Johannes Landis (abt. 1690 - abt. 1748)

Born about 1690 in Zuzenhausen, Rhein-Neckar-Kreis, Baden-Württemberg, Germany [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Ann (Musselman) Landis — married [date unknown] in Germany

Descendants

Died about Apr 1748 at about age 58 in Lower Milford Township, Bucks County, Penns Colony [uncertain]

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John Landis was a Palatine Migrant. Join: Palatine Migration Project Discuss: palatine_migration

Biography

NB : Hans should not be confused with Hans Heinrich Landis (1683-1727) who is believed to have married Elizabeth Hirt.

Birth: The exact date and place of Johannes Landis' birth is uncertain. Various sources report that Johannes was born in 1680 ^[1] or 1685-1690^[2], or possibly in 1692 in Switzerland. An earlier unsourced version of the profile gave that he was born in 1683 in Zuzenhausen, Rhein-Neckar-Kreis, Baden-Württemberg. The difficulty lies in that during this period, his family left Switzerland for Mannheim, which is where he left for Pennsylvania. It is unclear if he was born before the family left or after they arrived in the Palatinate.

He had the following siblings:^[3][4]

• Jacob Landis (b. c. 1667 - d. c. 1735). May have lived in Steinsfurt in Apr 1717. But in Lancaster County tax list in 1718.^[5]
• Rev. Benjamin Landis (b. 1697 - d. 1781). Settled in Lancaster county where he had a 1718 patent tract in East Lampetere Twp. ^[5]
• Felix Landis (b. unk - d. 1739, Pennsylvania) settled in East Lampeter Twp where he had a patent for 400acres in 1719/20. His name is identical to an imprisoned Mennonite who died in 1642, but no connection has been found.^[5]

According to David B. Landis, "In 1717, three brothers Rev. Benjamin, Felix and John Landis, all Swiss Mennonites, came to America from the vicinity of Manheim on the Ehine, where they had been driven from Zurich, Switzerland, and purchased land from Penn and the Conestogoe Indians. Like most of the pioneer settlers in the American wilds, these good people were comparatively poor in worldly possessions, and had their hands so full of work that they failed, it seems, to keep their family records. They became, however, instinctively American in their progress, and proceeded at once to skillfully till the soil which has since made this county known the world over as a "garden spot." Here, also, these pioneer members of the family worshiped their God according to their desire, and in perfect peace."^[3]

Marriage and children : John is believed to have married Ann Musselman (b. 1695 - d. 1748), probably c. 1715 before leaving the Palatinate. Ann may be the daughter of Michael Moselmann of Friesenheim and part of three families who left for Pennsylvania, including her brother Jacob (b.c. 1700) who was the Mennonite minister at Swamp, Bucks and her brother Samuel (b.c. 1705) who lived in Hanover in 1734 and later in Hatfield.^[5][1][2][6] They were the parents of :

1. Barbara (Landis) Bauer Miller (b.c. 1717/1718 - d. 1800) m1. Samuel Bauer m2. Conrad Miller in 1769^[1][2][5]
2. Jacob Landis (b. c. 1718 - d. 1806) m. Barbara Moyer (1795-1844) ^{[2] [4][5]}
3. John Landis (b. 11 Nov 1720 - d. 9 Dec 1796) ^[1] m. (widow) Elizabeth (Bechtel) Eschbach ^[2][4]
4. Samuel Landis (b. c. 1726 - d. 1771) m. Margaret Young in 1749^[1][2][5]
5. Veronica/Fronica (Landis) Bauer (b. c. 1728/1733 - d. 1822) m. Michael Bauer (1720-1784) ^[2]
6. Martin Landis (b. 18 Jan 1730 - d. 1799) ^[1] m. Hannah Zeigler ^[2][5]
7. Elizabeth (Landis) Allebach (b. 1734 - d. 12 May 1765) m. Peter Allebach ^[1][2][5]
8. Eva (Landis) Yoder (b. 1736 - d. 1809)^[1] m. Jacob Yoder (1734-1807) ^[2][5]
9. George Landis (b. Jan 1740 - d. 1801)^[1] m. Maria Latchar/Latshaw (1741-1787) ^[2][5]

In the 1720s Johannes was a business partner with Henry Ruth, possibly with with regard to the latter’s purchase of a 200A tract of land in Salford Twp, Philadelphia Co. It is possible that the first children of Johannes and Ann were born in Salford tp. However, by 1730 Henry Ruth moved to New Britain Twp, and it seems that the Landis family likewise moved—to the area of the Great Swamp and Richland Manor in Bucks Co.^[5]

Around 1730, according to tradition, the first Mennonite church services were organized by the minister Jacob Musselman, the brother-in-law of Johannes Landis. Local Mennonite pioneer settlers included the Clemmer, Shelly, Yoder, Musselman and Landis families.^[5]

1730 Sept 17: Johannes Landis signed a petition to create a road “from the new meeting-house to the leading to the county line near William Thomas’s, in order to go to Philadelphia by the Montgomery road.” Other signatories included his neighbors Jacob Musselman, Jacob Klemmer and more than two dozen other inhabitants of the “Rich Lands.” ^[7]

1734: A petition was presented to the legislature in 1734 from "inhabitants of Bucks county,"which stated that the petitioners were from Germany, and having purchased lands, they desire naturalization that they may hold the same and transmit them to their children. It was signed by John Landes, along with his neighbors, including Jacob Musselman, Abraham Shelly, and Christian and Jacob Klemmer, from Great Swamp (Bucks Co).^[7][5]

Land Ownership^[8][5]

Pennsylvania, SS : By the Proprietaries WHEREAS upon an agreement heretofore made with John Landis of the County of Bucks for one hundred acres of land within our Manor of Richland in the said County the same was in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hun- dred and thirty-eight accordingly surveyed but not returned for which the said John Landis is to pay to our use at the rate or price of seven shillings Money of Pennsylvania and the yearly quit-rent of one half penny sterling for every acre of the same, and now requests that we be pleased to grant him our Warrant in Order for returning and estab- lishing the said survey. Dated at Philadelphia, January 30, 1739.

Death and Burial:

Johannes passed away between 3 Dec 1747 (the date he was a witness to the will of Rudolph Christian) and 23 Apr 1748 (the date when an inventory of his assets was taken) in Lower Milford, Bucks, Pennsylvania. ^[4] He is believed to be buried on his homestead of in the East Swamp Mennonite Cemetery, Quakertown, Bucks, Pennsylvania. ^[1]

Probate Process:^[4] 26 Sep 1747: Johannes writes his will. 3 Dec 1747: Johannes is a witness to the will of Rudolph Christian 12 Apr 1748: Johannes' Inventory taken 13 Feb 1750: Will was translated 1 May 1750: Will was proved and executors issued Letters Testamentary 22 Aug 1751: Inventory was translated and filed with court 24 Oct 1758: Final account of his estate settlement filed by Jacob Landus, surviving executor. (Jacob Musselman had died)

Will of John Landis^[4][9][10]

Lower Millford Township in Bucks County Dated the 26 Day of September 1747. I John Landus being at present of sound under- standing have made this my Last Will and Testament in manner following, First I do give my Lands, namely, one Hundred and twenty five acres with the Improvements unto my Son Samuel Landus That is to say, for one hundred and fifty Pounds of w^ he shall draw a share. Secondly I John Landus do hereby give unto my wife Ann Landus (beside her share) our Bed and Bedstead two Cows of her Choosing amongst my Cows and the Still Kettle, and one Horse (Paul) of my Horses, and three Sheep. Further I do give unto my wife one third part of all my Estate real and Personal be it Lands or Cattle or any other thing. Further shall she dureing her widowhood, have Room and Priviledge to live on my Land in my House and of the Stove room Kitchen, Cellar and what room she has occasion for as also to the still Kettle, but if her having room in the said House and Stove Room could not be Effected in Peace and Unity then a house with a warm Room shall be Built and added to my House, and firewood ready for use be delivered to her Door. Further shall she have necessarys of Life of my Land Yearly twenty Bushels of Grain to witt one half part to be Wheat and the other part Rye, one hundred and fifty Pounds of Pork and fifty Pounds of Beef, one third part of the Kitchen Garden, and one third part of the orchard Fruit and thirty Pounds of fiflax the said above mentioned Parts and things my said Son Samuel Landus shall give unto his Mother out of my said Lands, besides her share of the said one hundred and fifty Pounds and he shall also keep for her in free fodder and stabling, two Cows, a Horse, or Mare and three sheep as well Provided for as his own. And concerning my young children they shall have House room along with their Mother, till they can earn their own Bread The above necessaries of Life my s^ Wife may Enjoy with my said Son at one Table, as long as both Parties like it, but if it wont suit no Longer, then she shall receive the above in Fact to Enjoy the same at her Own Table during Her Widowhood. Further it is my will that my said Son Samuel shall gradually pay for the said Land Namely Fifteen Pounds within one Year next after my decease and the like Sum every Year untill the whole is paid off all at certain appointed Times, without Interest and therefore I do hereby give full power unto my Executors to make a title unto my said son Samuel for my said Land as good as I could do myself. Further touching my moveables, I leave the management thereof unto my Executors and my Heirs to dispose of them to the best advantage Either by Vendue or Sell them otherways, only that honesty be observed. And out of the above all my Just debts shall be paid and Satisfied. And all the residue of my Estate (including what they have of me received already) shall be Equally divided amongst my children share and share alike and such Division shall be made when my Youngest Son shall be Nineteen Years old which shall be in Jan- uary in year 1759. Furthermore I do Nominate my Brother in law Jacob Musselman and my son Jacob Landus to be my Executors hoping they will take care of my Widow and Children as good as they can so that each of them may get his share. Moreover I do desire that this my Last Will and Testament may by my Wife and Children be received as such and live peacebly according to the same WITNESS my own hand in the presence of Johannes Funck George Ackerman

Research Notes

Background: Johannes/John Landis descended from a prominent Mennonite family from an area around Zurich, Schweiz which fled to the German Palatinate. At that time, members of his family were subject to imprisonment, abuse and persecuted for their religious beliefs. The family was mentioned in the Martys Mirror, which referred to Hans Landis who was beheaded in 1614. ^[4][5]It is believed John was born in Switzerland and moved to the Palatinate with his family.^[3]

Additional Research

A detailed dossier with footnoted sources can be found on FamilySearch.^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9} UNSOURCED: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/69140032/johannes-landis: accessed 05 March 2023), memorial page for Johannes Landis (1680–Apr 1751), Find a Grave Memorial ID 69140032, citing East Swamp Mennonite Cemetery, Quakertown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, USA; Maintained by Patricia Monroe (contributor 47209749).
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10} Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Mennonite Vital Records, 1750-2014, citing (i) Strassburger Gen. 340 (ii) MRJ, 1970, p.26 (iii) DKL, John Landis, Bk. 1, p.1 (i) 1941 Landis Reunion Rept, pp.14, 15. Viewed at https://www.ancestry.com.au/discoveryui-content/view/968702:60592 : NB : Record includes a number of obvious errors, and all details need further research to confirm.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Landis, D. B. (1888). The Landis Family of Lancaster County: A Comprehensive History of the Landis Folk from the Martyrs' Era to the Arrival of the First Swiss Settlers, Giving Their Numerous Lineal Descendants; Also, an Accurate Record of Members in the Rebellion, with a Sketch of the Start and Subsequent Growth of Landisville and Landis Valley, and a Complete Directory of Living Landis Adults, Etc., Etc. United States: author.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6} Strassburger, Ralph Beaver "The Strassburger family and allied families of Pennsylvania; being the ancestry of Jacob Andrew Strassburger, esquire, of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania" Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania 1922 page 328, 339. Accessed online 5 Mar 2023 [1]
5. ↑ ^{5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16} Profile of Johannes Landis. Source #278. Johannes Landis Dossier. Posted by Dave.EHST on 20 Aug 2021.[2]
6. ↑ Land Office Bureau of the Department of Internal Affairs, Harrisburg, Pa., Patent Book AA, Vol. 3, pp. 177-178-179; 8 Apr 1762
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Davis, W.W.H. "The History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania" 1876, p.462. Accessed 5 Mar 2023 [3]
8. ↑ Original deed, 23 Sept 1789; Schwenkfelder Library, Pennsburg, Pa; item 117.23 #1
9. ↑ Will Book I. p. 397 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
10. ↑ Original Papres, No. 255. Register of Wills, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See also :

• Latschar database with Landis and relatives
• Wenger (2005). "A Combined Genealogy Report ..." p.49
• Ancestry tree at http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=45964029&pid=595