The Bucher/Booker Family, 1686-1990: Chapter I, Part 3

John Michael Bucher of Frederick County, Virginia

According to the 1782 and 1785 count of persons living in Frederick County, Virginia, Michael Bucher, had at least five children (by his wife Catharine, maiden name unknown). Based on Hammond’s book, and my own research, I can only account for three:

In Frederick County, Virginia Deed Book #21, page 1104, dated 16 April 1789, we find Michael Bucher selling land to his son, Philip Peter Bucher:

In Deed Book #22, page 372, 6 April 1789 John Michael Bucher and wife, Catherine, sell to their son, Jacob Bucher:

From the diary of Rev. Christian Streit (on file at the Handley Library in Winchester, Virginia), I found an entry dated 9 November 1788. “In the afternoon preached on the last verse of the Gospel in Winchester. Election for deacons: Jacob Bucher and Simon Lauck were chosen.“

Lists of Buchers found on the Personal Property Tax of Frederick County, Virginia, 1782 – 1798 (horses and cattle not included by author):

In Philip Peter Bucher’s declaration for Revolutionary War Pension in 1832, we find the complete history of Philip Peter’s military service:

1. Question by the Court: Where and what year were you born?

2. Question: Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?

3. Question: Where were you living when called into service? Where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?

4. Question: How were you called into service? Were you drafted? Did you volunteer, or were you a substitute, and if a substitute, for whom?

5. Question: State the names of some of the officers who were with the troops where you served, such Continental and Militia regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service.

6. Question: Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?

7. Question: State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character, for veracity and their belief of your service as a soldier of the Revolution.

We, Lewis Eickelberger, a clergyman residing in the county of Frederick in the state of Virginia, and Andrew J. Pitman of the same place, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Philip Peter Bucher, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be eight one years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. (Signed) Lewis Eichelberger & Andrew J. Pitman

John Bucher of Frederick County, Virginia

John Bucher, son of Hans Ulrich Bucher and Barbara, resided in Frederick County, Virginia his entire life. He was a brother to our John Philip Bucher, and was the same John Bucher who bought 200 acres of Frederick County property from John Philip in 1778. I believe John Bucher was married to Magdalena Pfifer. Found in Shenandoah County Will Book A, page 196, dated 16 September 1778, Henry Pfifer “bequeath onto my personal estates as followeth, one Equal Share thereof to my Daughter, Magdalen Bucher”.

John Bucher’s will is found in Frederick County Will Book #12, page 480, and mentions first his wife, Magdalenah and then son, John, who receives the plantation of 200 acres. Daughters listed are Barbara; Anna, wife of George Snyder; Sarah, wife of Philip Miller; Elizabeth, wife of James Watson; son-in-law Adam Kline, “husband of my deceased daughter Catharinah – she has nine children.” Son, Jacob, is given the land purchased from Jacob Luckey of 145 acres. The land owned on Cabin Run in Shenandoah County “is to be sold at public auction.” Executors are son, John and son-in-law, George Snyder, and son, Jacob. Witnesses are John Grove and John and Nicolas Samsel. The will, dated 20 August 1808, was entered into court on 1 June 1824, but was not recorded until 2 August 1824 by Clerk J. A. Tidball.

The transaction for the land John Bucher bought for his son, Jacob, can be found in Frederick County Deed Book #25, page 15, recorded 4 October 1796. The following is a summarized version:

Joseph Luckey and Mary, his wife, sells to John Bucher for 443 pounds, 145 acres on the drains of Opeckon Creek, that was part of 347 acres granted to said Luckey by Valentine Switzer, executor of Stephen Hotzenpeller, dec’d, 3 October 1796, by virtue of the last will and testament of Hotzenpillor, 2 April 1776, and by virtue of power vested in said executor by Stephen Hotzenpiller. The deed is dated 23 September 1796. The land was part of 450 acres granted to Stephen Hotzenpiller by Jost Hite, 23 March 1736. Joseph Luckey signed, and Mary made her X. Witnesses were Joseph Longacre and two Germans. The deed was recorded 4 October 1796, and signed by John Bucher. County Clerk Keith recorded the deed 3 January 1797.

Joyner’s Northern Neck Warrants and Surveys, Volume II contains material on Frederick County and Shenandoah County land before the latter was formed. On page 27 Frederick Bentley had 230 acres in the Manour of Leeds on 3 November 1772 and in 1773. Shenandoah was already a county by then [Dunmore], and the land adjoined the properties of Darby McCarty, Lawrence Bodkin, and [John] Philip Poker [Bucher]. On page 35 John Poker [Bucher] (John Philip’s brother) of Frederick County had 66 acres on Cabin Run adjoining land surveyed for Morgan and Pope, now Henry Funk’s. Again, all this land, first Frederick County, then Shenandoah County, became a part of Warren County in 1836.

John Bucher (son of Hans Ulrich Bucher and Barbara) and his wife, Magdalena, had eight children:

The Jacob Bucher and Mary Ann Whitzel Family

of Stephens’ City, Frederick County, Virginia

Jacob Bucher, son of Hans Ulrich Bucher and wife, Barbara, was born in Frederick County, Virginia. Some Jacob Bucher descendants through family tradition believed his birthplace as Hamburg, Germany in 1743. With the publication of this book providing Jacob’s birthdate from Rev. Stoever’s records as 29 April 1739, I believe I have clearly shown that the Jacob Bucher who married Mary Whitzel on 20 April 1773 in Frederick County, Virginia was indeed the son of Hans Ulrich Bucher. Mary Ann Whitzel’s maternal grandfather, was Christopher Cooper, living in Winchester, Virginia on 17 August 1799. Christopher saw service in the American Revolution from 1779 to 1783. Jacob Bucher fought in the Revolutionary War as a Private in Captain Benjamin Biggs Company, 7th Virginia Regiment, also known as Major Taylor’s Company, 13th Virginia Regiment commanded by Colonel John Gibson. Found in the War Department, Record and Pension Office, Washington, D.C., dated December 2, 1896, “His name appears in the rolls from April 1779 to June 1783, which bears the remark: ‘Enlisted Feb. 6 for the War’. The rolls for June 1783, show that he was on furlough.”

According to Eugenia G. Mitchell of Boonville, Missouri, a descendant of George L. Bucher, (son of Jacob and Mary Bucher), Jacob and Mary had 14 children, two of which settled later in central Indiana, Jacob N. Booker of Centerville, and Samuel P. Booker of Indianapolis. Mrs. Mitchell gave the information to Mrs. Dulcie Jewell of Sullivan County, Indiana in 1964, and Mrs. Jewell forwarded it to me in 1985. Also, found in the DAR application of Jane Tress, wife of David E. Pittenger, dated 25 January 1928, I discovered a reference to the Jacob Bucher Bible in the possession of a W. B. Brown of Mt. Vernon, Ohio. In the files of the DAR Library in Washington, D.C., I found eleven pages of genealogical information on the Jacob Bucher Family, author unknown.

New information on The Jacob Bucher and Ann Mary Whitzell Family. As I mentioned in my book, Jacob Bucher or Bougher of Revolutionary War Fame was the younger brother of my Johann Philip Bucher – see proof in Chapter I.

Ann Mary Whitzel Bucher, wife of Jacob Bucher of Stephen’s City, VA, died in Centerville, Indiana 8 January 1834. Her will is found in Wayne Co., IN Will Book B, page 81:

Will of Ann Mary Booker, dec.

In the name of God Amen….do make and ordain my last will and testament…I give bequeath and dispose of in the following manner is to say:

Item: First to my beloved daughter Theresa A. Finch I give and bequeath all my property of every kind whatsoever, except is hereinafter excepted.

Item: Second to my beloved son William Booker, I give and bequeath my portrait at the decease of my said daughter Theresa should be survive her.

And lastly I do make and appoint my well belved daughter Theresa A. Finch sole executrix of ……Signed and Sealed published…30th day of 1829

Soon after Jacob Bucher’s death in late 1799, his eldest daughter Elizabeth Bucher Groves and her husband Michael moved to Mount Vernon, Belmont County, OH. Apparently, they had traveled with William Brown and Sally (Sarah) Bucher Brown, younger daughter of Jacob Bucher and wife Mary. Also, it is possible William N. Booker, their brother journeyed with them. He is found on the Belmont Co., OH Cnesus’ in 1820 and 1830. There are many early deeds of the Groves and Browns in Mt. Vernon and Clairsville. Elizabeth Bucher Groves dies 1812 and Michael Groves remarries in 1813. Sally Bucher dies in 1816 and her husband William Brown remarries in 1817.Gravestones in the Union Cemetery in Clairsville, OH marked their burial plot.

From Tress Pittenger of Palymyra, VA in 1994, I received this information:

“As you know Ann Mary was the first child of Christopher and Catherine Wetzel, born 4 April 1759 in Frederick Co., VA. She married Jacob Bucher [son of Hans Ulrich Bucher and Barbara] on 20 April 1773 and had 14 children, the last being Theresa A. Bucher, born 8 January 1799 according to my grandmother’s DAR application. As you also know Ann Mary W. Bucher subsequently married Jacob Charles Aulick in February 1804 as a marriage bond was issued on the 4th with Aulick and Georg Trisler on the bond. Aulick, a Hessian soldier, who stayed in America after the British left was a widower with a family, but don’t know when his first wife died. According to the pamphlet published by the Corcoran Galery in Washington, DC for an exhibit of the works of Jacob Frymire in the fall of 1975, Ann Mary Wetzel Bucher Aulick’s portrait was painted by Frymire in 1805. He [Frymire] is described as a Limner who makde his living as a self-taught itinerant artist traveling through Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky and PA doing portraits on commission. He may have done other protraits of the Aulick family as the inventory of Charles Aulick’s estate lists seven large pictures, but the one of Ann Mary is the only one so far known.

“Aulick died in 1812 as his will was proven on 1 May of that year. He left a life estate in his property as well as specific bequests to Ann Mary, but in open court when the will was proven, she renounced any inheritance under the will, although later she was distributed $109 as her 1/3 widow’s share of Aulick’s estate after payment of expenses and debts.”

“She (Ann Mary) must have had a falling out with the Aulicks which resulted in her renouncing any inheritance and keeping her Bucher/Booker name thereafter. As you know Ann Mary had two sons, Samuel P. and Jacob N. Booker and her daughter, Theresa A. moved to Centerville, Indiana about 1818 where they all spelled their name Booker. Theresa married Cyrus Finch 16 August 1821, and according to the 1830 Census had three children, two sons born before 1825 and a daughter born after 1825. Cyrus died in 1829 and is buried in the Centerville Cemetery.

“…Ann Mary died 8 January 1834 in Centerville leaving a will in which Theresa inherited all her property, but there was proviso that if Theresa died before her brother William Booker, then William was to inherit the portrait. As it turned out William died before Theresa so her family kept the portrait. On 28 November 1830 Theresa married William Widup whom I believe was a widower with a family and also possibly a successor to Jacob N. Booker’s business as a hatter. According to the 1850 Census, William and Theresa had four children, the second of whom was Theresa, age 14 on census. She later married Thomas Study and had at least three children, one of whom was another Theresa born in December 1870. This latter Theresa married Albert B. Porter about 1893, who was a professor and according to the 1900 Census, was living in Evanston, IL. Apparently they had no children and Theresa died in 1953. She [Theresa] had inherited the portrait of Ann Mary from her mother, Theresa Study, who had inherited it from her mother, Theresa A Booker/Finch/Widup. It was Theresa Study Porter who donated the portrait to the Virginia Historical Society [in Richmond] where it now resides”.

********************************************************************************

William N. Booker

William N. Booker, son of Jacob and Ann Mary Whitzel or Wetzel, lived in Belmont County, OH for a few years where he married Patience Berry on 9 April 1812 in Belmont County, OH. William and Patience are found on the Belmont Co., St. Clairsville, OH Census’ of 1820 and 1830. After that they supposedly moved to Indiana. A William A. Booker and a Hannah Ellen Fox were married on 22 February 1848 in Belmont Co., OH.

********************************************************************************

John Bucher/Booker – son of Jacob and Ann Mary Whitzel Bucher

Information from Bobbie Wright of 2750 Branch Road, Loudon, TN 37774

John Booker was born February 19, 1775 in Winchester Frederick Co, VA. A Tipton County, Tennessee deed records John’s name as J. B. Booker. Bible records kept by John’s second wife Lucretia Hunley Townsend listed the children of Jacob Bucher and Ann Mary. (These records were transcribed from the Hunley Bible as they appeared into a book entitled “The Captain and Submarine, CSS H.L. Hunley” by Ruth Duncan, publilshe in 1965 – copy found in TN. State Archives Library in Nashville. The original Bible was printed and published in Philadelphia in 1821 and belonged to the William Hunley Family. In 1965 Mrs. Willis Hunley Winn was owner of the Hunley Bible.

The first recorded report of John Booker is an 1801 Masonic Lodge report for Madison Co., VA listing him in the office of Master. The 1802 report lists him as “Doctor John Booker Worshipful Master.” There is no report for 1803 and by 1804 the lodge is inactive.

The date John’s move from Frederick County to Madison County is not known. There is no information on his earlier movements or his boyhood. An 1801 deed for Madison County indicates he buys a lot in the town of Madison. The move was probably made after the death of his father, Jacob in 1799/1800. John and his two friends, Richard Tutt and Pascal Early lease a lot in the county seat of Madison County. He may have been beginning his medical practice.

The next record of his movements is 1804 when John marries Kitty Taliaferro in Culpeper Count, VA on Feb. 9, 1804. The marriage is performed by William Carpenter, a Lutheran minister. John brings Kitty back to Madison County to live. He has already acquired property and probably established hsi medical practice. No information found on his medical training, but his schooling must have begun earlier because in his father’s will written 7 August 1799, John’s inheritance is limited to one dollar – “except son, John, in consideration of expenses I have been at for his education, shall receive only one dollar, he having already received more than I expect will fall to a share of the rest.”

In 1807 John buys land along the Rapidan River from William Emmons…134 acres.

In 1809 John Booker is on the first Grand Jury of the Superior Court of Madison County. An 1810 Census for Madison Co. Shows in John’s household two males and three females.. Bible records names Theresa A. Amanda M. and Susan G., and Mary as daughters. Most likely, the young boy was John’s younger brother, George L. (John had been appointed guardian of George L. Note that Jacob N. Booker is also found on the 1810 Census of Madison Co., VA. By 1820 he, his mother and brother migrate to Wayne County, IN.

Two more daughters are born after 1810. between 1817 and 1819 John sells his 134 acres along the Rapidan River. The 1820 Census of TN. shows the family is located in Sumner County with two males and five females listed. The second male is possibly George, John’s younger brother who moved with them. DAR records state that George L. married Malinda Rupert in Virginian and that there first four children were born between 1820 and Malinda’s death prior to 1830. Sumner County marriage records show George is listed as bondsman to his niece’s marriage, Amanda M. Booker to Wilkerson D. Austin in 1829.

On November 11, 1820 John buys 200 acres on the East fork of Bledson Creek. The land is now in Trousdale County formed in 1870 from Sumner County. A cemetery was establishe by Dr. John Booker on this land, and a deed in 1857 mentions this cemetery. It is known as the Lauderdale Cemeterin Trousdale County and is located on the Grady Fisher farm. It is located on highway 231 on the road from Bethpage to Hartsville, one mile off the highway onthe southside of the road. Gravesites of Kitty Booker, John’s first wife has been found along with many of his daughters, their husbands and even one son, Thomas Jefferson Booker, son of John and second wife, Lucretia Booker, 1834 “6yrs, 8 mo. and 10 days.”

Kitty died 21 July 1824 in the 38th year of her age. Lucretian Hundley Townsend, widow of Peter Townsend becomes John Booker’s second wife on August 24, 1826.

Important!! On 18 May 1835, John Booker relinquishes the right, title, interest, claim and demands to several lots in Centerville, Indiana to his brother William Booker. In the Bible records mentioned earlier we find “Elizabeth Booker, wife of George M.L. Booker departed this life 20 August 1839 of congestive fever”. We find George M.L. Booker in Grayson County, Kentucky by 1850 with his third wife, another Elizabeth.

John Booker moves west during the 1840s and he is found with his family on the 1850 Census of Tipton County,TN. Listed are John Booker, Lucretia, and daughter, Theresa and her husband, Joseph W.H. Townsend and their children. Two daughters remain in Sumner Co., Amanda T. and her husband, W.D. Austin and children (her first husband was Ashley Austin), and Susan G. and her husband W.H. Dickerson. Daughter Mary and her husband Byrd Turner and family had moved to Obion county, TN (on 1830 Census).

John Booker buys 1200 acres in 1853. At age 75 John may have retired from medicine to manage his farm, and enjoy his family and grandchildren. John dies 25 June 1858 and is buried in the family cemetery located on his farm in Tipton County, TN. The site is presently known as the Townsend Cemetery on the Southall Farm. His will, written on 20 Sept. 1857, disperses the estate among his wife, Lucretia,and his daughters, Theresa, Susan and Amanda. No mention is made of daughter, Mary Turner, but does mention the Turner grandchildren. Susan is identified as Susan Dickerson. She died 31 Jan. 1857, but John does not change his will. He gives land to H. S. Pitt, Susan’s son-in-law as heir to Susan. Theresa receives the home place.

Information on the John B. Booker famiy comes from the Jacob Bucher, Winn Bible records, VA and TN Census records, Sumner Co, Tipton, Co., TN records, photographs of burial sites, Culpeper Co., and Madison Co, VA marriage and deed records, the Will of John Booker Tipton Co., TN Minute Bk “F”, page 121 and Tombstone inscriptions.

I have organized and compiled for the reader all known family information on the Jacob Bucher Family:

I received from Mrs. Jackie Hite, of Bethany, Oklahoma, the following poem written in Centerville, Wayne Co., Indiana by Lauretta Eliza Booker, daughter of Jacob N. Bucher, son of Jacob and Mary Bucher. The poem is dated 21 July 1825:

Jacob Bucher’s will is found in Will Book #6, page 497, dated 7 August 1799 and recorded 31 March 1800. In Jacob’s will he mentions a sister, named May, although Hans Ulrich Bucher’s will in 1750 does not mention a daughter with that first name. I can find no marriage for Ulrich Bucher’s daughter, Rosanna Bucher, so possibly this is her. The following is Jacob Bucher’s will:

From Genealogical Abstracts from 18th Century Virginia Newspapers by Robert K. Headley, Jr., Genealogical Pub. Co., Inc. 1987, I found the following on page 46:

“Boucher, Jacob, carpenter, of Winchester, died Thursday leaving widow and children,” from the Winchester Gazette, dated 18 September 1799.

In Frederick County, Virginia Order Book #33, page 195, dated December 1799, “Jacob Bougher, orphan of Jacob Bougher, age 15 April 1799, “bound out.” (Without commas, and correct sentence construction, understanding some of these records are difficult to follow.)

Also, in the Court Minutes Book 1805-08, page 450, dated 5 April 1808, I discovered “John Bucher was appointed Guardian of George L. Bucher, orphan of John Bucher” (this being the above Jacob Bucher – see list of Jacob Bucher’s children).

In the Virginia Land Warrants for service in the Revolution, Jacob Buker, Pvt. received Land Warrant #11893. Descendants should write the Virginia State Archives for more information on this warrant.

John Philip Bucher in Shenandoah County, Virginia

In the Shenandoah County, (originally Dunmore County), Virginia Court Order Book 1772-1774, May 1773, page 121, Philip Poker versus Edward Cunningham, defendant. Defendant pays Philip Poker 10 Pounds current money. Also, same order book in the Dunmore court July 1774, page 231:

This court record shows that Philip Poker [Bucher] was still a Frederick County resident in July 1774. Also, found in the same court order book, dated 27 December 1774, there is listed “Philip Poker was ach’d [acknowledge] land to Rec’d [Record].”

From Gaius Marcus Brumbaugh’s Revolutionary War Records, Volume 1, Virginia, page 447, under Continental Line Warrants, Military District of Ohio, Warrant 4304 is listed. It was given to Clem Hasley, soldier for three years in the Revolution, but Philip Poker, alias “Boker” is the assignee. The actual Warrant is not listed as No. 4304, but 4364. It is recorded as follows:

I then discovered that a James Ireland bought the Land Warrant from Philip Bucher. (Land Warrants could be bought and sold by the owner of the Land Warrant – considered legal tender. According to the land office division, Secretary of State for Kentucky, 80% of all military warrants issued for service in various wars were reassigned.) From the Virginia Military District Entry Book A-3, page 102, dated 16 April, 1794, surveyed for James Ireland, Assignee of Phillip “Parker,” Entry No. 2397, VMD (Virginia Military District) Warrant 4304 is used; Acres claimed: 400, located on the waters of the East Fork of Miami. This area is located in what is now Greene County, Clifton Township, Ohio. Soldiers were supposed to locate in either the Military District South of Green River in Kentucky or in lower Ohio. It seems that Philip sold the warrant in 1794, and then used the money to finance his move to a location of his own choosing, namely Harrison Co., Kentucky. We know then that Philip was still residing in Shenandoah County, Virginia as late as April 1794.

Also from Brumbaugh’s Revolutionary War Records, page 600, we find our Philip Poker [Bucher] on the 1775 Militia list of John Netherton in Dunmore County (Shenandoah County but later in the area that became Warren and Page Counties). He is listed with one adult male and five males under 16 and three females. (Other familiar names such as John Roy, Peter Arterburn, Reuben Padget, Reuben Jr. and Theophelus Padget are also on this list.) The number of Phillip’s children matches with the information I discovered in Indianapolis, Indiana.

In Frederick County, Virginia Deed Book #18, dated 7 October 1778, Philip Poker [Bucher] now of Shenandoah County sells to his brother, John Poker [Bucher], of Frederick:

“…witnessth that the said Philip Poker for and in consideration…of the sum of 5 shillings current money of Virginia to him __? and paid by the said John Poker at before the sealing and delivery of these presents…sell unto John Poker’s heirs assigns a curtain [sic] tract or parcel of land includes lying and being on the South side of Opeqon Creek in the said County of Frederick and whereon the said John Poker now lives and is described as follows Beginning at outake in Opekon Creek between the said Poker and the land of Stephen Hotzenpiller dec’d and running thence…. continuing 200 acres be the same of 400 acres of land conveyed by Jost Hite dec’d to John Woolrich Poker dec’d deed dates 6 May 1750 by the last will and testament of the said John Woolrich Poker dec’d willed to the said Philip Poker… At a court continued and held for Frederick County, 7th day of October 1778. This indenture made 9 October 1778 between Philip Poker and Mary his wife of Shenandoah County.

[On the left side of this deed on the first page, there is written in darker ink, obviously added later, the following: “EX’ & D. P. John Poker, 14 May 1809.” Three pages later on the same deed is “EX o Dec’ 14 June 1809.” I was told by a Frederick County courthouse clerk that the “EX” meant examined, but did not know what the rest meant.]

The county clerk signed the name Philip “Poker”; Philip did not sign the actual deed in Court, but in the release, John Poker paid Philip and wife, Mary, 150 pounds. Recorded by Clerk Keith.

It would seem that John Philip Bucher became a resident of Shenandoah County, Virginia in 1775. The part of Shenandoah County he settled, later became Warren County in 1836. From the years 1779 through 1782, very little information on Philip Bucher is found. Fortunately, Shenandoah County made two counts of its inhabitants, first in 1783, and another in 1785. Each family in the county was tabulated in three areas: (1) the name of the head of the family; (2) the number of white members of the family; (3) the number of black servants or slaves. [The total number of families in Shenandoah County in 1783 was 1302.] On the 1783 count Philip Poker [Bucher] is found on Alexander Hite’s list with 10 whites and no blacks. On the 1785 count, Philip Poker [Bucher] is found on John Hutchirson’s list with 11 whites, one dwelling and no blacks. Hutchirson’s list was taken in that part of the county that is now upper Warren County, Virginia – in the area that now includes the towns of Overall, Brownstown, Bentonville, Limeton, Karo, Glen Echo, and Gooney Manor. Incidentally, on another list taken by John Netherton in the very same area, there is found Theophelus Padgett, who years later relocated in Jefferson County, Kentucky and Sullivan County, Indiana. Also, on Netherton’s list was John Roy, James Roy, and John Smith.

In 1782, Virginia established an annual personal property tax list. Starting in that year, and for the next twenty years until his departure for Kentucky, I followed Philip Poker [Bucher] through these Shenandoah County tax records. Note the evolution of our surname, Bucher.

This list continues until John Phillip Booker, Jr. dies in 1804. (On the 1803 list Phillip, Jr. is listed as constable, tax exempt.)

In Shenandoah County Deed Book F, page 475, dated 7 May 1791:

“Know all men by these presents that I, John Manuel of the County of Shenandoah State of Virginia for the consideration of the sum of 1200 pounds of inspected tobacco which have wherewith I confess myself fully satisfied contented and paid, have bargained and sold to Philip Bogar, Sen’r [Senior] of the aforesaid County of the State of Virginia one light bay horse about eight years old and about 13 hands high, and not branded as can be perceived and one dark bay mare about 14 hands high…? Naturally branded on the rear buttock thus R the said mare is heavy with fole…to have and to hold the said horse and mare to the said Philip Bogar his heirs exors, admins’ and assigns to his heir proper use…In writing whereof I have…? set my hand this seventh day of May 1791.” signed John X Manuel [his mark] wit: John Humbough, Henry Humbough

 “At the court held for the county of Shenandoah on Thursday the 27th of September 1791. This bill of sale from John Manuel to Philip Bogar was acknowledged by the said John Williams ordered to be recorded.”

John Manuel was the father of Thomas Manuel who married Catharine Bucher, daughter of our Philip Bucher.

The Shenandoah County Land Records list our John Philip Bucher owning land in Shenandoah County.

Shenandoah Land Book District of Wm. Headly Commissioner

According to the Deitrick records in Indiana, John Philip Bucher, [Sr.] married twice. The Philip Poker [Bucher] deeds found in Frederick County, Virginia prove this is true. I believe that from John Philip Bucher’s first marriage to Elizabeth ?, he had at least of two children:

According to several other descendants of the sons of John Philip Bucher, [Sr.], the Indianapolis records, and the court records and deeds of Frederick County, Virginia, Philip Bucher’s second wife was Mary or Molley Roy. Phillip and Molley had seven children:

John Philip Booker [Bucher], Jr. of Shenandoah County, Virginia

In Shenandoah County Deed Book ‘S’, page 360, John Curl and Susannah, his wife, sell to John P. Booker for 300 lbs., land on the Northwest bank of the South prong of the Shenandoah River, corner to Curl’s, near Spears, in a line of land Curl purchased from Thomas Ervin, 237 acres. Witnesses were Jas. Young, Sinnett Young, and Daniel Lee. (Lee was a witness on David Booker and Theodosha Smith’s marriage bond.) John Curl signed and Susannah made her X, and was recorded by Clerk Williams on Monday 9 March 1801. The location of the land suggests that this John P. Booker is indeed our John Philip Booker [Jr.] who remained in Virginia.

John Philip Booker [Jr.] died between 4 April 1804 and 13 April 1804 in Shenandoah County. His will mentions his wife, Nancy, a son named William and a daughter, Sally [Sarah]. The third child is mentioned, but gives no name. “Children are to go to their grandfather, Edward Lawrence,” and is witnessed by Charles Sexton and Daniel Cloud [father of Nancy Cloud Booker]. The third child was Mary Booker, only child by John Philip Booker’s [Jr.] second marriage.

David Booker in Shenandoah County, Virginia

In the Shenandoah County Marriage Records, we find David Booker, son of John Philip Bucher [Sr.] , marrying Theodosha Smith on 8 April 1791. The marriage bond found in the Virginia State Library – Archives Department shows that Phillip Bucher was a witness to his son’s wedding.

Page #1

Know all men by these presents that we David Boucker and Edward Jennings are held firmly bound unto his Excellency Beverly Randolph, Esq., Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia and his successor in the pound sum of Fifty pounds current money to be paid to the said Governor, his successors we bind our selves our heirs _____? jointly and severally Firmly by these presents sealed with our seals and dated this 8th day of April 1791. The Condition of the above obligation is such that whereas there is a Marriage Suddenly Intended to be Solemnized between the above bound David Boucker and Theodotia Smith (Spinster). Now if there be no lawful cause to obstruct the said marriage and no damage occurs thereby then the above obligation to be void else to remain in full force and virtue. David Buker & Edward Jennings, Signed and Sealed in the presence of D. Lee [Daniel Lee]

Page #2

Shenandoah County April 8th, 1791

I do hereby certify that my Father and Mother are Both Dece’d and that I my self am Eighteen years of age & Deals for my self and am willing to join in wedlock with David Boucker of the above mentioned County – Given under my hand Theodosia Smith – Wit – Edward Lawrence, Phillip Boucker

Page #3

David Boucker’s M: I: Bond, April 8th 1791

In researching our Smith line, Mrs. Cooper of Woodstock, Virginia, found in Will Book #4, page 371, the will of George Smith of Wolf’s Marsh in Frederick County, dated 23 November 1777. He mentions his wife, his daughters, Polly, Sally, Elsie and Theodosia, and his sons, Stephen, Daniel and George. To be certain that this is indeed our Theodosia, more research will have to be done to confirm our relationship with this Smith family.

Known Bucher Marriages in the Shenandoah Valley Virginia 1770 – 1827

Frederick Co., Virginia

Shenandoah County, VA

Sources:

The Bucher/Booker Family, 1686-1990 © 1990 Charles Lee Booker Jr.