Nicholas Bieri I

Citations

1. [S51] Joseph H. Wenger, History of the Descendants of Nicholas Beery Born 1707. Immigrated from Switzerland to Pennsylvania in 1727, pages 13-15 - …he, like all other able-bodied young men, was compelled by the laws of that country to do service in the government army. For a minor transgression of army rules he was to undergo a court martial trial, and it was expected that punishment would have to be inflicted upon him; but, through the kindness of some of his friends, he was secretly conveyed quite a distance in a barrel to the port of Rotterdam, in Holland, where he took ship to America.
   During those years many thousands suddenly left that domain, believing in non-resistance and that war was contrary to gospel principles. Mr. Beery's church relation is not positively known, but his descendants were strongly non-resistant 'Mennonites and Dunkard Brethren. Many of them were able ministers in those two denominations.
   Nothing can .be learned of his parents or ancestors, nor anything to antedate his birth, over 200 years ago. As stated, he sailed on June 20, 1727, from Rotterdam, Holland, on the old-style sailing vessel of that date, and four months later, on Oct. 16, 1727, he reached the port of Philadelphia, Pa., where. in the emigrant registry of that place he is found as Nicholas ^{his mark} Beery, which is an evidence that he could at least not write his name in the English language. The ship upon which he sailed was called the "Friend Ship," with about 200 passengers on board, and during that long and dangerous voyage many were sick and a number died….
2. [S591] William Beery & Judith Beery Garver, A Beery Family History, pages 30-42 - The story of NICHOLAS BEERY (BIERI) is a fascinating one, but as with so many figures from the distant past, it must be pieced together from the scattered fragments of authentic fact which are available. The documentary records which have been unearthed provide brief but illuminating vignettes of his life. The rest of his story must rely on the making of reasonable assumptions based upon what is known of the history of the people with whom he was associated and upon the clues which the known provides for penetrating into the unknown.
   These clues provide a reconstruction of Nicholas' origins in Europe. They indicate that he was probably born around 1697 in the canton of Berne, Switzerland. The home area of his family was in the Unties-Emmenthal, where lived many Mennonites. It is probable that Nicholas and his parents were among those who were driven out of Berne during the period of severe persecution prior to 1711 and found refuge in the Palatinate. A number of Bieri names appear in Bernese records concerning Mennonites, including exiles, but unfortunately it is seldom that the connection of an American Mennonite family can be positively established with its ancestral line in (Berne) Switzerland. It is possible that Nicholas was born in the Palatinate. At any rate, he no doubt grew up and was married there. Like virtually all of the Swiss Mennonites, he was a farmer. Nicholas possessed the extraordinary industry and skill in agriculture for which the Swiss Mennonites were noted.
   Nicholas immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1727 on the ship Friendship, the last of five ships to arrive from Rotterdam that year, carrying one hundred fifty Swiss Mennonite families which had, in the spring of the year, made the long journey down the Rhine to Holland. After leaving Holland, the Friendship stopped at the English port of Cowes on the Isle of Wight, receiving clearance from the customs officers there on June 20, 1727. The Friendship met with adverse winds and required four months to make the voyage. The hardships for those on board were so great that a fifth of the passengers died at sea. The Friendship finally arrived at Philadelphia on October 16, 1727. On September 14 of that year, the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania had ordered that all immigrants arriving at the port of Philadelphia be required to sign, a declaration of fidelity to the King a Great Britain and to the proprietor of the province. Upon arriving on October 16 (as shown by the following reproduced docurent), Nicholas signed the declaration by making his mark (X) in the presence of the governor and the Council. and his name was written by the clerk as "Nicolas Piere."
   Minutes, of the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania
   At a Council held at the Courtho. of Philadia,, October 16th, 1721.
   . The Honble Patrick Gordon, Esqr., Lieut. Governour
   Richard Hill,      William Fishbourn,
   Samuel Preston,      Clement Plumsted, Esquires
   A list was presented to the Board of the Names of Forty six Palatines who with their Families, making in all about Two hundred Persons, were imported here in the Ship Friendship of Bristol, John Davies, Mr., from Rotterdam, but last from Cows, as by Clearance from the Officers of the Customs there, bearing date the 20th day of June last, It appeared upon Enquiry that there was no Special License granted for their Transportation, & that they are come hither with a Design to settle in this Province. They were thin called in, & the several Persons whose names are subjoyned did repeat & sign the Declaration inserted in the Minute of the 21st of September last:
   We subscribers, Natives and late Inhabitants of the Palatinate upon the Rhine & Places adjacent, having transported ourselves and Families into this Province of Pensilvania, a Colony subject to the Crown of Great Britain, in hopes and Expectation of finding a Retreat & peaceable Settlement therein, Do Solemnly promise & Engage, that we will be faithful & bear true Allegiance to his present MAJESTY KING GEORGE THE SECOND, and his Successors Kings of Great Britain, and will be faithfull to the Proprietor of this Province; And that we will demean ourselves peaceably to all His said Majesties Subjects, and strictly observe & conform to the Laws of England and of this Province, to the utmost of our Power and best of our understanding.
   [Following is a list of the signees - KLM]
   As a member of the second largest group of Swiss Mennonites to follow the original group of 1710 to the Pequea Creek settlement in Conestoga (now Lancaster County), Nicholas doubtless spent his first winter among his fellow countrymen there. The area was still a part. of Chester County, one of the three original counties of Pennsylvania. By the time Nicholas arrived, land in this area had been largely taken up. In 1728 the Mennonites started taking advantage of the opening up of territory west of the Susquehanna River in what is now York County, when settlement was first authorized by the Pennsylvania proprietors in a tract called Springettsbury Manor. This was a strip of land extending west of the Susquehanna from near the mouth of Kritutz Creek to the Codorus Valley and the area west of the present city of York.
   A leader was Michael Donner (Tanner) .of Mannheim in the Palatinate, who was born in 1696 and, with his wife, came to Pennsylvania in the second of the five ships which arrived in Philadelphia in the fall of 1727. At the immigrant registry Donner had "solemnly affirmed" instead of taking an oath. After spending the winter among his-countrymen in Conestoga, he crossed the Susquehanna River in the spring of 1728. (The first ferry was not chartered until 1730.) Although there is no proof of the date that Nicolas Beery crossed the Susquehanna into Springettsbury Manor it would be logical to assume that both Nicholas and Donner, members of the 1727 Mennonite immigrant wave, went into the area at approximately the same time. In any event, that Nicolas did cross the river is well documented.
   The settlers traveled to their destination west of the Susquehanna - by covered wagon ("Conestoga" wagons were a product of these Pennsylvania Germans, and have been referred to as the "ships of inland VIP commerce"). In the wagons were the belongings which the immigrants had been able to bring with them from Europe—the essential implements…
   …Nicholas died intestate in York County, Pennsylvania, about October 1, 1762. It may be assumed that he had been a still vigorous man and died unexpectedly, because he had not made a will disposing of his large estate. Burial in those times was usually in a neighborhood burying ground, with only a field stone or slate slab to mark the grave. Letters of administration were granted on October 22, 1762, to Nicholas' widow, Barbara, and his eldest son, John. Nicholas had been an unusually prosperous farmer. The inventory of his estate was appraised on November 2, 1762, at around £1,300. This was at a time when an estate of as little as £160 has been called Iv historians "a splendid monument to the industry and economy" of the pioneer Germans, and an "eloquent witness to their superior skill." The one hundred acre tract along Codorus Creek, patented to Nicholas Beery and adjoining the land of Nicholas King, was resurveyed November 23, 1762…
   page 50 - Children of Nicholas and Barbara Beery: John; Magdalena [m. Huntzicker]; Barbara [m. Kochenhauer]; Catharina [m. Blasser]; Susanna [m. Bicksler]; Margaret [m. Furry Burkhart]; Abraham [b 1736 (?)]; Nicholas Jr. [b June 16, 1739]; George;.
3. [S594] Springettsbury Manor, Notes on Springettsbury Manor: William Penn [his first wife, Guilleme Springetts] named it after his grandson, Springett Penn who died in 1731. It was surveyed in June 1722, four years after the death of William Penn. It contained 70,000 acres.
4. [S595] Doran Kenneth Wilde, The Desendants of Hartman Hunsaker, Hartman Hunsaker born: 27 Jan 1690; died: ; married: born: ; died: ; children:
   Catherine m. John, son of Nicholas Beery & Barbara Ann Miller
   Magdalena, daughter of Nicholas Beery & Barbara Ann Miller
   
   
   source 1: This story concerning Hartman HUNSAKER and his descendants and in possession of Robert HUNSAKER, a son of Samuel Y. HUNSAKER, and born in this Co. in 1855 (Adams Co. Ill) by Oscar C. HUNSAKER.
   The Hunsaker family is well represented in Adams Co. They are of German origin, and probably came from Switzerland. In the year 1730* Hartman HUNSAKER came to America with his wife and one son, John, who was born in the old fatherland May 22, 1728. They settled down in Pennsylvania where the following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hartman Hunsaker:
   Verena, wife of John RALPH
   Elizabeth, wife of Jacob GATH or GUTH
   Orschel (Ursula) married twice, first husband LANDIS, 2nd KOPF
   Marie, wife of Casper ROLAND
   Anna, wife of Louis MOHLER
   half sisters were:
   Catherine, wife of John BIRG
   Eva, wife of John WELDY
   Elizabeth, wife of Abraham BIRG
   Hartman Hunsaker was married twice.
   John HUNSAKER, who came to this country with his father in 1730* was maried to Miss Magdalena BIRG May 15 1750. She was the eldest daughte of Nikolaus BIRG and was born Jan 3 1732. The children of John and Magdalena Birg Hunsaker were: Abraham, John, Barbara, Nikolaus, Hartman, Jacob, Joseph, George, Catharien, Magdalena, Andrew and Samuel.
   On July 27, 1788 occured the death of Barbara BIRG, nee MILLER, the mother of Magdalena HUNSAKER, nee BIRG, in the 81st year of her life, leaving 120 children, grandchildren and great grand children. The data given in this story concerning Hartman HUNSAKER and his descendants were gleaned from the old Bible, printed in Philadelphia in 1818 and in possession of Robert HUNSAKER, a son of Samuel Y. Hunsaker, and born in this Co. (Adams, Ill) in 1855.
   Source 2: In "History of Abraham Hunsaker and His Family", second edition, Gwen Hunsaker Haws and Kenneth B. Hunsaker, editors.
   Hartmann Hunsaker, our immigrant ancestor, arrived in Philadelphia, 10 September 1731, aboard the ship Pennsylvania Merchant; John Stedman was master of the vessel. The ship's record stated that it had sailed from Rotterdam, Holland; its passengers were German-speaking emigrants from the countries of Switzerland and Germany. The next day these immigrants were permitted to land, after having first signed a pledge of allegiance to Pennsylvania. A list of the ship’s passengers showed the following members of the Hunsaker family.2 Hartmann Hunsaker (spelled Hartman Huntseker); over 16 years of age-- Anna, Eliz. (Elizabeth), and Frena (called Verene in other records ); under 16 years-- Ursse (spelled Ursula, Orcel, and Orsula in other records), Meyer (called Mary in other records ), Anna, and Hannes (later referred to as Johannes or John). The first Anna is assumed to be Hartmann's wife, as there is a child Anna.
   Some evidence was found by Aleen Hunsaker Hansen from historical research in Washington, D. C., to indicate that Hartmann Hunsaker was born in Weisbaden, East Laben, Germany and that his wife Anna's maiden name was Stirtz.
   Hartmann must have been about 40 years old at the time of his arrival in America, since he was the parent of two daughters over 16 years of age; this would place the year of his birth about 1690.
   In his record book Abraham Hunsaker lists Barbara Miller as Hartmann's wife; however, the record of Hartmann's landing in Philadelphia would indicate that his wife's name was Anna. An explanation of this inconsistency is found in an old Swiss Bible owned by Robert Hunsaker, who was a son of Samuel Y. Hunsaker, who was a son of Samuel, the youngest son of John Hunsaker, who came from Switzerland with his father Hartmann. This old Swiss Bible names Barbara Miller as the mother of John's wife, Magdalena Birg [Bieri], which would mean that Barbara was John's mother-in-law instead of his mother. This Bible names the daughters of Hartmann and their husbands, exactly as does Abraham's record; the second marriage of Hartmann is also mentioned in this Bible as are the names of the three daughters-- Catherine, Eva, and Elizabeth-- with their husbands.
   Hartmann Hunsaker and his family first located at Germantown, Pennsylvania, a short distance from Philadelphia. But Germantown was not their ultimate destination; they pushed on through Pennsylvania forests until they reached an area in Lancaster County. There they found fertile farm lands and many neighbors who spoke their language and worshiped at the same church.
   Source 3: Hartman was b 27 Jan 1690 in the small village of Katzbach, loctaed in the Emmen River Valley, in the Langnau District, Canton of Bern Switzerland, a strong hold of the Mennonites at that time. He was married to Anna Stirtz? (still not proven) in abt 1712. Both seem to have been from Mennonite families. It is documented in 1728 on a list of those Mennonites in the Island Castle dungeon at Bern, were Jacob, Rudolph and Hartman HONACRE. Hartman gave his home as Katzbach. It is reported that the Swiss government, which was the Rominish Church, confiscated all Mennonite land and jailed and deported all suspected Mennonites.
   We believe this to be our Hartman, as his only son Hannes "John" was born 22 May 1728 in what is now Weisbaden, Germany after the date of his release and deportation.
   The only other record of Hartman that we have found in Europe to date, is documented in the Amsterdam Archives (No.2274) on a list dated 23 June 1731. His name appears on a Palatine list of prospective Pennsylvania emigrants who require help from the Mennonite Relief Committee.
   Of course as most of us know the next record is his listing on the original ships lists in the Pennsylvania Archives of the arrival of the ship "Pennsylvania Merchant" on 10 Sept 1731 commanded by John Stedman, from Rotterdam, but last from Dover.
   There have been European researchers hired over the years, but nothing has really been found other than the Family Crest and possible origin of the HUNSAKER name.
   by William Scott Hunsaker ( whunsaker @ aol.com )
   Here are some additional tidbits from Robert H. Hunsaker's book, "History of the Hunsaker Family", published by the Southern Illinois Genealogy Society. The book is in the Logan Community College Library in Carterville, Illinois. (Contributed by Alan Davis.)
   In 1728 the Bern, Switzerland authorities increased their campaign to exterminate all Mennonites. Since Hartman's daughters were not baptized in the state church, Hartman was imprisoned in Bern. The Dutch Ambassador, Runckel, interceded for 50 imprisoned Anabaptists on the condition that they bind themselves to settle in America. Hartman and his family sailed down the Rhine to Mainz, where son Hannes was born. Catherine was born in Wiesbaden in 1731. Here in the Palatinate the Mennonites were barely tolerated because they refused to adhere to the Catholic, Lutheran, or Reformed churches. When William Penn offered refuge in Pennyslvania, the Mennonites went there.
   The original ship list of the sailing ship Pennsylvania Merchant, Capt. John Stedman, Commander, that arrived 10 Sept 1731 with Palatine (Mennonites) at the port of Philadelphia, lists Harman Husake. All male passengers over age 16 were taken to the Philadelphia Courthouse, where Capt. Stedman presented to Lt. Governor S. Griffits a list of names of 57 male Palatines and family members totaling 175 persons imported from Rotterdam, but last with clearance from the port of Dover, England. When Hartman swore his allegiance to King George II and declared his allegiance and fideltity to the Proprietary of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English clerk wrote the name down as Hunseker.
   Harman and his family probably traveled on foot from Philadelphia carrying their meager belongings up the Skippack Pike to Frederick Township, Montgomery County, about 25 miles northwest of Philadelphia, where the Mennonites had a house raising for Hartman's new log cabin. With his neighbors' help Hartman had cleared and readied for the spring 1732 crops.
   The records of the late Robert Hunsaker of Joplin, Mo. were donated to the S. Ill. Gen. Soc. c/o John A. Logan College Rt. 2, Box 145 Carterville, Ill. 62918-9599
   To follow the above notice... I have all of Robert Hunsakers research mentioned above on 7 rolls of microfilm. Would be happy to help anyone as my time allows. William Scott Hunsaker.
5. [S595] Doran Kenneth Wilde, The Desendants of Hartman Hunsaker, Nicholas Bieri born: 6 April 1704 at Oberdiessbach, Berne, Switzerland; died: 1 October 1762 at East Manchester, York County, Pennsylvania; married: 1 December 1728 at Pequea Settlement, Lancaster, Pennsylvania to Barbara Ann Miller born: 1707 at York, Pennsylvania; died: 27 July 1798; children:
   daughter of Michaek Jeremiah George Miller & Magdalena. Nicholas' parents: Hans Beiri born: 31 October 1652 Oberdiessbach married there in 1681 to Madlena Roht born 1663, died after 1708; grandson of: Michael Bieri born: ca. 1620, died: after 1664 married 1644 Margaret Buetler born: 1625, died after 1664. Barbara was the daughter of Michael Jeremiah George Miller b. ca; 1682 married Magdalena born circa 1662.
   Children:
   John born: 2 August 1729 at Pequea Settlement, died. ca. 1809 married 1748 at Shrewsbury, York County, Pennsylvania Catherine Humsaker born ca. 1733 Shrewsbury, died 1808, daughter of Johannes Hartman Hunsaker & Anna; children: Jacob, Daniel, Anna.
   Magdalena born: 3 January 1732 East Manchester, died 9 August 1796, buried: Dumkard Burial Groumd, Georges Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania married: 15 May 1750 at Manchester, York Coumty Johannes Hunsaker born 22 May 1728 at Katzbach, Berne, Switzerland, died December 1815 at Jonesboro, Union County, Illinois; children:.
6. [S597] Daniel I. Rupp, A Collection of Upwards of Thirty Thousand Names of German, Swiss, Dutch, French and Other Immigrants in Pennsylvania from 1727 to 1776, pages 54-55 - October 16, 1627. Forty-six Palantines with their families, about two hundred persons, imported in the ship Friendship, of Bristol, John Davies, master, from Rotterdam, last from Cowes, whence the ship sailed June 20th
   List of Passengers [those of interest]: ... Valentine Kratz, Hans Riess, .. Nicholas Piere, ... Jeremia Miller, Johann Georg Muller, .... Johannes Forrer, [2nd column] Johann Georg Hoffman,...... Michel Miller, ...
7. [S602] John D. Roth, 1Letters of the Amish Division, page 109.
8. [S598] Mennonite Families: Nicholas Bieri, b. 6 Apr 1704, Oberdiessbach, Bern. d. 1762, Shrewsbury Township, York County, Pennsylvania. md Barbara Miller (1707-27 Jul 1788). His land was divided in 1767.2 He arrived on the ship "Friendship" in Philadelphia on 16 Oct 1727 with a large group of Mennonites. He settled in York County shortly after his arrival and was granted a patent for 200 acres on 11 Oct 1736 along Codorus Creek. He patented more land in York County in 1742 and 1755. Magdalena (Bieri) Hunziker's bible states "27th Jul 1788, Barbara (a born Miller) mother of Magdalena Hunsaker died in the 81st year and left 120 children, grandchildren and gg-children". - transcribed by Richard W. Davis - www.mennosearch.com.
9. [S506] Note: It is assumed this is our Nicholas who immigrated from Switzerland to Pennsylvania in 1727.