Second Generation

3. Johann (John) Michael2 Wolfgang Jr (Michael1) (#732) was born in Upper Milford Twp., Northampton (now Lehigh) Co., PA about 1748. Michael died 1808 in in Upper Mahantongo (now Eldred) Twp., Berks (now Schuylkill) Co., PA, at age 60. His body was interred 1808 in Hegins Twp., Schuylkill Co., PA.(7)

He married Christine (Christina) Weaver about 1775. (Christine (Christina) Weaver is #733.) Christine was born January 18, 1756 in in Franconia, Montgomery Co., PA. Christine was the daughter of Johann Erhardt Weaver and Maria Magdalena Hecht. Christine died 1815 in Upper Mahantongo (now Eldred) Twp., Berks (now Schuylkill) Co., PA, at age 59. Waldner Aft. 1811

He was listed as a minor in orphan's court records March 20, 1760 in Easton, Northampton Co., PA.(8) He was listed as Jacob Hawn's ward 1760 in Easton, Northampton Co., PA. Since all of the children were under the age of fourteen at the time of their parents death, the Orphan's Court of Northampton Co. at Easton appointed neighbors Jacob Hawn (or Horn) and Michael Keiper as guardians. Both men requested a change of guardians in 1761. A Lewis Gordon petitioned the court March 25, 1761 because he had been appointed permanent guardian but Hawn and Keiper refused to "deliver them up to their said guardian unless he pay them a considerable sum of money". See Letters & Documents page of this site.

Michael was an apprentice 1762 in Upper Saucon Twp., Northampton Co., PA. Apprenticed to Johann Erhardt Weaver (1717-1795) who emigrated from Niefern, Pfarzheim, Baden, Germany in 1754 and settled in Upper Saucon Twp., Northampton Co., PA. He had anglicized the spelling from Weber.

He was christened about 1771 in Salisbury Twp., Northampton (now Lehigh) Co., PA. We have no baptismal record for (John) Michael Wolfgang since the nearest Lutheran Church, Jerusalem Lutheran and Reformed in West Salisbury Twp., was not established until 1759.

Michael enlisted in the military August 6, 1776 in Whitehall Twp., Northampton Co., PA. (John) Michael Wolfgang served two enlistments in the Revolutionary War, listing Whitehall Twp., Northampton County, as his residence. From Aug. 6, 1776 to May 14, 1778 he was a Private, 5th Class, in Captain Christian Fisher's 7th Company, 2nd Battalion, Northampton County Militia, Commanded by Colonel Hart. In 1780-1783 he was a 2nd Corporal in the 11th Battalion of the Northampton Co. Militia under Lt. Col. Stephen Balliet. In 1782 he served as a Corporal in Captain Daniel Good's 3rd Company Rangers, 1st Battalion, Northampton County Militia when it was called up for 60 days of frontier duty.

Michael registered to pay taxes 1781 in Northampton (now Lehigh) Co., PA. Although not listed as owning land, Michael was taxed 12 pounds anyway, plus 3 pounds for one cow.

Michael registered to pay taxes 1783 in Northampton (now Lehigh) Co., PA. Listed as owning a 50 acre tract of land taxed at 25 pounds plus one horse at 6 pounds, and one cow at 3 pounds. The first record we have is the Orphan's Court at Easton for Northampton County guardianship proceedings on March 20, 1760. Thus we do not know his exact birth date, only that he was under fourteen years of age in 1760. These are the only records where the name John appears; all subsequent records simply refer to Michael Wolfgang. After being discharged from guardianship, probably around 1762 when he reached the age of fourteen, he learned the trade of a weaver.

His extensive Revolutionary War service did not prevent him from starting his large family. Eight children were baptized at the Jerusalem Lutheran Church in West Salisbury between 1777 and 1792. In 1783 he is listed as owning a 50 acre tract of land.

Sometime between 1792 and 1795 (John) Michael Wolfgang moved his family West to settle on a new farm in Upper Mahantongo Twp., Berks (now Schuylkill) County, PA. His next three children were baptized at Himmel's Lutheran Church in Rebuck, Washington Twp., Northumberland County, PA, the closest one at the time. (John) Michael Wolfgang died in 1808 and is buried in Frieden's Cemetary, Hegins Twp., Berks (now Schuylkill) County. His widow Christine is listed in the 1810 census, so died about 1811.

Johann (John) Michael Wolfgang Jr and Christine (Christina) Weaver had the following children:

child 6 i. Unknown3 Wolfgang (#788) was born about 1776. Unknown died December 28, 1859 at age 83.

child + 7 ii. (Maria) Magdalena Wolfgang was born March 11, 1777.

child + 8 iii. Jonas (Jonathan) Wolfgang was born January 27, 1779.

child 9 iv. Julian E. Wolfgang (#763) was born in Northampton (now Lehigh) Co., PA August 18, 1781. Julian died after 1781 in Salisbury Twp., Northampton (now Lehigh) Co., PA.

child + 10 v. John Deiter HoudeterTeter Wolfgang Sr was born September 16, 1783.

child + 11 vi. Johannes (Johnathan) Nicholas Wolfgang was born December 23, 1785.

child + 12 vii. Jacob John Wolfgang was born October 13, 1787.

child + 13 viii. Michael Wolfgang III was born April 16, 1790.

child + 14 ix. Christina Wolfgang was born July 28, 1792.

child + 15 x. Hannah Wolfgang was born March 31, 1795.

child + 16 xi. George Wolfgang was born April 16, 1797.

Photo

Taken c. 1860 in Naperville, IL, Dupage Co. by S. Metzler photographer. Her headcovering was customary public wearing apparel for Evangelical women. Courtesty of Byron Holdiman & Cheryl Carroll Rigdon.


child + 17 xii. Elizabeth (Child) Wolfgang was born November 19, 1799.

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