Furry History-Chapter II

There are a number of Furrys in lancaster, York and different other Counties in the State, and as they all originated from the Palatines, which is a section in Germany, there is no doubt that the Furrys' (or however they may spell their name), ancestors came from the same place in Germany.

Ten persons bearing the name immigrated from the Palatines and Hugenots , which is a County in France, close to Germany.

In years gone by people were not so exact in spelling names and there no doubt accounts for rhe different ways of spelling this name.

The following persons immigrated to America in the following years:

What makes it certain that this branch of the Furrys is from the one that came to America in 1727, is because the first land taken by that name, in Berks County, was on October 11th, 1744, as there were no other Johannes Furrey (or Forrer), that came to America between 1727 and 1744, and we also know that this branch comes from Berks County, Pa.

We find that prior to the year 1716 a family by the name of Ferrie or in German (Vere) was living in a town called Lindan, not far from the River Rhine in the kingdonm of France. This family consisted of himself, his wife, three sons and three daughters.

The names of the sons were Daniel, Philip and John; those of the daughters were Catherine, Mary, and Jane. Their religion was Calvanistic. The husband died and the widow with the rest of the family immigrated to America and first located in New York State. Later they moved to Lancaster County, Pa., where she died in the year 1716 and is buried in Conestoga Township, Lancaster County, Pa. Her maiden name was Mary Waronbower

We find that quite a number of prominent people have sprung up from this family. First their name was Ferrie, then Forry, and now Furry. We also find that some became ministers of the gospel, some doctors and some attorneys. They claim relationship in America with the Furrys from Germany.

The Furry family is an old and prominent family; we find that some have taken an active part in the Revolutionary war and also in the war of 1812. Some also took an active part in State affairs. They can be traced all over the United States. It is impossible to give an account of when the old people died and where they were buried.

Note

These are the descendents of Johannes Furrey (or Forrer) and his wife, whose name we were not able to ascertain. As near as can be found to the eighth generation, as to the date of births, deaths and marriages, it is impossible to get them all. In some cases there were no records kept and in others they were lost and can not be found.

This Johannes Furrey (or Forrer), was blessed with two sons and two daughters, Michael, John, Rosina ,wife of Henry Berger and Catherine, wife of Leonard Emrick. In 1765 the land was granted to his son, Michael, and on September 9th, 1765, the land was released by his brother, John.

From 1774 to 1781, during the Revolutionary war, Michael was Captain in the sixth batallion of Pennsylvania Militia and was afterward appointed Major of the same batallion.

In 1776-77, Michael Furry was appointed assessor of Berks County. His family consisted of four sons and onedaughter.

First,	George
Second,	Peter Michael
Third,	John
Fourth,	Daniel
Fifth,	a daughter who was married to a Mr. Weaver

Michael, son of Johannes, was born May 8th, 1732, and died November 15, 1798, at the age of 66 years. His wife, whose name we were unable to learn, was born January 19,1724 anddied November 1799, at the age of 75 years; they are both buried at the Reed's Church burial place, near Stouchsburg, Berks County.

In the year 1782 Michael Geiger, Joseph McIntosh, John Furry, brother of Michael, Thomas Wilkinson, George Hunsicker and Conrad Wampold, from Reading, Berks County, with their families, took an Indian trail across the Blue, Broad, Locust, and Little Mountains. They traveled on horseback and came to the Susquehanna river to a place called Hughesburg, now called Catawissa. About that time a tribe of Oneida Indians established a settlement at the old site of Lapackpittonstown, greatly to the annoyance of the settlers.

Thomas Wilkinson aroused their displeasure by interfering with their fishing operations. On one occassion he was compelled to seek shelter in the river, and being unable to swim he was obliged to be contented by wading. Every time he raised his head above water he was a target for the Indians, as they would fire at him. He afterwards said that he was only measuring the depth of the river and was given the name of Tom Gauger.

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