The family of Conrad Mentzer 1734-1781

 The Mentzers are another family that loved to confuse their descendants by using the same names over and over.  My first post about this family was John Mentzer, who has both a brother and a son named Conrad.  I believe both Conrads also used John and Conrads as names for their children, and the pattern continues, along with various other given names thrown in and also used time after time.  But family historians love challenges, right?

Conrad Mentzer, the son of John and Anna Catherine Weyl Mentzer, was born in 1734 in Hagsfeld, Germany, and immigrated with three of his siblings (two were half siblings, actually) and his parents to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1751.  Conrad was just 17 at the time, so those trees showing him as being married in Germany are mistaking him for another of the Mentzers.  Our Conrad married Catherine Elizabeth Hibshmann (various spellings) about 1754.  Her parents are Johann Gebhardt and Anna Elizabeth Hubschmann.  

Conrad and Elizabeth (this family used what we consider their middle names as the name they were known by) had at least seven children.  There is a space of several years between some of the children so it is possible that there are more that have not yet been identified, possibly due to losses during childbirth or childhood diseases.  

Their first child was Anna Maria, born in 1755 and died in 1819.  She married John Michael Oberlin, the sin of Johann Adam and Catherine Agatha Stober Oberlin.  Their children are George, Michael, Susanna, Adam, Catherine, Christina, Jacob, and possibly another Susanna.  She died in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania as did most if not all of her siblings.

Catherine was born in 1759, a New Years' Day baby, and married Joannes (John) Schnierer, the son of Jacob and Anna Catherine Schnierer.  I have been able to locate just three children for them-Christina, John, and George.  Since John lived until 1805 and Catherine until 1828, it is more than possible that there are other children.  The name of Schnierer has many spelling variations and mutations, making it difficult to search for them.  

Verona/Veronica/Fronica was born in 1764 and married Mathias Druckenbrod (various spellings), son of Mathias and Elizabeth Druckenbrod.  Their children are George, Elizabeth, Susanna, Isaac, Johannes, Anna Maria, Jacob, Joseph, Samuel and Hannah.   She died in 1820 in Elizabeth Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Frederick was born in 1766 and married Christina Snyder, the daughter of Philip and Dorothea Miller Schneider.  They had at least two children, John and Susanna, and probably more. His death date isn't known, although he doesn't appear to be the Frederick who died in 1843.  This family needs more research!  

John was born in 1767 and died in 1821.  His wife was Margaret or Margreth, quite possibly a member of the Sherb or Sharp family but not proven.  Their children are Conrad, Elizabeth, Susanna, John, Catherine, another Conrad, Samuel, Christina, Jacob, George, and Joseph.  I will write more of this family in my next blog post. 

Conrad was the last known son.  He was born in 1772 and married Hannah Nees, daughter of Adam and Anna Margareth Oberlin Nees.  Their children are Anna Maria, Samuel, Susannah, Johannes and Jacob. Conrad died in 1848.

Lastly, there was a daughter Christina, born in 1776. Nothing further is known of her except that she must have died young.  

This gives a total of about 39 grandchildren for Conrad and Elizabeth, and there may be more.  By sheer numbers, the Mentzers must have had an impact on their communities in Lancaster County, Pa.  One mystery I have yet to solve about Conrad is that several trees list him as "Captain".  He may have served in the Revolutionary War, but the French and Indian War is also a possibility, as is a militia position against some indigenous peoples.  Lancaster County was frequently attacked for quite a few years and the history there is remarkable.