#52Ancestors: Theresa [Taresy] FRICKER, 1760-1821, Pennsylvania, USA

 Another post in the year-long challenge, #52Ancestors by genealogist Amy Johnson Crow. I am way behind, but every post is another post! Today I am sharing the limited information I have about my 3rd great-grandmother on my mother's paternal line: Theresa FRICKER. 

Born or baptised apparently 1 May 1760, in Reading, Pennsylvania, of unknown parents, Theresa left almost no records, as did many women of the times. The FRICKER family would have been Roman Catholic, as shown when she married into the KUHN family in 1775, in the Goshenhoppen, Berks, PA chapel. Non-Catholics would have been noted as such in the records. Note that her first name is sometimes spelled as Farasy, Farrasy, Farracy, Tarasey, Tarasy.  

My first note of Theresa FRICKER was seeing her marriage registration, a typed published transcription of Goshenhoppen marriages: p.107

And here come several questions or problems noted in this marriage transcription. Normally witnesses are family members. However I have not yet found a Henry Kuhn of the age to be a witness. John I. KUHN's father and brother had both died by 1775, and all Henry Kuhns in the family were under 18, although one was about 18, a 2nd cousin. I also have no idea of the family of Catharine Erman and her relationship to either of the marriage couple. I've looked up various surname spellings [eg, Ehrman] with several Ehrman, Ermann variations, but no clarity. These two people are good clues, but to date, I have no details to help me place them in the friendship or family circle of this couple. 

Note that women kept their maiden names after marriage, as per the custom of the Dutch. 

Much of the details have come from the Goshenhoppen registers [transcribed/typed], the KUHN obelisk in the Conewago Basilica cemetery, and elderly relatives' records. [photo by permission] 

The twelve children of Theresa FRICKER & John I[Ignatious] KUHN were the following, 2 boys, and 10 girls! 

    1.  Catherine, b. 24 May 1776, bap. 27 May 1776; m. est 1795 to Jacob Grett

    2.  Mary Magdalen, twin, b. 22 May 1778, bap 29 Mar 1789, d. abt 1801; m. est 1800 to John Arthur

    3.   Magdalana, twin, b. 22 May 1778, bap 8 Jun 1778, d. abt 1809, Conewago

    4.  Farracy [Theresa], b. 22 Oct 1780, d. 12 Jan 1847, Pennsylvania; m. est 1805 to Aloysius Owings 1784-1809; 2 boys

    5.  Anna Maria, b. 18 May 1783, bap. 25 May 1783; died young

    6.  Judith, b. 28 Sep 1785, bap. 9 Oct 1785, d. 8 Feb 1848, Abbottstown, Adams, PA; m. Benjamin Fink (1781-1842); 1 girl, 2 boys

    7.  Anna Appolonia, b. 17 May 1791, bap 20 May 1791, d. 12 Dec 1879 Gettysburg, Adams, PA; m. 10 Oct 1826 to Georg Richter; 2 boys

    8.  Margareta, b. 6 Mar 1794, d. 24 Jan 1874 Fort Seneca OH; m. 2 Feg 1817 Conewago Chapel PA to Philippus Staub, 4 boys, 6 girls

    9.  Elizabeth, b. est 1796 Conewago PA, d. 11 May 1852; m. est 1820 to Eusebius Owings

  10.  John, b. 14 Oct 1797, d.30 Mar 1887; m. 28 Jan 1823 to Susan Mathias; 2 boys, 5 girls

  11.  Anna, b. 30 Jan 1801, d. 13 Feb 1807, Conewago PA

  12.  Joseph Jacobus [ancestor], b. 4 Oct 1803, d. 18 Sep 1878 McSherrytown PA; m. 5 Nov 1826 to Jane Rebecca McCABE; 3 girls, 6 boys. Note that Jacobus is Latin form of  James. 

On the Goshenhoppen registers there are mentions of only three other people with the Fricker surname, and they seem to be about her age or younger. And I haven't found that surname on any early passenger lists, although I certainly should look again. All I know about her is that she married, had 12 children, and over 30 grandchildren, and died. So little.

Theresa FRICKER died 20 Apr 1821, aged 60 years, at their home in McSherrytown, Adams, PA. She is clearly listed with her husband on the KUHN obelisk in the Conewago Basilica Cemetery, Adams, PA.   

Her husband, John, died 5 years later, 1 Mar 1826, apparently in Reading, Berks, PA, likely staying with one of his children, after Theresa died.  

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If these are your ancestors, I am happy to share what little I have on these ancestors. And if there are errors, please do let me know, via calewis at telus dot net, or in the Comments below and I will get back to you either by email or in the Comments. I appreciate the opportunity to correct any issues in these family trees.

Blogger - or my computer - is still not letting me "reply" to your comments, for some unknown reason. If I don't reply to your Comment, please know that I'm totally thrilled you came to read my post and commented!  You truly make my day!!

Weekly #52Ancestors post: Dr. Louis DeBarth KUHN, 1829-1908

I am participating in the year-long #52Ancestors weekly challenge from genealogist Amy J. Crow, and here is this week's offering: my mother's grandfather, Dr. Louis DeBarth KUHN. 

Louis Kuhn's middle name, DeBarth, was chosen from a highly respected Roman Catholic priest in the early days of the Conewago Chapel, PA. A quote from Preachers, Reverends and Ministers of Lancaster co. Pennsylvania (1821-1830) says, "Father DeBarth was no Jesuit, but lived among them for many years." 

The immigrant Catholic KUHN family arrived from Wurttemburg [now Germany], settling in Pennsylvania in approximately 1735-40, my 4th great-grandparents Johan KUHN & Anna Barbara ADAMS, with their 4 children:
   1.  Heinrich [Henry],
   2.  Johan [John] George [ancestor], 
   3.  Eva Mary, and
   4 . Jost [Joseph].
All four married within a few years of arrival in Pennsylvania, settling first in Goshenhoppen, then around Macungie, Salisbury, and Conewago. Our line follows the 2nd son, John George  KUHN and his wife, Catherine RIFFEL.

Louis' parents were Joseph Jacobus KUHN & Jane Rebecca McCABE, who married Nov 5, 1826 in Conewago, PA. Louis, born October 22, 1829 and baptised November 8th in East Berlin, Adams, PA, was the 2nd of their 9 children, the 2nd of 6 boys. Note that on some censuses his first name is spelled Lewis, clearly the way it was pronounced. Here is his [Latinized] baptism record, Conewago PA:

For his medical degree, first Louis received his Pharmacy degree in 1851, as listed in the book, First Century of the Philadelphia, pg 465:

He then received his Medical degree 1854, and is found listed in the Matriculants of the University of Pennsylvania, Medical Class, Session 1851-52, p.20.

He entered the Marine Service of the United States and in 1854 sailed around Cape Horn to California, ending in Port Townsend, Washington. Interestingly he worked with the expedition which located the boundary line with British Columbia. He became well acquainted with a number of the army officers on board, including Ulysses S. Grant. In 1856, he wrote a letter [unknown receiver] published in the Monday June 6, 1856 edition of The Republican Compiler, which extracted a number of paragraphs, totalling over a column and a third. He detailed the scenery, his interactions with the native Indians, and the small towns in the area. Remember that Port Townsend was officially settled only in 1851 - these are early days!  

Dr. Louis KUHN is seen in the 1860 Census in Port Townsend, single, aged 30, M.D., with real estate of $3000, and personal estate value of $4000. 

His future wife, Amelia PETTYGROVE, is a few blocks away, aged 16, living with her family and attending school.  

Dr. Louis KUHN & Amelia "Millie" PETTYGROVE were married January 17, 1864, in Port Townsend, Jefferson, Washington Territory.  Amelia was born in 1844 in the Oregon Territory, one of the very first settlers' babies. The Oregon Territory was split into two territories, with the southern part becoming the state of Oregon in 1859.

Louis & Amelia had the following ten children, the first two born in Port Townsend, the youngest born in Brooklyn NY, the remaining were born in Reading, Berks, PA, near where his parents and several siblings lived.

   1. Dr. Joseph Francis, b.1864 WA, died at father's home 12 Sep 1898, 

            Brooklyn NY

   2. Louis B., b.1866 WA; apparently died before 1880, Reading PA.

The family moved to Pennsylvania in approximately 1867

   3. Mary Jane "Jennie", b. Sept 1868, PA, d. apparently bef 1908, Brooklyn NY

   4. Ellenora "Nellie", b. Nov 1874 PA, d. Apr 1941, Dunton L.I., NY; m. 1897 

            to Dr. Robert Fitzherbert Joseph Hussey, 4 children

   5. Charles Edward [ancestor], b.10 Jun 1876 PA, d.16 Dec 1945 

            Seattle WA; m. 11 Jun 1910 Roselle NJ to Marguerite Josephine 

            "Daisy" TERWILLIGER; 7 children

   6. Letitia Cecelia, b.10 Sep 1878 PA, d. after Jun 1880 PA

   7. George Wilfred, b.1 Nov 1880 PA, d. 24 Mar 1961 Brooklyn NY; m. after 

             1918 to Marguerite Bergen, no children

   8. Edward McCabe, b.1882 PA, d. 9 Oct 1889 Brooklyn NY

   9. Jane A., b. bef 1885 PA, d. 2 Jul 1939 Brooklyn NY

The family moved to Brooklyn NY in 1885, where their last child was born:

 10. Marguerite Louise, b. Feb 1886 Brooklyn NY, d. 25 Mar 1964 Brooklyn NY

He established a medical practice in Brooklyn after they moved to New York. He was a staff member of St Mary's Hospital, Brooklyn, a Roman Catholic hospital. This hospital was owned by St. Vincents Catholic Medical Centers of New York; it closed recently in 2005.

Louis' wife, Amelia, died January 18, 1888. In the early 1900s, he began selling off some of his properties in the Port Townsend WA area, asking his younger brother, Joseph A. Kuhn, a lawyer there to assist him.

He wrote out his will the year after Amelia died, on October 8, 1889, in Brooklyn, NY. In the 1900 Census, he was living at 471 Willoughby Ave in Brooklyn, [owned home], widowed,with his daughter, Jennie, aged 31, single, George, aged 19, single, and Marguerite, aged 14, at school.  Note, in 1910 Census, Jenny is listed as the 'Head' of the family, with George, Marguerite, and Charles, together, still living at 471 Willoughby Ave in Brooklyn. See building from Google Maps, above right. 

Louis DeBarth KUHN died May 7th, 1908, at his home, 471 Willoughby Ave, Brooklyn NY. He was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Brooklyn NY. His will from 1889 is very simple, leaving any property to be leased/sold and the value to be shared equally between his living family. The first half of his will is above on the right. And on the next page, his signature, made with a different pen, below:

His younger brother, John Randolph Kuhn, a lawyer, was the Executor of his Will. He stated that Louis' real estate in New York did not exceed the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars, and his real estate in the State of Washington, valued also below the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars. 

All his heirs, his adult children, living at the time, were Jennie, Charles, Nellie, George, and Marguerite. His Will was admitted to Probate August 19, 1908. The original will/probate documents have been copied; photocopies are in my files.

I plan to transcribe the newspaper article which is taken from a letter he wrote, and also to transcribe his will, and put those in a separate tab of this blog [see tabs above]. Look for those in a few weeks.

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If these are your ancestors, I am happy to share what little I have on these ancestors. And if there are errors, please do let me know, via calewis at telus dot net, or in the Comments below. I appreciate the opportunity to correct any issues in these family trees.

Blogger - or my computer - is still not letting me "reply" to your comments, for some unknown reason. If I don't reply to your Comment, please know that I'm totally thrilled you came to read my post and commented!  You truly make my day.

Joseph Jacobus KUHN, 1803-1878 Pennsylvania

Joseph Jacobus KUHN, was the 12th and the youngest child of John Ignatius KUHN and his wife Theresa/Tarasy FRICKER. Of interest is that he was only the 2nd boy of this marriage. The priest used the latin form of his second name, Jacob.

Joseph J. KUHN, was born October 4, 1803 in Conewago, Adams, Pennsylvania.  An early note states he was a drummer boy in the War of 1812, which did not actually end until 1815. Very young. I have not yet researched whether or not his one and only brother, John Kuhn, fought in the war as well; John would have been 5 years older. Later, Joseph was a Colonel in the Pennsylvania State Militia.

The obelisk to the right is on the KUHN burial region in the Conewago Chapel Basilica Cemetery, Conewago Twp, Adams, PA, where many of the Kuhn children and spouses are listed, as well as their ancestors. This obelisk provided much information on my KUHN ancestors, with names and dates to help in genealogy research. [photo, by permission]

On Nov. 5, 1826, in Conewago Chapel, by Rev. I. Barth, Joseph married Jane Rebecca McCABE, the younger daughter of Edward McCABE (from Ireland) and Rebecca HUDSON. Note that my Kuhn ancestors were Catholics who emigrated from the Wurttemburg region of Germany approximately 1730-1740.

Very soon after his marriage, Joseph bought a farm on the banks of the Conewago [the Big Conewago], near East Berlin, Adams, PA, where the family lived. He and his wife stayed here for about 40 years. Note the KUHN family were living only 12 miles or so from the famous battleground of Gettysburg.

From their marriage, there were 9 children known, all born in East Berlin, Pennsylvania:
   1.  Edward John, b. 23 Sep 1827, d. 25 Feb 1906 Hanover PA; m. 1) Annie Gill 1856, dec. 1862 in Troy MO;  m. 2) Sarah Jane Hilt abt 1870; 8 children
   2.  Dr. Louis DeBarth [ancestor], b. 22 Oct 1829, d. 7 May 1908 Brooklyn NY; m. 17 Jan 1864 Port Townsend, Wash.Terr. to Amelia A. PETTYGROVE; 10 children.
   3.  Sarah Jane, b. 25 Dec 1831, d. 29 Apr 1834, East Berlin PA.
   4.  Maria Rebecca, b. 2 Feb 1834, d. 8 Nov 1857 [typhoid] in Cuba on honeymoon; m. abt 1857 NY to Charles F. Leisen
   5.  Charles Edmund, b. 16 Nov 1836, d. 23 Nov 1909 Denver, CO; m. 1862 to Jennie M. Myers; 1 child who died aged 23.
   6.  Jane Elizabeth, b. 5 Feb 1839, d. 8 Jun 1916, Brooklyn NY; m. abt 1865 to Philip Reilly, 5 children
   7.  Joseph Augustine, b. 1 Sep 1841, d. 4 Oct 1918 Port Townsend, Wash. Terr.; no marriage/children.
   8.  John Randolph, b. 28 Aug 1844, d. 2 Nov 1926 East Berlin PA; m. 13 Feb 1870 Brooklyn to Henrietta Marie Rabitte; 13 children
   9.  Dr. George Richard Montgomery, b. 2 Sep 1847, d. 5 Nov 1915 Brooklyn NY; m. 13 Nov 1879 Brooklyn NY to Mary E Hussey; 5 children.

Joseph J KUHN was a farmer, but for a number of years he also acted as Associate Judge of Adams County, as well as other minor offices. He was referred to as "Col." from his military engagement with the PA State Militia. His farm holdings included the original farm on the bank of the Big Conewago, as well as a place in New Oxford, Adams, PA, a few miles away.

Joseph died September 18, 1878, leaving his wife as well as seven living adult children.  He is buried in the KUHN gravesite, and details engraved on the KUHN obelisk, in the Conewago Chapel Basilica Cemetery. Image of chapel on left. He left a considerable estate, which two of his sons administered: Edward J, and John R. Kuhn. It was finally probated in full by Aug 16, 1893.  

There is conflicting details on exactly where he died: either New Oxford or in McSherrystown. These two towns are very close together.  I am researching this currently, along with finding his actual will, plus his wife's will of 1883.

On the 1880 census of Brooklyn His wife, Jane Rebecca, is seen living with her daughter Jane Elizabeth Kuhn who had married Philip Reilly, with five Reilly grandchildren. She died Jun 15, 1883 in Brooklyn, and her body was taken back to Conewago Chapel Basilica Cemetery.

Of his children, Joseph seems to have done well, making sure they had a good education, and worked hard for a good life.  An obituary writeup on his life notes the following about the children:
Edward is a wealthy farmer of Hanover, Pa.  
Louis DeBarth who was a surgeon in the United States Navy during the war is now a practicing physician in Brooklyn; he married Miss Pettygrove of Portland Ore., daughter of the founder of that city.
Joseph A. is a lawyer of considerable wealth, president of a bank at Port Townsend, Wash.; he has been in the legislature and state senate for twenty years and is a prominent Mason, a past master of the grand lodge of Washington, and a shriner.
John R. is a lawyer in Brooklyn
George K. is a physician in Brooklyn.
Maria R. married C.F. Leison, and died on her wedding journey i Cuba.
Jane is the widow of P. Reilly, an eminent lawyer of New York, where she is still residing.
Charles E. has one of the largest ranches in Denver, Colorado, situated near Kuhn's Crossing in Elbert County, and covers an area of ten square miles, devoted principally to grazing.

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If any of these are ancestors of yours, I would be happy to hear from you with your comments or corrected information. I am also very happy to share any details I might have that are not shown on this post. Contact information is found at the very bottom of this blog.

Blooger has a glitch which is stopping me from replying to your comments, but please do know that I appreciate your comments very much. You make my day! Thanks so much for stopping by to read my family blog. 

52 ANCESTORS, 52 THEMES, No. 40, October birthdays: NINE Direct Ancestors

This year's challenge by Amy Crow is another weekly blog based on Themes. Last week's theme was Unusual, and this week is "OCTOBER birthdays/anniversaries".  Counting them all, I have NINE direct ancestors with birth dates in October, including a married couple. They are listed with birthplace, spouse and marriage date, plus number of known children.

1 Oct 1665:  Judith STEVENS, b. Windsor CT, m. Samuel BUEL(L) 1686; 11 children

2 Oct 1687:  Abigail RICH, b. Wenham MA, m. Timothy JEROME 1709; 7 children including my favourite-named son, Zerubbabel.

4 Oct 1770:  Jane [Jennetje] KOEN, b. New Scotland NY, m. Simon TERWILLIGER 1788; 4 children

4 Oct 1803:  Joseph Jacobus KUHN, b. Conewago PA, m. Jane Rebecca McCABE 1826; 9 children

5 Oct 1924:  Mary Marguerite KUHN [my mother!], b. Vancouver BC, m. John GILLESPIE 1941; 3 children

12 Oct 1812:  Francis William [F.W.] PETTYGROVE, b. Calais ME, m. Sophia RULAND 1842; 7 children

22 Oct 1829:  Louis DeBarth KUHN, b. East Berlin PA, m. Amelia PETTYGROVE 1864; 10 children; Amelia is the eldest daughter of FW PETTYGROVE above.

25 Oct 1803:  Jane Rebecca McCABE, b. Downington PA, m. Joseph Jacobus KUHN 1826; 9 children

28 Oct 1716:  Jannetje van VALKENBURGH, b. Schenectady NY, m. Simeon LARROWAY [LeRoy] 1733;  4 children

 Are any of these people your ancestors as well?  If you have any information or details to share, or to correct the details above, I would be very happy to hear from you.  Contact me via email below [bottom of page], or in the Comments section.

The photo up above is in Vancouver BC Canada, facing north - you can see the darker blue tone of the mountains across the harbour. Taken in Falaise Park south of the Grandview Highway by my brother Jake, this is the neighbourhood we grew up in. The Park wasn't quite so tidy and organized back then, with a boggy bottom and a ravine to play in.  

Lately, my Blogger account seems not to allow me to "reply" to your comments, most of the time. Do know that I value your comments immensely. You make my day! Thanks for stopping by to read my weekly post.

52 ANCESTORS in 52 WEEKS, No. 42: Theresa FRICKER, PA

Following the challenge from Amy Johnson Crow to write a post weekly, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, here is my 42nd installment, Theresa FRICKER, my 3rd great-grandmother on my mother's father's KUHN line.

Theresa was spelled many different ways, e.g, Taresy, and a daughter was named Farracy, which seems to be another variation.  I have information on Theresa in terms of her marriage and death/burial details, the names of her 11 or 12 children - but I have no information on her parents and relatives.  

She is found on the large detailed KUHN obelisk in the cemetery of the Conewago Chapel Basilica with her birth and death dates inscribed, a major source of information.  Other details may be found in the Goshenhoppen and Conewago Registers, and the William Kirkpatrick book, detailing the Eckroth-Eckenroth-Eckenrode Family, Vol.1 & 2, 1987, pub. by Chris Pelikan. 

Theresa or Tarasy FRICKER, was apparently born 1 May 1760 in Reading, Berks, PA, of unknown parents.  I have found a record of an Anthony Fricker's child being baptised, with Theresa Fricker as witness, which appears to indicate he may be a brother of hers, but this is currently only speculation.  

She married John Ignatius KUHN, b. about 1753 in Greenwich, Berks, PA about 30 miles north of Reading. They were married 25 Apr 1775 in Bally, Berks, PA.  Note that the Borough of Bally was originally named "Goshenhoppen", which means "meeting place" in the local Indian language. Since they married in Bally, it is likely she was born in Bally, but this is not yet proven.  Her husband, John Ignatius KUHN, was the 4th of 5 children of John George KUHN and Catherine RIFFEL, who were born in Germany; they had married 27 Nov 1744 in Macungie, Lehigh, Pennsylvania. 

Theresa and John had either 11 or 12 children:
  1.  Catherine, b. 24 May 1776, d. Baltimore MD; m. Jacob Grett
  2.  Mary Magdalena, b. 22 May 1778, d. aprox 1801;  m. John Arthur
  3.  Farracy Theresa, b. 12 Oct 1780, d. 12 Jan 1847; m. Aloysius Owings her 1/2 1st cousin, 2 sons known
  4.   Anna Maria, b. 18 May 1783, died 'very young'
  5.  Judith, b. 28 Sep 1785, d. 8 Feb 1848 Abbottstown PA; m. Benjamin Fink 26 Apr 1807 Conewago Chapel; 2 living sons known
  6.  Anna Appolonia, b. 17 May 1791, d. 11 Dec 1879 Gettysburg PA; m. George Richter; 2 sons known
  7.  Margareta, b. 6 Mar 1794, d. 24 Jan 1874 Fort Seneca OH; m. Phillip Staub 2 Feb 1817 Conewago Chapel; 10 children known
  8.  Elizabeth, b. abt 1796, d. 11 May 1852; m. Eusebius Owings (possibly relative of Aloysius Owings seen above m. to #3 Farracy)
 9.  John, b. 14 Oct 1797, d. 30 Mar 1887 Conewago PA; m. 28 Jan 1823 Susan Mathias Conewago Chapel; 7 children known
10. Magdalena, b. 1799, d. abt 1809
11. Anna, b. 30 Jan 1801, d. 13 Feb 1807.  Note: #10 and #11 may be the same child, i.e. "Anna Magdalena (abt 1800-1807)"
12. Joseph Jacobus KUHN [ancestor], b. Oct 1803, d. 18 Sep 1878 McSherrystown PA; m. 5 Nov 1826 Jane Rebecca McCABE, Conewago Chapel; 9 children (ancestor line follows 2nd child, Dr. Louis DeBarth KUHN).

Theresa died 20 Apr 1821 in McSherrystown, PA, and is buried in the Conewago Chapel Basilica Cemetery, along with many other KUHN relatives. She died 5 years before her husband, John I. Kuhn, who died 1 Mar 1826.  

If you have further information on Theresa FRICKER or her family, including their children, please do not hesitate to contact me via calewis at telus dot net, or in the Comments below.  I appreciate any corrections, additions, etc. Thanks for stopping by.