My descent from the Bordners
Balthaser Pauley Bordner m. Merrilis (Mary Elizabeth)
Johan Jacob Bordner m. Sarah Balt
Anna Maria Bordner m. Johann Nicholas Schneider
Margaretha Elizabeth Schneider m. Johannes Shaffer
Eva Shaffer m. Isaac Mohney
Valentine Mohney m. Sarah Mulkin
Paul Silas Mohney m. Margaret Jane McCamey
Valentine Edward Mohney m. Margaret Annetta Book
Donna Evalyn Mohney
When the ship "Adventure," Robert Curson, Master, arrived in Philadelphia, the passenger list included “Balthaser (Baltzer) Bordner, who at the age of thirty-four years, together with his wife Marilles, aged thirty-seven years, and three children - Jacob, Hanna, and Mela, aged ten, eight, and seven years, respectively” There was also a babe-in-arms, George according to family tradition.
The Adventure originated at Rotterdam, Germany, and reached their destination on 23 September 1732. (Jacob’s age was actually 2 years older than given here, perhaps to save money on his transport.)
Balthaser Bortner's signature [Balser] is in the list of Oaths of Allegiance taken on September 23, 1732.
Balthaser Pauley Bortner was born in Oberhöchstädt, Electorate of Bavaria (Bavaria), Deutschland (Germany) about 1698. (Ancestors of Elvis Presley, lived here and migrated to Pennsylvania on board the ship Lydia in 1749, moving to Tulpehocken. They were members of Host Church.))
In 1710, Balthaser Bortner, from Oberhöchstädt, was confirmed at the Niederhochstadt Reformed church.
He married Maria Elizabetha whose maiden name has been reported as Born or Merrilis. (Merrilis is a shortened form of Maria Elizabetha. Born? Did someone mistake Born (as in nee) for Born (a surname)? Merrillis was born about 1695 in Oberhöchstädt,
They had probably left their home in Oberhockstadt in the spring, travelling for up to 5 weeks, by barge on the Rhine. Reaching Rotterdam, the family would have had to wait for a ship and then suffered through miserable sea voyage. At the time, ships were overcrowded, cold and damp, food and water were not healthy, and sickness and disease took many lives.
Although the family arrived during the wave of immigrants from the area of Germany known as the Palatines, and they were labeled as such upon arrival,, it is believed that they were not Palatines. The Bordners spoke High German were members of the German Reformed and the Lutheran Churches.
It is likely that they left their homes to be free, to escape religious discrimination and to avoid the frequent wars. I’m sure the ability to escape the rules of the upper class and to be able to earn money ane own land.
Balser may have become an indentured servant (known as "Redemptioners.") to pay for his family's passage. Born between 1697-1698 in Bayern Pfalz, Oberhochstadt, Balthazer was a farmer.
Balthaser was the father of Johan Jacob Bordner, Anna Maria Barbara Bortner Kann, George Bortner, Peter Bortner, Philip Jacob Bortner, Philippina Bortner Shaffer Frasher, & Mary Elizabeth "Betsy" Bortner Low.
In the year 776, the village of Hochstadt in the Palatinate (the Pfalz), was first mentioned in documents. Höchstädt, meanss "Staette des Hoho" or places of the Hoho. Hoho would be the name of a tribe. In the middle of the 15th century an adjacent village was founded west of the Haardt Mountains; it was called "Oberhochstadt" (where Balthasar was born), while the original was called "Niederhochstadt." Hochstadt is located in present day West Germany, projecting into Franc near the Rhine River. Along with nearby Alsace and Lorraine, it was this land that was coveted by the French King, Louis XIV of France. Louis and his troops severely ravaged during the latter part of the 17th century and the early part of the 18th century.
There is a record of a coat-of-arms authorized in 1454, by the German Emperor awarded one Hans Bortner, and his sons, Hans and Paul, presumably presented for valor in battle. Of course, there is no record of the connection to Balthazer.
Batlthaser Bordner settled in Tulpehocken township, Lancaster (now Berks) county, immediately after landing, and died there in 1747."
1734 Balthaser and Maria Elizabetha were members of the Little Tulpehocken (Christ) Church, which was an Evangelical Lutheran Church. This church, which was founded in 1734, was first housed in a log structure in the Tulpehocken Settlement. It was located on the Tulpehocken Trail between the Delaware Indian village of Shamokin (now Sunbury) on the Susquehanna River, and Womelsdorf, home of Conrad Weiser, a leader in the Tulpehocken Settlement and mediator with the Indians. Host is about 3 miles northwest of Womelsdorf. The church records begin in 1748 and included several records of the Bortner family. Today the church is located 1.5 miles southwest of Bernville, Jefferson Twp, Berks County, Pennsylvania.
1735 Peter Bortner warranted land on Mill Creek Bridge on Tulpehocken Creek in Heidelberg Twp, Lancaster County on 12 November, 1735. The land was surveyed on June 30, 1737 and was adjacent to tracts owned by Ludwick Plumb, David Evans, and Erasmus Buggamer. The land was vacated and then patented by Martin Heckaborn in 1743.
1736 Daughter Phillipena was born in the Tulpehocken Settlement. A son, Philip Jacob, who married in 1760, may have been born about the same time.
1737-48 Jacob Burtner received a warrant for 200 acres on Swatara creek in Tulpehocken Twp, Lancaster County on January 26, 1737. On April 10, 1738, a survey was made in Earl Twp. On January 20, 1743, the land was vacated for want of compliance and was to be returned for the use of Jacob Byerly. Jacob Byerly received a patent for the land in 1748. Jacob was age 15 in 1737. The land was in Tulpehocken Twp, Lancaster County, later Berks County. Perhaps this was a different Jacob Burtner.
In 1738, their daughter Maria Elisabeth was baptized by Reverend John Casper Stoever at the Little Tulpehocken (Christ) Church. (Evangelical Lutheran) (near the present village of Bernville, Jefferson Township, Berks County.
Before 1740, he received a Warrant from the Proprietors to purchase 160 acres located in Earle Township, Lancaster County, PA. He paid about 25 pounds for the land. He evidently didn't keep up with the payments as, in 1743, a Deed was issued to someone else.
1745-1746 Balthasar Bortner died. Record of his estate are found in Philadelphia County. Apparently, the Bortners spoke "High German", since their recorded wills were written in that dialect.
Merrilis died before 1750. She and Balthaser were likely buried on the family farm.
Some records list him as Balthaser Bortner III. I haven’t been able to locate the documentation this is based on.
Children of Balthaser and Merreles Bordner:
1. John Burtner b:1721 in Bucks, Pennsylvania 23 Oct 1754 Tulpehocken d. 6 jan 1837 Tulpehocken buried Salem Reformed Church Cem m Anna Maria Broz
2. Hanna Bordner Bortner b: 1724 in Germany
3. Anna Maria Bortner b: 1724 in Germany
4. Sarah Bortner b: 1727 in Germany
5. Johann Jacob Bortner b: 10 Aug 1731 in Germany (see below)
6. George Bortner b: 1732 in Germany
7. Peter Bortner b: 1734 in Pennsylvania
8. Anna Barbara Bortner b: 1735 in Germany
9. Philip Jacob Bortner b: 1735 in Pennsylvania
10. Philippina Bortner b: 1736 in Pennsylvania
11. Mary Eliz. Bortner b: 8 Mar 1738 PA
Johan Jacob Bordner
Johann Jacob Bortner was born 10 August 1731 in Oberhöchstädt, Electorate of Bavaria (Bavaria), Deutschland (Germany). His parents are listed as Balthaser and Elisabetha Bortner. He was baptized on 12 August 1731 and the sponsors were Jacob Sauter and Apollonia Meyer, both single.
Jacob Bordner, on 10 April 1761, a foreigner was naturalized in Philadelphia.
Before 1740 Jacob received a Warrant from the Proprietors to buy 160 acres of land in Earle Township, Lancaster County, for about 25 pounds. He probably occupied this land as a tenant on a rental basis while he undertook to pay for it, as was the usual custom. In 1743 a Patent (Deed) f or this property was given to somebody else, probably because Jacob had n t made the required payments to obtain title for himself. These facts are found in the Bureau of Land Records of The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg. In one of these records Jacob's name was misspelled " Burtner", but in another place the correct spelling was shown.
He was in colonial military service during King George's War. On July 14, 1746, Jacob voluntarily enlisted in a force of 400 men raised in the Pennsylvania Colony to be employed, with troops from other colonies and British Regulars, to invade Canada. This was during King George's War, one of several French and Indian Wars that finally resulted in conquering Canada for the British in 1760. We learn from history that this Pennsylvania force was raised by the Colonial Governor over the objection of his pacifist-minded, Quaker-dominated legislature. The Pennsylvania troops went into Winter quarters in Albany in 1746. They were discharged in October 1747, the expedition having been laid aside, although the War continued another year.
Discharged from the militia, Jacob Bortner was an executor of the estate of his father, Balthaser Bortner. It is likely that he took responsibility for his younger brothers. His sister, Anna Maria Barbara married in 1748 and went with her husband to York County- probably taking her 2 sisters with her. (Her brother, George, later went to York County. He wrote about his life and stated that Anna Maria Barbara had her 2 sisters with her there.
Jacob married Sarah Balt, according to records of certain of his Berk County descendants. This was doubtless in the early 1750's, because their child, a son, Jacob, was born October 23, 1754.
Sarah was born in 1730 9th month in Oberhöchstädt, Landkreis Südliche Weinstrasse (Hochstadt), Rheinland Pfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate), Allemagne (Germany)
Her parents were Johannes Baldt and his wife, Anna Catharina Wagner.
A farmer in the Tulpehocken Settlement, Lancaster (now Berks) County, Jacob was in Berks after 1752. He acquired a farm of 25 acres, by deed, in Bethel Twp, Berks County, Pennsylvania in 1761 from Richard and Thomas Penn, sons of William Penn. The land was just north and east of the present village of Bethel and lies on both sides of the Harrisburg-Allentown Road (Route 22 ). He was the first to change his name to Bordner (originally Bortner).
In 1753, Jacob Bartner was taxed in Tulpehocken Twp, Berks County, Pennsylvania.
Jacob married Sarah Balt, sometime before the birth of their first child, Johan Jacob.
1754-58 Records of the Host Tulpehocken Church at Marion Twp, Berks County, Pennsylvania name the following children: Johan Jacob (1754, born 23 October and baptized 27 October), Anna Maria (1756), William (1757), and unnamed son (13 November 1758, other research indicates this son to be named Daniel).
In 1754 Johan Jacob Bortner, son of Jacob Bortner, was born on October 23. He was baptized on October 27, 1754 at the Host Reformed Church, Tulpehocken Twp, Berks County, Pennsylvania.
1754 Jacob Portner and wife are sponsors of Sara, daughter of Joh. Bast. Weber at Host Tulpehocken Church.
1756 Anna Maria Bordner, daughter of Jacob and Sarah Bortner was born on December 9, 1756, in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Anna Maria was baptized at Host church with sponsors Johannes Meyer and Anna Maria Meyer.
1757 Jacob Bartner was taxed for 50 acres of land in Tulpehocken Twp, Berks County, Pennsylvania.
1758 Jacob Bortner was a signer of a letter sent to sponsors in Holland asking for help because many had died from Indian attacks.
1758 Unnamed Bordner, son of Jacob Bordner and Sara, was born on November 13. He was baptized on November 29, 1758, at the Host Reformed Church in Tulpehocken Twp, Berks County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America.
1761 Jacob Bordner, of Berks County, was naturalized as a British citizen, on April 10, at Philadelphia, after taking sacrament on April 7.
20 June 1761 Jacob Bortner, of Tulpehoccon, purchased a tract of land on Swahatawro Creek in Bethel Township, Berks County on June 20, from the Penn proprietors. The tract had been previously leased (Patent A15-503) by Jacob Hoffman, innholder, and his wife Eve, who was unable to pay his rental. This property is located just north of Bethel, on both sides of the Harrisburg-Allentown Road (U. S. Route 22). The Blue Mountains are about five miles north but his land was fairly level.
During the 1760's, his land was on the frontier. Indians, during the French and Indian Wars, attacked the English settlements. There sprung up a row of forts along the Blue Mountains for the protection of those in the settlements. Jacob's land was within sight of one of the forts.
On April 10, 1761 Jacob was naturalized as a British citizen by the Colonial Supreme Court in Philadelphia. Their records showed his name to b e "Jacob Bordner", and his residence in County.
Shortly thereafter, on June 20, 1761, Jacob acquired land in Bethel Township, Berks County, by Patent (Deed) from the Proprietors, Richard and Thomas Penn, - on default by the person 'who held the Warrant. That property is just North and East of the present Village of Bethel; it lies on both aides of the Harrisonburg-Allentown Road (U.S. Route 22). It is s aid to be good "limestone" land, which was prized by the Pennsylvania Dutch. It is fairly level land, although the Blue Mountain lies within sight about five miles North.
In the 1760's Jacob's Bethel farm was on the Pennsylvania frontier. Occasionally settlers in that area were killed by the Indians. During the " French and Indian Wars (for which a final peace treaty was not signed until 1763), the French incited the Indians to attack the English Colonial frontier settlements. There was a line of forts along the Blue Mountain for protection of the settlers. One such fort was within sight of Jacob's house.
1768 Jacob Bortner was taxed in 1768 in Bethel Twp, Berks County, Pennsylvania.
Jacob was too old for service in the Pennsylvania militia during the Revolutionary War, but three of his sons, Jacob Jr., John, and William, were in the militia. Although the record shows that Jacob Jr. was fined for skipping militia drills during the latter part of the war, it appears that he must have had some active service, because he was voted a pension of $40 per month in 1836 by the Pennsylvania Legislature for his war service (only about one year before he died). His name is recorded o n one of the plaques to the memory of Revolutionary War soldiers in the DAR Chapel at Valley Forge. After the war, Jacob Jr. held the rank of Lieutenant in the Pennsylvania militia.
1778 Jacob Bordner took the oath of allegiance in Berks County and paid a supply tax. He provided service in support of the American Revolution.
1779 Jacob Bordner was taxed in 1779 in Bethel Twp, Berks County, Pennsylvania for 180 acres, 3 horses, and 4 cows. Jacob Bordner, single freeman, was also taxed. His total tax was 2015.
1780 Jacob Bordner was taxed in 1780 in Bethel Twp, Berks County, Pennsylvania for 180 acres, 3 horses, and 4 cows.
1781 Jacob Bordner was taxed in 1781 in Bethel Twp, Berks County, Pennsylvania for 180 acres, 3 horses, and 4 cows.
1782 Jacob Bordner was taxed in 1782 in Bethel Twp, Berks County, Pennsylvania for 180 acres, 3 horses, 4 cows, and 6 sheep.
1784 Jacob and Sarah Bortner were sponsors at the birth of John Jacob Krag, son of El. and Anna Maria Krag.
1789 Jacob Bortner of Bethel Twp, Berks County, Pennsylvania, dated his will, written in German, on December 10. An English translation is with the estate papers and named sons Jacob, William, John, Daniel, Peter; daughter Sarah married to Nicholas Schneider; and deceased daughter Barbara.
1790 Jacob Bordner Senior lived in Bethel Twp, Berks County, Pennsylvania, in a household with 1 male age 16 and over, and 1 female.
On the 1790 United States Federal Census, Jacob Bordner Senior is living in Bethel Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. In his home are one male over age 16 and 1 female.
1790 Jacob Bordner, the elder, in Bethel Township, wrote more specifications for his estate, on April 2, naming sons John and William and wife Sarah. Witnessed by Jacob and John Bortner.
1792 Jacob Bortner surveyed 60 acres in Bethel Twp, Berks County, on April 3. Jacob Bordner patented the land in 1828.
When Jacob Sr. died in 1792, he willed his 186 acre farm to Jacob Jr., but he made a settlement with his other children by requiring Jacob Jr. to make payments to them over a period of years. That was a normal pattern of handling estates in those days. Jacob Sr. was survived by five sons and one daughter, Anna Maria Schneider. Another daughter, Barbara, had died young.
Jacob Bortner died before March 2, 1792 when an inventory was made for the estate of Jacob Bortner on March 2. Items included a bible, hymnal, and prayer books and weaver tacklins. He willed his 186 acre farm to his oldest son, Jacob Jr, who was then required to make payments to his siblings. (One portion of his land remained in the hands of his descendants until 1944
1793 The administration account was made. March 29 - April 3.
Last Will and Testament of Jacob Bortner :
Proved 22 February 1792
In the name of God amen. This tenth day of December anno domini one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine. I Jacob Bortner of Bethel Township in the County of Berks and State of Pennsylvania, yeoman, being at present sick and weak in body, nevertheless of sound mind, memory and understanding thanks be to God. Calling unto mind the mortality of my body an d honoring that, it is appointed for all men, one to dye, do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament, that is to say prinsipally and first of all recommend my soul into the hand of God who gave it and my body, recommend to the earth to be buried in a Christian like and decent manner at the direction of my Executor herein after named and as touching such worthy estate where with it hath pleased God to help me in this life. I give, divide and dispose of the same in the following manner and from Imprimis, it is my will, and I do order in the first place, that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid of and satisfied as soon as convieniently may be after my decease. I give and bequeath unto my elder son Jacob Bortner and to his heirs and asigns all my certain plantation and tract of land whereon I now live. Situate in Bethel Township aforesaid, adjoining land of Jacob Schneider, Daniel Schneider & Leonard Miller and others. Containing one hundred and eighty six acres. Be the same more or less to be holden by him my said son Jacob Bortner his heirs and asigns forever, for which plantation or tract of land he shall pay the sum of six hundred and sixty pounds, in gold or silver money in yearly payments. In one year after my decease, he shall pay the sum of thirty pounds and so yearly until the aforesaid sum of six hundred and sixty pounds be fully paid and satisfied. The first payment shall be paid unto my son John, the second to my son William, the third payment again to John, and the fourth to William. The fifth payment to Daniel, the sixth to Peter, the Seventh to my daughter Mary, intermarried to Nicholas Schneider and then to begin again at John and then William, then Daniel, then Peter, then Mary and so on by rank as said above mentioned, until each of them hath received the sum of one hundred and twenty pounds, and the said two payments shall be paid unto the heirs of my daughter Barbara, deceased, and it is further my will and do hereby order that all my personal estate my executor herein after named, shall sell at suitable vender, and the money shall be distibuted in following manner. The one half thereof shall be in the hands of my beloved wife Sarah during her life, and the other half shall be equally divided to and among all my children and to the heirs of my daughter Barbara, deceased. Share and Share alike, excepting to my son Jacob, I give and bequeath the sum of five shillings, over and above his equall share for his birthright and it is further my will and do hereby order that the money I have heretofore advanced to some of my children, shall be deducted out of their part so that they may be made equal in share with each other. And it is further my will and I do hereby order that my son Jacob, shall give and deliver yearly and every year unto my beloved wife Sarah, the following enumerated articles, ten bushels of good wheat, five bushels of good rye taken to mill and the grist & bran home again, one fat hog to wey one hundred pound, thirty pound of good beaf, three pound of good wool, ten pound of hatcheted flax of the same quantity of toe, six pound tallach, one pair of shoes, firewood as much as she stands. To live in the house with my son and to have liberty in the kitchen & seller. And my son Jacob shall keep for her one good summer and winter as his own. One barrell of good syder and apels as much as she stands in need of. Fourth part of the garden potatos and cabige for her use and the fourth part of the hens. It is my will and do order that in case one or either of my children dye without such part or share of the one dying, shall be equally divided to and among all my children aforesaid. I do hereby order that the one half of the money owing from the sale of my personal estate which I have bequeathed unto my beloved wife aforesaid, shall not come into her hands, but it shall be and remain in the hands of my executor. And he shall pay of that money unto her as she shall stand in need of or shall w ant. And after her decease, that money, if any yet left, shall be divided in equal shares among all of my children and the heirs of my daughter Barbara deceased. It is my will that the above legacy given and bequeathed unto my beloved wife Sarah, shall be in full for her. I do hereby nominate and appoint my beloved son Jacob Bortner to be my executor of this my Last Will and Testament, hereby revoking and making void all former and other will and wills and executors by me before made ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament.
Jacob (JB) Bortner (his mark)
.Sarah Balt Bordner died in 1800 in Bethel Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. They were probably buried on their farm. Jacob's farm in Bethel Township was passed on from father to son, generation after generation. At one point it was divided between two sons. One part remained in the possession of descendants for four generations until 1944, when the last Bordner owner died, leaving no children.
Children of Jacob and Sarah (Balt) Bordner.: (from his will)
Johann Jacob, Bortner, Jr. 23 Oct 1754 – 6 Jan 1837 m. Anna Maria Brosz
William Bordner 3 jan 1757 Berks Co – 8 Jan 1827 Dauphin County m. Maria Elizabeth Koppenheffer
Johannes Bordner 13 Nov. 1758 Berks - 3 June 1812 Mifflin Twp. Dauphin Co., pA
Burial Lykens Daupin County St. Peter’s Cemetery m. Susannah Mellinger
Peter Bordner 11 Mar 1763 Bethel, Berks – 24 Fdec 1816 Lykens Twp. m. 17 Oct. 1781 Stouchsberg Catherine Katterman burial St. Peters
Daniel Bordner 2 Nov. 1765 - 6 Jan 1844 PA buried Hamlin, Lebanon County Klopps Cem
m. Eve Catherine Kneaves
Mary, intermarried with Nicholas Schneider (See Schneider information for details on their lives.)
Barbara
Sources:
Philadelphia Council minutes
Kirchenbuch, 1727-1798, Evangelisch-Reformierte Kirche Oberhoch stadt [https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/211459, FHL film 247646
Burgert, Annette Kunselman. Palatine Origins of Some Pennsylvania Pioneers. Myerstown, PA: AKB Publications, 2000. 574p.
A Biographical sketch by Harold Bordner
Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1500-1971
Pennsylvania, U.S., Land Warrants and Applications, 1733-1952
Naturalizations of Foreign Protestants in the American and West Indian Colonies. (Supreme Court at Philadelphia), 10 April, 1760.
Pennsylvania, U.S., Tax and Exoneration, 1768-1801
Geneanet Community Trees Index
Robert
and Janet Chevalley Wolfe, Janet and Robert Wolfe Genealogy,
"Notes for Balthaser Bortner and Maria Elizabetha"
Webpage: www.umich.edu/~bobwolfe/gen/mn/m1263x1264.htm
Email
address: JanetRobertWolfeGenealogy@gmail.com
Census and Tax Records
