Martin Booher ^{2 3}

   Other names for Martin were Martin Booker, Martin Bucher ^{1 4 6 7 8} and Martinus Bucher.⁴

   FamilySearch ID: 9K8T-8TC.

  General Notes:

The Bucher Y-DNA project has tested descendants of this ancestor and matching Y-DNA samples show that Booher/Bougher/Bucher families in VA, TN, KY and IN are directly related to the Bucher/Bougher families that were living in the 1700's near Fredericksburg, Lebanon County, PA (at that time it was Lancaster County). For an up-to-date listing of related ancestors please see G-001 family on our DNA research sites:
http://www.SearchTrees.com/dna
http://www.FamilyTreeDNA.com/public/bucher

A surprise results of our DNA testing: three descendants of Jacob Booher (1777-1845 who was the son of the John Booher d.1820) have Y-DNA that does not match the Y-DNA of the other males related to this line, suggesting that Jacob was fathered by a non-Booher. We are conducting further research to determine who Jacob's father is.

If you are a male with surname Bucher, Booher, Bougher, Bugher or other variant spelling you can take a simple Y-DNA test at home that proves you are related to this line (or any of the other Bucher and Booher lines we have also tested that aren't related to this family.)

  Christening Notes:

He was baptized by the Rev. John Caspar Stoever Jr. with his notes indicating Swatara, probably meaning the Swatara Congregation (Bethel Township). The sponsors were George Meyer & wife.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. In 1774 in Lancaster: Trinity Lutheran Church, Lancaster, PA. ¹

2. Property on 10 Oct 1792 in , Dauphin, PA. ⁹ On a list of Warrantees of Land in Dauphin County is Martin Bucher, 100 acres, surveyed 10 Oct. 1792.

3. Property on 3 Oct 1797 in East Hanover Twp., Dauphin, PA. ¹⁰ Henry Light and Jacob Kreider together bought 142 acres of land in East Hanover township of one Martin Bucher, on Oct. 3, 1797. This land remained in the names of these two men till after their deaths, when Henry Light (likely Jr.) and John Light as executors of Henry Light, and Joseph Kreider as agent for the heirs of Jacob Kreider, deceased, sold this farm to John S. Kreider.

4. Court: in 1824 in , Sullivan, TN. Following his death, Martin Booher's will was Exhibit No. 1 in a lawsuit filed by some of Martin Booher, Sr. heirs against other Martin Booher, Sr. heirs. Transcription following:

To the Honorable the Chancellor sitting in Chancery in and for the District composed of the counties of Sullivan, Hawkins, Grainger and Claibourne, in the State of Tennessee.

HUMBLY COMPLAINING, sheweth unto your Honor, your Orators and Oratrixes, Jonathan Wassam, (one of the Executors of the last Will and Testament of Martin Booker dec'd) and Elizabeth his wife, formerly Elizabeth Booker, Benjamin Booker, (also one of the executors of the last Will andTestament of the said Martin Booker) and Cathrine his wife, Martin Booker, Samuel Booker, Michael Booker, Catherine Buckles and Rebecca Buckles, infant children of Magdalin Buckles, formerly Magdalin Booker, by Edward Buckles their father and next friend, Mary Booker, George Hughes and Barbara his wife, formerly Barbara Booker, being a part of the heirs at law of the said Martin Booker dec'd and Catherine Booker his widow, and divisees under the last Will and Testament of the said Martin:

That some time in the month of October, in the year 1826, the said Martin Booker departed this life, having first made his last Will and Testament in writing, which since the death of the said Martin, has been duly proven in the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the County of Sullivan aforesaid, a copy of which is hereunto annexed, marked Exhibit No. 1, and to which your Orators and Oratrixes refer as a part of this Bill of Complaint; by which it appears that the said Martin, now dec'd. ,devised to his son Christian, a tract of land situate in the county of Sullivan, containing three hundred and fifty-two acres, upon condition of the said Christian paying the sum of five hundred and fifty-two dollars, in the manner specified in said Will. And by said Will it also appears that the said Martin devised to his son Peter, a tract of land containing three hundred and sixty-five acres, situate in the county of Sullivan aforesaid, on condition that the said Peter should pay the sum of five hundred and thirty-two dollars in the manner specified in said Will. And from said Will it also appears that the Testator devised to his son Adam, a tract of land, situate in the county of Sullivan aforesaid, on condition of his paying seven hundred and fifty-two dollars in the manner specified in said Will; said tract containing two hundred and fifty acres. And from said Will it also appears that said Testator devised to his son David, a tract of land situate in the county of Sullivan aforesaid, containing two hundred and fifty-one acres, on condition that the said David would pay the sum of five hundred and thirty-two dollars, in the manner specified in said Will. And from said Will it also appears that the said Martin devised to his son John, a tract of land situate in the county of Sullivan aforesaid, containing one hundred and fifty-seven acres, on condition that the said John would pay the sum of five hundred and thirty-two dollars. Your Orators Jonathan and Benjamin, state, that said sums of money so charged on said tracts of land respectively,______________________. Executors of the Will of the said Martin, to enable the said Executors to pay the legacies and bequests specified insaid Will. Your Orators and Oratrixes state, that the said Devisees, Christian, John, Peter and David, respectively took possession of the tracts of land devised to them by their father, by which acts your Orators and Oratrixes charge, that the said Christian, John, Peter, Adam and David, became liable and bound to pay the respective sums of money with which the Testator had onerated [sic] said tracts of land. Nevertheless the said Christian, John, Peter and David, although inequity and good conscience bound to pay said sums of money in the manner specified in said Will, yet they have absolutely refused to pay said sums of money, and give out in speeches that they will not pay the same; by reason of which premises your Orators Jonathan and Benjamin are unable to execute the Will of their Testator, and your Orators and Oratrixes are kept out of the Legacies and Bequests given to them by said Will. Your Oratrixes and Orators further state that the said John Booker hath lately departed this life, and that his widow, Polly Booker, and one Thomas White, both of whom reside in Sullivan county, have been duly appointed Administrator and Administratrix of the estate of the said John Booker, and the children and heirs at law of the said John Booker, are ****Daniel Booker, Samuel Deck & Rebecca his wife, formerly Rebecca Booker, David Kesler and Franky his wife, formerly Franky Booker, Barbara Booker, Samuel Booker, John Booker, Eli Booker & Lydia Booker,*** all of whom reside in Sullivan County.

The premises considered, your Orators and Oratrixes pray, that the said Peter Booker, Christian Booker, David Booker, Adam Booker and the personal Representatives and heirs at law, of John Booker dec'd, may be made defendents to this Bill, and may be compelled on their corporal oaths, full true and perfect answer to make to all, and singular the premises, in as full and perfect a manner as if the same were herein again repeated, and they thereunto more particularly interrogated. And that on the final hearing of this cause, that the said Christain, David, Peter and the personal Representatives of John Booker, may be severally decreed to pay the respective sums of money herein before mentioned. With which the Tracts of land to them devised, are onorated (sp?); or that in default of such payment, that said Tracts of land may be sold to raise said sums of money. And that the Court may direct your Orators Jonathan and Benjamin, in all things, as to the manner in which the Estate of said testator is to be settled; and that all such other, and further relief in the premises to which they are entitled, may be granted to your Orators and Oratrixes.

5. He signed a will on 24 Apr 1824 in , Sullivan, TN. In the name of God Amen. I Martin Booker of Sullivan County, in the state of Tennessee, being weak of body, but of sound mind and disposing memory, for which I thank God. And bringing to mind, the uncertainty of human life, and considering and belay? (believe?) desires to dispose of all my worldly substances, as it has pleased God to bless me with I give and bequeath the same in measure? or manner? following: that is to say

First I give and Bequeath to my wife Catherine, one horse beast, during her natural life; the same to be kept out of my estate , and only for her own use, and at her command. I also give her two cows, such as she may make choice of; she is also to have her natural support of any? thing that she may stand in need of; so long as she may live. She is also to stay in the house she now lives in. She is also to have wood brought to her house ready cut for use, whichever of my sons, that may occupy my present home place is bound to fulfill my request. It. is my Will and desire, that my present home place shall not be sold untill after the death of my wife.

(2nd) I give and bequest unto my son Christian and his heirs, after paying five hundred fifty two dollars as in manner following: two hundred thirty eight dollars one year after my decease; one hundred thirty eight dollars to be paid three years after my death; one hundred thirty eight dollars to be paid four years after my death, ie good current money. My plantation below Blountville, in Sullivan County, Tennessee, three hundred and fifty two acres, be the same more or less, adjoining the land of the Widow Craft.

Third I give and bequeath unto my son Martin, and his heirs forever, my plantation laying on Sinking Creek, Sullivan County, Tennessee containing one hundred and twenty seven. acres, more or less; being the same whereon my son Martin now lives.

Fourth: I give and bequeath unto my son John, and his heirs forever, after paying five hundred and thirty two dollars in four equal annual payments, commencing one year after my death, in good current money The plantation containing one hundred fifty seven acres, more or less lying in Sullivan County, Tennessee, on the waters of Reedy Creek, the same whereon my son John now lives.

Fifth: I give and bequest unto my son Peter, and his heirs forever, after paying five hundred and thirty two dollars in four equal annual payments, commencing one year after my death, in good current money. My plantation containing three hundred and sixty five acres, more or less, lying in Sullivan County, Tennessee, on the waters of Sinking Creek, being the same my son Peter now lives on

Sixth: I give and bequeath unto my son David, and his heirs forever after paying five hundred and thirty two dollars in four equal annual payments, commencing one year after my death, in good current money (Land) containing two hundred fifty one acres , more or less, lying in five different tracts; adjoining the lands of George Burkhart, John Thomas, Henry Sells, and others; Sullivan County Tennessee, being the same land my son David now lives on.

7th: I give and bequeath unto my son Samuel, and his heirs forever, after paying eighteen dollars, to be paid one year after my death; two tracts or parcels of land, lying in the county of Scott and state of Virginia, containing two hundred acres 100 of which is the same my son Samuel now lives on. The other 100 acres is to be cut off the west end of the land I purchased from William Head.

8th: I give and bequeath unto my son Michael, and his heirs forever after paying eighteen dollars, to be paid one year after my death in good current money; Part of the tract of land I purchased from William Head containing two hundred and five acre, land lies in the county of Scott and state of Virginia,

9th. I give and bequeath unto my son Adam and my Daughter Elizabeth Wassam them and their heirs forever, by paying fifteen hundred and four dollars in four annual equal payments, commencing one year after my death, my home plantation, lying in three different (tracts)

10th: I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Catherine wife of Benjamin Booker, her and her heirs forever, a certain tract or parcel of land containing two hundred and fourty eight acres, more or less, lying on the waters of White Tap, Sullivan County, State of Tennessee adjoining lands of Abraham McCellen, Robert Rutledge and others,

11th: I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Magdline, her and her heirs forever, a certain tract or parcel of land containing one hundred and ten acres, more or less; also one third part of an undivided tract of land of one hundred and five? acres, lying in Grainger? County Tennessee, adjoining the lands of Benjamin Brown, in the Glades.

12th: I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Mary, her and her heirs forever, twelve hundred forty eight dollars, in current money, to be paid one half two years after my death, and the balance in four years.

13th: I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Babara, her and her heirs forever, twelve hundred forty eight dollars, provided she dont never take up with John Poe; if she ever takes up with him again, it is my desire for her to have one dollar, and no more, to be paid one half two years after my death, and the balance in four years.

14th: I give and bequeath unto my son Martin, him and his heirs, two hundred forty eight dollars, current money, to be paid one half two years after my death, and the balance in four years.

15th: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Magdalin, her and her heirs, five hundred and forty eight dollars, current money, to be paid one half two years after my death and the balance in four years.

16th: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Catherine, her and her heirs, five hundred and forty eight dollars, current money, to be paid one half two years after my death, and the balance in four years.

17th: It is further my desire, that as the case (courts) will admit after my death, that all my personal estate, with the exception of one bed and furniture, and one chest, which I reserved for my wife Catherine, and with the exception of the first item, shall be sold at public sale on a credit of twelve months, and the money arising from the sale, in the first place Co pay off my just debts. And after the payment of my just debts and funeral expenses, the balance to be paid Co my children, herein before named in this my last will and testament, that is to say: there that money was willed to
18th and lastly.

I do hereby constitute my friends, Jonathan Wasssm and Benjamin Booker, Executors of this my Last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former Wills and Testaments by me heretofore made. In witness thereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of April 1824.

6. That was divided among his heirs on 7 Jun 1830 in , Sullivan, TN. ¹¹ Articles of agreement made and entered into between Peter Booher; David Booher, Barbary his wife; Edmund Buckles in the right of his children; Mary Booher; Adam Booher; Sam'l Booher; Michael Booher; Polly Booher, widow of John Booher dec'd.; Jonathan Wassom and Elizabeth his wife; and Benjamin Booher and Martin Booher, all heirs at law of the estate of Martin Booher dec'd. Booher in his natural life executed his will and demised [sic] his lands among his children and that there is some dissatisfaction and that we the undersigned are to refer the same to the following persons as arbitrators: William Snodgrass, Thomas Majors, William Anderson, and Abraham McClellan to value the saixxxx, values is to give on each track of land and value each tract of land .xxxxx Legatee doth agree to take the land willed to them at said valuation xxxx should be valued so as to their respective parts should be more than their xxxxx each one agrees to pay up what the said arbitrators shall say they must xxxx shall have share and share alike and if it should happen that the arbitrators xxxxx those that have money coming to them should say that they are not entitled xxxxx specified in said will that they shall in that respect receive whatever xxxxx give them and no more so that each legatee shall have share and share alike xxxxx for the arbitrators to give due time to collect and pay out any money xxxxx be due the estate or due from any one of the above legatees. It is further xxxxx award is made that Jonathan Wassom and Benjamin Booher, Executxxxxx suits that they have brought against said legatees and the arbitrators shall pay the cost accruing on said suit or suits _____ to the property be valxxxx is specified in the will then each legatee is to have share and share alike In performance we bind ourselves, our heirs and C. in the penal sum of two thousand xxxxx day of March 1830. Witness

T. S. May Peter X Booher
Thos. Rockhold David Booher George Hughes
Attest: J. K. Snapp Edmund X Buckles
Attest: Samuel Hashbarger Mary X Booher
Attest: Daniel Booher Adam Booher

State of Tennessee Sullivan County Court Samuel Booher
of pleas & C, May Session 1830 then was the Michael X Booher
execution of this agreement proven in open Jonathan Wassom
court by Thomas Rockhold as to all of the Polly X Booher
parties except Christian Booher & Thomas Benjamin Booher
White by Jacob K. Snapp as to Christian Martin X Booher
Booher by Samuel Hashbarger as to Polly Booher Christian Booher
and by Daniel Booher as to Thomas White. Let it Thomas White
be registered. Richard Netherland, Clerk guardian for the [John Booher minor
by G. W. Netherland, C. Clerk children]
Registered June 7th 1830.

7. Letter: 1901, Albany, Clinton, KY. ¹² In an interview by Benjamin F.. Booher, Elizabeth stated her family history as follows, also reported at the 1902 family reunion in Darlington, Indiana.

"My name is Elizabeth Parrigan and I was the youngest Daughter of John Booher. I was born in Sullivan County, Tennessee 11 Jan 1797, and if I live till my next birthday I will be one hundred and five years old.

My father John Booher was of German Parentage. My Grandfather came from Germany to Pennsylvania but my father and mother were born in this country.
My grandparents died when I was a child and my father went back to get his legacy when I was about 10 years old. Martin was my father's brother. My father had ten children, eight sons and two daughters. They were Jacob, Mary "Polly", William, Benjamin, Jehu (died in infancy), John, Frederick, Twins Isaac and Henry, and Elizabeth."

We moved to four miles of Bristol, Tennessee when I was nineteen years old from Washington County, Virginia, Abington being the county seat. We moved to Clinton County Kentucky, one mile from where we now live, on 17 Oct 1858."

.

8. Described in a newspaper article on 20 Jul 1910 in , Sullivan, TN. Inside These Walls
Sullivan County's Historic Homes
Booher family had connections with two log houses near Adams Chapel Road
By Alma Grant
Contributing writer

July 20, 1910, Noah J. Phillips noted in his Blountville news column: "It becomes necessary to record the death of an old man, John Booher, who died last week aged 94 years and 19 days." Phillips added that Booher was born June 25, 1816, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, came to Sullivan County with his father (Christian Booher) when he was nine years old and "spent most of his days in the neighborhood of Adams Chapel."
The log house where John Booher lived is no past saving but just beyond it, on the west side of Adams Chapel Road, is another log dwelling with Booher connections and it is being preserved.
The land where both log houses stand, was first owned by Timothy Acuff who conveyed 377 acres to his son, John, May 19, 1807. John was living on the tract at the time. Five years later, John sold 352 acres to Elisha James and the remaining acreage to his brother-in-law, Thomas Craft.
Martin Booher bought the 352-acre tract from James in 1814. At the time Booher owned several hundred acres in northeast Sullivan County and apparently lived in that area. The farm below Blountville appears to be where Martin's son, Christian, settled when he brought his family from Pennsylvania in 1825.
There are no deeds showing the disposition of Martin Booher's land after his death in the 1820's. There's only an 'Article of Agreement' signed by each heir. In this they asked William Snodgrass, Ireson Longacre, Thomas Majors, William Anderson and Abraham McClellan to evaluate the land each heir received to be sure each shared equally.
It's only after Christian's death in the 1860's that it becomes clear his share was the 352 acres on Adams Chapel Road. He directed in his will that the land be divided between six of his ten children. Christian, Jr., John, David, Nancy, Elizabeth and Margaret. John was to have the log house on the east side of Adams Chapel Road, described as where Christian, Sr., lived.
The 12 3/4 acres across where today's house stands was allotted to Margaret Booher. It is a most interesting tract, because near the house are a log barn, log loom house, and an unusual frame spring house. Apparently the loom house originally served as a small grist mill.
Oct. 5, 1895, Margaret sold the property to her daughter, Mary F. Booher, for two hundred dollars. Mary continued living in the house until her death in 1933, and was the last Booher to own the tract. The next owners were W.D. and Fannie Barnes, who were bequeathed the property for caring for Mary until her death.
July 11, 1944, the Barnes' sold to Nellie Erwin, who was already living in the neighborhood, apparently. Her parents, Jacob and Sarah E. Erwin, had bought 41 1/8 acres of John Booher's land, when it was auctioned after his death. The elder Erwins' sold nearly one-third interest to Nellie. When Nellie died in 1963, she left "the Barnes tract" to her brother, Glenn. Glenn Erwin lived for awhile in the log house, but in his later years he moved into the one-room loom house which had been insulated and wired for electricity by Erwin's neighbor Winfield Watkins.
In 1967, Erwin began conveying land to Watkins and his wife, Sarah Lou, August 30. He deeded 1.53 acres to the Watkins for one dollar and "other consideration." The following November, another 1.6 acres went to the Watkins for one thousand dollars. Both tracts "were carved out" of the land Nellie had bequeathed to Glenn.
August 25, 1970, Glenn conveyed 39.82 acres to the Watkins for one dollar "and other good and valuable considerations," which no doubt meant the care the Watkins had given to Glenn.
March 20, 1975, the Watkins sold the log complex and eight acres to James and Mildred Roselle Graybeal. Jim had photographed the complex of log buildings, when he was a photography and art major in college. When some years later, he was hunting land in Sullivan County, he was delighted to find it for sale.
Both the Graybeals are commercial artists and the barn houses their business, Design Shop. They are restoring the log house where they now live, with their three young sons. In the future, they hope to display, in the loom house, artifacts they have found during the restoration. Included are pieces of the original machinery, used to grind corn when the structure served as a grist mill.
The complex is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites as "Walnut Shade."

9. Book: History of the Lutheran Church in Virginia and East Tennessee, 1930. ¹³
Two brothers Martin and John Bucher came from Germany (perhaps Holland), in 1747, and settled in Lancaster County, Pa., as farmers. Later they came to southwest Virginia and settled in Wythe County. Even before this their name had been changed to Booher to accommodate the scribes in the courts. Each reared a large family. Martin's son John married John's daughter Mary. They soon moved to Sullivan County, Tenn., and when their son Daniel was of age he married and moved to Knox County, where he in turn reared a large family. Thus in three localities the Boohers had descendants. They multiplied rapidly and migrated in numbers to Indiana, where they and their kin helped to organize Lutheran churches in Boone and Montgomery counties, while still prospering in their ancestral homes in Tennessee and southwest Virginia, and giving the Church several ministers.

Martin married Catharine Hartmann, daughter of Christian Hartmann and Unknown, in Jan 1774 in Lancaster: Trinity Lutheran Church, Lancaster, PA.¹ (Catharine Hartmann was born in 1760-1770 in Warwick Twp., Lancaster, PA and died on 25 Feb 1834 in , Sullivan, TN.)

  Marriage Notes:

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."