Philip Fenstermacher Family, in A History of the Wapwallopen Region
From A History of the Wapwallopen Region, Wapwallopen Historical Society. pg. 38
Philip Fenstermacher Family
Mathias Fenstermacher and his two sons came from the German Palatinate on the ship "Glasgow", which landed at Philadelphia on September 9, 1738. Their names and ages are on the passenger list. "Mathias Fenstermacher 60, Wm. Fenstermacher 25, Jacob Fenstermacher 29." The father, Mathias, and his son Jacob settled in Longswamp Twp., Berks Co., Penna. their names are on the tax list of that township in the year 1753. Jacob was one of the founders of the Longswamp Reformed Church.
William, the son of Jacob, settled in Heidelbert Twp., Northampton Co., about 1770. He served in the County Militia during the Revolutionary War. He was born in Berks Co., October 11, 1740; he died November 17, 1801, and is buried in the Old Heidelberg Cemetery. His wife was Margaret Elisabeth (surname unknown). their known children were: Philip, born October 6, 1771; George, born January 178 (sic) 1773; William born March 22, 1775; John, born 1781-82; Elisabeth, born October 25, 1787 married Gottfried Peter. Two of his sons, Philip and John, came to the Wapwallopen region; John later removed to Salem Township.
Martin Harter and his son-in-law, Philip Fenstermacher, both of Nescopeck Twp., Luzerne Co., signed an agreement April 25, 1801 with Daniel Rees of Northumberland, for a tract of land called "Waphalopane" for the "sum of seven hundred pounds." (Deed Book 7, p. 447.) The heirs of Martin Harter, deceased, deed to Philip Fenstermacher January 16, 1814, their undivided share in part of a larger tract called Waphallopane" and their title to a "Small Island...called Fertility."
Michael Harter of Lehigh Co., Penna., one of the Administators of the Estate of Martin Harter, on April 6, 1819 conveyed a tract of land to Philip Fenstermacher. (Deed Book 21, p. 123.)..."Witnesseth that wherein the said Philip Fenstermacher entered into a written agreement with Martin Harter late of Nescopeck, Decreased said agreement bearing date of the third day of June, 1802 for a certain tract of land situate in Nescopeck Township where the said Philip Fenstermacher now lives, I Michael Harter...Do for ...the sum of two thousand six hundred and twenty four dollars...sell and confirm...a tract of land...containing One hundred and sixty-five acres and ten perches" to Philip Fenstermacher.
No baptismal records of the Fenstermacher children other than William's have been found. His is from "The Nescopeck Congregation Church Book begun by Rev. Thomas Pomp. V.D.M., Reformed Pastor from Easton." He came to Nescopeck, November 23, 1809; on that day he baptized eight children, the fourth entry reads, "Philip Fenstermacher and wife Gertraud: a son named Wilhelm, born August 2nd, 1809, sponsors Johannes Fenstermacher and wife Maria."
The will of Philip Fenstermacher is interesting. He evidently wrote it himself, as he used Pennsylvania German expressions, half English and half German; the spelling in phonetic. The will was made May 1, 1828, probated January 26, 1830. He resided in Nescopeck Township and bequeathed his land there to his two sons..."Son John the upper place ware he now lives except nine rose of apple trees and the grount ware the stants one hundred and sixty acres more or less and John is to have fourty shugar trees of the upper end of the shugery and the said John Fenstermacher is to pay $1,000, one hundred dollars yearly after my decease, and I gave my son William two of my horses and gears for the two horses and the mittle place except twenty five or thirty to George Fenstermacher, at the lower end, house, barn, orchard and meadows, the said William Fenstermacher is to have the place whare I now live, one hundred and fourty five acres with the island, he must pay one thousand dollars, one hundred dollars yearly and six bushels of wheat, ten bushels of buckwheat, 75 pount pork yearly. I do except one room in the house for my wife and part of the kitchen, and my son William is to hall wood cut it and carry it in her room, and a stable in the barn for hir cow and gave her abble sider what she can make yous of. I gave to my daughter Caty one thousent dollars and two cows, two sheep, one bed, and householt fournature as other of my gourels hatd and I gave my daughter Hanna (he gave her the same as he gives Caty) as the rest of my gourles goted. And the rest I gave the thirt to my mortal wife, and rest shall be divided equal among the eight hears. I nomenate my son John Fenstermacher and my son William Fenstermacher, executors of my will." (Signed) Philip Fenstermacher. Witnesses, John Zeiser, Daniel Walb. As he did not name his daughter, Elisabeth, wife of John Jacob Weiss; Nary,(sic) wife of Jeremiah Hess; and Salome, wife of Jacob Hess; Lydia, wife of George Fenstermacher, he evidently gave them their share when they went to housekeeping "as other of my gourles have", as the rest of my gourles goted", "divided among the eight hears."
* The heirs of Philip Fenstermacher are named in a deed drawn May 25, 1830; his daughter Salome's name is not given, she was the wife of Jacob Hess who purchased the tract of land from the seven other heirs. They were John Fenstermacher and wife Sarah, Jacob Weiss and wife Elisabeth, late Fenstermacher, George Fenstermacher and wife Lydia, late Fenstermacher, Catherine Fenstermacher and Hannah Fenstermacher, of one part to Jacob Hesse, Jr., of the other part. (Deed Bookk 28, p. 390.)
Philip Fenstermacher, born October 6, 1771 died December 31, 1829, married October 15, 1798 (1798 lined out); by the Rev. John Heinrich Helfrick to Gertraut Harter, born April 25, 1775, died October 18, 1840. She married prior to April 1, 1838, her second husband, Michael Weiss. They are buried at the Old Wapwallopen Cemetery.
*Margin notes: Two heirs missing: William Fenstermacher, and Jeremiah Hess and wife Maria late Fenstermacher.
Return to Anna Fenstermacher.
