Isaac Herr (abt. 1682 - bef. 1748)

Born about 1682 in Kraichgau, Kurfürstentum Pfalz, Heiliges Römisches Reich [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died before 1 Jan 1748 before about age 66 in Providence Township, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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Biography

Note: In the first edition (1908) of Theodore Herr's genealogy of the Herr family, Isaac was not included as a son of Rev. Hans Herr. ^[1] However, the 3rd edition (1994), which contains updates on more recent research, asserts that Isaac was one of Rev. Hans Herr's sons. ^[2]

Isaac Herr was a brother of Hans Herr (aft.1672-1756), who is sometimes called "the land agent" by researchers. Proof of this comes from a Pennsylvania land warrant issued to Isaac's son Henry on 9 February 1763. It describes the 1717 warrant issued to Martin Kundig and Hans Heer for 5,000 acres of land in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and then refers to "Issac Heer Brother of the said Hans Heer." ^[3]

Isaac Herr had arrived in America from Germany by 21 November 1719 when a 500-acre tract of land on a branch of Beaver Creek in Lancaster County, was surveyed for him. ^{[2] [4]}

At his death, Isaac was living on his land on the "Western Branch of Beaver Creek" in Lancaster County. It was part of a 5,000-acre tract granted to Hans Herr and Martin Kendig in 1717. They sold the parcel, containing several hundred acres, to "Isaac Heer Brother of the said Hans Heer." Isaac built his house on the land and made other improvements, but when his house burned down, he lost the deed to the land, which apparently had never been recorded. In his 1747 will, Isaac gave the land to his grandson Isaac, but since there was no deed, the transfer couldn't take place. So after Isaac's death, the executors procured a new deed for the land, held in trust for the younger Isaac. When Henry Herr, father of the younger Isaac, had the land resurveyed on behalf of his son, who was about 16 years old, the land was found to contain 312 acres. Henry also received a new warrant ^[3] and patent ^[5] for the land, both of which recount the above events.

Isaac's children were: ^[2]

1. Henry Herr
2. Ann Herr, m. "Swamp" John Groff
3. Elizabeth Herr, m. (1) John Brubaker (2) Peter Whitman / Witmer

Will

Isaac Herr died in the fall of 1747. In his will he described himself as a farmer in Martic Township (now Providence Township), Lancaster County. He signed his will on 4 October 1747 as "Isack Hear." It was proved three months later on 1 January 1747/8. The main provisions were: ^[6]

• He left "the place whereon I now live" and 1/3 of his household goods to his grandson Isaac Herr [son of Henry].
• He left the remaining 2/3 of his household goods to John "Graff" and Peter "Witman," [his sons-in-law.]
• His son Henry and John Graff had already paid Isaac for the land they were living on.
• Henry "Heair" and Henry Hover were appointed as executors of the will.
• Witnesses: Henry Erwin, Jacob Graff and John McCalpin.
• At the time the will was recorded, two of the witnesses claimed that Isaac "declared that there was a mistake in the bequest to Peter Witman for that he directed one third part of his household goods and moveables to be given to Isaac Brubaker Jacob & John Brubaker his grandchildren by Eliz. his daughter at that time intermarried with Peter Witman."

Research Notes

Isaac is sometimes shown with a daughter named Catherine, but there doesn't seem to be any evidence to support that claim. The daughter is sometimes identified with the Catherine who married (1) John Jacob Eshleman, (2) "Swamp" John Groff, and (3) Benjamin Groff, but the maiden name of that Catherine is currently unknown. ^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ Herr, Theodore W. Genealogical Record of Reverend Hans Herr and His Direct Lineal Descendants, (first edition, 1908), page 1.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Herr, Theodore W. Genealogical Record of Reverend Hans Herr and His Direct Lineal Descendants, (third edition, 1994), pp. 789-790 and 799-800.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Warrant, dated 9 February 1763: Pennsylvania Land Records: "Original Warrants Lancaster County," volume H, number 630. FamilySearch film #008351881, image 732 of 1593.
4. ↑ Patent to John Grafft, dated 24 May 1762: Pennsylvania Land Records: Patent Book AA3, page 293. FamilySearch film #008248624, image 123 of 817.
5. ↑ Patent, dated 16 February 1763: Pennsylvania Land Records: Patent Book AA4, page 225. FamilySearch film #008248624, image 384 of 817.
6. ↑ Isaac Herr's will Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Will Book A, page 134. FamilySearch: "Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994">Lancaster>Wills 1730-1773 vol A-B, image 71 of 514. (FHL film #005534200, image 146 of 589)
7. ↑ Best, Jane Evans. The Groff Book, Volume 2: A Continuing Saga (Groff History Associates, 1997), page 174, person P.

See also :

• *Best, Jane Evans, "Martin Kendig's Swiss Relatives," Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage, Vol. XV, No. 1 2-18, January, 1992
• Davis, Richard Warren, "Emigrants, Refugees, and Prisoners," Volume III III, www.mennosearch.com, 2006
• Friesen, Steve, "A Modest Mennonite Home: The Story of the 1719 Hans Herr House, an Early Colonial Landmark," Good Books, Intercourse, PA, 1990, ISBN 0-934672-90-3, p. 36.
• Harris, Alexander, "A Biographical History of Lancaster County : being a history of early settlers and eminent men of the county; as also much other unpublished historical information, chiefly of a local character," Lancaster, PA: Elias Barr & Co., ©1872; FHL film #928247
• Wenger, Samuel S., "The Wenger Book," Pennsylvania German Heritage History Inc.

Acknowledgments

• WikiTree profile Herr-97 created through the import of Abraham Herr.ged on Aug 18, 2011 by Cody Coggins. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Cody and others.
• WikiTree profile Herr-150 created through the import of Most 2011_7b.ged on Oct 17, 2011 by Mike Saufley. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Mike and others.
• Thank you to Sandy Minder for creating WikiTree profile Herr-309 through the import of Delong gedcom.ged on Apr 27, 2013. Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Sandy and others.