Bernard Walter (1721 - 1781)

Born 17 Feb 1721 in Nordheim, Brackenheim, Württemberg, Germany

Descendants

Died 24 Aug 1781 at age 60 in Forks Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, USA

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Biography

His parents were Anna Maria (Kuriss) and Hans Bernard Walters ^[1]. They had eight children, five of whom died in infancy. ^[2]

Bernard Walter was born on 17 Feb 1721 in Nordheim, Brackenheim, Württemberg, Germany.

At 58 years of age, his father probably travelled down the Rhine River by boat with other Palatines to reach Rotterdam, Netherlands where he boarded a ship for America. ^{[3] [4]} At the time, ships manifests often did not list names of young children or females, but Bernard, at 11 years of age, would have been the other son on the voyage.

The German name of Bernard was translated in English to Barnet ^[5] when he received a land warrant in 1740 ^[5] bought ^[6] from John and Richard Penn (grandsons of William Penn) for a farm of 300 acres in Forks Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania (near Easton).

Bernard or Barnet Walter married Eva (of unknown maiden surname).

In May 1752 he earned 9 shillings for three days work, clearing the forest to form Center Square, in Easton, Pennsylvania. ^[6]

Another generation of Penns claimed the quit-rent was not fully paid, and faced with an eviction order, Barnet's heirs had to pay up in 1810. ^[7]

He passed away on 24 Aug 1781 in Forks Township, Northampton, Pennsylvania, USA. His sons Michael and Johan George Walter had first claim to the property in his Will.

Sources

1. ↑ Church book of Nordheim, Württemberg: Landeskirchliches Archiv Stuttgart > Dekanat Brackenheim > Nordheim > Mischbuch 1711-1778 Band 3
2. ↑ Frankenfield-Beam Genealogy
3. ↑ Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild, ship: "Loyal Judith" with Captain Robert Turpin, from Rotterdam, Netherlands via Cowes, England; arrival: 25 Sep 1732 Philadelphia [List 24 A, B, C] ship's manifest for father with two sons including Hans Conrad Walther=Walter @18yrs, b: 09 Mar 1714; origin: Nordheim, Württemberg, Germany
4. ↑ The Palatine Project
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} "Shull Genealogies" by Horatio Gates in 1930 Easton, PA
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Michael Shoemaker Book p256-257 in 1924 Easton PA
7. ↑ 1982/09/01 Letter from Fredrick R. Walter and 1980/03/28 which also mentions it is in "Historic Easton from the Window of a Trolley-Car" by William Heller 1911

• Walter family pedigree on ancestry.com

• https://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/bernard-walter_2779181

• DAR Patriot Index 1967 p714 Arlington Co.

• "History of Northampton County, Pennsylvania" c1877 p248 at Easton Public Library

• "The American Miller" v12 #6, 1 Jun 1884 Colvin Run Mill, Fairfax County Park Authority, Virginia

• U.S. Army, Register of Enlistments 1798-1914 citing National Archives, Washington, DC; U.S. Regular Army Artillery 2nd Regiment Battery-B; Military and Pension files

• Teacher's Certificate from Warren County, New Jersey for the third grade

• Teacher's Certificate from State Normal School, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania

• Certificate signed by John Wanamaker

• Letters in the effects of Emaline Warford Dillon (b: 20 Oct 1855) held by Richard J. Walter

• Letter 18 Mar 1979 from Fredrick R. Walter (b: 02 Mar 1920) Easton, Pennsylvania

• Letter c1981 by Fredrick R. Walter (b: 02 Mar 1920)

• Letter 06 Dec 1995 with copy of news story & photos from Fredrick R. Walter (b: 02 Mar 1920)

• Letter July 1979 from Fredrick R. Walter (b: 02 Mar 1920)

• "Daily Advance" of Elizabeth City, North Carolina; Norfolk Virginia Pilot 28 Aug 1955 newspaper clippings

• Easton, Pennsylvania newspaper clipping of accident in collection of R. J. Walter.

• Elizabeth City, North Carolina newspaper clippings from the collection of R. J. Walter.

• Obituary for Jacob published in "Daily Free Press" of Easton, Pennsylvania

• Various newspaper obituaries and clippings from Easton, Pennsylvania; East Orange, New Jersey area; the Newark Evening News of New Jersey and Herald Tribune of New York.

• 1939 Ancestor Chart with text by Fredrick R. Walter (b: 02 March 1920)