Johann Michael Michael Axer (1709 - 1777)

Born Nov 1709 in (Arsheim) Albig, Kurfürstentum Pfalz, Heiliges Römisches Reich

Ancestors

Husband of Anna Maria Barbara (Spiess) Axer — married 21 Dec 1746 in Tulpehocken Twp, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died Aug 1777 at age 67 in Moccasin Gap, Washington County, Virginia

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Biography

From Birth . . . .

• Born November 1709 in Armsheim
• Baptised 1722 in Albig
• Married Maria Barbara Spiess on 21 DEC 1746, Tulpehocken Twp, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania^[1]

. . . . to Death

• Died August 1777 in Virginia

and what happened in between

• Names of Foreigners Who Took the Oath of Allegiance to the Province and State of Pennsylvania Persons' Names.: MICHAEL AXER of Lancaster County, 30th September 1749

LIST OF THE PALATINE MEN'S NAMRS PER THE LYDIA, JAMES ALLEN, MASTER.QUALIFIED 29TH SEPT., 1741 Michel Axer,

• Arrived in the Port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on "Robert & Alice" on 24 September 1742.
• Settled in Tulpehocken Twp, (Lancaster Co., then) now Berks Co., PA

Pennsylvania Census, 1772-1890

MICHEL AXER

Philadelphia County, Philadelphia, 1742

Source Information:

Jackson, Ronald V., Accelerated Indexing Systems, comp. Pennsylvania Census, 1772-1890. [database on-line] Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, 1999-. Compiled and digitized by Mr. Jackson and AIS from microfilmed schedules of the U.S. Federal Decennial Census, territorial/state censuses, and/or census substitutes.

Excerpts from: The Axer/Oxer/Auxier Family “A Journey of Courage and Conviction” by John Britton Wells III hosted on Rootsweb

"The saga of the “Auxier” family in America began on September 24, 1742, when Michael “Axer” arrived in the Port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on board the Ship “Robert & Alice” along with seventy-four other male “foreigners” and their families. The ship departed from Rotterdam in the Netherlands with a stop in Cowes, England, before making its way across the Atlantic to America. Although the residences of the passengers were not included in the ship’s records, subsequent research has provided the places of origin of twenty-seven of the immigrants. All were ethnic Germans who lived within a twenty-five mile radius of the town of Kaiserslautern in the present German state of Rhineland-Pfalz. At his arrival in America, Michael Axer’s oath of allegiance was witnessed by fellow passengers, Phillips Jacob Rechenfelter, Johan Jacob Metzger and Johannes Heinrich Heydt.

According to German church registers and manumission records, Rechenfelter was a resident of the village of Kriegsfeld, Metzger was from Undenheim and Heydt was from the nearby village of Armsheim, all in the German Palatinate. Regrettably, no manumission record for Michael Axer has been found, but the Axer family did have strong ties to the villages of Kriegsfeld and Armsheim.

Almost immediately after his arrival in America, Michael Axer settled in the Tulpehocken township in Lancaster(now Berks) County, Pennsylvania, a predominately German-speaking community. On December 21, 1746, he married in Tulpehocken to (Anna) Maria Barbara Spiess, the daughter of Ulrich and Maria Dorothea(Tröster) Spiess of Tulpehocken township. Anna Maria Barbara Spiess was born on April 30, 1729, in Ober Lustadt, Pfalz, a small town located forty-two miles south of Armsheim. She came to America with her parents and several members of the Tröster and Hedderich families on board the “St. Andrew” on September 12, 1734.

The fact that Michael Axer did not marry until four years after his arrival in Pennsylvania suggests that he was a "Redemptioner," an immigrant unable to pay for his passage to America. According to German diarist Gottlieb Mittleberger who arrived from Germany in 1750, upwards of 85% of all passengers were forced to become indentured servants in order to pay the £10 fare. Most of those who ventured to America were landless farmers and laborers and Mittleberger estimated that the average personal wealth of the typical German newcomer was less than £30($42.00). The term of service was usually from three to five years and it is very likely that Michael Axer was indentured for four years to his future father-in-law Ulrich Spiess.

We know that Michael Axer’s full name was “John(Johann) Michael Axer” because on his wedding day, December 21, 1746, “John Michael Axer and spouse” sponsored the baptism in Tulpehocken of “John Michael” Troester(Tröster), son of Martin Troester(Tröster). Martin Tröster was the half-brother of Maria Barbara Spiess Axer. It was a German tradition that infants be given the first and middle names of their baptismal sponsors, thus “John Michael” Troester was named for “John Michael” Axer. It was also common practice for Germans to use their middle names in every day life. Therefore “John(Johann) Michael” Axer was commonly known as “Michael” Axer. On June 17, 1753, Maria Barbara Hedderich was baptized at Tulpehocken. Her sponsors were Michael and Barbara Axer. Obviously, “Maria Barbara” Hedderich was named for “Maria Barbara” Spiess Axer, but “Barbara” Axer signed the baptismal certificate using only her middle name.

Between 1748 and 1752, Michael and Barbara Axer presented four daughters for baptism in Tulpehocken. On June 26, 1748, their first daughter Anna Elisabethe, born on June 15, 1748, was sponsored by Maria Barbara’s sister Anna Elisabethe Spiess. On June 25, 1749, Anna Catarina, born on June 17, 1749, was sponsored by (Anna Catarina) Schuhen, the wife of Heinrich Schuhen. On February 2, 1751, Eva Margaretha, born on January 19, 1751, was sponsored by Maria Eva (Margaretha) Spiess, another sister of Maria Barbara Axer. Finally, on April 9, 1752, Maria Magdalena, born on March 8, 1752, was baptized with sponsor (Maria Magdalena) Hedderich, wife of Christopher Hedderich. Christopher Hedderich was a shipmate of Ulrich Spiess on the “St. Andrew.”

Michael Axer and his family followed hundreds of their Tulpehocken neighbors to the South Fork(Branch) region of Hampshire County, (West) Virginia. According to the merchant accounts of Christian Lauer “of Tulpehocken Creek,” Jacob Simon, Christian Schmidt, Peter Dorn, George Adam Bush and George See(Zeh) left for the South Fork prior to 1755. Land records indicate that Nicholas Simon and Martin Triester(Tröster), the half-brother of Michael Axer’s wife, also moved to South Fork(Branch) at a later date.

Michael “Oxer”(Axer) is first mentioned in Virginia records on December 3, 1757, as a purchaser of items from the estate of Christian Dousher of South Fork. The sale was held “at Michael Stump’s, on South Fork in Hampshire County.”

By 1771, Michael “Oxer” and his family had moved into southwestern Virginia and were included in the 1771 tax list for Botetourt County. On October 2, 1771, Michael and his oldest son George “Oxer” were listed as “on [the] Clinch [River].” According to an act passed by the Virginia General Assembly in 1748, tithables included "all male persons of the age of sixteen and upwards." At the time Botetourt County encompassed all of southwestern Virginia including the present counties of Washington, Russell and Scott. In 1773, Michael and George Oxer were included in the tax list for “that part of Fincastle County Settled on The Waters of the Clinch River.” Actually, Michael and George Oxer didn’t move, but the county lines did. Fincastle County was formed from Botetourt in 1772.

1777. "Also a man by the name of Michael Auxier, another by the name of Liton, and one William Priest were killed and several wounded.”

1. Elizabeth born 1748
2. Catherine born 1749
3. Margaret born 1751
4. Magdalena born 1752
5. George born about 1754
6. Simon born 1755-1757
7. Nancy born about 1757
8. Samuel born 1757-1759
9. Michael born 1761-1764
10. Abraham born 1770-1772
11. Jane born ???
12. Sallie born ???

Research Notes

Whether Michael was born in 1709 or 1720 is still in question. A birthdate of 1720 makes more sense in context of his marriage and service in the army. However, there is also a military headstone erected many generations later with a birthdate of 1709.

Whether Michael was born in 1709 or 1720 is still in question. A birthdate of 1720 makes more sense in context of his marriage and service in the army. However, there is also a military headstone erected many generations later with a birthdate of 1709.

Excerpts from: The Axer/Oxer/Auxier Family “A Journey of Courage and Conviction” by John Britton Wells III hosted on Rootsweb

"The saga of the “Auxier” family in America began on September 24, 1742, when Michael “Axer” arrived in the Port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on board the Ship “Robert & Alice” along with seventy-four other male “foreigners” and their families. The ship departed from Rotterdam in the Netherlands with a stop in Cowes, England, before making its way across the Atlantic to America. Although the residences of the passengers were not included in the ship’s records, subsequent research has provided the places of origin of twenty-seven of the immigrants. All were ethnic Germans who lived within a twenty-five mile radius of the town of Kaiserslautern in the present German state of Rhineland-Pfalz. At his arrival in America, Michael Axer’s oath of allegiance was witnessed by fellow passengers, Phillips Jacob Rechenfelter, Johan Jacob Metzger and Johannes Heinrich Heydt.

According to German church registers and manumission records, Rechenfelter was a resident of the village of Kriegsfeld, Metzger was from Undenheim and Heydt was from the nearby village of Armsheim, all in the German Palatinate. Regrettably, no manumission record for Michael Axer has been found, but the Axer family did have strong ties to the villages of Kriegsfeld and Armsheim.

Almost immediately after his arrival in America, Michael Axer settled in the Tulpehocken township in Lancaster(now Berks) County, Pennsylvania, a predominately German-speaking community. On December 21, 1746, he married in Tulpehocken to (Anna) Maria Barbara Spiess, the daughter of Ulrich and Maria Dorothea(Tröster) Spiess of Tulpehocken township. Anna Maria Barbara Spiess was born on April 30, 1729, in Ober Lustadt, Pfalz, a small town located forty-two miles south of Armsheim. She came to America with her parents and several members of the Tröster and Hedderich families on board the “St. Andrew” on September 12, 1734.

The fact that Michael Axer did not marry until four years after his arrival in Pennsylvania suggests that he was a "Redemptioner," an immigrant unable to pay for his passage to America. According to German diarist Gottlieb Mittleberger who arrived from Germany in 1750, upwards of 85% of all passengers were forced to become indentured servants in order to pay the £10 fare. Most of those who ventured to America were landless farmers and laborers and Mittleberger estimated that the average personal wealth of the typical German newcomer was less than £30($42.00). The term of service was usually from three to five years and it is very likely that Michael Axer was indentured for four years to his future father-in-law Ulrich Spiess.

We know that Michael Axer’s full name was “John(Johann) Michael Axer” because on his wedding day, December 21, 1746, “John Michael Axer and spouse” sponsored the baptism in Tulpehocken of “John Michael” Troester(Tröster), son of Martin Troester(Tröster). Martin Tröster was the half-brother of Maria Barbara Spiess Axer. It was a German tradition that infants be given the first and middle names of their baptismal sponsors, thus “John Michael” Troester was named for “John Michael” Axer. It was also common practice for Germans to use their middle names in every day life. Therefore “John(Johann) Michael” Axer was commonly known as “Michael” Axer. On June 17, 1753, Maria Barbara Hedderich was baptized at Tulpehocken. Her sponsors were Michael and Barbara Axer. Obviously, “Maria Barbara” Hedderich was named for “Maria Barbara” Spiess Axer, but “Barbara” Axer signed the baptismal certificate using only her middle name.

Between 1748 and 1752, Michael and Barbara Axer presented four daughters for baptism in Tulpehocken. On June 26, 1748, their first daughter Anna Elisabethe, born on June 15, 1748, was sponsored by Maria Barbara’s sister Anna Elisabethe Spiess. On June 25, 1749, Anna Catarina, born on June 17, 1749, was sponsored by (Anna Catarina) Schuhen, the wife of Heinrich Schuhen. On February 2, 1751, Eva Margaretha, born on January 19, 1751, was sponsored by Maria Eva (Margaretha) Spiess, another sister of Maria Barbara Axer. Finally, on April 9, 1752, Maria Magdalena, born on March 8, 1752, was baptized with sponsor (Maria Magdalena) Hedderich, wife of Christopher Hedderich. Christopher Hedderich was a shipmate of Ulrich Spiess on the “St. Andrew.”

Michael Axer and his family followed hundreds of their Tulpehocken neighbors to the South Fork(Branch) region of Hampshire County, (West) Virginia. According to the merchant accounts of Christian Lauer “of Tulpehocken Creek,” Jacob Simon, Christian Schmidt, Peter Dorn, George Adam Bush and George See(Zeh) left for the South Fork prior to 1755. Land records indicate that Nicholas Simon and Martin Triester(Tröster), the half-brother of Michael Axer’s wife, also moved to South Fork(Branch) at a later date.

Michael “Oxer”(Axer) is first mentioned in Virginia records on December 3, 1757, as a purchaser of items from the estate of Christian Dousher of South Fork. The sale was held “at Michael Stump’s, on South Fork in Hampshire County.”

By 1771, Michael “Oxer” and his family had moved into southwestern Virginia and were included in the 1771 tax list for Botetourt County. On October 2, 1771, Michael and his oldest son George “Oxer” were listed as “on [the] Clinch [River].” According to an act passed by the Virginia General Assembly in 1748, tithables included "all male persons of the age of sixteen and upwards." At the time Botetourt County encompassed all of southwestern Virginia including the present counties of Washington, Russell and Scott. In 1773, Michael and George Oxer were included in the tax list for “that part of Fincastle County Settled on The Waters of the Clinch River.” Actually, Michael and George Oxer didn’t move, but the county lines did. Fincastle County was formed from Botetourt in 1772.

1777. "Also a man by the name of Michael Auxier, another by the name of Liton, and one William Priest were killed and several wounded.”

1. Elizabeth born 1748
2. Catherine born 1749
3. Margaret born 1751
4. Magdalena born 1752
5. George born about 1754
6. Simon born 1755-1757
7. Nancy born about 1757
8. Samuel born 1757-1759
9. Michael born 1761-1764
10. Abraham born 1770-1772
11. Jane born ???
12. Sallie born ???

Sources

1. ↑ Source: #S19

• Source: S19 Title: Egle, William Henry. Pennsylvania Genealogies. Lane S. Hart. Harrisburg. 1886. pgs 559 and 560
• Source: S20 Title: Auxier Family Update, July 2005, copy in file Author: Dave Auxier
• "Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Marriage Records, 1512-1989", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6CYX-GBG9 : Thu Oct 05 09:49:28 UTC 2023), Entry for Michael Aver and Maria Barbara Spiess, Lebanon, Pennsylvania, United States, 21 October 1746.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/192031026/michael-auxier : accessed 02 January 2022), memorial page for Michael Auxier (Nov 1709–1777), Find a Grave Memorial ID 192031026, citing Auxier Cemetery #1, Johnson County, Kentucky, USA ; Maintained by Kentucky Hill Hunter (contributor 47428064) . This birthdate is probably wrong. It is more likely that he was born in 1720.
• Johann Michael Auxier at FamilySearch
• The Axer/Oxer/Auxier Family “A Journey of Courage and Conviction” by John Britton Wells III hosted on Rootsweb
• "Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Marriage Records, 1512-1989", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6CYX-GBG9 : Thu Oct 05 09:49:28 UTC 2023), Entry for Michael Aver and Maria Barbara Spiess, Lebanon, Pennsylvania, United States, 21 October 1746.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/192031026/michael-auxier : accessed 02 January 2022), memorial page for Michael Auxier (Nov 1709–1777), Find a Grave Memorial ID 192031026, citing Auxier Cemetery #1, Johnson County, Kentucky, USA ; Maintained by Kentucky Hill Hunter (contributor 47428064) . This birthdate is probably wrong. It is more likely that he was born in 1720.
• Johann Michael Auxier at FamilySearch
• The Axer/Oxer/Auxier Family “A Journey of Courage and Conviction” by John Britton Wells III hosted on Rootsweb