Harshbarger line: Jacob Geiger 1748-1792

I am seriously wondering if there are two Jacob Geigers, and if they have somehow been mixed up in most records.  What I have found is quite confusing but it seems to have two men by the same name at the same place at the same time.  I am trying to get to the bottom of this but here's what I think I know. 

Jacob was born in 1748 and wsas the son of Johan Valentin Geiger III, and Sarah, who may have been a widow Vettatoe, or some such name.  He was reportedly born in New Hanover Township, in what is now Montgomery County but at the time was still Philadelphia County.  This would have been frontier land at the time. 

Somehow, Jacob made his way to Frederick County, Maryland, where we have one of the first documentations that I've been able to locate.  There he married Elizabeth Schultz on August 11, 1776, in a Lutheran church or at least by a Lutheran pastor, just a few weeks after our country declared Independence.  Jacob had actually been in Frederick County longer than that, because in December of 1775 he was listed as an Associator in the American cause.  This was basically a volunteer militia.  He also took the oath of allegiance in 1778, which was to the state of Maryland rather than to Great Britain, or, more interestingly, to the American cause.  This was required of all office holders, including attorneys, and also all voters, which meant at the time those men who owned real estate. 

Jacob and Elizabeth had at least seven children, born from 1776, just three months after the wedding, to 1786.  Elizabeth, I think, deserved a break after that.  Her body must have been worn out by the time the last one was born. 

We don't know what other military service Jacob may have participated in, before or during the Revolutionary War.  The area he is believed to have settled in was hard hit by attacks by native Americans, and it is more than possible that Jacob participated in one or more of the marches and battles that protected Americans and "rid the area" of most native Americans.  The stories from that time and area are gruesome, but for the purposes of this blog, it is only a possibility that Jacob was involved, not a certainty.  It is, however, more than likely that the family moved to the relative safety of a nearby fort or stockade for at least short periods of time during the war years. 

I think that Jacob owned land in Frederick County, Maryland called "Discontentment". There were 244 acres there, and it was resurveyed in 1793, soon after Jacob died.  It wouldn't have belonged to son Jacob, because the son was only 15 years old at the time.  A more thorough study of land records would possibly show that the land was deeded to either heirs or a purchaser. 

It has been reported, but I can't document, that Jacob Geiger died at or near Greenbrier, Berkeley County, (West) Virginia in February of 1791 or 1792.  If his birth date is correct, he was a young man of 44 at the time, which makes one wonder if an accident or injury of some type was involved.  It could also have been simple overwork.  We don't know when the family relocated, or why, but the Jacob Geiger who died in Northampton County, Pennsylvania at about the same time does not appear to be one and the same with our Jacob. 

One other thing that is confusing on websites I've found is that both Jacob and Elizabeth are said to have died on the same date, February 24, 1791 or 1792.  I'd like to find the source of that information, because that could indicate either Indians, or some sudden disease like cholera.  Either way, there would be a story there.  But once before I thought I'd found a couple who died on the same day, and that information turned out to be faulty.  So the question is still an open one:  Who died when, and where, and how?  Is that too much to ask?

Jacob lived a difficult life in difficult times.  I hope his homestead gave him wonderful views, and I hope he died happy, knowing that his children had the skills and fortitude to continue carving out homes in the wilderness.  

Much of this post is speculation, with just a few records to support it.  If anyone has additional information on this man, I would love to hear more of him, especially if there is documentation.  Please contact me.

The line of descent is:

Jacob Geiger-Elizabeth Schultz
Anthony Geiger-Mary Kirk
Elizabeth Geiger-George Harter
John Harter-Mary Bennett
Clara Harter-Emmanuel Harshbarger
Grover Harshbarger-Goldie Withers
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Margaret Beeks
Their descendants

Harshbarger line: Christian Bracker or Bracher

Caution!  This blog post is full of conjectures and speculation.  I'm writing it only because I am hoping someone will respond with information, not because I have information to share.  All thoughts are purely my own, and I am responsible for misleading everyone if this speculation turns out to be totally incorrect.

The subject of today's post is Christian Bracker, or possibly Bracher.  The only reason we know at present of his existence at all is that his name is in the marriage record of his daughter, Eva, when she married Johan George Harter (Herder) on October 26, 1752 in the records of St Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Upper Saucon township of what is now Lehigh County, Pennsvylvania.  At the time, it was Northampton County, but just barely.  Prior to 1752 it had been Bucks County.  I am only beginning to check the records of those last two counties but so far I haven't pulled up any mention, anywhere, of Christian.  So, was his name noted in the record because he was known to the people of the area, or because he wasn't known and the pastor was trying to leave genealogy clues for us?  At this point, a coin toss might be in order, if a decision needs to be made.

I have located one potential marriage for a Christian that seems to fit what we can guess about Christian.  Since Johan George Harter was from Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, it is possible that the families knew each other and settled near each other in Pennsylvania.  In looking for a Christian Bracker in Wuerttemberg, Germany, I find a Christian Bracher who married Rosina Barbara Neuschander in Botenheim, Neckar, Wuerttemburg, Germany on July 12, 1730.  Eva Bracker Harter is believed to have a birthday of April 14, 1730, which is close to the marriage date.  She may have arrived before the marriage or the birthdate may be off by a year.  None of Eva's known children are married Barbara or Rosina, as far as we know, so this might not be the right couple, or at least not the right wife.  Still, that area seems to be a good area to start researching, for someone who knows enough German and has access to local records. 

So if Christian Bracker did come to Pennsylvania and was known to the pastor, what became of him?  Again, there is only speculation.  If he was still alive by 1755, he very well may have travelled elsewhere for safety as the native Americans attacked the settlers rather consistently for several years then.  He may have traveled with his daughter, or with other family members.  Based on a projected birth date of about 1705, he may have died at any time, as life was hard for these people.  Or he could have been one of those who lived to a ripe old age of 85 or even 90.  I'd like to think he died late in life, but if so, there would likely be more records than we are currently finding.

So, as you see, there is nothing known of Christian except that he had a daughter Eva.  There are hints of his origin and of his wife, but there is as yet no proof that I am aware of.  He is a mystery but perhaps the mystery will be solved one day.  Most mysteries are. 

The line of descent is:

Eva Bracker-Johan George Harter
George Harter-Mary Kitterman
Johan George Harter-Mary Miller
George Harter-Elizabeth Geiger
John Harter-Mary Bennett
Clara Harter-Emmanuel Harshbarger
Grover Harshbarger-Goldie Withers
Cleveland Harshbarger-Mary Margaret Beeks
Their descendants

Update July 31, 2021.  Please disregard this post.  The first generations are not correct.  George Harter-Elizabeth Geiger and the later generations are accurate.