Nicholas Myers (abt. 1745 - aft. 1816)

Born about 1745 in Lebanon Township, Lancaster, Pennsylvania [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died after 1816 after about age 71 in Mifflin, Juniata, Pennsylvania, United States [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Merryanne Brown [send private message] and David Milburn [send private message]

Biography

Nicholas is named as the third son of John Myers of Fermanagh Twp, Mifflin, PA, in John's will (assumed to have been made in the 1790's). ^[1] Jordan^[2] records that he was a Mennonite farmer, and had been an early settler in Lebanon Co., PA before moving to Juniata County. Others report that he may also have spent some time in Ohio before returning to Pennsylvania c.1800, and suggest a connection with the Myers families of York or Lebanon.^[3][4]

Birth and parents : Nicholas is generally believed to have been born c.1740, although no birth record has been identified. It would be consistent with the assumed birth of his son, Samuel, c.1772, although a birthdate somewhat later would sit better with his identification as the third son of John Myers of Fermanagh Twp.. Some sources identify Nicholas's place of birth as Heidelberg, Lebanon, PA, but simultaneously record him as an immigrant who arrived in PA in 1741; this is presumably because he is sometimes (and probably incorrectly) associated with Dewald Meyers who held land in Heidelberg and with Hans Ehwalt Myers who arrived in Philadelphia in 1741. Assuming that he was the son of John Myers (see Parents below), he was probably born in Lancaster Co., possibly in Lebanon Twp.

Marriage and children : Nicholas is reported to have married Hannah Eichelberger (or Eckelbarger).^[2] Various sources give different listings of their children. There seems to be reasonable evidence to include the following :

1. Samuel, born in Lebanon Co. and moved to Juniata with his father^[2] [b.c.1772]^[5]
2. Michael of Bethel Twp, Berks^[6]
3. Christina married to John Laver^[6]

Ellis ^[3] gives that Nicholas was the father of the Rev. David Myers. It's assumed that this is an error on Ellis's part; Nicholas would have been aged 64 at the time of David's birth, and David is generally reported to be the son of Nicholas's son, Samuel, instead. It is, however, likely that Nicholas had a son named David, and it is speculated that this may have been David Myers b.c.1778, who was living in the area but moved later to Indiana. See Notes for discussion.

Others who are sometimes named in online trees, but for whom no evidence can be located, include :

1. John b.c.1765 (marr. Elizabeth Rothrock)
2. Martin
3. Stephen
4. Jacob
5. Barbara
6. Catherine

Land records

Ellis (p.420) records : " At the July sessions of 1788 viewers reported favourably on a 'road from David Miller's Ferry on Juniata River to John Graybill's Mill on Mohontongo Creek.' By the draft it commenced at Miller's, passed by N. Myers' house, crossed the Cocolamus creek to David Beal's dwelling, crossed Crane's run, crossed McConnel's run, near E. McCormick's house, then by Evans' Cabin, on to Graybill's Mill, a distance of nine and three-quarter miles. The Pyles, Shellenbegers and Graybills all lived on Mahantango Creek, near Richfield, and the last two roads ran from the Juniata River above Mifflinstown, through Oakland, McAlisterville, to Richfield, to John Graybill's Mill, near that place ... " ^[3]

One compilation^[6] of family history gives the following (without quoting sources) :

Nicholas took out a warrant for 400 acres in Mifflin Co., as early as 1794. He was of Greenwood Twp in Sept 1794; also in 1801, 1803, and 1804, but in 1811 he was not taxed in Greenwood Twp but was taxed on 170 acres in Fermanagh Twp. He had been living on 300 acres in Greenwood Twp but also owned 342 acres in Fermanagh in 1805. In 1818, Nicholas owned 100 acres taxed at $3000 in Fermanagh, but Nicholas himself was in Montgomery Co., Ohio at that time. (See agreement with sons Samuel and Michael and son-in-law John Laver that they would take care of their mother, Hannah. This agreement was dated April 17, 1816, and Nicholas was then in Ohio). He was Nicholas Myers "of Fermanagh, late of Ohio" in deed to Musser, Dec 18, 1819 and he was also of Fermanagh on Oct 15, 1819.

1810 : Nicholas Myers appears on the 1810 census record^[5] in Fermanagh, Mifflin, and it's assumed that this is Nicholas, father of Samuel (who was also living in Fermanagh); see notes for a discussion of alternative explanations. The household includes :

Nicholas Myers aged over 44 (Nicholas would then be aged about 70)

1 female aged over 44 (presumed to be Nicholas's wife)

1 male aged 16-25

1 male aged under 10

2 females aged 16-25

1813-1816 : Land records in the Pennsylvania State Archives show a warrant granted in 1813 to Nicholas Myer for a tract of 180 acres at Greenwood, at the head of Lost Creek, and also that in 1816 Nicholas Myers held a tract of 95 acres at Fermanagh.^[7] Since Nicholas's son, Samuel, is known to have had an association with both these locations (Jordan^[2] places him at Lost Creek, and the 1810 census^[5] places him at Fermanagh), it is assumed that the Nicholas referred to in these land records is Nicholas, father of Samuel (although he could potentially be a brother to Samuel instead).

Death : Nicholas's death is often reported as 1808, but this is incorrect (see Notes). He is presumed to have died between 1816 and 1820, but no record has been located. Jordan^[2] reports that he died near Mifflin, Juniata, but Mikula^[6] suggests he may have died in Ohio.

Research Notes

Parents : Various suggestions have previously been made regarding Nicholas's parents :

1. Many online family trees identify his parents as Vincent Myer (1721-1797) and Anna Huber (1727-1773), although no evidence is provided to support this assertion, and Anna would have been aged just 13 when Nicholas was born.
2. Other trees identify Nicholas as the son of Hans Ehwald Meyer and Anna Barbara Landis. This arises probably from the fact that a will for Dewald Meyer, written in 1770 and proven in 1776, leaves his 15 acres of land in Heidelberg, Lebanon Co. to Nicholas Myer and Peter Myer.^[8] However, the will does not explicitly identify Nicholas and Peter as his sons, and they may have been nephews or cousins instead - or it may have been a different Nicholas and not the person in this profile. In addition, Dewald's wife is identified in his will as Eva Maria, and not Anna Barbara. It seems likely that (Hans) Dewald and Eva Maria have been conflated with John Myer (1684-1758) who married Barbara Landis (1688-1748), parents of Vincent Myer (1721-1797). (If there were a connection between this Nicholas and Dewald, then earlier records exist for Dewald Myers owning land in Weisenburg, Northampton County; about 10 miles away, Nicholas Myers and Peter Myers had land in Macungie and Upper Milford, respectively, and they appear to have taken over warrants granted in the late 1730's to a Hans Jacob Meyer. It's possible that they were sons of Hans Jacob, and that he was brother to Dewald.)
3. Some trees with better sources report that Nicholas's father was John Myers b.1717 and d.1797 in Mifflin / Juniata Co., PA, citing Zimmerman ^[4]. This is consistent with family anecdotes (per Ancestry trees), but may instead be a confused reference to Vincent Myer (1721-1797) whose birth and death dates are similar.

It's most likely that Nicholas's father was in fact Hans (John) Meyer, born c.1717, lived in Lebanon Co., and d.bef.1797. Dates and geography are consistent with those reported by Zimmerman and Jordan, and this family connection is supported by y-DNA data.^[9]

Son named David : Ellis^[3] gives that Nicholas was the father of the Rev. David Myers b.1804. This is assumed to be an error, since Nicholas would have been aged over 60 at the time of David's birth, and the Rev. David is generally believed to have been the son of Nicholas's son, Samuel. However, it's possible that Nicholas did indeed have a son named David and that Ellis had mistakenly identified the wrong man. Several alternative explanations exist for the discrepancy :

1. Nicholas (b.c.1740) had a son named Nicholas (b.c.1770, who was father of David). This would cast a different light on the various land and census records cited, but would require further evidence of the existence of another Nicholas.
2. Nicholas was instead the father of David Myers of Lack Twp (b.c.1794). However, this David is generally believed to be the son of Nicholas's son John Myers b.c.1772.
3. Nicholas was the father of David Myers b.c.1778 who moved to Indiana. This David is known to be connected to the same Myers / Meyer family as Nicholas^[10] and was believed to have been living in the same area at the same time; his parents have not been identified, but his date of birth would fit with the birthdates of Nicholas's known children. It seems very likely that he was closely connected to Nicholas, and may have been either son or nephew.

Land records : PA State Archives records a consecutive set of warrants granted to John, Henry, Nicholas and Jacob Mire in Lack, Mifflin Co., PA in June 1794 (but apparently not pursued).^[11] Were they brothers? Cousins? Fathers / sons? (Compare to the list of Meyer men named in the will of Anna Mayer, relict of Henry Meyer (believed to be Nicholas's uncle), in her will of 1799 : Christian, John, Jacob, Michael, Peter, Rudolph.^[12])

Census : It's assumed that the 1810 census entry for Nicholas Myers is for Samuel's father. It's possible that it is for a brother of Samuel instead. If this were the case, then Nicholas Jr would probably have been born c.1760-1765 (in order to have three children in the 16-25 age bracket on the 1810 census), which would still fit with the suggested birth of Nicholas Sr in 1740.

Death : Nicholas is often reported to have died 9 Dec 1808 in Mifflin, Juniata, PA. However, the evidence for this appears to come from a set of records held by the Roman Catholic Sacred Heart Basilica in Conewago, Adams Co., PA.^[13] It is assumed that this record is in fact for Nicholas Meyer (c.1730-1808) of Adams Co., whose grandchildren were baptised in the same church, but who did not have a son named Samuel.

Sources

1. ↑ Image of original will shared to Ancestry by user LOWCE on 24 Mar 2020, and viewed at https://www.ancestry.com.au/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/22914143/person/12522278025/media/5bff2753-74fb-47f0-b7e9-49fa04f56c99 : Will of John Myers of Fermanagh Twp
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} Jordan, John Woolf (1913). "A History of the Juniata Valley and its People" Vol.III, p.1170. New York, Lewis Historical Publishing. Viewed May 2021 at https://archive.org/details/historyofjuniata03jord
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} Ellis, Franklin. (1886) "History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys, embraced in the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder, in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania" Vol. 1. p.839, Philadelphia : Everts, Peck and Richards. Viewed online at https://archive.org/details/historyofthatpar01elli/page/n5/mode/2up?q=myers
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Zimmerman, Noah L. (1962). "History of the Lost Creek Mennonite Church" (Chapter on Early Mennonite Settlers)
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} US Census 1810, NARA roll 51, NARA series M252. Fermanagh, Mifflin, PA. Viewed via FindMyPast at https://www.findmypast.com.au/transcript?id=USC%2F1810%2F005157100%2F00107%2F045
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3} Mikula, Evelyn Rhodes (1983). Family History of Hans Arnold / Ewalt Myer Viewed 2021 via FamilySearch at https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/562246-family-history-of-hans-arnold-ewalt-meyer
7. ↑ Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Pennsylvania State Archives. RG-17, Records of the Land Office, Warrant Registers 1733-1957 [series #17.88], Mifflin County. Retrieved from http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r17-88WarrantRegisters/MifflinPages/Mifflin51.pdf
8. ↑ Lancaster County (Pennsylvania). Register of Wills. Wills, 1730-1908; Index, 1729-1947; Probate Place: Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Viewed May 2021 via Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015 at https://www.ancestry.com.au/imageviewer/collections/8802/images/005534201_00186
9. ↑ FTDNA Myers Surname DNA Project at https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/myers/about
10. ↑ FamilyTreeDNA Myers Surname DNA Project at https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/myers/about
11. ↑ Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Pennsylvania State Archives. RG-17, Records of the Land Office, Warrant Registers 1733-1957 [series #17.88], Mifflin County. Retrieved from http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r17-88WarrantRegisters/MifflinPages/Mifflin48.pdf
12. ↑ Pennsylvania County, District and Probate Courts; Berks County (Pennsylvania) Register of Wills, 1752-1860 ; Index to Wills, 1752-1915. Viewed via Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. at https://www.ancestry.com.au/imageviewer/collections/8802/images/005533972_00412
13. ↑ Eastern Pennsylvania United Methodist Church Commission on Archives and History. Pennsylvania and New Jersey, U.S., Church and Town Records, 1669-2013, Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Methodist Church Records. Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Viewed via Ancestry.com / Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011 at https://www.ancestry.com.au/imageviewer/collections/2451/images/40355_267455-00158?pId=7186925

See also :

• https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/85044404/person/38505811269/facts
• Source citation for Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Mennonite Vital Records, 1750-2014