Bios: Sebastian Schmidt/Smith c. 1700-1750: Philadelphia (now Montgomery) County

Copyright © 1997 by Robert E. Smith. This copy contributed for use in 
the USGenWeb Archives. cosmithb@ash.palni.edu

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               Sebastian Schmidt/Smith c. 1700-1750

               Philadelphia (now Montgomery) County

Data from:

PHILADELPHIA WILL BOOK

Goshenhoppen Reformed Records in: PENNSYLVANIA-GERMAN SOCIETY.
PROCEEDINGS AND ADDRESSES. Vols. 27-28. (Lancaster, PA: Pennsylvania-German
Society, 1918-1919).

Burgert. EIGHTEENTH CENTURY EMIGRANTS. (Sebastian cited in entry on Anna
Barbara Fessler).

 James Y. Heckler. HISTORY OF SKIPPACK & VICINITY, (Montgomery Co.
TRANSCRIPT, 1895-6, reprinted by Adam's Apple Press, Bedminster, PA, 1992).

Henry Melchoir Muhlenberg. The Journals of Henry Melchoir Muhlenberg (Philadelphia:
Muhlenberg Press, 1942).

Charles H. Glatfelter. PASTOR AND PEOPLE , (Breinigsville, PA: Pennsylvania German
Society, 1981), 2 vols.

Notes:

Bostian Schmidt is listed in the Wiesloch, Kraichgau Reformed KB as being
from Gross Bockenheim. He was married to Anna Barabara Fessler in Wiesloch
in May 1727. (Burgert)

Sebastian and Anna Barbara were associated with Rev. George Michael Weiss,
who, according to his credentials from the Reformed Church (Upper Consistory
of the Palatinate, dated 1 May 1727), had firm plans to travel with friends
and well-known associates to America for economic reasons. The records of
the Synods of North and South Holland confirm these details about Weiss.
Weiss was born in Eppingen in the Palatinate. (German Postal Code: 7517)

Bastian Smith is listed arrived on the ship "William & Sarah" on 18 September 1727.
William Hill, Master. He is listed as a family of two, presumably he and his wife. He
arrived with Rev. Weiss on this ship. (Goshenhoppen History)

According to Rev. Henry Melchoir Muhlenberg, his wife's name was Barbara,
born 10 August 1702 in Wiesloch, Palatinate. Wiesloch KB has her baptismal
date as 19 August 1701. (HMM is a year off in his dates, based upon using
the Julian Calendar, I think). Her father was Heinrich Fessler (Vestler),
her mother Anna Christina. They had eleven children, five of whom (two sons,
three daughters) still lived in 1777. (Muhlenberg Journals 3:94).

A report to the Synod of South Holland (3-13 July 1731) states that Rev. Weiss set up a
consistory at Skippack and built a wooden church there. (source of this information is
presumed to be Rev. Weiss and Jacob Reiff, then in Holland fund raising) Weiss also
organized the Reformed Church of Philadelphia, Germantown and Goshenhoppen. Rev.
Weiss has no entries in the KBs of these congregations. (Goshenhoppen History)

On 10 May 1730, the Consistory of the Weiss faction of the Skippack Reformed Church
sent a letter to the Classis of Amsterdam, complaining about the ordination of a lay
preacher, John Philip Boehm and his assignment to Skippack as pastor. Sebastian signed
this letter as an elder or deacon of the church. Upon arriving in America, Weiss discovered
that Boehm had been preaching for two years in the region, establishing a church in,
among other places, Skippack. Weiss did not recognize Boehm or his parishes, since
Boehm was uneducated and not ordained. It appears Weiss' colony simply set up their
own church in town, called it the only Skippack Reformed Church and attracted a few
members of the existing parish. The war between Boehm and Weiss seems to have gone
on for the rest of their lives and caused great confusion and damage to the churches. It
resulted in all reformed churches in Skippack of the time dying out. (Goshenhoppen
History)

Sebastian is purchased his land from Abraham Schwartz on 20 September 1737. It is
located, according to map in Heckler, just south of Skippack, a little west of Skippack
Creek.

Sebastian's son and three daughters (none named) appear as confirmands on a  list of
those confirmed at Goshenhoppen between 1748-1758. Rev. George Weiss, who had
served parishes in New York from 1730-1745 returned as pastor of Goshenhoppen in
1746-1761. (Goshenhoppen History)

Sebastian's second daughter (Anna Maria?) is listed as married to a Stoffel Wagner in
1747-48. The daughter not named in the record. (Goshenhoppen Record)

Another daughter's marriage is recorded as Sebastian Schmidt's from Skippack. The name
of groom is unreadable. The daughter not named.

According to Muhlenberg, Sebastian died 17 October 1750. Barabara lived the last few
years of her life in Providence. She died Sunday, 26 October 1777. Heavy rains, mud and
high water prevented her burial on Tuesday, 28 October. Muhlenberg buried her on
Wednesday, 29 October. Funeral text: Eccl. 41:3-4. She had chosen the hymn: "Herr Gott,
Mein Jammer Hat ein End." (Journals 3:94)

The abstract of Sebastian Smith's Property, in the possession of Patricia Tromp (Email:
Jandr94819@aol.com):

Part of 150 Acres Mathias Van Bebber to Daniel Dismant 12 June 1708 E-4-7/
Daniel Dismant 28 December 1727 the above 138 Acres part of the 150 Acres to
Abraham Swartz/ Abraham Swartz and Ann 25 September 1737 to Sebastian Smith
138 Acres/ 138 Probated to eldest son John 138 Acres/ To Heirs 24 October 1765

1756 Barbara Smith 3 Children
1766 John Smith 8, Children 100 Acres, 2 H, 4 C
1769 John Smith, 125 Ac 3 H 5 C
1774 John Smith, 110 AC 2 H 5 C
1779 John Smith, Tax 1

Sebastian's will from PHILADELPHIA WILL BOOK 1/435 1751 #278 Copy in possession
of Patricia Tromp, is dated 16 September 1751. It reads:

To Son John, 138 Acres, 1/2 part of lands of Adj. 56 Acres
To Son Leonard, 133 Acres bought from Peter Reiff
To Wife: 12 Pounds/Month as widow
To Sons: His smith tools
Eldest Daughter Anna Margaretha, 100 Pounds when youngest son is of age.
2nd Daughter, Anna Maria, 100 Pounds when youngest son is of age
Youngest Daughter, Catharine, 20 Pounds at marriage.
Wife sole executor [Abstract lists as Anna Barbara Smith]
Witnesses: Frederick Gotz and Christian Weber, 19 October 1751

OTHER SMITHS AT GOSHENHOPPEN:

Jacob Schmid: Contributed to pastor's land deed 5 August 1794

Jacob Schmid: On registration to sail for PA from Buchss, On registration
to sail for PA from Buchss, 24 February 1735. Family of six.

Christopher Schmidt: Signed letter of complaint of Indian troubles. 17 May
1728.

John H. Schmidt: Deacon at Falkner Swamp, 1734.

Wilhelm Schmidt: Signed letter rejecting Rev. Boehm, 10 May 1735.

Georg Schmidt: At baptism of daughter Anna with unnamed wife, 28 May 1758.


CURRENT RESEARCH GOAL:

To connect George Smith of Sussex Co., NJ, fl. 1770s, to Sebastian Schmidt. The
Tohickon Reformed Church Records, which list George's marriage by Caspar Wack. Wack
lists Sebastian as George's father, but Sebastian appears to have only two sons, John and
Leonard. We are looking into Sebastian's whole family group to see if we can connect the
two.