History: Family: The ZIEGLER Family: Montgomery County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Thera. tsh@harborside.com USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within 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. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ ____________________________________________________ The following is from The Strassburger Family and Allied Families of Pennsylvania, by Ralph Beaver Strassburger, 1922, pp. 414-453. THE ZIEGLER FAMILY Michael Ziegler, born probably about 1680 in Germany, came to America with his brother Melchior before 1717, as in that year he was living in Perkiomen Township, then Philadelphia, now Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, where he died "far advanced in age" some time between February, 1763 and October, 1765. The exact date of his arrival in this country is not known, the first record we have being his appointment as one of the trustees of the land upon which was erected the Skippack Mennonite Church, whose congregation he later served as minister; he also preached at Germantown. His occupation, however, is given as that of weaver. The Christian name of his wife was Catherine, whose surname is unknown. In a number of deeds which she signed in conjunction with her husband she wrote her name in German "Catherinea Zieglerin," while Michael made his mark thus: M.Z. The name Perkiomen is of Indian origin said to mean in Delaware or Lenape, "Where the cranberries grow." The earliest mention of the name is found in a deed of Jun 3, 1684, where it is called Pahkehoma; on a map of 1704, it appears as Perquamink; 1734, as Parkomen, and 1749, as Perkiomy, by which latter name it was more familiarly called by the German settlers, and in 1741, it appears on an old record that Perkiomen was also called Perkasie, which might account for the latter name. The Perkiomen creek flows through the township from north to south while the Skippack passes through the southeastern section, thus in 1734 this locality was known by the double name of "Perkomen and Skippack" and today the two are interchangeable, though the former is the most commonly used. Some years after its settlement, this region was know as Bebberstownship or Bebbers Town, from Matthias Von Bebber, the Dutch Patroon, who purchased and later patented the whole six thousand and more acres comprising the entire Perkiomen township and reselling the land to his friends and compatriots. In 1717, Van Bebber and his wife in consideration of "true love and singular affection he the said Matthias Van Bebber bears to them and all theirs" conveyed one hundred acres of land to Henry Sellen, Claus Jansen, Henry Kolb, Martin Kolb, Jacob Kolb, Michael Ziegler and Hermanus Kuster in trust, upon which to build a school house and to fence in sufficient ground for a burying place for the use of the inhabitants of Bebbers Township, a very unique and most unusual provision. The deed was written by Pastorius and all the trustees were Mennonites, their selection being due, doubtless, to the fact that the greater number of settlers were of that sect; this first school was conducted by Christopher Dock, "the pious school master on the Skippack." The school apparently prospered so that eight years later, March 30, 1725, feeling the need for a meetinghouse for worship, the above named trustees, all living, executed a declaration of trust which, while maintaining the original trust providing for the education of the children of the township and the burial of the dead, endeavored to so extend its purposes that the land should be held for the benefit of the poor of the Mennonites, and for the erection of a meeting house; on the other hand the idea was to so restrict it that only members of good standing in the meeting could act as Trustees. In 1734, there were forty-two householders in "Parkiomen and Skippake," among the number being Michael Ziegler, who is credited with one hundred acres of land upon which he paid a proprietary tax. This, however, was a very small estimate of his possessions, as deeds and other records show that he owned at this time as much as six hundred and fifty acres, which was located in Skippack, Salford and other townships adjacent or near by. Michael Ziegler's first purchase of land was made February 14, 1718, when he secured from David Powell, Surveyor, of Philadelphia, a tract of one hundred acres situated on "Parkeawming Creek," in what was then called Bebber's Township, which was surveyed to him by Powell in December following. In 1734, he made application to the Land Office, then situated in Philadelphia, for a reconfirmation and resurvey of this tract, whereas a patent was issued by the Proprietaries of the Commonwealth to Michael Ziegler, dated August 6, 1734, and a resurvey returned the same day. On December 18, 1722, he purchased from Gerhard Clemens and wife, Ann, another fifty acres adjoining the original tract, and in 1727 acquired from Andrew Shrager still another one hundred acres upon which was erected a tannery. It was upon this last mentioned tract that Michael Ziegler, Sr., and wife, Catherine, resided and which remained in the family for one hundred and sixty-two years. It lay in what is now Skippack Township, adjoining the town of that name. In March, 1727, Michael Ziegler made a second application to the Land Office and was granted by the Proprietaries four hundred and fifty acres in "Goshenhoppen" on a branch of the Perkiomen Creek, in the present New Hanover Township. By a deed under date of August 7, 1745, he conveyed one hundred and eighty-five acres of his Goshenhoppen land to his son Andrew Ziegler, for 130 pounds, and ten days later he transferred two hundred and eight acres of the same to his son Christopher; and on May 16, 1749, for 80 pounds, he sold a "messuage and plantation" and part of this same warrant to John Sleighter, of New Hanover Township. It was apparently the intention of Michael Ziegler to make over to each of his sons, four in number, for a cash consideration, a farm out of his large estate. As we have seen, he sold to his sons Andrew and Christopher parts of the Goshenhoppen patented land. The third son was his namesake, Michael, Jr., who was also a tanner, and to him Michael, Sr., and his wife, Catherine, of "Perkyomie and Skepack," January 6, 1750, sold parts of three tracts containing in all, seventy-eight and one-half acres, part of the Perkiomen and Salford accessions. The consideration in this transaction was 100 pounds. The first of these tracts adjoined Dielman Kolb and others and was part of the fifty acres Gerhard Clemens and his wife, Ann, sold to Michael Ziegler, Sr.; the second contained three-quarters of an acre, being part of one hundred acres he purchased of Andrew Shrager and included the tannery; the third tract contained thirty-one and one-half acres and adjoined "land of Michael Ziegler, Sr., and others." On May 6, 1762, he and his wife also conveyed to their son Michael, Jr., an additional thirty-six acres, part of which was woodland, and part of that tract purchased of Andrew Shrager, the latter tract being the homestead farm. To his son William, evidently the youngest, he granted by deed November 1, 1762, the remainder of his Goshenhoppen tract. By this time Michael Ziegler had only a small woodland in Lower Salford remaining which was not sold during his lifetime. Both Michael Ziegler and his wife Catherine were now well advanced in years and therefore, to quote his own words, his "usual health was frequently inter- rupted." On the 7th day of February, 1763, he made his last will and testament which was proved at Philadelphia the 29th day of October, 1765. Having disposed of all his lands, he provided liberally for his wife out of his personal estate; to each of his daughters he had already given 60 pounds as their portion, so he bequeathed them additional sums of money. He appointed his loving sons, Andrew and Michael, executors. One bequest in his will is of particular interest; he left 9 pounds to be paid to the Elders of the "Congregation of my Township wherein I now reside for the use for the poor." This referred to the Skippack church, which he helped to organize, and to the congregation of which he served as a minister all his life. In an old account book of the "Mennonite congregation in Beberstown" we find that Michael Ziegler signs his name as auditor for the year 1738; in 1735 he was paid five shillings out of the church funds for carriage (or rather con- veyance) hire. From 1740 to 1761 his name appears as either Elder or accountant, his son Andrew's name often showing upon the same lists, both of them serving at times on the Committee for the care of the poor. In 1764, before the will was probated, Valentine Hunsicker acknowledges on behalf of the congregation, "the receipt of nine pounds Pennsylvania money from Michael Ziegler in accordance with the last will and testament of his (Michael's) father for the poor of the Schippacher Mennonite Congregation." There is no doubt that he and his wife, Catherine, were buried in the old Mennonite graveyard, adjoining the church with which he was so closely identified, but if so, there are no stones to be found today. Many of the inscriptions marking the last resting place of the oldest members of this church have become undecipherable and in numerous cases utterly obliterated. Children of Michael and Catherine Ziegler: 1. Andrew Ziegler, born about 1707; died 1793; married Elizabeth Kolb; resided near Lederachville, Pennsylvania. 2. Christopher Ziegler, born 1714, died 1804; married Deborah Pauling; resided in New Hanover Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. 3. Michael Ziegler; was a tanner; inherited the homestead farm in Skippack, where he died in 1822. His descendents remained on this farm until a few years ago, when it was sold by Mrs. William K. Hallman, by whom it was inherited. 4. William Ziegler, died 1790; married Hester (Esther) Clemens. 5. Gertrude Ziegler. 6. Susanna Ziegler. 7. Margareth Ziegler. 8. Catherine Ziegler, married David Allebach. 9. Barbara Ziegler, married Henry Ruth. *********************************** Andrew Ziegler, eldest son of Michael and Catherine Ziegler, was born about 1707, and was probably an infant when his parents came to America. He married in Lower Salford Township, Montgomery Co., PA, about 1727 or 1730, Elizabeth Kolb, only child of Dielman Kolb and his wife, Elizabeth Schnebli, whereby he came into possession of a large amount of property. Dielman Kolb died in 1756, leaving a large estate, which (except for a small tract he devised to his grandson, Dielman Ziegler), he bequeathed to his daughter Elizabeth; and this, added to the large tracts of land Andrew Ziegler had previously acquired by purchase from his father and otherwise, made him the possessor of a considerable estate. Some time before his death, Dielman Kolb had sold two hundred and fifty acres of his own vast tract to his stepson, Jacob Snavely (Schnebli), who died intestate, and by decree of the Orphans' Court his lands and effects became vested in his son, Matthias Schnebli, who also died intestate, and his administrators sold this property to Andrew Ziegler, but a clear title could not be secured, as all the purchase money due Dielman Kolb had not been paid by the Schnebli family. After several years, a satisfactory arrangement being impossible, Andrew Ziegler carried the case to the Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County. The Court ordered the land should be sold by the Sheriff, who after due notice put the property up for sale, and Michael Ziegler, son of Andrew, on September 3, 1755, bought it for 350 pounds and on November 11 following transferred it to his father. Andrew Ziegler then paid to the Schnebli heirs 130 pounds and the matter was closed. Bordering this tract was a strip thirty-eight perches wide, containing fifty acres, which Dielman Kolb devised to his grandson, Dielman Ziegler. This tract was sold by the latter to his father, Andrew Ziegler, and a deed was given for it in 1757. This entire tract, both his own and that of his wife, lay within the limits of Lower Salford and adjoined what is now Lederachville. As early as 1746, Jacob Grater, of the Township of Perkyomie and Skepack, and Andrew Ziegler, of Salford, saddler, were named as executors to the last will and testament of Christian Allebaugh, weaver of Salford Township, deceased. In 1745 Andrew Ziegler purchased from his father, Michael Ziegler, Sr., one hundred and eighty-five acres of land, part of that which had been granted to Michael byt he Proprietaries of the Commonwealth, known as the Goshenhoppen tract situated in New Hanover Township. This property Andrew and his wife Elizabeth, on March 27, 1754, sold to John Sleighter, of the latter place. On October 29, 1757, he and his wife sold to Henry Heffelfinger one acre and one hundred and fifty perches, part of the two hundred and fifty acres of the Kolb-Schnebli tract which the Sheriff sold to Michael Ziegler, Jr. On March 27, 1784, he sold to Godshalk Godshalk ten acres of the same patent. In this deed and those following there is no mention of Elizabeth, his wife, who had heretofore signed all instruments in conjunction with her husband, and the fact that her name no longer appeared is very strong evidence that she was deceased. Andrew Ziegler now began to make arrangements about the settlement of his great estate in the event of his death. He had four children, only one being a daughter, Elizabeth, who had married Abraham Detweiler, of Worcester Township; to them her father, Andrew, transferred a certain fifty acres which had been part of the Kolb estate. The date of this instrument is January 12, 1785. On June 2nd following, he made over to his son, Dielman (Dillman) Ziegler, in consideration of 210 pounds, thirty-four acres, including a messuage or dwelling house, adjoining land of Henry Lederach, and lands intended for his son. By a record of May 1, 1795, it appears that as early as 1770 he had sold his son Dillman one hundred and seventy-eight acres which adjoined this smaller farm. Andrew Ziegler was about ninety years old when he died. his wife, Elizabeth Kolb, had apparently died before 1784, as her name does not appear in deeds after that date, nor is she mentioned in the will. They were undoubtedly buried in the graveyard adjoining Lower Salford Church, but no stones mark their graves. Children of Andrew Ziegler and Elizabeth Kolb: 1. Dillman Ziegler, born about 1734, married Barbara C. Clemens; issue: six children, viz: Andrew Ziegler, Jr., Dillman Ziegler, Jacob Ziegler, Elizabeth Ziegler, wife of Godshalk Godshalk; Hester, wife of Garret Godshalk, and Barbara, wife of Jacob Godshalk. He died before May, 1797. 2. Michael Ziegler, born 1735; married [Strassburger here incorrectly lists a Clemens as Michael's wife, when Anna Clemens actually married his uncle, "Tanner" Mike Clemens, son of Michael and Catherine Ziegler.] 3. Andrew Ziegler, born March 14, 1737, married Margaret ______; he died October 26, 1811. Children: Elizabeth, Dillman, Michael and Andrew (also a weaver.) 4. Elizabeth Ziegler, married Abraham Detweiler, of Worcester, PA, a grandson of Martin Kolb. *********************************** Michael Ziegler, son of Andrew Ziegler and Elizabeth Kolb, was born 1735, in Lower Salford Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. [Note from contributor: Here Strassburger again states that Michael married a daughter of Jacob Clemens, son of Gerhart Clemens, and goes on to state that Jacob and his wife, Barbara, were the parents of sixteen children, nine of them being daughters and three of the daughters had husbands by the name of Ziegler. That latter part is true: Anna Clemens married "Tanner" Michael Ziegler; Esther Clemens married William Ziegler, and Barbara Clemens married Dillman Kolb Ziegler, but none married Michael, son of Andrew, Ziegler. The Clemens Account book is very clear on this, stating: Anna Clemens, the eldest child of Jacob Clemens and Barbara Clemmer, was born on Dec. 30, 1729. She married Michael Ziegler, the tanner, of Skippack, a son of Michael and Catharine Ziegler, who was born around Sept. 8, 1727. Most family historians have claimed that "Smoke Mike" Ziegler and not tanner Michael Ziegler was married to Anna Clemens. This is not so. Tanner Michael Ziegler in his account books at the Historical Society of Montgomery County mentions three of his brothers-in-law, "Jacob Clemens" - Anna's youngest brother, "John Jonson" - Susanna's husband, and "Henrich Kassel" - Sarah's husband.] Very little is known of this Michael Ziegler. He was in disfavor with his father, who practically disinherited him for "disobedience." As noted in the Sheriff's deed of he sale of the two hundred and fifty acres of land, formerly part of the Dielman Kolb estate which Andrew Ziegler, Sr., had purchased of the Schnebli heirs, Michael Ziegler, who bought the land and then resold it to his father, is designated as "Junior," of Salford Township. In 1774, he appears as a taxable in Lower Salford, possessed of two horses and five cows. He, no doubt, was then living on one of his father's farms. In 1779, he paid a State tax of one pound, and in 1780 his property was taxed 16 pounds, 15 shillings, 3 pence on a valuation of 745 pounds. In this same year the estate of his father, Andrew Ziegler, Sr., was valued at 6,970 pounds; his brothers, Andrew, Jr., 750 pounds, and Dillman, 5,630 pounds; while in 1783, he was listed as possessing 100 acres, 2 horses, 4 cows and 6 sheep. Michael Ziegler's name appears upon the Revolutionary rolls as a member of a company of Lower Salford Township, Montgomery County Militia, commanded by Captain Andrew Campbell. Although his name appears as a member of this company from the date of its organization until 1782, it is a well-established fact that at no time did he perform active service, adhering firmly, as did most of the other members, to the principles of the Mennonites, who were opposed to all warfare. By absenting himself from drill or roll call, he was subject ot the fines imposed. These were paid, which exempted him from active duty. It was the original intention of the father, Andrew Ziegler, Sr., to divide among his three sons, Dillman, Andrew and Michael, the whole of his real estate and had surveyed to each one hundred and ninety acres. For reasons that were not specified other than "for disobedience" Michael was eventually given but twelve acres, upon which was a house where he might live so long as he remained unmarried (he being at this time a widower), and at his death the property was to be sold and the monies to be divided among the children of Michael and his deceased wife. This is the last authentic record we have of Michael. Children of Michael Ziegler: 1. Abraham Ziegler, married Barbara Kolb; children: Nancy, Jacob, Catherine, Andrew; resided at Lederachville, PA. 2. Andrew Ziegler, born March 14, 1770, died October 26, 1844, on March 29, 1792, married Catherine Lederach. 3. Peter Ziegler removed to Northumberland County. 4. Elizabeth (Betsy) Ziegler, married George Delp, Lederachville. Some of the Delp family are at the present time (1922) living on the twelve-acre tract which had belonged to Michael Ziegler. 5. Nancy Ziegler, died unmarried. [Note from contributor: At this time, I have been unable to ascertain whether the above children are, indeed, those of this Michael and a wife other than Anna Clemens, or if they are the children of "Tanner" Mike Ziegler and Anna.] ************************************* Andrew Ziegler, born 14 Mar 1770, second son of Michael Ziegler, was probably born in Lower Salford Township, where he resided until his removal to Frederick Township, about 1800. In 1792 he was married by Michael Croll, Justice of the Peace for Montgomery County, to Catherine Lederach. The Lederachs owned a large farm adjoining the Zieglers, the little village of Lederachville touching Andrew Ziegler's farm on the northeast. In 1794, he purchased of his grandfather, Andrew Ziegler, Sr., a tract of one hundred and thirteen acres, which included a messuage, and lying within this tract was the house and twelve acres of land which had been set aside for his father. Three years prior to this, Andrew Ziegler had purchased twenty-five acres of land which adjoined the farm which he later secured from his grandfather. On May 29, 1798, he and his wife, Catherine, sold parts of his farm to his cousin, Jacob Ziegler. Some time between this last date, May 29, 1798, and 1810, Andrew Ziegler and wife removed to Frederick Township, which adjoined Lower Salford. On April 14 of the last named year, he sold to Jacob Gorges the remainder of his land in Lower Salford. In this deed he refers to himself as being of Frederick Twp. There is no record of any purchase of land by Andrew Ziegler in Frederick Township prior to 1839. However, he was a large land holder, a dealer in cattle and owned and operated the mill that is just on the edge of Zieglerville. The village of Zieglerville is situated in the southern part of the township and is located on the Perkiomen and Sumneytown turnpike. Before the building of the railroad it was an important meeting point for stage lines. Here the passengers for Pennsburg and Boyertown met three times a week and were trans- ferred frmo small antiquated coaches to commodious omnibuses drawn by four or five horses, and on alternate days the returning passengers again separated and went their different ways. The Inn, on high ground located at the forks of the road, was an old-time house of genuine entertainment. Frederick Twp. was organized in 1730 and until 1731 had no official name, being known as Falkner Swamp in common with the other extensive regions drained by the Swamp Creek. On February 6, 1760, George Wygard, or Weichert, bought of Michael and Eva Mary Bastian 306 acres of land located in Frederick Township, comprising ground upon which the present village of Zieglerville and its surroundings are located. Immediately upon obtaining possession of the property, he established an inn upon the Skippack Road just north of its crossing Swamp Creek; he also built a grist and saw mill, propelled by the creek. On December 17, 1774, George Weichert offered the larger part of his plantation at public sale, advertising it on the 13th of that month in the Philadelphia "Staatsbote", as "situated on the Skippack Road, thirty-one miles from Philadelphia; that it contained about 125 acres cleared and 12 acres meadow; there was upon it a stone house in which a tavern had been kept for nearly fifteen years, also a grist and saw mill." This land with the hotel and the mill later came into the possession of Andrew Ziegler and his son, Henry, from whom the village of Zieglerville took its name. An old draft of this 306 acres shows that Jacob Underkoffer owned an adjoining tract, but no deed is on record to show when Andrew Ziegler purchased this land in Frederick, but it is no doubt the same property which he mentions in his will as having bought of the trustees of Jacob Underkoffer and which he bequeathed with the mansion house to his son, Henry. These early Germans repeated the same Christian name so frequently in the younger generations that it was customary to distinguish them by some descriptive name. Thus Andrew Ziegler, Junior, son of Michael and grandson of Andrew Ziegler, Senior, was known as "Little Andreas", not that he was small, but because he was tall and thin, and in several deeds executed shortly before his death he is designated as Andrew K. Ziegler, the initial no doubt standing for "Kolb." Catherine Lederach, wife of Andrew Ziegler, died July 2, 1840, aged seventy years nine months and twenty-eight days, and was buried in the graveyard of the Lower Salford Mennonite Meeting. After her death perhaps Andrew Ziegler went to live with the children of his daughter, Magdalena Schwenk, who lived across the river from Schwenksville, in Salford Township, and here he passed away on December 26, 1844. In his will, which he made a few months before his death, he requested that if he "should die at or near the place I now reside," his body be interred in the Salford burial ground. Large tombstones mark both their graves, and another adjoining is that of their daughter, Magdalena Schwenk. The will, which was dated September 26, 1844, and to which he had added a codicil, was entered for probate November 9 of the same year. An inventory of his estate shows that it was valued at nearly $6,000. According to the account filed at the same time by his executors, Henry Ziegler, his son, one of the executors, charges "traveling expenses incurred in going to Northumberland and Greene Counties, Pennsylvania, and to New York on business of the estate." Children of Andrew Ziegler and Catherine Lederach: 1. Henry Ziegler, married Catherine Steiner. 2. Elizabeth Ziegler, married Dieter Buchert; issue: Andrew Buchert; Mary Buchert, married Francis Markley; Catherine Buchert. 3. Magdalena Ziegler, born February 27, 1795; died September 3, 1826; married Jacob B. Schwenk, son of Abraham M. Schwenk and Fronica Bauer.