|
Of all the Bucher families we have researched, the one My uncle was born in Schuylkill County and started Unfortunately, the church records reviewed so far leave This page below provides a research guide to help We have established a special study group of This page will change often as we learn more. |
Peter Puzzle Pieces to Assemble
Given in chronological order…click
on underlined names to view their family in our
online tree.
1744: Peter Bucher and Anna Barbara baptize daughter
Elizabeth 17 Jun 1744 at Jacob Pawlitz’s house in Allemangel, Albany Township,
Berks County, as recorded in the records at Goshenhoppen St. Paul’s Mission
Church. Could be related if Peter was there before moving into north Lebanon.
1746: Peter Bucher and unknown baptize son Martin,
born 1 Aug 1746, by Reverend John Casper Stoever at the Swatara Congregation.
(Swatara of course is the creek in today’s North Lebanon County where the early
settlers were located.)
1747: Peter Bucher and Anna Maria baptize son John
Henry on 28 Dec 1747 by Reverend John Casper Stoever at the Swatara
Congregation. Sponsors were John Dubs and wife.
-
The Dubs as sponsors is significant evidence, as
this surname appears as sponsors over three generations of Bucher baptisms: -
28 Dec 1747 Swatara Congregation: John Dubs is
sponsor for John Henry Bucher, son of Peter and Anna Maria. -
6 Aug 1777 St. John’s Lutheran in Fredericksburg:
Henrich Dubbs and wife, Philip Schmidt, and Eva Kleinfelter are sponsors for
twins Maria Barbara and Maria Elizabeth, daughters of Johan Henrich Bucher,
who could be the same John Henry baptized on 28 Dec 1747? -
6 Jan 1779 St. John’s Lutheran in Fredericksburg:
Henrich Dubs and wife Anna Maria are sponsors for Henry Bucher, the son of
Peter Bucher and Anna Maria, who we believe is the brother of Johan Heinrich
Bucher of the same church. -
20 Jun 1819 St. John’s Lutheran in Fredericksburg:
Henrich Bucher and wife Elizabeth were sponsors for the baptism of Henry, son
of Henrich Dubbs and wife Margaret. In 1778 when Henrich Bucher was born in
this same church, the sponsors were Henrich Dubs and Anna Maria, probably this
Dubb’s father.
While we find in the Swatara Congregation record
book many references to surnames who intertwine with the Buchers, like Dubs, Klinefelder, and Faber, we only find four pages that had any Bucher references
(2, 5, 24, 66) and they are all represented here.
1750: Peter Bucher is listed with 30 acres in the
East End of Hanover Township tax list in Lancaster County for 1750.
1754: Peter Bucher and wife Barbara baptize Sabina
born 14 Jan 1754 at the Swatara Congregation. Sponsors were Henry Sauter and
wife Sabina. Sabina is later married by Rev. Waldschmidt 9 Mar 1785 to Philip
Weiss and Waldschmidt’s record states her father was Peter Bucher deceased, so
we know this Peter died Bef 9 Mar 1785.
1774: Peter Bucher’s daughter Dorothea Bucher
married Johannes Dieben 23 Aug 1774 in Christ Lutheran Church in Stouchsburg,
Berks County, 13 miles from Fredericksburg.
1774: Peter Bucher’s son Martin Bucher marries
Catharina Hartman at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lancaster city. The marriage
notes in the church record book: "Martin, Peter Bucher’s legitimate son, Hanover
Township, and Catharina, Christian Harmann’s legitimate daughter, in Manheim
Township, both single." Manheim is 21 miles south of Fredericksburg, a
considerable distance. We find later find at Manheim Lutheran Church the baptism
of a Peter Bucher born 14 Oct 1780 of Martin and Catharina Bucher (as well as
other children from 1774 to 1785) so it this Martin stayed near the bride’s home
town, probably living on the in-law’s land (haven’t researched yet.) Note: You
will frequently see in online trees this 1780 Peter christened in Manheim
totally confused with the Peters christened in Fredericksburg.
1775: Peter Bucher and Anna Maria baptize the first
of six children at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg. Birth dates
are:
-
Maria Barbara, 14 Apr 1775, sponsor Maria Barbara
Knies -
Anna Maria, 14 Jan 1777, sponsor A. Marie Schmitt
-
Henry, 8 Nov 1778, sponsors Henry and Anna Maria Dubs
-
Johannes, 7 Feb 1781, sponsors Peter Brunner and
wife Barbara -
Maria Magdalene, 16 Apr 1783, sponsors Johan
Kempel and Magdalene -
Magdalena, 9 Feb 1786, sponsor Philip Smith
Questions regarding Peter and Anna Maria:
-
Why no appearance of Peter’s father Bucher as a
sponsor? Unusual. Was he dead? -
Could sponsor A. Marie Schmitt be the Anna Maria
who is Peter’s wife? Or is this Anna Maria Peter’s mother Schmidt? It could
easily be one of these ladies maiden names was Dubs, Knies, or Brunner.
1775: Peter Bucher and Maria Barbara Comens
of Hanover Township (whose 1st marriage was to Bartholomai Kuntzelmann of Hanover Township) were married by
Reverend John Casper Stoever, 28 Sep 1775.
1778: Margaretha Bucher of Hanover Township and
Heinrich Naess of Bethel Township were married by Reverend John Casper Stoever 9 Jul 1778, but no
father of the bride mentioned, so we don’t know how she may be related.
1781: Peter Bucher and A. Marie were sponsors for
the baptism of M. Barbara, daughter of Peter Brunner and wife Barbara on 3 Oct
1781 at St. John’s Church in Fredericksburg.
1781: Peter Bucher appears on the tax list for
Stump’s Town which was renamed in 1843 as Fredericksburg.
1782: Peter Bucher is at the end of the 1782 tax
list for Lancaster County in a list of "People Over The Mountains" which
probably refers to the Blue Mountain range that runs along the northern border
of today’s Lebanon County. [His location could be in today’s Cold Spring
Township, Lebanon County.] Peter Bucher is listed with 130 acres, 2 horses, 2
cattle. Taxed 1 pound 10 shillings.
[Note: By 1810, Johannes (John) Bucher born
7 Feb 1781 as the son of Peter and Anna Maria Bucher and baptized at St. John’s
Church, settles "over the mountain" in Pine Grove Township, today’s Schuylkill
County, and this might be the same tract of land. John married Anna Maria Knisin.]
1794: Peter Bougher of East Hanover Township,
Dauphin County, signs a will on 22 Apr 1794 mentioning his wife Anna Marie, also
named as Mary, and children in birth order: Anna Maria, Martin, Henry, Dorris,
Margaret, Peter, Lavina, John, and Adam. Some researchers therefore jump to the
conclusion that this is the elder Peter who baptized the children in the 1750’s
in the Swatara congregation. However, see the 1754 note above where we learned
that Peter died before 1785, so he can’t be the Peter of this will in 1794. I’m
more careful and therefore uncertain which Peter this is, but I suspect it is
the 1775 Peter note above, therefore the Peter and Anna Maria of St. John’s
Church in Fredericksburg. The executors of the will are Daniel Miller and David
Road and researching them may help us conclude which Peter this will belongs to.
In short, the will provides for youngest son Adam to rent his plantation for
five years, after which it is sold, unless all his descendents wish to sell
sooner, and for Adam to provide for the care of the mother. It was recorded 6
May 1794 so he died prior to that.
1794: Adam Bucher and wife Elizabeth are baptismal
sponsors for Elizabeth Desch, daughter of Johannes Desh at St. John’s Lutheran
Church on 29 Jun 1794. Adam’s death is found in the records of Zion Evangelical
Lutheran Church, Jonestown, Lebanon County, where it states he was buried in
Stump’s Town, was born 31 Aug 1766, and died in Feb 1834. (See 1794: Peter
Bougher as this is the Adam who inherits his
land, also shown in the census listings below.)
1794: Jacob Bucher is born 4 Nov 1794, his birth and
death on 30 Jun 1849 recorded at the same church as Adam, Zion Evangelical,
Jonestown, so we suspect he is Adam’s son.
1794: James Bucher is born 4 Nov 1794, his birth and
death on 30 Jan 1860 recorded at St. John’s Lutheran in Fredericksburg where he
was buried. A twin to Jacob?
1797: Barbara Bucher married Johan Jacob Schmidt on
27 Jun 1797 in Christ Lutheran Church in Stouchsburg, Berks County. This could
be related to the Fredericksburg Bucher families as we have often seen Lebanon
couples marry at the "fancy" church in Stouchsburg.
1802: George Bucher is born 23 Apr 1802, father
unknown but likely Adam Bucher, because George’s death on 4 Nov 1821 is recorded
at Adam’s church, Zion Evangelical, Jonestown.
Henry Puzzle Pieces to Assemble
1773: Henry Bucher of Hanover Township and Maria
Barbara Schmidt of Bethel Township were married by Reverend John Casper Stoever, 22 Aug 1773.
1774: Johan Henrich Bucher and wife Anna Barbara
start having six children baptized at St. John’s Church in Fredericksburg.
Birthdates:
-
Christiana, 28 Feb 1774, sponsors Albert
Kleinfelter and wife Christina. -
John Henry, 2 Dec 1775, sponsors Albert
Kleinfelter and Christina. -
Maria Barbara and twin Maria Elizabeth, 16 Jul
1777, sponsors Henrich Dubbs and wife, Philip Schmidt, and Eva
Kleinfelter. -
Anna Maria, 10 Apr 1779, sponsors were Philip
Schmidt and Anna Maria Kunkelin. -
Benjamin, 22 Nov 1780, sponsors were Peter Klein
and wife Margaret.
Questions about this Henry and Anna Barbara:
-
The Kleinfelters are so often sponsors that there
must be a close family relationship. Is Anna Barbara’s maiden name Kleinfelter
(Kleinfelder)? Is this surname the grandmothers? -
The Dubbs family is also closely related, as they
also appear in the above list of Peter Bucher’s sponsors, and even in his next
Henry Bucher generation as sponsors. -
The same is true of the Schmidt (Schmitt, Smith)
surname. -
Many researchers report that the Maria Barbara
Schmidt who marries Henry Bucher on 28 Aug 1773 in Rev. Stoever’s records is
the wife of this Henry Bucher. Since her name in St. John’s is Anna Barbara,
and her name in Stoever’s records is Maria Barbara, we need a little further
evidence to be 100% sure, but knowing there is a strong Schmidt connection in
the sponsors, it appears a good assumption. -
The sharing of sponsors strongly suggests that
John Henry Bucher and Peter Bucher are probably brothers. But in all these
church records, there is nothing to establish for sure who their father is.
1775: Henry Bucher, born 2 Dec 1775 as son of Henry
and Anna Barbara (directly above), cannot be found in this area in later years,
so we suspect he moves north or west, unless he died young.
1778: Henry Bucher is the third child born 8 Nov
1778 of Peter and Anna Maria Bucher (see above) and is baptized in St. John’s
where Henry was buried, so he spent his life with this church. His baptism
sponsors were Henrich Dubs and Anna Maria. Henry married Elizabeth Faber 6 Apr 1801 in Salem Lutheran Church in the borough
of Lebanon. His can be traced through the census in the Fredericksburg area
until his death 28 Nov 1860. He and Elizabeth have these children baptized at
St. John’s Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg. Birthdates are:
-
Anna Maria, 20 Jul 1809, sponsors Peter Bucher
-
Peter, 30 Sep 1815, sponsors Peter Ruby and wife
Margaret -
Henry, 31 Aug 1818, sponsors were Christian Tobias
and Magdalena -
Catherine, 15 Apr 1822, sponsors Johannes Schally
(Shelly) and wife Catherine -
Most online sources quote three additional
children for Henry and Elizabeth but we find no evidence they exist: John,
Jacob, Mollie. Further, the dates others give for them are between the four
children above, but we see no reason why Henry and Elizabeth would jump from
church to church, year to year, for baptisms when Henry’s father and himself
are lifelong members who were born and died at the same church.
We conclude this Henry’s wife Elizabeth is Elizabeth Faber
on this evidence:
-
Sponsor Margaret Ruby is the mother of Elizabeth Faber.
-
Salem Lutheran Church in Lebanon, Lebanon County on 6 Apr 1801
has a record of Henry Bucher marrying Elizabeth Faber, and the witnesses are
recorded as "Peter Bucher, father, and widow Margreta Faber." -
Henry and Elizabeth are buried side-by-side at St. John’s
Cemetery in Fredericksburg. -
However, we repeatedly see most online trees joining Elizabeth
Faber as the wife of the other Fredericksburg Henry Bucher born 1775 and son
of John Henry Bucher. Easy mistake to make, but please correct your tree!
1780 Abt: Henry Bucher born about 1780 is in the
1850 Census for Swatara Township: Henry Bucher, age 70, laborer, living with
Ann, age 54, no children with them in 1850. Both were born in Pennsylvania.
Uncertain who his father is, he could be the 1778 Henry if he had a wife Ann
replacing Elizabeth Faber in later life following Elizabeth’s death in 1838.
Benjamin Puzzle Pieces to Assemble
1780: Benjamin Bucher (son of John Henry and Anna
Barbara Bucher above) is thought to be the Benjamin
Beougher who died in Hocking County, Ohio, 15 Nov 1839. His tombstone appears on Lane Beougher’s website.
The tombstone doesn’t show his birth date but states he is aged 59 y’s 1 mo & 7
d’s. That calculates to a birth date of 8 Oct 1780. But 22 Nov 1780 is the birth
date given for Benajmin at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg. We are
now searching for the answers to these questions about Benjamin:
-
Did someone goof when they chiseled Benjamin’s tombstone, and just got the
years/months/days wrong? Born 22 Nov 1780 and died 15 Nov 1839 is 58 years 11
months 23 days, not 59 years, 1 month, 7 days as on the tombstone. -
Did a later descendent replace the tombstone that had poor markings or was
missing and made a mistake? Lane Beougher points out that the tombstone looks
. -
Was Benjamin really born 8 Oct 1780, in which case his dad may be someone
other than John Henry?
Bucher/Zeller Puzzle Pieces to Assemble
1793: Christine Bucher (parents unknown) marries
John Jacob Zeller (Zoeller) on 5 Nov 1793 at Trinity Tulpehocken Church in
Jackson Township, Lebanon County, not far from Fredericksburg. Questions:
-
How is John Jacob Zeller related to Benjamin Franklin
Zeller who marries another Christine Beougher, as well as other Zellers who
later marry Beoughers? -
Who is this Christine’s parents, not identified in the
marriage record?
Census Puzzle Pieces to Assemble
1800: Peter Bougher (see 1775: Peter Bucher above) is listed in the 1800 Census in Bethel Township, Dauphin County with this
household:
Males (born)
16-25 (1775-1784) = 2 sons (Henry & John)
45 &
over (<=1755) = 1 father Peter
Females (born)
16-25 (1775-1784) = 1 daughter (mother?)
His
preceding neighbor is Daniel Stroh, and the one before that Sebastian Felty,
significant in that Peter Bucher’s grandson, Peter (son of Henry) born 1815,
later married Elizabeth Felty.
1810: Peter Bucher and his son Henry Bucher (see
1775: Peter Bucher above) are listed next to each other In the 1810 Census
in Upper Paxton Township, Dauphin County.
In
Henry Bucher’s household are listed:
Males (born)
Under 10 (1801-1810) = 2 sons
26-44 (1766-1784) = 1 father Henry
Females (born)
Under 10 (1801-1810) = 1 daughter
26-44 (1766-1784) = 1 wife
In
Peter Bucher’s household are listed:
Males (born)
45 &
over (<=1765) = 1
Females (born)
45 &
over (<=1765) = 1
Neighbors listed are Peter Bixler, Balser Fetterhoff, Peter Bixler. Also on the
same page is Henry Dubbs [the Dubs family are sponsors at Bucher baptisms on
several occasions over the years.]
1800: Adam Bucher is listed in the 1800 Census in East
Hanover Township, Dauphin County with this household:
Males (born)
Under 10 (1791-1800) = 1 son
10-15 (1785-1790) = 1 son
26-44 (1756-1774) = 1 father Adam
Females (born)
10-15 (1785-1790) = 3 daughters
26-44 (1756-1774) = 1 mother
1810: Adam Bucher is listed in the 1810 Census in
Upper Paxton Township with this household:
Males (born)
Under 10 (1801-1810) = 1 son
10-15 (1795-1800) = 2 sons
26-44 (1766-1784) = 1 father Adam
Females (born)
Under 10 (1801-1810) = 1 daughter
10-15 (1795-1800) = 1 daughter
26-44 (1766-1784) = 1 mother
In
the census listed just above Adam: Martin and Albert Kleinfelter. An Albert and
Eva Kleinfelter appear as prominent sponsors in the first three baptisms of the
children of John Henry Bucher and wife Anna Barbara at St. John’s Church in
Fredericksburg, starting in 1774. Other neighbors are Edward Jones, and John,
Michael and Jacob Fisher.
1800: George Bucher is listed in Middle Paxton Township, Dauphin County with
this household:
Males (born)
Under 10 (1791-1800) = 2 sons
26-44 (1756-1774) = 1 father George
Females (born)
Under 10 (1791-1800) = 3 daughters
26-44 (1756-1774) = 1 mother
1800: John Bucher is in Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County with this
household:
Males (born)
Under 10 (1791-1800) = 2 sons
10-15 (1785-1790) = 2 sons
16-25 (1775-1784) = 1 son
45 &
over (<=1755) = 1 father John
Females (born)
Under 10 (1791-1800) = 1 daughter
10-15 (1785-1790) = 1 daughter
16-25 (1775-1784) = 1 daughter
45 &
over (<=1755) = 1 mother
The next door neighbor is Peter Felty, significant in that Peter
Bucher, born 1815 and christened in St John’s Church in Fredericksburg by his
father Henry Bucher and mother Elizabeth Faber, marries Elizabeth Anna Felty
born in 1823 in Jonestown. [We believe Elizabeth’s father is a Samuel Felty.]
Other neighbors are James Cowden, Godfrey Fritchey, John Isenhower [Eisenhower].
1810: John Bucher is in Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin
County with this household:
Males (born)
Under 10 (1801-1810) = 3 sons
10-15 (1795-1800) = 1 son
16-25 (1785-1794) = 1 son
45 &
over (<=1765) = 1 father
Females (born)
Under 10 (1801-1810) = 2 daughters
10-15 (1795-1800) = 1 daughter
26-44 (1766-1784) = 1 daughter
45 &
over (<=1765) = 1 wife
The
neighbors are John Isenhour [Eisenhower], Godfrey Fritchey, Peter Felty, Conrad
Ames, Anna Stephens, Dan Ream.
Census Indexes
1790: Bucher possibilities in The Census for 1790
(people on the same page likely related):
Dauphin No Twp Booher Martin page 164
Dauphin No Twp Booher Peter page 164
Dauphin No Twp Besoar John page 167
Dauphin No Twp Besoar Daniel page 167
Dauphin No Twp Besoar Peter page 169
Dauphin No Twp Besoar John page 170
Dauphin No Twp Besoar Frederic page 173
Dauphin No Twp Besoar Mattheas page 173
Dauphin No Twp Besoar George page 173
Dauphin No Twp Besoar Jacob page 191
1800: The Census for 1800 shows these possible
Buchers:
Dauphin E Hanover Twp Bucher Adam page 231
Dauphin E Hanover Twp Bougher Mathew page 233
Dauphin E Hanover Twp Bosher George page 234
Dauphin E Hanover Twp Boshore Mathew page 235
Dauphin Heidelberg Twp Beshore Adam page 242
Dauphin Bethel Twp Beshore Jonathan, Jr. page 260
Dauphin Bethel Twp Beshore Jonathan, Sr. page 260
Dauphin Bethel Twp Beshore Jonathan, Sr. page 263
Dauphin Bethel Twp Bougher Peter page 263
Dauphin Bethel Twp Beshore Benjamin page 263
Dauphin Bethel Twp Beshore John, Jr. page 264
Dauphin Bethel Twp Beshore Peter page 264
Dauphin Bethel Twp Beshore The Widow page 265
Dauphin Bethel Twp Becker Jacob page 265
1810: The Census for 1810 shows these possible
Buchers:
Dauphin Swatara Twp Bucher John page 97
Dauphin Upper Paxton Twp Beashore Peter page 123
Dauphin Upper Paxton Twp Beashore John page 123
Dauphin Upper Paxton Twp Beashore Benjamin page 124
Dauphin Upper Paxton Twp Bucher Adam page 125
Dauphin Upper Paxton Twp Beashore John,Sr. page 126
Dauphin Upper Paxton Twp Beashore John page 126
Dauphin Upper Paxton Twp Bucher Peter page 128
Dauphin Upper Paxton Twp Bucher Henry page 128
Dauphin East Hanover Twp Beashore Isaac page 141
Dauphin East Hanover Twp Beashore Peter page 148
Dauphin East Hanover Twp Beashore Jacob page 149
Dauphin East Hanover Twp Beashore Jacob page 152
Dauphin Middle Paxton Twp Bocher George page 158
Dauphin Middle Paxton Twp Beashore George page 160
[Note: While the census index shows Paxton
Twp, an inspection of the records reveals these are the same Hanover Township
families (Bucher and neighbors Klinefelder, Dubs, etc.) in 1790 and 1800.]
[Note: It is generally thought that the
Besoar / Besore / Boshore / Beashore families are not related to Bucher/Bougher,
although phonetically it is quite close to the pronunciation of the original
German Bücher which sounds like Beesher.]
Church Records Reviewed
In studying this family the following church records
have been reviewed:
-
St. John’s Lutheran and Reformed Churches,
Fredericksburg, Lebanon County, 1774-1945. Family History Center (FHC)
microfilm 1434020. -
Church records of Fredericksburg and
Jonestown, Pennsylvania, 1774-1857. FHC microfilm 00383426 -
Swatara Reformed Congregation. FHC
microfilm 0020348. -
Swatara Lutheran. FHC microfilm 1305845.
-
Trinity Lutheran Church, Jackson Township,
Lebanon County. FHC microfilm 0020348. -
Hill Church Lutheran Congregation, Annville, Lebanon County, 1730-1908.
FHC film 1434019. FHC film 1305845. -
Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church; Annville, Lebanon
County, 1807-1865. FHC film 1434019. -
Quittapahilla (Hebron Moravian) Church, Lebanon County.
-
Records of Rev. Traugott Frederick Illing.
FHC microfilm 1414860. -
Records of Rev. Waldschmidt. FHC microfilm
0020361. -
Records of Rev. John Stoever.
-
Schaefferstown Heidelberg Church,
Lebanon County. FHC microfilm 1305845. -
Zion Lutheran Church, Manheim, Lancaster
County. FHC microfilm 1305845. -
All volumes of F. Edward Wright’s series
on church records for all PA counties. -
All volumes of Humphrey’s series on
Pennsylvania Births for all PA counties. -
Salem Lutheran Church, Lebanon city, 1773
through 1876. FHC films 0021542, 0021543, 0021544. -
All volumes of the extensive Pennsylvania
Archives series.
Summary of Church Record Evidence
To Consider
| Peter Bucher & Johan Henrich Bucher |
Fredericksburg, Lebanon County |
You can see why this John Henry Bucher & Peter Bucher families are probably related as brothers. Some researchers think they are the sons of one of the Peters below.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Peter Bucher(s) | Berks & Lebanon County | Are these Peter Bucher baptismal records the same person, two, or three? Is it one of the Peters who immigrated in 1722, 1738, or 1739, or was he born in Pennsylvania?
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Johan Henrich Bucher | Lancaster County, Cocalico Township |
Who is this John Henry Bucher from Cocalico? Is he the John Henry who immigrated in 1751 with Engel Bucher (above)? Or is he the Henry who was a son of Benedict (who was a son of Hans Bucher)?
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Henrich Bucher | Lancaster County | Can you tell us more about Henry and Anna Bucher?
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Historical Chronology of the Consult the year-by-year county maps online at: Townships in today’s Lebanon County Today’s north Lebanon County was known as:
|
