John Killian
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Johannes Killian (abt. 1729 - abt. 1799)

Johannes (John) Killian aka Killion
Born about in Steinbach an der holzecke, Middle Franconia, Bavaria, Germanymap
Ancestors ancestors
Husband of — married [date unknown] [location unknown]
Descendants descendants
Died about at about age 70 in Lincoln, North Carolina, United Statesmap [uncertain]
Profile last modified | Created 6 Jul 2014
This page has been accessed 2,729 times.
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John Killian was a Palatine Migrant.
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John Killian migrated from Germany to Philadelphia.
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John Killian was a North Carolina colonist.

Contents

Biography

Names:John, Johan, Johann, Johannes[1]
Born:1729
Baptized:24 September 1729 (Evangelische Kirche in Erzberg, Bavaria)[2]

Prevailing wisdom maintains John arrived in America with his family in September 1732. He would have been about 3 years old according to the Erzberg baptism record. A passenger corresponding to his father, Andreas Killian was listed in among the adult males on the manifest of the ship "Adventure", however, no Killians were listed among the women or children.[3]

John's first known appearance in North American records came in 1749 when he entered a grant for a 1,000 acre tract of land in Anson County, North Carolina.[4] Since the nearby creek was called "Killian's Creek" in his father's adjoining grant issued the same day, it is reasonable to believe that the Killian family was already living in the area prior to entering these grants. John's grant also tacitly demonstrates he had come of legal age.
1776 Project
John Killian performed Patriotic Service in North Carolina in the American Revolution.
Daughters of the American Revolution
John Killian is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A065826.

Around the same time, John's name also appeared on the muster roll of unmarried men[5] within Captain Samuel Corbin's district west of the Catawba River in Anson County, North Carolina (parts of present-day Lincoln and Gaston Counties). The Killian residences at points 18 & 19 on this MAP of the district are just west of the present-day village of Lucia.

John married Ann Elisabeth, widow of Hans Michael Zimmerman II, about 1759, though the earliest known record acknowledging his marriage is from 1765, when "John Killian and Ann, his wife," sold some land in what was then Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.[6] Over the next several decades, John's name appeared in numerous land transactions which document his eventual move to a Lincoln County property near present-day Newton, Catawba County, North Carolina, including a 1795 land transfer to son, Jacob, on which John's wife, "Ann Elisabeth Killian", also gave her mark.[7]

John gave his mark on two final Lincoln County, North Carolina land transactions in late April 1798[8][9] and is believed to have died shortly thereafter, as he is not listed in the 1800 census as a head of household and Elisabeth was listed as a widow in an April 1801 Lincoln County, North Carolina land transaction.[10]

There is no record of where John was buried, though it was likely in present-day Lincoln or Catawba County, North Carolina (the latter was formed in 1842 from the northern third of the former). Unsourced FindAGrave memorial #227999159 provides a middle name ("Conrad") not identified on any primary source documents and a death date (1795) which precedes land transactions signed by John (1798) during his lifetime. The memorial also includes no indication of how burial location was ascertained.

Family

Married Ann Elisabeth[11] (maiden name unknown, see discussion on her profile), widow of Hans Michael Zimmerman II
Children of John Killian named or implied in Elisabeth's 1802 WIll[12]:

Timeline

1747Enlisted with Colonial forces at time of Spanish Alarm 1747-1748.[citation needed]
   
1749Colonial Council held in New Bern granted him 1,000 acres along Leeper's Creek in Anson County, North Carolina (border of present-day Lincoln and Gaston Counties, just west of the village of Lucia).[13] His father, Andreas, and brother, Leonard, were granted adjoining tracts on the same day.
1750sServed as private in Captain Samuel Corbin's Militia along with his brother, Leonard.[5] Corbin commanded a district west of the Catawba River in Anson County, North Carolina (present-day Lincoln and Gaston Counties). On this MAP of the district, the names of 56 landowners are numbered 1 to 56 with the location of their homes indicated. Several names of potential interest include:
       Johann Kilian (#19)Andreas Kilian (#18)Leonhard Kilian (#55)
       Bostian Best (#17)? Fischer (#54)3 Zimmermans (#20-22)
   The undated muster roll naming the members of this company has commonly been supposed to relate to the Spanish attack on Brunswick in 1748, but appears to have been filed under the wrong year as most members of the company did not arrive in the Carolinas until the early 1750s. The company was most likely raised in 1754 for protection of local frontier settlers at the beginning of the French & Indian War. This is when a fort was built on the point at the confluence of the Catawba and South Fork Rivers because of fear of attack by the Cherokee which never manifested.[citation needed]
1754In January, John and wife, Ann, sold the 1,000 acres from his first grant to Jacob Brown.[13] In May, he entered a second grant for a 157 acre tract of land along the west side of Killian's Mill Creek.[14]
1759On Sep 13, John Killian was granted 250 acres to south side Catawba river on Coburns Creek.[citation needed]
1765John and Ann Killian sold 157 acres of land that had been granted to John in May 1754.[6]
1766On Jun 26, John bought 200 acres along Clark's Creek adjoining Bostian Cline in Rowan Co, NC near present day Newton in Catawba County from Mathias Beaver and wife, Susanna[15] John's father, Andreas, bought 293 acres nearby on the same day.
1773John Killian was appointed constable of his area of Rowan County for the year.[16] He was replaced the next year by his neighbor, Thomas Winkler.[17]
1778"Jhon Killian" signed a Christmas Day petition from inhabitants of Burke County, North Carolina, who wished their area to become part of Tryon County.[18] Instead, Tryon County was dissolved the next year and divided into Lincoln and Rutherford Counties.
1788Like the other older children of Andreas Killian (who had likely already received their inheritance), John received only 1 shilling from his father's Lincoln County, North Carolina estate.[19]
1790Lincoln County, North Carolina census household of "Jno Killian Sr"[20] with presumed corresponding family members' names in parentheses:
   4 males over 16 (John Sr, John Jr, Phillip, Abraham)
   1 male under 16 (possibly Mary's son, John Jonas)
   3 females (Anna, Sarah, Mary)
1795John Killian, Sr. sold 141 acres to son, Jacob Killian, for 120 £ on January 17th. This land had been granted to John in October 1782. Both John and "Ann Elisabeth Killian" gave their marks.[7]
1798John Killian, Sr. sold 200 acres of land in Lincoln County, North Carolina to son, John Jr., for 20 £ on 20 April 1798 and signs his mark.[8]
John Killian, Sr. sold 150 acres of land in Lincoln County, North Carolina to son, Abraham Killian, for 250£ on 28 April 1798 and signs his mark.[9]
1801Elisabeth Killian, widow of John, sold land along Clark’s Creek on 6 April 1801 along with Philip Killian, Jacob Killian, John Killian, Abraham Killian, Jacob Yount, Jacob Dietz and the legal representatives of Jacob Fye, dec’d (husband of Mary Killian), all of Lincoln County, North Carolina.[10]
A land record for Bostian Cline dated 1801[citation needed] states that Bostian's land was on a branch of Lyles Creek and adjacent to John Killian Sr., deceased.
1802Elisabeth Killian signed her own will on 1 March 1802 in Lincoln County, North Carolina.[12] As heirs, it named two children from her first marriage and seven from her marriage with John.


Research Notes

The two main areas of present-day Lincoln, Catawba, and Gaston Counties, North Carolina where John lived and owned land were part of several other counties during the development of North Carolina including: Tryon, Mecklenburg, Burke, Rowan, & Anson. See this interactive time lapse map of North Carolina county formation history. If the marriage date (~1759) is correct and there is still a record of the marriage, it would likely be found in either Anson or Rowan County, since those are the only two that existed in the area at the time. Mecklenburg County was added in 1762, and Tryon in 1768. Since there were many familial and cultural connections to Pennsylvania at this time, it's also possible the marriage may have taken place there.

John was the blacksmith of the 'Dutch Settlement'.[citation needed]

Sources

  1. Rootsweb database, accessible from andreaskillian.com. The database may not have the most current information. See John Killian (Rootsweb database).
  2. John Killian, at Andreas Killian Descendants Historical Association (AKDHA). More details about where and how the information was obtained can be found on page 1 of the August 2008 AKDHA Newsletter. This information is purportedly available in still greater detail and with copies of original images on p. 75 of AKDHA's 2009 publication, The Family of North Carolina Pioneer Andreas Killian (1702-1788).
  3. Passenger Manifest of the ship, "Adventure". Arrived in Philadelphia from Rotterdam on 23 September 1732.
    "Andraess Killaen 30" (left column, 13th row)
    Image can also be viewed on the website of the Pennsylvania State Archives (image loads very slowly). A transcript of the manifest is available here.
    The loyalty oath his father signed upon arrival can be viewed at the PA archives link above by advancing to Image 134 of 640.
  4. Anson Co. File No. 558, North Carolina Land Grants. Issued to John Killin 30 Sep 1749 for 1,000 acres on the "S. side of Cataba and on Leopards creek". Recorded in Anson County, North Carolina Land Patent Book, Vol. 5, Page 434.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Captain Samuel Corbin's Militia List of young men, copied from Lorena Shell Eaker's "German Speaking People West of the Catawba River in North Carolina, 1750-1800". John's brother, Leonard, appears on the related list of married men (image not yet identified). A transcription of the complete list is available here. There is also a map of the district landowners which includes John, his father, Andreas, and brother, Leonard.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Mecklenburg County, North Carolina Deed Book, Vol. 1, Page 205. 25 January 1765. John and Ann Killian sell 157 acres to James McCombs of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania for 34 £.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Lincoln County, North Carolina Deed Book, Vol. 17, Page 237.
  8. 8.0 8.1 "Lincoln County, North Carolina Deed Book, Vol. 18, Page 584". John Sr sells 200 acres of land to son, John Jr. for 20 £ on 20 April 1798 and signs his mark.
  9. 9.0 9.1 "Lincoln County, North Carolina Deed Book, Vol. 19, Page 28". John Killion sells 150 acres of land in Lincoln County, North Carolina to Abraham Killion for 250£ on 28 April 1798 and signs his mark.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Lincoln County, North Carolina Deed Book, Vol. 20, Page 194 Elisabeth Killion, widow of John, sold land along Clark’s Creek on 6 April 1801 along with Philip Killion, Jacob Killion, John Killion, Abraham Killion, Jacob Yount, Jacob Dietz and the legal representatives of Jacob Fye, dec’d (husband of Mary Killian), all of Lincoln County, North Carolina.
  11. Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed September 9, 2017), "Record of John Killian", Ancestor # A065826.
  12. 12.0 12.1 Heirs named in Elisabeth's will written 1 March 1802 (unknown probate date) include her:
    • son, Michael Zimmerman, from her marriage to Hans Michael Zimmerman
    • son-in-law, Daniel Smith (married Catherine Zimmerman, who probably died before 1790. Daniel married (2.) Elizabeth Hahn sometime in the 1790s.)
    • son, Jacob Killian
    • daughter, Marellis (Killian) Yount
    • son, John Killian
    • son, Philip Killian
    • daughter, Mary (Killian) Suttlemire
    • son, Abraham Killian
    • daughter, Sarah (Killian) Dietz
  13. 13.0 13.1 John Killian, "Anson Co., NC Deeds, Vol. B, page 363." John Killion of Anson County sold 1000 acres to Jacob Brown of Anson County in January 1754 for 32 £ Virginia money.
  14. Anson Co. File No. 113, North Carolina Land Grants. Issued to John Killian 17 May 1754 in Anson County, North Carolina for 157 acres located on the "West side of Killian Mill Creek on the W. side of the [sic] Cataba River". Recorded in Anson County, North Carolina Land Patent Book, Vol. 13, Page 7.
  15. "Rowan Co., NC Deed Book, Vol. 6, Page 260." John Killian bought 200 acres along Clark's Creek in Rowan Co, NC adjoining Bostian Cline from Mathias Beaver and wife, Susanna for 30 £. John's father bought land nearby on the same day and it was recorded on Page 262
  16. John Killian appointed constable, "Rowan Co., NC Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions minutes, Vol. 4", Page 12.
  17. John Killian replaced as constable, "Rowan Co., NC Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions minutes, Vol. 4", Page 21.
  18. [sic] Jhon Killian, as signee, "Petition from the sundry inhabitants of Burke County...Desirous of falling into the County of Tryon". Signed 25 December 1778, heard by the legislature on 23 January 1779. Other related petitioners included: his father, Andreas Killian; his son, Jacob Killian (of legal age??); his half-brother, Samuel Killian; & his future son-in-law, Jacob Yount.
  19. John Killian in entry for Andrew Killian, "Lincoln Co., NC, Wills and Estate Papers, 1788". Images 1599-1602 of 1942. Will of Andrew Killian, written 22 Sept 1785.
  20. "United States Census, 1790," FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/), Jno Killian Sr, Lincoln, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 109, NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 7.
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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with John by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known yDNA test-takers in his direct paternal line. Mitochondrial DNA test-takers in the direct maternal line: It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with John:

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Images: 1
Elizabeth Killian
Elizabeth Killian



Comments: 11

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The birth date that didn't make sense to me was revised later. It was "Rheinpalz, Bavaria, Palatinate, Germany."
posted by Ellen Smith
I'm wondering... could Abraham Killian with 1823 death/minor children be a different man than Abraham, son of John & Ann/Elizabeth?

Elizabeth's 1802 will names her son Michael Zimmerman, her son-in-law Daniel Smith (married Catherine Zimmerman), her son Jacob, her daughter Marellis Yount, her son John Killian, her son Philip Killian, her daughter Mary Suttlemire, her daughter Sarah Dietz

posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
it seems that his wife's maiden name isn't Zimmerman? I'm not sure that the Elizabeth who married Killian and the Elizabeth who married Wolfhart are the same person.

(and the information I found in the changes page about that was moved to a profile for his wife - Zimmerman-2075, died 1802).

posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
and this Changes page shows deleted info that speculates about his wife Ann (or Anna) Elizabeth, widow Zimmerman, maiden name possibly Fullbright.

Includes a lot of interesting info (hopefully moved to her profile), including

1) Johannes Michael Zimmerman (Baptized 1733, probably died by 1756-57 in PA) married Ann Elizabeth (Unknown) b 1732 d 1820 Lincoln Co. NC. Their children were Michael and Catherina Zimmerman, later of Lincoln Co, NC {From Ann Elizabeth (Unknown) (Zimmerman) Killian's Will.]

posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
this Changes page (2015) has

Ann Fullbright marriage as 1758 in Lincoln, NC, USA

posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
going through Changes, found
  • marriage to Ann Elizabeth Unknown on 1760-06-24 in Lincoln County, NC
  • birth location: Rhenish Palatin Rheinpfals, Bayern, Germany
changes made August 2015

-- comment about birth location not making sense was made 13 Jan 2017 (but not sure what birth location was showing at the time)

posted by Liz (Noland) Shifflett
Killian-833 and Killian-306 appear to represent the same person because: Duplicate
posted by Chris Ball
Killian-817 and Killian-445 appear to represent the same person because: same person!  :-)
Mother has been confirmed by source that Liz Shifflett left. Please do not change the mother!! Thank you!

-Dodie Bartlett, WikiTree Mentor

posted by [Living Hoskins]