Beeks line: Johann Leonard Berkheimer 1721-1804

 Here's another elusive and confusing ancestor in the Beeks line, another of former President Obama's ancestors, as well as those of this family.  Once again, it seems that more information should be available about him, but at least we have enough to know who he was, who his parents were, and a little more.  The usual questions persist.

Johann Leonard Berkheimer was born March 3, 1721/1722 in Kleinneidesheim, Rhineland-Palatinate, in what is now Germany.  His family had been there for at least two generations, and perhaps more.  His parents were Johann William and Maria Salome Hallman Berkheimer, and Leonard was one of at least six children born to the couple.  The Berkheimer parents emigrated to the colony of Pennsylvania in 1732, probably for economic reasons.  Land was ample and fairly cheap in Pennsylvania, and there was already a bustling German community there.  Leonard would have probably been in some kind of training program in his native village, but after the family moved, he would have helped even more within the family.  

The next we learn of Leonard is his marriage, on January 6, 1743, in Philadelphia.  Coming to America likely meant that Leonard married at an earlier age than he would have, had he stayed in Germany.  Most men there didn't marry until their late twenties or early thirties.  Leonard married Maria Catherine Kerger, the daughter of Johann Philip and Anna Margaretha Reeb Kerger, and they soon set up housekeeping. William had purchased land in what is now Upper Salford Township, Montgomery County, as early as 1742, and Leonard's land was likely very near this tract.  In fact, it may have encompassed it at one time.  Leonard apparently owned just 20 acres when he died.

There are some confusing records and I report them here only to report them, not to state for certain that this is our Leonard Berkheimer.  In 1774 and again in 1782, he is on tax lists for Worcester, Philadelphia County, as owning 170 acres of land, with a dwelling house and a few farm animals.  This turns out to be in what is now Montgomery County, so this may be our Leonard.  In both listings, Philip Berkheimer is listed as being in the same household (in one, he is termed an "inmate"-a single man).  One of Leonard's sons was named Philip, so this very well could be him.   However, it doesn't quite explain how he died in Upper Salford Township, unless he moved back to the homestead sometime after these records.

 I don't know for sure which church he attended, but all signs point to it being one of the Lutheran churches in the area.  His wife died in 1795 and is buried at St John's Lutheran Church, Center Square, Pennsylvania and it may be that he is also buried there, with no tombstone or record being kept.  Or he may have been buried with his second wife, which sometimes happens.

Leonard's first wife died in 1795 and Leonard remarried, because his will clearly calls Catherine his second wife.  His son William had also died, as he left money to William's children, and divided the rest of the estate among his five children, after his wife's death.  The grandchildren were not to receive their inheritance until 1806 per terms of the will.  I have not found an inventory.  Leonard died in 1804, in or near Woxall or Perkiomen, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.  

As usual, this brief outline leaves us with some important questions.  What affect did the French and Indian War, and the Revolutionary War, have on his life?  Did he serve in the militia?  Was the family forced to leave their home at some point, due to native American attacks in the neighborhood?  The search continues.

The line of descent is

Leonard Berkheimer-Maria Catherine Kerger

Magdalena Berkheimer-Samuel Goodnight

Catherine Goodnight-Jacob Dunham

Samuel Dunham-Eliza Matilda Reese

Margaret Catherine Dunham-Harvey Aldridge

Cleo Aldridge-Wilbur Beeks

Mary Beeks-Cleveland Harshbarger

Their descendants