13. Antonius (Anthony) BLESSING
was born on 14 Sep 1723 in Ball, Goppingen, Germany. He died about 1803
in Hummelstown, Penna.. He was a brick layer in Schlierbach, Germany. He has
descendant number 1. He was buried in Sandhill Cemetery, Hummelstown RD1, Pa..
The search for Anthony Blessing's orgin in Germany began with the knowledge
that his wife, Margaret Salome Wacker, came from Niefern, Germany. This fact
was listed in
her obit from the St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Derry Twp. Dauphin Co., Pa.
In 1985, I received translated records of Antonius' marriage from: Evangelifche
Kirchengemeinde, 7532 Niefern an der enz (church in Niefern, Germany). I was
also sent
photo copies of the actual hand written documents in old German script which
also included the birth of Anthony and Margaret's first three children. Over
the years I have
had several different interpretations of these documents. They basically say:
Anthony and Margaret were living together and had a child before they were married.
However since Anthony was "noble born" the church records literally
say they lived together prematurely and on the strength of a decree authorized
by the prince they were admonished and properly married April 2, 1745 in Niefern,
Germany. Anthony's wife's full name was Margaret Salome Wacker. Most church
records list her as Salome. It was stated that she was a foundling. Salome was
raised by Johannes and Anna Wacker of Niefern, Germany.
The Later Day Saints records, which are copies of the above mentioned documents
, are located in what is called "Family Books" and are listed by towns.
I had the ones from Niefern, Schlierbach, and Hattenhoffen translated.
Anthony was listed as a son of Han Jerg Blessing and was born in Boll, Germany,
September 14, 1723.
The following letter was received from the Burgermeister's office Wiernsheim,
Germany:.
In our search for your ancestors we found, that Hans Jacob Blessing Iwas married
in 1724 to a Anna Maria Muller, widow of SebastianIGeiger. Hans Jacob Blessing
came from Schlierbach Joachim Blessing, from Beck zu Schlierbach. It is possible
that Joachim Blessing was the father of Anton and Jacob Blessing who according
to your report arrived in Pennsylvania Iin 1751 and 1754 respectively. This
cannot be proven by documents,
though. (based on LDS records Anthony was Jacob Blessing's nephew.)
You should continue your inquiries by directing them to the village Iand church
of 7311 Schlierbach, Kreis Coppingen."
Further research did locate Anthony's father, Hans Jerg Blessing in Hattenhofen.
Anthony's grandfather Joachim Blessing was a baker and citizen of Schlierbach
after moving from Hattenhofen. Hans and Anna Blessing were the parents of Joachim
Blessing.
It is not known how or why he went to Niefern, however, he and Margaret Salome
Wacker married and had three children while in Niefern. Anthony's occupation
was a brick layer.
Their first child, Anna Maria Blassing was born November 30, 1744. She was baptized
July 31, 1745, three months after her parents were married. Godfathers and godmothers
were: The wife Anne Marie of Jacob Blassinger who is ill and comes from Wiernsheim;
Karl Schottenhofer, tailor at Niefern and Jacob Huber, also tailor at Niefern
and
Elisabetha Lindenmann. Their daughter Anna Marie died after the time of 1 year,
7 months and 10 days.
Their second child, Jacob Blessing, was born August 13, 1747 also at Niefern.
Godfathers and godmothers were: Elisabetha Barbara, who is the daughter of Benjamin
Lindenmann; Anna Maria Blassinger from Wiernsheim and Jacob Huber's son. At
the edge of the entry is a note; "To the new land". It is not known
if this note refers to Jacob
Huber's son whose name was George or if it refers to Jacob Blessing who was 4
years old when Anthony and Salome Blessing came to America. No records of this
particular Jacob Blessing have been found after he arrived in America. His brother
John Blessing has also been a mystery. Based on their mothers obit, we know
they were both alive when their mother died in 1781. There have been John and
Jacob Blessing brother combinations found in North Carolina, Kentucky, and Wythe,
Virginia who have a birth place of Pennsylvania, however, I have not been able
to confirm their tie in to Anthony and Margaret Salome Blessing. An Anthony
Blessing, son of a John Blessing was located in Wythe, Va. with a birth date
in the 1780's and although the only Anthony's in that time period were related
to our family, I have been unable to prove relationship with Anthony of Wythe,
Va.
Their third child, Elizabeth Barbara Blassinger, was born January 8, 1750 at
Niefern. Godfathers and godmothers were: Jacob Blassinger from Wiernsheim and
Anna Maria Blassinger; Jacob Huber and Elisabeth Barbara Lindenmann from Niefern.
This child, Elizabeth Barbara married Fredrick Hummel, November 2, 1769, founder
of Hummelstown, Pa. She was his second wife and bore him 6 children.
Some time before the summer of 1751, Anthony and Margaret Salome Blessing made
their way to Wiernsheim, Germany. It was from there they left for America. Based
on the publication of "Southwest German Publication for Information on Lineage
and Coat of Arms" published by the organization for information and coat
of arms in Wurttemberg and Baden, Stuttgart Special Edition 1977, titled -- "Emigration
to the New England from
States located in the county of Enz in the 18th Century by Karl Ehmann."
On page 55: Anton Blessing arrived in Philadelphia on ship Phoenix, September
25, 1751.
Jakob Blessing arrived in Philadelphia on ship Neptune,September
30, 1754.
Both Came from Wiernsheim, Germany.
American shipping records states: "Wednesday, September, 25, 1751. Ship
Phoenix, John Spurrier, Captain, from Rotterdam last Portsmouth, England, 412
passengers." Page 470 of the book "Pennsylvania German Pioneers"
lists "Antoni (O) Blesinger" the O being his mark.
Procedures in that time period were to go to Germantown, Pa., swear an oath of
allegiance and move on to a permanent residence. The first indication of Anthony's
place of settlement is in:
"A Brief History of Saint Paul Lutheran Church"
"St. Paul Lutheran Congregation of Sand Hill is the oldest Lutheran Congregation
in Derry Township, Dauphin County, 15th oldest in the Central Pennsylvania Lutheran
Synod, 52nd oldest in Pennsylvania and 90th in America, out of approximately
18,000 Lutheran Congregations. The Church was known as the Church in the Wildwood
and was the center of the community. The Lutheran Church located in Sand Hill
(now called the St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church - 1996), since 1752 has
been variously known as Berge Kirche, Die Berg Kirche, Die Maxen Kirch, Die Maxa
Kirch, The Hill Church, The Sand Hill Church, The Sand Hill Lutheran Church,
Derry Township Lutheran Church, The Lutheran Congregation in Derry Township.
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Blessing were included in the list of 46 families that
founded the church before 1752."
Life in the 1750's was described in the following manner:
"With Bible and Gun, they went to church. In 1752 the church was nothing
more than a gleam in the collective eye of a few German settlers who fought Indians
with one hand and farmed with the other."
In 1752 Derry Township was part of Lancaster County, Pa. Dauphin County was
created in 1785. Prior to 1785, Blessings were listed in Lancaster County records.
On October 6, 1762, Fredrick Hummel bought from John Campbell a tract of 151
acres in Derry township, on which he soon thereafter laid out what he called
Frederick town, but soon became known as Hummelstown, Pennsylvania. The area
where Anthony settled is now (1996) considered Rd1 Hummelstown. This Fredrick
is the one mentioned above as marrying Anthony's daughter Elizabeth Barbara Blessing
in 1769.
The original church, of wood frame, was located across the road from the current
stone structure. The current structure was built in 1875 by Anthony's great
grandson Absalom Blessing.
Anthony and Margaret's fourth child is believed to be John Blessing. John's birth
date is estimated at 1753. Although there is little known of John, we do know
about his serving in the military with his brothers Fredrick and Philip. (see
next paragraph) He is also listed
in the Lancaster County Tax lists for the years 1754 to 1783 as living in Derry
Twp. In 1780 Anna Margaretta Blessing was baptized and listed John Blessing as
the father. Of Anthony's descendants, this John was the only John available
at that time frame. The maiden name of his wife Catherina has not been documented.
Records indicate it may have been "Kruger".
In the Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Vol. VII, "Muster Rolls Relating
to the Association and Militia of the County of Lancaster", edited by Thomas
Lynch Montgomery, Harrisburg Publishing Co., State Printer, Harrisburg, Pa.
1906, p. 942 provides a list dated April 11, 1781. It lists male white inhabitants,
between the ages of 18 and 53, living or residing in the bounds, limits, or lines
of the Eighth Co. of the ninth Battalion of Lancaster City. Among the names
are Fredrick, Phillip and John "Blessly". Fredrick would have been
21 years old, Phillip 26, and John (providing he was born in 1753 as this writer
estimates) would have been 28. Philip is also mentioned in the "Patriotic
Resolves (July 25, 1776) as being a member of the 4th Battalion Commanded by
Colonel James Burd. Blessly was a spelling used for the family in the late 1700's
and early 1800's.
The fifth child was Philip Adam Blessing. A separate biography is written on
Philip. Philip's birth notice was found in the Hill Church records of Cleona,
Pa.
The sixth child, Catherina Blessing married a Michael Spad and had eight children.
Catherina's birth notice has not been found but has been estimated at 1757.
She lived in Hummelstown, Pa. all of her life. Since the birth dates of Catherina
and her brother John (1753) have not been confirmed, these birth dates could
be reversed.
The seventh child was George Fredrick Blessing. Documents list him as "Fredrick".
A separate biography is written on Fredrick. The eight child was Antonius Blessing
born March 27, 1762. Little is known of Antonius. His wife's name was Salome
or Sarah or both. They had eight children, two boys and six daughters. One
boy was listed as
M. Salome Blessing (male) and the other boy was John. John had a John and then
this family was lost because it became difficult to identify the many John Blessings.
Although Antonius was the son of Anthony, he was not called Junior. That distinction
was granted to Philip Adam's son who was known as Anthony Jr..
The ninth child of Anthony and Margaret Salome Blessing was Christian Blessing.
A separate biography is listed for Christian. This writer is a descendant of
this Christian Blessing.
Birth notices of the last three children were found in the records of St. Paul's
Evangelical Lutheran Church, Sand Hill, Derry Township, Dauphin Co., Pennsylvania.
(1996 the area is known as Rd #1 Hummelstown, Pa.) The basis for searching for
9 children was established by locating Margaret Salome Blessing's obit in the
Sand Hill Church records.
The obituary is as follows:
" August 1, 1797: Margaret Salome Blessing nee Wackerin, born September
29, 1718 in Niefern, Germany near Pforzheim. Parents Johannes and Anna Wacker.
Baptized, confirmed in the Evangelical Lutheran Religion and admitted to Holy
Communion. Married to the surviving Anton Blessing had 9 children of whom 8
are alive - 6 sons and 2 daughters. Sickness was consumption with which she
was afflicted nearly 4 years. Aged 78 years, 10 months, and 2 days.
The above marriage date, for Margaret and Anthony, of 1744 was found to be in
error according to marriage records from Germany. Margaret's last name was spelled
WACKERIN, the "IN" signifies she was a female. The "ER" ending
to a surname signifies the male. Thus the spelling has been seen for Blessing
men as Blessinger. Anthony's name was listed as Antonius Blasing on his marriage
notice. He was listed as Antonius Blassinger on the birth announcements of his
three children in the German church records. Since most of the family spoke German
until around 1850, it is thought that census takers and church recorders spelled
Blessing as it sounded to them. Another factor in the spelling of Blessing was
the insertion of the symbol "f" which signified a double "s".
ie. Blefsing. The following other spellings have been found :
Blesly Blessley Plessley Plessing Plefsly Blassinger
Blessly Plesly Plessly Blesley Blessinger Blasing
1757: Anthony was first listed in the Lancaster County Tax List, Derry Twp.
Pa. (1754-1783)
1780: Anthony was taxed on 100 acres in Derry Twp. Pa.
1786: Anthony was elected one of two Supervisors for Derry Twp. Pa.
1790: Census Anthony Plesly in Derry Twp. Dauphin Co. Pa.
1798: Derry Twp. Anthony was taxed on a house 25' by 24' made of logs - 1 story
- 3 windows - 12 lights - on 2 acres of land. Total worth was
$110.00.
In the 1800 Census Anthony was listed under Plefsly living in Derry Twp.
Dauphin Co. Pa. He died before the 1810 census. Neither of Anthony's sons,
Jacob or John, were listed in the 1780, 1790 or 1800 census from Pennsylvania.
Jacob in 1780 would have been 33, in 1790 he would have been 43 and in 1800,
53 years of age. According to the records of the Sand Hill Cemetery, located
across the street from the Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Rd1 Hummelstown, Pa.,
Anthony's wife, Margaret Salome Wacker Blessing was buried there in 1797. No
record has been found of Anthony's death or burial, but there is a grave marked
Anthony, at the Sand Hill Cemetary (other inscriptions are not legible) but there
are several dates, including 1724. Since Anthony was actually born in 1723,
a one year error is logical, thus some believe this is Anthony's grave. Similarly,
there is not a grave marker for his wife, Margaret.
He was married to Margaret
Salome WACKER (daughter of Johannes WACKER and
Anna WACKER) on 2 Apr 1745 in Niefern, Germany. Margaret
Salome WACKER was born on 29 Sep 1718 in Niefern, Germany. She died on 1
Aug 1797 in Hummelstown, Penna.. She was buried in Sandhill Cemetery, Hummelstown
RD1, Pa.. She was ill with consumption. Antonius (Anthony) BLESSING and Margaret
Salome WACKER had the following children:
25 i.
Anna Maria BLESSING was born on 30 Nov 1744 in Niefern, Germany. She died
on 10 Jun 1746 in Niefern, Germany. She has descendant number 1-1.
26 ii.
Jacob BLESSING was born on 13 Dec 1747 in Niefern, Germany. He has descendant
number 1-2.
+27 iii.
Elizabeth Barbara BLESSING.
+28 iv.
Johannes BLESSING.
+29 v.
Philip Adam BLESSING.
+30 vi.
Catherina BLESSING.
+31 vii.
George (Fredrick) BLESSING.
+32 viii.
Antonius BLESSING.
+33 ix.
Christian BLESSING.
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