Stephen Felix

Stephen Felix was born on 10 March 1743 in Lambach, Moselle, Lorraine. He was baptised in Siersthal, Moselle, Lorraine.

Arrived in America with three of his brothers on the ship Betsy from Rotterdam (last from Cowes) on October 26, 1768 with Captain S. Hawk, and did on this day take and subscribe the usual qualifications. Consigned to Samuel Howell.  All had been residents of Alsace-Lorraine, but had been forced to flee their native habitat for lower Bavaria, due to persecution, the 30 years war and other circumstances. Leaving their home in lower Bavaria they traveled down the river to Rotterdam, the port of embarkation, took boat and shipped via a British port for America (Elit R. Felix).

In 1768 he is recorded on the tax list of Philadelphia, PA.  By the year 1772 Stephen Felix was on the tax records in Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Stephen Felix is found on the tax list of Mt. Joy in Lancaster County in the year 1777. Stephen Felix is found on the tax list of Derry Township, County of Lancaster in 1781.

Stephen Felix served in the Revolutionary War in Capt. Robert McKee's County, 3rd Battalion, Lancaster County Militia, commanded by Col. Alexander Laury as shown on August 24, 1778 as 2nd class and on the rolls for April 19, 1779. He was in the 7th County, 7th Battalion, Lancaster County Militia, 2nd class in 1782 under Capt. Robert McKee.

Stephen married Mary Magdalena Eckenroth daughter of Johannes Henricus Eckroth and Susanna Steissen about 1774. Mary was born in June 1752 in Donegal Township, Lancaster County, PA. 

They had the following children:

  1. Magdalena Felix.
  2. Catharine Felix was born on 20 February 1775 in Donegal Township, Lancaster County, PA.  She married Jacob Lawrence (b 14 October 1778 in Greenwich Township, Berks County, PA) 1799/1800.  She died on 8 March 1843 in Mt. Pleasant Township, Adams County, PA. 
  3. Susanna Felix was born on 12 December 1775 in Donegal Township, Lancaster County, PA. She married George Kuhn son of John Kuhn and Catharine Eckenroth about 1800 in Adams County, PA. They had 8 children.  She died on 24 February 1854 in Adams County, PA.
  4. Elizabeth Felix was born on 22 November 1778 in Derry Township, Dauphin County, PA.   She married John Adam Alwine (b 17 May 1779) abt 1799 in St. Peter's Catholic Church, Elizabethstown, Lancaster County, PA.  She died on 5 January 1815 in Elizabethtown, Lancaster County, PA. She was buried in St. Peter's Cem., Elizabethtown, Lancaster County, PA. 
  5. Mary "Polly" Felix was born about 1779 in Derry Township, Dauphin County, PA.  She married Joseph Kaughert.
  6. Henry Felix was born on 18 July 1780 in Derry Township, Dauphin County, PA.  He married Eva Rose Lawrence (b 20 Apr 1782 in Greenwich Township, Berks County, PA) on 2 May 1810 in Coewago Chapel, Adams County, PA.  They had at least one child, a son named Jacob Felix.  Henry was listed in the 1820 Census in Dauphin County, PA.  He died on 14 July 1848 in Derry Township, Dauphin County, PA. 
  7. Peter Felix was born on 14 July 1785 in Derry Township, Dauphin County, PA. He was baptised on 3 March 1786 in Trinity Lutheran Church, Reading, Berks County, PA.  He is recorded with military service during the War of 1812.  He married Mary Gloss (b 2 October 1800 in Philadelphia, PA) in 1821 at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Elizabethtown, Lancaster County, PA.  They had 10 children.  Peter was recorded in the 1830 Census in Bedford County, PA, and the 1840 and 1850 Censuses in Somerset County, PA.  He was a farmer.  He died on 14 July 1850 in Shade Township, Somerset County, PA, and was buried in Crum/Oldham Cemetery, Shade Township, Somerset County, PA.
  8. Anna Maria Felix was born on 24 July 1788 in Derry Township, Dauphin County, PA.  She married Henry Eagle (b 31 January 1785 in East Donegal Township, Lancaster County, PA) on 6 June 1808 in St. Peter's Catholic Church, Elizabethstown, Lancaster County, PA.  They had 13 children.  She died on 12 December 1861 in Elizabethstown, Lancaster County, PA. 

Stephen Felix is found in the Census records from 1790, 1800 and 1810 in Dauphin County, PA.

Mary Magdalena died on 2 February 1819 in Derry Township, Dauphin County, PA. She was buried in St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery, Elizabethtown, Lancaster County, PA.  Stephen died on 18 October 1821 in Derry Township, Dauphin County, PA. He was buried on 21 October 1821. 

From "Four Felix Brothers", by Marion C. Bale and Diane M. Krumrine, page 176, published 2001 by John Timon Reily Historical Society, McSherrystown, Pennsylvania.
The administrators of the estate of Stephen Felix placed an advertisement in the "Lancaster Journal" October 18, 1822. "Valuable Property FOR SALE. Will be sold by public vendue, on Friday, the 22nd day of November next, on the premises, a Valuable Plantation OR Tract of Land, Containing about 194 acres, be the same more or less, situate partly in Derry Township, Dauphin County, and partly in Mountjoy Township, Lancaster County, about 2 miles from Elizabethtown, and 6 from Middletown, adjoining the Lancaster, Elizabethtown & Middletown turnpike road, lands of Jacob Ober, Christian Ober, Joseph Gorgas, Henry B. Grubb and others; about 60 acres of which are covered with excellent timber, the remainder in a high state of cultivation and under good fence. The improvements are A Two Story LOGHOUSE, weatherboarded, with a pump of excellent water at the door, a log barn, presshouse, wash house, with other out-buildings. This property is well watered, the Conewago creek running through it with a smaller stream rising from sundry springs on the premises, from which almost every field may be watered - the said plantation could be conveniently divided into two farms. Being late the estate of Stephen Felix, deceased, and to be sold by the subscribers, attornies (sic) of all the heirs of the said deceased. Sale to commence at one o'clock, P.M. on said day, when attendance will be given and terms made know by Henry Felix, Harmon Orendorf."

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