| Notes |
- *NOTE: I'm not really sure that Melchior is the son of Nicholas Smith. That
is just a guess for now
*NOTE: OK, now I'm leaning toward being a son of a John and Magdalena
*NOTE: OK, now I'm leaning toward a son of John and Elisabeth
*NOTE: now I'm back to Nicholas
* November 2000 - got will of Elisabeth, single d/o Nicholas and Eve. Mentions
her siblings Melchior and Frantz. Now I'm convinced this is the right family after all.
1800 census, Alsace, pg 553, 20010-01010 (two children between 1797 and 1800 ?)
1810 census, Exeter, pg 772, 40020-02001
1820 census, Alsace, pg 209, 210001-21010
1830 census, Norwegian Twp, pg 137, 0001 011-0022 001
1840 ??
?? Hartley Twp, Union Co, PA 1001 0101-2100 1000 01
1810 census, by Catharine Rapp, widow 00100-00101 and
Henry Rapp 21010-21010
1820 census, by Daniel Shaffer and John Boyer
note pg 208 has Widow Smith 010000-00001
sp (Melchior w/Barbara Papp) -> 1794, Peter Schmitt and wf [Sophia Papp] (Schwartzwald)
sp (Melchior w/Magdalena Papp) ->1797 Johannes Dautrich and Catharine [Papp] (1st Ref)
sp - 1803, John Schmitt and Magdalena
sp - 1804, Johann Schmitt and Maria Magdalena
sp - 1809, Johannes Bob and Catharine
sp - 1811, Henry Brautigam and Med (Magd.?) [Mayer, married 1789)
tombstone says died 1849, age 75.
despite the slight difference in birth dates between the baptism and tombstone for
John Smith (which tombstone doesn't exist now), I think Melchior is the likely father.
Consider:
- the county history describes John Smith as being an early boat builder and carpenter
in Pottsville (which was part of Norwegian Twp originally).
- there was aMelchior Smith in Norwegian Twp in 1830 (census).
- a Henry Smith appears in nearby Barry Twp at that time. This Henry later appears
in Van Wert Co, OH. County histories there talk about them going from PA to Stark Co
and then to Van Wert. Henry's wife and Melchior and Dorothy are all buried together
(no stone for Henry).
- a letter exists from Jesse Smith to brother John Smith (in possession of a decendent
of John) mentioning "Henry" who is out in Ohio with him and appears to be a brother.
Jesse also mentions going back to "see the place" in Pottsville one more time.
- a marriage record appears for Jesse Smith and Nancy in Stark County (matching the
names in the 1850 census of Van Wert and the location of Henry Smith, as if they all
moved together to Startk Co and then Van Wert).
- Melchior Smith and Dorothea have several children baptized in the Reading area,
including a John (at the time this one would have been born) and a Joseway (Jesse?).
There is a gap in known baptisms where Henry's birth would fit. Also, the sponsor of a
Catharine Smith to Henry in 1831 would fit the Catharine d/o Melchior.
- In summary, it appears that Melchior was the father of all these people and that
he moved to Ohio, leaving at least John behind (or maybe John went and came back).
It's still not clear where some of theSmiths mentioned in Jesse's letter fit in (ie, John
and Daniel's kids).
Note: I wonder if the marriage at Trinity, Nicholas Schmidt to Dorothea Schmidtin
on 12 May 1799 could be a typo - maybe it's really Melchior?? There is no Nicholas in
any other church records of this time or the 1800 census. was it s/o Nicholas?
Chronology of Peter and Melchior Smith (likely brothers):
Petermarries Sophia Bapp in 1793 in Alsace Twp
Melchior shows up by 1794. Seems to also befriend the Papp family
Melchior married by 1800 it seems
note - a John Smith, estate of 1845, Ohio, recorded in Berks County.
|
1773 - 1849 (76 years)