Family History: Pletcher Family descendants: Lancaster/Centre Counties, PA

Copyright © 1997 by Thomas Pletcher. This copy contributed for use in 
the USGenWeb Archives.  tompletcher@worldnet.att.net

USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file by non-commercial individuals
		and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices
		and submitter information is included. Any other use,
		including copying files to other sites requires
		permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to
		any other sites. We encourage links to the state and
		county table of contents.

_________________________________________________________________


THE LONG JOURNEY
Volume 1
By Tom Pletcher

This is our story, the story of the Pletcher Family and like all stories
it's complicated and we never get the whole picture. I started looking into
our family about eight years ago. I asked my father who his grandfather was
and he told me, then I asked if he knew who his great-grandfather was and
he didn't know. This is common in most families; we simply don't have much
information on our distant ancestors.
My father told me that his father came from Robins Iowa so I called the
courthouse in Cedar Rapids Iowa and was lucky, the woman who answered the
phone told me that a historian named Alice Marie Maxfield (who goes by
Marie), was writing a book on the town of Robins Iowa and the clerk gave me
her phone number.  I contacted Marie and she sent me my first genealogy
information. It was the Genealogy Chart of William Hunter, and in this
chart it mentioned Amos Pletcher and his wife Catharine Hunter. Now I had a
new name to add to the collection of names but had know real information on
Amos, what he did etc. To make a long story short, I stopped looking into
the Pletcher ancestry and lost the Pedigree Charts Marie had given me.
      Several years later I began to wonder about our family but this time
I had myself connected to the Internet and was able to send out a message
to all the people who had Email addresses in Robins Iowa. I got several
replies and was able to reconnect with Marie Maxfield. I then contacted
Marie who offered to show us Robins and the surrounding areas where the
Pletcher's had lived.  My girl friend Kathy Houser and I decided to take a
6 hr. trip to Robins Iowa from Minneapolis MN. It was the end of February
so on the way down we watched the snow begin to disappear, which is a good
sight when you live in Minnesota. When we arrived in Robins Marie gave us
the grand tour and for the next two days we visited libraries and
Courthouses and learned how to investigate my roots and do research. Marie
was so helpful; she even brought along quarters to put in the parking
meters when we went to down town Cedar Rapids Iowa. Marie drove us to all
of the Cemeteries where the Pletcher were buried. This trip was wonderful,
now I was hooked on genealogy and wanted to do further research.
I have spent hundreds of hours putting this book together and feel that it
is my way of giving back to you guy's all that has been given so freely to
me. The story is not complete, this volume 1, the next volume will focus on
the Pletchers in Europe, and will expand on what information I already
have.
         I started out with the origins of our Family name in Switzerland,
then moved on to Germany, (the Palatinate region now called Baden Germany.)
I then give some historical reasons for why the Pletcher Family left Europe
including information about the sea voyage over.
         When we enter the US, I talk about Mary Pletcher our original
ancestor.  I use the name Samuel as Mary's husband because it seems like a
pretty good educated guess, which I will explain later in the book. I have
woven into this story histories of the Palatinate Germany, Lancaster PA,
Centre County PA, Robins Iowa and Goodland MN. In addition I've included
the various genealogy charts on families that we married into plus a story
of the Pletcher's moving to Ohio.
        I have made copies of the documents I have used to prove this story,
plus some photograph's of our more recent ancestors, they will be included
at the end of this story.  Many of the documents I have transcribed so that
you can read them, since the copies I have are clearer than what you will
receive.  I intend to explain where the documents can be found but if I
forget to add the source of the material, feel free to contact me. All in
All I think you will enjoy our Story. Please send me any comments, stories
etc. that I can include in the next volume. Finally I want to say thank you
for all of your support.

ORIGIN OF THE PLETCHER NAME
THE NAME PLETCHER IS OF SWISS ORIGIN

     The Pletcher family name was common in Schleitheim, in the Canton of
Schaffhausen, Switzerland in the 16th Century.The Swiss Authorities State
that the name of Pletscher has been in their community since the 15th
Century. The name Pletcher had various spelling such as Pletscher,
Bloetscher, Bletscher, Bletcher, Platcher, and Ploetscher due to the region
the family lived in. Around 1520 to 1530 the Pletcher family broke from the
Catholic faith and became Anabaptist or Mennonites. The family switched
over to the Mennonite religion and the early member of the family were
deacons and leaders in their churches.  A Pletcher family migrated from
Scheitheim to the German Palatinate circa 1650.

FIRST GENERATION PLETCHER FAMILY

Samuel and Mary or Marie are the parents of, Samuel and Henry Pletcher.
Later on I will write about what little evidence we have on who are the
parents of Samuel and Henry Pletcher.

SAMUEL1 PLETCHER was born 1730, and died 1756.  He married Marie,
Anna-Maria, and MARY PLETCHER all of these are possible spelling for his
wife depending on where she was born. Family tradition gives her birthplace
as Alscace France but if she were born in Germany her name would have been
Anna-Maria or Mary, her name would have changed once she moved to Germany
and again it could have ben angalicized once she arrived in the US to Anna.
Samuel was to have been born around 1730 and his wife Marie around 1731.
She probably was born in Alsace where Samuel moved to escape religious
persecution and may have met Marie. Samuel died at sea on the voyage over
and his wife arrived in this county a widow.

                                 More on the above Pletcher's

MORE ABOUT THE PLETCHER FAMILY (CONT)
     The Mennonite population Census lists Samuel Pletcher with his wife
Marie and sons age 5 years and 1 year living in Weisloch Germany. Now I
have not seen this Census record, but I have included it because it came
from a reliable source, Howard Pletcher who spent years researching the
Pletcher Family.
      Prior to leaving Germany Samuel and Maria probably were living in the
Palatinate of Germany, now in the State of Baden German in the city of
Weisloch below Mannheim.

1731 NAMES OF SWISS MENNONITES IN UPPER RHINE VALLEY THIS YEAR.
These names may be related to us:
Hans Bloetscher of the congregation on the Ziehmerhof one hour from the
city of Wimpfen on the Neckar, to the northwest. And Nicholas Ploetscher.
The congregation in Thernhelm, one half hour from Sintzheim southwestward:
Rudolph Plaetscher eastwards,
Samuel from Schleithheim, Schauff.  Brother to Hans and Rudolf
Ploetscher1685 in Duhren,

DARKEST YEARS
The darkest year in German history (1945) may well be compared with the
year 1648, the end of the Thirty Years War. (Then follows an account of the
development of the Mennonite Sect and its Teachings, and a decree of
Emperor Charles V of March 1, 1628 that fire and sword destroy all
Mennonite Anabaptists.
At the end of the Thirty Years War (1648) a mass of fugitive Mennonites
made their way from Switzerland into the Palatinate region of Germany. In
the year 1648, also a number of citizens fled from Schleitheim in the
Canton of Schaffhausen.  Their names were not preserved, because as in the
case of the Jews, they were not listed in the Church (Catholic) records.
Only rarely do church records give information about the Mennonites.
The Church record of hilsbach-Weiler, near Sinsheim, has this entry of the
year 1664: Alexander Pletscher, legitimate son of Michael Pletscher from
Schlatten, near Schaffhausen. This is the only reference we have to a
fugitive of that family name from Schleitheim into the Palatinate.
Presumably, he is the same Michael Pletscher who is named in the
Schleitheim tax list of 1638.
>From the middle of the 15th Century, there were numerous members of the
Pletscher (Bletscher, Platscher) Family in Schleitheim and vicinity.  As
early as 1527, the Mennonites had a considerable group there. Among the
first, who because of their belief were banished from Mahren in 1585, there
was a Jacob Bletscher. Hahren was the first haven of the banished
Mennonites.  As late as 1620, we have the names of twenty that fled Mahren.
About the end of the Thirty Years War (1648) a whole flood of refugies fled
into the Palatinate of Germany.

                 The State Archives at Wiesbaden Germany
                             Written in German

    The following information was taken from a hand-written and extensive
account from the State Archives at Wiesbaden, and are found in a Guide to
the Manuscript Materials relating to American History in the German State
Archives, Washington, D.C. 1912.  Not all of the records have been studied.
 There was a 1709 publication by Julius Goebel in the German American
History Journal, issue XII pub. 1912.  Documents were corrected by a privy
councilor named Wagner.  A bibliography was added.  Other information was
taken from an anonymous collection of writings on Early Germans to New
Jersey.  There is also a reference to Rupp (note: an early researcher on
the German American immigrants.  There is a ship passenger volume of his
research and I have pulled out several possible names of our ancestor''
that will be later mentioned in this compilation.
     There were 65,000 to 80,000 thousand immigrants to PA from 1727-1776.
Other references are mentioned.  Gerber mentions that the sources were
handwritten with many misspellings, but some language was updated: the
originality was in his use of names and abbreviations.  He gives credit to
all those who helped him in the process.
     The following material was written in German and I found a woman by
the name of Dr. Hazel Pflueger, who translated it for me through a friend
of hers, she did this for no pay, and we are indebted to her.
PP. 18-21 I. Die Auswnaderung von 1709 (Immigration of 1709): Gerber gives
a brief history of southwest Germany (note: my friend Helga didn't feel
that she knew her history well enough to fully explain all that Gerber was
saying about the historical references he mentioned).  He is telling about
the social conditions in this part of Germany that influenced the
immigration of these people to America.  There was the war with Spain,
which caused damage and poverty, lower wages, and higher taxes.  Then there
was a severe winter (evidently the winter before the immigration).  The
vineyards in Pfatz (the name of the province which is known as the
Palatinate, this region was ruined because of the severe winter, seeds were
lost which meant that there wouldn't be enough seeds for the next spring
planting, and the town of Hebron couldn't pay the debts they owned to
finance the war (evidently the cost of the war was really putting a strain
on the poor people, who were probably the bulk of the population).
The ruler, Count Wilheim thought it was foolish for the people to leave the
province, but he gave permission at first with only a few restrictions:
those leaving had to pay off their debts first and he was not to be liable
for their leaving.  Furthermore, they could not expect to return.  He
played upon their decency saying that they had taken an oath to work (for
him and the province) and they were not thankful for what had been done for
them.  He began to publish names in order to disgrace them.  On Aug. 30,
the count changed the law.  I guess when his Mr. Nice-Guy please were being
ignored and people began to sell off their goods and maybe land, in
preparation to immigrate.  It appeared that there may still have been a
feudal system in place where the people worked the land for the count and
other rich people, retaining X amount of the crops to live on.  There was
the sense that these people owned a debt, perhaps even an indenture that
needed to be paid off.  This is where a better understanding of history
would help.  The new law stipulated that the people only had three weeks to
sell belongings.  This decree was probably set in place because immigrants
would have to go immediately, leaving more of the lessened food supply
(because of the past winter) for those who stayed.  It had an effect upon
those who were leaving because they would have to leave before winter,
perhaps putting them on ships in the worst weather.  Some of those leaving
left their children behind for several reasons not mentioned.
Gerber explains that the lists of the people were in chronological order,
but we were not able to see what the chronology was based on.  He pointed
out that the people were poor, they had almost nothing with them, and they
wanted to go to the Island of North Carolina, (many Europeans at the time
thought America was an island).  They had no money to pay for the trip, but
somehow thought the English would give them money.  Because of their
poverty and the uncertainties, many people decided not to go after all.
     The lists seems to be divided according to counties? (Or public
municipalities like our county seats) and the name of the town or community
within the jurisdiction.  Children were not included in every case, because
some were not known about.  Some of the information is written in Old
German which was hard for Helga to decipher.
     PP. 23-24:  Amt Tringenstein (Eisemroth)  (Thought to be a county seat
or city hall of Tringenstein and town or district of Eisenmroth)

First name listed:  John. Jost Blecher, F. U. 2K; This is J.J. Blecher, a
Frau (wife) and 2 Kinder (kids). There are about nine families listed from
Eisemroth.  Then there is a written account of their journey, taken from
letters found in 1749 of the survivors of the journey.  The immigrants got
to Holland some way and then to England where they met up with other
immigrants, presumably from their homeland.  Evidently there was a priest
(presumably Catholic), named Hager, who became the leader of all these
immigrants during their stay in England (and perhaps throughout the
journey).  During this time the immigrants were very disappointed and
discouraged because of the delay.  There is a reference to thousands having
perished, but it wasn't clear whether these perished before the trip or
during the trip.  It isn't clear, but there was a delay of 18 weeks from
Christmas to Easter during which the immigrants had to remain on board the
ships in the harbor.  We assumed the delay was either in Holland or in
England.  Evidently about 3,00 made it to NY and they received land there
from the English government.  They had evidently traveled in a flotilla or
convoy, but the number of ships is unknown.  Eighty people died on one
ship, 100 were sick, and 470 perished in all.  After arrival in NY, 250
more died in June.
     The 1749 letters written to those back home told of the hardships and
how they missed their friends and families back home, but how it had all
been worth it because they were having a good life.  One woman wrote that
the taxes were not much ­ that men spent more on beer in taverns than they
had spent on taxes.  She said they were allotted 100 acres of fertile land
and her family had bought 100 acres more.  

                TYPICAL ATLANTIC VOYAGE OF THE 1700'S

Some of this will be difficult to read because I didn't change the old
English.

Of the 65,000 passengers that left for America, 35,000 died, its no wonder
that I am having such a difficult time finding the parents of Samuel and
Henry or the widowed mother.
Atlantic Voyages were small, when judged by sea going ships of the present
day; few were over two hundred tons. Although a few ships were from three
hundred to five hundred tons, the greater number of them were from one
hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty, but more were under than over
two hundred tons they were broad in the bow, the forecastle and the poop
were raised high above the main deck, the foremast as near the bow as
possible and mizzen mast where the builder thought fit.  The books on
navigation and shipbuilding, all speak of top gallant mast and sails but in
no one of the log-books is there any mention of a sail above the topsail
although of course, they speak of making and taking in the sails as well of
sending down topmasts and yards.  They were but slow sailors and although
instances occur of as much as eight miles an hour being made, it was when
there was a fair wind, and with a smooth sea but at no time was that rate
kept up for twenty-four hours.  When the wind was ahead, but slow progress
was made, for no ship could sail "close to the wind" and often four or five
miles was all there was to show for a whole day, and there were even times
when they were further from their destination at the end of twenty-four
hours than they were at the beginning of the day.  Rather than keep on
against a head wind they would "heave to" and Try" as they said in those
days. The  Bristow arrived in York River on the 8th March, 1701, having
left London on the 22nd Of October, and her Master  (Captain)  wrote "a
more terrible passage has hardly been known by man." I have seen on this
coast near twelve weeks within forty or fifty leagues by all estimation."
He had become separated from the fleet, for although the Gloster did not
arrive until the day after the Bristow, the latter found on her arrival
several vessels which left London with her, but which had been in port
eight or nine weeks.
Indeed, there is nothing in which a voyage, two hundred years ago, differed
more from one of to-day than in the great uncertainty as to the amount of
time it took from going from one port to another.
When a passenger started from London, he could not say within many weeks,
how long he was to be on board the ship which was to take him to Maryland
or Virginia, for, of the eleven voyages of which we have the records, they
were from fifty-seven to one hundred and thirty-eight days from London to
the Capes off of America, and from thirty two days to one hundred and
thirteen on their way back to England.
The same vessel varied from forty-seven days to one hundred and two days in
coming from London, and thirty-two to fifty two in returning.
A ship would often be three or four weeks from London before she took her
departure from Lizard Pint , detained in the Downs or some other port by
head winds or storms, and it must have been an inspiriting sight, after a
storm, to see the numerous vessels getting under way from the Downs, for
there would be hundreds of vessels starting out for all parts of the world,
the vessels bound for the Chesapeake Bay often numbering forty or fifty as
the captain of one of them says, "W Virginians keep together," the name
Virginian being often applied to all vessels bound for the Capes.
when the fleet was clear of land, they steered for the Azores, and one or
more ships generally sighted Flores and Corves, the most westerly of the
islands.  Then they steered for Cape Henry, and deviated as little as
possible from a straight course, for their latitude they could find ever
day at noon, by means of their quadrants, but their longitude they could
only estimate by calculating the distance run and the course steered,
making allowances for currents, leeway or a heavy sea knocking them off
their course.  Notwithstanding this rather uncertain calculation they were
not far out of the way when they began sounding to find out if they were
near land.
Although a large fleet of fifty or sixty vessels might leave England, they
soon became more or less scattered, although there were some vessels always
in sight of each other, and frequently in calm weather there were visits
between the officers and passengers of the different vessels, who dined or
spent whole days,  which was the cutoff. The following was extracted from
the logbook of the Johanna "Mr. Baker hoisted out his boat and came on
board us.  We spared them some tobacco to pipe, for it was very scarce with
them about 5 o'clock they went aboard again the master of her was
sufficiently in drink before he went.
It may be supposed that the great uncertainty as to the duration of the
voyage would have caused some trouble in providing sufficient food and
water for so may persons, but the food was composed principally of bread or
ships biscuits, salt meat, peas and cheese, all of which would keep well
for may months, and therefore it was only the space required for enough
food and water that gave any trouble, and when it is recollected that it
would be necessary to carry food and water for one hundred persons
including passengers and crew for a voyage lasting perhaps five months it
is evident that the provisions which were necessary would occupy a great
deal of space.
In a contract made with the owners of the ship Nassau, of five hundred
tons, to carry one hundred and fifty or more passengers to Virginia, the
following stipulations were made in regard to food. The passengers to have
the same allowance of food as the sailors, that is to say " they were to
have their allowance of bread, butter and cheese weekly, and the rest of
the provisions were to be distributed daily each passenger, over six years
of age, was to have seven pounds of bread every week, each mess of eight to
have two pieces of pork (each piece to be two pounds) with peas five days
in the week and on the other two days four pounds of beef with peas each
day, or four pounds of beef with a pudding, with peas for the two days, and
in case the kettle could not be boiled each passenger was to have one pound
of cheese every day.  Children under six years of age to have such
allowance in flour, oatmeal, fruit, sugar and butter as the overseers of
them shall judge fit".
There were in this ship one hundred and ninety one passengers, of whom
twenty five were under twelve years of age, and although there were some of
all ranks in life there seems to have been no difference make between them
as to diet and lodging.
The ordinary price of a passage to Maryland or Virginia was six pounds, but
for this large party the price was five pounds for each person over twelve
years of age, and half price for children under that age.
A "fleet" frequently numbered fifty vessels, or more and on the 31 of July
1702 one hundred and forty vessels sailed out of the Capes convoyed by four
Men of War.
Even when there was war between Great Britain and some other country, there
was not much danger of capture on the high seas, but when they got near the
land the privateers, or Capers, as Dutch privateers were called, were
cruising about watching for the incoming ships, and sometimes capturing and
carrying them off.  One such incident is told in the logbook of the Johanna
under the date of July 1678.  When Thwart of Beauty Head saw several
shallots French Privateers come up with us and commanded our oat out and us
by the lee but I would not being able to Deal with them; we say them climb
aboard several Vessels and plunder them and carried two away at 10 o'clock
in the night two came up with us together which commanded us to strike and
be the lee which I would not they fired 3 guns at us but hit us not the
shot fell by the ships side, then they came close up and said they would
clap us abroad both together I bid them keep off or else we would fire at
them we got two of our guns upon the forecastle and prepared to fire on
them, the French seeing us in preparation to defend ourselves bid us good
night and left us after many bad words which passed between us.  We fired
not at them."  The encounter with the privateers ended happily enough
nothing worse than an exchange of bad words have happened, but owing to the
preparations for defense, one of the men on the Johanna lost his life.
There were other dangers that menaced the ships, even when they were
thought to be past all perils of the sea, and there is one more extract
which tell of the end of the Baltimore, which had made many voyages to
Maryland, and was a strong, well built ship.  In 1673 she had made the
passage home in very good time, and with the rest of the London Fleet had
gone into Plymouth harbor on the 18th September, all thinking no doubt that
they would soon land their tobacco in London.  They lay there for three
days and then started to go on the London but as all ships could not get
out in time a signal were made for those that were outside to return.  When
the Baltimore got back the log says, "it was dark we run in behind the
island and anchored in 6 fathoms and the wind was abt. S SE and blowed hard
and rained we struck our topmast and yards and rod about two hours fast but
the wind blowing harder and harder we let go the sheet anchor and in
veering away upon  the best bower started the best bow anchor and neither
that not the sheet anchor would take hold again but we drove ashore upon
the rocks about 3 ships lengths to the westward of mile bay and being high
water and falling we presently sued and struck fast and bilged upon the
rocks and the next tide water ran over part of the gun deck, we saved about
60 bails of tobacco and all the ships materials are cone, cables anchors
and rigging and sailor, and could not save the ship although it was
endeavored by the Plymouth men, but she stove all to pieces... I pray God
send me better fortune the next voyage.

CONTAGIOUS DISEASES ON SHIP BOARD
The question of contagious diseases among the German Swiss immigrants for
some time had caused a great deal of excitement and trouble, but about 1740
and 1741 measures began to be passed to guarantee protection against the
spread of the diseases.  The Government appointed Dr. Graeme to make a
report and investigation on the condition and upon the necessity of
erecting a lazaretto or quarantine.  What he did on the mater will be found
in Vol. 4, Col. Rec. page 515.
The German Swiss about this time began to feel that they were quite
disfavored in Pennsylvania: and in fact they had great reasons to feel that
way: because every Legislature had something to say against them.  They
were looked upon suspiciously.  This was partly because of them being
aliens and partly because they began to take positions in political affairs
in the Province.  At least those who were naturalized. (See Rupp page 286
and Lyle's history page 126.  A few years later they began to be very
zealous politicians.  Now that these contagious diseases were breaking out
among them on ship, they were suspected of bringing over foreign fevers and
foreign aliments.  They themselves asked for quarantine.  (4 Col. Rec. 507)
In sloops, which had been, landing it was reported that great fear seemed
to be rising in Pennsylvania, because they were afraid of the spread of
small pox and other sicknesses (See 4 Col. Rec. pages 496 ­ 498)
The province of Pennsylvania passed a law for the protection of themselves
as well as of the Province in general, from the diseases, which were being
founded. (See Vol. 5 Col. Rec. p. 511)
These German Swiss people felt that these new troubles were very likely to
cause more intolerance to be exercised towards them, and there fore, that
began to seek toleration.  Some of their troubles can be seen to Vol. 3
Votes of Assemble, p 347.

1765 SUPPLEMENT TO THE GERMAN SHIPPING BILL
In the same Law Book mentioned to the above item there is set forth an act
that was passed May 18, this year to better protect the Germans, that came
over in crowed ships.  This act sets forth that to protect these people and
at the same time to enable the ship owners to recover their fares. That
certain regulations must be set out that there must be room for each
passenger, and that these rooms must be three feet nine inches high in the
forepart and two feet nine inches in the cabin and steerage, and that no
more than two passengers shall be put together in one bedstead except if
the father and mother want their children in the same bedstead with them
they may do so.  These berths were 18 inches wide and six feet long.  The
act further provides that these ships carrying German passengers must have
a well recommended surgeon and a complete chest of medicine- that the
medicine must be given to the passengers free- that twice a week the vessel
must be smoked with burning tar between the decks and that it should be
well washed with vinegar twice a week.  It is also said that neither the
passengers at a greater price than 50% profit on first cost, any wine,
brandy, rum, beer, cider or other liquor or any spices or necessaries for
carry any liquor or othe4r things more than 30 shillings worth.  The act
also provides that the officer in Philadelphia appointed to carry out this
law shall take with them a refutable Berman inhabitant of Philadelphia to
interpret into English the statements of the German passengers.  It is also
voice shall declare in German that the duties requir3ed by this act will be
read to them in German and that they may inquire about any matter they may
wish to know.  It is also provided that the master of the ship must give
each person a bill of lading mentioning the trunks, crates, chests, bales
or packages belonging to every passenger except of such goods they may want
to keep in their own possession.  It is also provided that the ship owner
must declare when starting out what goods the Germans will not be allowed
to bring from tier come to America and that if they have such goods he
shall declare what taxes or duties they must pay on the same, so that they
will not lose them.  The act provided that the fares must be fixed and
certain, and that if the German passengers offer that sum the ship master
must take it and dare not hold their goods to compel them to pay higher
prices.
Many other provisions were made in the act, but all with the same and in
view to proven these ignorant people from being robbed.

I am going to include a list of possible Pletcher's in the next section of
the text. I will explain why the name is spelled in so many different ways.
One primary reason is the region the family lived could affect the way the
name was spelled, plus many of these names probably were not Pletcher's but
were included for further research.

                  Pletscher emigrants and variations on that spelling
The Following is a list of emigrants with names similar to Pletcher.
The name Pletcher does not show up in ship lists since this is an
Americanized  version of our name but I will included various versions of
the name Pletscher that do show up in ship lists, also many of the lists
were lost.  Any one of the various people I have listed could have been our
family member which we know spell Pletcher. The most likely is Michael
Platscher who arrived on in 1742, possibly an Uncle to Samuel and Henry
Pletcher, who were the children of Mary and Samuel.

Martin Platteicher   1737
Hans George Plocher Oct 17, 1749 Ship Fane
Mattheis Plocher ­ 1751 Phoenix
Conrad Plescher same ship Aug 21, 1750 Ship name Anderson
Jacob Blasser same ship Aug 21 1750 Ships name Anderson
Johannes Blocher and Michael Pflocher Oct 3, 1753 Ship Louisa
Blacher ship Minerva Oct 29, 1767
Michael Platscher Ship Francis and Elizabeth Sept 21, 1742, this is the
same Michael Pletscher that sold land to Ulrich Yoder the father in Law of
Samuel Pletcher 2.

I am including a group of Blecher's/Pletchers/Bletchers from the Pa.
Archives 3rd Series Tax Lists, since anyone of them may be our relatives.
Johan Jost Blecher ­ Ship Two brothers 1749
Johan Conraad Blecher ­ Ship Halifax 1752
Johannes Blecher ­Ship  John and Elizabeth 1754
Johan Jost Blecher-Ship- Charming Molly
Henry Pletcher, Vol. 17, page 879 Conestoga Two., inmate, 1782
Henry Blesher, Bol. 17, p 544 Conestoga Two., freeman
Henry Bleecher, Vol. 17, page 207 Martic Twp., 40 acres, 2 horses 1772
Bleecher's Land, Vol. 17,  Upper Paxton Two., 1782, 200 acres.
Michael Bleecher, Vol. 17, p. 150 Heidledurg Twp. 25 acres, 1 horse, 1
cattle.
William Blecher, Vol. 17, p. 307, Heidleburg Two 1772.
Henry Blesher, Vol. 17, p. 873, Heidlburg Two., 1782
Henry Blesher, Vol. 17, p. 637, (Henry of Conestoga, pages missing).
Jost Blecher Vol. 17. P. 556, Lebanon Two., 1779, inmate.
Mathias Blecher, Vol. 21, p. 593 Mannheim Two, York Co., 59 acres, 2 horses
2 cattle, 1782.
                  Warrantees of Land
Daniel Plitcher, Vol. 25 Centre Co.  53 acres, April 20, 1854
Rudolph Plitcher, Vol. 25, Centre Co., 150 acres, Oct. 22, 1824
Wm. Plitcher, Vol. 25, Bedford Co., 400 acres, April 4, 177

                              Henry Bletcher and Family
Plus I am including some information on Henry Bletcher since his name and
Henry Pletcher's name show up on the same document, and I suspect that we
may be related to this line of Bletcher's who appear to have been in the
US, prior to the arrival of Mary Pletcher.
     The, book "Pa. German Pioneers" by Strassburger lists Michael
Platscher taking the oath at the courthouse in Phil. Sept. 21, 1742 after
having just arrived in the ship "Francis and Elizabeth'. George North,
Master, from Rotterdam, but last from Deale England.  This is the same
Michael that I believe sold land to Ulrich Yordy and shows up with Samuel
Pletcher in the same document, there will be more on this later. The book
"Emigrants, Refugees and Prisoners" by Davis quotes Sutter in "Palatine
Mennonites in Schleswig-Holstein 1693-1698" who tells of a group of
Mennonites who migrated from the Palatinate in Germany for Friedrichstadt
in 1693 but returned to the Palatinate by 1698. The group left a church
letter dated Oct. 26, 1693 signed by several including a "Rudolf Bletcher"
and one of the families listed was "Jacob Pletscher with wife and two
children". Sutter also notes "Michael Pletscher" arriving on the 'Francis
and Elizabeth" in Phil. On Sept. 21, 1742. (Note the spelling variations.)
Davis in his book discusses the Brand family and tells of Jacob Brand, born
1712, was a Mennonite living at Lobenfild, Germany in 1738, went to Pa.,
arrived on the ship "St Andrew" on Sept 9, 1749, went to Martic two, in
Lancaster County and on Nov. 4, 1764 bought land from Michael P/Bletcher in
Martic two.(I have this deed). He sold his land, located next to Michael
Pletcher, on Aug. 1, 1774 to Henry Hare (I have this document also) So,
from this, you can deduce that Michael B/Pletcher was an adult land owner
from at least 1764 to 1774 in Martic twp. and I would guess the same
Mennonite Michael Pletscher who arrived in Philadelphia in 1742.

This is a side note but may prove useful for further research
     Peter Sterneman and Ulrich Yordy, were on the same ship  as Jacob
Brandt St. Andrew 1749.  Peter Sterneman is the father of Catharine
Sterneman, wife of Henry Pletcher and Ulrich Yordy is the father of
Elizabeth Pletcher wife of Samuel Pletcher, (Henry and Samuel are
brothers).

Settlement of the Administrators account of  (torn) Bletcher, Administrator
of Henry Bletcher.  There appears to be in the Hands of the Administrator
(torn), Anna, the Widow of Christian Miller, is a sister of Henry Bletcher
and he also left another Sister married to (torn).  Anna Miller states she
will pay the legal shares to her Sisters or other just Claimants or
Creditors not yet come in.  It further appears that Henry Neff and Martin
Schaut paid certain Sums to the Intestate during his lifetime.
I mention this earlier but both Henry Bleacher and Henry Pletcher show up
in the same document. This document was a Deed where Henry Blecher sells
land to Michael Bleacher/Blecher. I have this page of the document but was
unable to find the exact book and page it can be found in. If you are doing
research you will find it somewhere in the PA archives. The date this
document was recorded was October 2, 1790 Lancaster PA. This document
proves a relationship between the Pletcher's and the Bletcher/Bleacher,
even if it was only a business relationship, they knew each other.

Descendants of Henry BLEACHER

Generation No. 1

1.  HENRY1 BLEACHER died 1747 in Martic Twp. Lancaster Co., Pa..  He
married MAGDELENA.

        Child of HENRY BLEACHER and MAGDELENA is:
2.      i.      MICHAEL2 BLEACHER, d. 1771, Martic Twp. Lancaster Co., Pa..

Generation No. 2

2.  MICHAEL2 BLEACHER (HENRY1) died 1771 in Martic Twp. Lancaster Co., Pa..

        Child of MICHAEL BLEACHER is:
3.      i.      HENRY3 BLEACHER, b. 1736, Pa.; d. 1794, Martic Twp. Lancaster Co.,
Pa..

Generation No. 3

3.  HENRY3 BLEACHER (MICHAEL2, HENRY1) was born 1736 in Pa., and died 1794
in Martic Twp. Lancaster Co., Pa..

        Children of HENRY BLEACHER are:
4.      i.      MICHAEL4 BLEACHER, b. July 01, 1762, Martic Twp. Lancaster Co., Pa.;
d. April 23, 1845, Providence Twp, Lancaster Co., Pa..
5.      ii.     JACOB BLEACHER, b. 1776, Martic Twp. Lancaster Co., Pa.; d. Abt.
July 1835, Martic Twp. Lancaster Co., Pa..

Generation No. 4

4.  MICHAEL4 BLEACHER (HENRY3, MICHAEL2, HENRY1) was born July 01, 1762 in
Martic Twp. Lancaster Co., Pa., and died April 23, 1845 in Providence Twp,
Lancaster Co., Pa..  He married MARY.

        Children of MICHAEL BLEACHER and MARY are:
        i.      ELIZABETH5 BLEACHER, b. Martic Twp. Lancaster Co., Pa.; m. PAUL RALSTON
, JR..
        ii.     SUSANNA BLEACHER, b. Martic Twp. Lancaster Co., Pa.; m. JOSEPH SHAUB.
        iii.    ANN BLEACHER, b. Martic Twp. Lancaster Co., Pa.; m. JOHN MOWRER.
        iv.     FRANCES BLEACHER, b. Martic Twp. Lancaster Co., Pa.; m. JACOB GROFF.
        v.      ESTHER BLEACHER, b. Martic Twp. Lancaster Co., Pa.; m. MARTIN BARR.
        vi.     JOHN BLEACHER , SR., b. October 30, 1792, Martic Twp. Lancaster Co.,
Pa.; d. March 20, 1881, Providence Twp, Lancaster Co., Pa.; m. MARY.
        vii.    DANIEL BLEACHER, b. 1796, Martic Twp. Lancaster Co., Pa.; m. MARY.
        viii.   BENJAMIN BLEACHER, b. July 21, 1811, Martic Twp. Lancaster Co., Pa.;
d. December 11, 1868, Providence Twp, Lancaster Co., Pa.; m. MARY HERR,
January 23, 1840, Lancaster County, Pa.

5.  JACOB4 BLEACHER (HENRY3, MICHAEL2, HENRY1) was born 1776 in Martic Twp.
Lancaster Co., Pa., and died Abt. July 1835 in Martic Twp. Lancaster Co.,
Pa..

        Children of JACOB BLEACHER are:
        i.      JOSEPH5 BLEACHER, b. February 21, 1794, Martic Twp. Lancaster Co., Pa.;
d. December 09, 1879, Providence Twp, Lancaster Co., Pa.; m. ELIZABETH.
        ii.     JACOB BLEACHER, b. March 07, 1807, Martic Twp. Lancaster Co., Pa.; d.
August 25, 1858, Providence Twp, Lancaster Co., Pa.; m. BARBARA.

I have found some information on our family in a book titled Mennonite
Cyclopedic Dictionary edited by Daniel Kauffman, editor
                                          Pletcher
A family name, known principally in Mennonite circles in Indiana. About
1757 a widow Pletcher and her two sons, Henry and Samuel migrated from
Europe to America and settled in Lancaster Co., PA.  From this point the
sons moved westward and their descendants are now found in Ohio, Indiana,
New York, Texas, Iowa, Minnesota, and a number of other states.  Jacob, son
of Henry Pletcher, was married to a daughter of Samuel Pletcher, and is
said to have become converted to the Mennonites among whom he became an
active minister.  Samuel, the second son, moved with his son in law Jacob
to Ohio,, and most of the Pletchers in Ohio and Indiana are his
descendants.  At the present time the Pletchers adhering to the Mennonite
faith are either living in Indiana or are descendants of the Indiana
Pletchers living in other states.  There are members of this family, also,
who are members of the Church of the Brethren.

1.      Pletcher ­ A family name, known principally in Mennonite circles in
Indiana.  About 1757 a widow Pletcher and her two sons, Henry and Samuel,
migrated from Europe to America and settled in Lancaster Co. Pa. From this
point the sons moved westward, and their descendants are now found in Ohio,
Indiana, New York, Texas, Iowa, Minnesota and a number of other states.
Jacob son of Henry Pletcher, was married to a daughter of Samuel Pletcher,
and is said to have become converted to the Mennonites among who he became
an active minister.  Samuel, the second son, moved with his son in law
Jacob A Pletcher to Ohio, and most of the Pletchers in Ohio and Indiana are
his descendants.  At the present time the Pletchers adhering to the
Mennonite faith are either living in Indiana or are descendants of the
Indiana Pletchers living in other states.  There are member of this family,
also, who are members of the Church of the Brethren.
PLETCHER BIBLE
     In a Pletcher Bible some one wrote, "Our ancestors from Europe are
Pletscher, Krutsler and Sterneman.
Emigrants Whom I have found that migrated to United States who's names are
close to our spelling (I have found no person who emigrated to the US that
spell's there name Pletcher or even Pletscher in the early books on German
and Swiss emigrants). This is because the people who they filed their names
were English speaking not German's who spoke English. With the different
accents that the German's and Swiss have the transcribers ended up spelling
the name the way it sounded, not phonetically. Those when I was looking for
our ancestors in old records I looked for any variation of the name
Pletscher including names spelled with a B.

Maria Pletcher
     Mary or Maria Pletcher did arrive in the United States without her
husband. As a woman she was not considered the head of the household,
therefore was not required to take the oath of alliegance. Mary was suppose
to have advertised in the Newspaper for work to pay off her debt she
aquired while on board ship possibly for payment of burial expenses. It is
just as likely she needed work and although by law she may not have been
considered the head of the household, in fact she was and would have needed
to survive. According to family tradition she and her two sons Samuel
Pletcher and Henry Pletcher were to have lived in Philadelphia for a period
of time.  Frederick Maynard of Lancaster PA was to have hired her as a
housekeeper and later on married her. The marrying part of the family
tradition probably was not true since I have the records of Frederick
Maynard who arrived on the ship Harle in 1736 with his wife Anna entering
the US on the same ship. Frederick's wife at the time of death was also
Anna (the name Anna was mentioned in Frederick Maynard's Will),so it is not
likely that Mary wed Frederick Maynard. There must have been some type of
relationship with the Maynards since the Maynard's were close to the
Schenck Family, Anna Schenck married Henry Pletcher son of Mary Pletcher.
Also one of Frederick Maynards daughter's, Magdalena, married a Michael
Schenck father of Anna Schenck. We know little of Mary and her sons early
life, we can be pretty certain that they grew up near Lancaster PA, and
Samuel was put out at an early age to learn the trade of Weaver and Henry
the trade of Cobbler.
            Another story about Mary Pletcher and her children.
I have included these stories since we do not have documents with her name
in them !

    The following is written by another Pletcher about Mary Pletcher, the
story had been related to her by her grandfather, who lived in the old
Pletcher homestead. Mary Pletcher came to this country from Germany along
the Swiss border, which took six mos.  To come across the ocean.  Her
husband died on the way over and was buried at sea, so she and two sons
Samuel and Henry got off the ship at Philadelphia.  Their names were
advertised as persons unable to pay their passage fee.  Her Uncle Fred
Maynard paid this fee for her and took her and two sons to his place on a
farm along Conestoga Creek in Lancaster Co.
     Henry learned the cobbler trade and Samuel the weaving.  They served
as volunteer soldiers in the revolutionary war.  Henry was artisan
shoemaker, he made shoes for the soldiers.  Following the close of the war
the Pletcher men were granted an area of land located at Howard.  400 acres
of land, which part of Howard Pa., was on his land.  Part of his land was
still in the Pletcher connection yet when the  lived down where Earl Weaver
lived.  That was the old Pletcher home.  My grandpa was born and raised
there.

The Will of Frederick Maynard
I have include Frederick's Will for two reasons, first he play's a
significant role in the early Pletcher History. Second, along with his Will
and the fact that he arrived in the US with Anna his wife it disproves the
story that Mary Pletcher married Frederick Maynard. It does not diminish
the fact that he played a significant role in our family history.
Although I have not been able to establish what the exact connections is to
our family, he did deed his land to Michael Schenck who had married one of
his daughters. It is know that Henry and Samuel moved with the Schenck
Family either at the same time or shortly after to Centre County PA and
Henry ended up Marrying on of his daughter Anna Schenck. I also think that
you will enjoy reading the part of his will that deals with Anna Mennart.
The Will comes from the book Will Books and Intestate Records of  Lancaster
County, pennsylvania, 1729 ­ 1850, Eleanor Fulton and Barbara Mylin:
Frederick Menart 1775 Book B Vol. 1 p. 728

IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN, I Frederick Mennard of the Township of Conestoga
in the County of Lancaster and province of Pennsylvania yeoman do hereby
make publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner
following, to wit.  Imprimis, I Command my soul to God and my body to the
Earth to be buried in a decant manner as my Executors shall think proper in
humble hopes of a glorious resurrection and an Happy admission into the
Regions of beliefs and Immortality in and through the Merits and Meditation
of my Redeemer Jesus Christ.  And my Worldly Estate I do give devise and
dispose of as follows to wit it is my will and I do order that in the first
place all my just debts and funeral charges be paid and discharged as soon
as conveniently may be done after my decease.  Item, I do give devise and
bequeath unto my son Jacob Mennard all that part of my Lands and Plantation
in the Township of Conestoga aforesaid whereon he my said son is now seated
and adjoining to Conestoga Creek and to Lands of John Mofer, Jacob Harnist
and other lands of me the said Frederick Mennard herein given to my son in
Law Michael Shank according to the division Line and Survey already made
between them containing about One Hundred and Sixty eight acres, be it more
or less with the appurtenances.  To hold to him my said son Jacob Mennard
his heirs and assigns forever he and they paying, doing, providing and
delivering and performing all and every the sums of money provisions and
articles hereafter mentioned to be done and performed by him or them.
Item, I do give devise and bequest unto my son in law Michael Shank all
that part of my lands and Plantation in the Township of Conestoga aforesaid
whereon he the said Michael is now seated and joining to Connestoga Creek
and Lands of Christian Steman, John Mofer and the said Lands by me given to
my son Jacob Mennard According to the division Line and Survey already made
between them containing about one hundred and sixty three acres be it more
or less with the appurtenances To hold to him my said son in law Michael
Shank his heirs and assigns forever he and they paying doing providing
delivering and performing all and every the sum and sums of money
provisions and articles hereafter mentioned to be done and performed by him
or them.  Item, whereas upon seating my said son and son in Law upon my
lands aforesaid I for their advancement in the World value the lands be my
given to my said son Jacob at the Low rate of Nine Hundred and Fifty lawful
Money of Pennsylvania and the lands by me given to the Said Michael Shank
at the low rate of Seven Hundred pounds thereby making allowances t them
equivalent to their shares of my Estate intended to be given them, and my
said son Jacob his heirs Executors Administrators or assigns have now are
hereby directed to pay the sum of Six hundred and fifty pounds Money
aforesaid in nine Different yearly payments, to wit the six early payments
of sixty five pounds per annum the seventh yearly payment sixty pounds the
eighty yearly payment One Hundred pounds the Ninth yearly payment one
hundred pounds in full of the valuation Money aforesaid. And so that my
said son in Law Michael Shank his heirs Executors Administrators and
assigns have now and are hereby directed to pay the sum of Five Hundred
Pounds money aforesaid in nine different yearly payments to be per annum
the Seventh yearly payment to be sixty pounds, the Eighty yearly payment to
be One Hundred Pounds and the ninth yearly payment to be one hundred pounds
in full of his valuation Money aforesaid.  And whereas my said son and son
in law their heirs Executors or Administrators my discharge part of the
said Sums before my death.  It is therefore my will and I do order and
direct that all such payments as shall be made to me by either of them as
part of the Evaluation aforesaid and for which my receipt shall be given
shall be allowed by my Executors as part of the said sums so directed to be
paid to them as aforesaid and that upon payment of the said sums of Money
so directed to be paid as aforesaid be the payments made and completed to
me in my life time or to my Executors after my demise my said Executors or
the Survivors or Survivor of them do and shall made execute and deliver the
proper and necessary Deeds and Conveyances for granting and conveying and
assuring the lands and promises aforesaid with their appurtenances unto my
said son Jacob Mennard and son in Law Michael Shank and their Heirs in fee
simple agreeable to the division thereof already made between them and the
Devises thereof to them herein before mentioned Subject never the lefs in
case my wife Anna Shall survive me to the payment and delivery of the
following articles to and for her use and benefit and to the privileges
herein given to her that is to say.  It is my will that my said wife Anna
during the term of her Natural Life shall and may have and enjoy the Room
on the present dwelling house on the lands given to my son, Jacob, now used
by me and my said wife with the privilege benefit and use of the Kitchen
and Cellar in common with the said Jacob his heirs and assigns.  And I do
order and direct that my said son Jacob his heirs and assigns do yearly pay
find provide for and deliver unto my said wife Anna (in Case she survive
me) the following articles, to wit.  The sum of Forty shillings lawful
money of Pennsylvania Yearly and every year Fire wood cut of a proper
length for he use hauled and delivered at her door four bushels of wheat
one Bushel of Rye One Gallon of Rye Liqueur two barrels of Cider.  One fat
hog of the weight of one Hundred pounds two pounds of clean wool eight
pounds of heckled hemp Garden truck of all kinds as much as she shall have
occasion to chose of the Orchard and shall also keep her cow in good and
sufficient fodder and pasture from time to time and at all times during her
Natural Life and further direct that my said son in Law Michael Shank his
Heirs and assigns do yearly pay find and provided for and delivery unto my
said Wife Anna the following articles, to wit, the sum of thirty shillings
Money aforesaid yearly and every year during her Natural Life four bushels
of wheat one bushel of rye One Gallon of Rye Liqueur, One Barrel of Cider
forty pounds weight of Beef two pounds of clean wool and seven pounds of
heckled Hemp with all the articles to be provided for and delivered to my
said Wife at the most proper and suitable seasons and all and every the sum
and sums of Money herein before mentioned.  I do hereby charges the lands
and premises aforesaid in the proportions aforesaid.  But in case my said
wife shall not choose to reside at the Place aforesaid nor to have or
receive the said Yearly Payments and Articles so directed to be paid and
provided for her but shall remove from and leave and said Premises than and
in payable out of the lands aforesaid by my son and Son in Law over and
above the said son Jacob his heirs and assigns and the sum of twenty pounds
to be paid her by my said son Jacob his heirs and assigns and the sum of
twenty pounds to be paid her by my said Son in Law Michael Shank his heirs
and assigns within one year after she shall so me Election with the
Payments of which moneys in lieu of articles aforesaid to and I do give and
bequeath unto my said wife Anna One Cow which she choose also one third
part of the linen of all kinds also the Bed which she brought me with its
furniture and the bed now used by us with its furniture to and for her
proper use and Benefit and to dispose of at her pleasure which said
Legacies and Bequests to m said wife are in lieu and in full satisfaction
of and for her dower or thirds and all the claims and demands whatsoever of
in to and to of my Estate Real and personal.  Item, The moneys which shall
be due and payable from my said son and Son in law at the time of my
decease for the Lands and Promises aforesaid according to the valuations
aforesaid with all other my Estate real and personal not herein before
particularly devised or bequeathed I order to be divided into five equal
parts and to give devise and bequeath the same as follows, to wit, I give
and bequeath one fifth part thereof unto my son in Law Christian Stoner of
Manor Township in the County aforesaid his heirs and Executors
Administrations and assigns to and for his and their proper use and behold
forever.  I give and bequeath one other fifth part thereof unto my son in
law Daniel Brenniman of Connestoga Township aforesaid his heirs Executors
administrators and assign to be for his and their proper use and behold
forever.  I give and bequeath one other fifth part thereof unto my son in
Law Christian Herr or their proper use and behold forever.  And I give and
equate one other fifth part thereof unto my son in law Christian Stauffer
of Mannor Township aforesaid his heirs.  Executors administrators and
assigns to be for his of their proper use and behold forever. And I do give
and bequeath the other one fifth part thereof unto John Raser of County in
the Province of Maryland his heirs and Executors administrators and assigns
to and for his and their proper use and behold forever but in case the said
John Raser be now dead or shall die before me or before any part of the
legacies or moneys bequeathed to him shall be due and payable and that case
I do give and bequeath the said legacies or so much thereof as shall be
behind and not then due as aforesaid unto the children of the said John
Raser by my daughter Gertrude with whom he is intermarried to be equally
divided between them and in such case do appoint my Executor and the
survivors and Survivor of them Guardians over the Estates of the said
children under this my Will.  Item, in case my said son Jacob or son in Law
Michael Shank or their or either of their heirs Executors administrators of
assigns shall refuse or neglect to pay off and discharge the several sums
of money and Duties by them hereby respectively required to be paid or done
that is to say Moneys and Duties agreeable to the directions of this my
Will then and in such case I do hereby authorize direct and Empower my
Executors herein named and the Survivors and Survivor of them from time to
time and at all times upon such neglect or refusal happening to sell and
dispose of so much of the Lands and premises hereby given to such
Delinquent as will be sufficient to raise the moneys so behind and unpaid
and made good and the duties required by him or them to be performed by
this my will hereby authorizing and empowering my said Executors and
Survivors of them to make and give good and sufficient Deeds to the
purchaser or purchasers of the Premises so sold from time to time for the
purposes aforesaid.  And I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my
said son in law Christian Stone and my friends Jacob Whistler and Jacob
Shank and the Survivors and Survivor of them Executors and Executor of this
my last Will and Testament hereby authorizing and empowering them and the
Survivors and Survivor of them to make and execute the proper and necessary
Deeds for Conveying assigns the Lands herein before mentioned to my said
son and Son in Law Michael Shank and their Heirs in Fee simple agreeable to
the true intent and meaning of this my will and hereby making null and void
all former and other wills by me made and declaring this and no other to be
and contain my last Will and Testament.  In Witness whereof I have here
unto set my hand and Seal the fourteenth day of July in the ear of our Lord
One thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy three.
Sign Sealed Published pronounced and declared by the Testator as his last
Will and Testament Frederick Mennard.
Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request have
hereunto Subscribed our names as Witness thereto William Henry, John
Hopson, Wm. Attlee.

LANCASTER COUNTY SS, On the first day of October Anno Domini 1774.  Before
me the Subscriber personally appeared the within named William Henry
Esquire John Hopson and William Attlee Esquire the three witness to the
within annexed Will and on their Corporal Oath did deep and say that they
were present and saw and heard the within named Frederick Mennard the
Testator within named Sign Seal Publish pronounce and declare the within
annexed Will as and for his last will and Testament and that at the doing
thereof he was of sound Mind Memory and Understanding to the best of their
Knowledge Observation and Belief.

BE IT REMEMBERED that on the first day of October Anno Domini 1774 the last
Will and Testament of Frederick Mennard late of Conestoga Township in the
County of Lancaster Yeoman deceased was proved in due form of Law and
Letters Testament were granted to Christian Stoner, Jacob Whistler and
Jacob Shank the Executors to this Annexed Will named they being first duly
Qualified Well and truly to administer the Estate of the Testator and to
exhibit a true and perfect inventory thereof into the Registers Office at
Lancaster on or before the first day of November next and to render a true
and just account of their administration when thereto lawfully required.
Given under the Seal of said Office by.
I have included a short history of Lancaster PA, so that you can put in
perspective where our family was living and know a little of its history;
 LANCASTER County PENNSYLVANIA

Diversity of People, Ideas and Economy
by John Ward Wilson Loose, F.L.C.H.S.President Emeritus, Lancaster County
Historical Society. When Lancaster County was established on May 10, 1729,
it became the prototype for the sixty-three counties to follow. The
original three counties, Philadelphia, Bucks and Chester, were created as
copies o f typical English shires. The frontier conditions of Chester
County's backwoods, from which Lancaster was formed, presented knotty
problems to the civilized Englishmen. Lancaster County, therefore, was an
experiment in pragmatism erected on the periphery of Penn's "Holy
Experiment". Pennsylvania's "first western county" would test the genius of
English government and political common sense. Not only did the pragmatic
experiment succeed, but also it has continued to color the life and
government of Lancaster during the last 250 years.

In 1683, Penn purchased from the Indians a tract of land extending from the
Delaware to the Susquehanna Rivers. Another purchase made in 1718 added
nearly all the land southeast of the South Mountain, including most of
present-day York County. As settlers in the hinterlands of Chester County
increased in number, the Chester County court created additional townships.
Soon, settlers were clamoring for constables to keep the peace on the
frontier. The development of civilization and law enforcement in the older
portions of Chester County drove lawbreakers and habitual troublemakers
into the backcountry west of the Octoraro Creek. Their presence bothered
the settlers, whereupon a petit ion was presented to the colonial
government praying that "a Division Line be made between the upper and
lower part of the said county, and the upper part thereof erected into a
county, with all the immunities, rights and privileges which any other
county of this Province does now enjoy."

Political control of Pennsylvania at this time, however, firmly rested in
the hands of the Quakers. The pacifistic Quakers did not look with favor
upon the arrival of the bellicose Scots, who generally moved toward the
frontier and whose contempt for the English was only slightly milder than
their hatred of the "red savages." A new county might cause competition,
for surely the Ulstermen would demand representation in the Provincial
Assembly. Then, there was also opposition from the Germans in the
hinterlands. More local government would mean more regulations and higher
taxes. Fortunately, on the banks of the Susquehanna River at Wright's Ferry
there existed a settlement of remarkably competent Quaker politicians who
adjusted intelligently to the challenges of the frontier, including the
Indians and Scots. The question was, could John Wright, Samuel Blunston and
Robert Barber-the Quaker triumvirate-keep a new county under control?

Planting English shires along the Delaware was a simple matter, but
creating a new county was a task the provincial government had never before
faced. Worse, the new county was the most diverse entity in the American
colonies, comprised of immigrants representing nearly every national,
religious and ethnic group from northwestern Europe who, in turn. ran
headlong into Indian tribes resentful of the land-hungry white man.
Internal strife in the Assembly, litigation over Penn's estate, and the
late proprietor's vast indebtedness and financial problems contributed to
the unsettled state of affairs existing when the creation of the new county
was proposed.

Lt. Governor Patrick Gordon knew he had the authority to grant the
petitioners their wishes, but he was also mindful of the precedents he
would be establishing. Penn's original counties provided for total
government and justice based on traditional English concepts of relations
among civilize d white persons. The backcountry did not possess sufficient
men learned in the law, hence "lay" justices of the peace had to be
entrusted with the judicial process. In a sense, the creation of Lancaster
County ranked only second to the founding of Pennsylvania itself in forging
new concepts in democratic government involving Englishmen and Indians.

Gordon appointed twelve persons, half from the east side and half from the
West Side of the Octoraro Creek, to locate and se t a boundary line.
Surveyor John Taylor was to run the line from the northern branch of the
Octoraro Creek northward to the Schuylkill River, which was to serve as the
eastern boundary. The southern border of the Province-in dispute with Lord
Baltimore-was to be the southern line of the new county. Extending as far
west as the original charter and ignoring future purchases of lands from
Indians, the new county would end at the present-day Ohio line and lie
south of the West Branch of the Susque hanna River. To John Wright, the
distinguished leader of the new area, was given the honor of naming the new
county, which he did by honoring his native shire in England. On May 19,
1729, Governor Gordon proclaimed the new county was organized and its name
was Lancaster. The Maryland government was far from pleased. and lost no
time in warning Pennsylvania officials to keep the new county out of
Maryland.

Eight magistrates, all of British ancestry and most Quakers, were appointed
to subdivide the county into townships. By August 5, 1729, the settled
portions of the county had been organized into seventeen townships with
names chosen by the usual jockeying for honors. Two honored the Welsh
(Caernarvon and Lampeter); two had Indian names (Conestoga and Peshtank (or
Paxtang, Paxton); six were English (Warwick, Lancaster, Martic, Sadsbury,
Salisbury and Hempfield); four kept the Ulstermen happy (Donegal, Drumore,
Derry, and Leacock); one was German (Manheim); one came from the Bible
(Leban on); and one was the Anglicization of the family name Graf or Groff
(Earl). Late in 1729, an eighteenth township was created: Cocalico, an
Indian name.

As settlements grew north and west of the organized part of Lancaster
County, the local court approved new townships in what are today York,
Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lebanon and Berks counties. Beginning in 1749
with the creation of York County, Lancaster was carved up to provide land
for new counties. Cumberland County was formed in 1750, ending Lancaster
County's far-flung western territory; Berks' creation in 1752 further
reduced Lancaster County and in 1772 the formation of Northumberland County
took away the northern tip. With the establishment of Dauphin County in 178
5, Lancaster County was cut down to its present size (945 square miles)
except for a tiny sliver of land given up when Lebanon County was formed in
1813.

Lancaster County was entitled to only four representatives in the Assembly,
the three older counties being given six assemblymen each. Initially, each
election in the county was a contest between the Scots and the English
Quakers, with new faces appearing only to be defeated the following year.
By 1731, however, troubles with the Indians tipped the balance in favor of
the Scots at the expense of the pacifistic Quakers. By 1734, James
Hamilton, proprietor of Lancaster town and son of the distinguished lawyer
Andrew Hamilton, won a seat in the Assembly and became the political leader
of the county.

Virtually all-political action centered in the Susquehanna Valley, with
political fortunes rising or falling according to the manner in which
frontier problems were solved. As time went on Quaker power declined so
much that the Friends we re fortunate to capture even a single seat in the
Assembly. In their stead were the Scots and later, the Germans, the first
of whom was not elected until 1756. The many prosperous farmers, skilled
mechanics and shopkeepers gave the county a decidedly "whiggish" character,
expressed politically as a moderate and very pragmatic conservatism.
Farming and Immigration
Lancaster County is in the Piedmont region with occasional ridges standing
above the rolling hills and limestone plains, the largest of which forms
the central part of the county and is drained by the Conestoga River and
Pequea Creek. The southern portion of the county rests in the Piedmont
uplands, which hold deposits of iron, nickel, copper, chrome and silver. It
is the easily-eroded limestone soil, however, that gives the county its
reputation as the finest agricultural land east of the Mississippi River,
and the best non-irrigated farmland in the nation. The best limestone soil,
known as Hagerstown or Frederick loam, is the largest connected body of
that rich limestone soil in Pennsylvania As a result, more than
seventy-five percent of Lancaster County is farmland, with the majority of
farms being family owned. Today, feed grains are most often cultivated,
taking the place of leaf tobacco, once more extensively grown for cigars
and chewing. In the past, the hard red Triassic rock or sandstone, which
extends across the northern portion of the county was used for millstones
to grind the grain in t he numerous grist mills located throughout the
area.

The area's first farmers were Indians who have inhabited the area at
various times for the past 11,000 years. By the time William Penn visited
the Susquehanna valley in 1684, he encountered  remnants of the once
powerful, Susquehannock tribe, which had earlier been conquered by the
Iroquois. Most of Lancaster County's Indians, however, were Conestogas, a
tribe believed to have returned to southern Pennsylvania after regional
tribal warfare ended. Nevertheless, all of Lancaster's Indians, including
the Conoys and Pequehans, belonged to the Five (and later, Six) Nations.

William Penn generally maintained excellent relations with the Indians and
was often called upon to referee e disputes caused, when Indian traders
allegedly engaged in questionable practices. Fur trading and land
speculation were major economic features of life in early Pennsylvania. and
frequently brought whites and Indians into conflict. With armies of
immigrants swarming into southeastern Pennsylvania, the demand for real
estate assumed a greater importance. After William Penn's death, his
generosity to both European immigrants and American Indians proved a
headache to the Quaker Assembly left to mediate between the two.

The tide of settlement was not to be stopped, however. As early as 1709, a
Scot had established himself in present-day Salisbury Township, and an
English Quaker family was living in Little Britain Township. It was not
until 1710, however, that the first community within the present borders of
the county was established. In that year, a group of Swiss Mennonites-the
families of Herr, Mylin and Kendig- built a settlement a few miles south-
east of present-day Lancaster city. Two years later a band of French
Huguenots led by Marie Ferree settled near Strasburg. Two more years passed
before the Scot Presbyterians arrived in two waves, one settling in the
Donegal area of northwestern Lancaster County an d the other occupying land
in the south. These Scots, often called the "Scotch-Irish," came from
Ulster in Ireland after being "planted" there by the English in an attempt
to subdue the Irish.

On the heels of the Scots came a small but I influential group of English
and Welsh families. The English tended to settle along a band running
horizontally across the county between Salisbury Township and Wright's
Ferry (Columbia), including Lancaster village. Occupying lands in what
later became e Caernarvon, Brecknock and Lampeter townships, the Welsh
often were found working in iron. By 1717, the entire central portion of
Lancaster County was rapidly filling with immigrants from the Rhineland as
well, usually employed as farmers or skilled artisans. When Lancaster
County became a reality, it was already the most pluralistic and
cosmopolitan place in the New World.
Religion
Swiss and German Mennonites carried to the county the Anabaptist tradition,
so named because the group did not practice infant baptism. Although the
Mennonites have experienced numerous schisms ("rotted wood never splits" is
the laconic explanation), the majority of local members are affiliated with
the Lancaster Mennonite Conference. The more liberal Midwestern Mennonites
also have representation in the county, as do the fundamentalist
Evangelical Mennonites. Today, much to their chagrin, the Amish Mennonites
are the single greatest tourist attract ion in Lancaster County.

Frequently confused with the Mennonites (Old Order or Amish), the River
Brethren in Christ, first established in Lancaster County near the
Susquehanna River, had its origin in the German Methodist movement. Philip
Otterbein, a Reformed minister, and Martin Boehm, a Mennonite preacher,
were caught up in the fervor of the spiritual awakening sweeping Lancaster
County in the 1760s, and around 1800 they established the United Brethren
in Christ Church. Numerous United Brethren groups flourished and came to be
known by the locality in which they met. 'The group above Marietta along
the river, for example, was called the "River Brethren in Christ." While
other segments of the denomination moved forward, the "River Brethren"
chose to maintain the status quo, and today in many ways they resemble the
Old Order Mennonites. Chrome on their automobiles is painted black and
their garb is very plain. As with the Anabaptists, they do not baptize
infants.

Another branch of the Anabaptist movement included the German Baptist
Brethren, also known as "Dunkers." Not long after their arrival in
Lancaster County, Johann Conrad Beissel left them and established the
Ephrata Cloister, today restored and a administered by the Pennsylvania
Historical and Museum Commission. Since Beissel observed the Sabbath on
Saturday, his group has been called-incorrectly- German Seventh Day
Baptists. The regular German Baptist Brethren, after suffering the
inevitable le schisms, flourished in Lancaster County and is called today
the Church of the Brethren. This denomination represents the most liberal
position in the so-called "Plain Churches." It owns Elizabethtown College,
a small liberal arts school in the county.

The remaining inhabitants of the county were members of a variety of
religious denominations. Jacob Albright, a county farmer-tiler, founded the
Evangelical Church in 1796. He espoused an evangelism more personal and
emotional than the liturgical Lutheran and Reformed churches offered.
Eventually, the Evangelical Church merged into the United Brethren in
Christ Church. The remaining German settlers in Lancaster County were
members of the Lutheran, German Reformed and Moravian churches.
Presbyterian churches were established in northwestern and southern
Lancaster County to minister to the needs of the Scots. Their educated
ministers usually conducted schools along with their pastoral duties.
Meanwhile, the English and Welsh settlers generally attended the Anglican
churches or meetings of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). As
early as the 1730s, Roman Catholics were worshipping in Lancaster County
and Jewish settlers were worshiping in Joseph Simon's home in the 1740s.

The Revolution and Post-War Growth

The increasing population and economic growth of Lancaster County in the
decades prior to the Revolution attracted numerous professionals and
businessmen. Already, Lancaster Borough, was the largest inland town in the
colonies and a small but influential aristocracy flourished throughout the
county. Among the gentry were Edward Shippen, Edward Hand, George Ross,
Jasper Yeates and William Atlee. Others from German background were William
Bausman, Charles Hall, Casper Schaffner, William Henry, John Bubley, Paul
Zantzinger, Adam Reigart and Mathias Slaugh. Alexander Lowery, John Steele
and the colorful ironmaster-glassmaker Henry W. Stiegel were leaders out in
the county. Other prominent ironmasters included the Grubbs and Robert
Coleman. With the commercial mentality resenting restrictions on trade and
the rural folk, largely pacifistic, favoring the status quo, feelings began
to mount regarding the colony's future relationship with Britain. The
Scots, for certain, were ready to fight England at a moment's notice.

At the outbreak of the Revolution, Lancaster rapidly took on an increased
importance. George Ross signed the Declaration of Independence, taking time
away from his lucrative law practice and risking a fine for missing a
meeting of the Union Fire Co. No. 1, Lancaster's gentlemen-firefighters.
Meanwhile, Lancastrians were joining rifle companies and drilling for
eventual service against England. Local mechanics and workers began
producing tons of rifles, shoes, boots, uniforms, blankets, hardware and
food.

During the French and Indian War, Lancaster's gunsmiths and other artisans
were hard at work turning out the materials of war. Still earlier, the
Pennsylvania rifle, later known as the "Kentucky rifle" when carried into
the Ohio Valley, was developed in Lancaster County. This "apprenticeship"
prepared Lancaster County for the role it was to play during the Revolution
. County mills ground out barrels of flour and wagonmakers built Conestoga
wagons and other vehicles. Local furnaces and forges were kept busy
smelting, casting and hammering iron for the tools of war. Again, Lancaster
County became the arsenal, workshop and granary of the continental armies.
Lancaster supplied men as well. Edward Hand, for one, left his medical
practice to serve his intimate friend, General Washington, on the
battlefield. By the end of the war, he was Washington's adjutant general.

On September 27, 1777, the Continental Congress, fleeing from the British
invaders of Philadelphia, arrived in Lancaster and held a regular session
there, making Lancaster the temporary capital. The Pennsylvania government
also took up residence in Lancaster and remained there for the duration of
the British occupation of Philadelphia. With little room available in the
busy borough for the Continental Congress and its retinue on a more
permanent basis, the Congress moved across the river to York.

After the Revolution, Lancaster County resumed its place among the
ever-growing communities gradually spreading westward, although settlements
in western Pennsylvania and the Ohio Valley lessened the economic
significance of the county. Before long, the local economy began to
stagnate. With the end of the War of 1812, however, contains turned their
attention to land speculation, town building and the establishment of
industry. Textile mills were built on many creeks and one large mill, which
eventually failed, was erected adjacent to Lancaster. Local artisans
continued to produce- fine furniture (much of it in the sophisticated
"Philadelphia" style), grandfather clocks, silverware an d pewterware. In
1810, the Farmers Bank of Lancaster commenced operations, and it survives
today as a component of the Hamilton Bank. Nearly 300 flour (grist) mills
operated on county streams and limeburners were employed busily producing
lime for soil dressing in southern Lancaster County and neighboring
counties and states.

The county's major industry, as measured in value of investment and
production, was its charcoal iron business. Numerous cold blast furnaces
and forges consumed thousands of acres of woodland in the form of charcoal
fuel. Almost every creek had its forges where pig iron was worked into
wrought iron.

The longer the furnaces operated, the greater became the need for longer
distance transportation. 1794 had linked Lancaster linked to Philadelphia
by the state's first great turnpike, while other highways and roads
connected Lancaster to other towns both inside and outside the county. In
1834, the Columbia and Philadelphia Railroad section of the State Works was
built through Lancaster, joining the Susquehanna River to the port city.
When the canal traffic from northern and western Pennsylvania was diverted
to Philadelphia by the railroad; private investment assumed active roles in
c community life. Infused with a new spirit, Lancastrians sought additional
industries.

SAMUEL2 PLETCHER (SAMUEL1) was born January 28, 1750/51 in Baden Germany,
and died March 15, 1830 in Galion Ohio.  He married ELIZABETH YODER,
daughter of ULRICH YORDY and MAGDALENA.
1.      xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Notes for SAMUEL PLETCHER: We begin our story with Samuel Pletcher, the
older brother of Henry Pletcher, I have attempted to include as much as I
know at this time about his children and their families. Many Pletcher's
that I have talked to either trace their ancestry from Samuel or Henry. If
you pay close attention to the intermarriages you will see that many of the
Pletcher in the United States share both Samuel and Henry as their shared
ancestor.

 Family tradition, places the family in the Big Valley of the Suequehanna
River so that it is said that the children of Samuel and Elizabeth were
born there.  Lancaster Mennonite Historical society places the Big Valley
as being the Kischocoquillas Valley.
by 1790 Samuel and Elizabeth as well as they're eight children, were living
in Huntingdon Co PA.  They are all listed in the Census under Pletcher.
      Samuel Pletcher I moved to various places in Pennsylvania.  In 1790,
during the first U.S. Census, he is listed as being a resident of
Huntingdon County, PA., as the head of a household, with wife and eight
children.  He moved to McDonalds farm below Beech Creek.  In 1813, he moved
to Howard, Centre Co.. at which place he had a distillery.  He stayed near
his brother Henry's family.  His son, Samuel II, married the widow of Henry
I in 1804, and died there at Howard in 1811. William married Barbara Neff
near old Fort Niagara; David the oldest son  moved into Somerset County,
PA. Henry married Barbara Leiter of Mittany Valley.  They lived at Howard
for some time, and then moved to Ohio.  Jacob married Barbara Nestlerode
and moved to Ohio in 1821, then on to Indiana.  They were all Mennonite
families.
     In 1821, Samuel Pletcher I , sold out at Howard and went with his
family to Ohio.  He traveled with his daughter Anna and her husband his
nephew Jacob A. Pletcher.  This Jacob was always called Little Jake or Jake
to distinguish him from Samuel's son Big Jake.  Samuel's son henry was
called Jockey henry.  henry son Jacob was called Swamp Jake he lived in
Wood County, Ohio.  These families were Mennonite and only married within
the church, and they intermarried with first cousins and aunts and uncles
till the line is very confused.  The first names carried into each family
were the same, and family reunions were very popular with the Pletchers.
     Samuel Pletcher I died on March 15, 1830 on the homestead that Jacob A
and Anna Pletcher had, six miles east of the city of Galion, Crawford
County, Ohio.  It is a beautiful farm, originally a section of 164 acres,
and the house and barn still stand.  The barn is in very good shape, with
hand pegs throughout.  This land remained in the Pletcher name from Jacob
A. to his son Jacob N, to his son Henry W. Pletcher.  The last son died in
1953 Mennonite and the farm was sold to others.
     The Pletcher cemetery is kept in very good condition by the owners,
and there is buried Samuel Pletcher I, the Jacobs mentioned above their
wives and children and grandchildren.  The farm was particularly known for
its fine produce, and also for the line of horses that the Pletchers
raised.  Elizabeth Pletcher (wife of Samuel I) apparently died at Howard
PA.
     The following story is related from a Pletcher family history that I
will attempt to censor out any parts that can not be backed up. Of course
this is not possible when we are talking about Samuel's early years.

      Samuel very likely had few memories of his father, who died at sea as
their ship loaded with Mennonite refugees was traveling from Holland to
Philadelphia.  He was probably only six years old when he arrived with his
mother and brother in 1756.
     Between the time he was six to twelve, we know little of his life.
But one can imagine this young boy in Philadelphia, a city teaming with
immigrants, looking for a place to settle.  It was apparently while he was
there that Frederick Maynard befriended his mother.
     In the spring of 1763, the year that the French and Indian War ended.
The Pletcher-Maynard and other families traveled 100 miles westward through
the forest and Indian country all the way to the Susquehanna River. Only
eight years before, young Colonel George Washington had built Fort
Necessity, to ward off the Indians after Braddock's defeat, in southwestern
Pennsylvania.
     Legend has it that Samuel and Henry grew up only a few miles from Safe
Harbor, near an Indian village.  However, the Mennonite families had become
friendly to the Indians, and Samuel and Henry as young boys likely knew
some of the Indian children.
     On the day before Samuel's 16th birthday, his stepfather bought a
place on Middle Street in Lancaster.  It was apparently there that Samuel
was taught the art of weaving by his stepfather.
     For the next five years Samuel was probably quite busy with his work
in Lancaster PA and on the farm near Safe Harbor.  He may have stopped on
the road between Lancaster and Safe Harbor at Jacob Maynard's tavern, son
of Frederick Maynard. He also likely was involved in going to church
services.
     A Mennonite family named Yordy lived near Lancaster, and when Samuel
was about 21, he married Elizabeth Yordy.  Their first son, David was born
about 1773.  Their second child, William Ulrich Pletcher, who was nicknamed
Ollie, born December 29, 1774, was to become latter our Pletcher ancestor
who eventually moved to Niagara County, N.Y.
     During the next few years, a main concern of the settlers of Lancaster
and the Conestoga Valley was the American Revolution.
     Henry, Samuel's brother, became a private in Captain Page's Company of
the Lancaster County Militia, destined for New Jersey on September 11,
1776.  Later that year, Washington's Army on December 11, made the famous
Crossing of the Delaware, into New Jersey.
     Samuel apparently stayed around Lancaster during the early years of
the Revolution.  His child, Samuel Pletcher Jr. was born there in 1778.
     In William Henry Reese's bible has a note, which reads: "Samuel,
father of Olie, fought in the American Revolution".
     It was about 1789, the year that George Washington became our first
President, that the pioneering spirit of Samuel Pletcher was rekindled. He
left the Conestoga Valley with his wife and eight children.  They went
north up the Susquehanna Valley until reaching the Juanita River.  From
there they traveled up the Juanita into central Pennsylvania and crossed
over the Appalachian into Bald Eagle Valley, settling near the present site
of Howard, Pa.  They had gone about 150 miles to live in a settlement of a
few families, mostly from Lancaster County, Pa., in an area about five
miles long and two miles wide, many miles away from any city or large town.
     Bald Eagle Valley in 1790 was part of Huntingdon County.  Later, on
February 13, 1800 it became part of the new county erected at that time,
Centre County.
     The 1790 Census lists "Samuel Platcher and his family in Huntingdon
County. Pa.  This accounts for only seven of Samuel and Elizabeth's
children.
      By 1801, Henry Pletcher, Samuel's brother had brought his family to
Bald Eagle Valley.  That year he is listed as have 20 acres, a Cabin, 2
horses and 4 cows.
     Samuel Pletcher's name was not included in the 1800 Census of
Pennsylvania.  It was likely an error of omission.,
     However his name, along with his sons, William and Samuel Jr. are in
the 1810 Census of Centre County:  Samuel Plecker, Bald Eagle, William
Platcher, Bald Eagle, Samuel Pletcer, Howard Township.
     After the War of 1812, the two oldest sons of Samuel and Elizabeth,
David and William left Bald Eagle Valley, Pa. for the Conesee Valley in New
York State.
     In 1821, Samuel Pletcher was 70 years old, but the pioneering spirit
was still strong.  He had seen more of the world than most men, coming from
Germany to Philadelphia, Philadelphia to Lancaster County, Lancaster County
to Bald Eagle Valley and other travels we do not know about.
     According to William Henry Reese's bible: Samuel Pletcher moved to
Ohio in 1821.
Again the family was to travel through about 400 miles of wilderness, hills
and valleys, passing other pioneer settlements and Indian villages, until
they reached the present site of Galion, Ohio, ten years before Galion was
founded.
     Samuel Pletcher died March 30, 1830, at the age of 79.  He is buried
in the Pletcher Cemetery, Galion, Ohio.

More About SAMUEL PLETCHER:
Fact 1: 1790, Living in Huntingdon County PA.
Fact 2: 1813, Moved to Howard PA except David
Fact 3: 1821, Move to Crawford County Ohio outside of Galion Ohio
Fact 4: 1830 Died in Crawford County Ohio and buried in the Pletcher
Cemetery Galion Ohio.


        Children of SAMUEL PLETCHER and ELIZABETH YODER are:
        i.      DAVID3 PLETCHER, b. 1773, Lancaster PA.; d. Unknown; m. CATHARINE KENT.

More About DAVID PLETCHER:
Fact 1: Moved to Pletchers Corner, Niagara Co., N.Y. to Kendall Ill.

ii.     WILLIAM PLETCHER, b. 1774, Lancaster PA.; d. June 02, 1857,   Livonia,
N.Y. to Pletchers corner, Niagara Co., N.Y
Notes for WILLIAM PLETCHER:
Ulrich or William Pletcher the son of Samuel was born in the Big Valley,
and came to Howard with his father.  He married Miss Barbara Neff, daughter
of John Neff.  They moved from Howard to New York State.  Their childfree
were Daniel, Samuel, and Elizabeth.  Their children are still living in New
York(descendents). They also had John, Jacob, Katie, Nancy, Susan, Esther,
and Fanny
Florence Grieb ancestry charts
William Pletcher and Barbara Jeff's eldest daughter Elizabeth, married a
David Plecher, One of their daughters Leah, had a child out of wedlock.
Leah never married but lived at home bringing up her daughter in the
household of her parents, David and Elizabeth Pletcher.  The daughter Liily
Pletcher Girard Mrs. Jefferson Girard was much interested in the family
history and put it all together in a much-treasured notebook.  My husband
is descended from William and Barbara's daughter Fany Pletcher Wagner.
Most of William and Barbara children lived in the same area they did.  From
Lilys notes, Samuel and Henrys father died aboard ship (Letter written by
Marion D. Ehrhart to Richmond B. Neff Jr.)

        Children of WILLIAM PLETCHER and BARBARA NEFF are:
        i.      ELIZABETH4 PLETCHER, b. November 26, 1804.
        ii.     CATHERINE PLETCHER, b. April 14, 1806.
        iii.    JOHN PLETCHER, b. April 27, 1807.
        iv.     SAMUEL PLETCHER, b. August 17, 1808.
        v.      DANIEL PLETCHER, b. August 04, 1810.
        vi.     NANCY PLETCHER, b. March 30, 1813.
        vii.    JACOB PLETCHER, b. July 30, 1815.
        viii.   SUSAN PLETCHER, b. September 18, 1818.
        ix.     MARIA PLETCHER, b. December 22, 1820.
        x.      ESTHER PLETCHER, b. July 16, 1823.
        XI.     FANNIE PLETCHER, b. August 20, 1825.

        iii.    SAMUEL PLETCHERJR., b. 1778, Lancaster PA.; d. 1811, Bald Eagle
Valley, Centre Co., Pa.; m. ANNA SCHENCK first wife of Henry Pletcher
deceased.
        iv.     HENRY PLETCHER, b. 1780, Lancaster PA.; d. Galion Ohio; m. BARBARA
IDDER.

Notes for HENRY PLETCHER:
Henry Pletcher, son of Samuel was born in the Big Valley and came to
Howard.  he married Barbara Idder of Nittany Valley.  they lived some time
at Howard.  their children were Jacob, Elizabeth, Joseph, John,
Christopher, Barbara, and Kate.  They moved to Mansfield, Ohio and both
died in Ohio.

More About BARBARA IDDER:
Fact 1: seven children

        v.      JACOB N PLETCHER, d. 1868.
        vi.     ANNA PLETCHER, b. 1784; m. JACOB PLETCHER.

Notes for JACOB PLETCHER:
Anna Pletcher, daughter of Samuel Married Jacob Pletcher, her cousin, Jacob
was the eldest son of Henry Pletcher.

        vii.    CATHERINE PLETCHER, b. 1786; m. MICHAEL KILMER.

Notes for CATHERINE PLETCHER:
Catherine Pletcher, daughter of Samuel married Christopher Nestlerode.
Their children were: Anna Margaret, Samuel, Mattie, and Ellie.  They moved
to Ohio

        viii.   ELIZABETH PLETCHER, b. 1788, Lancaster PA.; m. DAVID REED.

Notes for DAVID REED:
Elizabeth and David Reed lived at Beach Creek. Their children were, Jacob,
Andrew and Samuel.  They moved to Ohio.

ix.     ANNA PLETCHER, b. August 02, 1784, PA.; d. March 31, 1855, Crawford
County, Gallon twp. Ohio Pletcher Cemetery.

                                Ulrich Yordy's Will

The importance of the Ulrich Yoder's Will is that two Pletcher's show up in
the same document. I believe that the Michael Pletcher is an Uncle of
Samuel Pletcher, and Henry Pletcher now this is speculation based on the
fact that he entered in 1742 and did not come with a wife or children but
did sell land the Ulrich Yoder father in law of Samuel Pletcher.

                                Will of Ulrich Yordy

Ulrich Yordy } Deceased } In the name of God ~ Amen I Ulre Yorde of Martich
Township Lancaster County & State of Pennsylvania Yeoman, Being weak in
Body But of sound & perfect mind & Memory and understanding Blessed by
Almighty God for the same Do make and Publish this my Last Will and
Testament in Manner and form following Imprimis I recommend my soul into
the Hands of God and my Body to the Earth to be Decently Buried at the
Discretion of my Executors and I will and order that all my Just Debts and
funeral charges shall be paid by my hereafter Nominated Executors as may be
conveniently done after my Decease And Touching such worldly Estate
wherewith it hath pleased God to Bless me in this Life I give and dispose
of the same in Manner and form following to wit, I give and bequeath unto
my Beloved wife Magdalena the sum of Thirty five pounds Lawful money of
Pennsylvania in Gold or Silver Specie to be raised out of my Estate, one
Compete, Bed & Bedstead, one Milch Cow, at her choice & the one third of my
kitchen Furniture Also the use and possession of that Plantation which I
bought from Michael Pletcher Containing about Seventy two acres for and
during the Term and as long She shall remain my widow, all which shall be
in full in line of her Thirds or Dowry out of my Estate both Real &
personal provided always that she shall not commit or cause to be committed
any unnecessary waste on the said Land or plantation but shall keep the
same in Tenantable Repair Item I give and Bequeath unto my Children Viz:
Jacob Yorde, Mary the wife of Ulrich Spupp, Elizabeth the wife of Samuel
Pletcher, Fronica the wife of John Thomas, & Ulre Yorde, that they shall
inherit Equally in my Estate, Real and personal every one share & Share
alike Inclusive with what the have received already and each of them is
charged with in a Book by me kept for that purpose. Provided nevertheless
that Whereas I have heretofore Advance my eldest Son Jacob Yorde in land
Money & goods the Amount of the Sum of One hundred pounds lawful money of
Pennsylvania it is my will the said Jacob Yorde shall not have any further
claim or interest in my Estate after my Decease but the same shall be in
full as his Share therein. Except if the respective Equal shares of my
other children before named should amount to more than the said Sum of
hundred pounds then and in such case my said Son Jacob shall fall in and be
made Equal with my other children as _____ Inclusive with what he and they
have already received and I do hereby Direct and order that my Lands
plantations or Real Estate shall be sold by my Executors as Soon as
Conveniently may be after my Decease for the Best price the can obtain
Therefor [ if the same is not sold in my lifetime] and they are hereby
Empowered to make Sufficient Conveyances for the Lands to the Purchases and
the Moneys arising from such sale shall be equally divided among & Between
my said Children in Manner herein before Directed Except always that the
Land which herein is ordered for the use and possession of my said wife
shall not be sold During the Time that she shall remain my widow item I
Lastly Do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my Son in Law John Thomas
and my Trusty friend Isaac Hare Executors of this my Last Will and
Testament Revoking and Disallowing all other and former Wills & Testaments
by me heretofore made Ratifying and Conforming this and no other to be my
Last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said Ulry Yorde have
hereunto set my hand and Seal this Seventieth Day of February in the year
of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and Eighty Six

    his
Ulry X Yordy
    Mark

Signed Sealed, published, and declared by the said Ulry Yordy as his Last
Will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto set our hands in
Witness n the presence of the Testator John Hoober E______ G______ John
Hart~ Lancaster County, to wit, on the fifth Day of August Anno Domini
1786. Before me the Subscriber personally appeared John Hoober and John
Hart Two of the Subscribing Witnesses to the withen Will and on their
Solemn Affirmation According to Law did Severally declare affirm and say
that they were present and saw and heard Ulrich Yordy the Testator in The
said will Named Sign, Seal, Publish, pronounce and Declare the within
writing as and for his Last will and Testament and that at the Doing
thereof he was of sound and well disposing Mind Memory and understanding to
the Best of their knowledge Observation and Belief And also that they say
Christian Hurst & the other Witness Subscribe his name thereunto in the
presence of the said Testator.

Philip Gloninger Depy Regr Be it remembered that on the fifth Day of August
Anno Domini 1786 The Last will and Testament of Ulrich Yordy late of
Martick Township Yeoman Deceased was proved in Due form of Law and Letters
Testamentary thereon were granted unto John Thomas and Isaac Herr the
Executors in the said Will named they having been duly Qualified will and
truly to Administer the Estate of the said Deceased and Especially to
Exhibit a true and perfect Inventory thereof Into the Registers Office at
Lancaster ~ within one month from this date and to render a Just and true
account of their administration on said Estate within one year or when
thereto Lawfully required given under _____ of the seal of said Office
Philip Gloninger Depy Regr Recorded & Examd ___ James Jack Regr

1.      HENRY2 PLETCHER (SAMUEL1) was born 1756 in Baden Germany, and died
November 14, 1803 in Howard Pa, Centre County.  He married (1) CATHERINE
STERNMAN 1787 in Lancaster PA., daughter of PETER STERNMAN and MARIAH
(MOTHER) Catharine died in 1794.  He married (2) ANNA SCHENCK February 1796
in Centre County PA, daughter of MICHAEL SCHENCK and MAGDALENA Maynard,
daughter of Frederick Maynard

More About HENRY PLETCHER:

Henry Pletcher I was born in 1756 in Germany, apprenticed out to a cobbler,
served the Revolutionary Army and the Penn. Militia before his marriage. He
married Catherine Kate Sternman 1787 daughter of Mariah Sternaman and the
sister of Mariah who married Michael Schenck Jr. in 1791 in Lancaster. Kate
Sterneman must have died between 1790 and 1795, when the Pletcher brother
migrated to Centre County. She must have died in Lancaster County as there
is no record of her burial in Centre County. The three sons of this
marriage were Jacob A. Daniel and Henry. In 1796, Henry Pletcher went with
the Shanks family from Lancaster County to Centre County, Howard, PA where
Henry purchased 400 acres of land and began to improve it.  Henry married
2nd Anna Nancy Schenck on February 6th, 1796.  Anne was born in 1775 the
daughter of the first Rev. Michael Schenck and his wife Magdalena Maynard
Schenck.  Henry and Samuel Pletcher with their families, came from
Lancaster County to Centre County, either accompanying or soon after
Michael Schenck and Daniel (his brother) who came with their families in
1795.  Nathan Schenck's information to Clarence Pletcher father say's the
Schenck's came in September of 1795, but the Pletcher data says the
Pletcher accompanied the Schenck's in December of 1795.  The earlier date
seems to be the correct one for the Schencks, as this would give them time
to erect housing before severe winter weather came.  The Schencks settled
on the survey made originally to Ensign Stein on the north side of Bald
Eagle creek, and the Pletchers settled on the originally Wiston Dallas
survey on the south side of the creek, about a mile from the Schencks.
Some Pletcher data says Henry Pletcher was granted 400 acres of land for is
Revolutionary War services and he settled on this land which later included
a part of the town of Howard.  But there were no grants of land in the
Howard area other than those to the officers of the French and Indian War,
and these were all on the north side of Bald Eagle creek extending from the
Susquahanna rive to just opposite and north of Howard, and terminating with
the survey to Liet. Askey.  The following is an excerpt from a book on the
history of Centre County p. 10, the author was a man named Linn.
     "The officers surveys all lie north of Bald Eagle Creek.  South of the
creek and immediately south of the Askey survey, the creek intervening,
Charles Lukens surveyed in 1770 the Winston Dallas application of April 3,
1769.  The village of Howard is in the southwest corner.  General de Haas
owned it and his heirs sold to Henry Pletcher May 24, 1800 the eastern
portion.
After settling in Henry Pletcher and Anna Schenck had several children and
they were Frederick, John, Mollie (Magdalene), Rudolph, Michael, and Anna.
In 1803, "an accident occurred which terminated the life of Henry Pletcher
at the age of 47 years".  He was kicked in the stomach by a colt and never
recovered from the effect of the kick from which he died November 14, 1803,
eight months before the birth of his daughter Anna. A. M. Butler, then
Harry Confer, and then Walter Lucas buried him on his homestead North east
of Howard Pa. a farm later owned.  The Government later took the farmland
to build a Dam there. The following people were buried on this land:
Henry Pletcher d. Nov 14, 1803 Buried 107 years then raised in 1911
Daniel Pletcher d. Oct. 22 1800 Buried 110 yrs. Then raised in 1911
Anna Pletcher d July 8, 1848 Buried 62 years then raised in 1911
Samuel Pletcher jr. d. Nov. 14, 1811 Buried 99 yrs. Then raised 1911
Jonathon Pletcher d Feb 27, 1814 Buried 96 yrs. then raised 1911
 (cont)  2 children
These Pletcher were all raised from the old Pletcher Cemetery and reburied
in the Schenck cemetery in 1911.  They all had markers made of Mountain
Stone.  In 1911 the Pletcher family raised money to get a nice big marker.
The money was raised from the descendants of Henry Pletcher.

Fact's about Henry Pletcher
Fact 1: 1779, Tax List of Conestoga Twp. Freeman list spelled Pletsher
Fact 2: 1782, Tax List Conestoga Henry Pletcher Shoemaker
Fact 3: August 10, 1782, Henry Pletsher Lancaster Lieutenancy Battalion 4th
Company 3rd cpt. Jacob Metzger
Fact 4: September 11, 1776, Muster Roll Captain Nathaniel Pages Company
Fact 5: Headed for the Camp in the Jerseys Private 3rd Class
Fact 6: 1779, Tax list Conestoga Henry Pletsher
Fact 7: June 08, 1782, Henry and Catharine Sternman sells land to Jacob
Gerber
Fact 8: July 1791, Henry and Catharine sell patent to Henry Miller
Fact 9: PA archives Series 3, V23, p429; Arch 5, V7, p 436. V7,p634
Fact 10: May 24, 1800, John Philip De Haas Deeded  land to Henry Pletcher
Fact 11: Source History of Centre and Clinton Counties PA author Linn.

More information on Henry Pletcher and the Revolutionary War

     During the Revolutionary War Townships organized the citizens with a
captain from that township being in charge. As a result we can identify
where a Revolutionary soldier was from by checking the name of his captain.
 All these references are from the Pa. Archived 5th series Vol. 7 (the
Lancaster County Volume).  I'm afraid that Henry did not live long enough
to get a War pension.

The following is all that I have found so far that proves that Henry was in
the Revolutionary War.

Platcher, Henry, Conestoga Twp. page 634 Sept. 11th, 1776 (Muster List)
This is a muster list, Henry was a Private and paid 50 shillings for his
service in the camp in the Jersey's)
Pletcher, Henry, Third Class, Conestoga Twp. p. 436, 1782  (Class List)
(this is simply a list of those between the age of 18 and 53 living in
Conestoga Twp. at this date.

I am also including on more Pletcher/Blecher who served.
Blecher, William, Heidleberg Twp., p. 161 (now Dauphin) Co. Pa. Class Roll)
Blucher, Henry, 8th Class, Martic Twp., page 583 (Class List)

Children of HENRY PLETCHER and CATHERINE STERNMAN are:
1.      Jacob A. Pletcher b. 1787
2.      Henry Pletcher b. 1789
3.      Daniel Pletcher b. 1790 d. 1800

1. JACOB A.3 PLETCHER (Henry Pletcher andCATHERINE2 STERNMAN, PETER1) was
born November 26, 1787 in Howard PA., and died July 28, 1853 in Crawford
County, Gallon twp. Ohio Pletcher Cemetery.  He married ANNA PLETCHER
December 08, 1811, daughter of SAMUEL PLETCHER and ELIZABETH YODER.

More About JACOB A. PLETCHER:
Fact 1: 1810, Orphan Court petition #3550

        Children of JACOB A. PLETCHER and ANNA PLETCHER are:
        i.      SAMUEL4 PLETCHER.
        ii.     HENRY PLETCHER.
        iii.    JACOB PLETCHER.
        iv.     ELIZA PLETCHER.
        v.      KATE PLETCHER.
vi.     MOLLIE PLETCHER.
vii.

2. HENRY2 PLETCHER (Samuel1 Pletcher, Henry1 Pletcher, CATHERINE2 STERNMAN,
and PETER1) was born 1789, and died January 10, 1876.  He married MAGDALENA
SCHENCK.
Children of HENRY PLETCHER 2 and MAGDALENA SCHENCK are:
        i.      NATHAN4 PLETCHER, b. May 30, 1813.
        ii.     CATHARINE PLETCHER, b. February 21, 1815; m. JACOB HOLTER.
        iii.    MICHAEL PLETCHER, b. October 19, 1816.
        iv.     DANIEL PLETCHER, b. October 03, 1818.
        v.      JOHN PLETCHER, b. September 15, 1819.
        vi.     HENRY PLETCHER, b. October 03, 1820; m. LIZA HOLTER.
        vii.    CHRISTIAN PLETCHER, b. September 19, 1822; m. POLLY HOLTER.
        viii.   JACOB PLETCHER, b. October 31, 1824; m. (1) BARBARA PLETCHER; m. (2)
MATILDA WETZLER.
        ix.     MOLLIE PLETCHER, b. January 31, 1826; m. HENRY HOLTER.
        x.      ANNA PLETCHER, b. October 22, 1828; m. BALSER WEBER.
3. Daniel Pletcher b.1790 died within the first ten years of life

Lands Purchased and Sold by Henry Pletcher

Henry Bletscher and wife to Jacob Gerber
To all People to who these Presents shall come Henry Bletscher of Conestoga
Township in the County of Lancaster in the State of Pennsylvania Yeoman and
Catharine his Wife late Catharine Sternman

More to come.