Part II
Phoenixville R. 1, Pa.
January 18, 1956
Dear Mrs. Schwartz,
We also had a quiet Christmas, rather unexpectedly for we were looking
forward to seeing a young relative who is stationed at Norfolk, in the Navy, and
two more of our people. Neither were able to come and we almost went out, as the
counsel is, into the highways and byways to replace them. We were also almost
alone in the house for most of the time. But still have a few little things here
with which to remember the children, if and when they can arrive.
I am quite willing to undertake the writing to the Hamakers et al, of your list
for I know I did say, in a moment that was probably ill advised, that we had to
locate a family Bible and that this was about the only way open to us. But there
are important reservations and unless there is something special about this
present list, or any list, we will be embarking upon a task which looks almost
insurmountable.
It might be worth while to recount some of its dimensions: (1) Every large city
directory contains numerous Hamachers et al. (2) Dr. Hamaker wrote to
individuals all over the country since about 1900 A.D. (3) Not all of them will
answer. (4) If they do and have any information worth having, the chances are it
will not apply to the right line.
For instance if there are 3000 names to which to write, we might find what we
are looking for (if at all) with the 3000th as well as the first
"batch". I say this despite having by great good luck, found somebody
who had a line of Peter Hamacher immediately (but without dates and addresses so
that any development of that line would require months of work, as our own line
adequately showed).
So it reduces to what we actually are looking for and hence what we are going to
ask, and perhaps more importantly, the mechanics of asking it so that we will be
able to accomplish fifty years of work in a few months; and here, I am not
informed. Do people answer those printed forms, such as the genealogical
societies sometime have for sale? Would they answer a mimeographed letter, sent
out to (in effect for instance) all the Hamachers of all spellings, found in the
Social Security files? If this seems worth while, how much information shall
they give us - out of the list which might include, addresses of all Hamakers
know to them, addresses of anybody who might have a family Bible, lineages of
all recipients with all dates (or of those who go back to Adam only or John only
or both?) number and location of existing photographs for future reference in
case of publication of a Hamaker book; the movements and occupations of all
their ancestors and what they looked like, if possible; their educational
advantages, degrees obtained, political and religious persuasions, public
offices held, club and other memberships, and military service if any?
I am disturbed at bringing all this up, but it would also be a shame not to
cover most of these details if we are to start something which nothing less than
complete will finish - we saw its lack, in the Craun book (the author of our
Woodson book was always complaining of the lack of interest, which was going to
make his book "a mere list or catalog"). And, there is also the work
which Dr. J.I.H. has already done and the many papers he has already accumulated
in readiness for eventual publication by himself or, now, by his son Richard,
(without the results for which we are looking and plus his own travels and
furnishing of lineages to people who never had any.)
I need not tell you all this, for all of the family volumes I have ever heard of
have been written chiefly with the aid of some two or three people who were able
to inform and correct their author and who we were in possession of generations
of fact, owing either to historical research by independent antiquarians, or to
the family interest of their predecessors. You yourself eminently qualify in
this department. On the other hand these few people emerged, and made themselves
known, relatively early in the investigation; and I have had the experience, and
I guess you have had, too, of receiving letters from Michigan and Florida and
Indiana and California, New Jersey and Washington and Kansas, from people never
heard of before and with whom I was only remotely concerned, just because they
heard I was interested.
I am appalled by the prospects, the more so because, of all the people in my own
line, none, to speak of, had any valid information; and if they are not in our
own line, in some way, or have a family Bible containing the very earliest
generation, we will be none the wiser for all of it. Unless indeed we wish to
write a book, (leaving out the earliest generation!)
So that's the pessimistic side; and about all I can see, at the moment. On the
geographic front, the limited objective, maybe more is promised despite the
burning of the early records of Frieden's Church in Augusta County, where David
may have worshipped - its pastor married Samuel and Elizabeth. And at one move,
if only it were possible, to remove from consideration or otherwise dispose of
the lines of John Hamachers who are in church records at Winchester, Virginia,
or, I should say, all of the lines of the Pennsylvania John Hamacher associated
with that place.
If you consider despite all this, that it will be worth while to undertake the
national canvass, as apart from any personal considerations of persistence and
devotion, and that people would respond to a mechanically multiplied approach
along the lines mentioned, or some equally practical alternative: please let me
have your suggestions about the extent of the questions you would like to ask,
and I will incorporate them. I find it extremely difficult of my own volition to
have any ambitions whatever along this line. The only inconvenience I have been
put to, by Roy's having written our line, is the necessity I am under of asking
him for permission to disseminate excerpts from his work. I have had mimeograph
stencils prepared, and anticipate no difficulty; if anyone asks me for the
family account, I can give them a copy, and it is complete and fully documented.
But it only got that way, by our having gone there, and there obtaining the
information, and the documentations. (I intend to send you a copy of it.) If by
similar interest, (which I surely have) we can put John in David's line, this
single account, I am persuaded, will be accepted by any hereditary society as
adequate proof. But it will require equal and similar documentation, on the
site.
How far you have progressed, since first writing to me! I am delighted. Will
write to the few on the list, have already written to the one Hamacher. But I
think I'm going to have to go down to Virginia before I am wholly satisfied with
my own line, and to look up yours.
Sincerely,
(signed) S.B. Hamacher
Phoenixville R. 1, Pa.
February 28, 1956
Dear Mrs. Schwartz,
Although I haven't much to relate - I wrote to Hamachers in Florida and have had
no reply at all - I thought I would inclose for you the mimeographed copy of
excerpts from Roy Hudson's little, bound typescript, of which I have one of the
twelve copies.
I though he did a fine job, primarily because of its accuracy and brevity. The
sources of his data are given and are given and are thus all in one place. I am
sending my mimeographed excerpt also to the State Library at Harrisburg, along
with another one of Dr. Hamaker's pamphlets. Together, they cover the subject
fairly well, I think. I believe I shall send the same material also to the
Lancaster and the York County Historical Societies. Their data so far has been
rather sketchy.
Please overlook the manifest deficiencies in the mimeo work; I did not know at
the time where I could get a stencil cut in Phoenixville, so I did the work
myself, and later had it run off, despite reservations, to avoid further
checking, proof-reading and so on. I think in the main the marksmanship was
accurate.
Roy is correct in that the dates given for Adam's girls are birth dates, not
baptismal dates, with the single exception of Maria Salome whose baptism came
from a different church record.
Dr. Hamaker has been very ill, I am sorry to say. I had a note from his wife,
another from him in his own hand since he has recovered, but he said that
although he was on his feet again he was very doubtful how long it would last.
The first letter I had from him, he said it was refreshing to hear of a Hamacher
"who liked to write letters". How often we have been disappointed
ourselves, in that respect! Should anyone ever include a chapter on that subject
in a family record, I hope I may be permitted to write it. But on the positive
side, it surely enhances my appreciation too. I should like for you to know it.
A very nice thing has happened, I think in connection with some other portions
of my search undertaken on Mother's account. I was copying for Mr. William C.
Lightner, of York, some portions of a rather fascinating correspondence engaged
in by some members of that tribe - he sent me the name of an ancestress, which
we had not known before; and I found in my grandmother's writing, a couple of
names which could only indicate that they were related, at Baltimore; and they
are in the "Hollingsworth" book. Evidently that is our family. I
believe the Hattiesburg vicinity Hollingsworths are in it, although we are not.
My great-grandfather was educated at Baltimore and it must be that he had known
relatives there on his grandmother Hollingsworth's side.
I have hoped that a cousin of mine who is making a supplemental D.A.R.
application will send to headquarters, the two Hamacher items I have mentioned,
for either of them will probably be acceptable to their library. But for myself
I would just as soon we not be spared anything in the way of research. There is
one favorable factor - everything, practically, that I found out about David
Hamacher, was found on my last trip after I had already been to Staunton and was
on my way home. I feel that if I went there with our present knowledge and
specific questions, the trip might be more resultful.
Sincerely,
(signed) Bassett Hamacher
Phoenixville R.1, Pa.
July 14, 1956
Dear Mrs Schwartz:
It was good to hear from you and I appreciated your letter. Right now, it appears, the future of the Hamaker research is a bit tenuous, but Mother commented that some day you would know all the things you want to know!
I have not changed my theories, which are that had we both asked Dr. Hamaker our questions at the same time, he would have been able to attribute John of Patrick County, same as he did Samuel of Indiana, to David Hamacher. I do wish that we know more than we do about the families of Henry Hamaker, and Christian Hamaker, and possibly of Phillip; our lack of knowledge of them must leave us in some doubt until an actual record attributing parentage, is located.
I have forgotten now, where I began to consult the Shenandoah County Court Minute Book: I think I began with the 1795 volume, but perhaps I did not. I looked at every page of all the subsequent ones up to about 1808 with the exception, I believe, of 1802-1805 which was not available that day, and Roy Hudson has seen that volume since.
In numerous cases there were entries concerning children and infants bound out with the permission of the Church Wardens, naming the chosen guardian and sometimes the parents, or at least the father. It may be (I do not know definitely) that this record would not have been necessary had the child attained the age of 14. By 1795, last record of Anna Herr Hamacher, John would perhaps not have needed such a record, but Samuel would have. And as we have seen, Anna at least was David's daughter and was bound out, and I am assuming that Eve and Franny also were David's daughters, to whom something of the same kind must have happened.
Mrs. Griffith advises me that a good many records of Augusta County, Virginia, have been returned since my visit, to the Court House at Staunton. They had been in the possession of Duke University for a good many years as a result of some kind of early inattention. But when at Staunton we did not find any records of Hamachers, and only one of Frederick Krahn, in a tax list which was not indexed. Had I had time to pursue the original tax lists further, no doubt some Hamacher record might have been found. And I should like, very much, to know what is in the University records which have now been returned to Staunton.
It is unfortunate that Dr. Hamaker had not retained the address of the correspondent who spoke of and Ephraim Hamaker. His address would be all we would need. And we could go on hoping, that somebody in the family would have been able to keep a family Bible or other record, that would clear up many of our questions.
I wish to get more information at Staunton and Woodstock but the prospect is that I would have to go there prepared for a considerable stay, and just "camp" until I had exhausted the possibilities in the records. It seems to be becoming more difficult every year for me to do anything of the kind. But, perhaps some specific questions may become possible, and in that case I could ask some of the local cousins to go around and collect answers. Anyway I hope so.
I was much interested in the namesake of mine, or vice versa, who was in the vicinity of Lordsburg, Ohio. We have knowledge of a number of people Bassett who were in Ohio and Illinois, without knowing (just now) how they derived. The New England family has had several historians who prepared voluminous MSS but never got them published; and the Bassetts of Kentucky -- our line - are in another recent MSS prepared by the late State Senator Arthur Bassett of Tacoma, Wash., but which since his death we have not had a chance to see. His son and widow are now in Philadelphia, we heard from them not long ago and may see them here soon: so I hope eventually to have these Kentucky lines as far as he obtained them. He did not know their derivation, however, either. As nearly as we can show it, my ancestor was a son of John Bassett of the Coxe and Kirkbride Patent in Hunterdon County, N.J., as early as 1735, we may well have come over from Wales. There is a castle in Glamorganshire formerly in possession of the Bassett family, and now one of the Welsh "antiquities", and I had a letter before Christmas from the Minister for such things, saying he would look into the matter. . .(of whether Governor Richard Bassett of Delaware was a Welshman.) (The Minister may have been clearing his desk before the holidays.)
An Arnold Bassett who died in 1622 is buried at Llantrythidd, and in 1722 another Arnold Bassett was married (somewhere) to Judith Thompson, and came to America, and was a Quaker, and they were the parents of Governor Bassett, in whose house my ancestor's brother, John, died about 1793; the theory being, they were cousins. One John of Delaware enlisted for the French and Indian wars 1758, aged 26, a native of Wales, but was obviously younger than John of Hunterdon. My line.
John of Hunterdon adult 1735, 200 acres, had son Amos who married Susan Stout, (descendant of Richard Stout and Penelope van Prineess, etc. dau. Of David Stout of Hunterdon, to Kentucky 1791) and had son David Bassett, married Jane Ann Wilson, and had son Samuel Taylor Stout Bassett, M.D., captain in the Confederacy etc., who married Caroline Dupuy Ardinger, my maternal grandmother. We do not know much about the Wilsons but I just got a lead, showing there is a Wilson family in Hunterdon County, which may be just what we need. There are several such families in Kentucky, some of who have records, but not of Jane Ann.
The Stouts were quite a family, prolific and great founders of Baptist churches, and in New Jersey early enough to chalk up a number of "firsts" among the European population, since when they arrived they found nobody but Indians. Dr. William Mitchell, brother of S. Weir Mitchell, was their historian and most of his MSS material is now incorporated in the Stillwell many-volumed history of New Jersey.
It is a bit ironical that we have so much on nearly all our lines here and yet the questions remain as to Wilson, Bassett, Craun and Hamacher. In fact I know who the original immigrant was in all the cases except the first three named, and a couple of Virginia lines that are well known, -- and even, including the Dutch and Huguenots of Nieuw Netherlands, which might be expected to offer great difficulties.
- - - * * * - - -
The other day I had a note from Mrs. Ponti, to whom I had not written for a long time. She is still in Fulton, Missouri, and said she had enjoyed more than anything, the genealogical correspondence in which she had taken part. She had written lately to Bill Hammaker of near Harrisburg - who replied, that he was older. I purchased some more of Dr. H's books some time ago, as I had promised to take a certain number, and will advise her about them, for she will probably be helped by his information. I cannot get over the faint air of unreality that surrounded her information, including the tombstones of a "Djohnestion" family, part of the line, to which she referred, in Pennsylvania, during her earlier letters.
Roy Hudson and wife Jean have tired of Florida for the summers and the other day advised me that they have bought a mountain side home near Asheville, and hope to sell their house in a development at Ormond Beach, by October 1. He is still interested in family research, but is working on his Hudson lines now and evidently determined to get them, down to the last 1956 baby. He is so able that I am sorry he has always been in a hurry to get somewhere else, when stopping in Virginia. Nevertheless had turned up many of the essentials of our present knowledge, from the records, and has done a very fine job in this little volume.
One of my disappointments has been not hearing from a number of the Haymakers and Hamachers and Hamakers. I wrote some Ginders and has 100% replies, but they were not of the right derivation, knew their lines. The Lamperts and the Lamberts around Washington Court House will not answer letters. (Ohio), although I am pretty sure some of them are our people.
I still consider my Hamacher line to be in need of initial as well final "proof". Crucial items and their uncheck sources, so far:
1. David's wife was "Ann Herr, of the pioneer family" -- from
Martin Brackbill, of Harrisburg, who said "it was from a release recorded
at Harrisburg" - I haven't seen it.
2. Samuel was "born in Va." -1850 Census, Scott Co., Indiana, and our
only such intimation, outside of the probabilities.
3. And of course, David's dates and his place of burial are still not know.
In Virginia or elsewhere somebody in the Neff or Armentrout families may have information which would cast more light on David's family.
If anyone can find out, I am sure that you will be able to do so. I surely have appreciated your interest and objectivity and the information which has done so much to fill my several notebooks and point the way to our best sources in research. Best wishes, and I hope you and your family also will have a good summer, of results and relaxation. I shall write to more of our people at the earliest opportunity and hope to find some answers.
Sincerely,
(signed) S.B. Hamacher
Phoenixville R. 1,
July 27, 1956
Dear Mrs. Schwartz:
I think I should tell you that I have sent the National Society D.A.R. a copy of the Hamaker book, also a copy of the excerpts from Mr. Hudson's work. They said they would be glad to receive both, and place them in their library. But have rendered no decision upon whether they would receive supplemental or other application, favorably, which was based upon these statements alone.
The letter I sent to Mr. Charles Hamaker of 18th Terrace, Miami, was returned with the notation there was no such address.
We have received a reply, a very nice one, to the letter I sent to Homer A. Haymaker of Miami. He is aware of his descent from "Stophel" through Jacob, whom he describes as one of three sons -- at least -- John, Jacob and George. Franklin Haymaker of Portage Country, Ohio, was his great-grandfather; and he said he would try to get in touch with someone in the family who could give us more help. It was his opinion that the Haymakers and the Hammachers, et al, were varied only by their spelling. According him, it was Franklin who was the "private secretary to Aaron Burr".
There is evidently an account somewhere of the Haymaker family, to which some of its members are privy.
I shall have this material and any other that I receive, for you, but should I think retain it for awhile in case the correspondence requires more letters.
I have always wondered about the Haymaker legend in view of the fact that in 1709 one John Jacob Heumacher arrived at New York - - ref. Penna German Society Magzine - - and that the church records 1791 - -, of York, Pa., refer to John Jacob Heumacher, in referring to the person claimed as a Stophel descendant. I am not questioning it, but it may be that something can be added. It is possible also that there were more children of Stophel. The name "Heumacher" is pronounced same as mine but we have never experienced the discovery of that spelling, for us, in church or militia records - all other possible spellings. In Bucks County, they set them down "Hamaker". Further investigation should explain the presence in Bucks County of Rudolph Hamaker, (which I believe you sent me) who was naturalized 4-10-1756. (Dr. J. does not employ "Heumacher" as a variant.)
My notes do not indicate where Rudolph went. If he too went to York or vicinity, perhaps I could find out more about him by asking a correspondent there. I have been writing to a Mr. William C. Lightner of 104 West Maple Street, who is working to compile the Lightner lines. It is he, whom I promised I would get over to West Chester right away to look up records (an intention I have not yet been able to discharge!)
I do not think I have written to you since I heard just the other day from a genealogist, Mrs. William Everett Bach, of 165 Bell Court West, Lexington, Kentucky, to whom I wrote concerning Bassett records in that State. She was quite thorough but as in so many instances, sent everything could find although I had had only one specific question. From a biographical history there, however, she did send a notation by a descendant, that he was of an old Welsh and Colonial American family, of Delaware - which tended to support suppositions. My maternal side seems to have absorbed a great deal about the early family even when it is not know in detail.
And if I did not mention that, perhaps I did not mention either, a hypothesis I developed upon rather tenuous grounds relating to David Hamacher and his possible family. In the record of Old Salem Lutheran Church at Mt. Sidney, Va. (where, I was just notified, the Craun Reunion is to held August 5) the earliest Krahn record is as follows:
Michael Krahn and wife Elizabeth - son, named David Jan. 1, 1806
It was my though, that "wife Elizabeth" might have been a daughter of David Hamacher. Michael was still around in 1820 or 1830 (don't know which, but after Frederick died) and there were young sons, Michael, Henry Jacob - spelled in census, "Crone". I have written to the Rev. Mr. P.J. Bame, pastor of the church, to ask for more information, if possible, concerning Elizabeth's maiden name. Something like this might indicate the manner in which Samuel got into the family, as it were, of Frederick Crawn. And give us another daughter of David.
I am inclosing an exact copy of the letter*I received which notified me that the records of Frieden's Church had been burned. Samuel and Elizabeth were married by the Rev. John Brown, who was pastor of this church, the Peaked Mountain Church, and of another, during that time. I have not been able to locate a church record of the birth of baptism of their eldest, John Hamacher, born 1814, and it was perhaps for the reason that Frieden's records were destroyed.
Therefore it seems to me that one order of business might be to make a determined effort to find out, whether somebody had not copied the Frieden's records prior to 1874 when they were lost. I shall try to ask some questions that will permit me to make a start on this, but at the moment, I don't know how to begin.
Sincerely,
(signed) S.B. Hamacher
Later, P.S. - I could not locate this letter, but am sure I have it somewhere. The Rev. Mr. L.O. Carbaugh, pastor, advised me that in 1874 the Frieden's Church records up to that date were destroyed in a fire at the home of a Mr. Shank.
I have been receiving invitations to go to the Craun Reunion this Sunday. It will be held at Old Salem Church at Seawright Springs, Va., -- mail address of pastor, P.J. Bame, is Mt. Sidney, Va. I wasn't able to go but am hoping some of our young relatives at Army posts in Virginia can get there. - S.B.H.
Phoenixville R. 1, Pa.
August 27, 1956
Dear Mrs. Schwartz:
The article giving the movements of the opposing forces at Vicksburg surely was appreciated by us here - thank you so much for sending it. It was just what I had been seeking, to give me a fuller understanding of what went on there. I never knew by Grandfather Bassett, but he and Grandfather Hamacher, who was with the Indiana troops, used to discuss the action and I have an account which was prepared for the 49th Indiana's 1891 reunion, of its movements with the other Union troops. Of recent years I have not been where I could read much of the South's side of these and other battles, (as I used to when I was a child!) James Street had a highly accurate account of the struggle for Vicksburg, however, in his book, "By Valour and Arms", a fairly recent fictionalized account.
If you ever read, as I did, "Mohun", "Surrey of Eagle's Nest", and the other works of Mr. Cable, you are aware that they could be a memorable experience. They were in paperbound editions in the library of our Woodson cousins in Missouri, and I absorbed them in cooperating with the grown-ups who wanted me out of the way. Harrie P. Woodson incidentally was one of the best men who ever lived - his wife was a Galtney, from Mississippi, our Cousin Stella. It was my great-grandmother, Jane Ann Woodson Ardinger, who perpetuated the family interest in family history on that side of the house. So that recently when I was invited to join a hereditary society it brought back many memories of the family, and it seemed natural to elect to "go in on" the Woodson line. This was the Order of First Families of Virginia. Mother was the legatee of my Grandmother Bassett, who was one of the earliest members. Through the interest of some Kansas City cousins, and friends, and of Mrs. Hiden the president, I received this invitation, which I hastened to accept.
I hope I did not omit to thank you in my last letter for the Bassett information from Ohio, but fear I may have done so. It is quite difficult at this point to attribute the Bassetts from out that way to the proper families, because I have not seen the work on the Kentucky Bassetts and Mrs. Bach sent me records from census, of about six of them who were new to me, in various parts of Kentucky quite early. Most of the Bassett books I ever heard of are so voluminous that they are still in Mss --- William Bassett of New England having come quite early, 1621. Mother thought us descended from him, for a long time, or we might be further advanced with our proper line: probably, from Wales to Delaware and New Jersey. Some of the Kentucky Bassetts to whom we are kin, went to Illinois, but I have not any previous record for Ohio.
It seems more highly desirable to get straightened out with the Bassetts since I have, of course, first cousins carrying the Bassett name. Grandmother joined the F.F.V. on Christopher Branch, and no doubt this decoration will go to a small Bassett cousin, who is named for her, Caroline Dupuy Bassett. So, the father is a member through the Branch line. James Branch Cabell, when younger, assisted his mother in family research in England and it resulted in a really remarkable series of authenticated discoveries, or rather hook-ups, told in "Branchiana" and in "Branch of Abingdon", going back almost as far as the Christian era. Most of the people Winston Churchill talked about in his latest book, and indeed most of the ones mentioned in The Historians' History of the World, come into the line. It seems as though
Phoenixville R 1, Pa.
September 2, 1856
Dear Mrs. Schwartz:
I may have a footnote to our research for the records of Frieden's Church in Augusta County, Virginia, which would be helpful in locating them. This is the fact that in The William & Mary College Quarterly of January, 1906 - Vol. XIV, No. 3, -- there appeared a reference to the Rev. John Brown, who was the pastor of Frieden's Church and who was the minister who married Samuel Hamacher and Elizabeth Crawn in 1813.
This issue of the magazine have a continuation begun in the preceding issue, of birth and communion records from the Peaked Mountain Church, of which the Rev. Mr. Brown also was pastor of at same time. A footnote said - "The Reformed pastors before Rev. Mr. Brown were no doubt the same as those of neighboring Frieden's Church in whose record, begun in July, 1786, we find the following names: - - - (Emphasis mine.)
So that somebody did see and perhaps copy the records in question. The source of the contribution was not given.
It is possible that the Swem Index to Virginia publication would contain an indication as to the magazine or magazines in which this Frieden's record had been published. It is necessary to consult his Index before any questions are answered by the college, and a large number of their early issues were lost in a fire, so that what they have even then is problematic. But, if they do have it, and are furnished leads from the Swem "Index", they make copies available to researchers.
The reason I am writing this, is, apart from the time involved, that I have not been able to find a copy of "Swen" in Philadelphia and it may be accessible to you as part of the research library there.
The Colonial Dames in Virginia announced a long time ago that they were intending to publish a complete record of all church gravestone records in Virginia. I shall ask Mrs. Hiden at the first opportunity, whether a book she is working on now has anything to do with that one. She has another, to be out this month, called "Adventures of Purse and Person", concerning the early settlers at Jamestown. I hope to get it, but as to assistance in specific lines of research, I do not know how well they are equipped to be of assistance or whether inquiries are welcomed. Another thing I hope to find out, for in their files may be several names in which I am interested.
Mother tells me it was John Esten Cooke, and not George Cable, who wrote "Mohun" and so forth - an error in my last letter to you. He was also the author of a story traditional in our family, "The Story of a Huguenot's Sword," (Harper's, April 1857) about my ancestor Bartholomew Dupuy. So should have his full due.
Sincerely,
(signed) Bassett Hamacher
Phoenixville R. 1, Pa.
September 7, 1956
Dear Mrs. Schwartz:
Sometime I shall ask Mr. Brackbill how he found out about David having married Anna Herr, but I believe I shall continue to think that this was the case, for there was small reason for his attributing this marriage to any Hamacher, or to David, unless he had evidence. He is a Herr, and had done exhaustive research, enough to let him say that the early generations in the Herr book were replete with error. So is the paragraph you quote from Mr. Heisey, who is obviously relying upon the book. I have checked the wills of Abraham Herr at West Chester, and the abstract of John Herr's 1775 at Philadelphia; the latter does not mention any husbands of the daughters, whatever. Moreover the assumption as to geography is faulty, for both families were neighbors in Rapho township, where the older Hamacher boys and girls grew up and were married. If Mr. Heisey wanted to know something about the subject he would have to go and ask Mr. Brackbill or somebody like him. We have to ask different ones their findings, and rely upon what we are told, when they have any. At least until it becomes imperative to know differently.
Mr. Brackbill has all the early relationships, and had found another of the husbands of one of the Herr daughters, Freny. I think this information is founded upon a rock. If I have not yet sent you the Brackbill correspondence with me, I shall do so, for it tells about the Moyer ancestry as well.
The Robert Spear of who you speak in Hempfield Township was the man who was a pew-holder at Donegal Church for many years. He was the son of Robert, Senior, of Big Chickies (Chicquesalunga), and attended church 1788-1801, maybe longer, but moved his pew in 1802. Married a daughter of Colonel Jacob Striekler, of Hempfield township. He removed from Hempfield township to Columbia, Pa., (the seat of the Hubrecht Hamachers) where he was appoint a J.P. by Gov. McKean, and held that office for forty years. In 1786 he was a trustee of the Donegal Church. In 1787 one Zacharias Moore became a trustee, who married Mary Boggs, sister of Captain of Alex Boggs and Major John Boggs.
Whenever the Striekler name comes up, as it does frequently in connection with Hamachers, it seems to be associated either with Hempfield township, or with York, where it is also associated with Stomers and Herrs. To pursue this idea to its logical conclusion would place David Hamacher in the Columbia family, however, which we know is not the case; and that is often the way with names. I have many Crones and Herrs and Stomers at York which would take a lifetime to unscramble, associated with Flereys and other intriguing people. Whereas we do not even know yet, exactly who was the Christian there, whose wife was Anna Stomer.
I heard again from Mr. Homer Haymaker, who wished to correct his earlier several references to Franklin Haymaker, to Frederick - which was of course the case. I told him about Rudolph Hamaker, who must have been quite old when he was naturalized in 1756 if Stophel had anything to do with John Jacob Haumacher, who came in 1709, whose namesake was the York ancestor adduced by the Haymakers. Rudolph may have been a later arrival, of course. Nothing about any of this is very simple.
I shall not write at length, having just sent you another letter. Mr. Lightner has been generous in offering to look up things at York for me, but I hesitate to except when a subject is either highly general, like the Frieden's records, or highly specific. However, we may have something specific to ask at some time, and I appreciate his offer.
The Henry County Bassett information was appreciated very much. These are the Bassetts derived from the early, Williamsburg Bassetts, and in turn, from the New England lines, in which the name "Burnwell" was perpetuated. We are proud of course of the prominence of the Bassett name in the early colonies, since all of us are ultimately kin. Some time I shall have to send you a full account of our New Jersey line, a great deal about which is known, especially all of the antecedents of Susan Stout who married my Kentucky ancestor, Amos Bassett. There were preeminent in New Jersey History.
I am inclosing the Brackbill correspondence. As you have already heard, Dr. Hamaker did not think much of the references to the Mennonites as "Swiss" or their having been termed a "Swiss sect"; he was jealous of their German derivation which of course was probably the fact. However, he offered substantiating details and supported the John Herr connection, as a logical one. I have not heard from Dr. H. for some time, so last week I wrote him a note and am expecting a reply momentarily. I hope he is all right.
Best wishes. I wish I could meet Mrs. Tomlinson while she is up this way and hope that she finds something of utility at Doylestown. Just not to find anything is so inconclusive and always leaves some doubt in the mind of the absent party!
If I were making wishes for you, surely prominent among them would be a hope for your greater knowledge of the John Hubrecht lines, for there are a good many considerations which point that way; and so far our efforts along that line have been attended with little success, or are nonexistent. It seems likely that none of our subsequent questions about Adam's family will be answered very satisfactorily until we know how to separate the Hamakers that are found in the records, in many cases together, in the same areas of Pennsylvania. We have another area of doubt in the lines of Christian, Henry and Phillip. There are so many Spears being found, almost in every place that Hamakers, Haymakers, et al are found, that unless they have more family records than we have it is equivalent to setting the search back to the starting point, to transfer to them. And no one who wishes to know all there is to know about the Hamachers can, as we have found out, get very far without all the information possible about John Hubrecht.
Sincerely,
(signed) S.B. Hamacher
COPY
August 11, 1941
My dear Mr. Hamacher:
I was much interested to receive your comments on my recent article in "Backgrounds" on the family of Adam Hamacher. My information was obtained from deeds recorded here in Harrisburg and from Orphans' Court Records in Lancaster County.
The Herr in question was Anna Herr, -- as I recall from memory since my records are at home and I am writing this at the offices of The Evening News --, the daughter of John Herr of Rapho Township. John Herr was a son of Abraham Herr of Lancaster Township who died in 1725.
The son of Adam who married Anna Herr was David Hamacher, who as I recall went to Virginia, according to a release recorded in Harrisburg.
The one thing I am interested in regarding the Hamacher family is whether or not it was a Swiss Mennonite family. In fact that a son married into the Herr family at that early period indicates something of this nature, although not establishing it definitely by any means.
(signed) Martin Brackbill,
Backgrounds,
The Evening News.
August 15, 1941
My dear Mr. Hamacher:
I believe you are entirely correct in stating that the Hamachers were of the Lutheran faith. The Mennonites were so strict on the question of infant baptism that there would have been no records of that sort in the Hamacher family if they had belonged to the Swiss sect.
However I think I see the solution to the problem, if it is one, in your reference to David Hamacher being connect with the German Baptist or Brethren church. Many Mennonites left their older congregations to become German Baptists and no doubt exists in my mind but that the family of John Herr of Rapho Township was one of them. Incidentally Mathias Gish of whom you wrote, lived in the same vicinity as John Herr. How far apart were their homes, I am unable to say offhand, but the distance was not great.
Perhaps since it appears that the daughter of John Herr of Rapho Township married David Hamacher, your ancestor, you would be interested in learning something of this family, one of the oldest in Lancaster County. You referred to the Herr book. As I recall, it merely refers to John Herr as a son of Abraham Herr and gives no further information on his descendants. In passing, I might add that the entire volume as far as the early generations are concerned, is replete with errors.
Briefly, the Herrs arrived first in Pennsylvania in 1710 on board the Maria Hope and with other Swiss moved to the frontier, this group of some ten families being the first to settle of the Gap Hills in Pennsylvania. The Herrs in this first group were Christian and Hans or John, two brothers. There is a tale of their father, Hans, being with them, but in long and exhaustive research I have never been able to confirm this story in any way.
In 1717, when the larger migrations of Swiss to Pennsylvania took place, there arrived two more brothers, Emanuel and Abraham, the latter being the eldest of his family. The fifth brother, Issac, arrived in 1719.
When Abraham Herr arrived, he brought with him a family of children, four sons, Abraham, Rudolph, Christian and John, and two daughters. He purchased 600 acres of land along the north side of the Conestoga Creek, which extended from that creek to the Little Conestoga. He died in 1725 as the records at West Chester reveal, before the payment on his land was completed.
Abraham's sons were adults in 1717, with the possible exception of John. The last-named marred Barbara Myers or Moyer, daughter of Michael Moyer, who also arrived in 1717 and settled north of the Conestoga near the present city of Lancaster.
John Herr purchased land in Rapho Township from his father-in-law. As a matter of fact this land was originally surveyed to John Herr in 1735, was sold to Michael Myer, who resold it to his son-in-law after receiving a patent on it. One point in this connection is not clear, whether the man, Michael Myer, so sold John Herr this land, 294 acres on the Chickies Creek, was his father-in-law or his brother-in-law of the same name. This Myer family is hard to straighten out.
John Herr died in 1775, his will being recorded in Lancaster. He left these children: John, Michael, Barbara, Abraham, Christian, Frena, Elizabeth, Anna and Maria. Michael Herr was cut off in the will because he had been disobedient - probably involved a religious dispute. I am of the opinion Michael migrated to Virginia.
John Herr of Rapho was an extensive land owner at the time of his death. I have not identified the names of any of the husbands of his daughters except Anna and Freny, the last of whom married John Witmer, a miller of Paxton Township, near Harrisburg.
As to the date of the marriages and so on, that is difficult to determine in the case of Mennonites, since no church records were kept by the church. The only possible course available is a family Bible, if such still exists. To locate that would be a hard job and then again good fortune might make it an easy one.
I shall surely call on you from time to time for information form your locality. Offhand I have nothing to request, except to say that I am deeply interested in learning more of the early history of the Skippack and Perkiomen regions of Montgomery county since one group of Swiss who arrived in 1717, settled there.
(signed) Martin Brackbill
Evening News
Harrisburg, Pa.
(He wrote again Nov. 11 to thank correspondent for sending him a copy of Mr. Hinke's volume "The Mennonites of Franconia" and to acknowledge receipt also of Dr. J.I. Hamaker's volume, sent by author, "Mathias Gish of White Oak".)
Phoenixville R.1, Pa.
September 9, 1956
Dear Mrs. Schwartz:
You will be grieved to hear, as I did only yesterday, that our correspondent and my old friend, Dr. John Irvin Hamaker, passed away on July 24. Mrs. Hamaker had been at home since, for only a few days, when she answered by last letter.
He had a fall on July 1, injuring his head and hip. Though he recovered partially and even walked a little, with crutch and cane, it was discovered later that an aortic thrombosis had formed, necessitating an operation, though the doctors gave no hope from the beginning. He took the operation much better than they expected, but several hours later, while under oxygen, quietly stopped breathing.
I did not know until I read the newspaper notices to what extent Dr. Hamaker was recognized in biological circles, as a Ph.D. (Harvard) who was the author of some of the first formal biology textbooks. ("A compendium of the Principles of Biology", 1905; "Principles of Biology", 1913).
A simple service, I think probably without any minister, was held the next day at a memorial chapel. The children were all there, and Mrs. Hamaker went home to South Bend, Indiana, until a few days ago with their son Richard F., of 2819 York Road, who is Chief Administrative Engineer of the Guided Missiles Section of the Bendix Aviation Corporation of America.
Dr. Hamaker's death leaves all of us without one of our first mentors in genealogical work on the Hamaker family. Tomorrow, Richard will go by his home and pick up his father's papers to take with him to South Bend; his responsibilities, however, are gigantic, and he will have little time to do anything with them. Mrs. Hamaker asked me if I was willing to have inquires along those lines sent to me here, and of course I am; although without the papers, we are bound to be handicapped. I am glad he had the satisfaction of seeing his genealogy in print, which seems to contain most of what he wanted in it, and apparently most of which he had given me some idea of, over the last sixteen years. Some hints now obscure might emerge from the papers some time in the future, but apparently I was better informed about his work, than I had any idea about.
I must write now to John Hamaker and William S. Hamaker who may not have received this word.
Sincerely,
(signed) S.B. Hamacher
COPY
Phoenixville R. 1, Pa.
September 9, 1956
Mr. Martin Heisey,
Lancaster County Historical Society
Lancater, Pennsylvainia
Dear Mr. Heisey:
You are probably entitled to a fuller account from me of the origins of the statements referred to by Mrs. John Luall Schartz of Mississippi, and current in my Hamacher lines, that a daughter, Anna, of John Herr, son of Abraham Herr who came 1717, married David Hamacher.
When Abraham came in 1717, he had with him four sons, Abraham, Rudolph, Christian, and John. They were all adults in 1717 with the possible exception of John. However, it is thought that John married not long thereafter, and I have it from Mr. Martin Brackbill, who said he had done long and exhaustive research on the Herrs, that he married Barbara Moyer, daughter of Michael Moyer, another 1717 arrival.
John died in 1775 and while I am not able to give you the number of the court record of his will, it was filed that year and did not mention, to the best of my recollection, at least in the abstract of it that I saw in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the names of the husbands of his daughters. The children of this John were John, Michael, Barbara, Abraham, Christian, Frena, Elizabeth, Anna and Maria. Mr. Brackbill obtained from deeds at Harrisburg, and Orphan's Court records at Lancaster, identification of the husband of Anna, as David Hamacher. He said he had identified the husband of only one other daughter, Frena, who married John Witmer, a miller of Paxton Township.
This John Her was in Rapho Township. It was also in Rapho Township that Adam Hamacher, the immigrant, lived from about 1752 to 1774 or later, so that nearly all of his older children married residents of that township, so that David's marriage was not as illogical as it might at first appear. Peter Hamaker, another of the children, was the immediate neighbor of John Herr, the younger.
I am aware that The Herr Genealogy does not mention the marriage but was under the impression that it did not go into the line of Abraham Herr, eldest son of the progenitor, to any extent at all. Therefore when this detailed analysis appeared, and Mr. Brackbill said that the Herr Genealogy was deficient, in the early generations, it seemed that his discoveries could be regarded with confidence. It may be that - as indeed I think was the case - a birth date of 1731 would have been quite late for the birth of a wife for this particular John.
I have to add as a personal word, that I was grieved to hear yesterday of the death on July 24 of my old friend, whom you probably know -- Dr. John Irvin Hamaker of Lynchburg, Va., whose interest in the family extended over many years. I was glad that he had been able during the last year or so to have his Hamaker findings printed, a copy of which I had sent recently, to your Society. If I can add anything to any of this, I will be glad to do so.
Sincerely,
(signed) Samuel Bassett Hamacher
Pheonixville R. 1, Pa.
September 14, 1956
Dear Mrs. Schwartz:
It is always a question as to how far to go in accentuating the negative, and besides I am waiting for a letter from you, but I know you are interested in the Adam Hamacher family and I have nothing better to do - with a few exceptions; so herewith, I should like to round up a few questionable items in our interpretation of the early family.
1. That there were two Peter Hamakers. This statement is made on Page 52 of the Hamaker booklet but so far as I know, rested for proof on a statement purportedly made in Brumbaugh, as there stated.
There is little hope of this and it further restricts the expediency of looking for more people in the early family. In 1941 I made full excerpts concerning the Hamachers, from the Brumbaugh book, consulted in a fairly modern edition. In order to check on Peter, I have just borrowed a first edition, (Brethren Pub. Hs., Mr. Morris, Ill., 1899) and find no changes in it either. I think I gave you all these notes and their sources. Peter Hamaker did not there, at any rate "join the Brethren in 1770."
2. That the three daughters of Adam Hamaker who m. Mary Snaveley had a brother named Phillip, born 1801 at Hummelstown. There is no proof of this Phillip's parentage whatever. From statements of descendants of this Adam, I would be a bit restive with this attribution.
You asked about Hamakers in Virginia and West Virginia. In the "History of the Kanwha Valley" some Hamakers are mentioned - but I think you have this already:
Charles and Ellen White Hammaker, Hollow Grove, W.Va., had
- Frank Hammaker, b. 11-27-1871
- George Hammaker
- Rena Hammaker
- Laura Hammaker
Charles died 1880. Frank m. Matilda Dame and had three daughters and one son, Frank; no other data
Someone told me, I think it was Ernest of Maryland, that a George Hammaker in the vicinity of Pittsburgh could give me more information concerning his family. Ernest himself just said "he had a line that Dr. John Irvin Hamaker had given him". When I wrote to Ernest again, I did not get any reply; and as far as I recall, I never had a chance to check on George further, or his address.
I do not see why Samuel of Maryland could not have been Adam's son, exactly, but as I have said very often before, I am leary of responses like this and wish to confirm everything about him from independent sources. This is especially necessary to my mind since there were so many Samuels who were young contemporaries, in Tennessee and Alabama. I tend to forget them but as part of this larger picture that I have had in mind, they are not forgotten.
We cannot write a history of the Hamachers that would synthesize very much of it, for we are not there, and we are not on the scene, and the isolated questions we can ask outsiders get nothing but isolated responses. Even if we had not the example before us of people who have been there, and been on the scene, and spent 40 or 50 years on their lines; and had family Bibles, we can't do that. But we can honor our probable ancestor by paying some attention to their probable existence in the places where they probably existed, and trying to make their existence more real to future generations. This is a limited objective which may have some promise of success.
If Samuel of Maryland was not the antecedent of all these people, then who was? Somebody evidently, who had something to do with the South, and must either have been named "Samuel" himself, or close to some Hamacher named Samuel.
If a William and Samuel of the South were not the antecedents of all the Williams and Samuels , of the South - then, who was? Or could more probably have been? Is there some family which answers these specifications or if there is not, can one be found by consulting anything down there, ship arrivals or what not, toward that end?
I think that of far more significance to us in this present search for John, born 1780 in Pennsylvania, is the remark of Dr. Hamaker on the bottom half of Page 28 of his booklet, that there were several John Hamaker Mills in the southern part of Lancaster County before 1770, whereas John of Hempfield did not arrive there until after 1771.
This was the homeland of Hubrecht Hamacher, who had sons running his mills in all probability, and who lived in the same town with a Spear. He was the antecedent, or kinsman, of all or most of the Hamachers found at Winchester by 1791, of whom
William Hamaker was in 1810 Census, was over 45, had a large family.
He was not John Caspar's son therefore, (who was m. 1762, had 2 ch. by 1764). He was his brother or possibly his nephew. If the letter, William may have been a son of an Adam who was there by 1753 and who was relatively young therefore, if Hubrecht's son, by modern standards. The Census record tells us more about the age of William of the 1791 property tax, than would be told by the latter alone; to wit, he was over 45 in 1810; probably sufficiently older, to have been the father of a son born in 1780. By 1820 he has disappeared from the Census at Winchester.
It was evidently from some William this old that John of 1780 acquired 300 acres in 1823, because it is hard to conceive of this transaction in any other light, as might have been possible had John's son William been a little older - that is, as not a sale but a mortgage, to help out a younger man. The seller, William, or "W.M.", and a John, or "J.H." - I quote your notes - were both there by 1820, in Alabama.
So far so good. (We have heard before of a J.H. Hamacher, who died some time before 1783, in Lancaster County, Pa.)
Is it in order to inquire for what J.H. Hamaker obtained this land grant? I should think it would be. Now if William or "W.M.", and "J.H.", were brothers, it would have been a normal transaction. Few people wanted to have a large tract of land in a remote locality unless they had plans concurred in by other members of the family, for occupying and doing something with it.
(In 1804, for instance, one of the Woodsons obtained a large grant in Kentucky but he was not the only one who went there or even the principal beneficiary. He got it for servers performed in the American Revolution, and several young Woodsons went there with him.)
I think this would be of absorbing interest to you, and if you are just waiting for somebody else to suggest it, I have now done so. Could the tradition in the Winchester family, that Adam Hamacher, the gunsmith, received a large grant, have been true - only, that it was not "on the present site of Louisville, Kentucky", but in Alabama; or, was traded for the latter? (Pages 140-141, "Matthias Gish of White Oak")
We now have record from various censuses of ten Samuel Hamachers; nine of whom were born within a few years in Virginia, and Alabama, and one of who was born in Pennsylvania and married at Salem Lutheran Church in Columbia. Of these, all the Samuels born in Virginia were (from all available present knowledge), descended from, or related to John Hubrecht Hamacher of Columbia; and those born in Alabama, associated with Virginia Samuels in same counties. It is no more fair to assume, that they were related. And, had a Samuel Hamacher come in 1740 (in the absence of any other ship list or better information) and gone to Winchester, it would not be surprising. His existence might be shown by fuller information. But it will either be found at Winchester, or in some other place, probably down there, which we do not know about as yet.
I feel quite deeply that we are in the position of the fellow who sees apples scattered on the ground after a storm, and is still wondering where is the apple orchard; the reverse twist, on the idea that a tree is know by its fruit. It fact that was probably the original meaning of this proverb. But whatever the philosophy, the facts remains, that we are looking for a John born in 1780 and I am trying to help you find him.
Sincerely,
(signed) Samuel Bassett Hamacher
P.S. ---- I found a Robert Spear in Pennsylvania and am writing him a letter. Also some of the Columbia Hamakers. Also, am inclosing two letters just received, for your perusal; Mr. France might turn out to be a helpful correspondent on the Stophel line in Ohio. There seems to be some doubt about the completeness of all this, however, and in their direction, may continue to be for some time to come? I shall try to keep my eye on the more direct possibilities.
Pheonixville R.a, Pa.
September 27, 1956
Dear Mrs. Schwartz:
I hope your area did not suffer damage from "Flossie". We are getting some 35-mile-an-hour winds, and chill and rain, and I know that being near to it must have caused more damage than we are likely to hear about in our papers.
It surely will be fine, if something can be learned both about Samuel of Maryland, and about the Ohio Lamberts and Joseph Haymaker. I suppose I should be satisfied about the former, but never have been. As for the latter, the D.A.R. has advised me that I have "proved" Barbara's descent from David Hamacher. Which of course is the case.
Some of these people are still there but they have, so far, not answered their mail. More significant might be Joseph Haymaker if it can be shown his presence there was not just a coincidence. If he was not who we think he was. So far he had to be David's son; he married a girl, name unknown, born in 1792. No dates for him but no doubt a bit earlier. Now comes the 1830 census, aged 20-30, to make this highly dubious.*
I heard from Mr. Luther Heisey at Lancaster, he had delayed an answer owing to a loss in the family, but had gone to look up John Herr, wife Barbara (prob. 1-26-1775, Book B, vol. 1, p. 683) and found the children as I had given them, and only one husband of any daughter mentioned, Freny, wife of John Whitmer. "You can depend," he added, "on any material compiled by Martin Brackbill, as he is extremely accurate and informed." This was reassuring and while I myself do not know what was Mr. Brackbill's next step, and would like to find it for myself, I consider it will only substantiate what we already have learned. In thanking Mr. Heisey, I did not go into the subject for I did not know how much you had asked him; but I did say, that since he was getting Hamaker inquires, I thought he might like to know about Hubrecht and family in southern Lancaster County, and that I was writing to some Hamakers at Columbia, I doubt whether there is anything at all at Lancaster in the files concerning them. He would probably want to take them into consideration just as we have. I was glad to have the opportunity of this correspondence regarding Ann Herr, for somebody else might ask him about it. While if he goes any further, he might turn up records in southern Lancaster County, which we would be glad to possess.
One thing the Lamberts of Ohio might be able to tell us, and that is, whether David went out there, or to Indiana. So far I have found nothing that would indicate he went to Indiana. And of course when and were he died, and where he is buried, are things we have to know.
There is a whole complex of things I should like to know further about Samuel of Maryland, and although I was at Hagerstown and the court house, and I know that Dr. Hamaker had always been of the opinion that he saw the same man as the son of Adam in Franklin County, Pa., in 1793, I am not at all sure about the attribution nor that Stewart, for instance, was necessarily his son. Nor that the Leckrone marriage of his son Adam was anything more than a coincidence to my line.
Church records and real estate transactions would be most helpful. The former have in my opinion been overlooked with bad results; the latter, I must have looked for and not found any, but at this late date I can't say positively.
If I have very much on the family, a great deal of it is certainly owing to your generosity in sharing data with me. We must now both have bulging notebooks. I should say also, that I have some hope a book you told me about some time ago, the European lists of emigrants from Zweibruecken; if "The Virtuous Grace" is in there, having make only one trip of record, no doubt Hamachers will also be found; and I hope it straightens out who came on the ship.
Best wishes to you and Mrs. Tomlinson.
Sincerely,
(signed) S.B. Hamacher
* Compare the biographical history of Fayette Co. Ohio in which it is stated that Joseph Haymaker, of Virginia, d. about 1859, m. a wife, name not given, who died in 1878 aged 86, and they had J.M. Haymaker, b. Fayette County 9-12-1823, etc.
My sole interest in this item was the probable age of this Joseph and his probably kinship to Abraham and Barbara Lampert and the fact that since he went there, and was of suitable age, he might have been David's son. The 1830 Census may not have been correct about his age? (But if there were a Joseph like this, and another Joseph 20-30, both there from Virginia, might in itself demand investigation.)
David Lampert in the Census was a son of Abraham and Barbara Hamacher Lampert.
Adam Lampert in the 1830 Census, evidently Abraham's brother. He m. Elizabeth Waggy, and they reared some children, also children of this sister, Mary who m. Phillip Nebergall, your notes.
###
Phoenixville R. 1, Pa.
September 30, 1956
Dear Mrs. Schwartz:
In going through some things this morning, I found a letter from you dated last January 20 which unaccountably, I could not recall having answered; and also something, which Mrs. Tomlinson might like to know, which had formerly escaped by attention:
Adam Hamaker, who died 1831, son of Samuel of Maryland, had a mill which was at Cavetown, some ten miles from Hagerstown.
The other item, for which please forgive me, was your suggestion that you had a photograph of your father. Of course I should like to see this, and appreciate your offer. I do not know what happened, that nearly everything in this letter is new to me.
The Cavetown item was in a few notes Roy sent me, which must have been added to from time to time by my aunt, and now I do not know the source. A descendant of this Adam was said to have been Dr. W. D. Hamaker, and I don't know who he was either. There is a newpaper clipping from Indianapolis in my possession concerning Mrs. W. D. Hamaker of the Alumnae Chapter of Alpha Xi Delta, helping with plans for "rush teas", and in the telephone directory is Wm. D. Hamaker, no M.D. stated however, whose address is 2152 North Meridian, Indianapolis.
You might like to have these address also (I had more from Washington Court House at one time, no answers though to my letters):
Charles Lambert, 914 Rawlings, Washington Court House, Ohio
Osborn Lambert, R. 5 Box 773; Cecil R. 2 Box 906; Vernon, R. 5 Box 168,
Raeburn, R. 4 Box 2542, and Lowell, R. 4 Box 2472, all of Modesto California
Clarence E. Lambert, Woodstock, Va., whose grandfather was David Lambert who married on Ann Heisey, a sister of one David Heisey, and came from the August County family.
These people, if they answered their mail, might be able to put up in touch with someone who has an attic, or Family Bible, or something which would help with the earliest family.
I wish I knew the name of the minister of the Centennial Church at Winchester, to give you. I tried for it at one time but after going through several hands at theological schools in Virginia, whose historians did not know anything, I wound up with the Rev. Mr. Wm. Eisenberg of Grace Ev. Luth. Church, Winchester, who was supposed to, but did not, have any information either.
Thus much of what I wan to know I have either had some indication of from others, or have seen with my own eyes but cannot get confirmed. Under the circumstances, specific questions asked of professional genealogists might be of use and surely, at that Winchester church would be one place such a question might be of value.
Same with Henry of Derry, who was a resident of the town of Hummelstown five years after his marriage, was resident of another town, in West Hanover twp., 1786, during which years his whole family was being born. There must have been some church record in both these places.
You mentioned in the same letter, a John W. Gates, in Henry or Patrick Counties, Virginia. There were many r.e. transactions of a John Getz, Getts, Goetz, along with those of David in Shenandoah County, Va. but happily, I can and do ignore all this, for during the years in which we are interested, the Hamaker section of this family was fully documented at Lancaster.
We ought to know who came on the ship and to this end, to identify two unidentified "Adam Hamakers" we have in our files. The one you sent me from Klinger's Church in the northern part of Dauphin, was greatly similar in probable age and names of children, to the Adam who died 1835 at Winchester; and perhaps for that reason, and many others, we should find out how and when Adam Senior came into the Northumberland property disposed of by the 1793 indenture. The two Adams, the other one of whom was in Paxtang 1800, had families different from any other Adams of record, and must have derived from somebody other than Henry, since it is indicated both were born ante 1765, by size of their families. If so either there were more Hamachers on the ship or we have to look to Christian, and an Adam dead prior to 1826 (which is highly likely) or to Phillip, and we know nothing about the ages of either of these sons of Adam.
What Dr. Hamaker said about John of Rapho et al, i.e. that "tax records" would have them there because of one end of their mill dam, was valid, except that these are Census records and show families of a composition not accounted for by anything else we know.
Sincerely,
(signed) S. B. Hamacher
Phoenixville R. 1, Pa.
October 3, 1956
Dear Mrs. Schwartz:
I believe you may be on the verge of finding your John of 1780 in Pennsylvania, from the evidence of the names you have been sending me. You surely are to be congratulated in that event.
Henry Musser was a neighbor of Adam Hamacher in Rapho Township, the Rapho place lying partially in Hempfield Township, and apparently although I have not been there, it was this place which John of Hempfield left to his son Abraham, and said was "surveyed of the old tract"; son Joseph Hamaker shared in this bequest (Page 30, "Hammacher" book).
Dr. Hamaker said Abraham Hamaker had only one child, a John, whose career he traced in Lancaster County. The censuses however indicate for thirty years that Abraham had some six people in his household, whoever they were.
What I cannot understand about this is, that although I am aware that most of our former conclusions are attributions, and some reservations have been justified about them, William or "W.M. Hamaker" was living as late as 1820 and did not appear in the wills of John or Adam Senior or of Christian whose will was written in the latter year. It would appear that Christian, who mentioned so many of his children only to cut them off with 25 cents each, would not have omitted anybody from his document.
Also, while to proceed wholly on the basis of associated names is not possible, the trail leading to Cumberland County also might be very promising.
I hope Mrs. Tomlinson may find evidences at West Chester concerning the early family in Rapho Township, which may clear up some of these questions - I am only sorry that I did not have the opportunity to help you with this. A whole train of questions is involved, of course, extending from the earliest days. While, if Christian was the man we think, and not necessarily involved with a "W.M." - and Christian also is perhaps an attribution, the one who was husband of Ann Ginder - it takes to Cumberland County several possibilities including the families of Henry, and of Phillip.
I am still of the opinion that while the details may vary, and may even require a major change in our thinking about certain individuals later, the general considerations will be found to hold good, and your John be found to derive from the family of Hubrecht, or else of Henry or Phillip; or, someone who came on the ship and not yet identified.
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Mrs. Ponti was just giving us back, what was in the Hamaker book. I have written her for a complete bracketing of her family, if possible.
Night before last I transferred data from our recent correspondence into note books, and noted that the DAR transcripts of marriages differed somewhat from Victor's book, in the name of the minister who married some of the Augusta County people (The Rev. John Gee). Also the Messersmith marriage in Augusta.
The Genealogical Society of Philadelphia announced classes to be held for two weeks, 2 to 4 p.m. beginning last Monday in the headquarters on the first floor of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, for the instruction of interested people in how to look up their ancestors. I wish I might have been there and could attend these. No doubt like the farmer, however, who wouldn't call in the county agent, I "already know how to do it better than I am doing it".
Very best wishes and I hope Mrs. T's discoveries will be of great help.
Sincerely,
(signed) S.B. Hamacher