William Lynn under Joseph Eddens were ordered to work with Clore and obey him in clearing and keeping the road in repair, 29 May 1747 (Spotsylvania Co., VA court order book, 1747, p. 152.)
On Sept. 19, 1751, the court appointed Peter Weaver guarding of Michael Clore, son and heir of George Clore, deceased. (Culpeper Co. VA will book A, p. 41-4)
The church account belonging to the Evangelical Lutheran congregation in Spotsylvania County Virginia kept by Andrew Kercher, was recorded at Orange Co., VA 28 Dec. 1738. Church wardens John Casper Stover, minister, Michael Cook, Michae, Michael Clore, and Hans Georg Utz sign.
The Reverend Stoever, Michael Holt, and Michael Smith from the Germanna Colony were allowed to return to Germany to get some relief and assistance toward the building of a church and the maintenance of a minister. The voyage was successft the Rev. Stoever died during the return and was buried at sea. His son Johann Caspar Stoever, Jr. was executor of his will and a dispute arose of the disposition of the money raised. 7 pounds, 3 shillings were recovered in 1740. On 29 August 1740, a letter of thanks was sent to their benefactors in Germany and was signed by George Samuel Klug, pastor, Michael Cook, Michael Smith, Michael Holt, Michael Clore and George Utz.
Much of the land the Germans owned in Virginia was on land owned by Lord Fairfax. In 1749, Jost Hite brought suit against Fairfax, initiating decades of legal battles, which ended in 1786 in favor of Hite. But this time was overshadowed bcurities of land titles, which was a factor for many Germans to seek land elsewhere.
The Moravians sent missionaries to the Virginia settlements, in Nov. 1744, Leonard Schnell, a Moravian itinerant, 'came to a German innkeeper, Jost Hayd, a rich man, well known in this region. He was the first settler there, ' (on Opequon)ver also got large land grants, and many Germans followed him from Pennsylvania to Virginia. They heard of good and plentiful land in the South, and the Moravian leader Frederick Marshall observed, when he saw wagon after wagon roll by: 'The migrations of men are like the movements of a flock of sheep. Where one goes, the flock follows without knowing why.' (The Records of the Moravians.)
Klaus Wust mentions in his book, 'The Virginia Germans' that the Stoevers, father and son, where among the earliest wandering parsons. Johann Caspar Stoever visited the Germans in North Carolina and Virginia and in 1733 was accepted as the rent pastor by the Germans on Robinson River. His son was the first German clergyman to officiate in the Shenandoah Valley. In 1734, he was in the Massanutten colony, later in Opequon.
Often, the people in Virginia were without a clergy, and the Moravian Brotherhood at Bethlehem Pennsylvania sent missionaries. In 1742, John Pyrlaeus made a brief tour of the back settlements, from 1743 to 1744, they sent Leonard Schnell, aained Lutheran minister who had joined the Moravians, and Robert Hussey, an Englishman. They went to every settlement where Germans lived, from Opequon and the Shenandoah to the Piedmont colonies (Germanna) to Sinking Creek and the New River.
Matthias Gottschalk came in the spring of 1748. Reverend Klug, the clergy of the Germanna colonists, did not like the Moravians, and had made every effort to discredit them. His blasts against the Moravian itinerants, whose visits were ched by so many Germans in the colony brought the meaning of dissent home to many of them. Due to the Moravian visits, Pastor Klug traveled to Pennsylvania to seek the advice of Pastor Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, the recently appointed head of the Lutheran church there. At almost the same time, Lawrence Washington attempted to enlist German settlers for the western area granted to the Ohio Company. The Moravian bishop Joseph Spangenberg came in 1748 through Virginia. (Wust, The Virginia Germans).
Notes
Barbara was still alive on 15 Nov. 1750, when Michael Clore and Barbara his wife of St. Mark's Parish, Culpeper Co. transferred to George Clore, son of Michael and Barbara, of same for the natural love and affection 300 a. in St. Mark's Parin the north side of the Robinson River, being part of a tract of land out of a patent granted to GEORGE MOYER 28 Sept. 1728 .. north side of Robinson River.
1739 Christopher Moyers (no number of tithables listed) - tithables Orange Co, John MIckell pricinct
Immigration:
The 1717 Colony from the Kraichgau of Baden and Württemberg, as well as some from the Rhineland Pfalz (Palatinate) settled first across the Rapidan River from Fort Germanna, then from 1725 to 1727 began to move to the Robinson River Valley in present day Madison County and patent land in their own names.
Majer/Moyer, George, and wife Anna Barbara; children: Christoph(er), John Melchior/Michael, Maria Susanna, Barbara Catherina from: Gross Sachsenheim
http://www.germanna.org/original_settlers
Property:
Gift Deed of 300 acres from father George Moyer.
Other-Begin:
24 February 1743, O.S. p. 54
On ye Petition of Wm Edins Christopher Moyer etc for a Road to be Layd off from Longs ford to Tenants old field The same is allowed & Ordered that the same Eddins & Moyer view and Lay off the same & make return to ye next Court.
(pg 105)
ORANGE COUNTY ROAD ORDERS 1734-1749
by Ann Brush Miller
Research Historian
Orange County Historical Society
http://www.virginiadot.org/vtrc/main/online_reports/pdf/85-r2.pdf
Other-Begin:
28 June 1745, O.S. p. 370
William Eddings and Christopher Moyers having in Obedience to an Order of Court made the 24th Day of Feby 1743 Viewed the way from Long?s ford to Tenant?s Old Field made their
Report in these words (to wit) ?February the 28th Day 1744 the Petitioners are agreed that the Road shall go from the old German Mill Path on the River at Long?s Ford and so to Tenant?s Old Field.? William Eddings, Christopher Moyer?. whereupon it is ordered that the said Road from henceforth be Established a Publick Road and William Eddins is hereby appointed Overseer of the same and it is ordered that he clear the said Road and make Bridges thereon where required and it is Further Ordered that Conrad Delf Conrad Slaughter George Long George Clore Michael Utz Frederick Bumgardner Lawrance Creese Courtney Broyl & Timothy Swindle and their respective hands do assist and help to Labour and work on the said Road and Observe the said Overseer’s Orders and Directions in clearing the same and when cleared to keep the same in Repair and the same Eddins to set up Posts of
Directions where necessary according to Law.
(pg 120-121)
ORANGE COUNTY ROAD ORDERS 1734-1749
by Ann Brush Miller
Research Historian
Orange County Historical Society
http://www.virginiadot.org/vtrc/main/online_reports/pdf/85-r2.pdf
Christopher* married Maria* Catharina Vogt (Vaught), (immigrant) about 1739 in Virginia. Maria* (daughter of Johann* Paulus Vogt (Vaught), (immigrant) and Maria* Catharina (..) Vogt, (immigrant)) was born in 1717 in Germany; died in 1793. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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1784 - 1840 (56 years)