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Hauser. Charlotte Emilie Holland's parents were Timothy Holland who was born February 4, 1793 and Anna Cunigunda Wright who .r was born in 179.6 and died June 10, 1849. Timothy Holland's parents were John Holland who was born October 9, 1743 and died July 25, 1811 and Jacobina Schumacker who was born November 5, 1758 and died August 3, 1816 and is buried at Old Salem Cemetery in Winston --Salem. Anna Cunigunda Wright's parents are Josiah Wright and Anna Margaretha Hauser who was born March 30, 1757 and died April 2, 1800. Josiah and Anna were married August 29, 1793. Anna's parents were Michael Hauser who was born September 29, 1731 in Berkianar, Pa., and died April 24, 1789 in Bethania, N. C. and Anna Cunigunda Fiscus who was born April 6, 1734 in Germany and died October 7, 1804. They married November 5, 1752 in Maryland. Michael Hauser's parents were Martin Hauser and Maria Margaretta Schaefer. Martin was born in November 1696 in Reichenweir, Germany and married Maria in.Germany in 1721 and came to America in 1727. Maria was born November 4, 1702 in 0 Alsace, Germany and died January 12, 1775 in Bethania, N. C. Martin died in Bethania, N. C. on June 12, 1761. Anna Fiscus Hauser's parents were Frederick Fiscus who was born in 1707 and died January 19, 1772 and Elizabeth Schwind who died in 1750. They were married in 1729. Ko -j Martin Hauser's parents were Johans Georg Hauser who kv' was born in 1657 in Colmar, Germany and Susanna Burckhardt, his third wife, whom he married on September 20, 1689. Both tS� died in Colmar, Germany. a1 Davie County Public Library mo&svilie, NC CS v • Johans Georg Hauser's father was Matthias Hauser who e was born September 10, 1624 in Germany and died in 1677 in Colmar, Germany. His mother was.Marie Huffel who was born April 21, 1626 and died in Colmar, Germany. Matthias and Marie were married February 7, 1653. Matthias Hauser's father was Mattias Hauser (the elder) who was born in 1597 in Colmar, Germany, and he died in Germany. Susanna Burckhardt's father was Michael Burckhardt. He was born March 5, 1640 in Castle Reichenweir, France. He also died there. Susanna's mother was named Ursula. She died August 28, 1695 in Reichenweir, France. Michael Burckhardt's father was Georg Burckhardt who was born about 1610 and died in 1667. On January 17, 1637, he married Maria Schneider who was born in 1612 and died in 1687. Both died in Reichenweir, Germany. Georg was a member of RATH. Maria Margarette Schaefer's father was Johann Michel Schaefer who was born about 1679 in Alsace, Germany. On November 7, 1701 he married Maria Barbara Geiger who was born in Germany about 1680 and died in Alsace, Germany about 1730. Maria's father was Hans Geiger Huttingen, and her mother was Agnes. I Johann Michel Schaefer's father was Johann Martin Schaefer who was born in 1646 in Lampertslock, Alsace and died April 29, 1692 in Germany. Johann Michel Schaefer's mother was Otilia Lehmann. Johann and Otilia married January 25, 1670. Otilia's father was Hans Lehmann who was born in Langenau, Switzerland and died before 1670. Davie County Public Library Mooksville, NC r Johans Georg Hauser's father was Matthias Hauser who o was born September 10, 1624 in Germany and died in 1677 in Colmar, Germany. His mother was.Marie Huffel who was born April 21, 1626 and died in Colmar, Germany. Matthias and Marie were married February -7, 1653. Matthias Hauser's father was Mattias Hauser (the elder) who was born in 1597 in Colmar, Germany, and he died in Germany. Susanna Burckhardt's father was Michael Burckhardt. • He was born March -5, 1640 in Castle Reichenweir, France. He also died there. Susanna's mother was named Ursula. She died August 28, 1695 in Reichenweir, France. Michael Burckhardt's father was Georg Burckhardt who was born about 1610 and died in 1667. On January 17, 1637, he married Maria Schneider who was born in 1612 and died in 1687. Both died in Reichenweir, Germany. Georg was a member of RATH. Maria Margarette Schaefer's father was Johann Michel Schaefer who was born about 1679 in Alsace, Germany. On November 7, 1701 he married Maria Barbara Geiger who was born • in Germany about 1680 and died in Alsace, Germany about 1730. Maria's father was Hans Geiger Huttingen, and her mother was Agnes. Johann Michel Schaefer's father was Johann Martin Schaefer who was born in 1646 in Lampertslock, Alsace and died April 29, 1692 in Germany. Johann Michel Schaefer's mother was Otilia Lehmann. Johann and Otilia married January 25, 1670. Otilia's father was Hans Lehmann who was born in Langenau, Switzerland and died before 1670. 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Salem Station Telephone 722-1742 • 4 East Bank Street Xittston-Salem, Xvdh (Rttrnlittp 27108 April 8, 1981 '! " Nrs. Alice H. Eidson. 1135 Kenwood Street Winston Salem, N. C. 27103 Deax Mrs. Eidson: Enclosed is a chart showing lineage of Anna Nargaretha Hauser, mother of Anna Wright Holland. We have nothing on her father, Josiah Wright, as he was not a member of the church. In fact, it seems Anna Margaretha was excluded from membership for marrying an "outsider". Evidently, she eras never readmitted, since she was buried in the parrish graveyard near the grist -,mill, not the church graveyard. Meir three children baptized at Bethania were: Sarah — b. April 13, 1794 Anna Cunigunda - b. December 17, 1795 Josiah - b. May 29 1798 Let us ?now if we can be of any further help. Sincerely, (Mrs. R.S.) June Iaurence Assistant, Moravian Archives � pav Mo�kSd�t C OLMAR Thomas Schaefer REICHENWEIER Lampertsloch, Langenau. Paul Schneider Palatinate Switzerland ca. 1580-1631 Matthias Hauser Georg Burckhardt m'd Maria Schneider Hans Geiger ca. 1597 ca. 1610-1667 1612-1687 Member of the Rath. Married 1/17/1637 Maria Huffel m'd Matthias Hauser Michael Burckhardt m'd Ursula ('?) 21 April 1626 10 Sept.. 1624-1677 5 March 1640 Married 2/7/1653 Vineyard owner and Wheelwright and Maria Margaretha Schaefer Burgess at Colmar warden of Castle Reichenweier Hans Georg Hauser m'd Susanna Burckhardt 25 Jan., 1657 — ? Married 9/20/1689 Butcher. Married 1683, 1685, 1689. Martin Hauser 11 November 1696- D.-/.�- 1761 s ANCESTORS OF MARIA MARGARETHA SCHAEFER Thomas Schaefer Hans Lehmann Lampertsloch, Langenau. Palatinate Switzerland ca. 1625 Johann Martin Schaefer m'd Ottilia Lehmann Hans Geiger ca. 1646 Ruttingen, Switzerland ca. 1639 Maria Barbara Geiger m'd Johann Michel Schaefer ca. 1679 Maria Margaretha Schaefer 4 November, 1702-1775 • bounty Public �bC� Davie m000me, N U K i3r x.07 py/tC„(�'� ll/Illi% �>2 Davis County Public L bialy Mooksville, NG Aug /56 ci /�O zJ Davie County Public Library NC .aaw //400.t, e� 44� -.., a4ru tj `'7 , U/4SS YNX9, ( ash aha yt Z- ( e1� l .&✓ (0-1 taap� A4.,;Io e f 9s . (/6 Aw./ /7P� 1A Ax, 757;�w 0:!�v 17 Oavia Coun;y Public library Mocksville, NC 3��� t Davie County Public Library - - Mocksville, -N - - �� 5� �� per, a� A�K zle�4 e�lex app d 4� /%P� 2� 3 ---= -fes,- a5� C,4"1 - - r�iz� d7Z icy w I V V -&mr� r I eto v � 1 / Af� paves Count! publicibC�i M,,Ol ,vide, NG 256 THE FAMILY OF MICHAEL HAUSER AND ANNA CUNIGUNDA FISCUS A3 3rd Generation A3A Johannes, 4/18/1754-1/26!1784, in. Hanna Muller. He is buried in Grave #39, Bethania. A3B Elizabeth. 8/26/1755-12/3/1838. in. Johann Heinrich Sp6nhauer. She is buried in Grave #250. AX Anna Margaretha, 3/30/1757-412/1800, in. (1) Adam Schumacher, (2) Josiah Wright. A31) Michael, 11/10/1758-9/l/1837, in. Elizabeth Frey. He is buried in Grave #255, Bethania. A3E Jacob, 10/30/1760-6/27/1783. Grave #38. A3F David, 6125/1763-1217/1763. Grave #10. A3G Peter, 12/31/1764, in. Catherina Boeckel. A3H Johann Christian, 10/17/1766, in. Maria Catherina Conrad. A3J Maria Magdalena, 8/27/1768-7/28/1811, in. Adam Butner. She is buried in Grave # 157, Bethania. A3K Daniel, 5/17/1775-2/18/1814, in. Elizabeth Boeckel. 4th Generation CHILDREN OF JOHANNES HAUSER AND HANNA MULLER A3A A3A1 Anna Elizabeth, 9/19/1777, in. Frederick W. Eldridge. Moved to Indiana. A3A2 Anna Margaretha, 4/13/1779, in. Gottfried Fidler. A3A3 Maria Susanna, 1/5/1781-1/1784. Grave #41. A3A4 Johann Lorenz, 120.1782-1833, in. Christina Binkeley. 257 4th Generation A3A5 Hanna Susanna, 9/18/1784-1/30/1785. CHILD OF MICHAEL HAUSER AND ELIZABETH FREY A3D A3D 1 Michael, 1784. CHILDREN OF PETER HAUSER AND CATHERINA BOECKEL A3G A3G 1 John H., 1792, m. Mary A. (?), 1794. A3G2 Elizabeth A3G3 Christina, (Stokes County Will Book, III, p. 18, refers to her as Catherina) A3G4 Anna. CHILDREN OF JOHANN CHRISTIAN HAUSER AND MARIA CATHERINA CONRAD A3H A3H I Daniel, 1/9/1794, m. Susanna Holder. A3H2 Maria Magdalena, 2/20/1796. A3H3 Elizabeth, 8/28/1798. Grave #102, Bethania. A3H4 Susanna, 9/27/1799- A3H5 Jacob, 9/29/1801. A3H6 Isaac, 1/5/1806. A3117 Maria Catherina, 1/10/1810. A3H8 Anna Christina, 10/22/1811. A3H9 John Sanford, 1/18/1814. A3H(10) Beatus, 1/24/1817, died the same day. CHILDREN OF DANIEL HAUSER AND ELIZABETH BOECKEL A3K A3K1 Maria Elizabeth, 1/10/1800, m. Thomas Reich. A3K2 Jonathan, 11/30/1801 He moved to Indiana. A3K3 Christian Thomas, 9/141180.3, m. Anna Johanna Spach. A3K4 A3K5 Anna, 10/9/1812. Louisa, 9113/1806. Dame CountY Public Martin Hauser was buried on a cedar -lined hill in western North Carolina in 1761, and there ended a life spent in toil and travel. For thirty-three years he had pioneered from Alsace in Europe to the American southeastern frontier, eventually finding rest as a refugee among the Moravians. In material wealth he acquired little. But his dreams, his pride, and his perseverance were passed to the six sons and their descend- ants who founded Hauser families south, north, and west in America. His grave -site, overlooking Bethania, North Carolina, is a symbolic point of American origin for the Haus- ers. Within a ten -mile radius of it, hundreds of his descendants live today. Thousands more live elsewhere, across the land. Colmar, in Alsace, now France, is the oldest known town of origin for the family. One of the ten imperial cities of Alsace, it had won the right of self-government under the protection of the Holy Roman Empire when Matthias Hauser was born there on September 10, 1624.' Living fifty-three years and becoming the owner of a vineyard, he was well enough known in Colmar to be a member of the town government. On Janu- ary 25, 1657, when he was thirty-two, his son Hans Gem, who was to become Martin's father, was born. Around 1680, Hans George left Colmar and moved to Reichenweier, a smaller but ancient fortified castle town eight kilometers to the northwest. There in 1683, he married Martha Froehlich, who died within two years. In 1686 he was wedded again, but soon after suffered the death of his second wife. Finally, in ' 1689, he married the young Susanna Burckhardt, the daughter of the castle warden. Through her, another sig- nificant amily line was passed to their son, Martin, who was born on November 11, 1696, in Reichenweier.2 Known today as Riquewihr, Reichenweier, at the foot of the Vosges Mountains, fifteen miles from the Rhine, and in ' Information concerning the forefathers of Martin Hauser in Col- mar was provided by J.L. Kleindienst, archivist at Zellenberg, France. Matthias was the son of an older Matthias whose birthdate is unknown. It is estimated that lie was born no later than 1597. 2Information about the Hausers and Burckhardts in Reichenweier was provided by Christian Wolff, archivist for the Department of the lower Rhine, Strasbourg, France. and confirmed by J.L. Klein- dienst, of Zellenberg. 13 the heart of the Alsatian wine country, has a long and drama- tic history. On the Schonenberg, a steep -rising hill immediately north of the town are remains of Roman construction, indicating that a garrison from ancient Rome maintained a watchtower in the vicinity on the road into Gaul (France). Studies of the symmetrical city plan lead scholars to believe that the town itself is built on Roman foundations.3 Reichenweier first appears in recorded history, however, in 1094, when the castle Reichenstein there was in the posses- sion of the Count of Egisheim-Dagsburg. This castle was taken in the mid -thirteenth century by two robber -baron brothers who plundered the countryside from their walled for- tification. they caused such terror in Alsace that Rudolph, of Habsburg, led an expedition against them in 1269, destroying the castle and hanging the brothers. In 1291, Reichenweier was in the possession of Burckhardt II, Count of Horbourg, who built a new castle and surounded the town with a fortified wall and moat. But this prince soon experienced severe financial difficulties and sold all his pos- sessions, including Reichenweier, to his uncle, Ulrich X, ruler of the German duchy of Wurttemberg. Much later, when the Duke of Wurttemberg married a daughter of the family ruling the French duchy, Montbehard, Reichenweier passed under the control of that state, which itself passed under the overlordship of Wurttemberg. Under succeeding German princes who maintained a ducal residence in the castle, the town prospered, and in 1500 was surrounded with a second wall and moat beyond the original ones.4 Its population increased considerably as people from the outlying districts moved inside the walls for protection. Conditions soon developed thereafter which set the stage for 3Raymond Voegeli, Reichenweier, Ein Altes Weinstadtchen, His- torische Skizzen (Colmar: Editions Alsatia, 1937), p. 12. a Today parts of the inner wall stand on the east and parts of the outer wall on the west. only one wall ran along the north and h still stands. The moats are gone, but evidence of the outer one can be seen beside the road on the west which is paved over a land -fill in the moat. The walls of the castle where Michael Burckhardt was warden still stand, but the interior has been renovated beyond recognition. 14 great destitution and tribulation in the next century. In 1536, the Swiss Reformation swept through Wurttemberg and by order of the Duke, Catholics and Catholicism were banished from Reichenweier. Since the Jews had been expelled in 1416, only Protestants were to be allowed in the region until 1686. In 1571, with the conversion of the Duke, the Lutheran Church re- placed the Swiss Reformed. As all of Germany divided event- ually between Catholics and Lutherans, and as the princes of each faith united into leagues of defense, war clouds loomed on the horizon. In 1618 the storm broke over the Holy Roman Empire and the dreadful Thirty Years' War rained destruction on the land. Conflict came to Reichenweier when the Catholic Duke of Lorraine invaded Alsace in 1635. The two walls and moats of the town withstood the siege until the inhabitants were starved into submission. But while the de- fense forces had sustained only minor losses during the at- tack, the invaders had lost over 500 men, among them 80 officers. Consequently, upon surrender, the town was "ruthlessly devastated" and the soldiers committed "inde- scribable atrocities."5 The town councilmen were taken away as prisoners to nearby Breisach until a ransom of 12,000 talern was paid.s And soon thereafter, the armies of Lorraine and the Empire returned to plunder again as they laid siege to Colmar. That city successfully resisted the attack, and even- tually a French army garrisoned there liberated Reichenweier, but took all the town's artillery back to Colmar. In the mean- time the population had been reduced by famine and pesti- lence which scourged the countryside. In Reichenweier, so many died that they were buried in unmarked graves, and so many bodies strewed the roads in upper Alsace that passage through the land was difficult. As late as 1937, the Protestant church of Reichenweier observed the tenth Sunday after Trin- ity as a day of atonement and remembrance of the affliction of 1635-1637.' 5 Vogeli, Reichenweier, p. 4.3. s Martin Hacrser'� utlain Ib67fas� he Goldes org Bmemberdof hewho town described on his council" may have been among them. 7 Voegli, Reichenweier, p. 44. 1 1 GERMANY Worth .r* 0 Wissembourg 0 Strasbourg FRANCE Rhine River AeOO GERMANY Reichenweier 0 a Colmar Breisach 0 Mulhouse Montbeliard 0 Basel FRANCE SWITZERLAND ALSACE UR In the latter half of the seventeenth century a new threat to Alsace developed in the aspirations of Louis XIV, King of France. Ordering his ministers to search old records for any pretense of French claims to Alsatian cities, he embarked on a thinly veiled aggression. In 1672 his armies destroyed the for- tifications at Colmar.8 Then in 1675 the French dismantled"the fortress at nearby Horbourg. Finally in 1680, at approximately the time of Hans Georg Hauser's move to Reichenwcier, that town, too, was annexed to France. On the night of September 30, between 1 and 2 A.M., a representative of Louis XIV with his retinue demanded that the gates of the town be opened. Then he informed the municipal government that henceforth the German-speaking residents would be required to take an oath of allegiance to the French king. On that same night the French coat of arms, the fleur-de-lis, was burned into the city gate. The rulers of Wurttemberg-Montbeliard were still al- lowed to collect taxes and to maintain a castle at Reichen- weier, but were forced to acknowledge the overlordship of France. The next year the inhabitants were subjected to a double taxation, when they were required to make payments to the French treasury, also. Then, in 1686, Catholicism was officially restored, and the grand old Lutheran church of St. Margaret was placed under Catholic control. From that time until the early 1700s disputes developed between the two reli- gious sects. Into this environment, in 1696, Martin Hauser was born and baptized a Lutheran. The Reichenweier into which Martin was born had never recovered from the Thirty Years' War, and the French occu- pation added to the problems. The castle was fast falling into ruin owing to lack of interest on the part of Duke Georg II. The double taxation and religious strife weighed heavily on the town. Nevertheless, Martin's life was probably not ex- tremely unhappy. He hesitated long over the decision to leave for America and give up his parents and brothers.`' s Martin Hauser's father. Hairs Georg, who lived in Colmar at this time was 15 years old. 9 Memoir of Maria Margaretha Hauser, Moravian Archives, Winston-Salem, translated by Dr. Adelaide Fries. Martin's brothers were Johann Georg, born October 22, 1702, and Johannes, born March 21, 1706. Froin records in Strasbourg, France. ON When he was 25, in 1721, Martin married Maria Margaretha Schaefer, aged 19. Born in Lampertsloch (near Worth) in the alatin_ate, on November 4, 1702, she was the daughter of Hans Michel Schaefer and Maria Barbara, born Geiger, for- mer y of Ruttingen, Switzerland. Her grandfather, Martin Schaefer, had been a Protestant evangelist in Alsace.11 Unfor- tunately for Margaretha, her own father died when she was very young. Her step -father not only terrorized her mother, but cast the daughter into the coldest winter Europe had known in 100 years." As wine turned to ice and burst from its casks and the waves of the sea froze on the coast of France, Margaretha begged her bread from neighbors. 12 At age 12, she became a maid to children and, at last, found permanent shel- ter. During all these years she had remained close to her mother who "told me to keep on the path of God, and asked me to pray always; she would do the same for me." 13 Soon after her daughter's marriage, however, Maria Bar- bara migrated with a group of Mennonites, seeking religious freedom, to Pennsylvania in America. Conditions in Alsace were not improving, and thousands were responding to the Rhineland advertisements of William Penn, outlining the be- nevolent freedom and good land of Pennsylvania. Margaretha begged to go, too, but Martin had more to give up in Alsace. Finally, she convinced him, and in late 1726 the couple, with their two-year old son, Martin, Jr., began the long journey northward, along the Rhine, through Germany and Holland, to Rotterdam. In Rotterdam, Martin must have worked as a carpenter for more than six months, because he did not leave that city until the summer of 1727. And he either had a considerable amount 10 Margaretha's birthdate of November 4 is from her Memoir, Moravian Archives. According to the entry in the Church Register at Lampertsloch, she it -as born October 2. Information concerning her forebears was furnished by Karl von Frank, Schloss Senfte►negg, Nieder-Osterreich, Austria, from records in the archives at Stras- bourg, and confirmed by Madame Jean Peres, genealogist of Stras- bourg. 11Walter Allen Knittle, Early Eighteenth Century Palatine Emigra- tions (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co.. 1965), p. 3. 11 Memoir of Maria Margaretha Hauser. 13 Ibid. 18 saved when he left Reichenweier, or he made money in Rot- terdam, for he paid the passage in full and did not have to suffer indenture, as did thousands of other immigrants. 14 Sail- ing aboard the English ship Molly, commanded by Captain John Hodgeson, the small family crossed the North Sea, touched land again at Deal, in East Kent, England, and then began the hazardous voyage across the Atlantic." The ship was crowded, the food dry, wormy, and minimal. Eventually, most of the passengers were stricken with fever and some were lost. Among the dead was young Martin, Jr., but his mother, herself feverish and too delirious to distinguish dreams from reality, was unaware for days. 16 Sad Martin, Sr. was alone when his son was buried at sea. What regret he must have felt for ever leaving home! On September 30, 1727, the Molly anchored at Philadel- phia. Her Rhineland passengers, numbering 70 families, swore allegiance to the new English King George II, himself a German, and scattered north, west, and south. At Con- shohocken,17 to the northwest Martin and Margaretha found her mother' Barbara, living with the Mennonites. Re- spon tdid ng to the older woman's pleas for them to remain, the couple settled at Conshohocken for over two years. There, on _e ruary 173 ,was born their first American son, Hans ----- .......... Georg. But Margaretha's mother had died short y after their arrival. Martin, always a Lutheran at heart, wasissatisf ed among the Mennonites and desired to move on. From that time, and for many years thereafter, he avoided the many religious sects along the frontier, preferring to go into the forests alone to prostrate himself on the ground and pray in 14 Ibid. 15 1. Daniel Rupp, A Collection of Upwards of Thirty Thousand Names of German, Swiss, Dutch, French and other Immigrants in Pennsylvania From 1727 to 1776 With a Statement of the Names of Ships, Whence They Sailed, and the Date of Their Arrival at Philadelphia, Chronologically Arranged, (Philadelphia: Leary Stuart, Co., 1927), Second Revised Edition, p. 52. is Memoir of Maria Margaretha Hauser. 17 The town is referred to in various records as Guschehope and Goshenhoken. i7 German the old Lutheran prayers and verses. I" So the family edged on while Martin, unaccustomed to the ways of the farm, worked continually from sunrise to sunset as a carpenter. 19 At the Berkiana River a second son, Michael, was born on Sep- tember 29, 1731. On ctober 16, 1733, came the twins, artin End —Jacob, at Shippach (Skipack)_Township. Life was hard during these years with Martin away during the daylight hours. Margaretha, alone with four young children in a wil- derness cabin, was subjected to a strain greater than her nerves would stand: . . . the anxiety of my soul was increasing. I finally did not know any solution to my life and wanted to run away. When I really went so far that I had left my house and was already in the bush, I heard the crying of my children, be- cause they saw themselves left alone . . . That persuaded me to return, with the intention to put them to sleep. When they were supposed to go to sleep, I lay down beside them in order to satisfy them, and when I fell just a little bit asleep, I was reminded of the verse, "Though the Lord has left you, he will come back and embrace you with joy like the lost son . ." From this time on I could go my way easily and with happiness.20 After seven years, Martin, deciding to move again, crossed the Susquehanna to the Conowago River, south of York. _Here the couple was to remain for six dears, and here, two more sons were born: Georg Peter on May 31, 1740, and � h—tst child, Daniel, on March 11, 1744.21 18 Memoir of Martin Hauser, Moravian Archives, Winston-Salem, translated by Dr. Adelaide Fries. 19 Memoir of Maria Margaretha Hauser. 20 Ibid., p. 2. 21 There was also a daughter, but neither her name nor her birthdate are known. She married Dieter Danner, who bought land in North Carolina from Michael Hauser, October 14, 1764. See Adelaide L. Fries, ed., Records of the Moravians in North Carolina (Raleigh: State Department of Archives anti History, 1968), Second Limited Edition, 1, 290. Hereinafter cited as MR. Two years later another move was made, four miles further soutE into the colony of Maryland. Here, Martin ,who was now fifty years old, took up land from the agent of Lord Baltimore and attempted farming.''='' The older boys were able to help him, and life was happier, since they were not separated so much. At night around the fire, Martin often told stories of Reichenweier, such as those of mad Princess Anna of Montbeliard, who had lived at nearby Ostheim when he was a boy. This crazy lady had ordered the town clock of Ostheim removed because its chimes disturbed the peace. Living surrounded by a great pack of dogs, she baptized them at birth and buried them with great pomp and circumstance. She had even built a chapel in which the dead dogs lay in state. But she had a violent side, too, and had once tried to stab a Catholic priest in the pulpit of the church at Reichenweier.23 But Reichenweier was by now far away and long ago. Life in Maryland was adequate, but not plentiful. Not only was Martin aging and unfamiliar with farm life, but the best lands had already been taken up. Consequently, the two older sons decided to seek their fortunes elsewhere. The steady stream of pioneers moving through Maryland, bound for the Great Valley of Virginia, had become a familiar sight, and in 1751, Hans Georg and Michael started south in search of new land.24 They had heard rumors of rich soil in scarcely popu- ated western Carolina, and that was their destination. The journey through the Valley on the edge of the southern frontier, abounding with Indians, panthers, and bears, was treacherous and long, and one night while they slept in Vir- ginia their horses were stolen. The remainder of the trek was on foot.=5 They reached Carolina sick and without money, but their spirits were raised by what they found along the Yadkin River: rich soil mixed with sand, good wooded hills, good 22 Memoir of Martin Hauser (11), Moravian Archives, Winston- Salem, translated by Dr. Adelaide Fries. zs Voegeli, Reichenweier, p. 55. 2� Memoir of Michael Hauser, Aloravian Archives, Winston-Salem, translated by Dr. Adelaide Fries. 25 1bid. water, and stones on the hills which could be used for build- ing. The land was largely unsettled, but there were German trappers in the area, and the brothers worked a -mong_them for a year, to buy new horses. Michael saved enough to acquire some river land from the_ Granville land office.'-"; In' October 1752, the two men began the return to Mary - just , ,lust two months before another exploring party d by Johann Gottlieb, Bishop Spangenberg, of the Moravians, en- camped at the three forks of Muddy Creek in what was to become Wachovia.27 Arriving home in November, Georg and Michael were re- ceived by -overjoyed parents who had given them up as killed by the Indians. The news of good land to the south raised everyone's hopes, and they all began a year of planning and preparation for the new migration. As wives were not to be found on the unsettled frontier, the brothers sought them in Maryland. In the month of their return, Michael was married to his old. sweetheart, Anna Fiscus. Georg.mrried Anna Mar- �. _.,, _ _ garetha Ellrod in July, 1753, just before they all left Maryland for North Carolina.'28 On October 22, 1753, the three Hauser families arrived in the Yadkin Valley and settled first on Michael's land.''" In the meantime, the Moravians of Pennsylvania had also decided on a move to the Carolina colony and had purchased a 99,000 acre tract which they named Der Wac•hatr.31 Just four weeks 26 Memoir of Anna Cunigunda Fiscus Hauser. Morat•ian Archives. Winston-Salem, translated br Dr. Adelaide Fries. 27 MR. 1, 57. 28 Memoir of Michael Hauser. 29 The families included Martel ani! his wife; Martin, Jr., Georg Peter, Daniel; Michael and Georg and their it -h -es. Jacob, Alartin's twin, rentainecl in MatiWand until 1759. See Beilage zum Diario von Hope vom Monat Januar 1806, Inhalt Lebenslauf des Bruder Jacob Hausers, Moravian Archit,es, Winston-Salem. 30 The Unitas Fratrum, later known as the Moravian Church, origi- nated in the attempt of the Priest, John Hits, to reform the Catholic Church. He was blirneil at the stake in Prague, Bohemia, 1415. His followers came to be c•alle(l Bohemian Brethren or Moravians (ajier Moravia, the adjacent province). In the earlJy 18th ceniur.y theY found refuge on the estate of Count Zinzenclorf in Saxon_s•, and from there sent out branches to EnOancl and Anteric•n. C A N r z o LU - t a Q 3 1 CF Y 1 V C LU C i H co .be o w u �. u-� a E E. ( 1 .a Y n ucr `v t ar- t _u ( � N ( u c to 1 t t � Q t < a t C 00 G C u ��♦ u r a n e O ♦ u 'C u c u � 4 G ♦♦ 0 � o toC7 o ♦♦ V _a x Z a2t uC7 OOa 0� N h n Wmf after the arrival of the Hausers, the first party of Moravian Brothers, having spent the night in an abandoned cabin, began the town of Bethabara, twelve miles north and east of Michael's land.31 At first there was little communication be- tween the groups. The Hausers, being Lutherans, knew noth- ing of the Moravians. Martin was still suspicious of the sec- tarians along the frontier and preferred to read aloud to the families every day from his German Bible. The Bible sessions were exasperating for Anna Margaretha Ellrod Hauser, who understood no German, and "who gave way from time to time to a fit of temper. 1132 For a year the families worked together, clearing fields and building houses, living on provisions brought from Maryland. In the spring they began their first planting, simultaneously with the births of the first grandchildren. On March 23 1754 Heinrich was born to Georg and Anna Margaretha, and the next months on _the_ 18_tkIMichael'swife _gave ._b.,rth�to Johannes. But in autumn after the harvest, the families said farewell to Martin, Jr., who had come of age and determined to seek his fortune in western Pennsylvania.33 The following year, 1755, brought more clearing of land, new buildings, and, with the harvest, two new grandchildren. Elizabeth, the daughter of Michael, cam_ a first o_ n August 26, and was followed two o days later by he_r cousin, Ge_org_e, Jr It was also during this time that the Moravian Brothers began to call at Martin's cabin, but even though the older man began to like them, their ways were strange to the younger generation. Michael, who was shy, .kept his distance.34 In 1756, however, the news spread among the settlers on the Yadkin that the Moravians had a mill for grinding grain, and many journeyed to Bethabara for convenience. Michael Hauser was among them, and on the day of his first visit one of the brothers engaged him in a conversation about becoming " MR, 1, 80; Memoir of Michael Hauser; Grant from Lord Granville (Documents section); map of Forsyth County. 32 Memoir of Anna Margaretha Ellrod Hauser, Moravian Archives, Winston-Salem, translated by Dr. Adelaide Fries. 33 Memoir of Martin Hauser, II. 34 Memoir of Michael Hauser. 24 Michael told about it a pardoned sinner. The next evengMar Margaretha, taking her with such enthusiasm that his mother, er, drove with Michael to sons Georg Peter and Danielt length with the Brothers, spent the mill. There they talked at Christian .Seidel preached a the night, and the next mo her Margaretha, sermon for them. F There my whole condition stood clearly before my eYes, and from then on I could regard g dmy- r, who self in all my misery as a poor could address herself to the Lord.:` But membership among the Brethren en as not yet deter- mined.:'(! An Indian war would make Moravians of the Haus- ers. hich led to the French and Indian W 175 The skirmish w 4, America occurred in western Pennsylvania on d on French when an advance guard of Virginia troops fi ebetween the soldiers from Fort Duquesne. The struggle French and the English raged on undeclared for two years, tin that time both sides sought the aid of the Indian and during 1755, tribes. The French met with more success, and b to South ovists on the western frontier from Pennsylvania of North Carolina were endangered. Governor Arthur of a fort in Carolina, responded by ordering the construction w hat is now Iredell County, to which settlers might and the But Fort Dobbs was too far away for the a was fortified with homesteaders on the Yadkin, �so Bethn b that year and in the a palisade of stakes in 175brialDed on the Yadkin, but in the following one no danger mate tin of 1757, rumors of hostile Indians frightened the early spring the Hawsers. into Bethab , colonists, including valley <<mid-April so many persons known now as Dutch Fort." hB the Moravians fortified their were crowded into the town building eight log cabins there for refugees. On May rom mill, bu g peter, and Daniel moved Martin, Margaretha, Georg 35 Memoir of Maria Margaretha Hauser, p. ?• 36 Ibid. 37 Levin T. Reichel, The Moravians of North Carolina: An .Authentic History (Salem: O.A. Keehln, 1857), p• PRI w the fort to the mill.38 When the alarm was over, they returned to the river land, but the spring of the next year saw them back again with all three families sharing one cabin at the mill fort.39 During these frequent flights, the refugees began to attend services of the Moravians, and Martin and Margaretha decided to join them. When Martin's plea for permission to move to Bethabara was rejected by the Moravians, he re- solved steadfastly, "Well then, I am going to live as a stranger with the Brothers. 9?40 His first intention was to take up land on the border of Wachovia, but then it occurred to him that he might ask the Unity to build another town for the benefit of those who wished to become Moravians. To Bishop Spangen- berg, who was visiting in Bethabara, he went with this re- quest, and, after discussion among the Brethren, it was granted .41 The Moravians decided upon a new town with six- teen families — eight from the outsiders living in one part, and eight from Bethabara to watch over them living in another part. On June 3, 1759, the Bishop rode into the "Black Walnut bottom land" in the northwestern corner of the Wachau and selected a long, gently sloping hill for the town. One month later, on July 10, the road to Bethania was begun.42 38 MR, 1, 188, 189. 39 Ibid. 40 Memoir of Martin Hauser. The Moravians would allow no non- Moravians to settle in Bethabara, as they would later allow none in Salem. Believing that the Unity had to be kept pure within, the Church leaders discouraged, at first, applications for membership. New members had to conform to a Spartan discipline unknown in modern America. But one was always free to leave the Moravian towns, and, if not careful, might be commanded to go. 41 Adelaide L. Fries, The Road to Salem (Chapel Hill: The Univer- sity of North Carolina Press, 1944), p. 78. 42 John Henry Clewell, History of Wachovia in North Carolina, the Unitas Fratrum or Moravian Church in North Carolina During a Century and a Half, 1752-1902 (New York: Doubleday, Page, and Co., 1902), p. 66. Richmond 0 Bethania (Hauser -town) 011 Bashavia Creek Bethabara Yadkin River r Martin, Jr.'s land in this vicinity Road to Salem Muddy Creek �- Shallowford Some of Jacob's land here after 1779 Hauser Creek Ellis' Creek Land of Michael and Martin 1. here Blanket Bottom Creek 1 Z A part of Surry County (now western Forsyth) as Martin Hauser's gravestone. David H. Hauser Studio, Clemmons, N.C. The American Revolution CHAPTER THREE 98 LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF MARTIN HAUSER, I 1761' In the Name of God, Amen. Because I, the. signer at the end, have been laid upon the sick bed through God's all -wise authority, by which oppor- tunity I deliberated of my own accord and thought how that all men are mortal and perhaps also that it will soon be my turn; because I have already lain aside a fairly great part of my lifetime; thus, in this my last sickness but with good understanding and sound [memory], I have made my last will and testament in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-one and in the 65th year of my age, and to be sure in the following manner — First: I commend my soul into my dear Redeemer's hands, and when I shall have gone home, I commit my body to be buried and laid to rest honorably, and then — Second: I bequeath. to my son Peter Hauser my plantation together with the 240 acres of land therein belonging to it on the so-called Ellises Creek, together with all the rights be- longing thereto. Third: The [said] Peter Hauser should take care of and main- tain [keep] my wife, Margreth Hauserin-, as long as she lives, [whether] or not she wants to live with him.3 Fourth: I bequeath to my wife Margreth Hauserin all of her cattle that is mine as also the oxen stock and swine, how- ever with the stipulation that the [said] Peter Hauser should have it for his profit and use so long as his mother lives. Fifth: I bequeath to my wife Margreth Hauserin all of the money that is still there, as also the distilling kettels, as also the dishes and household effects, and what is moveable that she wants to have taken. It is intended, however, with the ' Translation by K.J. Hauser, Jr. 2 I old German the feminine fora: of a family name was indicated by the suffix "in." 3 literally, "wants she to live with him or not." stipulation that Peter Hauser should have it (the household effects) for use so long as his mother lives; and after her death everything that she leaves over should be divided to all the children in equal parts — Sixth: I bequeath to my son Peter Hauser my loom together with all the things belonging to it, upon the condition that the [said] Peter Hauser should [allow] his mother to weave her linen and what she has to weave without payment so long as she lives. Seventh: I bequeath to my son George Hauser all the smith - works that he has, provided that George Hauser should be indebted to my son Peter Hauser to sharpen and repair all the tools belonging to his plantation so long as his mother lives; but what new things Peter Hauser has made for him- self, he should pay for himself, separately — Eighth: it is my will that any one of my children who has already received money should have it subtracted from his inheritance after the death of their mother. To the true confirmation of this my last will and testament. I have myself signed in my own hand beside this my seal in the presence of the undersigned witnesses in the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty-one in Bethania this 23rd day of May, 1761 [sic]. Sealed and signed in the pres- Martin Hauser (Seal) ence of us. Heinrich Schor Johannes Strub Heinrich Spehnhauer 7 4 .Q L� 124 one Summer Coat and Jacket at .............. 1 0 0 one wool cloth Coat and Jacket at ............ 1 0 0 The.Plantation the said John Hauser Deceased used to live on at ................. 140 0 0 309 11 0 It is to be remembered that the above Estate is indebted to several creditors the sum of 95X March the 16th 1784 Appraised on Oath by Affirmed before us George Hauser, J.P. Henry Sponhower Michael Howzer Henry Shore Jacob Miller ? Bonner Ex. MEMOIR OF MICHAEL HAUSER, 1731-1789 (A3) From the life -experiences of Brother] Michael] Hauser, who had them written down in his sickness on 10 Jan. 1777, and who departed this life peacefully on 24 April 1789, in Bethania. I was born 29 Sept. 1731 in Pennsylvania, on the Berkiana, 30 miles from Philadelphia. In my youth I often felt my heart stirred, but I did not understand. When my mother- told us children about the sufferings of our Saviour and how He loved us, I was not without feeling. In my youth I was protected from bad company as much as possible by my parents, until I was about grown, and then I voluntarily sought the company of young people for the sake of pleasure, but my heart did not allow me to engage in gross sinfulness. In the year 1751 I traveled with my brother George to North Carolina in order to look for land. We lost our horses on the way and had to travel 125 about half the way on foot and we were both very sick in Carolina. We stayed there more than a year and earned enough to buy two horses. We returned home. In the mean- time our parents were sorely troubled and believed either that we had died or that the Indians had slain us. In the year 1752, in November, not long after our return, I was married to A[nna] Cunigunda Fiscuss. This union was blessed of God with 10 children, of whom the sixth, a little boy, went to the Lord in the ninth month. In the year 1753 in October my father with his entire family and I with my wife moved to Carolina, to land on the Yadkin (River) about 18' miles from Bethabara, which was begun by the Brethren 4 weeks after our arrival. In the year 1756, when the Brethren had finished their mill at Bethabara, and I brought grain there to be ground, I first became really acquainted with them although I had seen them often in my father's house but had been too shy to become acquainted. When the Indian War with the Cherokees began in 1758, we fled to the Brethren. With the sermons of Brother] Joseph (Bishop Spangenberg) and Br[other] Christ- ian Seidel I was brought to consider seriously my salvation. My father and I expressed the desire to move to Bethabara,, n but we were advised not to do so, but on the other hand we `= were promised that we might move to the town of Bethania that was to be established, at which my father and I rejoiced kn greatly. Therefore I moved late in the year 1759 with my fam- ily, and on 22 June 1760, my wife and I joined the congrega- tion, to our great happiness and comfort. During the continu- '= �-- ing Indian War. I often had to be in the forest, but in all = dangers I was comforted, leaving everything in confidence to _ the Saviour. On 6 July I became a candidate for church mem- _ bership, but I had to wait a long time for enjoyment of the Holy Communion and the delay was burdensome to me. After-' I had waited 2 years, then on 30 October 1762, I had the great on re-= 'v of attending communion for the first time with the congre- joy g g gation. The impression I received has remained with me ever gation. since. In the year 1766 in the spring there was a peculiar circumstance when I went on a journey with the Brethren to 'An older translation, obtained from the Archives, states "12 miles." Charlestown and at a steep place where the wagons were passing I slipped under one of them and because the loaded wagon went over my leg, it was broken in two. The Brethren laid me on a wagon and left me at the next plantation with a man named Marcus Kohl. He showed me so much kindness that I can never thank him enough for it. When the wagons came back, I had recovered enough, God be praised, that they could bring me back with them. With all the hard cir- cumstances that befell me, it was greatly important that I lived in the congregation. Communion and festal days have always been especially important to me. (Now the memoir continues:) After the above mentioned sickness he went on his usual way in outward affairs, but through many outward cir- cumstances he came gradually to indifference and hardness of heart, whereby he was not at peace but meanwhile expressed himself painfully about it, that he could not be in peace until " he received forgiveness again from the Saviour and comfort filled his heart; the beautiful teachings of the Gospel were words of life whereon his soul feasted, therefore he gladly attended the services and recognized penitently his failures and short -comings but in all'of his imperfections his soul de- pended on the compassionate Good Physician, by Whom he was again and again comforted and strengthened in faith. He was true to his family and was concerned about the inner and outer welfare of his six children, who loved and honored him, but he did not fail to give fatherly admonition, and especially the care of the souls of his children lay on his heart, so he often took opportunity to speak to them earnestly, that they should not trifle away their happiness in the congregation, but they should employ their time so that they could enjoy all the grace and happiness in the same. The Saviour did not con- found his concern and let him see that they also experienced His many mercies. On 9 April (he still served at the foot - washing) he enjoyed for the last time here below the Holy Communion. On Good Friday he attended all the meetings and afterwards he told his dear wife how good he felt and what blessed and glorious days these were for him. On the Great Sabbath in the forenoon he complained about colic: pains, which became so severe that he had to go to bed and remedies brought him no relief. He complained mostly about not being able to attend the Easter Festival and Easter Monday, when Br[other] Koehler would preach here and would baptize the older girl Ester Ritter who is serving here. Meanwhile. he was provided as well as'possible with medicine, which gave some relief. In the first days of his sickness he dreamed one time after another (twice) that there were tree branches and under- growth in his way so thick that he could not get through them. On the following day, 15 April, after he awakened from slumber, he said, "Now it is quite different for everything is cleared out of the way and it has become very easy," and from then on he remained fixed in his thoughts of Home- going, spoke earnestly and was really meek and humble. On the 16th the Daily Text was read and he rejoiced extra- ordinarily over it and desired the blessing (for his departure) because he became weaker and weaker and there was scarcely any hope that he would survive the night, and so it was done in the evening at 10 o'clock in the presence of some Brothers and Sisters and his family and with a blessed feeling of the peace of God, and thus he surrendered himself wholly to the will of the Saviour, and waited for the blissful moment of his release. He was patient and resigned during the frequent vomiting that made him very weak, and when someone as- serted that he might get better again, he insisted that he was going Home and he gave to one and another of his children, especially the youngest son, earnest admonition, that they should be at peace among themselves and that he could wish no more of them than that they should observe that which he had said to them. He became weaker and weaker so that no one could understand him any more. As they had done many times before, on the evening of the 24th they sang Home -going verses for him, and at midnight his soul passed into the arms of the Redeemer. His age was 57 years, 6 months, 3 weeks, and 4 days. Of his children, 3 son— s ffave gone on before. Four so'n and 3 daughters who remain, belong to the congregation. Of his 2 daughters and 2 sons who are married he has lived to see 15 grandchildren of whom one has gone Home. WILL OF MICHAEL HAUSER, 1731-1789 Spelling as in the original In the name of God Amen — I Michael Hauser of Surry Cty and State of N.C. being sick and weak of body yet of good & sound memory & understanding, thanks given to God, do make & ordain this my last will and testament of the following manner and form to wit — lst I recommend my soul into the hands of my God and Re- deemer Jesus Christ & my Body into the Earth therein to be buried in a Decent and Christian manner and as touching my worldly Estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me with in this world, I distribute & Dispose of in the following man- ner and form — 2nd It is my absolute will & order that all my Debts where I am justly in debt shall be paid off out of my Estate, and on the " other side all Debts, Credits & demands in any wise justly due to me shall be demanded in by my Executor — 3rd I give & bequeath unto my Dear & Beloved wife Ana gunigunda Hauser all my furniture & Still together with my House & Lot & Stillhouse as Long as she shall remain wid- dow the same being in the town of Bethany and it is also my will that she shall have the Land on Mill Creek where my son John used to live or Seventy five Pounds for the same & two horse Creatures and two Cows one waggon & Gears, one Plow. In case she should marry again she shall have seventy five pounds for her share out of my Estate. 4th It is my will & order that my sons Michael, Peter, Chris- tian & Daniel and my grandson John Each of them shall have 200 acres of 1000 acres of Land that I have in Cumberland whereas I have already given my son John Hauser his share in his life time, it is my will & order that if' any sons shell want any of the Land on Lash's Creek in the County he shall pay for the Lower part 200 acres 4 80 hard money & if any of them want the . . . uper part he shall pay the sum of X 75 hard money & in case neither of them wants any of the Land it shall be sold to the highest bidder. It is my will and order that my Children shall all have shares alike Excepting the Land in '�'3= _ . �. �. r .. a a:'7: ..f: .. ... - 't:.!'_ v- .. — _ .`V 71'R•`rgwq�yT•w � -. ... 1'y Cumberland & one horse & saddle I have given to each of the Boys. my son Daniel shall have a horse and sadle to the value of the rest. I constitute & ordain my sons Michael & Peter Hauser to be the Executors of my last will & Testament & I utterly disalow & revoke all other & former wills and testa- ments & confirming this & none other to by my last will & testament in Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affirmed my seal this 14 day of Apr. 1789. Signed: Michael Hauser, sen. In presents of Sam Strup Jacob Hauser George Hauser sen. INVENTORY OF THE ESTATE OF MICHAEL HAUSER 1789, (A3) This document reveals the Iilflllellce of the Gerlrlan language o,i English. Iiiitial "Bs" and ' `Ps" are some- times confused, and table is spelled "dable.'' A true Inventory of the Estate of Michael Hauser deceased. First Four hundred acres of land on Stewarts Branch, one hundred and twenty seven acres upon Mill Creek, one Still and still furniture, one waggon and gears, one Plough, two rifle guns, 3 horse creatures, four cows, three yearlings, two calves; and one bull, six sheep, one wind -mill a cutting box, one old saddle, one womans saddle, one pair of steelyards, Two pewter dishes, Two pewter basons, six pewter plates, three Iron pots, one dutch oven, one skillet, one frying pan, one pair of smoothing Irons, one dresser, one dresser for glass, one Gi[?], one Flaxwheel, one cotton wheel, one axe, one crapping -hoe, one sprouting hoe, three corn hoes, one loom & furniture, one spade, one bichfork, one flax hackle, 130 four bells with collars, one crosscut saw, and handsaw, one old drawing knife, one cread washing tub. and one small do [ditto ?] ; one half Gallon pot, one quart, one dable, to [sic) two pets & furniture, to one coat & jacket, one pair of priches and jacket, to two shirts, to one bible to two testaments. one Tong Fork. August the 18th, 1789. Michael Hauser, Executor Peter Hauser, Executor MEMOIR OF MARTIN HAUSER, JR., 1733-1794 (A4) The married Brother Martin Hauser, who died November 9, 1794, was born Oct. 16, 1733 in Shippach [Skippack] Town- ship near Philadelphia. Only the following can be mentioned of his life circumstances out of his own narrations: He looked upon it as a special preservation of God that in his fourth year he had been saved from the danger of drown- ing. Immediately after this, his parents had him baptized. When he was about 7 years old, he moved with his parents and his brothers and sisters [sic] across the Susquehanna to Pinerun, and after they had been there 6 or 7 years, they moved 4 miles farther into Maryland. However, as his father was not able to support himself in the possession of the lend which he had taken up and was therefore compelled to look around further, that became the occasion that after about 7 years there he went to North Carolina with the entire family. Our departed brother remained here only a year and a half and then returned to Maryland. When he learned after some time that his parents adhered to the so-called Herrnhute,rs, against whom he had heard all kinds of evil reports, he- was so wrought up — according to his own account -- that he de- cided to pray earnestly to God that He would deliver his par- ents from this sort. Furthermore, he was already troubled about his own salvation and often turned to God in his 131 perplexity. His efforts to obtain a piece of land in the then western part of Pennsylvania were without result, and he be- lieved that the Lord had led him also in this matter. While he was still of this opinion towards the Brethern, his brother Jacob came to him from North Carolina. From him he in- quired about the doctrine and constitution of the Brethren and received from him the answer to his questions: The ground on which they build is Christ and His blood; this means that they find true everlasting good. He said that this so entered into his heart that he could not only give up all opposition to the Brethren, but that he resolved to move to Carolina and seek the company of the Brethren. This happened in 1762 after he had married on July 27, 1760 the now surviving widow Susanna] Maria . . . [born] Kes- sler. From this marriage there were 4 sons and 4 daughters, of whom he lived to see 15 grand -children. He immediately took the Brethren's doctrine so to heart that his own expression was "I will stay with this doctrine." and he implored the Saviour's grace for it. He remained steadfast in this condition of heart and he often asserted how much he wished that the Lord would keep him to the end of his days faithful in his heart to this doctrine and the enjoyment of it. On Dec. 29, 1765 he was received into the congregation; June 1, 1771 he partook of the Holy Communion for the first time. His course from this time on was not always joyful. His rough and straight -forward nature was the occasion for fre= quent offense, whereby not only strangers and Brothers and Sisters were offended, but also the peace of his own family Z-1 was very much disturbed. Therefore, at various times he was c advised not to attend Holy Communion. Although he often had reason to lay the blame elsewhere, yet he did not linger long in recognizing his own faults and the resulting offenses �- with sadness, and one can say of him in general that he recog- nized himself as a poor sinner. The word of God was impor- tant to him, which he evidenced not only in the meditations of his heart but also in his uninterrupted attendance at the ser- vices. In that connection he knew how to treasure the good fortune of belonging to the Brethren's Congregation and took much interest in the spread of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ liz among Christians, and especially among the heathen. His last illness began already in the spring of this r (1794). He complained chiefly about weakness of the stomac which hindered him more and more from takingfood h caused him gradually to lose strength so that in a short time he had to stop working. This was at first hard for him for he had always from his youth taken pleasure in his work. But he soon Yielded to the Saviour's will even in this and one can say ,joyfully that the attitude of his heart during this time was pleasing and an indication of the special work of the Holy Spirit. In July or August he made the following declaration: "I can say in truth that I love the Lord with all my [heart] and it is a true joy to my heart to hear of His death and suffering; I can also believe that what He has done, He has done for me, but I still Iack certainty of heart that all my sins are forgiven, and about this I should like to be assured before the hour for my. " departure comes." He continued with this explanation for some time. Soon after this when he could no longer attend services, and was visited for the first time, he could witness with joy that the Saviour had comforted him about his perplexity; he knew and could now believe assuredly that all his sins were forgiven by the Saviour and he could depart hence joyfully to be with Him. "Oh I thank the Saviour for all that He has done for me in my life!" After he had given this testimony, he remained patient and relaxed on his sickbed. He also tried to settle all misun- derstandings as far as possible, not only with members of the Congregation, but also with strangers. In response to his ex- pressed longing, Holy Communion was given to him on the 7th of this month (Nov.) and soon thereafter the benediction of the Lord for his departure was imparted, during which the tears of those present gave evidence of the feeling of the near- ness of the Saviour. Previously in reply to a question he had said that nothing could now disturb his joy that he would soon be with the Lord and free from all. From then on he lay quietly and waited with longing for the hour of his release, which followed on Sunday ,the 9th of this month, at 2 O' clock in the ternoon. He remained conscious until the last nile bl � fell asleep at thee of when he quietly and blessedly a�, _ .:.,,..CI I months , and 3 days. 133 LIST OF ARTICLES SOLD AT PUBLIC VENDUE AT THE PLANTATION OF MARTIN HAUSER, SEN. DECEASED — BY THE EXECUTORS, MARTIN HAUSER & ABRAHAM HAUSER, DECEMBER 12TH 1794 (A4) Spelling as in the original � William Alford Sh. P. Sundry Spike & Nail Gimblets 3/1 d several Files & Needle l/ld 1 Iron pick & sundry old Iron 315 1 pr. Sadle baggs 16/ 1 Dungfork 411 1 Steeltrap 18/ 1 Steeltrap 26/9 1 Lathe 2/11 3 15 4 Nicolas Boeckel 1 Sadle 2 1 Matth Brooks 1 Spade 3/6 1 Heiffer 16/6 1 Steer 41/6 1 House Clock 8 17 Zebediah Bittetter 1 Grindstone 1 2 Abraham Curry, a Negroe I Bell 7/1d I Steel Trap 281 1 15 1 Charles Crisman 1 Logg chain 30/6d Box 13/6 2 4 6