John Michael Schmeisser (1740 - 1810)

Born 21 Nov 1740 in York Co. , PA

Descendants

Died 7 Jul 1810 at age 69 in York, Pennsylvania

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Biography

He was the second of 11 children. Lived in West Manchester Township, York county. He worked as a farmer (200 acres) and tavern keeper. In 1775, one of 12 who raised money to send to Boston for the patriots when the port was closed. ecame Captain of a company under Col. M. Swope's regiment. He was taken prisoner at Fort Washington, NY(November16, 1776). Retired as a Colonel. Elected to House of Representatives(1778-90) and Senate(1790-98).From Gibson's History of York County: Colonel John Michael Smyser was long and extensively known as a highly respectable farmer and tavern keeper, in what is now West Manchester Twp., near the site of his father's home. He owned a farm of 200 acres. Though not favored with a liberal education, he was known as a man of discriminating mind and sound judgement. He was early associated with the Revolutionary cause, and was a useful man in the councils of that day, as well as on the battlefield. He was one of a committee of 23 from York County who raised money in 1775 to send to the inhabitants of Boston, when the port of that city was closed by the British; collecting 6 pounds, 12s, 1d from his own township, which amount was the most raised by any one person.

If the American cause had failed, everyone on that committee would have forfeited his life on the scaffold of the enemy. He joined the Continental Army as a Captain in Col. Michael Swope's regiment of York Co. Volunteers; he was captured by the enemy in the engagement at Fort Washington, North of New York City, on the 16 Sept. 1776. Several months of distressing imprisonment followed, during which time he was untiring in his efforts to alleviate the sufferings of his fellow prisoners. He was always bold and animated in his country's cause. After his release and return home in 1778 he was elected member of the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania from York Co., and from that time to 1790 he was re-elected 7 times.

From 1790 to 1795 he represented his County in the State Senate, being the first person elected to that office under the State Constitution of 1790. Here his warm attachment to our political institutions enabled him to act with honor to himself and his constituents.

Sources

• Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Mennonite Vital Records, 1750-1940

Lutheran Baptisms and Marriages search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=paluth&h=350&ti=0&ind iv=try&gss=pt York County, Pennsylvania Wills, 1749-1819 https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/grisly-history-brooklyns-revolutionary-war-martyrs-180962508/