Johannes Henricus Eckenroth

Johannes Henricus Eckrroth was born was born in Mar 1721 in Eggerode, Münster. He was christened on 18 March 1721 at the Katholisch Church, Eggerode, Münster.

On 5 Sep 1743 JOHANNES ICKROTH and HENRICH ECKENROTH arrived in the Snow Charlotta, John Mason, Master, from Rotterdam, last from Cowes. Both took the oath of allegiance to the government at the Courthouse in Philadelphia, PA.

Henry married Susanna Steissen on 26 February 1748/1749 in Trinity Lutheran Church, Lancaster County, PA. Susanna was born in 1726/1728.

In 1752, Henry built a Roman Catholic log chapel on his farm, about 2-3 miles east of Elizabethtown, named "Chapel of the Assumption". This chapel served as a mission station or "mass-house" for the missionary priests operating from Conewago, Adams County and St. Mary's Church, Lancaster County and was the origin of the Congregation of Saint Peter's Church in Elizabethtown. The cornerstone for Saint Peter's Church was laid on 30 May, 1799 by Reverend Ludwig Barth. Trustees of the Parish were Henry Eckenroth, himself, John Kaufmann and Andrew Gross. A document in German drawn up at the time promising fidelity to the Roman Catholic faith and signed by the trustees and principal members of the church is preseinted in the Annex to this chapter. Contractors for building the church in 1799 were: Masons - Conrad Gross, and John Meyer; Building Committee members Henry Eckenroth, John Kaufmann, Andrew Gross, Dominic Eagle, Stephen Felix, John Wittman, Charles Wade, George Carolus, Adam Gross, Simon Eckenroth and John Wagner. SInce the people of this congregation were served by missionaries out of Conewago, Adams County, and Saint Mary's, Lancaster; Records of Administration of the Sacraments to people of Saint Peter's Parish during the early years were kept at Conewago and Saint Mary's.

He was listed in the Donegal Township, Lancaster County, "Additional Provincial Tax list of 1757".

On 13 February 1755 Henry received a warrant for a tract of land in Donegal Township. The land (37-1/4 acres) was surveyed on 17 May 1759. On 13 August 1766 Henry received a warrant for a survey of 166-1/4 acres of land called "The Sandy Bank" adjacent to the above property and located in Mountjoy Township, Lancaster County. The survey was conducted on 19 March 1767.

In 1782 he was listed in the Returns and Valuations for Mount Joy Township, Lancaster County as owning 235 acres, 2 horses and 4 cattle and assessed 14 pounds, 0 shillings, and 0 pence.
During the Revolution, he served in the Spring and Fall of 1785 as Pvt 3rd Class and Almonor in Captain John Moor's Company, Fifth Company, Second Battalion as Pvt. 4th Class. Some of his service may be that of his son Henry.
On 24 November, 1801, a patent was granted to Henry for 34 acres, 40 perches of land in Lancaster County previously warranted to Stephen Felix on 16 December, 1774. Stephen Felix is believed to have been his son-in-law.

In his will (link) he names his wife as Elizabeth. We have no record of Susanna's death nor a second marriage to Elizabeth. Whether these are indeed two different women is unknown.

Henry had the following children, however we cannot determine who their mother is:

  1. Joseph Eckenroth was born about 1751. He married Thersa Ohredorff and they had four children. Joseph is believed to have died about 1784. Neither he, nor his wife, nor his children are mentioned in Henry's will.
  2. Mary Magdalena Eckenroth was born in June 1752 in Donegal Township, Lancaster County, PA. She married Stephen Felix about 1774. She died on 2 February 1819 in Derry Township, Dauphin County, PA, and was buried in St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery, Elizabethtown, Lancaster Cunty, PA.
  3. Christian Eckenroth was born about 1753 in Lancaster Co., PA. He died before 17 Mar 1806 in Lancaster Co., PA.  He married Catharine Schoeringer (Sneeringer) daughter of John and Juliana Sneering.
    Revolutionary War service 1781-1783 with his brother, Joseph, as members of Henry Scott's Company, 7th Battalion, Lancaster County Militia.
    Died intestate. Lancaster Orphan's Court records granted administraion to Simon Eckenrode and John Albert on 17 March 1806.      John Sneering's will (dated 23 April 1804, probated 16 May 1804) states that Catherina had died and left 6 children. Christian had also died by this time because 3 of the children were living with John Sneering and the other 3 were living with Henry Eckenroth in Donegal Twp.
  4. Henry Eckenroth was born about 1758 in Lancaster Co., PA. He died in 1809.
  5. Julianna Eckenroth was born about 1760.
  6. Simon Eckenroth was born about 1762.
  7. Susanna "Susey" Eckenroth was born about 1764.
  8. Catherine Eckenroth was born about 1765. She was identified in her father's will has having first married Lorentz Scandel with whom she had three children: John, Susy, and Margareth. About 1796 Catherine married John Grim, with whom she had two children: Susanna and Elizabeth. In the 1850 census she was listed at age 85 living with her daughter, Elizabeth Noll.
  9. Peter Eckenroth was born about 1750 in Lancaster Co., PA.

Henry Eckenrode died n Mount Joy Township, Lancaster County, PA between 20 January, 1806 (date he wrote his will) and 24 February, 1806 (date his will was probated) Will Transcription .  In his will he names six living children (Magdalena, Christian, Henry, Juliana, Simon, and Susey) and the children of his daughter, Catharine. He is probably buried at St. Peter's Church Cemetery, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania.  Elizabeth died after 24 February 1806.

Questions?    Comments!   Write to Mark Geesey: geesey_fmly06(at)comcast.net

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