Henry Binkley (abt. 1737 - bef. 1776)

Born about 1737 in Lampeter Twp, Lancaster Co, PA

Ancestors

Descendants

Died before 15 Nov 1776 before about age 39 in Lampeter Township, Lancaster Co, PA

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Biography

Born ABT 1737. Lampeter Twp, Lancaster Co, PA. ^[1]

Died 15 NOV 1776. Lampeter Township, Lancaster Co, PA. ^[2]

Buried 1776 Binkley Cem. Manor Twp., Lancaster Co, Herr Farm. ^[3][4]

Marriage ABT 1765. ^[1]

Research Notes

Most sources show Henry Binkley born 1745, but don't say where the date came from. The same sources think his father Johannes d. 1757, and one says that Henry was 12 when his father died -- which may be the source of '1745' birthdate. If Henry really was 12 when his father died, then Henry was b. 1737, since Johannes's will and estate show he died 1749. I have therefore changed my records to show 'abt 1737' for his birth.

If Henrich was b. 1745, he came along rather late, perhaps 8 to 10 years after the other children. 1737 seems more logical. Deed Bk Y-177 shows he was one of the sons of Johannes Sr.

When Johannes Sr. died, all the children were underage, so their mother and the oldest boy, Johannes Jr., who was about 19 or 20, must have supported the younger ones, as their father's will stipulated. Henry was either 4 or 12, depending on whether you believe a 1737 or a 1745 birth date.

After Henrich married, he participated in several land exchanges among his siblings (1768). He moved to Manor Tp, buying land with a mill and immediately selling his Lampeter land to his brother Felix. But he lived in Manor Tp just 4 years before either falling ill or being injured; he sold that land to a physician named John KENNEDY and moved back to Lampeter in 1773, perhaps to live with his brother Felix, since Christian had already moved 10-15 miles north to Manheim Tp. Henry wrote his 1776 will in Lampeter on 15 Nov, one of his witnesses being John KENNEDY, who may be the Lancaster practitioner of physic who had bought Henry's land in Manor and may have been attending him as a physician in Lampeter. Henry died just 6 days later at about age 31.

Henry signed his will with his sign rather than signature, so we can assume that like his father he did not read or write -- but he knew farming and milling.

Don't know where he was buried -- perhaps Mellinger's Cemetery?.

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The history of this line is given in an article on Henrich's great-grandson Henry Fry Binkley in Biographical Annals of Lancaster County, pub'd by J. H. Beers & Co. 1903 [ p. 911]. Here is what it says about the first two generations, Johannes and Henrich Binkley:

"The first of the Binkley family in Lancaster county of whom we have any record was [Henry Fry Binkley's] great-grandfather, Henry Binkley, in 1765 [doesn't say what the record was], whose parents were probably from Germany and the founders of the family in this country. They were buried in the city of Lancaster [more likely on their own land or at Mellinger's Cemetery].

"David Binkley, son of Henry, was left an orphan there when quite small [Henry having died at about age 31], and in early life learned the millwright's trade, becoming one of the best known representatives of that calling in the county, where he erected a large number of mills. In 1799 he [David Binkley] purchased the farm now known as the old Binkley homestead, which consists of seventy-one acres of land and is pleasantly situated on the Little Conestoga, midway between Millersville and Safe Harbor [in Manor Tp]. Here he made his home with his family throughout the remainder of his life, and carried on farming in connection with work at his trade. After his retirement from active life, the millwright's business was conducted under his supervision by his son Christian, and his son-in-law, John Herr.

"He [David Binkley] was a leader in the Reformed Mennonite Church, was widely and favorably known, and was called upon to administer many estates. He died Nov. 5, 1845, at the age of seventy-six years, nine months and twenty days, and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary YORDY, died Sept. 6, 1846, at the age of seventy-seven years, nine months and twenty days. She was a sister of Peter YORDY, a lame man, who owned a farm in the center of what is now known as Lampeter Square, the name of which was derived from Lame Peter, by which epithet he was known.

"David and Mary (YORDY) Binkley had five children, namely: (1) David married and had two children, but he and his family died young. (2) Zephaniah is mentioned below. (3) Christian, a millwright and farmer, reared a family near Columbia, in Manor township, and died Dec. 24, 1872. (4) Mary wedded John Herr, and died March 20, 1890, at the age of eighty-nine years. (5) Elizabeth married Jonathan [Johnson] Binkley, and moved to Montgomery county, Ohio.

"Zephaniah Binkley, father of Henry F., was born on the old homestead, Dec. 2, 1806; and died March 20, 1880, his remains being interred in the family burying ground on that farm. He adopted agriculture as a life work, and never left the farm where he was born. He married Catharine Frey, a daughter of Peter Frey. She was born Sept. 21, 1808, on a farm embraced within the Indiantown tract, in Manor township. She died Jan. 5, 1875. In the family of Zephaniah and Catharine (Frey) Binkley were nine children, namely: David F. is now living with his son-in-law, John N. Herr, in Manor township; an infant son died Aug. 20, 1828; Magdalena, born March 30, 1830, died Feb. 9, 1831; John has been a minister of the United Brethren Church since 1866, and is now a resident of Lebanon county, Pa.; Christian F. is a resident of West Lampeter township, Lancaster county; Peter died Sept. 21, 1871, at the age of twenty-nine years, eleven months and twenty-one days; Henry F. is mentioned below; Mary is the wife of Simon REESE of Lancaster; and Catharine is the wife of Isaac KEEPORT of Manor township.

"Henry F. Binkley, whose name introduces this review, received a good common-school education, and in the spring of 1873 began farming on his own account, in Providence township, and after the death of his father, returned to the old homestead which he still occupies. He is an enterprising and up-todate farmer, and has met with well-deserved success in his labors. By his ballot he supports the men and measures of the Republican party.

"On Oct. 29, 1872, Mr. Binkley was united in marriage with Miss Catherine M. Kreider, who was born in West Lampeter township, April 11, 1846, a daughter of John and Leah (MAYER) Kreider. They have a family of three children; Emma K., born April 4, 1874, now the wife of Thaddeus R. WIKER Jacob K., born Jan. 4, 1876, at home; and Annie K., born Jan. 14, 1879, also at home.".

Millie Mowry, Data Entry Manager, Lancaster Co, PA, 24 Jan 2007.

Posted on: http:/www.pa-roots.org/dataread.php?31,483369. 1

HENRY BINKLEY'S WILL 1776- Henry Binkly deceased- In the Name of God Amen. November 15, 1776. I Henry Binkly of Lampeter Township, Lancaster and Province of Pennsylvania, being very sick and weak in Body but of perfect Mind and Memory, Thanks be given to God for it and all other Mercies and knowing the Mortality of the Body I do make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament in Manner following Imprimis I give and recommended my Soul into The Hands of almighty God that gave it, and my Body to be buried in a decent Manner according to the Direction of my Executors likewise it is my Will that my Funeral Expenses and all my just Debts be paid first out of my Estate by my Executors, likewise I give and bequeath unto my beloved Wife Feronica Binkly the one third Part of all my Bonds, Notes Book- accompts what somever and likewise all my moveable Goods which I now possess, to her Heirs and Assigns for ever. Likewise it is my Will that my said Wife shall receive her third Part out of the two first Bonds which shall come payable first. Likewise I so will and bequeath unto my Son David Binkly all the Rest and Residue of my Estate to him his Heirs and Assign forever to be paid to him by my Executors when he arrives to the Age of Twenty one Years of Age and I do constitute and appoint my Wife Feronica Binkley to be my Executive, and likewise to be his Guardian until he arrives to the Age of Twenty one Years. David Binkly likewise I do constitute and appoint my Brother in law Christian Hare to be executor of this my last Will and Testament. And I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disannull all and every other former Testaments by me in anywise before named willed and bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have set my Hand and Seal this fifteen Day of November in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Seventy Six. Henry Binkly (his sign). 1

Signed sealed published pronounced and declared by the said.

Henry Binkly as his last Will and Testament in the Presence of us who in his Presence and in the Presence of each other have here to subscribed our Names. John Kennedy. Christian Binkly. 1

Lancaster County On the Twenty fifth Day of November. Anno Domini 1776 Before me the Subscriber personally appeared John Kennedy one of the subscribing Witnesses to be within Will and on his _______ Calm did.

depose and say that he was present and saw and heard Henry Binkly the testator within named sign seal publish pronounce and ______ Will in writing and for his last Will and Testament and that at the doing thereof he was of sound and disposing Mind Memory and Understanding to the.

best of his Knowledge Observation and Belief. Edward Sheppen D Register. 1

Lancaster County in the Twenty fifth Day of November in Anno Domini 1776 before me the subscriber personally appeared Christian Binkly another of the subscribing Witnesses to the within and on his solemn Affirmation according to law did declare and say that he was present and saw and heard Henry Binkley the Testator within named sign publish pronounce and declare the within Writing as and for his last Will and Testament and that at the doing hereof he was of sound and well disposing Mind, Memory and Understanding to the best of his knowledge, observation and Belief. Be it remembered that on the Twenty fifth Day of November Anno Domini 1776 the last Will and Testament of Henry Binkly Lampeter Township in the County of Lancaster Yeoman deceased was proved in due Form of Law and Letters Testamentary were Granted to Feronica Binkly and Christian Hare the Executors therein named, they being found duly justified well and truly to administer the Estate of the Decedent and to exhibit a true and forceful Inventory thereof into the Register's Office at Lancaster on or before the Twenty fifth Day of December next, and to render a true and just account of their administration on the said Estate when there to lawfully required. Given under the Seal of the said Office. Edw. Shippen, D Register. 1

LATER- Fronica Herr Binkley married for an second time to Baltzer Shertzler and they had two daughters, Elizabeth, who married John Doner and Barbara. Both daughters lived in Millersville, PA. 1

Land holdings.

• Henrich, Christian, and their sister Ann all later sold their part of their father’s land to their older brother Felix (Ann in 1764), but Henrich not until he was married: On 12 Jan 1768, per Deed Bk Y-177 and Y-180: Christian & Henry & Frena (Henry’s wife) PINKLE of Lampeter, sons of John Sr., sold to brother Felix PINKLE 200 ac on Mill Creek, their undivided share of their father’s estate. At the same time, Henry bought from his brother Felix 100 acres in Lampeter from their father’s estate.6 Henry would have been either 23 or 31 years old. Henry BINKLY BINKELEY BINGELY paid taxes in Manor Tp 1769, 1770, and 1771; in 1771 he was noted to be a farmer. 13 June 1769 - Deed Book N-282: Just a year after that exchange among the siblings, Henry Binkley, yoeman, of Manor Tp, buys 3 tracts in Manor Tp from Abraham BRUBaker and his wife Magdalena of Cocalico [sic] Tp. These are (a) 150 acres with grist and saw mill, (b) a tract of 120 perches, and (c) 1-1/2 acres. The larger tract was patented 25 Jul 1742 to Michael Myers (Ref. PB A-10-469), etc. The two smaller tracts were low land that had often been inundated by backup from the mill dam and had been purchased from larger tracts patented in June 1761 to David HAIR and to Henry FUNK.

Deed Book N-280 [date?] shows a Henry Binkley of Manor Tp buying 150 acres plus 120 perches plus 1.5 acres and creek on the Little Conestoga in Manor Tp [date?]. History of the tract: 1742 Michael and Barbara Myers; 1747 Edward & Anna Taylor; 1749 Abraham HARE; 1751 George & Anna SNEVELY; 1757 John BRUBAKER; 1761 - 1.5 acre to John BRUBAKER of Manor; 1762 David & Barbara HAIR to John BRUBAKER in Manor; 1762 Henry & Magdalena FUNK 1.5 acres & creek to John BRUBAKER, Manor; 1769 Henry & Elizabeth Martin, Grist & Saw Mills. --.

• Four days later, on 17 June 1769 - Deed Book Y-183: Henry BINCKLY yeoman, and his wife Frena of Manor Tp released to his brother Christian BINCKLY, yeoman of Lampeter Tp, the 100 acres back in Lampeter that Henry had gotten from his brother Felix a year earlier. (This tract was sold 1790 by Johnson and Elizabeth Binkley to [brother?] John Binkley; in 1797 it was transferred to Henry Binkley of Manor. Deed Book 9-183.). Just 4 years later, on 3 Apr 1773 - Deed Book N-285: Henry Binckley and his wife Fronica of Manor Tp released to John KENNEDY, practitioner of physick, of Lancaster Borough, 3 tracts in Manor Tp, the mill and water-right tracts, as bought in 1769. KENNEDY sold the mill and land the following year on 1 Mar 1774.10 (KENNEDY also shows up later with property next to the Binkley mill in Lampeter which is bought from his widow Anne KENNEDY by miller John Binkley [d. 1797], son of Henrich’s brother Felix.).

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Fanny Herr of Millersville, Pennsylvania, married Henry Binkley, s/o Christian Binkley and ___ ^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Janet Binkley
2. ↑ PA Wills(1682-1834) FTM CD#209
3. ↑ Stan Bourdo - FGS
4. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/146622708/henrich-binkley: accessed 12 February 2023), memorial page for Henrich “Henry” Binkley (1737–15 Nov 1776), Find a Grave Memorial ID 146622708, citing Binkley Herr Cemetery, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA; Maintained by Beth (contributor 50665365).
5. ↑ T.W. Herr, p.4

• Theodore Witmer Herr, "Genealogical Record of Reverend Hans Herr and His Direct Lineal Descendants from His Birth A.D. 1639 to the Present Time Containing the Names, etc., of 13223 Persons," Lancaster, PA, 1908