Heather's paternal 6th great grandfather
NOTE - Go over this - were Valentines Children really being born when he was in his late 60s?? Does his will perhaps include grandchildren? His second wife was younger than him, but still... His baptism record shows his parents as Valentine and Margaretha. Check to see if this Valentine had a son named Valentine? Or maybe Valentine really was 68 when his son Peter was born, and 70 when John Henry was born?
Valentine Moyer
son of
Born abt 1715 possibly in Germany
Died July 1797 in Pennsylvania
married 1st
Unknown
Daughter Of
Born
Died Before 1758
Married 2nd
Margaret Barbara Werler
daughter of (Possiby the daughter of Thomas Werler b 1710)
Born 1739
Died Jan. 20, 1823 in Pennsylvania
Children:
(as named in will & appear in baptismal records at Host Church)
To First Wife:
Phillip Moyer m. Catherine Unruh
To Second Wife:
Maria Barbara Moyer, b. Jan. 9, 1759 ; m. Valentine Mochel
Catharine Moyer, b. Aug. 19, 1767 ; Valentine Mochel (after Barbara's death)
John Nicholas Moyer, born Dec. 26, 1769 ;
Anna Margaret Moyer, b. Dec. 28, 1770 d. 1798 M. John Henry Weber
Daniel Moyer, b. died in Ohio
John George Moyer, born Jan. 13, 1775 ;
Valentine Moyer, b. Aug 8 1776 d. Jan 8 1925
Maria Elizabeth Moyer, b. July 30, 1778 ; M. Miller
Michael Moyer, b. July 6, 1780;
John Henry Moyer, b. Mar. 9, 1784.
"Following are the names of the children: Phillip, Maria Barbara, married Valentine Mochel; Catharine, who became second wife of said Valentine Mochel; John Nicholas, Anna Margaret, who married Henry Webber; Daniel, John George, Valentine, Maria Elizabeth, who married Col. John Miller; Michael, John Peter, John Henry."
- Valentine Moyer in the Tulpehocken Bicentennial
Time Line:
1715 - Valentine Born
"Whether he was an original settler, or the son of an original settler, is as yet an undetermined matter. "
"He may have been the son of an original settler, for the name of Hans (John) Moyer is mentioned in the list of early settlers in the Tulpehocken region as early as 1721 ; and a Henry Moyer was one of a colony which Conrad Weiser brought from Scoharie, N. Y. , in 1723. There is a legend that two brothers came from Germany, that one settled in the Mohawk Valley and the other on the Tulpe- hocken. There is another statement that four (or six) brothers came from Oberhost, Palatinate of the Rhine, in an early day and settled at Tulpehocken. Since the subject of this sketch was early identified with ' ' Host Church ' ' we may look upon this last statement as quite probable. " - A genealogical record of the descendants of Christian and Hans Meyer and other pioneers : together with historical and biographical sketches, illustrated with eighty-seven portraits and other illustrations" beginning on page 630
Photo found on the find a grave page, with no source given
1739 - Margaret Barbara Werler Is Born
Although I have her listed with the surname of Werler, I cannot find my source for this name. I see notes that others have referred to her as the daughter of Thomas Werler, but again, this is unsourced and I am not certain it is accurate.
Look for a marriage record to confirm name -
Margaret Barbarba Werler married Johan Valentine Moyer 5 Nov 1758, Host Church, Berks Co, Pa
1751 - Ships List
"He emigrated on the "Queen of Denmark", arriving in Philadelphia on Oct. 4, 1751." - unverified
"Valentine Moyer born in Germany about 1715, came to American on the ship "Queen of Denmark," arriving in Philadelphia, Oct. 4, 1751. He settled one mile east of Host Church, and erected a s substantial one-and-a-half story log house near a strong spring and over its current. The present owner of the farm is Elias Groff, who keeps up the old landmark, in which the large Moyer family was reared." Valentine Moyer in The The Tulpehocken bi-centennial
Valentine would have been 36 in 1751. If this record pertains to him, is he the child of Daniel, primary immigrant? Listed as a child, at age 36? the names of the children do match up with many of the same names for Valentines children - but Valentines children of the same names were not born for another 10 years at least.
NAME: Johann Valentin Meyer
ARRIVAL YEAR: 1751
ARRIVAL PLACE: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
FAMILY MEMBERS: Child Anna Margaretha; Child Johann Valentin; Child Maria Apollonia; Child Johann Philipp; Child Johann Michael; Child Nickel; Child Maria Barbara; Child Maria Elisabetha
SOURCE PUBLICATION CODE: 1032
PRIMARY IMMIGRANT: Meyer, Daniel
ANNOTATION: The Early Settlers of Host Church, Berks County, Pennsylvania, and Their Origins in Hochstadt, Palatinate. Port and date of arrival. Surnames with no date indicate possible variations on listed emigrants' surnames. Unless stated otherwise in the source, spouses and children were assumed by indexers to have emigrated with main listee. For more on the Host Church, Berks County, see nos. 889 (above) and 1033.4 (below).
SOURCE BIBLIOGRAPHY: BURGERT, ANNETTE KUNSELMAN. Die fruehen Siedler von Host Church, Berks County, Pennsylvanien, und ihre Herkunft aus Hochstadt, Pfalz. In Pfaelzische-Rheinische Familienkunde: Pfaelzische Familien- und Wappenkunde, vol. 9:1 (Apr. 1978), pp. 45-52; vol. 9:2 (Aug. 1978), pp. 89-99; vol. 9:3 (Dec. 1978), pp. 161-180. (Mitteilungen, 1978, 1-3.)
PAGE: 164
1757 - Tax Records
His name seems to appear among the taxables of Tulpehocken township, Berks county,
Province of Pennsylvania, in 1757.
"In this tax list his name is spelled ' * Valentine Meier ; " a probable instance of the incorrect spelling of the old time assessor. In fact the name, with its variations, appears in early Pennsylvania records thus : Moyer, Mayer, Meyer, Mire, Miar, Myher, Miere. The name Moyer, however, occurs as early as 1721, and as far as can be learned lias always thus been written by this family. " - A genealogical record of the descendants of Christian and Hans Meyer and other pioneers : together with historical and biographical sketches, illustrated with eighty-seven portraits and other illustrations" beginning on page 630
1758 - or earlier. Marriage to Margaret Barbara
Margaret Barbarba Werler married Johan Valentine Moyer 5 Nov 1758, Host Church, Berks Co, Pa
"Valentine Moyer, Sr., was married to Margaret Barbara . Her maiden name has not yet been ascertained. Whether a European by birth, or born amid the wilds of America, are also among the undiscovered things. What we know of her, who may have had much to do with making her husband financially successful in spite of pioneer difficulties, we know only by inferences. It appears that she was about 20 years younger than her husband, that she was of a most active disposition, for approaching 60 years of age, her favorite custom seems to have been horseback riding along the dangerous bridle-paths of the Tulpehocken region, and that she was still, at that age, the possessor of some of her former personal
attractions, is evident from the fact that the Will of her husband made a second marriage an unprofitable, if not an impossible, affair. When she died, or where she was buried, we do not yet know. " - A genealogical record of the descendants of Christian and Hans Meyer and other pioneers : together with historical and biographical sketches, illustrated with eighty-seven portraits and other illustrations" beginning on page 630
1759 - Found in Host Church Records
Maria Barbara Moyer, born January 9, 1759, baptized February 16, 1759, parents, Valentine and Margaret Barbara Moyer.
A month after Maria Barbara is born, her brother Philip has a child named Maria Catherine - it is accepted that Philip was Valentine's child to his first wife, and that Maria Barbara is Valentines second wife -
Maria Catharine, born Feb. 27, 1762, baptized Mar. 20, 1762, parents Philip and Maria Catharine Moyer, sponsors, the grand parents, Valentine and Margaret Barbara Moyer.
"Host Church is located in Berks county. Pa., about five miles north of Womelsdorf. It was organized as early as 1750, and possibly prior to that time. A church building of good size was erected in 1775, and the same was extensively repaired or rebuilt in 1885. It occupies an elevated spot, beautiful for situation, is one of the ancient landmarks, and is generally spoken of as the " Old Host Church." It is a matter of regret that the list of members, or the record of marriages and deaths are, at the present writing, among the things that are lost." - A genealogical record of the descendants of Christian and Hans Meyer and other pioneers : together with historical and biographical sketches, illustrated with eighty-seven portraits and other illustrations" beginning on page 630
1777 - Served In Revolutionary War
May 17 1777 (See application for tombstone below)
Age: 62
It is said that during the Revolutionary war he belonged to the provision train which transported produce from the fertile valley of the Tulpehocken to the camp at Valley Forge, and that he was at another time appointed to purchase horses for General Washington
His tombstone reads ""6 BN PA Mil Rev. War"
1780 - A Valentine Mayer is found on the list convincted of "seditious conspiracy"
The Pennsylvania Packet (Philadelphia, PA) 02 Dec 1780 "seditious conspiracy"
1797 - Valentine Died
Valentine Moyer, Sr. , died in 1797. He made his Will April 30, 1797, " being very sick and weak in body, but of sound mind, memory and understanding." The Will was "proved" August 7, 1797.
Burial -
The headstone was applied for in 1936. See Record Below.
"In the graveyard adjoining the church is an ancient section, where, here and there, are standing old sandstone gravemarks, weather beaten, and in some instances entirely defaced, but the name of Valentine Moyer, or
any of his kin, is not to be seen on any of them. Evidently many graves have been leveled by the hand of time and all vestiges of their existence removed. It is probable, since he and his family were identified with this church as early at least as 1759, and that he died about a mile distant in 1797, that all that is mortal of him rests somewhere in the old section of the Host Church cemetery. " A genealogical record of the descendants of Christian and Hans Meyer and other pioneers : together with historical and biographical sketches, illustrated with eighty-seven portraits and other illustrations" beginning on page 630
The Will Of Valentine Moyer
The Will shows that he was the owner of two farms, one of 150 acres, which he sold to his second son, John Nicholas Moyer, for 1430, the same to be paid in payments to the heirs ; and the other on Summer Hill, which was to be sold to pay present debts and the balance to be put on interest for the benefit of the widow.
It shows further that he had given his eldest son, Philip Moyer, a "proportionable" already, but, should it appear in the final settlement that he had not received an ' ' equivalent, ' ' then he should be made to share alike with the others.
The names of his children, as heirs, occur in the following order : John Nicholas, Daniel, George, Valentine, Michael, Peter, Henry, Elizabeth. His daughter Margaret is mentioned as being married to Henry Weber, and his daughter Barbara had married Valentine Mochel, but she having died his daughter Catharine had become Valentine Mochel' s second wife.
In the next item the Will speaks of ' ' my eldest son Philip."
The Will clears up a long standing contradiction.
One branch of descendants claimed that Valentine (Jr.) was the fourth son of Valentine (Sr.), and another branch claimed that he was the fifth son. The fact is, Valentine (Jr.) was the fifth son of Valentine (Sr.) and the fourth son of Valentine (Sr.), by wife Margaret Barbara. The names of the sons stand in the order of their birth, but the names of the daughters do not, as will be seen later.
For his ' ' beloved wife Margaret Barbara Moyer," aside from the interest already mentioned and the money secured by the sale of the personal property, the Will provides further as follows : She was to live on the plantation with the said son John Nicholas Moyer, was to have yearly a stated quantity of fire- wood, pork, beef, wheat, rye, flax, wool, cider, apples, and the use of the quarter of the garden. Also the " roan mare " with saddle and bridle, and her choice of a fresh milch cow ; also household furniture and kitchen utensils of best quality, with several articles of ' ' pewter. ' '
Then occurs the restriction concerning a subsequent marriage which reads as follows: " But it is my Will that in case my wife Should join in Wedlock again She Shall not be entitled to receive or take away any part of what I have above bequeathed or Willed unto her, but only as long as she remains my Widow. " To us at the present time the above restriction may seem to be somewhiat severe ; but, considering the legal limitations and disqualifications of women in that day, we are led to regard the Will as specially tender and careful of his beloved wife Margaret Barbara, in that he arranged a sufficiency of the "wherewith," to cheer and comfort her declining days, and specially enjoined upon their son John Nicholas the continued exercise of his attentive care in her behalf.
The Will closes with a nomination of his son John Nicholas Moyer and his son-in-law Valentine Mochel as the executors thereof. It was signed in the presence of Henry Leitz and Jacob Iningel, and it was recorded by J. Bower, Reg'r.
Taken from A genealogical record of the descendants of Christian and Hans Meyer and other pioneers : together with historical and biographical sketches, illustrated with eighty-seven portraits and other illustrations"
Research:
Taken from A genealogical record of the descendants of Christian and Hans Meyer and other pioneers : together with historical and biographical sketches, illustrated with eighty-seven portraits and other illustrations" beginning on page 630
Valentine Moyerer, Sr., died 1797. The first authentic statement concerning this man yet ascertained, is in a record of baptisms of Host Church, Berks county. Pa., as early as 1759. The next is his Will, recorded in Book of Wills, " B." page 473, in Reading, Pa. His name seems to appear among the taxables of Tulpehocken township, Berks county,
Province of Pennsylvania, in 1757.
In this tax list his name is spelled ' * Valentine Meier ; " a probable instance of the incorrect spelling of the old time assessor. In fact the name, with its variations, appears in early Pennsylvania records thus : Moyer, Mayer, Meyer, Mire, Miar, Myher, Miere. The name Moyer, however, occurs as early as 1721, and as far as can be learned lias always thus been written by this family.
This man may have been related to Frederick Moyer, of Tulpehocken, who, with his family, was killed by the Indians June 30, 1754, but this is only conjecture. It is said that during the Revolutionary war he belonged to the provision train which transported produce from the fertile valley of the Tulpehocken to the camp at Valley Forge, and that he was at another time appointed to purchase horses for General Wash-
ington's arms.
Whether he was an original settler, or the son of an original settler, is as yet an undetermined matter.
— 631 —
If an original settler, it has not yet been ascertained whether he emigrated into Tulpehocken from the Mohawk Valley, N. Y. , or eastward from the Susquehanna, or with some funds in hand from Germany, as a fortune seeker in the New World ; or whether as an exile, because of religious persecution, from the German Palatinate. He may have been the son of an original settler, for the name of Hans (John) Moyer is mentioned in the list of early settlers in the Tulpehocken region as early as 1721 ; and a Henry Moyer
was one of a colony which Conrad Weiser brought from Scoharie, N. Y. , in 1723. There is a legend that two brothers came from Germany, that one settled in the Mohawk Valley and the other on the Tulpe- hocken. There is another statement that four (or six) brothers came from Oberhost, Palatinate of the Rhine, in an early day and settled at Tulpehocken. Since the subject of this sketch was early identified with ' ' Host Church ' ' we may look upon this last statement as quite probable.
The name ' ' Valentin Meyer ' ' occurs in the list of foreigners imported in ship " Queen of Denmark," from Rotterdam, last from Cowes. Qualified October 4, 1751. Whether he and the subject of this sketch are the same is not yet ascertained. The first reliable information we have is in the record of baptisms in Host church, thus: "Maria Barbara Moyer, born January 9, 1759, baptized February 16, 1759, parents, Valentine and Margaret Barbara Moyer." He had a son Philip from a previous marriage, who was well grown at the time of this second marriage, as is indicated by this record: "Maria Catharine, born Feb. 27, 1762, baptized Mar. 20, 1762, parents Philip and Maria Catharine Moyer, sponsors, the grand parents, Valentine and Margaret Barbara Moyer." The name Philip Moyer occurs
in the list of foreigners imported in. ship " Neptune," from Rotterdam, last from Cowes. Qualified Sep tember 24, 1754.
Host Church is located in Berks county. Pa., about five miles north of Womelsdorf. It was organized as early as 1750, and possibly prior to that time.
— 632 — '
A church building of good size was erected in 1775, and the same was extensively repaired or rebuilt in 1885. It occupies an elevated spot, beautiful for situation, is one of the ancient landmarks, and is generally spoken of as the " Old Host Church." It is a matter of regret that the list of members, or the record of marriages and deaths are, at the present writing, among the things that are lost. In the graveyard adjoining the church is an ancient section, where, here and there, are standing old sandstone gravemarks, weather beaten, and in some instances entirely defaced, but the name of Valentine Moyer, or
any of his kin, is not to be seen on any of them. Evidently many graves have been leveled by the hand of time and all vestiges of their existence removed. It is probable, since he and his family were identified with this church as early at least as 1759, and that he died about a mile distant in 1797, that all that is mortal of him rests somewhere in the old section of the Host Church cemetery.
Valentine Moyer, Sr., was married to Margaret Barbara . Her maiden name has not yet been ascertained. Whether a European by birth, or born amid the wdlds of America, are also among the undiscovered things. What we know of her, who may have had much to do with making her husband financially successful in spite of pioneer difficulties, we know only by inferences. It appears that she was about 20 years younger than her husband, that she was of a most active disposition, for approaching 60 years of age, her favorite custom seems to have been horseback riding along the dangerous bridle-paths of the Tulpehocken region, and that she was still, at that age, the possessor of some of her former personal
attractions, is evident from the fact that the Will of her husband made a second marriage an unprofitable, if not an impossible, affair. When she died, or where she was buried, we do not yet know.
Valentine Moyer, Sr. , died in 1797. He made his Will April 30, 1797, " being very sick and weak in body, but of sound mind, memory and understanding." The Will was "proved" August 7, 1797.
— 633 —
The record of baptisms in Host Church gives the following information concerning the children of
Valentine Moyer (Sr. ) :
By first wife, Philip Moyer.
By second wife,
Maria Barbara Moyer, b. Jan. 9, 1759 ;
Catharine Moyer, b. Aug. 19, 1767 ;
John Nicholas Moyer, born Dec. 26, 1769 ;
Anna Margaret Moyer, b. Dec. 28, 1770 ;
Daniel Moyer, b. (date not given) ;
John George Moyer, born Jan. 13, 1775 ;
Valentine Moyer, b. (see continued sketch) ;
Maria Elizabeth Moyer, b. July 30, 1778 ;
Michael Moyer, b. July 6, 1780;
John Peter Moyer, b. June 26, 1782;
John Henry Moyer, b. Mar. 9, 1784.
At present writing (1896) but little has been ascertained concerning these several families, except, of course, the line of Valentine (Jr.), which we continue to follow.
Maria Barbara Moyer married Valentine Mochel and she died sometime prior to 1797.
Catharine Moyer became Valentine Mochel' s second wife.
— 635 —
John Nicholas Moyer became possessor of the " homestead " in 1797, and owned it till 1828. About 1817 he built a large stone farm house and a large barn on the "plantation." Some of his descendants reside in Reading, Pa.
Anna Margaret Moyer married Henry Weber.
Daniel Moyer, it is thought, settled in Reading, Pa. , where he built a stone mill ; later he removed to Ohio. (?)
John George Moyer, it is thought, settled in Ohio. (?)
Maria Elizabeth Moyer, it is thought, married a Mr. Miller and has descendants in Reading, Pa. (?)
Michael Moyer was a very skillful carpenter. He made a desk and presented it to Mrs. Valentine Moyer, Jr. , with drawers and hidden drawers within, which was quite a curiosity. The desk itself is lost, but the recollection of it comes down to the present day. A Michael Moyer was elected elder of St. John's Reformed church at Sinking Spring, Berks Co., Pa., December 19, 1811.
John Henry Moyer, it is thought, became a farmer and lived near Kutztown, Pa. Later he
removed to Philadelphia, where some of his descendants now live.
The old Moyer Homestead ' ' is in what is now Jefferson township, Berks county, Pa., about one mile east of the old Host Church. As already mentioned, it came into the possession of John Nicholas Moyer in 1797. It remained in his possession until 1828, when he and his wife Elizabeth deeded it to Philip Stein. In 1838 Philip Stein sold it to Isaac Herben, who in turn sold it to Michael Stupp. In 1 87 1 Michael sold it to Isaac Grove, who, in 1881, sold it to Elias Grove, who is now (1895) the owner.
The old house, still standing, has the appearance of more than a century of age. It is now used as a
tool house and storage place for useless things, and although the foundation is secure and the timbers are
firm and of the best material, yet over it all, necessarily there is the mild flavor of decay. It is about 18 by 24 feet in size, and is two stories high. The
— 636 — '
lower .story contains two rooms and a kitchen, and the upper story a large undivided attic chamber. The building has but one outer door, and the rear of the building is towards the road, probably so, because it was possibly erected before the fences w^ere built or the present road located, Some large decaying stumps nearby indicate the locality of the old orchard, and a little pile of leveled ruins is all that marks the place where stood the barn which sheltered, wdth rest and provender, the ' * roan mare ' ' after a warm gallop
under the whip of the matron of the " plantation," on her return from religious services at Host Church, or after a hurried visitation around the sparsely settled neighborhood. Near the old building is a magnificent Spring, five feet square, wnth four feet depth of water, walled up with stones. From the spring issues a small stream, wdiich, flowing to the south and east, empties into the Tulpehocken.
To the casual observer, or to the ordinary passer by, these matters are of but little consequence, but to the descendants of Valentine and Margaret Barbara Moyer they are items, referred to in this way, of more than common interest. It is the locality where their early ancestors in America passed through the varied experiences of joy and sorrow^ of prosperity and adversity, of occasional failures and repeated successes in a struggle for subsistence and existence amid the untamed forests of the New World, surrounded by
savage beasts and, at times, by still more savage Indians.
It may be a matter of interest to these descendants to know that their early ancestors in America belonged to that portion of the population who were accused, at the beginning of the French and Indian war, of being in league with the French, and in conspiracy against England's King. They met the accusation by presenting a paper of vindication to Robert Hunter Morris, Governor of the Province, November 20,
1754, in which occur these closing words : "To the Contrary we wish and pray, and the more at this critical Juncture of impending Danger, that God Almighty might rule our gracious King George and
— 637 —
Parliament to find lawfull means to defeat and frustrate all unjust designs of the French King and all other foreign Princes whatever, wherewith they intend to disturb his Majesty's Rights : And we do hereby renew all true Loyalty and Assistance or Contribution to our King and Government in such a manner as the Wisdom of your Hour, and our worthy Assembly in Legislature by the Constitutions of this Province will find needfull and expedient. ' '
So they continued to pay, without apparent complaint, the "yearly Quit Rent aforesaid, due or to become due for the same. To the Chief Lord of Lords of the fee thereof." But when independence was declared none were more loyal to the colonial cause than these, and when the gloom of Valley Forge had settled upon the army and the country, 1500 Pennsylvanians fell into line, and all the available farmers of Tulpehocken and the adjoining regions were organized into a provision train, which drained their fertile
valleys, with but little promise of compensation, but which conspired to make the campaign of 1778, and of the other years of the war, a possibility and a success.
It may further be a matter of interest to know that these early ancestors in America belonged to that portion of the population concerning which the Colonial Governor, George Thomas, in his annual report (1738) wrote these complimentary words:
' ' This Province has 1)een for some years the asylum
of the distressed Protestants of the Palatinate and
other parts of Germany, and I believe it may be
truthfully said that the present flourishing condition
of it is in a great measure owing to the industry of
those people. It is not altogether the fertility of the
soil, but the number and industry of the people that
makes a country flourish."
If these interesting references to the facts of the ast shall conduce to the pleasure of any, or of all,
the writer will be well repaid.
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"Philip Moyer was a commissioner officer in the Revolutionary Army, serving in the German Regiment from Berks County. His sword and some continental money has also descended to his great-great-grandson Nevin W. Moyer. In 1799 he build the large brick house at the canal, north of Womelsdorf, which when nearly completed had all the woodwork accidentally burnt out, and so he had to replace and rebuild it. He furnished the stones from his farm to build the original Zions Church of Womelsdorf and when he died about 1811, was laid to rest, according to family tradition, in its graveyard (but both his and his wifes graves are unmarked) near the east end of the church between the graves of John Nicholas and Jacob Moyer."The Tulpehocken bi-centennial commemorated in a four-day celebration at Womelsdorf, Pa., June 28th, 29th, 30th and July 1st, 1923
Phillip on Find A Grave - http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=20353406
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