Extract from "Reformed & Lutheran Settlers of Weaverland"
Return to Johan Christian Schnaeder
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This extract is from The People of Bowmansville, by Charles D. Spotts, Community Historians Annual, Number 9
CHAPTER TWO
Reformed and Lutheran Settlers
The ship "Allen" arrived in Philadelphia on 11 Sept 1729, last from Cowes, Isle of Wight, England, with at least five Schneder family members. The spelling varies as: "Snyder" on the Captain's list, "Schneider" on Oath of Allegiance, and "Schneder" on the Oath of Abjuration list. The five adults were Christian Schneder, Jacob Schneder, Mathias Schneder, Magdelin Schneder, and Susanah Schneder.
It is believed the Schneders were from Switzerland, from the boundary area of Baden and Wurtemburg. After landing, the Schneders went to (Weberthal) Weaverland, following friends George, Henry & Jacob Weber. the Schneders were Zwingli followers; the Webers were Mennonites.
Christian Schneder remained in Weaverland. One of his descendants was Aaron W. Snader, member of the Pennsylvania state legislature.
Mathias & Jacob Schneder settled to the northeast two miles south of Bowmansville, and patented 250 acres of land where Center Church now stands. Jacob also purchased land from Welshman William Morris, a holder of one of the first land warrants in Brecknock Twp.
Jacob Schneder had a son, Jacob, Jr., born 8 Mar 1735. " He settled at a splendid spring of water, and in 1770, the date being plainly marked on the west gable, he built the very substantial house, which still stands near Center Church, remodeled and somewhat enlarged. Its walls are two feet thick. It contained an enormous fireplace. Before he died in 1829, 94 years old, he had become possessed of some 1000 acres of land. He is buried a few rods in from the gate of the Center Church graveyard, alongside of his small daughter, Elisabet, who died in 1777."
Center Reformed Church was centrally located among, and its early members drawn from, four other congregations: New Holland Zeltenreich's (1732); Muddy Creek, of Lancaster Co.(1730); Allegheny (1767) and forest (Plow - 1780) in Berks Co. The Schneders were central to the early Center church history. Jacob Schneder's farm provided a burial site before the congregation was organized. His daughter Elizabeth who died young in 1777 was among the first burials, and "the beginnings of this congregation seems to coincide with this burial". Eight generations of Schneders are buried here. The congregation was named St. John's in 1872.
The number of Jacob Schnader's children is unknown but tradition is that he built four large stone houses for his children, three of which remain. The Schweitzer house on Rt. 625, property includes a sulphur spring, one of few in Lancaster County. The Stauffer house, built in 1795 was for Jacob's son Christian. The Joel Eshelman house was restored by Dr. John Wenger of Terre Hill.
Also, he purchased for his son Baltzer the land on which Casper Messner had built a stone mansion, later known as the Christian Pleam place, near White Oak School. Baltzer Schneder moved there from Franklin Co. PA in 10 Apr 1796 and resided there 30 years. In 1826 he sold the farm to Christian Pleam (who died there on 13 Mar 1877. Baltzer built a stone house, (still standing on the former Bender farm). Baltzer Schneder (1765-1853) died at age 87 years.
(This site continues with information on the descendants of Baltzer Schneder, who had 13 children.)
