John Frederick Baltzell (1775 - 1854)

Born 11 Feb 1775 in Frederick County, Maryland

Ancestors

Husband of Ruth (Ridgley) Baltzell — married 24 Sep 1821 in Frederick County, Maryland

Descendants

Died 7 Sep 1854 at age 79 in Frederick, Frederick, Maryland, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Heather Gilchrist [send private message]

Biography

John Frederick was the son of John Jacob Baltzell and Ann Gibbs and John, son of John Jacob Baltzell and Ann Gibbs, was born on 12 Feb 1775 and baptized on 7 Apr 1776 at Evangelical Reformed Church, Frederick, Maryland, United States.^[1] He was the grandson of John Jacob & Eva Catherine (Wintz) Baltzell, immigrants from Alcase Lorraine, Germany.

Dr. John Baltzell married Dr. Ruth Ridgely on 24 Dec 1821 in Baltimore County.^[2]

John and Ruth (Ridgely) Baltzell's children were:

1. Ellen Margaret Baltzell
2. Eliza Ann (Baltzell) Montgomery 1824–1900 Memorial # 111300120
3. Cornelia Baltzell 1825–1826 Memorial # 111300120
4. John Ridgley Baltzell 1827–1893 Memorial # 86365705
5. Philip Thomas Baltzell 1828–1829 Memorial # 20544723
6. Frederick Baltzell 1830–1831 Memorial # 20545067
7. William Henry Baltzell
8. Albert Baltzell 1834–1854 Memorial # 20545128
9. Wesley Baltzell 1837–1922 Memorial # 20562266
10. Alice Baltzell
11. Fanny (Baltzell) Key 1839–1874 Memorial # 20563393

Census Records

In the 1790 census Jacob was in Frederick, Maryland.^[3]

In the 1830 census John was in Frederick, Frederick, Maryland.^[4]

In the 1840 census John was in Frederick, Frederick, Maryland.^[5]

In the 1850 census John (age 75), Physician, was in Fredericktown, Frederick, Maryland, USA.^[6]

Death and Burial

From the Frederick Co., MD. Historic Society; Printed in the Frederick Examiner; "Death of a Venerable Physician," Fredericktown Herald 6 Sep 1854, col. 4, p. 3.

Obit:^[7]
DEATH OF A VENERABLE PHYSICIAN. Dr. John Baltzell, one of our most aged and respectable citizens, departed this life, shortly after midnight on Wednesday night, the 6th inst. of paralysis. The deceased had been rapidly recovering from the effects of a protracted illness, and felt so well on Tuesday morning, that he anticipated the pleasure of a walk down street in the cool of the evening. Dr. Baltzell was a native of this city; having received in early youth a liberal education, he studied medicine under Dr. Philip Thomas, one of the most celebrated physicians of his day, and entered on the practice of his profession about the opening of the current century. Possessing superior mental endowments and ardently devoted to his noble science, he was a very successful practitioner, and gratefully esteemed for his humanity and attention to the sick. Apart from his profession, his general course of studies took a wide range, and favored witih a retentive memory, he was remarkable though life for his social qualitites and conversational ability. Indulging in fondness for reigious and political polemics, he became at one time a frequent contributor to the press, and was regarded as an influential writer; especially as a political writer, at the era of the second War of independence when party spirit ran highest. He withdrew from active practice a few years since with a handsome fortune, and having passed through a long life-time, without the breath of suspicion upon his honorable fame, died at the advanced age of 70 years, 6 months and 25 days." He married Ruth Ridgley, daughter of Judge Charles Ridgley, on Dec. 24, 1821 in Frederick, Maryland. They were the parents of Ellen Margaret, Eliza Ann, Cornelia, Philip Thomas, Frederick, John Ridgley, Albert, Dr. William Henry, Wesley, Fanny, and Alice Baltzell.
He built a Colonial mansion style home with high ceilings, and arch doorways, and hardwood floors which now is the home of the Frederick County Historical Society.

Research Notes

Although the death date of 7 Sept 1854 is well documented, it is interesting that the notation in family bible of John Baltzell (in the possession of Dr. Sothoron Key, Washington D.C. in 1985) reads "Dr. John Baltzell died at 25 minutes past twelve Wednesday night, September 6th, 1854, aged 79 years, 6 months, 25 days." (25 past Twelve, Wednesday, Sept 6th being, technically, Sept. 7th.)

The Historical Society of Frederick County, 300 Church St, Frederick, MD 21701 (Which also happens to be John and Ruth's former home, where they raised their children) Has a volume entitled "Frederick County Militia in the War of 1812" which lists John F. Baltzell of Frederick as a Surgeon's Mate in the 16th Regiment. Appointed Sep 3 1799, promoted to Surgeon 14 Feb 1815.

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism: "Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650-1995"
   citing Digital film/folder number: 007575962; FHL microfilm: 13935
   FamilySearch Record: HYG7-WL6Z (accessed 17 February 2024)
   John Ballsel baptism on 7 Apr 1776 (born 12 Feb 1775), son of Jacob Ballsel & Anna Maria, at Evangelical Reformed Church, Frederick, Maryland, United States.
2. ↑ Marriage: "Maryland, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1655-1850"
   Original data: Dodd, Jordan, Liahona Research, comp.. Maryland Marriages, 1655-1850. Most of the records in this index may be found at the Maryland Historical Society or the Family History Library. More specific source information is listed with each entry. Original marriage licenses should be located at the county clerk's office
   Ancestry Record 7846 #8869 (accessed 17 February 2024)
   Dr John Baltzell marriage to Dr. Ruth Ridgely on 24 Dec 1821 in Baltimore County.
3. ↑ 1790 Census: "1790 United States Federal Census"
   The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC; First Census of the United States, 1790.; Year: 1790; Census Place: Frederick, Maryland; Series: M637; Roll: 3; Page: 229; Family History Library Film: 0568143
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 5058 #116161 (accessed 17 February 2024)
   Jacob Baltzell in Frederick, Maryland.
4. ↑ 1830 Census: "1830 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1830; Census Place: Frederick, Frederick, Maryland; Series: M19; Roll: 57; Page: 103; Family History Library Film: 0013180
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8058 #1200835 (accessed 17 February 2024)
   John Battzell in Frederick, Frederick, Maryland.
5. ↑ 1840 Census: "1840 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1840; Census Place: Frederick, Frederick, Maryland; Roll: 165; Page: 125; Family History Library Film: 0013185
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8057 #2175103 (accessed 17 February 2024)
   John Battzell in Frederick, Frederick, Maryland.
6. ↑ 1850 Census: "1850 United States Federal Census"
   The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Residence Date: 1850; Home in 1850: Fredericktown, Frederick, Maryland; Roll: 292; Page: 39b; Line Number: 25
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8054 #15830903 (accessed 17 February 2024)
   John Baltzell (75), Physician, in Fredericktown, Frederick, Maryland, USA. Born in Maryland.

   John Baltzell M 75 Physician Maryland

   Ruth Baltzell F 50 Maryland

   Eliza A Baltzell F 25 Maryland

   John R Baltzell M 22 Lawyer Maryland

   Alice Baltzell F 13 Maryland

   Fanny Baltzell F 11 Maryland

   Charles Graham M 38 Laborer Maryland

7. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #20540713 (accessed 17 February 2024)
   Memorial page for Dr John Frederick Baltzell (11 Feb 1775-6 Sep 1854), citing Mount Olivet Cemetery, Frederick, Frederick County, Maryland, USA (plot: Area E, Lot 29, Grave 9); Maintained by V. Nareen Lake (contributor 46613568).

• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/28TV-HLK Person
• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/pedigree/landscape/28TV-HLK Tree