Johann Jacob Pfautz (abt. 1700 - aft. 1762)

Born about 1700 in Rohrbach, Rohrbach, Südliche Weinstraße, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

Ancestors

Husband of Anna Magdalena (Jüngling) Pfautz — married 1745 in Heiliges Römisches Reich

Descendants

Died after 1762 after about age 62 in York, Pennsylvania

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Biography

Hans Jacob Pfautz was born about 1703 in Rohrbach, Landkreis Südliche Weinstraße, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. ^[1]

In 1719, Jacob married Anna Magdalena Kuntz in Rohrbach, Birkenfeld, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany

Jacob passed away in 1762 in York, Rowan County, North Carolina.

Jacob, his wife and children, Anna Margareta and Michael, arrived in Pennsylvania c.1726, prior to when the "Ship Lists & Oaths" were established, and are known to have settled in Skippack, a German village about 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia, (now Montgomery County), Pennsylvania. They remained in the Skippack area until 1840-41.

It was sometimes many years before a church building was established in a frontier community, and the only church records wee the Journals and Diaries of the traveling ministers. The Rev. John Casper Stover, a Lutheran minister, recorded in 1730 the baptism of LUDWIG PFAUTZ at Skippack, and identified Jacob Pfautz, the father, as "am de Bergfarmen - of the hill settlement". ^[2]

It is believed that Ludwig died young, and there may be other children missing within the six years between Ludwig's birth and the two other children; or the possibility that Jacob's wife had died and Magdalena was his second wife. (Please understand that this is merely speculation.) We know that two additional children were born in the Skippack area between 1730-1740.

On 29 October 1734, Jacob took out a Survey Warrant for 150 acres on the southwest side of Perkiomen Creek, bounded by Wyatt Tul, Gerard Zin and Christion Stinebough. On 7 March 1738 the tract was surveyed. ^[3]

While living on Perkiomen Creek, Jacob and his family were joined by a young lad, DAVID PFAUTZ, IMMIGRANT OF 1738. David's name has gone through many and varied changes in the records that remain. On the Passenger List 61A of the SHIP DAVY, William Patton, Mar., from Amsterdam, in October 1738, his name is recorded as THEEVIA (?) FAUTZEN "doubtful name".^[4]. The name appears on the "list of men certified to the number 94. The name was not included on the second list (61B) where the men age 16 or older signed the Oath of Allegiance, thus he was 15 or younger (born C.1723). He was not accompanied by another male Pfautz. THEEVIA, being aural English spelling of a German pronounced German name, can be transliterated phonetically as "Thebehd", which is recognized as "Theobald". From there he was nicknamed "Dewald"' and finally "David".^[5]

The kinship of Jacob and David is unknown, but they were closely related. Jacob being a generation older than David, was perhaps an uncle showing concern for a nephew, or he could have been a cousin, once removed. From the very beginning Jacob's oldest son Michael and David became fast friend. The young men purchased adjoining property on the same day, witnessed one another's deed and followed the same migration trails. It would be impossible to tell the story of Michael, and exclude the roll that David played in his life.

Several years had passed since Jacob took out his warrant and had his land surveyed, but he did not follow through on the procedure required for Patent. On 21 April 1741 all his rights under Philadelphia County Warrant were forfeited and his tract was patented to Jacob Free.^[6]

Undoubtedly Jacob had made his plans well in advance. Prior to 21 April, when he relinquished his rights to his farm on Perkiomen Creek, he had moved his family over 100 miles in a southwesterly direction and settled along the Pennsylvania/Maryland border, near Hanover, in Lancaster (later York) County, Pa. It is reasonable to believe that young Michael and David had journeyed to the new area seeking land and Jacob, perhaps dissatisfied with his hill farm, was ready for a change. From later records, we learn that they were living in Lancaster (later York) Co., prior to 1 March 1741, perhaps in 1740.

The 226 acre farm, in Germany Twp., that Jacob selected was on the Pennsylvania/Maryland border joining the property lines of Peter Cline (in Pennsylvania), John Yengling (in Maryland) and George Stevenson, a surveyor. The area on the border then hotly contested by the two governments, is now located Adams County, Pa. They could be called "squatters" because Jacob lived on the land about 10 years before he took out a Pennsylvania Survey Warrant. Meanwhile, Jacob went about improving his frontier farm.

Jacob took communion at the Conewago Lutheran Church (later St. Matthew's Lutheran Church) near Hanover, on 2 October 1743, and received a certificate for doing so. He appeared before a Maryland Provincial Court to present the certificate and took the required Oath of Loyalty and Abjuration. On 18 October 1743 the Provincial Court of Maryland issued an order of naturalization to Jacob "Fauz", making him an English subject. ^[7]

Jacob's oldest son Michael, now 20 years old, is ready to strike out on his own, in the company of his kinsman, David (Theobald) Pfautz. Both took out land on Pipe Creek waters along the Maryland border, not far from Hanover.

Recorded at the St. Mathew's Lutheran Church, Hanover, Lancaster (later York) Co., on 4 December 1743, Jacob's youngest daughter, Maria Elizabeth, was baptized with Jacob Kuntz and his wife, Maria Elizabeth, standing as sponsors.^[8]. Jacob appeared in the Lutheran and reformed records in the area from 1741-1751 when he and Magdalena were sponsors at the baptism of their grandchild, Andrew, son of Michael and Catherina Pfautz.

On 10 September 1750, describing himself as "Jacob Fauts of York County", he took out a Pennsylvania Survey Warrant adjoining Peter Cline (in Pennsylvania), John Yengling (in Maryland), and George Stevenson, including his improvement in Germany Twp. The Warrant provided that he was to pay interest on the purchase price of the land and arrearages in quit rents back to 1 March 1741-2. In 1755 the land was surveyed for 226 acres and a return was made to the Lord Proprietors' Land Office.^[9]

Jacob Pfautz took no part in the governmental affairs of York Co., or Frederick Co., Md. He sat on no juries, served in no elected capacities. He did, however, serve a term as a Road Overseer. His only court appearance was on 17 January 1756 when he appeared before the York County Orphans Court and joined Francis Bardt to qualify as executors of the estate of Martin Bardt, dec'd.^[10] It has been noted in other parts of the Colonies that the inability of the Germans to speak and understand the English language was a barrier to both civil duty and military service - just simply being unable to communicate.

In 1762 a very unusual set of circumstances, that could hardly be called coincidental, took place. Within 2 months time, Jacob Pfautz, his son Michael, kinsman David and son-in-law Andrew Hoover sold all their lands in Maryland & Pennsylvania.

It is recorded that on 2 July 1762 - Jacob Pfautz of Germany Twp., York Co., Pa., deeded to Jacob Feezer, of the same place, both farmers, 226 acres in Germany Twp., bounded by John Yengling, George Stevenson and Peter Little (Cline) being a grant to the said Pfautz from the Lord Proprietors Land Office dated September 1750.../s/Jacob Pfauts.^[11]. To all appearances Jacob's wife, Anna Magdalena, had died in Hanover Twp., York County, prior to 1762. (now Adams Co., Pa.)

The Cherokee War was finally over in Western North Carolina by mid-summer 1761 and the Land Agents of Henry McCulloh were only waiting for that event in order to move their clients to Uwharrie. By late 1762 and early 1763 they were deeding lands to settlers. ^[12]

Most of Jacob's family, with the known exception of one daughter, Catherine Eckert, was heading for North Carolina in the company with other interrelated German families. On 17 February 1763, all of the following obtained Mc Cullon deeds on the waters of Uwharrie in Rowan County, N.C. ^[13]

David Fouts, 292 acres (pp.332) David Fouts, Jr. (son of David Sr.), 230 acres (pp.335) Michael Fouts, 260 acres (pp.335) Jacob Fouts, 200 acres (pp.334) Andrew Hoover, 213 acres (pp.342) & 200 acres (pp.483) Adam Varner, 289 acres (Michael's bro-in-law) (pp.415) Also, many others from the York Co., Pa. area.

Why would Jacob Pfautz, now a widower in his early 60's have sold out unless he intended to accompany them? A word of explanation is necessary - Jacob Fouts who made the deed for 200 acres in Rowan Co. was the 16 year old son of Theobald (David, Sr.) In 1807 when Jacob sold the tract he said in the Deed that he "had taken title from Henry Eustace McCulloh". ^[14]

Jacob's deed in 1762 was his last appearance in the York County (now Adams) records and he did not purchase land in Rowan County, North Carolina. He died after 1762, however, no probate has been found in either place, or in Frederick County, Maryland. ^[15]

Not listed in Rupp-30,000 immigrants to PA.

Not in Pa. German Marriages.

From Audrey Woodruff -Jacob was an immigrant to America before 1726 and settled in Skippack, a German village 20 miles nw of Philadephia. (now Montgomery Co. PA) In 1741 he moved in family over 100 miles and settled near Hanover, Lancaster (later York) Co. PA. He took communion at the Conewago Lutheran church near Hanover in 1743. In 1743 he took the required oath of loyalty and was issued an order of naturalization making him an English subject. In 1762 he deeded his lands away and he may have gone to NC with most of his children. He did not buy land in NC. No probate record has been found in PA or NC.

Children

• Anna Margaretha (Fouts) Hoover^{[citation needed]}
• Michael Jacob Fouts Sr.^{[citation needed]}
• John Ludwig Pfautz^{[citation needed]}

Research Notes

Family line "duplicates" and variations will continue to populate wiki tree due to the importing of GEDCOM files (recently that has been limited, but the damage is done). In general, the variation in last name spelling itself (Pfauw, Pfau, Faw, etc.) is the main issue along with family trees that have been handed down unsourced with various typographical errors in names, locations, and birth and death dates. Two specific cases are noted below.

The family line Pfau-105 appears to represent the same family line albeit with variations of spellings of names as well as birth locations. Given the lack of historical records and the nature of dealing with records in this time frame, it is unclear which is more accurate.

Another family line Pfautz-2 with a very similar last name and to an extent similar family members exists on wikitree. At this time it is unclear if they are exactly the same with the last name varying as it usually does in historical references (Pfauw, Pfau, Faw versus Pfautz, Foutz, Fouts) along with the spellings of the family members names or whether it or this line contains some speculative and perhaps false information.

The current descendants from line Pfau-49 have been sourced digitally (census, birth, death, marriage, probate, etc. records) with familysearch.org records and findagrave.com records and a family history book Faw Family History Book (PDF) when available and are directly available through the profiles. back to Switzerland with a church stained glass piece donated by Pfauw-4. The connections though remain circumspect.

Reviewing the family line Pfautz-2 there appear to be many references to other genealogical websites and databases (no direct link to any sources) as well as a family book. More research (census, birth, death, marriage, probate, etc. records) and verification of the family line descendants from Pfautz-2 using familysearch.org and findagrave.com are needed before determining whether these two families are the same, distinctly different, or a mixture with some false connections possibly on both lines.

The Faw Family History Book (PDF) does give some insight into the Pfautz, Pfants, Fountz, Fouts family name in a letter on page 31 Chapter 2. It states that Pfautz is a wholly different name than Pfau and has a different meaning (Pfau means peacock and is on the Faw coat of arms). Further research into this matter is still needed, but it does appear to indicate that these should be two distinctly different families and perhaps either Pfau-49 or Pfautz-2 has some ancestry mixed up. At this point, copies or digital records of the original documentation is needed to establish the last name spelling at that time. The records are referenced in the Faw Family History book as well as in the Pfautz history synopsis, but no copies of said original documentation are included.

Sources

1. ↑ citation needed
2. ↑ Church Records and Minutes for the Evangelical Lutheran Congregation Beginning in 1730", complied by John Casper Stover. Microcopies of the "original" German and English translation, Lancaster County Historical Society.
3. ↑ Philadelphia Co., "New Returns, 1734-1758, Warrants & Surveys of the Province of Pennsylvania including 3 lower Counties 1758', Vol. 9:55 & 56.
4. ↑ Strassburger & Hinke, Vol. II, pp. 255
5. ↑ National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol. 63, Dec. 1975, pp.253-4.
6. ↑ Philadelphia Co., "New Returns, 1734-1758".
7. ↑ Jeffery and Florence L. Wyand, "Colonial Maryland Naturalizations", Baltimore Genealogy Publishing Company, 1975, pp.15, item 6.
8. ↑ Registry of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, Hanover, 1743-1865, manuscript translation
9. ↑ York Co., Warrant No. 4, 10 Sept. 1750, Pa. Land Office; also Pennsylvania Patents, AA, 6:509-510. Pennsylvania Land Office.
10. ↑ York Co., Pa., Will Book A:128.
11. ↑ York Co. Deed Book A:568
12. ↑ Page 3 of 4 Pfautz Documentation - Genealogy Notes for Jacob Pfautz 5/21/2010 https://www.retracing -our-family-legacy.com/notes_pfautz_jacob.html
13. ↑ Rowan Co. Deed Book 5
14. ↑ Randolph County Deeds, Book 21.
15. ↑ Source: 5 Generations of the Pfautz - Fouts Family, Compiled and Published by Audrey L Woodruff, C.G.R.S., 1987

See also:

• Pfautz Documentation - Genealogy Notes for Jacob Pfautz 5/21/2010 http://www.retracing -our-family-legacy.com/notes_pfautz_jacob.html
• Pfautz-Fouts-Foutz Newsletters (1980 - 1987); Editor: Dr. John Scott Davenport; Publisher: Dean R. Pfoutz, (Honolulu, Hawaii Source 1 Source 2
• U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s Immigration & Emigration

Name Jacob Pfautz

Arrival 1727 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

• Pennsylvania, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1772-1890 Census & Voter Lists

Name Johann Jacob Pfautz

Residence 1772 - Philidelphia, Philadelphia County, PA

• Germany, Select Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898

Birth, Marriage & Death

Name Johann Jacob Pfauth

Spouse Anna Maria

Children Johann Michael Pfauth

• Find A Grave: Memorial #176774626
• Filby, P. William, ed. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s. Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2012; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Year: 1727; Page Number: 66.