The Wagner Family (Switzerland)

Several sources, including M. Mae Waggoner's book titled "History and Genealogy of my Great-Great-Grandparents Jacob Waggoner (1732-1808) and Catharine Bauer Waggoner (1742-1809)" indicate our line of Waggoners' originate from the Canton of Basel-land, Switzerland. In M. Mae Waggoner's book, she first mentions Jacob's grandparents, Jacob Waggoner and Barbara Thommen. Grandfather Jacob died April 9, 1745, at Runenburg, Switzerland at the age of 72. She also includes a letter received on July 11, 1961, from the Record Office of Basel-land, Switzerland, which indicates that Jacob Waggoner and Barbara Thommen had the following children:

Children of Jacob Wagner and Barbara Thommen

*Jacob, March 7, 1697 (who soon died)
*Anna, November 19, 1698
*Friedrich, April 7, 1700
*Martin, December 26, 1702
*Catherina, February 15, 1705
*Jacob, June 12, 1707 (who soon died)
*Jacob, November 3, 1709
*Heinrich, December 6, 1711
*Johannes, December 25, 1715

Photo courtesy of descendent Merle Wagner


Journey to America

On March 16,1740, our first Waggoner ancestors, Martin Wagner (mentioned above), wife Maria Grieder, children Hans "Jacob" and Maria, and brother Heini (Heinrich, mentioned above), set sail aboard the passenger ship "Friendship" destined for Philadelphia, PA. When the ship docked at Philadelphia on September 23, 1740, only son Jacob, and his uncle, Heini, were alive. The voyage across the Atlantic involved great hardship. Raging storms, loss of food and water, and disease took a toll on the passengers. Many did not survive. The following comes from "Lists of Swiss Emigrants in the 18th Century to the American Colonies", Volume II, Faust and Brumbaugh:

Runenburg

Heini Wagner, Jacob's son, dumb, unmarried,
baptized December 6, 1711.
Martin Wagner, his brother
Maria Grieder, his wife
Children:
Hans Jacob,Baptized June 1, 1732
Maria,Baptized June 7, 1736

In M. Mae Waggoner's book, she mentions: "Jacob Wagner came from Switzerland and arrived in Philadelphia in 1740, a lonely boy of seven years, orphaned on the passage across the sea by the much dreaded "black plague"; both of his parents were consigned to ocean burial." According to Donna Gowin Johnston's book, "Our Crawford County Illinois Heritage," Heini was taken in by a Swiss woman from the Canton of Bern. I have found no additional information on Heini's life in America.


Genealogy Links (Switzerland)

INFORMATION ABOUT SWITZERLAND- very informative!
Check out the "Cantons" section and search the map for Basel-land. (our ancestors place of origin)
click here


SWITZERLAND GenWeb site
click here

Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites-Switzerland
click here




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