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MEYER / MEYERS GENEALOGY

My Great Grandparents Edwin H. Meyers and Katie Ellen Fluck Meyers

 

 

Our Mennonite Heritage

Christian Meyer and his family from near Zurich, Switzerland ,were being persecuted because of their Mennonite faith. They and many other Mennonites suffered at the hands of the government controlled by the Catholic church in the principality of Switzerland until they emigrated to the Rhine Valley in what is now Germany and eventually to the British Colonies in their search for religious freedom, peace and hope for a better life.

Other Mennonites with family names like Souder, Landes, Derstein, Rosenberger, Alderfer, Bergey and Moyer (Meyers) also left Switzerland in about 1640 as they had suffered enough as well. (Mennonites with names like Tyson, Godshall and Lucken left Holland around the same time.) All these Mennonite families traveled to the Palatinate area from Germany along the Rhine River.

Beginning in 1683 through an invitation of William Penn they began migrating to Pennsylvania. Some Meyer families came later in 1727 during the time when a large number of Mennonites and Lutherans from Germany were leaving for the new world in their quest for a better life. The word had spread, Pennsylvania was the place to move to.

The name of MoyerMeyersMyers, now almost as common in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, as Smith, was originally spelled Meyer, and the present bearers of the name are descended from several German emigrants of that name who settled in what is now Montgomery county, in the first quarter of the eighteenth century, from whence their descendants migrated into Bucks county in the second and third generation.

Edwin H. Meyers, my Great Grandfather, came from this hearty stock of pioneers, who traveled thousands of miles to settle in Franconia, Pennsylvania. and begin farming the land and building new lives. Our family tree, below, is a testament to the dedication of hundreds of family members who preserved the stories and genealogy of this huge family.

Caspar Meyer [abt 1561-abt 1630] …………………[10x GG]
+ Vreni Meyer 

Baschi (Sebastian) Meyer (Moyer) [1595-1640] Switzerland ……………………[9x GG]
…. + Ottilla Muller [1598-1639]


Religious persecution of Meyer family

1633 Baschi [Sebastian] Meyer was listed as an Anabaptist cabinetmaker, born in Canton of Luzerne, who had settled with his wife in Stallikon, Canton of Zürich, without permission, and who owned no property.

1634, 1637, and 1640 census of Stallikon lists Baschi Meyer’s wife as Tylli Muller, probably the Otilla Muller [Müller] imprisoned in Oethenbach in Zürich in 1639 with Barbara Meylin, Elizabeth Meylin, sisters of the Anabaptist minister, and Barbara Kolb.

1637 Their son Hans Meyer, seventeen years old, may be the one recorded in 1685 as an Anabaptist at Rudelsheim, now Ludwigshohe, north of Guntersblum, Germany, with his wife Anna Baumann and nine children, two of whom are married.”

1639 Ottila Müller was imprisoned in Oethenbach, Zürich, Switzerland along with Barbara Meylin and Elizabeth Meylin, who were sisters of the Anabaptist minister, and Barbara Kolb.

“The persecution did not cease with the foregoing; but they continued and laid their hands also upon four pious sisters, Barbara Meylin, Ottila Mulerin, Barbara Kolbin, and Elizabeth Meylin, who also had to drink out of the bitter cup of the dreadful Zürich prison; however, the Lord preserved them, so that they, unharmed in their faith, unknown to the authorities, unexpectedly also escaped from imprisonment and bonds.

Note.-We made mention, for the year 1635, of one Hans Muller, who, being imprisoned in the council house at Zürich, with two of his fellow brethren, was released for a month upon condition and then again imprisoned, and released the second time upon the same condition.

He was subsequently (about the year 1639, as the circumstances show) again cruelly persecuted; insomuch that even his neighbors and their houses were not spared, through which the thief catchers ran like ravening wolves on the track of a sheep; but when they came into his house, from which he had already escaped, they, with pincers and other instruments, broke open chests and drawers, in the hope that they might there find the property of the church or the poor.

These thief catchers, that night, threatened his little children, with bare swords, that they would kill them, if they did not show them where their father was.

When they could not get him, they took along his wife, whom they bound and imprisoned in Othenbach. Thereupon, it was proclaimed in church, that no one was allowed to lodge, or give food or drink to Hans Muller from the Groeningen bailiwick, on pain of severe penalty and the disfavor of the authorities.

Now when his life was made exceedingly hard to him, the bailiff in the convent of Ruti, in the name of the burgomasters and councilors of Zürich, sent to him a letter of this import, namely, that he should have a safe conduct for three weeks, to go and remain wherever he would; also that he might freely come to him in the convent, and, after they should have finished their conference, leave free and unmolested.

Thereupon he voluntarily, with sure confidence in the aforesaid promise, went into the convent; but when he could not consent to the bailiff’s demand about his having to go to church, he was confined there, guarded day and night, and then taken to Zürich, imprisoned for a time in the council house, and then in Othenbach (that being the place where also his wife was imprisoned), where he was stripped, and kept a prisoner about sixty weeks; in which time he was in irons sixteen weeks, till he with the other prisoners finally, one Friday before Easter, unexpectedly made his escape.

Afterwards he was again hunted with mad fury, even as before, and driven from one place to another, so that he did not dare to live in his house with his wife.

In the meantime it happened, that his wife, having been delivered of twins, and lain in but eleven days, was surprised by ten thief catchers, who, having surrounded the house by night, entered it with this threat: that if she would not indicate her husband’s hiding place, she should not leave the house for six weeks, or else she would have to go to church herself. But when she would not comply with this, two of the ten remained, and guarded her day and night.

This filled the woman with such terror that, seeing their design, she, on a certain very cold night, broke away with her two infants, and went a long unbeaten way, over hill and dale, and thus escaped the enemies’ hands, forsaking all that she had, which the authorities rented to strangers, realizing thereby a thousand guilders annually.”

1640 Ottila Müller died sometime after 1640 in Ettiswil, Luzerne, Switzerland.

Source: Janet and Robert Wolfe Genealogy 2013/08/16


Five Children of Baschi Meyer and Otilla Muller
…. 1. Meyer [1621-1685]
…. 2. Anna Meyer [1631-?]
…. 3. Samuel Meyer [1634-?]
…  4. Jacob M. Meyer 7th …………………………………………………………………………[8x GG]
……… b. 1636, Stallikon, Kanton, Zurich, Switzerland
……… d. 1 Dec 1684, Gundersheim, Germany
 
……..… + Anna Marie Hager, [1640-1684] Canton Zurich, Switzerland
………………. Christian Meyer 6th [1660-1751]
………………. Hans Jacob Meyer Jr [1683-1748]
…. 5. Caspar Meyer [b: 1639], Stallikon, Zurich, Switzerland

Children of Jacob Meyer and Margaretha Kundig

….. Ulrich Meyer
……….b: 1668, Gundersheim, Germany
……….d: 1741

….. Hans Christian Maier Meyer  ………………………………………………………..[7x GG]
…… b. 1676, Germany
…….m. 1748
…….Settled in Salford Twp, Montgomery Co. PA
……. d. 1751, Franconia Montgomery, PA 
…… + Anna Barbara Bergey  [1677-1748] Germany

……….. Six Children of Christian Meyer and Anna Bergey
……….. 1. Barbara Bergey Meyer (Moyer) [1701-1773]  m. Abraham Reiff
……….. 2. Rev. Christian Bergey Meyer Moyer, Jr ………………………………[6x GG]
………………. b: 10 Dec1705, Salford, Montgomery, PA
………………. d: 31 May 1787, Franconia Twp, Montgomery Co PA
………………. + Magdalena Veronica Bechtel
………………. b: abt 1706, Lower Salford Twp, Montgomery Co PA
………………. d: abt 1788, Franconia Twp, Montgomery Co PA

………………….. Eleven Children of Christian Meyer, Jr & Magdalena Bechtel
………………….. 2.1 Christian Bechtel Moyer Meyer III  [1728-1783] ……….. [5x GG]
………………….. 2.2 Jacob Meyer Meier, Rev. [1730-1782] + (2) Barbara Derstein
………………….. 2.3 Esther Bechtel Meyer [1732-1735] + Christian Gehman
………………….. 2.4 Anna Maria Meyer [1733-1802] + John Kratz
………………….. 2.5 Samuel Bechtel Meyer Moyer, Rev [1734-1818]
………………….. 2.6 Esther Moyer #1 [1735-1735]
………………….. 2.7 Anna Bechtel Meyer Moyer [1736-1812]
………………….. 2.8 Maria Bechtel Meyer [1738-1857] + Martin Detweiler
………………….. 2.9 Fronica Bechtel Meyer [1739-1814]
………………….. 2.10 Esther Meyer #2 [1742-1780]
………………….. 2.11 Barbara Bechtel Meyer [1744-1824] + Abraham C. Kratz

……….. 3. Anna Christina Meyer [1707-1758] + Henry Funk
……….. 4. Elizabeth Bergey Meyer [1708-] + Nicholas Oblinger
……….. 5. Jacob Bergey Meyer [1709-]
……….. 6. Samuel Bergey Meyer [1711-1766] – Settled in Hilltown, PA

 

…………………….+ Mary Detweiler [1730-?] [4x Great Grandfather] .. 6 Jacob Meyer [1751-1810]
……………………..+ Mary (Maria) Kolb Detweiler, [1 Mar 1751 – 21 Jun 1819] ……………………… 7.1 Samuel Myer (Meyers) [1773-?] ……………………… 7.2 Susanna Moyer [1775-1856] ……………………… 7.3 Ann (Nancy) Moyer (Meyers) [1775-?] ……………………… 7.4 Jacob Meyer [1777-?] ……………………… 7.5 Christian Moyer [12 Jan 1778-9 Apr 1859] ………………………… + Mary Landis [1775-1854] …………………………….. 7.5.1 Jacob L. Moyer [1802-1874] ……………………… 7.6 Marie Elizabeth Moyer (Meyers) [1779-1832] ……………………… 7.7 Jacob Meyer (Moyer) [1780-?] ……………………… 7.8 Mary Moyer [1783-1820] ……………………… 7.9 Abraham Moyer [1786-1866] [3x Great Grandfather] …..

 

William Meyers [1789-1837] …… Revolutionary War Veteran
+ Sarah Rauch Stout [1793-1870]

Seven Children of William Meyers and Sarah Stout
1. Peter Meyers [1812-]
2. Sarah Meyers [1814-]
3. Abraham S. Meyers [1817-1895]
4. Isaac S. Meyers [1819-]
5. William S 3rd Meyers [1825-]
6. Joseph S. Meyers [1832-]
7. Samuel Stout Myers ………………………………………………………………… [2x GG]
…… b. 3 Jan 2848, Saint Luke’s Union Church, Dublin, Bucks Co, PA
…… lived: 1880 Bedminster, Bucks Co
…… d. 25 Jul 1809
…… + Amanda L. Hoffman [1841- 1917]

Seven Children of Samuel Myers and Amanda Hoffman
….. 1. William H. Meyers [1868-1934]
….. 2. Rosella Meyers [1870-1937] + Angeny
….. 3. Emma C. Meyers [1871-]

….. 4. Edwin H. (Hoffman) Meyers  ……………………………………….[Great Grandfather]
………. b. 4 Mar 1874, Dublin, Bucks Co, PA
………. lived: 1900 Quakertown, Bucks Co, PA
………. m. 27 May 1893, Camden, NJ
………. d. 22 Dec 1907, Quakertown, Bucks Co, PA (age 33)
………….. died of Peritonitis with Brain Tumor and Enlarged Spleen (over 8 years)
………. bur. Union Cemetery
……………+ Katie Ellen Fluck 
…………… b. 1875
…………… d. 1945
……………Two Children of Edwin Meyers & Katie Fluck
……………… 1. Naomi Meyers [1894-]
……………… 2. Miriam Meyers [1895-] ……………………………………….. [Grandmother]
………………… + Arthur John PICKERING …………………………………… [Grandfather]

….. 5. Janet Meyers [1876-1936], Dublin, Bucks Co., PA
….. 6. Norman Meyers [1879-1948]
….. 7. Orrin Garfield Meyers (Step Son) [1881-1932]

……………………… 7.11 Sarah Moyer [1789-1865]

……………………… 7.12 Joseph Moyer [1791-1862]

………………………….. + 2 Susanna Detweiler [abt 1728-1783]

……………………..6 Magdalena Moyer (Meyers) [1757-1836]

 

 

……………………. 5.2 Jacob Meyer [1730-1778] ……………………. 5.3 Samuel Meyer [1734-1800] ……………………. 5.4 Anna Meyer (Moyer) [1736-1824] ……………………. 5.5 Maria Meyer [1738-1811] ……………………. 5.6 Fronica Meyer [1739-1740] ……………………. 5.7 Esther Meyer [1742-1780] …………….. 4.5 Anna Meyer [1706-1758] m. Henry Funk [“Loving son-in-law”] ……….. 3.3 Hans Meyer [1680-?] ……….. 3.4 Jacob Meyer [1684-1747]