Johannes Bauerman

Citations

1. [S1249] M. I. Di Ninni, Legacy of Life, pages 255-257 - John Bowerman (Johannes Bauermann), surmised to be the son of immigrant Michael Bauerman, also settled in Penns Township, Northumberland, Co., where he is recorded on various records from 1778 through 1787.
   John is first recorded as a land owner in Penns Township, in 1776. From 1778 to 1780, he appears on the Penns Township State Tax List. In 1781, he had 150 acres of land, and from 1782 to 1787, he had 100 acres.
   In the Snyder County Annals, No. 1 it was recorded: “Bowerman, John, lived in Penn twp., 1778-87. Private, Northumberland Co. Militia.”
   The same quote appears in ta booklet published by the Shikelimo Chapter of the DAR, 1926.
   Fisher, in Snyder County Pioneers, wrote: “JOHN BOWERMAN is believed to have been a son of George Bowerman of Weisenberg Township, Northampton County, PA. He was assessed in Penn Township for the first time in 1778, and was probably a tenant on his father’s land. For a number of years from 1781, he was taxed with 150 acres and personal property. Peter may have been his brother. In 1780, Jophn was a private in Lieutenant Jacob Bard’s Party of Rangers from Northumberland Co.”
   Fisher, in Early Central Pennsylvania Lineages, wrote: “JOHN BOWERMAN lived in Penn Township, Northumberland (now Snyder) Co., Pa. as early as 1778, and it is believed that he was a brother of George, mentioned above. In 1780, he served as a private in Lieut. Jacob Bard’s Company of the Northumberland County Rangers. John seems to have left what is now Snyder County before 1790.”
   In 1779, Johannes Bauerman signed a petition to be excused from militia service , viz:
   “PETITION FROM PENN’S VALLEY TO BE EXCUSED FROM MILITIA SERVICE
   Penn’s Valley, August 21^st, 1779.
   To the most Honorable the council of Safety for the State of Pennsylvania;
   “We the Poor Inhabitan’s of Pen’s township, in the County of Northumberland, Pray the Honourable Council take in Consideration our Distressed Situation. Being we have the most Savadge Enemy upon us most every day, not knowing which Day will bring the fatal Doom upon us, either to be kil’d, taken Captive or to be drove from our Lands and Libertys; and by all this we are Loaden with the most Troblesom Burthen of the militia, which we freely and Vallentirle would Take upon us, and have done as much as Leys in our Power to stand and hold our ground unto this Day in all this Dolefull Time. We, therefore, Pray the Honourable Council to Take Consideration that the most Part of the Bak inhabitan’s are of the minore Rank which, most out of want, was obligied to setle the Bak Parts In hope to get a Living in the Wildreness, and are, all of us, New Beginners, that which was Obliget to Begin with good an Charitable People’s money, and, therefore., are not Capable to do our Duty for the Present Time and in the militia, for it is Impossible for us to get our Living in this Dismal Time if not Releast from the militia. We, therefore, Pray the Honourable Council to take in Consideration that we must either be Releast from the miltia for the Present Time or Leave the County as many of our fellow Citizens has done.
   From Your hubly Petitioners,”
   Johannes Bauermann was one tof the sixty signers of the above petition. It states that they were “new Beginners,” which would date their settlement in Penns Township about the year 1779. To be of military age, John had to have been over the age of 18, born prior to 1761.
   It has been determined that John Bowerman was a resident of Penns Township, Northumberland (now Snyder) County, Pennsylvania , until the year 1787, by his land taxes, and the historian Charles A. Fisher indicates that John left the area prior to 1790. It was about this time that members to the Bowerman family stared to appear on the records in the northern end of Dauphin County, across the Susquehanna River from Penns Township.
   An Elizabeth Bauerman is recorded on April 19, 1780, as receiving communion at the Evangelical Reformed Church in Lykens Valley (now known as St. David’s). On June 8, 1783, an Anna Catharina Bauerman (single) was a sponsor at a baptism at Fetterhoff St. Peter’s Luthern and Reformed Church, about two miles north east of Halifax, Pennsylvania. An Elisaabeth Bauerman was confirmed at St. Peter’s on Whit Sunday of 1797, and a Johsnnrd Bauerman was confirmed there in 1799. It is surmised that Anna Catharina was the daughter of Johannes and Elisabeth.
   It appears that George Bauerman may have died about this time. John and Peter, who have been surmised to be his brothers, left the area, with Peter emigrating to Blount County, Tennessee, and John crossing the river to Dauphin County, Pa.
   On the Dauphin County Land Register, Page 44, a warrant, No. 148, is recorded to Ludwick Sweigart and John Bowerman; surveyed quanity 400 acres, Jefferson Township; warrant date, March 26, 1807; date of return, Dec. 20,1809; acres returned 439.80; patentee, David Elder; Vol. P, No. 63, page 435; Book C-223, page 167. The Bowerman St. Paul’s Luthern amd Reformed Church at Enterline, Pa. is surmised to have been built on this tract of land.
   Although at this time your compiler has no documented evidence, it is surmised that the older John, John, and William Bowerman appearing on the 1810 U.S. Federal Census in Dauphin Co. were the son and grandsons of the immigrant Michael Bauerman, who settled in Weisenberg Township, Northamton County, Penna. The family names of Michael, John, George, and Peter appear many times in the Bowerman family history that follows.
   John Bowerman is believed to have married twice. John and William are surmised to have been his sons to his 1^st wife. Johannes Bowerman appeared as a sponsor at a baptism at St. John’s Luthern and Reformed Church, Berrysburg, in 1803, with Frovina (Veronica) Keith.
   Johannes and Veronica Boweman are recorded as the parents of Peter Bowerman.
2. [S668] 1790 United States Federal Census: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania - page 34 - transcribed by Larry & Kathy McCurdy.