The following is taken from M. Mae Waggoner's book, and describes Jacob's early life in America. "Appearently Martin Wagner had a responable amount of money when he left Switzerland, but our family records reveal that young Jacob, in order to pay his passage, was bound out to a farmer with whom he remained until he was 19 years of age. He was cruelly treated and during the severe winter his feet were badly frozen from lack of proper shoes. It is said one could track him to school by the bloodstains in the snow. His feet never fully recovered from this tragic experience." According to Donna Gowin Johnston's record, it was Jacob's first grade teacher who changed the spelling of his last name from Wagner to Waggoner. After Jacob finished his service with the farmer, he moved to Rock Hill, Bucks Co, to learn the blacksmith trade. Here he met Maria Catherine Bauer and they married on August 15, 1758. M. Mae Waggoner's book, states nine of their 12 children were born in Bucks Co, PA. According to the Waggoner Family Bible, printed in Germantown 1743, and bought September 23, 1764, the following children are listed:


Children of Jacob Waggoner and Maria Catherine Bauer


*John Jacob, born January 1, 1760
*John, born May 11, 1762
*Catherine, born August 2, 1764
*John Philip, born January 30, 1767
*Maria Magdalena, born March 26, 1769
*John Henry, born August 1, 1770, died October 22, 1777
*John Martin, born January 25, 1773, died October 6, 1777
*John George, born November 18, 1778
*Margaretta, born November 18, 1778
*Elizabeth, born August 10, 1780
*Abraham, born January 19, 1784


Around 1776 Jacob and family moved to Cumberland County, PA. The following comes from M. Mae Waggoner's book: "Jacob Waggoner followed his trade as a blacksmith and without a doubt he crooked irons and shoed many horses on their way westward. In the tax lists of 1780 and 1782 he was taxed for land, horses, cows, and a smith." "On November 25, 1777, Jacob Waggoner bought 295 1/2 acres of land from George Hutson in Middleton Township, Cumberland County for the sum of 800 pounds ($4,000). This farm was located on what is known as Waggoner's Road leading from Carlisle to the Gap. He moved to a second farm a few years later and lived until his death May 29, 1808. His wife, Catherine, survived him about one year."



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