Johann Christian Wagner (1748 - 1832)

Born 26 Jun 1748 in Reading, Berks, Pennsylvania

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Retz) Wagner — married 28 Feb 1784 in Pennsylvania, USA

Descendants

Died 15 Feb 1832 at age 83 in Germantown, Pennsylvania, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Lloyd Wagner [send private message]

Rev Tobias Space:Wagner's and other surnames that are/may be tied to Rev Tobias Wagner 1695-1764.

Biography

From Colonial Families of Philadelphia, Volume 2 By John Woolf Jordan starting at Page 1575. Johann Christian Wagner (Later know as John Wagner) b. Reading, PA., 26 June 1748; d., Germantown, Feb 15, 1832; m. Mary (Ritz) Baker;

JoHN WAGNER, or as his baptismal record names him Johann Christian Wagner, youngest son of Rev. Tobias and Mary Christina Dorothea (Gregoriis) Wagner, was born in Reading, Berks county, Pennsylvania, June 26, 1748, and came to Philadelphia and engaged in business there when a young man. He was engaged in the business of importing woolen goods, from which he acquired a comfortable fortune.

He Married, February 28, 1784, Mary (Ritz) Baker, daughter of Christian Ritz, a native of Germany (born January 28, 1734, died December 7, 1823); widow of Charles Baker, who died August 12, 1780. She was born June 28, 1760 and died August 23,1839. She married Charles Baker, 1778 and had by him a daughter Elizabeth Baker, born October 3, 1779, died February 28, 1867.

On his marriage John Wagner took up his residence at what is now No.25 South Second steet above Chestnut, where all of his children were born, later removing to a house on the east side of Eighth street, between Market and Arch streets, then the residential portion of the city. In 1794 he purchased as a country seat, an estate on the banks of the Wissahickon Creed, near Germantown, then known as Roxborough, extending along School House lane (Old map and new map of the area)^[1][2], a portion of which has been the country seat of the family for five generations. Here the family found an asylum during the prevalence of the yellow fever in the city. Here John Wagner died February 15, 1832. His widow, Mary died August 23, 1839.

This document also includes their children. Summarized below.

Phebe Wagner b Phila, Feb 11 1785, d 20 June 1825. Married Thomas Shipley then John White.

Maria Wagner, b May 19, 1786 D Oct 28 1858. Married John Stille.

John Wagner, b May 8 1788, D April 16, 1789

Susan Wagner, b Nove 12, 1789; d, June 21, 1851; Married Andrew Byerly.

Samuel Wagner. b March 6, 1792; d Feb 19 1868. Married Emilie Obrie Jun 11, 1823.

William Wagner, b. January 15, 1796; d January 17, 1885; Was married twice, second marriage 1841. Created the Wagner Free Institute of Science at Elm Grove was dedicated in May of 1865. Left 1/2 a million dollars in his will to support it.

Anna Wagner, b. Aug 17, 1797; d. Sept 24. 1797;

From the web site for St. David's Episcopal Church St. David's & DuPont Streets - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19127.

It mentions John had another son Tobias.

ENDOWED WITH VESTRY LEADERSHIP: I. Tobias Wagner [Vestrymember 1831-1865]

At the December 3, 1831 meeting that decided to organize an Episcopal parish church in Manayunk and name it St. David's, two brothers were elected to the first year's Vestry. They were Tobias Wagner [1793-1868] and Samuel Wagner [1792-1879]. Skipping info.......

Tobias was born in Philadelphia in November 1793. After a local education, in 1810 he was apprenticed to a Center City merchant. He succeeded so well that upon reaching his majority in 1815 the master and the apprentice became partners. Three years later Tobias entered into another mercantile partnership and three years after that he and Samuel joined as partners in the final undertaking of their business careers. At some time, either before or after their retirement in 1831. Skipping info......

In addition to their earned prosperity, the Wagner brothers were possessed of two inherited family resources-wealth, and an interest in church and theological matters. The wealth was created by their father, John, a first generation German-American born in 1748 at Reading, Pennsylvania. John's fortune was made in Philadelphia as an importer of woolen goods. In addition to having a residence in Philadelphia, he purchased a countryseat on Wissahickon Creek bordering School House Lane (Old map and new map of the area)^[3][4] above Gypsy Lane. He named it Roxborough Cottage. Purchased the year after Tobias' birth, this home served the Wagner family for many generations.

The Wagner family of Philadelphia has been traced as far back as early 16th century Bavaria to the first recorded ancestor. His Christian name was Tobias. His grandson, another Tobias [1598-1680], so distinguished himself in theological studies and personal piety that from 1662 until his death he served as Chancellor and Dean of Tubingen University,Skipping info which was taken from another book who's info already appears in Rev Tobias's profile........

The pastor in the third generation, yet another Tobias [d 1764], felt called to be a missionary to American congregations. He began in Maine in 1742 and shortly later took up service in Pennsylvania where he served fourteen congregations over the years. While in Pennsylvania he was befriended by Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, the patriarch of the Lutheran Church in America. Wagner even officiated at Muhlenberg's marriage. But their relationship became troubled, Wagner's irascible nature and ambitions soon overcame him, and in 1759 he returned to Germany. He went home only with his wife and youngest daughter; his other children, including John, then eleven years old, were left behind.

2. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Death Certificates Index, 1803-1915 Birth, Marriage & Death Name John Wagner Birth 1748 Death 17 Feb 1832 - Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Age: 84

1. Find A Grave Memorial# 11450757, Created by: DeLoss McKnight III, Record added: Jul 30, 2005 .

Burial: Christ Church Burial Ground, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA, Plot: Section C, Plot II,

Family links: Spouse: Mary Retz Wagner (1760 - 1839)* Find A Grave Memorial# 11450777.

Children: Susan Wagner Byerly (1789 - 1851)* Find A Grave Memorial# 11450787

Sources

1. ↑ https://bpldcassets.blob.core.windows.net/derivatives/images/commonwealth:4m90fd176/image_access_800.jpg
2. ↑ https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0155807,-75.205568,15z, Germantown.
3. ↑ https://bpldcassets.blob.core.windows.net/derivatives/images/commonwealth:4m90fd176/image_access_800.jpg
4. ↑ https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0155807,-75.205568,15z, Germantown.

• Colonial Families of Philadelphia, Volume 2 By John Woolf Jordan. https://books.google.com/books?id=3kc2AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA1575&lpg=PA1575&dq=Godlove+%28Gottleib%29+Wagner,+b.,+Berks+co.,+Pa.&source=bl&ots=67U5GalCrV&sig=E_DtmhNnByilBNiTw8wXjeTjte4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiA97rW4oPLAhUI4SYKHayKC2AQ6AEIHjAA#v=snippet&q=Johann%20&f=false

• 1 Find A Grave Memorial# 11450757. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=11450757

• 2 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Death Certificates Index, 1803-1915

Birth, Marriage & Death,

• http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/john-woolf-jordan/colonial-families-of-philadelphia-volume-2-dro/page-89-colonial-families-of-philadelphia-volume-2-dro.shtml

• https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Pennsylvania_German/DtMwAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=The+pennsylvania+german+vol+9&printsec=frontcover Starting at page 84