history of the musser family in lancaster county ...kalush/genealogy/history of the musser family...

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History of the Musser Family in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Part One

Alice Kalush

August 2014

This document is in two files. Part One covers the Musser Family in Switzerland and Germany

and the early Musser Immigrants to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It also discusses the

Nüssli/Nissley family. Part Two continues with later generations in West Hempfield Township.

About the Mennonites1

Around 1650 the ruler of the Palatinate, a neighboring German country, invited the Swiss Brethren to his land. He

need these hard-working farmers to restore his wartorn land. There they prospered.

However, around 1700 a new ruler in the Palatinate began persecuting the Brethren. Many decided to go to

Pennsylvania. Their fellow Anabaptists, the Dutch Mennonites, helped them with passage money. The English

1 http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~boehm/data/1710_Pequea_Settlement.pdf,

http://www.anabaptists.org/history/german-migration-to-north-america.html

2

associated the Swiss with their Dutch brethren and therefore called them Mennonites. The name stuck with them in

the New World.

3

Musser Family in Switzerland and Germany

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Ulrich Moser was probably a new arrival in Biglen, Canton Bern, Switzerland, sometime

between 1540 and 1550.

Galante Moser had nine children. He was the first in the Moser family to give his children

traditional Christian names, rather than Germanic names. This probably reflects the family's

conversion to the Reformed Church.

Peter Moser (b. 1585) lived in Pfalz and had two children by first wife; twelve by second (11th

was Peter) . In 1671 he was exiled from Switzerland. In 1680 he had returned to Switzerland

and is mentioned as a täufer (one that baptizes). In 1683 he was caught again and exiled with Uli

Falb's wife.

Peter Moser (b. 1636). All of his children were baptized as infants, indicating that he still

adhered to the Reformed Church practices into 1671. Apparently converted to a Mennonite in

Spring of 1671 (living in Pfalz). He had been in prison in Bern and on his release from prison,

Peter joined the exodus of Anabaptists out of Switzerland and to the Palatine region of Germany

(Schrokkehof, near Sinsheim, in the Wurttemburg state of Count Wilhelm) and became a tenant

farmer.

Peter Moser (b. 1671) Migrated from Switzerland. Married around 1692. In 1715 he was listed

as a Mennonite family in Ittlingen, Germany. Widower, with Barbara, age 8, Christian, age 10,

Magdalena age 11, Catharina age 18, Hans age 20, Jost age 22. Still in Ittlingen in 1731.

Peter Moser (b. 1692) Had six children including Jacob (of Strasburg, emigrant of 1747) and

Peter (of Hempfield, emigrant of 1747) and Henrich (emigrant of 1752). He lived in Sinsheim

as a tenant farmer, and became deacon of the congregation there in 1731.

Sources:

Davis, Richard Warren, Emigrants Refugees and Prisoners, Vol I. Provo, UT: author, 1995.

LMHS Ref E184.M45.D3 1995 v1.

Musser, Edgar A, Musser Genealogy. Lancaster, PA: author, 1980. LMHS CS71.M9892 1980.

Musser, Richard W, Musser Family History 1242-1988. Lancaster, PA: author, 1998. LMHS

CS71.M9891.1998.

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Early Musser Immigrants to Lancaster County

1-Peter Moser (A) b. Jan 1671, Biglen, Bern, Switzerland, c. 4 Feb 1671, Biglen,

Bern, Switzerland, bur. After 1731, Ittlingen, Baden, Germany

+Unknown

|--2-Peter Moser (B) b. Abt 1692, d. After 1747, Ittlingen, Germany

| +Unknown

| |--3-Peter Musser (C) b. Abt 1725, Switzerland, d. 1794, Hempfield Twp,

| | Lancaster Co, Pennsylvania

| |--3-Jacob Musser (D) b. Abt 1726, d. 1788, Strassburg Twp, Lancaster Co,

| | Pennsylvania

| |--3-Henry Musser (E) b. 1730, d. 13 Mar 1805, Brecknock Twp, Lancaster Co,

| | Pennsylvania, bur. Pine Grove Cemetery

|--2-Joseph (Jost) Mosser (F) b. 1693, Illtingen, Germany, d. 1761, Lampeter Twp,

| Lancaster Co, Pennsylvania

| +Unknown

|--2-John (Hans) Musser (G) b. 1695, Ittlingen, Germany, d. Apr 1752, Lancaster Borough,

| Lancaster Co, Pennsylvania, bur. Musser Family Cemetery, Manor Twp,

| Lancaster Co, Pennsylvania

| +Unknown

|--2-Catharina Moser b. Abt 1697, Ittlingen, Germany

|--2-Magdalena Moser b. Abt 1704, Ittlingen, Germany

|--2-Christian Mosser b. 1705, Ittlingen, Germany, d. 1741, Lancaster Co,

| Pennsylvania

| +Unknown

|--2-Barbara Moser b. Abt 1707, Ittlingen, Germany

This document is divided into two files. Most of the material in the first file is from Glenn

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Musser's wonderful website2 about the early Musser immigrants from Switzerland and about

Peter Mosser who settled in West Hempfield township and the property and tax records later in

this document. The material from Glenn Musser is backgrounded in yellow.

The second file contains information about Christian Musser and Maria Nissley's descendants.

There are more photos, etc. of Glenn Musser's ancestors (he's descended from Christian Musser's

(1762-1830) son Christian Musser (1803-1892) and Catherine Newcomer (1803-1891)) on his

site.

2 Glenn Musser, http://musser.us/mus-arc/3family/3musserBrothers/3MusserBrothers.html, 5/2014.

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The Three Musser Brothers

The name Mosser had its origin in an old German language word, Moos, which meant a

meadow, especially a marshy meadow. It is still found in some German dialects and means

swampy land. The original spelling was Mooser, meaning one who lived in or near such a place,

and in which he did some farming. In time one of the 0's was dropped and it became Moser. Still

later some of the Mosers added another S and it became Mosser. from which finally evolved the

present Musser Mosser and Mosher witch are encountered occasionally, are also forms of this

name. The modern form of the word "Moos," in both English and German, is "Moor," which

means an open tract of marshy wetlands.

Many centuries ago, a considerable number of the ancestors of the present day Mussers lived in

the Emmenthal Valley in Switzerland. This valley is located in the eastern part of Bern, the

second largest of the Swiss contons. This canton. or state, is about three times the size of

Lancaster County. Before the French Revolution it was a territory with more than 400,000

inhabitants. The land was administered by 250 ruling families, which were divided into so-called

great and small families. The rural districts were governed by land-vogts, and it was in these

districts that most of the discontent with the Bernese government existed. The peasants, for the

most part subjects or bondsmen of the nobles, lived under the weight of oppression, poverty and

neglected culture. The canton of Bern was one of several states that had rejected the Catholic

religion early in the 16th century.

Because of difficulties encountered in the practice of their religion, some of the Mossers

(Mosers), along with numerous other Mennonite families. fled from the Emmenthal Valley to

http://musser.us/mus-arc/3family/3musserBrothers/Emmental.jpg

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Alsace, the Palatinate and other states. Others moved into the remote northwestern part of Bern,

known as the Bernese Jura, where the Jura Mountains cross the canton. The Juras are the chain

of mountains which divides Switzerland from France. The ancestors of the Brecknock Mussers

settled in the eastern foothills of these mountains.

These were still feudal times in Switzerland, and in the Jura region too, most of the land was in

possession of rich nobles. The peasants had no land of their own, but worked parcels of land for

the barons who allowed them enough for a bare subsistence from the products of their labors.

The language spoken was German, with dialectic variations, Bern was in earlier years a part of

Germany and the German language prevails in that region to this day.

In time the forebears of the Musser family here concerned, moved from the restrictions and the

poor land of the Bernese Jura to the richer land of the Canton of Basel. Other Mennonite families

also settled in Basel. The Mossers were assigned a parcel of land which they were permitted to

cultivate, located just a few miles from the German border and close to the Rhine River. Again

they had to work for a land-owner who belonged to the minor nobility. They were now in a

Catholic canton, also a bishopric, where the bishop not only governed the affairs of the church,

but also ruled over the temporal affairs of the state. In 1734 an edict was issued ordering all

Mennonites out of the state. This edict was never carried out because of the protests of the

nobles, who wanted to keep the Mennonites because they were good farmers.

The Mennonites usually had large families, and this in time brought about a scarcity of land in

relation to the ever increasing population. Eventually many of the young people had to go

elsewhere to find land on which to subsist. The news of American land and opportunity reached

them, and many of them somehow found the means to emigrate to this country.

It has been said that the Mossers moved into Germany a few years before the young men of the

family decided to come to America. It is claimed that they lived in the Palatinate (a region in

Southern Germany) just a few miles from the Swiss border. Be that as it may, they were still a

Swiss family with a long Swiss ancestry whose history has faded into the mists of time.

One need not go far in Lancaster County among persons with the family name or Musser

(Mosser), to find someone who has heard from his or her forebears, the story of the three brother

with that name who came to America in the mid-eighteenth century, and settled in different parts

of Lancaster County.

They were all young single men, and had come to this country, either directly or indirectly, from

Switzerland. One settled in Hempfield Township, somewhere between Mountville and Mount

Joy; another settled in Strasburg Township, and the third first lived near Groffdale in Earl

Township, then later established a home somewhere north of New Holland. This is the essence

of the often repeated tradition, and research has proven it to be substantially accurate.

Two of the brothers were Jacob and Peter, who along with their cousin of about the same age

also named Peter, arrived in Philadelphia in 1747 on the ship Restauration. The third and

youngest brother, Henry, came to Philadelphia in 1752 on the ship Richard and Mary.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~parecs/passengerlists/1747restauration.html

http://www.griffinfamilytree.com/misc/shiplist.html

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Following are the immigration records of Jacob and the two Peters, made on their arrival in

Philadelphia, as found in Pennsylvania German Pioneers published by Ralph B. Strassburger,

LL.D., Vol. 1, Page 365:

"(List 114C) At the State House at Philadelphia the 9th 8ber (October) 1747.

Present: Abraham Taylor, Robert Strittel, Thomas Hopkinson and Joseph Turner, Esq'rs.

The foreigners whose names, are underwritten, imported on the ship Restauration, Captain James

Hall, from Rotterdam, and last from Leith. Inhabitants of the Palatinate and Places adjacent, did

this day take the forgoing oaths to the government.

There were 137 men and 67 women passengers on the ship. Forty ninth on the list is "Petter

Moser." This is how it is printed in Volume 1, but in Volume 3 the facsimile of his signature

looks more like "Mosser." This, it appears, is the way he intended to spell his name.

Fiftieth on the list is Jacob (X) Mosser. He was unable to write his name, so he made an X as his

mark, and the clerk at the desk filled in his name for him.

Fifty-first on the list is the other Peter Moser. It is difficult to tell whether he intended one or two

S's in the spelling of his name. Facsimile of all three signatures can be seen in Strassburger's

Pennsylvania German Pioneers Volume 3, Page 392.

Following is a transcript of the record of Henry Mosser's. arrival in Philadelphia

"(List 183C) The Foreigners whose names are underwritten, Imported on the ship Richard and

Mary, John Moore, Master, from Rotterdam, and last from Portsmouth, took the usual

Qualifications to the Government, Before Joshua Maddox, Esquire. The Twenty Sixth Day of

September 1752. No. 91."

No. 91 means there were 91 passengers on the ship. Sixty-first on the list is Henrich Moser. A

facsimile of his signature appears in Strassburger, Vol. 3, Page 580. His name is actually written

Mosser. Among all of the immigrants from 1727 to 1775, he is the only Henry Mosser listed.

The point of departure from Switzerland was often the city or Basel, where the long journey

down the Rhine to Rotterdam began.

The foregoing paragraphs are a compilation of data gathered in fragments from many sources,

including family traditions, notes in family bibles, the Mennonite Encyclopedia and other

Mennonite publications, the Encyclopedia Brittanica, several histories of Switzerland, other

Mennonite family histories, histories of Lancaster County, The Historians History of the World

and others.

According to the Palatine Pamphlet, published by Charles M. Hall (Heritage International), 157

North State Street, Salt Lake City, Utah, 8403, the Mussers who arrived on the ships

Restauration and Richard and Mary, emigrated to the American Colonies from Wuerttemberg,

Germany. The Schwarzwald and Waiblingen areas are mentioned specifically as the place of

origin or the passengers (those who could be traced) who arrived on the foregoing ships. A large

percentage of the Mennonite people who settled in Lancaster County came from this German

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state, located in the Palatinate. The Mussers (Mosers) who arrived on the ship Molly, in 1727,

are recorded as having come directly from "Baselland," the region Around Basel, Switzerland.

Relatives or the latter apparently migrated to Germany about this time, or a little later, and some

of their descendant eventually also came to America. The Hempfield, Strasburg and Brecknook

Mussers are among the latter.

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From Meyers Nissly Rootsweb page3:

"Peter (A) had three sons that we know of. Jost (F) and Hans (G) emigrated to Lancaster County in 1727. Jost died

in Strasburg Township in 1761, leaving no heirs. Hans died in 1752 in Lancaster, leaving substantial land holdings

to his sons, who would lay out "Mussertown". The oldest son, Peter (B), would remain in Germany and marry

around 1721. Once again there is no record of his wife's name. The only records kept among the Mennonites in the

Palatinate were simple head counts, usually naming only the head of household. These counts were done at the

request of the Dutch Anabaptists for the purpose of determining the need for financial aid. The Mennonites were not

citizens of the German states, and were not subject to German census."

According to Bill Marshall's4 Rootsweb page, a family bible has a record of the arrival of John, Christian, and Jost

Musser on the "Molly" in 1727.

My ancestor Peter Musser (C) and his brother Jacob (D) immigrated from the town of Ittlingen in

Switzerland (now Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany, between Heidelberg and Heilbronn) to

Lancaster County, PA in 1747 along with a cousin also named Peter Musser who was the son of

either Christian or Hans. A third brother (Henry Musser (E)) immigrated in 1752. Peter Musser

(C) settled in Hempfield Township, Jacob (D) and the cousin Peter settled in Strassburg

Township and Henry (E) in Brecknock Township.

Additional notes and sources can be found on the Rootsweb database of Bill Marshall

A similar theory by Kenneth Meyers on the Meyers-Nissley Rootsweb database1 which

apparently discusses the cousin Peter Musser who settled in Strasburg Township rather than our

Peter Musser (C) who settled in Hempfield Township. Based on this discussion I conclude that

there is some confusion about the identity of the Hempfield Township Peter's wife and whether

Peter Musser (B) is the son of Peter Musser (A) or the cousin named Peter.

" In the year 1747, Peter Musser, Jr. and Jacob Musser, the sons of Peter Musser, Sr., with their cousin Peter Musser, left their

home in Lower Palatine (Germany). They made their way to Rotterdam, Holland where they boarded the ship Restoration and by

the way of Leith, Scotland, sailed to Philadelphia, Penn., landing on October 19, 1747. The ship Restoration was under the

command of Capt. J. Hall and had a crew of 16 and a passenger list of 122 men. Peter Musser's name appears on the tax rolls of

Strasburg Township (now Paradise Township), commencing in 1756. In 1769, he had a bound servant and 100 acres of land. In

1777 he paid the "Non-Associators" tax. John Sinson served as a substitute for him in the Revolutionary War as he was of the

Mennonite faith. He died in 1785. His widow Frances was taxed on 130 acres in the township in that year. According to

"History of Lancaster County - 1883" Peter Musser was of Swiss parentage. Our Peter Mosser I may be Peter Musser, Jr.

mentioned above or the cousin Peter Musser. At least one source shows that our Peter married a Frances Dietz vice Maria

Barbara Dietz, and Peter Jr above is said to have married a Frances. If our Peter is the cousin, then he must be the son of either

Hans Moser or his brother Christian. Christian's son Peter is generally shown as having married Frances/Feronica/Frena RESH.

Of course, he may be another Peter all together. I believe he is the cousin and son of Hans as I have shown. However, one source

shows Peter the son of Hans as having married Anna Hershey.

Bill Marshall on RootsWeb, World Connect Project, "Marshall Family" shows that this Peter, married to DIETZ, shown here as

the son of Hans MOSER (b. 1695 in Ittlingen, Baden Germany) and Veronica, was actually the Peter, shown as son of Peter

MOSER, born about 1692 (the older brother of Hans)."

3 Kenneth Meyers Rootsweb site, http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=meyers-nissly&id=I44578

4 Bill Marshall's Rootsweb site: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=wtm&id=I157046

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Peter Mosser of Hempfield Township

1-Peter Musser b. Abt 1725, Switzerland, d. 1794, Hempfield Twp, Lancaster Co,

Pennsylvania

+Unknown

|--2-John Musser b. 1754, d. 1817

|--2-Christian Musser b. 2 Apr 1762, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, d. 20 Feb 1830,

| West Hempfield Twp, Lancaster Co, Pennsylvania, bur. Peter Musser Family

| Cemetery

| +Maria Nissley b. 1763, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania, United States, m.

| Between 1780 and 1787, d. 1811, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania, United States

|--2-Henry Musser b. 3 Mar 1764, d. 10 Apr 1826, West Hempfield Twp, Lancaster

| Co, Pennsylvania, bur. Musser Family Cemetery

| +Anna Siegrist b. 30 Apr 1764, West Hempfield Twp., Lancaster,

| Pennsylvania, United States, m. Between 1781 and 1790, d. 11 Sep 1830,

| bur. Musser Family Cemetery

|--2-Anna Musser b. 8 Mar 1766, Lancaster, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United

| States, d. 19 Aug 1850, Pennsville, Bullskin Twp., Fayette Co., PA, bur.

| Pennsville Meeting House Cemetery, Fayette Co., PA

| +Rev. Joseph Shirk b. 25 Dec 1757, Hempfield Twp., Lancaster, Pennsylvania,

| United States, m. 11 Apr 1786, Hempfield Twp., Lancaster, Pennsylvania,

| United States, d. 21 Dec 1811, Tyrone Twp., Fayette Co., PA

|--2-Peter Musser b. 29 Nov 1776, Lancaster Co, Pennsylvania, d. 2 Jul 1848,

| bur. Grider Family Cemetery, West Hempfield, Lancaster, PA

| +Elizabeth Rohrer b. 14 Aug 1788, West Hempfield Twp., Lancaster,

| Pennsylvania, United States, m. 29 Sep 1807, Trinity Lutheran Church,

| Lancaster Co, Pennsylvania, d. 8 Oct 1822, bur. Grider Family Cemetery,

| West Hempfield, Lancaster, PA

PETER MOSSER OF HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP5

This Peter Mosser was one of the three brothers along with Jacob of Strasburg Township and

Henry of Brecknock Township. He settled in Hempfield Township near the Chickies Creek, then

known as the Chickasolongo Creek. After arriving in this country in 1747, he apparently

remained single about five years, since his first son was born in 1754. His name does not appear

on the township tax list until 1756.

In the beginning he operated a farm which he rented from, a man by the name of Ulrich Road. It

contained 150 acres of land, but still was not much of a farm, since only 15 acres were sown in

grain. Most of the remainder was still woodland. He owned two horses, two mares and six cows,

and in 1756 paid 8 shillings and 6 pence tax to the King or England.

Two years later, in 1758, he still rented the farm, but the number of acres on which he paid taxes

had now increased to 200. Both the owner and the tenant paid a share of the taxes directly to the

tax collector in those days.

It is not until 1769 that Peter appears on the tax lists as the owner of the farm, which now was

reduced in size to 135 acres.

5 Glenn Musser, http://musser.us/mus-arc/3family/3musserBrothers/3MusserBrothers.html, 5/2014.

http://www.jdweaver.com/weavfam/b29.html#P554

http://www.jdweaver.com/weavfam/b29.html#P554

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In 1777 he paid the Non-Associator's tax of three pounds and ten shillings, which levied on all

men between the ages of 18 and 53 who in conscience were opposed to the war then in progress

against England.

In Ellis and Evans' History of Lancaster County we read that Peter Musser, who was of Swiss

parentage, married a young woman by the name of Dietz, and they had five children- John,

Christian, Henry, Peter and Anna. There is no conflict between this statement and what the old

tax records have disclosed.

Peter Mosser's eldest son, John, apparently was born in 1754, since his name shows up on the

regular tax records in 1788 as a freeman. In those days some young men did not become tax

payers until they reached the age of 24.

His second son, Christian, accordingly was born in l762, since his name first appears on the tax

assessor's list in 1786. Christian Married Maria Nissley (1763-1811), daughter of Martin Nissley,

of Mount Joy.

The third son, Henry, was born in 1764 as determined from the tax records of 1788. This is

veritied by the inscription on his grave stone, which records the date of his birth as March 3,

1764, and his death as April 10, 1826. He is buried in the little private Musser cemetery located

on the farm of his descendant Henry S. Musser. The inscriptions on his grave stone are still

clearly legible.

Peter's youngest son, Peter Junior, appears on the tax list the first time in 1800. He was a

carpenter by trade. A biographical sketch in Ellis and Eyans' History of Lancaster County says

that he was born April 29, 1776, and died July 2, 1849. His children were Peter, Henry, Mary,

Annie, Joseph and Elizabeth (Betsy).

Anna (Annie) was born about 1758, but we do not know the exact year since women did not

appear on the tax lists unless they were widows. In 1783 there were five inhabitants in the Peter

Mosser home, which shows that two of the Children had married and moved away. They were

John and Anna. John had purchased a tract of land to the south of his father's farm. In addition,

Peter transferred 46 acres of his land to John about 1785. In that year John is listed as the owner

of 270 acres of land. The remaining 104 acres of Peter's land eventually descended to his son

Christian.

It appears that Peter's brother Jacob of Strasburg Township died in 1788. It may be a

coincidence, but in the following year the number of persons in Peter's household increased from

three to six. Another year later, 1790, the name of Christian Mosser- inmate, appears on the tax

list and Peter is missing. This Christian was not Peter's son, since he had married and moved

away, owned a 70 acre farm of his own and operated a "stilling" business. Only one explanation

stands up, and that is that Peter's brother Jacob's widow, and her son Christian and his wife,

moved from their farm in Strasburg Township to Peter's house in Hempfield in 1789. Also, prior

to this year Peter had been listed by the tax collector as "poor," and since all of his children

except 13 year old Peter Junior gone, with increasing age and declining health taking their toll,

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Peter needed someone to help operate the farm. This help apparently was supplied by his nephew

Christian.

The first United States census, taken in 1790, also shows six persons living in the Peter Mosser

home. There were only three of Peter's own family left- John, Anna, Christian and Henry were

gone. According to the census there were two males (Peter Senior and Christian), one male under

16 (Peter Junior), and three females (Peter's wife, Jacob's widow and Christian's wife). Peter did

not appear on the tax lists the next several years probably because Christian paid the taxes.

Peter Mosser lived in a log house and had a log barn until the end of his days. In 1796 his sons

still lived in log houses and had log barns on their farms.

In 1793 the tax collector recorded Peter Mosser's name the last time. He probably died in 1794.

Twenty years later all of Peter's sons Were still residents of Hempfield Township- John,

Christian, Henry and Peter.

There is no deed to Peter Moeser's land on record in the Recorder's Office, nor is there a copy of

his will in the Register's Office. There is on record a deed by Christian in 1795.

An oddity is that when Peter Mosser came to this country he spelled his name "Petter" on the

immigration records, and the same spelling is later repeated on one, of the tax lists.

The location of Peter Musser's land can be seen on the West Hempfield Township Warrant Map,

in the Recorder's Office, Lancaster County Courthouse. It is in the area of Location No. 6. Ulrich

Road, from Peter Musser I rented his land initially (c. 1752), received a warrant for 250 acres on

a branch of the "Cheekesalunga," on November 25, 1735. (Taylor Survey Papers, Lancaster

County Historical Society.)

"Peter Musser, the great-grandfather of the subject of this biographical sketch, was of Swiss parentage, and married

a Miss Dietz, to whom were born children,— John, Christian, Henry, Peter, and Annie. Peter, of this number, was

born Nov. 29, 1776, in Lancaster County, and died July 2, 1848, in his seventy-second year. He married Elizabeth

Rhorer, of the same county, who was born Aug. 14, 1788, and died Oct. 8, 1822, in her thirty-fifth year. Their

children were Henry R., Mary, Annie, Joseph, and Betsey."6

6 Excerpt from entry for Andrew J. Musser in Biographical Annals of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, J. H. Beers,

1903, p.90. Rhorer is misspelled, it should be Rohrer.

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Christian Musser and Maria Nissley

Christian Musser was the son of Peter Musser (Abt 1725-1794). Maria Nissley was the daughter of

Martin Nissley Sr. (1723-1779/1783) and Barbara Stauffer. Christian and Maria Musser are buried on

the Musser Family Farm on Prospect Road7 in West Hempfield Township.

1-Christian Musser b. 2 Apr 1762, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, d. 20 Feb 1830, West

Hempfield Twp, Lancaster Co, Pennsylvania, bur.Musser Family Cemetery

+Maria Nissley b. 1763, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania, United States, m. Between

1780 and 1787, d. 1811, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania, United States

|--2-Anna Marie Musser b. 11 Nov 1787, d. 6 Dec 1861

| +John Reist Bomberger b. 22 Nov 1780, m. 17 Dec 1811, First Reformed

| Church, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, d. 16 Nov 1861

|--2-Martin Musser b. 6 Jan 1791, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, d. 7 Feb 1859, West

| Hempfield Twp, Lancaster Co, Pennsylvania, bur. Musser Graveyard, Marietta

| Pike, West Hempfield Township, Lancaster County, PA

| +Ann Siegrist b. 24 Mar 1792, Hempfield Township, Lancaster County,

| Pennsylvania, m. 31 Mar 1814, First Reformed Church, Lancaster,

| Pennsylvania, d. Nov 6, 1827, West Hempfield Twp, Lanc Co, PA., bur. Martin

| Musser Family Cemetery, Lancaster Co., PA

| +Veronica Hershey b. 24 Mar 1792, m. Between 1827 and 1830, d. 3 Feb 1861

|--2-Barbara Musser b. 15 Mar 1792, d. 22 Apr 1874

| +Martin Greider b. 4 Apr 1790, East Hempfield Twp., Lancaster,

| Pennsylvania, United States, m. 3 Jul 1810, Trinity Lutheran Church,

| Lancaster Co, Pennsylvania, d. 3 Mar 1822, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania,

| United States

|--2-Elizabeth Musser b. 14 Mar 1794, Pennsylvania, United States, d. 5 Jan 1896

| +John Brubaker b. 17 Apr 1790, Pennsylvania, United States, m. 6 Mar 1817,

| First Reformed Church, Lancaster, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States,

| d. 16 May 1865

|--2-Veronica "Freny" Musser b. 1795, d. 1877

| +Peter Bomberger b. Abt 1796, m. 18 Jun 1816, Trinity Lutheran Church,

| Lancaster Co, Pennsylvania, d. 1846

|--2-Mary Musser b. 1798, d. 1849, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania, United States,

| bur. Martin Musser Cemetery

|--2-Christian S. Musser b. 18 Feb 1803, d. 10 Jul 1892, Lancaster Co.,

| Pennsylvania, United States

+Catharine Newcomer b. 1 Jan 1803, m. Between 1820 and 1827, d. 4 Dec 1891,

Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania, United States

7 http://musser.us/mus-arc/ (Musser Cemetery page)

16

1800 Census Hempfield Township, p. 298

Christian Musser Free White Males: 10-15=1 26-44=1, Free White Females: 0-9=4, 10-15=1, 26-44=1

1810 Census Hempfield Township, p.559

Christian Musser Free White Males: 0-9=1, 16-25=1, 45+=1, Free White Females: 10-15=2, 16-24=2, 26-44=1

Christian Musser's will dated Sep 12, 1826, probated 27 Feb 1830:8

In the name of God, Amen. I Christian Musser of West Hempfield township in the County of Lancaster and

State of Pennsylvania, farmer, being sickly and weak in body but of sound and disposing mind memory and

understanding (praised be God for the same) but considering the uncertainty of this frail and transitory life, do make

and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following to wit, Principally and first of all I

commend my immortal soul into the hands and care of Almighty God who gave it, hoping for free pardon and

remission of my sins and to enjoy everlasting bliss and happiness in the heavenly kingdom through Jesus Christ my

savior and redeemer. And my Body I commit to the earth when it shall please God to call me hence, to be buried in a

decent and Christian like manner. And as to such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me I this

life, I give and dispose of the same in the form and manner following, viz, First It is my wish and desire that all my

just debts and funeral expenses shall be paid as soon after my decease as conveniently can be done by my executors

herein after named, out of such of my monies and estate as may then come to their hands. Item I give and bequeath

to my five daughters the sum of two thousand dollars each, including what they have already got and received from

me as charged to each and every of them in and by my memorandum book, that is to say, my daughter Ann

married to John Bomberger to have two thousand dollars; and my daughter Freny married to Peter Bomberger

to have two thousand dollars; and my daughter Elizabeth married to John Brubacher to have two thousand

dollars, the same or the balance thereof (having respect to my memorandum book and the sums they have already

had and received as aforesaid) to be paid to them or to their legal representatives out of the bonds due and payable

by my son Martin Musser for his land and farm, and out of the yearly payments payable by my son Christian

Musser on his land and farm as within and hereafter mentioned, the same to be paid to them or those first, that are in

arrear or have had the smallest sum etc, And to my daughter Barbara who was married to Martin Creider (sp

Grieder) and now widow and relict of the said Martin Creider deceased I give and bequeath twenty five acres of

that land and farm which I have lately bought of my brother Peter Mosser situate in West Hempfield township

Lancaster county adjoining to the graveyard the Marietta turnpike road to the lands of Christian Smith and others,

including about two acres of timber land with free right and privilege for her and her family to the spring of water on

the said land and farm, with the right and privilege also to dwell and reside in the old farm house on the said land

and farm, with stable room for two cows until such time that my said daughter Barbara can erect and build a house

on the said twenty five acres of land, not to exceed three years after my deceased. And I further give and bequeath to

my said daughter Barbara the sum of two hundred dollars, which sum of two hundred dollars is to be paid and laid

out in erecting and building a house for her use on the said 25 acres of land which said land and $200 so given and

bequeathed unto my said daughter Barbara is to be her share in full of two thousand dollars, including what she has

already got and received as will appear by my memorandum book etc. To have and to hold, the said twenty five

acres of land unto my said daughter Barbara in and during her natural life and after her decease the same to go and

descend to her children and to their heirs and assigns forever. To my daughter Mary I give and bequeath all that

the rest and residue of the said land and farm which I have lately bought of brother Peter Musser situate in West

Hempfield township aforesaid, containing seventy three acres be the same more or less, and I value and appraise

the same with the appurtenances thereto belonging at and for the sum of three thousand dollars giving and allowing

unto my said daughter Mary two thousand dollars in the same for her share and portion in my estate as aforesaid, the

residue and remaining one thousand dollars she it to pay in yearly payments of fifty dollars each yearly payment and

8 Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Wills P-475.

17

to commence the said payments one year after my deceased if not paid sooner. And further I give and bequeath unto

my said daughter Mary two cows, two beds and bedding, together with such other household and kitchen furniture

as she may own or choose to take, and my will is and I do hereby give and grant to my said daughter Mary the full

right and use of one room in the house wherein I now live in West Hempfield township aforesaid on the south west

end thereof either on the first or second floor, the use of the new kitchen, right and privilege in the cellar, in the yard

and to the spring house and water, to use and occupy the same so long she shall be and remain sol and unmarried, To

have and to hold the said 73 acres of land with the appurtenances unto my said daughter Mary her heirs and assigns

forever, subject nevertheless to they early payments aforesaid. And I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my

son Christian Musser to be the warden and guardian of the person and estate of my said daughter Mary after my

decease so long she shall be unmarried. Item I do give and bequeath unto my son Christian Musser and to his heirs

and assigns all that my plantation land and premises whereon I live situate in West Hempfield township Lancaster

County, containing about one hundred acres, be the same more or less, and I value and appraise the same at and for

the sum of four thousand five hundred dollars, giving and allowing unto my said son Christian two thousand dollars

for and as his share and portion in the same, the residue and remaining two thousand five hundred dollars he is to

pay in yearly payments of two hundred dollars each payment and to commence the said yearly payment one year

then after my decease, any payments he should make in my lifetime is to be deducted off the said $2500, and the

balance to be paid in yearly payments and to commence one year after my deceased as aforesaid, To have and to

hold the said plantation land and premises unto my said son Christian Musser and to his heirs and assigns forever,

subject nevertheless to the payments and privileges granted to my daughter Mary as aforesaid. Item I give and

bequeath unto my granddaughter Frenney Miller an illegitimate child of my daughter Frenney the sum of one

hundred Dollars the same to be paid to her the said Fenney Miller by my Executors hereinafter named, out of any

estate when she becomes to be twenty one years of age. And my will is, and I do hereby order and direct that such

of my estate goods and chattels not herein before mentioned and bequeathed as may come to the hands of my

executors after my decease, they shall sell the same, either by public vendue or sell and divide such to and among

my children, as they may think best. And my further will is that my executors herein after named or the survivor of

them do make a final estimate and settlement of my estate as soon after my decease as conveniently can or may be

done, allowing to each of my children the sum of two thousand dollars as aforesaid, the overplus, if there be any, to

divide among my herein named children or to their representatives in equal parts, that is to say, to and among my

sons Martin and Christian, and my daughters Anna, Barbara Mary and Elizabeth, and my grandchild Fenney Miller

aforesaid, share and share alike. And lastly, I nominate constitute and appoint my trust and faithful son Martin

Musser and son in law John Bomberger to be the executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all

other wills legacies and bequests by me heretofore made and declaring this and no other to be my last will and

testament. In witness whereof I the said Christian Musser have hereunto set my hand and seal, to this my said last

will, written on one sheet of paper, the twelfth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred

and twenty six. Christian Mosser.

Signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared by the above Christian Musser as and for his last will and

testament in the presence of us, who at his request and in his presence have hereunto subscribed our names as

witnesses. N B The words "their" be paid to "the" "the etc" being interlined before signing and sealing. Jacob

Rohrer, Peter Mosser.

Lancaster County SS. On the 27th day of February anno domini 1830 Before me the subscriber personally appeared

Jacob Rohrer Esq and Peter Mosser the subscribing witnesses to the preceding will, who being duly affirmed,

according to law, did severally declare and say that they were present and saw and heard Christian Mosser the

testator therein named sign seal publish pronounce and declare the same as and for his last will and testament, and

that at the doing thereof he was of sound and will disposing mind memory and understanding to the best of their

knowledge observation and belief. W. Whiteside, Regr.

Be it remembered, That on the 27th day of February, anno domini 1830 The last will and testament of Christian

Mosser, deceased, was proved in due form of law, and letters testamentary thereon were granted to Martin Musser

and John Bomberger, the executors therein named, they having been duly affirmed, according to law, well and truly

to administer the estate of the said deceased, especially to exhibit a true and perfect inventory thereof into the

Registers Office at Lancaster within one month, render a just and true account of their executorship on said estate in

one year or when thereto lawfully required, and that they will diligently and faithfully regard and well and truly

18

comply with the provisions of the act of Assembly relating to collateral inheritances. Given under the seal of said

Office. W. Whiteside, Regr.

19

About the Nissley Family:

The spelling of the family name seems to have been uncertain. According to tradition it may

have been Nutt or Nolt; but more likely it was Nuss or Nüssli. In any case, his descendants are

almost uniformly known by the name Nissley.

NISSLEY ARMORIAL BEARINGS AND EARLY HISTORY9

Among the treasured ancient and medieval discs exhibited at the Louvre Museum in Paris,

France, is the Nussli Armorial disc. This disc is made of artistic stained glass and displays the

Nussli (Nissley) coat-of-arms, which is dated 1628. It bears the coat-of-arms of Martin Nussli, a

Butcher at Kalthrunn, located in Canton of Zurich, Switzerland. The work of the artist includes

the picture of Martin Nussli, his wife and their son and daughter. All wearing 17th century

Swiss apparel, viz:-long cloaks and ruffled collars, with the exception of their son, who is

wearing a ruffled collar and a doublet (close body-fitting outer garment and short skirt.) An

account taken from Swiss record states that the disc was presented to Martin Nussli as an award

for his champion marksmanship at a shooting contest. The parable of the traveling Good

Samaritan divided his cloak with the injured man by the roadside, who had been robbed of his

clothing and badly beaten is also symbolized by the artist. It also symbolizes by the mark K.e. in

Medieval times, identifies said Martin Nussli as an Honored Knighterrant. (A mounted and

armed fighting Knight who redressed wrong with chivalry).

Jacob Nussli was arrested and brought to the City of Zurich in 1644 and was imprisoned in the

dungeons of Othenbach, located about 8 miles Southwest of Zurich on the Reuss River. He was

stripped of his clothes, dressed on a long grey coat, and then fastened with chains. He was among

other Mennonites who about this time were also imprisoned in the horrible dungeons of

Othenbach, all well-known family names of pioneer settlers in Lancaster County, Pa. they were

all chained and stripped of their garments and dressed in long grey coats for mockery and

reproach. The last that was heard of them was the last day of August, 1645, and that it is not

known how it went with them, not being able to ascertain anything further about them.

Associable facts and events disclose that said Jacob Nussli (Nissley) was a son of Martin Nussli

(Nissley) who founded the Nissley coat-of-arms in 1628 when the Protestants fought the Roman

Catholics, 1618-1648, (The 30 Years War). In prospect the said Jacob Nussli (Nissley) was the

father of Ulrich Nussli (Missley) born 1639 at Canton of Zurich. Ulrich with others fled

from the confirms of Zurich, about 1659, to Canton of Berne and subsequently emigrated to the

Palatinates of Germany in 1701 with his wife and three children.

Immigration

The Nissley family and the Funk family emigrated to the US together, with 17 other families.

They were all refugees living in Palatinate in Germany to escape religious persecution in

Switzerland. They were all Mennonites. Jacob settled near Conestoga Creek, in Lancaster Co.

9 Mike Morris, Rootsweb message

20

Hans or Ulrich Nusli, with his wife and three children, were immigrants to USA in 1717 from

Steinsfurt,Germany (in the Palatinate). During their hazardous sea voyage, Ulrich, the father

being quite old died at sea and was put overboard.

The following and early Nissley ancestry information was compiled by Harry Hoyt Nissley of

Detroit, Mich. In August and September of 1951, he toured Switzerland and Germany to see

what he could learn of his ancestors, the Nissley's. When he left for home, he employed a

Genealogical Institute to further his knowledge. The following is a record of information he

bases his printed material.

EMIGRATION: Ulrich Nussli of Oberlangenhard-Zell, 1701. 62 years old and

Margreth Isler, 1701, 63 years old, have the following children:

Jakob 1701, 18 years old, lives in Elsass. Born 1683

Heini 1701 21 years old, lives in Elsass. Born 1680

Hans Jakob, 1701 13 years old, lives in Elsass. Born 1688

Jacob Nissley and Mary Funk

NISSLY. The pioneer of the Nissly family in America was Jacob, who emigrated from Switzerland in 1719, and

settled in Mt. Joy township, Lancaster county, Pa., where he took up a large section of land, purchased from William

Penn. The land remained in the Nissly family for about 150 years, when it was bought by David Volgemuth, who

still owns it. Jacob Nissly was naturalized in 1729. Of his children, (q) Jacob Jr. married and became the father of

three sons, Henry, Jacob and Martin; (2) John (Hans) married a Miss Sechrist, and had six sons, Michael, John,

Jacob, Abraham, Samuel and Martin; (3) Martin married a Miss Snyder; (4) Henry is mentioned below ; and the

daughters, three in number, married respectively, into the Buhrman,

Ebersole and Steward families.10

10 Biographical annals of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, J. H. Beers, 1903. p. 638

21

NISSLEY FAMILY - The following is the genealogy of the Nissley family, together with the personal history of

Harmon L. Nissley, sixth in genealogical line from the American ancestor. (1) Jacob Nissley, the original settler of

the family, emigrated from the Palatinate, Germany, to America, in 1719, when Lancaster county was composed of

Dauphin and Lebanon counties as one. He was naturalized in 1729, and resided in Mt. Joy township, Lancaster

county, Pennsylvania. He had issue: John, married a Miss Seegrist. Martin, married (first) a Miss Snyder; (second) a

Miss Stauffer. A daughter who married a Mr. Buhrman. A daughter who married a Mr. Ebersole. A daughter who

married a Mr. Stewart.11

Mary Funk was the daughter of Henry Funk. This is not Bishop Henry Funck of Franconia

Township, Montgomery County, PA.

Proceedings of the Lancaster Co. Historical Society gives considerable regarding the Nissley

family in the first chapter, pages 307, 314, 319-321. Chapter 34. No. 2 states the Nissley

graveyard is in the borough of Lancaster, Pa. The first Jacob Nissly died intestate, leaving to

survive him seven children: Henry, Jacob, Martin, Frena (married to Abraham Whitmore), Mary

(married to Jacob Brubaker), Ann (married to Valentine Metzler), and Elizabeth who died in her

minority. Orphans Court 1752 shows his wife to be Mary and his son Jacob was awarded the

farm. The son Jacob died leaving a will in which he devised the farm to his two children, Jacob

and Barbara Beam. Jacob the third sold the farm in 1776 exclusive of the Graveyard.

. . . "Indenture U681-1750 refers to a tract granted by the Penns in 1747 to 'Jacob Nutt als.

Nisely.' This tract was the above 150-acre portion of Henry Funk's land. The document says that

Jacob Nutt died intestate leaving eight children: Page 17:"Having died intestate in 1749, Jacob's

children, Mary and Jacob, were listed as administrators and Henry and son-in-law Abraham

Witmore, were bondsmen. The Lancaster County Historical Society has the inventory of the

goods of Jacob Nissly deceased "praised" by Jost Mossers, Michael Myer, and Jacob Brubaker

the 9th day of November 1749;

the man's clothes at 6 pounds;

horses at 62 pounds;

horned cattles at 27 pounds;

sheeps and shwines at 5 pounds,

waggens and plowes at 25 pounds;

axes, grubbing hoes and sundr. sort of tools at 4 pounds ,

coper whears as stills and kettles at 15 pounds;

pewter whears at 2 pounds;

sundr. kedgen whears at 2 pounds;

. . . weaven loom and gears at 3 pounds;

a clocke windmill and stofe at 13 pounds

. . .." The bond administration is signed by Mary Nissley' s mark and includes the signatures of

Jacob Nissly, Henry Nissly, and Abraham Witmore.

Reference: Karl Nissley Haines, A History of the Nussli, Nissley, Nessly Family 1717-1985 (1986)

11

History of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Volume III. Luther Reilly Kelker, Lewis Publishing Company, 1907.

22

Martin Nissley and Barbara Stauffer

Martin Nissley married (1) Barbara Stauffer (b. 1723), widow of Christian Stauffer, (2) Anna

Snyder in 1744 (b. 1724 in Manheim Township d. 1756, daughter of Hans Snyder) and (3)

Barbara Mumma in 1758.

Martin Nissley located first on land in Manheim Township, Lancaster County and then sold out

and moved to new land located in Mount Joy Township.

23

Musser Family Cemetery

Site of Musser Family Cemetery12

in West Hempfield Township. I assume this is where Christian, his sons Martin

and Christian Jr. had their farms. Zoom to 200% to see the street names. Christian Musser, Henry Musser

(Christian's brother) and his wife Anna, Anna Siegrist Musser (Martin Musser's wife), Christian Musser Jr.

(Christian's son) and other Musser family members are buried here. The long white barn in the center of the picture

is at the center is of the farm. The cemetery is at the end of the faint line in the darker green stripe to the right off

Prospect Road. The wavy dark line in the left center is Chickies Creek. This is near Farmdale. Dated burials are

for deaths between 1826 and 1917.

12

See http://musser.us/mus-arc/, links Family History, Musser Cemetery, for map of the Cemetery and list of who is buried there.

26

MUSSER

HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP TAX RECORDS (* Page Number)13

Taken directly from the original tax lists now in possession of the

Lancaster County Historical Society.

1751 John Moser, King's tax 5.0

1756 Peter Mosser (Musser on another list) King'e tax 0.8.6. Operated a rented farm. 150 acres,

13 acres of grain, 2 horses, 2 mares, 6 cows.

1757 Peter Musser County tax 0.3.4 (tenants share)

1758 Peter Mosser 200 acres, 60 cleared, 20 sows, 1 horse, 6 cows. King's tax 14.0. Land

owned by Ulrich Rood or Road.

1759 Petter Muser King's tax 1.10.0 (Landlord's part 0.14.0.) Land rent 14.0.0 Quitrent 2.0.0

1763 Peter Moser King's tax 1.10.0

1769 Peter Mosser (now an owner) 135 acres, 45 cleared, 90 un cleared, 4 horses, 3 cattle and 2

sheep.

1770 Peter Moser Taxes 0.7.6 and 0.1.6

1771 Peter Muser same

1772 Peter Muser same

1773 Peter Muser 100 acres new rite land. 2 horses, 3 cattle, 4 sheep

1775 Peter Muser County tax 0.5.6

1776 Peter Muser Provincial tax 17.6

1777 Peter Muser Non-associators tax 3.10.0

John Moser Non-associators tax 3.10.0

1778 Peter Mosser no change

John Mosser freeman

1779 Peter Muser Continental tax 110.0.0. 136 acres, 3 horses, 4 cows

John Moser freeman 10.0.0

1780 Peter Moseer Continental tax 167.0.0. County tax 4.9.0

John Muser (also Musser) Continental tax 20.0.0. County tax 0.10.0

1781 Peter Moser Continental tax 167.11.0

John Muser

1783 Peter Musser 150 acres, 2 horses, 2 cows, 7 sheep, 1 house, 1 barn

5 white inhabitants.

1785 Peter Musser 104 acres, 3 horses, 4 cows. state tax 2.14.4

County tax 0.13.6

John Musser 270 acres, 2 horses, 3 cows, State tax 3.18.8

County tax 0.18.0

HEMPFIELD (cont'd)

1786 Peter Muser Owned 100 acres of land, 2 horses and 3 cows.

1787 John Mosser Owned 70 Acres of land.

13

Glenn Musser, http://musser.us/mus-arc/3family/3musserBrothers/3MusserBrothers.html, 5/2014.

27

Peter Mosser Owned 104 acres of land.

Christian Mosser Owned 70 acres of land, and a "stilling Mill."

1788 Peter Mosser

John Mosser

Henry Mosser First appearance on tax list, already a landowner.

Christian Mosser

(This may be he year Peter. brother, Jacob, or Strasburg Township, died.)

1789 John Mosser

Henry Mosser

Christian Mosser

Peter Mosser (Not on tax list.)

(This is the year Jacobs widow, along with her son Christian and his wife,

may have Moved to Hempfield and joined Peter's household.)

1790 Christian Mosser

Henry Mosser

John Mosser

Christian Mosser inmate. This may be Jacob's son, and he is married. The first U.S. Census

shows six persons living in the Peter Mosser home. There were only three

or Peters family left. According to the census there were two males (Old

Peter and probably Jacob's son, Christian), one male under 16 (Peter, Jr.),

and three females (Peters wife, probably his brother Jacobs widow, and her

son Christian. wife).

Peter Mosser (Not on tax list.)

1791 Henry Mosser

John Mosser

Christian Mosser

Christian Mosser inmate.

Peter again is not on the tax list, Christian (inmate) May have paid the

taxes.

1792 Henry Mosser

John Mosser

Christian Mosser

Christian Mosser inmate.

1793 Henry Mosser

John Mosser

Christian Mosser

Peter Mosser (This is Peter's1ast appearance; Christian, inmate is missing. Apparently,

old. Peter died about this time.)

1794 No records

1795 No records

00048 HEMPFIELD,

(cont'd) -first part-

28

1796 Henry Mosser Owned 209 acres of land, 5 horses, 4 cows, a two-story stone house, a log

barn and a still house. This is a Henry Mosser from another family who live

in the eastern part Hempfield Township along the Little Conestoga. Son of

Han Moser

John Mosser Owned 90 acres of land 2 horses, 3 cows, a log house and a log barn.

Henry Mosser Owned 114 acres of land, 2 horses, 3 cows, a log house, a log ban and a

spring house. Peter's son.

Christian Mosser Owned 215 acres or land, 3 horses, 4 cow 2 log houses and 2 log barns.

1797 Henry Mosser (East) Son of John Musser. of Lancaster. & Lanc. Twp.

Henry Mosser (West) Son of Peter.

John Mosser Senior

Christian Mosser

Christian Mosser (formerly inmate) Son of Jacob.

1798 Henry Mosser (East)

Henry Mosser (West) Son or Peter.

John Mosser Senior

John Mosser Junior First appearance, now 21 years old .

Christian Mosser Son or Peter

Christian Mosser

Son or Jacob? Last appearance.

UNITED STATES

DIRECT TAX OF

1798.

For the State of

Pennsylvania, County

of Lancaster.

Hempfield Township

1798 HENRY MUSSER Sr. (Wife, Mary Kreider)

1 stone dwelling house, 36 feet by 34 feet, two stories,

1 window with 24 lights, 4 with a total of 15 lights.

1 stone kitchen. 30 feet by 22 feet, containing one window with 6 lights.

1 stone smokehouse. 10 feet by 10 feet.

Valuation of dwe1ling house arid two outbuildings: $1,000.

1 log barn, 50 feet by feet, one story high.

1 stone barn, 41 feet by feet, two stories high.

207 acres of land.

Land and barns valuated at $7,452.

Adjoining property of Jacob Kauffman

HENRY MUSSER Jr. 1 log dwelling house, 22 feet by 26 feet, one story.

2 windows with a total of 12 lights.

1 log spring house, 12 feet by 20 feet, containing 2 windows with a total of

8 lights. Valuation of dwelling house and spring house. $400.

1 log barn, 50 feet by 25 feet, one story high.

193 acres of land.

Land and barn valuated at $3,164.

Adjoining property of John Greider.

29

JOHN MUSSER 1 log dwelling house, 25 feet by 21 feet, one story.

2 windows with a total of 9 light.

Valuation $300.

1 log barn, 50 feet by 25 feet, one story high.

90 acres of land.

Land and barn valuated at $2,700.

Adjoining Chickies Creek.

CHRISTIAN MOSSER 1 log dwelling house, 20 feet by 18 feet, one story.

1 log stable on 12 acres of land.

Valuation of house. $70.

Valuat1on of house and stable together. $166.

Adjoining property of Joseph May.

1 log dwelling house, 30 feet 27 feet, one story.

4 windows with a total of 9 lights. Valuation of house. $400.

1 stone barn. 60 feet by 28 feet, on 103 acres or land.

Valuation $2,472.

Adjoining land of David Rohrer.

1 log barn. 40 feet 20 feet, on 119 acres of land. Valuation. $3,808.

Total valuation of land and buildings $6,280.

Also adjoining land of Martin Greider

HEMPFIELD,

(cont'd) -second part-

1799 Henry Mosser (East)

Henry Mosser (West) Son of Peter.

John Mosser Senior

John Mosser Junior

Christian Mosser Son of Peter.

1800 Henry Moseer farmer.

Henry Mosser Jr. farmer. This is the tax collectors way or distinguishing between Henry of

the east end or Hempfield, and Henry or the west end, Peters son. This does

not indicate that one is the son of the other.

Christian Mosser farmer. Son of Peter.

Peter Mosser Junior carpenter. This is Peter's son.

John Mosser Senior farmer.

John Mosser Junior farmer. Listed later as a freeman.

1801 Henry Mosser Senior (East) 200 acres of land.

Henry Mosser Junior Peters son. 100 acres of land.

John Mosser Senior Peter's son. 100 acres of land.

John Mosser Junior Not listed.

Christian Mosser Son of Peter. 104 acres of land.

Peter Mosser freeman. First appearance. This is John's son.

1802 Henry Mosser Senior (East) 200 acres of land.

Henry Mosser Junior (West) 100 acres or land.

30

John Mosser Senior 100 acres of land.

John Musser Junior freeman.

Christian Mosser 190 acres of land. (86 acres increase)

Peter Mosser freeman.

HEMPFIELD (cont'd)

1803 Henry Mosser Senior 200 acres or land. East

or Henry Mosser Junior 100 acres of land. West

1804 John Mosser Senior 100 acres or land.

John Mosser Junior Not listed.

Christian Mosser 190 acres of land.

Peter Mosser freeman. John's son.

1805 Henry Mosser Senior 200 acres of land.

Henry Mosser Junior 100 acres of land.

John Mosser Senior 100 acres of land.

John Mosser Junior freeman.

Christian Mosser 190 acres of land.


1806 No records.

1807 Henry Mosser Senior East Died 1808

Henry Mosser Junior West

John Mosser Senior

John Mosser Junior freeman.

Christian Mosser


1808 No records.

1809 No records.

1810 Henry Mosser Estate This is the Henry from the eastern part of the township, now deceased.

John Mosser Senior

John Mosser Junior Not listed

Peter Mosser (son of John) Not listed.

Christian Mosser

Henry Mosser Not listed Peters son.

1811 No records.

1812 No records.

1813 H. Musser & Stauffer 138 acres of land. (East)

John Musser Senior 90 acres of land.

John Musser Junior Not listed.

Christian Musser 190 acres of land.

Peter Mosser inmate, farmer. Peters son back again.

31

Peter Mosser inmate. John's. son, now married.

Henry Musser Not listed. The spelling has now changed from Mosser to Musser.

1814 Stauffer and Musser 138 acres of land.



John Musser Junior Not 1isted.

Peter Musser inmate, Not listed

Peter Musser inmate, John's son. Not listed.

Henry Musser Not listed.

HEMPFIELD (cont'd)

1815 Musser and Stauffer 138 acres of land.

Henry Musser 114 acres of land.

John Musser Senior 90 acres or land. Near Henry Musser's

John Musser Junior 100 acres of land.


Peter Musser inmate, son or Peter Senior. Not listed.

Peter Musser inmate, son of John. Not listed.

1816 Musser &.Stauffer 138 acres of land.



Peter Musser inmate, farmer. Peters son.

Peter Musser inmate, farmer. John's son.

Henry Musser Not listed.

John Musser Junior. Not listed.

1817 Only the original tax receipt book remain. Not of much value in regard to

records.

1818 Hempfield Township had now been divided into East Hempfield and West

Hempfield. We continue with West Hempfield

Christian Musser

Henry Musser

Peter Musser Son of Peter.

John and Peter Musser sons of John. (Listed together)

1819 No records.

1820 John and Peter Musser 100 acres or land. (John Sr. land.)



Martin Musser 130 acres of land. Son or Christian I.

Peter Musser 90 acres of land. Son of Peter.

1821 John and Peter Musser 100 acres of land.


32


Martin Musser 130 acres of land.

Peter Musser 90 acres of land.

1822 John and Peter Musser 100 acres of land.



Martin Musser 130 acres of land.

Peter Musser 90 acres of land.

WEST HEMPFIELD

TAX RECORDS

1823 John and Peter Musser 100 acres.

Peter Musser 92 acres.

Christian Musser 90 ½ acres.

Martin Musser 130 acres.

Henry Musser 108 acres.

1824 John and Peter Musser 100 acres.




1825 John and Peter Musser 100 acres. John II died.





1826 No records. Henry died April 10, 1826 .

1827 No records.

1828 No records.

1829 Peter Musser 90 acres. John's son.

Christian Musser Sr. 91 acres.

Christian Musser Jr. 91 acres


Peter Musser 58 acres. 42+16.

Henry Musser's Estate 30 acres. Son of Peter I


Christian Musser Sr., 91 acres.

Christian Musser Jr., 91aores.



Henry Musser's Estate 30 acres.

33

1831 No records.


Christian Musser Sr., 90 acres.

Christian Musser, Jr. 9l acres.



Henry Musser mason, inmate.


Christian Musser, Sr. Missing; probably died in 1832

Christian Musser Jr., 91 acres.



Mary Musser 65 acres. Daughter of Christian I (Sr.)

Henry R. Musser 2 ½ acres.

Henry Musser farmer, inmate.

WEST HEMPFIELD

TAX RECORDS


Christian Musser, Jr. 91 acres.



Mary Musser 65 acres.

Henry R. Musser 2 ½ acres.

John Musser freeman, farmer.

1835 Martin Musser 200 acres.

Christian Musser 91 acres.


Henry R. Musser 1 acre. Cattle dealer.

Peter Musser 90 aces. Mt. Pleasant - now Martin.


Magdalena Musser widow. No details. inmate.



Christian Musser 9l acres.


Henry R. Musser 1 acres. He was, the assessor for 1836.


Magdalena Musser widow. inmate.

Michael farmer, inmate. Son of Martin. (1815-1895)

34

Mary Musser inmate. no land.


Joseph Musser freeman, farmer.

1837 Martin Musser 200 Acres + 118 acres.

Christian Musser 109 acres. 94+15.



John Musser laborer. 3 acres.

Michael Musser inmate. farmer.

Mary Musser inmate.

Anna Musser inmate.

John Musser freeman. farmer.

Joseph Musser freeman. farmer.

1838 The "M" portion of the 1838 Freeholder records is missing.

Henry R. Musser inmate. farmer.

Michael Musser inmate, farmer.

Joseph Musser freeman, farmer.

1839 No records.

1840 Peter Musser farmer, 191 acres. 121+70.

John Musser laborer, 9 acres.

Christian Musser 109 acres. 94+15.


Martin Musser 200 Acres + 118 acres.

Henry R. Musser 86 acres.


Joseph Musser inmate, farmer.

John Musser inmate, farmer.

WEST HEMPFIELD

TAX RECORDS



Joseph Musser laborer, 11 acres.


Mary Musser 72 acres. Daughter of Christian I.




Barbara Musser inmate. Taxed on personal property. Daughter of Christian I.

1842 Musser and Kiser laborer. 7 acres.

35

Joseph Musser 11 acres.

John Musser 9 acres.




Michael Musser inmate, farmer. Son or Martin G.

Barbara Musser inmate.


Martin and Christian are missing from 1842 list.

1843 Martin Musser 188 acres. (Sold 105 acres or his land to son, Michael.)




Mary Musser 72.acres.



1844 John Musser 90 acres. Henry R., the cattle-dea1er, moved to Fairfield, Ohio.

in 1846.

Martin Musser 188 acres





Michel Musser 105 acres. 2 horses.


1845 John Musser 90 acres.







Michael Musser 105 acres.


Martin, Jr freeman, laborer.

1846 Martin Musser, Sr. 188 acres.




36




Martin Musser, Jr. freeman.


WEST HEMPFIELD

TAX RECORDS

1847 Martin Musser. Jr. 100 acres.

Barbara Musser

Benjamin N. Musser 7 acres.

John S. Musser 100 acres. Son of Martin and Veronica.

John H. Musser laborer. 3 acres.

Christian Musser 216 acres. Gained 99 acres.

Martin Musser. Sr. 191 acres.


Joseph 11 ½ acres.



No single men.

1848 Martin Musser, Jr. 100 acres.

John S. 100 acres.



Joseph Musser 11 ½ acres.

John H. Musser 3 acres.




No single men.

1849 Martin Musser. Jr. 100 acres.


John S. Musser 100 acres.





Benjamin Musser 7 acres


No single men.

37

1850 John S. Musser 100 acres.


Martin Musser Jr. 100 acres.


Martin Musser, Sr. 80 + 102 + 70 + 17 acres. Part was Henry Musser's Estate.



Christian Musser single man living with his father.

1851 Benjamin N. 7 acres.



Martin Musser, Jr. 100 acres.

Christian Musser 216 acres. 95 + 100 + 21.

Martin Musser Sr. 80 + 102 + 70 + 17 acres. Henry Musser Estate.



No single men.

WEST HEMPFIELD

TAX RECORDS

1852 Benjamin Musser 1 acre.




Christian Musser 216 acres. 95 + 100 + 21

Martin Musser, Sr. 187 acres. 102 + 70 + 17



No single men.






Martin Musser, Sr. 193 acres. 110 + 70 + 13



Christian Musser single. Laborer, Brenneman's, Mill.


38



Martin Musser. Jr. 109 acres.


Martin Musser Sr. Now Christian S. 100 acres.

Martin Musser, Sr. 100 + 20 acres. Tenant land.



No single men.

1855 Jacob H. son or Martin, Sr., 90 acres

Martin Musser Sr. 8 acres.


John H. Musser fisherman, 3 acres.


Miehael son or John, 135 acres.

Christian S. Jr. 100 acres.


John S. Musser. 100 acres.

Joseph Musser laborer, tenant.

No single men.

39

Hempfield Musser Region

40

Traced from Lancaster County Atlas 1864, D. S. Bare & Bridgens

41

Traced from Lancaster County Atlas 1899, West Hempfield Township, Graves & Steinbarger

history of the musser family in lancaster county ...kalush/genealogy/history of the musser family...

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