THE HISTORY
OF
MICHAEL HACKENBERG
BY
ROBERT EARL HACKENBERG
According to the records of the Great Swamp Reformed Church, Johann Peter and Anna Elizabeth were living in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, when their first son Johann Petrus was born.1 The church is located on the road leading from Dillingersville in Lehigh County to Spinnerstown in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. It is located, in Lehigh County, a short distance from the Bucks County line. The church is believed to have been organized previous to seventeen-thirty. It is a congregation with the Old and New Goschenhoppen Congregations forming one charge.2
Michael was born in the year 1776 or 1777.3 The uncertainty of the year is because the above church records jump from 1774 to 1781 concerning births. For this reason, it is questioned whether Michael was born in Bucks County. Another reason is that his mother, Anna Elizabeth, is thought to have stayed with her father, Michael Seypart, while Johann Peter served in the Revolutionary War. Mr. Seypart’s residence was a plantation in Sussex County, New Jersey. Anna probably stayed there, because she was by herself, with five children and was pregnant with the sixth, Michael. Because she stayed with her father some believe that this is the place of Michael’s birth.4
In 1790, after the war, Johann Peter moved his family to Buck’s County, Pennsylvania.5 At that time, Michael would have been 13 years old. Then in 1794, Peter again moved his family. This time to Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.6 When this move was made, Michael was seventeen.
In 1798, at the age of twenty-one, Michael married Mary Elizabeth Smith.7 She was born in Germany in the year seventeen-eighty. At the time of her marriage, Mary was eighteen. She was the daughter of Adam Smith.8
Michael and Mary are listed in the “1800 Census of Bucks County, Pennsylvania” and the “1800 Census of Northumberland County, Penns Township, Page 736.” Why are they listed in two censuses in the same year? It’s possible that they stayed in Buck’s County, after his parents moved to Northumberland County. Then they could have moved to Northumberland County in time to be included in the census of that year.9a
The Lord gave Michael and Mary ten children. They are: Lazarus, he was born Saturday, 15 February 1800, in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.9b Sophia, she was born between 1800 and 1806 in Pennsylvania. Michael, he was born around 1806. The place of his birth was Freeburg, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. Michael, the son, was the only one of the brothers and sisters that were not mentioned in his father’s will. The first mention of him is on page 484 and 485 of the book Johann Peter Hachenberg and Descendants by Roberta Hachenberg Albrecht and Jacqueline S. Rotering. Christina, she was born in 1808, in Freeburg, Pennsylvania. George, he was born in 1810, in Northumberland County, Freeburg, Pennsylvania. Peter, he was born in 1810 or1811 in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. I t is now Snyder County. I believe that Peter was born in eighteen-ten.10 Harmon, he was born in 1810 or 1811, in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. Mary Ann, she was born in 1814, in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. Delila, she was born in 1819 or 1820 in Pennsylvania. She is listed in Michael’s will as having died before him. In the will Delila’s daughters, Sarah and Mary Fenstemaker, received her portion of the estate. The date of the probated will was five December eighteen forty-three. Finally, John, he was born in 1829 in Chippewa Township, Wayne County, Ohio.11 Not only was John the last child of Michael and Mary, he was the only child to be born in Ohio. When Michael died, in 1843, John was twelve. In his will, he nominated Abraham Lantz to be John’s guardian until he reached the age of twenty-one.
The next account of Michael is given in 1802. He is recorded as a resident of Straubstown or Freeburg, Pennsylvania. His occupation was that of a joiner.12 A joiner is one who constructs articles by joining pieces of wood.13 In that year Michael would have been twenty-five. Then on 17 December 1811, Michael Hagenbarger warrantee [received clear title] 100 acres.14 You see Michael spelled his last name in many different ways.
On the date of 1 May 1812, Peter Hackenberg, Sr. of Middleburg, Center Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania sold to Michael Hackenberg, of Freeburg, Penns Township, Northumberland County, House Carpenter, for $30.00 Lot Number 1, Freeburg. Witnessed P. Bolender(?) and John Moyer(?).15
Then, on 15 August of that year Michael Hachenberg of Penns Township, Northumberland County, house carpenter sold to Peter Hachenberg, Jr., of Freeburg, a house carpenter, a tract in said County 55 acres, 5 perches, part of a tract of 86 acres and 8 perches, which the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania granted to Michael Hachenberg, 21 May 1812 for $125.00.16 The witnesses were Joseph Feehrer and Samuel Yearick.
At the time of this sale, Michael would have been forty-six and Mary would have been forty-three years old. They still resided in Pennsylvania. This fact is recorded in a 19 May 1823 bill of sale. It reads as follows: 19 May 1823 Michael Hackenberg of Freeburg, Washington Township, Union County (Today, it is Snyder County.), house carpenter and Mary his wife sold to Phillip Boyer of the sane place, farmer, for $300.00, Lot Number 31 in Freeburg.
Signed Michael Hachenberg
Mary, (X) Hachenberg
Her mark
There are two records of him being in Freeburg, Union County, Pennsylvania. One is 19 May, Eighteen Twenty-Three and the other is 17 October, Eighteen-Twenty-Three.17
It was somewhere around 1825, that Michael moved his family from Pennsylvania to Ohio.18 According to genealogy records given by Mildred Cleary Hackenberg, he first settled in North Hill. This is the North End of Akron, Ohio.
When John Quincy Adams was President of the United States of America, the country was selling land in Ohio. Michael purchased 160 acres of it. This land was located in Chippewa Township, Wayne County, Ohio. The land grant number is 1297. The following is a copy of this grant:
United States to Michael Hackenberg
No.1297: John Quincy Adams, President of the United States of America. To all whom these presents shall come greetings: Know ye that Michael Hackenberg assignee of John Webb having deposited in the general land office a Certificate of the Register of the Land Office at Wooster whereby it appears that full payment has been made for the southwest quarter of section one in township eighteen of range eleven, containing one hundred and sixty acres of lands to be sold at Wooster, by the acts of Congress entitled an act providing for the sale of the lands of the United States in the territory North West of the Ohio and above the mouth of the Kentucky River and of the acts amendatory of the same, there is granted by the United States to the said Michael Hackenberg and to his heirs and assigns forever. In testimony whereof I have caused these letters to be made patent and the seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed. Given under my hand at the City of Washington, the twenty-fourth day of August, in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty-Seven and of Independence of the United States of America the fifty-second.
By The President: John Quincy Adams
George Graham, Commissioner of the General Land Office
Recorded in Volume 56, Page 254
EXO Received for record 20 October Eighteen-Thirty and recorded 21 October Eighteen-Thirty.19
About 1829, Michael’s wife, Mary Elizabeth gave birth to their final child, John.20 After his birth, Michael’s daughter Christina married George Bowman. This event took place 21 October 1830, at St. Michael’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wayne County, Ohio. The officiating minister was G. Henry Weygandt.21 This is the church that Michael and Mary joined, when they came to Ohio. Almost one year from Christina’s marriage, Michael’s daughter, Mary Ann married Jonathan Stull. The date was 8 December 1831. Mary Ann and Jonathan were married at St. Michael’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. Again, G. Henry Weygandt was the officiating minister. Then, Michael and Mary’s son George married Hannah Aikens on 3 September 1835. They were married at St. Michael’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wayne County, Ohio. Again, G. Henry Weygandt officiated.23 Then, Michael and Mary’s daughter Delila was next. She married Phillip Fenstemaker 27 January 1836. It is safe too assume that her marriage was also at St. Michael’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, because she married Phillip in Wayne County, Ohio.24
At this point, let me give you a short history about Rev. G. Henry Weygandt. He studied under Rev. John Stauch in Western Pennsylvania. On May 28-30, 1809, Pastor Stauch took Weygandt to a Pennsylvania Ministerium at Hanover, Pennsylvania. There Weygandt received a license as a catechist and was directed too study under Pastor Stauch. One year later he was advanced in rank to candidate. He attended the conventions faithfully and was ordained a Deacon in 1815.
By the time of a special conference in 1816, the group had begun to function as its own Synod. It asked the existing Synod permission to renew licenses and ordain. The Synod granted the first but upheld the second. The conference began to assume what had been denied. It decided to proclaim Weygandt to be a Pastor, signifying action by a hand clasp. Pastor Weygandt then assisted Pastor Stauch in his ministerial work in Ohio.
Pastor George Henry Weygandt came to this area from Washington County, Pennsylvania in May 1827. Traveling on horseback, Rev. Weygandt began his ministry in 1828. He ministered in Wayne, Stark and Medina Counties. In these counties, he served congregations in Doylestown, Marshallville, Canal Fulton, Manchester, River Styx and the Wooster area. Parish names included Zion’s, Immanuel’s, Salem’s, Bachman’s, Milton, Franklin, Kiefer and Newman’s Creek.
People desired a place of worship. Because of this and the cooperation of the Reformed members, land for what was to be St. Michael’s Evangelical Lutheran Church was purchased from Phillip and Hannah Sickman. The property was deeded 25 June 1830. In that year, Rev. George Henry Weygandt organized St. Michael’s. The church was to be a log building. It was built in the Northwest corner of what is now the St. Michael’s Cemetery. Rev. Weygandt became the church’s first Pastor. He died in 1847, serving the church as Pastor for 19 years.
Rev. Weygandt traveled on horseback for miles through forests; snow and rain night and day too serve these churches. Congregations waited patiently for opportunities to worship, to hear God’s word proclaimed and too receive the sacraments. There is no teaching or mention of the word sacrament in the Bible, Bob Hackenberg. The chance to hear the lengthy preaching of Pastor Weygandt attracted people from many miles.
It was on 17 January 1838, that Rev. Weygandt became the Pastor of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church. He served at this ministry until his death in 1847. Pastor Weygandt is buried in Doylestown, in Chestnut Hill Cemetery.
Early family records reveal, that Rev. Weygandt changed his name from George Heinrich to George Henry Weygandt. He owned a farm in Doylestown and always knelt in prayer as he entered and left his fields. During his ministry, at St. Michael’s, Rev. Weygandt baptized 291 infants and children. During his ministry in Ohio, 1751 were baptized, 984 were confirmed, 148 marriages were performed and 296 funerals were conducted. This information was taken from the 150th Anniversary booklet of St. Michael’s Evangelical Lutheran Church 1830-1980 and the 100th Anniversary booklet of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, page 5.
In 1837, Michael sold to his son, Lazarus, fifty acres of the 160 acres of the land that he bought from the government. The following is a copy of that transaction:
Michael Hackenberg to Lazarus Hackenberg
This indenture made this twentieth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven by and between Michael Hackenberg and Mary Hackenberg his wife in the County of Wayne in the state of Ohio of the first part and Lazarus Hackenberg of the County of and the state aforesaid of the second part witnesseth that the said Michael Hackenberg & Mary Hackenberg his wife for and in consideration of the just sum of four hundred dollars to them in [?] have paid the receipt whereof they do hereby acknowledge have given granted bargained sold released and conveyed and do by these presents give grant bargain sell release convey and confirm unto the said Lazarus Hackenberg and heirs and assignees forever all that tract or parcel of land situated and being in the County of Wayne and State of Ohio to wit: a part of the southwest quarter of section one (1) of range number eleven (11) commencing at the south west corner of said corner thence east along said quarter line fifty rods thence north parallel with said quarter line one hundred and sixty rods thence thence west fifty rods to the corner of said quarter thence south along the line of said quarter one hundred and sixty rods to the place of beginning containing fifty acres said land was patented to the said Michael Hackenberg by John Q. Adams, President of the United States on the 24th day of August 1827. This record is in (Land) Book 1E Pages 181 & 182 of the records of Wayne County, Ohio. To have and to hold the said premises hereby sold or meant or intended so to be with all the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining unto the said Lazarus Hackenberg and unto his heirs and assignees And the said Michael Hackenberg and Mary Hackenberg his wife for themselves and for their heirs execution & administration covenant and promise and agree to and with the said Lazarus Hackenberg his heirs and assignees that they the said Michael Hackenberg and Mary Hackenberg his wife are lawfully seized of the premises aforesaid that they have good right and lawful authority to sell and convey the same in measures aforesaid and that the premises are free. And clean of and [free] from all encumbrances whatever and further that they the said Michael Hackenberg & Mary Hackenberg his wife will [will & truly] warrant and forever defend the premises between and hereby granted unto the said Lazarus Hackenberg and to his heirs & assignees against the lawful claims & demands of all and every person whomsoever. In testimony whereof the said Michael Hackenberg and Mary Hackenberg his wife party of the first part have hereunto set their hands and seals. The day and year is just above.
SIGNED Michael Hackenberg----Seal
Mary “X” (Her Mark) Hackenberg----Seal
Signed, Sealed and Delivered in the presence of:
John Brown
Phillip Kemmever25
This transaction took place 20 December 1837, and it was recorded the 21st of that month.26
Then on 16 June 1843, Michael signed his will. It was probated 5 December 1843. His date of death was probably November of 1843. The following is a copy of his will:
In the name of the Benevolent Father of all: I Michael Hockenberg of the County of Wayne, Ohio do make and publish this my last will and testament..
Item 1st I give and demise to my beloved wife in lieu of her dower the one third part of all the grain, hay, potatoes and fruit raised on the farm on which we now reside situated in Chippewa Township, Wayne County, Ohio. Also two cows, two heifers, twelve hogs and ten sheep and all the wool and yarn now on the premises. All the household goods, furniture and provisions which may be on said farm at the time of my decease. Also the use of the dwelling house on said farm during her natural life Unless she again marries and in that case she shall have only twenty-five bushels of wheat per year during her natural life. At the death of my said wife the said real estate aforesaid and such part of the said personal property or the proceeds thereof as may then remain unconsumed and unexpended. I give and demise to my sons Lazarus Hockenberg, George Hockenberg, Harmon Hockenberg, Peter Hockenberg and John Hockenberg and my daughters Sophia Bartlett, Christeena Bowman, Mary Stull and my two granddaughters Sarah & Mary Fenstemaker daughters of my daughter Delila all of said heirs to have an equal share of said estate except Sarah and Mary Fenstemaker who is each to have one half as much as one of the other heirs.
Item 2nd I give and demise to my son John Hockenberg the use of two mares and geers for said mares one waggan, one plough and one harrow for the term of three years from the first day of April 1844 and also the use of the farm on which we now live to cultivate in a good and husband like manner until sold if he thinks proper or so long as he does well and pays over the one-third of all the grain, hay, potatoes and fruit raised therefrom to the proper persons athoused (authorized) to receive said rents. (At this time John was either 14 or 15. He was born in 1829, Bob Hackenberg).
Item 3rd I demise and bequeath to Susannah Critzer one curedrad (bureau?), one bedstead and one hundred dollars to be paid over to her at the death of my said wife.
Item 4th I do hereby nominate and appoint Abraham Lantz guardian of my son John Hockenberg until the said John Hockenberg arrives at the age of twenty-one years
Item 5th I do hereby nominate and appoint Samuel Ferguson executor of this my Last Will and Testament. Hereby authorizing and empowering him to sell all my personal property not otherwise disposed of and also at the expiration of the year 1844 before alluded to, too sell the two mares, geers, wagons, plough and harrow heretofore mentioned and apply the proceeds thereof together with the balance of the rent of the said farm if any other maintaining my wife to the improving and repairing of the farm and the dwelling house. Thereon as my Lazarus Hockenberg shall direct after paying all my just debts and expenses. I do also authorize and empower him at my wife’s decease to sell the farm on which I now live an apportion to each one their respective shares heretofore disposed of except Sarah & Mary Fenstemaker whose shares are to be retained and not heirs into their hands until they become of age. At which time, they shall receive their shares with the interest due thereon if any in full.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 16th day of June in the year 1843.
Michael Hockenberg—Seal
Signed and Acknowledged
By Michael Hockenberg as his
Last Will and Testament in
Our presence and signed by
Us in his presence
John Barkhamen (or Barkhamer)
Samuel Blair (or Blais)
This will was taken from The Record of Wills, Wayne County, Ohio
September Term 1843, Page 99, Book # 3
After the will was executed, Michael’s children sold their interest in the 110 acres to Lazarus.
In the records of Michael’s heirs selling their land to Lazarus, we find that Michael had a son named Michael. This son must have been the black sheep of the family, because he was not listed in Michael’s will. The following is Michael [the son] and his wife Eve releasing all claims to his father’s estate. Michael Hagenbarger and wife Eve to Lazarus Hagenbarger for sum $150.00 do hereby remise, release and forever quit claim unto the said Lazarus Hagenbarger his heirs and assigns forever all our title interest and estate legal and equiptable in the following premises with the appurtenances situate in Chipaway Township, Wayne County, Ohio and bounded and described as follows the ninth share of the southwest quarter section number one (1) in Township Eighteen in range number eleven (11) . This 3rd day of March A.D. 1847
Finally, my family line continues through Lazarus, Michael’s son.
References
1. The Great Swamp Reformed and New Goschenhoppen Church Records
2. The History of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, 1914, Lower Milford Township,
Page 802
3. Roberta Hachenberg Albrecht and Page 480*
4. Bob Hackenberg
5. The 1790 U.S. Census of Bucks County, Pennsylvania and Page 480*
6. Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book “F”, Page 370,
March 7, 1794 and Page 4*
7. Page 480 of Johann Peter Hachenberg and Descendants
8. The 1860 U.S. census of Chippewa Township, Wayne County, Ohio and Page 480* Michael’s mother, Mary, was 80 and blind in the 1860 census.
9a. Bob Hackenberg and Page 8*
9b. This date was taken from the birth and death records of his daughter-in-law
Adeline.
10. 1860 U.S. Census of Chippewa Township, Wayne County, Ohio, and Page 507*
11. Pages 483, 499, 503, 506-8, 511,523 and 524 of Johann Peter Hackenberg and Descendants
12. The Annals of Buffalo Valley, 1755-1855 by John Blair Linn, Pages 14 and 480*
13. Bob Hackenberg
14. Pennsylvania Archives, 3rd Series, XXV, Page 188 and Page 480*
15. Union County Deed Book “E”, Page 468 and Page 480*
16. Patent Book “H”, Number 7, Page 196, at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and
Page 480*
17. Union County, Pennsylvania Deed Book “E”, Page 327 and Page 480*; Book “E”, Page 434, Union County, Pennsylvania and Page 24*
18. This is from a collection of letters written by Heber G. Gearhart. They are located at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Paragraph 2 of Page 482*
19. Copied from the Record of Deeds, Volume 8, Pages 181-182, Wayne County, Ohio Located in the Wooster Courthouse and Page 481*
20. Page 524 of Johann Peter Hachenberg and Descendants
21. Records of St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Wayne County, Ohio and Page 503*
22. Records of St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Wayne County, Ohio and Page 511*
23. Records of St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Wayne County, Ohio and Page 506*
24. Page 523 of Johann Peter Hachenberg and Descendants
25. Book 1 E, Pages 181-82 of the (Land) Records of Wayne County, Ohio
26. J. Thompson, Recorder Wayne County, Ohio Court Records
27. All Page numbers with asterisks refer to the book Johann Peter Hachenberg and Descendants by Roberta Hachenberg Albrecht and Jacqueline S. Rotering
Links to each Hackenberg are below.