Anna Catherine (Zeller) Pontius (1724 - 1794)

Born 1724 in Schoharie County, New York

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 1794 at about age 70 in Union County, Pennsylvania

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Glenn York [send private message]

Biography

Anna married John Pontius on 14 November 1743 in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, United States.^[1][2][3][4]

Catrina Pontius person was in the Will of Johan Henrick Zeller in 3 August 1754.^[5]

This person was in a record in 1809.^[6]

This person was in a genealogy book record in 1685.^[7]

This person was in a record in 1977.^[8]

Vital Data

• Birth - c1722 in Schoharie County, New York
• Death - a1771 ^[9]
• Burial - Pontius Cemetery, near Mifflinburg, Union County, Pennsylvania ^[10][11]

Marriage and Family

• Parents
  • Father - Johan Heinrich (1684)
  • Mother - Anna Maria Briegal Zeller (1690)
• Marriage
  • Johannes Pontius - June 14, 1743 in Tulpehocken County, Pennsylvania
• Children ^[12]
  • Johan Heinrich (1744) - Married Anna Catherine Wolfe
  • Johan Andrew (1745) - Married Barbara Ann Sherman
  • Johan Peter (1747) - Married Anna Catherina Berger
  • Johan Nicholas (1749) - Married Maria Appolonia Wilhelm
  • Johannes (1751) - Married Maria Barbara Katterman
  • John George (1752) - Married (1) Catherine ?LNAB and (2) Dorothy Moyer
  • Anna Maria (1755) - Married (1) Jacob Aurand and (2) Jacob Welker
  • Anna Catherine (1757) - Married Johan Michael Emerich
  • John Frederick (1759) - Married (1) Anna Margaret ?LNAB and (2) Catherine Reedy
  • Elizabeth (1763) - Married George Youngman

Residence

• Early - Schoharie County, New York
• c1725 - a1771 - Berks County, Pennsylvania
•  ?1772 - ? - Northumberland (now Union) County, Pennsylvania

References

1. ↑ Marriage: "Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Marriage Records, 1512-1989"
   citing Affiliate Name: Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Digital film/folder number: 102115270; Image number: 94
   FamilySearch Record: 6CYN-X49Y (accessed 17 January 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSWP-3S1X
   Anna Catarina Zoeller marriage to John Pontius on 14 Nov 1743 in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, United States.
2. ↑ Marriage: "Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Marriage Records, 1512-1989"
   citing Affiliate Name: Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Digital film/folder number: 102115270; Image number: 66
   FamilySearch Record: 6CYN-C8MD (accessed 17 January 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSWP-3SZT
   Anna Catarina Zoeller marriage to John Pontius on 14 Nov 1743 in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, United States.
3. ↑ Marriage: "Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Marriage Records, 1512-1989"
   citing Affiliate Name: Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Digital film/folder number: 102115270; Image number: 66
   FamilySearch Record: 6CYN-DN1B (accessed 17 January 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSWP-3SZT
   Anna Catarina Zoeller marriage to John Pontius on 14 Nov 1743 in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, United States.
4. ↑ Marriage: "Pennsylvania, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Marriage Records, 1512-1989"
   citing Affiliate Name: Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Digital film/folder number: 102115270; Image number: 94
   FamilySearch Record: 6CYF-MJCK (accessed 17 January 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CSWP-3S1X
   Anna Catarina Zoeller marriage to John Pontius on 14 Nov 1743 in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, United States.
5. ↑ Will of Johan Henrick Zeller of Tulpehocken, Berks Co, PA, written 3 August 1754, proved 20 January 1756
   "Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1683-1994," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-28790-27076-5?cc=1999196&wc=M99F-4Q6:1407956139 : accessed 16 Aug 2014), Berks > Estates 1752-1799 Wert, Christina-Zwerentz, Ludwig > image 1401 of 1812.
   (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L991-29MS-N?cc=1999196&wc=M99F-4Q6%3A1407956139 : 29 March 2020)
   “In the name of God Amen!
   The Third Day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty four, I JOHAN HENRICH ZELLER of Tulpenhacon in the County of Berks yeoman, calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, but being yet of perfect mind and memory do therefore ordain this my last Will & Testament, that is to say. Principally & first of all, I give and recommend my soul in the Hands of God that gave it, & for my body, I recommend it to the Earth to be buried in a Christian like and decent manner at the discretion of my herein mentioned executors, nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty Hand of God and as touching such worldly estate whereisath it hath pleased God to bless me in this Life I give, devise and dispose of the same in the following manner & form, that is to say.
   
   First I give and Bequeath to my son JOHAN GEORGE ZELLER and to his heirs and assigns forever my plantation whereon I now live, and all my real and moveable estate, the Dowry due to my loving wife ANNA MARIA excepted, and upon condition that he, my said son JOHAN GEORGE ZELLER his heirs and assigns shall pay unto my herein mentioned executors the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds currant money of Pensilvania in manner and form following, that is to say, Forty Pounds part thereof for my son JOHN HENRICH ZELLER Junior within four months after my deceased,
   
   Item, Forty Pounds for my son JOHAN DAVID ZELLER also within four months after my decease. Nevertheless if my son JOHN GEORGE will keep and maintain his said brethren during their life time, they being simple, in Vituals and Drink washing and lodging handsomely, and to the satisfaction of their guardian herein mentioned he shall not be obliged to pay any thing for their use as long as he keeps them so, and after their the said JOHAN HENRICH’S or JOHAN DAVID’S decease he my said son JOHAN GEORGE shall be acquitted for the sum given to them by me as aforesaid, and shall never pay them, otherwise if he don’t keep them so as aforesd he shall pay such sums for their use and maintenance and what is left after their decease, shall be equally devided among and between all my children or their representatives, the remainder sum of one hundred and seventy pounds shall be equally devided between the rest of my children or their representatives, to wit: HARTMAN ZELLER, JOHN ZELLER, ANNA MARA SALTSGEBER, BARBARALIS LEREW, CATRINA PONTIUS, and ANNA ELIZABETH BATTORFF, and for the payment of the said sum of one hundred & seventy Pounds he shall have six years time after my decease, provided he does not offer to sell his lands herein bequeathed to him, if so then he shall give security for the payment of the whole sum of Two hundred and fifty Pounds before mentioned. As to my moveables I give and bequeath them to my before named loveing wife ANNA MARIA, and what is left after her decease shall be equally divided between my before named nine children or their representatives.
   
   Item. I ordain and nominate my son John Zeller and Leonard Anspach my son in law executors of this my last will & testament, and I do hereby disallow and revoke all and every other former testaments, wills, legacies, & executors, by me in any ways before this time named, willed, and bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will & treatment. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal the day and year first above written. Henrich Zeller
   
   Signed, sealed published, pronounced, and declared by the said Johan Henrich Zeller as his last will and Testament in the presence of us the subscribers.
   Carl Baunberger
   Leonhard Rith
   Sam Weiser
   
   Be it remembered that I do appoint the aforesaid John Zeller and Leonhard Anspach to be guardians for my said sons JOHN HENRICH & JOHN DAVID, who being not able to take care of themselves because for their simplicity, until an orphans Court in this county shall see cause to appoint others.
   Witnesses present at signing
   Carl Baunberger
   Leonhard Rith
   Sam Weiser
   
   Reading in Berks County January the Twentieth Anno Domini 1756. Then personally appeared Carl Baunberger, Leonhard Rith and Samuel Weiser the witnesses to the aforewritten will and being all solemnly sworn on the holy Evangelists of Almighty God did severally and respectively depose and say that they were and every of them was present and saw and heard Henrich Zeller the testator therein named sign seal publish and declare the within writing to be his last will and testament, and that at the time of the doing thereof the said Henrich Zeller was of sound mind memory and understanding, as they verily believe and that the named Carl Baumberger, Leonard Rith, and Sam Weiser are of their Handwriting respectively as witnesses at the request and in the presence of the testator and in presence of each other and further Henrich Zeller the said testator, did subscribe at the same time the writing subjoined to the said testament and will for the appointing guardians and they also subscribed as witnesses at the request. "
6. ↑ Copy of The Tulpehocken Zellers and Their Zeller Descendants. John F. Vallentine. 2012.
   Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah (929.273 Z38); check FamilySearch Catalog to view digital version.
   (https://dcms.lds.org/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE1942131 : 16 December 2019)
   Extensive history of PA Zellers with hundreds of pages of sources and records
7. ↑ The Tulpehocken Zellers and their Zeller descendants, by John F. Vallentine, (2012), pp. 16-23: Johann Henrich Zeller and family
   undefined
   (https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/203984-the-tulpehocken-zellers-and-their-zeller-descendants?viewer=1&offset=0#page=23&viewer=picture&o=search&n=0&q=%22Johan%20henrich%22 : 29 March 2021)
   Page 16:
   “Hypothesis #3: The father of Johan George Zeller (1686) was one Johan George Zeller [Sr.], and, by inference, was also the father of Johan Henrich Zeller (1685).
   The journal entry on 24 June 1711 under Johannes Zeller in the New York Subsistence lists gives his name as “Johan George Zeller’s son” (E75). This is direct evidence on the name of his father and may well be correct…
   This would imply that this otherwise unknown Johan George Zeller [Sr.] was also the father of Johan Henrich Zeller (1685), if Johan George (1686) and Johan Henrich Zeller (1765) were, in fact brothers, this strongly traditional.”
   
   Page 17:
   “Hypothesis #5: That the 1709/1710 Zeller immigrants – four in number – all stem from the family of Henrich Zoller (1656) of Wissen and Etzbach through his tow wives, Maria and Anna Martha (maiden surnames unproven).
   …Hand Jones summarized in 2002 (E28, 3:1777): “I think we can be sure now that the father of the New York immigrant Johan Henrich Zoller [or Zeller, 1685] was Henrich Zoller, a Catholic from Wissen on the Sieg on the Parish of Wissen on the Sieg, and the immigrant’s mother may well have been Henrich’s possibly first wife Maria nee Weller, probably a Lutheran of the neighboring hamlet of Etzbach in the parish of Hamm on the Sieg.”
   
   Page 21-22:
   [author’s conclusions:]
   (1) Johan George and Johan Henrich were brothers (but the possibility of their being first cousins nags just a bit).
   (2) Johan George Zeller’s father was Johan George Zeller [Sr.].
   (3) Johan George Zeller’s mother is unknown, the known evidence being inadequate at this time to make a reasonable call.
   (4) Johan George and Johan Henrich were German and did come from Etzbach or vicinity; the German Reformed Church was their primary affiliation.
   (5) Johan George and Johan Henrich were married after leaving Germany, both probably after arriving in the Colony of New York.
   (6) Johan George’s wife Anna Catharina was probably a Batdorf by birth (marriage or fostering).
   (7) Johan Henrich’s wife Anna Maria was a Briegal, based on long-time tradition and association with one George Briegal (see later).
   
   PageS 23-24:
   …Johan George Zeller (1686) and Johan Henrich Zeller (1685) resided in Schoharie Valley, Schoharie Co., New York, beginning about 1714-1717, where they resided for an additional dozen years before migrating on to Tulpehocken in Pennsylvania.
   …
   The Johan Henrich Zeller (1685) Family Unit. JOHAN HENRICH ZELLER as b. 1685 at or near Etzbach, Rhineland-Pfalz, Germany; d. 1756 at Mt. Aetna, Tulpehocken Twp., Berks, Pa.; md. abt 1710 to ANNA MARIA prob. BRIEGAL (Berigal or Perigal), b. abt 1690 prob. in Germany and d. 1765 in Tulpehocken Twp.
   
   Children (Zeller) – all (except Hartman) prob. b. in Schoharie Co., N.Y.:
   • HARTMAN, b. abt 1711 at Livingston Manor (East Camp), Columbia, N.Y.; md. (1) poss. CATHERINE; md. (2) ANNA MARIA.
   • ANNA MARIA, b. 29 Dec. 1715; chr. 22 Jan 1716 with Johannes Schaeffer and wife as witnesses and rec. at West Camp (St. Paul’s) Lutheran Ch., West Camp, Ulster, N.Y.; md. ANDREAS SALTZGEBER.
   • JOHAN HENRICH, b. abt 1717; simple minded; never married; d. prior 28 Dec 1772.
   • JOHAN DAVID, b. abt 1719; simple minded; never married; d. prior 28 Dec 1772.
   • BARBARA ELZIABETH “BARBARALIS”, b. abt 1720; md. JONAS LAREW (LEREW or LaRUE).
   • ANNA CATHARINA, b. abt 1722; md. JOHN FREDERICK PONTIUS.
   • JOHN, b. 1723; md. (1) ANNA MARIA BECKER; md. (2) MARIA CATHERINE LAUER.
   • JOHN GEORGE, b. abt 1725; md. MARIA BARBARA HAAS.
   • ANNA ELIZABETHA, b. abt 1727; md. (1) JOHAN ADAM BATDORF; md. (2) LEONARD SCHWARTZ.
8. ↑ Genealogies of Pennsylvania Families from the Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine, Vol. III, "Zeller Family Revision" by John F. Vallentine, (1977), pp. 442-453: Johann Heinrich Zeller and family
   undefined
   (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/48604/PAFamiliesIII-002639-513?backurl=&ssrc=&backlabel=Return#?imageId=PAFamiliesIII-002573-447 : 26 March 2020)
   “ JOHANN HEINRICH ZELLER, reported to have been born in France in 1684, and to have married ANNA MARIA BRIEGAL, daughter of James Briegal (Von Bruegal) of Holland, came with his family to Pennsylvania from Schoharie probably about the same time as Johann Zeller.
   Unlike Johann, he took up land, not in Heidelberg Township, but in what became Tulpehocken Township in the present Berks County, but was then in Lancaster County. On 2 December 1738, he purchased from Caspar Wistar, the Philadelphia brass-button maker, 115 acres on a branch of the Swatara Creek in Tulpehocken. Later he took up another 115 acres adjoining the first tract, which were patented to him 10 October 1750.
   Four years later on 3 August 1754, he had his will drawn. He gave the plantation “whereon I now live” and all his moveable estate to his son Johann George Zeller, he to pay £250 for it to the other heirs. Out of this sum his sons Johann Heinrich and Johann David were each to have £40, but Johann George was to care for them, “they being simple.” The balance of £170 was to be divided between the rest of his children: Hartman Zeller, John Zeller, Anna Maria Saltzgeber, Barbaralis Lerew, Catrina Pontius and Anna Elizabeth Battorf. He provided for his wife Anna Maria, and nominated his son John and son-in-law Leonard Anspach executors. The will was accepted for probate 20 January 1756.
   Anna Maria Zeller, widow of Johann Heinrich, is reported to have survived him until 1765, but it was notuntil 1772 that any disposition of his property was made.
   …
   Issue of Johann Heinrich Zeller by his wife Anna Maria Briegal:
   7. i. HARTMAN ZELLER, b. ca. 1711, was a sponsor at Christ Lutheran Church 25 September 1747, for Jacob Conterman’s daughter Anna Barbara. A son John Peter Zeller was baptized at Trinity Reformed Church 15 May 1749. Hartman Zeller was living “at Susquehanna” when three of his children communed 20 April 1753, at Host Reformed Church: Johannes Zoller, Catharina Zoller the eldest daughter, and Barbara Elizabeth Zoller, the 2nd daughter. In 1790 “Hardman Seller” was living in Washington County (formed from Frederick County in 1776), Maryland, having 4 males over 16 years and one female in his family.
   ii. A daughter, name unknown…
   iii. ANNA MARIA ZELLER, b. 29 December 1715…
   iv. JOHANN HEINRICH ZELLER, b. ca. 1717…
   v. JOHANN DAVID ZELLER, b. ca. 1719…
   vi. BARBARA ELIZABETH ZELLER, b. ca. 1720…
   vii. ANNA CATHRINA ZELLER, b. ca. 1722…
   viii. JOHANN ZELLER, b. ca. 1723…
   ix. JOHANN GEORG ZELLER, b. ca. 1725…
   x. ANNA ELIZABETH ZELLER, b. ca. 1725… "
9. ↑ #E137, citing #E136
10. ↑ #C158
11. ↑ U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
    undefined
    (https://search.ancestry.com/collections/60525/records/7424461 : 27 August 2023)
12. ↑ #E137, citing #C092 and #E136

Bibliography

C092 - Rev. John Casper Stoever's Baptismal and Marriage Records, 1730-1779. Notes and Queries, 1896 Annual Volume, p36, 51, 175 (also on microfilmat Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah)

C158 - "Catherine Zeller Pontius (1724 - 1794) - Find A Grave Memorial". 2016. Findagrave.Com

E136 - Zeller Family Revision. John F. Vallentine. 1971 .The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 27(2):92-103.

E137 - Vallentine, John F. 2012. The Tulpehocken Zellers And Their Zeller Decendants. Ebook. 1st ed.

Source Repository

C092 - https://archive.org/details/recordsofrevjohn01stoe

C158 - http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=55225283

E137 - https://dcms.lds.org/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE1942131&from=fhd

Source Comments

E137 - Vallentine's book is a treasure trove of information about the Zeller family that descended from Johann Heinrich and Johann George Zeller who moved into the Berks County, Pennsylvania area about 1720. It is a derived work, but it is very well documented with over 600 referenced sources.

Additional References

Pontius Cem, near Mifflinburg, Union County, Pennsylvania

The Huguenot Society of America 25:176-177. 1954. "Huguenot Pioneers"

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Zeller-29 created through the import of rgy_complete.ged on Jun 23, 2011 by Robert York. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Robert and others.

Notes

• Notation
  • "c" prefixed to any date denotes approximation
  • "b" prefixed to any date denotes "before"
  • "a" prefixed to any date denotes "after"
  • "?" prefixed to any date or word denotes questionable or missing source information or uncertainty in general.