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Johannes Metzger/Johann Valentine Metzger
Connection
Johannes Metzger
1741 ? 1807
Woodbury Twp., Bedford County, PA
This article is intended to refute any and all claims that Johannes Metzger
of Woodbury Township, Bedford County, PA was or is the same as one Johann
Valentine Metzger, born April 13, 1743 in Niederlinxweiler, Germany, son
of Johann Adam Metzger. I intend to offer simple creditable evidence
that Johannes Metzger and Johan Valentine Metzger were two different persons
merely of the same age group who may or may not been related. Which
did live in close proximity in America given the geographic location of Bedford
County, PA and Frederick County, MD.
First, I must offer you some insight into my background and experience as
a genealogist. For more than 15 years I have been seriously involved
in the research mine and my wife's ancestry and in the last 10 years have
engaged in providing professional research services for and in assistance
to others. I am a published genealogical author since 1991 and have
to date six titles to my credit all published by Heritage Books, Inc. of
Bowie, MD. My sub specialty is Native American Research and I have
been well known in that arena for many years.
The identification regarding Johannes Metzger of Bedford County, PA has been
elusive for many years. When the Cloice Metzger1 book hit
the street in 1981 it was thought by many researchers that the mystery was finally solved. However, as time went on the Cloice Metzger material was given
its due attention and scrutiny. It became readily apparent to myself
and other researchers that Cloice does not provide any evidence, circumstantial
or otherwise, proving that Johannes Metzger of Bedford County, PA and Johann
Valentine Metzger of Frederick County, MD are indeed the same person.
These two persons are portrayed in the Cloice Metzger book as the same person
without any explanation or any type of evidence offering circumstantial or
otherwise. With this said, I as well as the others who have studied
the evidence, or should I say lack of evidence have concluded without any
reservation that they are two different persons.
In past correspondence between myself and Cloice Metzger it was revealed that she based the identification of Johann Valentine Metzger as Johannes Metzger of Bedford on the following:
a. George H. Liebegott states Johannes Metzger probably
I.A. in 17588 before the revolution. He offers no proof
I might add.
b. A researcher in Georgia gave her information regarding
the Metzger family of Niederlinxweiler, Germany.
c. She obtained more information from Germany regarding
the Metzger Family of Niederlinxweiler, Germany.
d. The remainder remains very unclear how the above evolved
into Johann Valentine being the Johannes of Bedford.
Now I would like to offer some known facts regarding Johannes Metzger of
Bedford County, PA which are very important and some very relevant and key to
correctly identifying his origins:
a. Patent9 on Jun 24, 1784 for 163 acres land
Rye Township, Cumberland County, PA in the name of "John, Henry, Joseph and
Jonas Metzgar."
b. Deed6 on March 17, 1785 for 359 ½
acres land in Morrison Cove, Cumberland County, PA in the name of "John Metzgar."
c. Warrant for Survey3 on March 14, 1785 for
150 acres land on Clover Creek in Frankstown Township, Bedford County, PA
in the name of "John Metzgar."
d. Returned Survey4 on April 23, 1785 for 209
¼ acres land in Morrison's Cove, Frankstown Township, Bedford County,
PA in the name of "John Metzgar."
e. Patent5 on August 4, 1791 for 209 ¼
acres called "Clover Meadow" on Clover Creek in Frankstown Township, Bedford
County, PA in the name of "John Metzgar."
f. His will2 was signed and sealed as "Johannes
Metzger."
g. Deed7 on August 18, 1791 for 28 ½
acres land called "Stillington" in Morrison Cove, Bedford County, PA in the
name of "John Mitscar Jun" (John Metzgar, Jr.).
h. Died at the home of his son-in-law, John Brumbaugh
8 and said to be age 80 or 86. This would put his birth either
1727 or 1721, but George H. Liebegott states 1741.8
Now to that which makes everyone who has studied and pondered over Cloice's
analogy sit back and just shake our head. Based on the well known
and proven German Naming Customs10 of the 18th Century,
I and others find it inconceivable based on Johannes signing his will (a
legal document) as "Johannes Metzgar" or "John Metzgar" and every other document
he has been found to be associated with him instead of "Johann (Hans) Valentine
Metzger" or even "Valentine Metzger." Then, in addition, to have his
son John Jr. do the same would be doubly incomprehensible. For a detailed
look at the 18th century naming custom click the link included in reference
10 below. In short when in a German family where more than one son
having a first name of John (Johann, Hans) and a son that had the name of
Johannes and NO middle name. Sons having a middle name are ALWAYS referred
to by Johann and the middle name or just the middle name, but, NEVER simply
Johannes, the ONLY one that would have ever been referred to as simply John
or Johannes was the Johannes that did not have a middle name. For one
of the sons that had a middle name to refer to themselves at any time as
simply John or Johannes would have been seen as showing disrespect to their
brother who was rightfully the one know as John or Johannes. For this
one reason alone there is no question that the Johann Valentine of Frederick
County could in no way be the Johannes of Bedford County.
I, and others after many years of research have a common theory as to the
origin of Johannes of Bedford for many years now but have yet to turn up
any conclusive proof regarding it. That theory accepts that John Metzger
along with his brothers Henry, Joseph and Jonas Metzger patented 163 acres
of land in Rye Twp., Cumberland Co., PA on 24 Jun 1784. We also believe
these Metzgers migrated from southeastern PA most probably the Lancaster
County area but could have been from Philadelphia also. Most likely
based on tax list information for Jonas it was Lancaster, Bucks or Philadelphia
Counties.
Raymond C. Lantz
8184 Imperial Drive
Pensacola, FL 32506
Email: [email protected]
Voice: 850-453-3841 or 850-453-2517
FAX: 850-458-1821
References:
1. The Metzger Family History 1653. 1981 by Mrs. Cloice
E. Metzger, 1981
2. Johannes Metzger will dated May 26, 1806, probated February
16, 1807 recorded Bedford County, PA wills Book 1, Page 241.
3. Pennsylvania Land Record Office Harrisburg, PA Warrant
for Survey #199 Bedford County, PA.
4. Pennsylvania Land Record Office Harrisburg, PA Survey
Book C, Volume 152, Page 79.
5. Pennsylvania Land Record Office Harrisburg, PA Patent
Book P, Volume 18, Page 191.
6. Bedford County, PA Deed Book D Page 92, recorded September
3, 1793, dated March 17, 1785.
7. Bedford County, PA Deed Book E Page 407, recorded
January 17, 1800, dated August 18, 1791.
8. Early Settlers of Morrison's Cove Bedford Blair Counties
PA. by George H. Liebegott 1949 located Martinsburg Public Library, Martinsburg,
Blair County, PA.
9. Pennsylvania Land Record Office Harrisburg, PA Patent
Book P, Volume 2, Page 483.
10. 18th Century PA German Naming Customs 18th Century
PA German Naming Customs by Charles F. Kerchner, Jr. which may be viewed
at http://www.kerchner.com/germname.htm
.
Email Me: [email protected]