Christoph Friedrich Stumpf (bef. 1702 - 1779)

Born before 6 Jan 1702 in Schriesheim, Rhein-Neckar-Kreis, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Descendants

Died 1779 after age 76 in Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Christopher Stumpff was born late 1701 and was baptized January 6, 1702, Schriesheim, Rhein-Neckar-Kreis, Baden-Württemberg, Germany ^[1], likely the son of Johann Georg Stumpff (Hunter Lists # 755) and his wife Anna Margretha.^{[2] [3]}

Christopher Stumpf came to the colonies in 1710 with his mother and father, landing N.Y. harbor after coming from England with the Palatine German migration down the Rhine River to Rotterdam, Netherlands. The Dutch could not handle the multitude of people coming from the drastic winter weather conditions of Germany. They held the people until the next high tide, sometimes 3 or 4 weeks, and placed them on ships to London, England.

They arrived at Nutter's Island in the New York harbor. All were sick with typhus fever. Only the healthy were allowed on shore. Over 4,000 Germans sailed arriving in 7 or 8 sailing vessels. A model of a 17th century ship the German Palatine groups may have arrived in 1710, to N.Y. It is believed that there was an 8th vessel that sunk in the harbor. It is believed to have carried supplies for the other ships and maybe some sick people. A little over 4,000 made the ocean crossing, a little over half arrived in New York harbor. A few other ships set sail at this time me for the colonies. The English did not trust such a large group of Germans to assemble in one area; and sent some of the vessels of Palatine Germans to New Jersey; and the rest to North and South Carolina from London.^[4]

Christopher Stump, one of the pioneers of Heidelberg township, Berks County, was a man of remarkable physical strength, and over six feet in stature. He accompanied Conrad Weiser to the midwinter Indian conference of the Six Nations in northern New York. He was twice married, and had sixteen children, in all, among them being two Susannas, two Margarets, two Catharines, and two Christophers. He owned several slaves, according to his will, which was made February 28, 1769, and in which he is mentioned as Christopher Stump, von Heidelberg township, Lancaster (now Lebanon) county. He left the eldest son one shilling as his birthright. The second son, Frederick, is doubtless the celebrated founder of Fredericksburg, Lebanon county, formerly Stumpstown, founded in 1758, whose questionable escapades there made him flee his native heath, to appear later in the wilds of Tennessee as a pioneer. It is said he left his neighborhood because he had despatched an Indian. In 1780 we find him at Nashville, Tenn, where that backwoods appear among the signatures to the Compact of government, among them Jacob Stump, afterward "killed by Indians in his field while father, "Old Fred Stump" just escaped with his life by running. "By sure, I did run dat time." the old German was want to say, looking back upon his experience. He was a miller here later but by this episode it would seem that the vengeance of the Red men followed him, if indeed this is our Stumpstown Stump, as is very plausible.

The children of Christopher Stump were:

• 1. George Adam (who received 100 as well as the shilling mentioned as his birthright)
• 2. Frederick
• 3. Christopher
• 4. Maria, m. Johannes Scheuer
• 5. Susanna, m. John Leineweber
• 6. Margaret, m. Ludwig Maris
• 7. Catharaina, m. George Adam Bush
• 8. Henry
• 9. Magdalene, m. William Frymer
• 10. Susanna
• 11. Catharina, m. Leonhart Strickler
• 12. Juliana
• 13. Margaret
• 14. Leonhart
• 15. Christopher (who received the homestead in Heidelberg township of 270 acres
• 16. Michael (who received 250 acres of land over the Blue Mountain, on the Mahanoy creek, which was patented land, so the deed says)^[5]

During the winter of 1737, beginning February 27, Weiser was commissioned by Virginia Governor William Gooch to attempt to broker a peace between southern tribes and the Iroquois. He and his German companion, Stoffel Stump, had to survive high snow, freezing temperatures and starvation rations just to make the six-week journey to the Iroquois capital of Onondaga.^[6]

LAST WILL OF CHRISTOPHER STUMP ^[7]

Without giving this rather curious yet typical Colonial Pennsylvania-German Will in English, it will help readers to know that 'vermache' means 'bequeath'; 'Ligen em und Beweglichem Vermögen' is 'real and personal property' and 'farhigten Bub' is colored boy.

This will was copied from the original, now in possession of Mr Henry Stump, now a resident of Stouchsburg, Berks county Pa, aged 83, the great grandson of the original testator through Leonhart s line.

The house spoken of in will where testator lived is still standing and it with the farm bequeathed to Leonhart is now the property of Mг Thomas Becker of Mìllhach Lebanon county, Pa where estate is located.

Quite a number of present day prominent families of Lebanon and Berks counties are connected with original Stump.

The original testator is said to have been a man of remarkable physical strength, being over six feet in stature. He accompanied Conrad Weiser to the Midwinter Indian Conference of the Six Nations in Northern New York.

The testator was twice married and his frequent reference to and conditions concerning inheritance of second one as widow is noteworthy. He had sixteen children in all several sets bearing same name and owned several colored slaves as per his will. He left eldest son one shilling as birthright.

The second son, Frederick, is doubtless the celebrated founder of Fredericksburg, formerly Stumpstown, of Lebanon county, whose questionable escapades there made him flee his native heath to appear later in the wilds of Tennessee as a notorious pioneer. See former issue of magazine containing pilgrimage article Over an Old State Road.

See German Will Here

Research Note

The July 18, 1700 birth date formerly assigned to this man belongs to an infant who did not survive and was buried two days later.^[8] It is entirely possible that Johann Georg and his wife could have named another son with the same name subsequently, but this record has not yet been found. So Christopher's parents have been set as "Uncertain" pending further research.

Sources

1. ↑ Archion.de, Baden-Württemberg / Landeskirchliches Archiv Karlsruhe / Schriesheim / Mischbuch 1650 - Apr. 1724, Mai 1728, Mai 1728, 281 images; Image or Bild 49, and Dr. Karl Schuhmann. Familienbuch Schriesheim 1650-1900, Schriesheim:Odenwaldklub Schriesheim, 2004, Stumpf <9942> 7). https://www-owk--schriesheim-de.translate.goog/Sammelsurium/Familienbuch-Schriesheim_1650-1900.html-Dateien/?_x_tr_sch=http&_x_tr_sl=de&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc
2. ↑ HZ Jones, Jr., The Palatine Families of New York (1986), p. 1022
3. ↑ http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=monkeys&id=I53377
4. ↑ http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/STUMP/2009-04/1240673852
5. ↑ Historical and Biographical Annals of Berks County, Pennsylvania, by Morton Luther Montgomery, 1909
6. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conrad_Weiser
7. ↑ Will of Christopher Stump, dated 1778 in Book C, Vol. 1, p. 578 in Lancaster County Pennsylvania Wills
8. ↑ Archion.de. Hessen-Nassau--Darmstadt-City--Lutheran-Beerdigungsregister [burials], Bild 458, 20 July 1700. The translation is "The 20th July [1700] is Master Joh. Georg Stumpf, citizen and Shoemaker, son Christoph buried in silence [buried] several hours old." This information from Archion was obtained by Eric Stumpf who also provided the translation.

• "Deutschland Geburten und Taufen, 1558-1898," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NL44-H7Z : 10 February 2018), Christoph Stumpf, 19 Jul 1700; citing ; FHL microfilm 1,190,503.

• "Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-899B-JG5T?cc=1999196&wc=9PMZ-T3N%3A268493801%2C268527101 : 3 July 2014), Lancaster > Wills 1771-1784 vol C-D > image 299 of 555; county courthouses, Pennsylvania.

• Baptism: "Germany, Select Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898"
  Ancestry Record 9866 #81092774 (accessed 5 December 2021)
  Christoph Stumpf baptism on 19 Jul 1700 (born 18 Jul 1700), son of Johann Georg Stumpf & Elissabetha, in Darmstadt, Hessen, Germany.

• Land Warrants and Applications: "Pennsylvania, U.S., Land Warrants and Applications, 1733-1952"
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2350 #179229 (accessed 5 December 2021)
  Name: Christopher Stump; Warrant Date: 14 Jun 1734; Warrant Place: Lancaster.

• Pennsylvania Vital Records, Vol. I, Genealogical Gleanings from Orphans Court Records of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, p. 330, Ancestry.com. Appointed by Orphan's Court along with others to look into matter of land being held by John George Meiser, 1749.

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/157910633/christopher-stump: accessed 04 February 2024), memorial page for Christopher Stump (1695–28 Oct 1779), Find A Grave: Memorial #157910633; Burial Details Unknown; Maintained by Allice Reynolds (contributor 35060033).