Maria Michael ^{2 3}

   Other names for Maria were Mary Beicher,⁶ Maria Biecher,⁵ Maria Meikel,⁷ Mary Meikel, Mary Michal ^{1 5} and Mary Mickel.

   FamilySearch ID: KFN1-YL3.

  Noted events in her life were:

1. Note: Research goals for finding Maria's ancestors. Maria's father is likely the Conrad Neical listed in the Lebanon 1790 census 4 lines above Jacob Bicher Sr. The handwritten N probably is an M so Mical or per her husband's church record obituary "Michal" but more likely recorded in other records as Michael surname. Goa: Search for her father's probate records or deeds in Dauphin County (where Lebanon was within from 1790-1813).

2. Newspaper: Der Freymuthige Libanoner, 20 Apr 1808, Lebanon, Lebanon, PA. ⁷ Marriage notices: Mr. Jacob Biecher with the lovely Maria Meikel, both of this city. Married by the Rev. Mr. Lochman, on Sunday evening last.

3. Note: 1809.

4. Church: Her baptism sponsors were George Shott and wife., 12 Feb 1809, Lebanon: Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lebanon, PA. ⁸ Research note: it is significant for mother Maria to baptize her first daughter with sponsors being George Shott and wife, because in German tradition, the first daughter is usually named for her maternal grandmother. If the grandmother is deceased or unavailable, the child might be named after a beloved aunt (the mother's sister). Hypothesis: George Shott's wife was likely named Lydia or Anna, and she was likely Maria Meikel's sister. Alternatively, if "Lydia Anna" was the name of Conrad Michael's wife (Maria's mother), then the naming pattern holds perfectly for the grandmother.

5. Census in 1810 in Lebanon, Dauphin, PA. ⁹ The 1810 census recorded Jacob Beker with this household:
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over : 1
Number of Household Members Under 16: 1
Number of Household Members Over 25: 2
Number of Household Members: 4.

6. Census in 1830 in Lebanon, Lebanon, PA. ¹⁰ Jacob Beicher Sr. is listed in Lebanon Borough on page 35 in the 1830 Census with this household:
Males (born)
Under 5 (1826-1830) = 2 (?)
15-19 (1811-1815) = 1 grandson (William or Jacob)
70-79 (1751-1760) = 1 father (Jacob)
Females (born)
40-49 (1781-1790) = 1 daughter-in-law (Mary Michael Bicher)
80-89 (1741-1750) = 1 mother (Catherine)

Mary Michael Bicher's husband John Jacob died at age 29. Her son William or Jacob was living with her.

7. Census in 1840 in Lebanon, Lebanon, PA. ¹¹ Jacob Beacher appears in the 1840 Census in Lebanon living alone. His age is in category 80-89 (so he was born 1751-1760).

The next listing on this page is his grandson, William Beacher. with his family:
Males (born)
Under 5 (1836-1840) = 1 (son William Jr.)
5-9 (1831-1835) = 1 (son John Henry)
15-19 (1821-1825) = 1 (?)
30-39 (1801-1810) = 3 ( father William + 2?)
Females (born)
Under 5 (1836-1840) = 1 (daughter Marian)
20-29 (1811-1820) = 1 (wife Susanna)
50-59 (1781-1790) = 1 (grandmother Maria Bicher)
60-69 (1771-1780) = 1 (grandmother).

8. Census in 1850 in Lebanon, Lebanon, PA. ⁴ William Bicher, age 39, tinner, is living with Susanna, 38; John, 19, shoemaker; William, 17, tinner; Elizabeth, 10; Emelia, 7; Sarah, 5; Emanuel, 2; and Mary Bicher, 70, who we presume is William's mother, nee Michal. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania. Their neighbors are Felix Good, 70, and David Carmany, 56.

9. Census in 1860 in Lebanon, Lebanon, PA. ¹² William Biecher, age 50, appears in the 1860 Census in Lebanon living with his wife, Susan, age 48; Amelia, 17; Sarah, 14; Emanuel, 12; George, 4; and Mary, 79. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania. William is employed as a tinsmith. Mary, who is William's mother, does not appear in a later census so we can assume she died between 1860 and 1870.

10. Tombstone: 18 Apr 1861, Lebanon, Lebanon, PA. ¹³ Her grave is aligned in Mount Lebanon Cemetery with her son William's descendents, whose family name became Beicher or Biecher, depending on the branch.
Her tombstone: "At Rest - Mary Beicher wife of Jacob Beicher. Died April 18, 1861. Aged 80 yrs. 7 days."
At Salem Lutheran Church, Rev. Henry S. Miller was in charge of her burial. His burial register states: "Biecher Widow Maria Biecher Died Apr 18 1861 Age 80-0-7"
Engraved on her stone is also:
Catherine
Daughter of
William & Susanna Beicher
Born Jan 27 1860
Died Nov 19 1864
Aged 4 yrs. 10 mos. 22 days.

Maria married Jacob Bicher Jr., son of Jacob Bicher Sr. and Anna Maria Catharine Hamman, on 17 Apr 1808 in Lebanon: Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lebanon, PA.¹ (Jacob Bicher Jr. was born on 18 Oct 1782 in Lebanon, Lebanon, PA ^{3 8 14 15 16}, christened on 17 Nov 1782 in Lebanon: Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lebanon, PA,^{8 15} died on 7 Jun 1812 in Lebanon, Lebanon, PA ^{3 14 16} and was buried in Lebanon: Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lebanon, PA ^{14 16}.)

  Marriage Notes:

Witnesses were Jacob Bicher Sr. and wife. ⁸