Johan Theobald Lentz

� Immigration: Philidelphia from Germany, 14 Sep 1753, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. 3

� Naturalization, Autmn 1765.

� Military Service, Btw 1777-1780.

NARRATIVE ON THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF B- BASTIAN LENTZ

(NOTE: This narrative is basically from LENTZ HERITAGE but heavily edited.)

B-BASTIAN LENTZ, Sr.

FIRST GENERATION IN AMERICA

B- Johann Sebastian Lentz, Sr., was baptized on 26 Aug 1735 in a Lutheran church in a little European village named Postroff,which was populated mostly by Germanic families. It is possiblethat 26 Aug 1735 was also the date of his birth, since babies wereoften baptized on the day they were born.

Actually, at that time there was no Germany in the sense of a single, unified country. Unification did not occur until 1871. Before1871, what became known as the nation of Germany was composed of manyGerman-speaking fiefdoms or ministates owned by various German royalfamilies. In 1735, the area around Postroff itself was in a regionbelonging to the Counts of Nassau and was known as the Grafschaft ofNassau- Saarwerden. The area has a long and complicated history.Today, Postroff is in France, in the department of Moselle in theRegion Lorraine, near Fenetrange.

(SEE DOCUMENT NO. 1--A reproduction of the original handwritten entry in the Kirchenbuch (Churchbook) of the baptismal record forJohann Sebastian Lentz, accompanied by a transliteration of the oldGerman handwriting and full English translation.)

As shown on the baptismal records, his name at birth was Johann Sebastian Lentz. After his arrival in America, he dropped notonly the "Johann" but also usually the "Sebastian" and became knownas "Bastian Lentz." Variations and misspellings of his name are oftenseen in the old records. For example: Bostian Lentz, B. Lensz,Bastiann Lintz, Bastinn Lench, Boston Lance, and others. In order toavoid confusing readers, I will refer to him as B- Bastian Lentz, Sr.except in rare instances when I may refer to one of the variants. Inthe source entries themselves, however, I will use exactly whateverspelling appears in that source.

THE LOCATION OF POSTROFF

In 1735/1753, there was no unified Germany, and the area where Postroff is located was in the independent German state ofNassau-Saarwerden (Grafschaft Nassau-Saarwerden). This area was lostto the French in WWI and is now in the Departement Bas-Rhin(Nieder-Rhein) of France (former Deutsch Elsass) near a city namedFenetrange (French) or Vinstingen (German). The area lies within thepresent-day French province of Lorraine, just west of the Alsaceborder. Just east of the border lies the village of Hirschland whichappears to have been something of a "sister village" to Postroff.

Map "A" (not shown in this computer version) shows the precise location of the village of Postroff at the time, and Map "B"shows the location of the area on a present-day map. On the latter,find the towns of Sarre-Union and Sarrebourg. The location of thevillage of Postroff is about half-way between these two towns.

THE "PUSH" AND THE "PULL"

-- WHY OUR IMMIGRANT ANCESTORS LEFT GERMANY FOR AMERICA

The more we learn about conditions that prevailed in the area of Postroff for so many years the less we wonder why people therewould want to leave and the more we wonder why they did not leave evensooner. There is an inertia in human behavior which is not easilyovercome. Either crisis conditions at home (the push), or a powerfulattraction from abroad (the pull), is required before people will act.In the simplest terms, the theory holds that migrants may be impelledto leave their homelands by circumstances that push them into fleeingintolerable conditions. Conversely, the lure of real or imaginedopportunities in another land moves people to seek the better life.

The push have come from more slowly moving forces, such as overcrowding in the late 18th and early 19 centuries when Europe'spopulation grew by about 75 percent. At that stage, there was notenough land to provide livelihoods for younger sons, and thedeveloping industrial revolution could not absorb enough of them. Frompeasant villages throughout Europe tens of thousands sought refuge inAmerica. Those who were not skilled craftsmen became additions to thiscountry's pool of unskilled labor.

In the case of our Lentz immigrant ancestors, the push must have begun to build even earlier than this. Prior to Germanunification in1871, the Germanic peoples were made up of a number ofministates, and the little village of Postroff was in one of these.People in the area of Postroff had suffered for many years fromcontinual wars that swept back and forth across the Rhine Valley, fromreligious persecution by the French, from forced conscription of theiryoung men by this or that army, and from these armies constantlypillaging and destroying their villages and farms. Such turmoilfrequently brought on famine and disease.

The turmoil began with the Protestant Reformation (set in motion by Martin Luther) which converted the established religion ofGermany, Holland, Denmark, and Sweden from Catholicism toProtestantism. France, however, remained Catholic. Since France wasmilitarily stronger than Germany, the Palatinate and other Germanprovinces near the French border bore the brunt of all conflictscoming from all directions. King Louis XIV of France periodicallyinvaded and devastated the Palatinate starting in 1674. Also the RomanCatholic Church occasionally gained control of Palatinate governmentsand subjected them to oppressive rule, and they were especiallyoppressive against Protestants. Most of the Palatinate immigrants toAmerica were Protestants.

The initial pull to America was exerted by the English Quaker, William Penn. Owing to an obligation that the Crown of England owedPenn's father, King Charles II of England settled by giving WilliamPenn all the territory north of Maryland and west of the AtlanticOcean. There was no way that Penn could personally use such a vastterritory, so he traveled to Europe, particularly Germany, seekingpeople to emigrate to America and settle the area, where Pennguaranteed free land and full freedom of worship to "law abidingpersons who acknowledge the Almighty and Eternal God to be theCreator." Through his benevolence, most of these Germans were directedto Pennsylvania.

Thus began a series of mass migrations from the Rhine Valley that began slowly about 1690 and grew dramatically in the years beforethe Revolutionary War--and afterward, in the late 1700's, whenNapoleon's army swept across this unfortunate area. At first thePalatine emigrants settled near Germantown (now part of Philadelphia)and then spread out into the rich farmlands in the counties just westof Philadelphia. Gradually letters were written back to Germany sayingthat everything Penn had told them was true and often givingextravagant accounts of life in America. These provided an evenstronger pull. By 1735 the Germans began spilling over into thefertile valleys of Virginia.

By 1752 there were about 90,000 Germans in Pennsylvania (PA, hereafter abbreviated to save space)--and all the good land was taken.The Germans arriving after 1750 had little hope of finding goodfarmland in PA. Their best alternative was to follow the Scotch-Irishinto western North Carolina (NC). In NC, inexpensive and quite fertileland was still available. Thus, in the wilderness between PA and NCthe Great Wagon Road appeared.

At first the Great Wagon Road was a lowland path along the eastern Appalachian Mountains used by the Iroqois in the North and theTuscaroras, Catawbas, and Cherokees in the South. After a peace treatyin 1744 the Warrior's Path became safer for travel. As the footpathwidened into a road, Conestoga Wagons were seen heading south. Somepioneers built their log cabins and settled along the way, but manyothers continued on down the Great PA Wagon Road into western NC.

SEBASTIAN'S ARRIVAL IN PHILADELPHIA

Sebastian Lentz arrived in Philadelphia, PA, on 14 Sep 1753 on the ship Edinburg from Rotterdam via Portsmouth, England, captainedby Capt. James Russell. Bastian Lentz signed the ship's roster,proving that he was literate in German, at least, and prossibly inEnglish as well to some extent.

As was required of all new arrivals in the English colonies, he took the following Oath of Allegiance to the King of England: "WeSubscribers, Natives and late Inhabitants of the Palatinate upon theRhine and Places adjacent...will be faithful and bear true allegianceto his present Majesty King George the Second, and his Successors,Kings of Great Britain, and will be faithful to the Proprietor of thisProvince; and will demean ourselves peaceably...and strictly observeand conform to the Laws of England and of this Province." (Source: PAColonial Records, iii, 283.)

We, his descendants, have no way of knowing exactly what privations he and the others suffered on the long trip from Postroffto Philadelphia, but many contemporary documents survive today whichdescribe the journey.

Typical of these is "Journey to PA in the Year 1750 and Return to Germany in the Year 1754," by one Gottlieb Mittleberger, translatedby Carl T. Eben, New York, 1898, which describes the miserable,crowded conditions on the ships, the long delays, the "stench, fumes,horror, vomiting, fever, dysentery, diarrhea, scurvey, cancer,mouth-rot, all of which come from old and sharply salted food andmeat, also from very bad and foul water, so that many diemiserably...the storms at sea, so that everyone believes the ship willgo to the bottom with all on board..."

When at last they reached Philadelphia after a trip lasting up to six months, most of them were ill, probably covered with oneanother's vomit and other filth, and most, who were redemptioners,were not allowed off the ship until they came to terms with people whowould pay for their passage by purchasing their services for a numberof years. Often one would have a spouse, parent, or child, who diedalong the way, and such people would have to pay for the passage ofthe deceased as well, usually by prolonging their years of service toa purchaser paying for their passage.

We have no indication that either Sebastian (Bastian) or his brother Diebolt (Dewalt) were redemptioners.They were young andsingle, and it is unlikely that either one lost loved ones during thejourney. It is safe to say, however, that the journey was not apleasure.

B- SEBASTIAN LENTZ'S EARLY YEARS IN PENNSYLVANIA.

We are not sure why Sebastian Lentz traveled to Berks County, PA, when he arrived in America, but it is known that Rockland Twp., wherehe apparently settled, was so named because of the rocky, poor soil,which made the land cheaper than elsewhere. Also, it should beremembered that by 1752, a year before his arrival, more than 90,000German immigrants had already arrived in PA, and all of the goodfarmland had been taken. The poor quality of soil on his land and thecheaper prices for better land in NC must be what eventually provided"the push" and "the pull" for him to move later to NC. He is largelylost to us in Berks County, PA, but he and his brother, D- Dewalt(Diebolt or Theobald) Lentz soon show in the records of the MertzLutheran Church in Rockland Township where they sponsored children foreach other at baptisms. Also, land records show him with land inRockland Twp as early as 1760 and as late as 1779.

Early marriage records in PA are found only in church records. During the early years of his research, B71154- John Paul Lentz,compiler/author of LENTZ HERITAGE, employed professional genealogistsin PA to search the marriage records of more than 25 churches in theattempt to find Sebastian Lentz's marriage record. None was found.

J. Paul Lentz and his researchers then used another means to seek out the probable identity of Sebastian's bride. The following showssome possibilities for the last name of his known wife, Mareretha. C.J. Smith (NOTE: This refers to Mrs. Carlton J. [Ruth] Smith. SeeBibliography.) shows Peter Bechtel, Sr., who arrived in Philadelphiaon 22 Sep 1752 on the ship "Brother," William Muir, captain, fromRotterdam via Cowes. Smith says that he was with his wife Mareretha,and they had a son Peter, born 20 Aug 1756. J. Paul Lentz and hisresearchers speculated that the Bechtels may also have had a daughternamed Mareretha, named after her mother, who married Sebastian. Ifthis is correct, then Mareretha Bechtel must have been Sebastian'swife. It is believed that Sebastian and Mareretha must have married by5 Jun 1758 or before.

There appears to be some solid ground to support this belief:

(1) On the tax rolls in 1779, Sebastian Lentz was the only man in the county paying taxes on 135 acres.

(2) The same source shows that in 1790, Peter Bechtel paid taxes on 135 acres and was the only man paying taxes on 135 acres inthat year.

Since no records show that Sebastian Lentz sold the 135 acres he owned in Rockland Twp., we may assume that he traded it to PeterBechtel, probably his brother-in-law, before he himself (Sebastian)joined a wagon train to move to NC. He may not have had time to gothrough the details of selling and getting a deed made before thewagon train was to leave. Another clue is that a marriage record forSebastian's brother, D- Dewalt Lentz, was found, showing that on 23Mar 1767 Dewalt married Elizabeth Bechtel, probably a sister ofMareretha Bechtel, at the Mertz Lutheran Church, and this recordshows that they also lived near the church.

(3) Page 337 of EIGHTEENTH CENTURY EMIGRANTS FROM THE NORTHEN ALSACE TO AMERICA by Annette Kunselman Burgert also seems tosupport the belief:

If the wives of Sebastian and Dewalt were sisters, this would be a case of two brothers of one family marrying two sisters of anotherfamily, resulting in double-first cousins. If such was the case, thetwo sisters probably were a prime force that kept the two familiesliving on adjoining farms, not only in PA but also in NC.

In summary, the above creates a strong feeling that Bastian Lentz, Sr., married about 1758 to Mareretha Bechtel, daughter of Peterand Anna Mareretha Bechtel of Berks Co., PA.

SEBASTIAN LENTZ'S SERVICE

IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR IN PENNSYLVANIA

On 12 Jul 1777, Sebastian Lentz took the Oath of Allegiance to the American Colonies before John Olds in Berks Co., PA, as is shownin the Berks Co. Oath Book, p. 7.

In response to an inquiry by J. Paul Lentz, the Division of Archives & Manuscripts, PA Historical and Museum Commission sent thefollowing: "This is to certify that one Sebastian Lentz wascommissioned 17 May 1777 as a Captain, 3rd Company, 1st Battalion,Berks County Militia, according to the evidence of an undatedBattalion Return."

Commonwealth of PA, PA Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, PA, answered J. Paul Lentz's follow-up inquiry as follows:"He was elected for three years. We do know he must have served hisfull three-year term until March of 1780 when new elections were heldand he was not re-elected Captain. This is all we can say for surefrom our records." (SEE DOCUMENT NO. 2). For additional documentationof the PA Revolutionary War military records of Sebastian Lentz, seeSource No. 250.

B-- SEBASTIAN (BASTIAN) LENTZ MIGRATES TO NORTH CAROLINA

PA records indicate that B- Bastian (or Sebastian) Lentz left Berks Co. about March 1780, and this fits well with the records inNorth Carolina.

The Revolutionary War, of course, continued beyond that date, ending on 19 Oct 1781. In NC on 2 Feb 1781, the British GeneralCornwallis crossed the Yadkin River not far from Organ Church in RowanCo. where his horse was shot out from under him. From there,Cornwallis went on to the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, where he lostone-fourth of his army.

A number of NC records contain several entries which we believe refer to either B- Bastian (Sebastian) Lentz, Sr. or to B1- BastianLentz, Jr. All of these records are dated well beyond the end of thewar and concern pensions and moneys owed to certain individuals formilitary service during the war or for goods supplied during the warfor the war effort. Please see Source 251 for a full description..

The first record of Bastian Lentz in NC is in the Organ (Zion) Lutheran Church in Rowan Co. The minister made the following entry:"In the year 1774 after the birth of Christ, the following members ofour congregation began to build the so-called Organ Church, namely:(Here, he named 22 men, including Bastian Lentz, and ends as follows:)"I have written this with my hand, the 31st day of January 1789."(NOTICE: He wrote this 15 years after the church was first started.Was this Bastian Lentz, Sr., at age about 54 or was it Bastian Lentz,Jr. at age 30 This is not known but it appears to be Bastian Lentz,Jr.

B1- Bastian Lentz, Jr. entered for 191 acres of land in Rowan Co. on 4 Aug 1778,

B- Bastian Lentz, Sr., has about seven years without children between 1768 and 1776. Was he in NC at any time during this period?Or was he in NC in 1774? It does not seem possible for him to havebeen in NC at this time. He paid taxes in PA for the following yearsduring this period: 1770, 1771, 1772, 1773, 1774, and 1775. He mustnot have been away from home in PA. In other words, it must have beenB1- Bastian Lentz, Jr., who helped start the Organ Church in 1774

. On 1 Jan 1789, the following Lentz people signed the Constitution of Organ Church: Bastian Lentz (Sr., or Jr.?), D- DewaltLentz (Sr.), Peter Lentz (B2- age 27), and Jacob Lentz (B7- age 12.)Some others known to have been friends and future in-laws of the Lentzfamily signed as follows: Peter Barringer, John Adam Cruse, PhilipCruse, Valentine Hornberger, George Michael Heilig, Frederick Miller,Wendel Miller, George Ludwig, (Lewis) Sifford, and William Siffert(Sifford). On 29 Apr 1826, signing were: George, Charles, Dewalt,John, Jacob, Peter and Henry Lentz.

Organ Church was started in 1774 and finished in 1794. The delay was caused by the Revolutionary War. Black powder was notavailable for blasting the rock at the quarry and oyster shells couldnot be obtained from the coast to burn to make the masonry lime neededfor the mortar. Also, the extra manpower needed was away at war. B711-Jacob Lentz said that his grandfather B7- Jacob Lentz hauled oystershells in a wagon train from Fayetteville to the site of the church tobe burned for lime. This was after the war.

On 6 Nov 1778, Peter Barringer had entered for 400 acres on Dutch Second Creek in Rowan Co., NC (Raleigh Bk 51, p. 51). The letter tothe surveyor instructed the surveyor to survey this tract of land forPeter Barringer. The surveyor marked it: "Signed over to BostanLance." He surveyed 301 acres and dated it 5 Apr 1782. It was issuedto Boston Lance on 10 Oct 1783.

It appears that B- Bastian Lentz must have arrived in NC from PA in 1780, purchased the claim of land belonging to Peter Barringer andstarted clearing and building for his farm and home. It is possiblethat Peter Barringer was a friend of B1-Bastian Lentz, Jr., whoarranged for him to sell to his father even before his father left PA.No doubt they kept in touch a few times each year by correspondence orword of mouth by the wagoners who traveled back and forth haulingsupplies to and from PA.

This now gets both B- Bastian Lentz, Sr., and B1- Bastian Lentz, Jr., on farms about four miles apart in Rowan Co., NC, on the CabarrusCo. line, with Organ Church about two miles from Junior and aboutthree miles from Senior. They probably visited with each other everySunday after church services.

The 1790 census of Rowan Co., NC., shows "Lance, Bostion (Lentz, Bastian), with 2 free white males of 16 years and upward,including heads of families; 2 free white males under 16 years; and 4white females including heads of families. B4- Dewalt married in 1793,B7- Jacob married in 1802, and B9- Michael would all be at home, withJacob and Michael being under age 16, accounting for all the boys. B3-Elizabeth was living in Cabarrus Co. in 1789, B8- Margaret had herfirst child born 1 Jan 1800 and may or may not be at home, and BO-Maria (Mary) was single at home. This leaves two "daughters" we arenot sure about. They may have been granddaughters living with thefamily temporarily.

The 1800 census shows Bastian Lentz, Sr., and wife 45 or over, one male age 10-16 (born between 1784 and 1790), and one female age16-26 (born 1774 to 1784). B9- Michael married 17 Jan 1800 and showsin a separate house with his wife. This male must be a grandson or aboy living there as a laborer or hired help. We have assumed that thegirl is BO- Maria born between 1774 and 1784, and, since no guardianwas appointed for her after her father died in 1807, we selected 1781as her possible year of birth. She would be 16. She would have beenage 34 when she married in 1815. Maria could have had children, butwe have found no records.

It appears that the Lentz brothers had each learned a trade before coming to America. Bastian Lentz, Sr., is known to have had twosons who were "joiners," i.e., carpenters or cabinet makers. D- DewaltLentz, Sr., and his son D2- Peter Lentz were tailors.

Two others Lentz men, J- John Lentz and P- Peter Lentz, Sr., who lived in the area were thought to have been some kin to Bastian, Sr.,and Dewalt, Sr., but the relationship, if any, has still not beenfirmly identified. According to a family legend that continued formany years up to recently (June 2002), the four were all thought tohave been brothers but this has now appears been disproved. J- JohnLentz was listed as a blacksmith in NC, and may have also been a watersaw mill operator, as he owned land on Crane Creek in Rowan, sold itand bought a farm that had anoither saw mill on it or he build a sawmill on it down on Riles Creek in Rowan. The trade of P- Peter Lentz,Sr., has not been identified.

On 12 May 1802, B- Bastian signed the marriage bond for his son B7- Jacob Lentz to marry Mary Yost, daughter of Jacob and Mary Yost.His son signed as Jacob Lentz, but his father, age 65, made his "X" tothe name a scribe (Boston "X" Lants). This was the third son to marryrecently, Devault in 1793, Michael in 1800, and Jacob in 1802. B-Bastian decided to give them some of his farm land.

On 15 May 1802, Bastian gave each of these sons "100 acres by estimation," for "five shillings" each. Then he left two of them offhis Will, Devault (Dewalt) and Jacob, and required son Michael to givebond to support his mother during her widowhood in order to inheritthe home place. He signed the deed as "bastiann lentz."

B- Bastian Lentz, Sr., prepared his Last Will and Testament on 16 Mar 1807. Please see Source 254 for the complete text.

It is believed that Bastian Lentz, Sr., died in 1807. Col. Ray K. Smathers states that a severe epidemic passed through Rowan Co. in1807, killing many older people. Smathers is a descendant of theWilliam Smathers who married widow M. Lentz. This epidemic must havehit the elderly since J- John Lentz, Sr. died that same year. On 30Jul 1808, Peter Lentz and William Sifford (Jr.), executors of hisestate, sold to Michael Lentz of Rowan Co., NC, for $200.00, 196 acresthat had been "granted by North Carolina to Bostian Lentz."

On 17 Mar 1809, widow M. Lentz, married William Smathers. This could be widow Margaret Lentz, wife of J- John Lentz, Sr., except forinformation that appears in Smathers family records, which show thatMareretha Lentz, widow of Bastian Lentz, Sr., married their elderlyancestor, William Smathers. Their records also show that she survivedWilliam Smathers. Two of her grandsons and possibly a granddaughterwho cared for her in her old age were said to have received theSmather farm. Apparently, however, they did not receive it outrightbut purchased it after the division of the estate.

On 13 Jan 1810, Rowan Co. Court Minutes show the final settlement of the Will of Bastian Lentz, Sr., dec'd, by his administrators, (B2-)Peter Lentz and William Sifford, husband of (B3-) Elizabeth Lentz.(See Source 257 for details.)

Several ladies who were elderly when J. Paul Lentz was compiling LENTZ HERITAGE grew up in the neighborhood of the William Smathersfarm and could remember the houses, roads, and neighbors quite well.These ladies were "Mrs. File," "Mrs. Plyler," and "Mrs. Plyler'ssister." Mrs. Plyler and her sister studied Rowan Co. deeds and otherrecords and produced a rough map showing the land their ancestorsinherited through their grandmother, Mareretha Lentz Smathers. Thisis in the vicinity of Liberty Church where Stokes Ferry Road crossesSt. Matthews Road, showing both the old and new cemetaries where Lentzancestors are buried. They show proof of the statements made by Col.Ray K. Smathers about his ancestors and widow Mareretha Lentz.

Unfortunately the map would not reproduce (according to J. Paul Lentz, LENTZ HERITAGE, Chap. IV, p. 9. (I wish I had a copy; I couldredraw it and make it reproducable.--JWL)

Mrs. Plyler wrote: "This map was made from research, talk with old friends, and from our memories, having walked these roads, knownand visited in these homes, and having a blood relationship to most ofthese people - this place is very dear to us.

"My sister Hazel and I were born in the old Barringer Mill house. Though its walls and roof are gone and the yard is now a field, someof Mother's rose bushes still grow and bloom along the old gardenfence to bear mute testimony that this place was once a home."

The statement in the Will "to make them equal with my other sons" can be explained as follows: It will be remembered from a paragraphabove that in 1802 B- Bastian Lentz, Sr., sold to Devalt (Dewalt) andJacob Lentz 100 acres by estimation for only "five shillings" andthat son Peter, listed only as an executor of the Will, was sold 301acres on Dutch Second Creek for only 60 pounds on 26 Jan 1788 (RowanBk 11, p. 604), which was considered as his inheritance. The deedsays that "Bostian Lentz sells his son Peter Lents...it being a tractoriginally granted to Bostion Lentz by the state of North Carolina onOct 10, 1783." Signed: Bastinn Lentz, Witness: David J. Lentz. Therewas a known son named Adam Lentz, but, since no records on him havebeen found, it is assumed that he died early

. Almost all family members show on the records of Organ Church--records of communion, signing of the church constitution,marriages, births, confirmations, deaths, and other records. Bohrer(Biblio.) reports that the first pastor of Organ Church recordedloaning books to the families of Bastian and Dewalt Lentz. Rev.Storch's diary shows, on page 23, that Dewalt and Bastian Lentz paid18 pounds, 3 shillings to Organ Church in 1796-1798. These familieswere strong supporters of the Lutheran Church.

LENTZ HERITAGE states that a Kline family, or families, appears to have had close relationships with the Bastian and Dewalt Lentzfamilies. Bastian Lentz shows as executor on the WILL of MichaelKline, planter of Mecklenburg Co., NC., and Duval (Dewalt) Lentz showsas a witness with Jacob Kline , 1 Dec 1784, Book D, pages 125-7. APeter Kline and Bastian arrived in Philadelphia on the same boat andsponsored children for each other. While unwed, D- Dewalt Lentz andMaria Klinin sponsored B4- Dewalt Lentz, Jr., at baptism in the MertzLutheran Church in PA. (LENTZ HERITAGE, Chap IV, p. 21 addendum.)(We now know that the KLEIN-KLINE-CLINE people were actually closerelatives. Bastian's and Dewalt's mother was a daughter of MoritzKLEIN who also came to America with his wife and several children.The KLEIN-KLINE-CLINE people are Moritz KLEIN's descendants.]

Title: Verbatim text of B- Bastian Lentz, Sr., Will from Will Book F, p. 62,

Rowan Co., NC, dated 16 Mar 1807

Author: B-, Bastian Lentz, Sr.

Text: (Parentheses added)

In the name of God, Amen! I, Bostian Lentz, of the county of Rowan and state of North Carolina, being of old age but of perfect and sound memory, blessed be God for His mercy, and calling to mind the mortality of my body and well knowing that there is a time to die, and that all flesh must yield to death, make this my last WILL and TESTAMENT; in manner and form following: that is to say first of all and Principally I will and recommend my soul into th hands of Almighty God who gave it to me, and my body to the earth, nothing doubting but I shall receive it again though the mighty power of God at the Great Day of Resurrction and as touching my worldly estate, wherewith, it has been pleased God to bless me, I give and devise of in the following manner VIZ: Item. I give and bequeath unto my beloved son [B9] Michael Lentz this my plantation whereon I now live, agreeable to a bond which he gave until me that is to say to take care of his morther, my wife, as is specified in the conditions of said Bond of Maintenance which he gave unto me and my executors herein after named. shall make a good and lawful deed of conveyance to him his heirs and assigne forever. Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter [B3] Elizabeth which is married unto William Sifferd [Jr.] the sum 50.O0 and also my Large Bible. Item. I give unto my daughter [B6] Catharine which is married to John Hornburger, the sum of $50.00. Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughters [B8] Margaret which is married unto Abraham Sifferd, the sum of $50.00. Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter [B10-] Maria Lentz, $50. Item. I give and bequeath unto my son [B1] Bostan Lentz, [Jr.] the sum of $50.00. And I will that my executors herein after named shall pay of said above devises out of my estate and shall sell such part or parcel of property after my decease as my wife shall think proper to give up unto them for sale and the money arising from said sale shall be laid out upon interest for the use of my wife as long as she remains my widow, but if in case she should marry again, then in that case it shall be equally divided among all my children, provided also that in case upon death of my wife all the remainder of my estate which may be left after paying to each of my daughters and my son [B1] Bastian Lentz, [Jr.], the above mentions sum of $50 so as to make then equal with my other sons then the remainder shall be equally divided amongst all my children. And I do hereby appoint and intrust my loving son [B2] Peter Lentz and my son-in-law William Sifferd [Jr.] to execute this my last Will and Testament; and I do hereby revoke and is null and make void all former Wills heretofore by me made, ratifying and confirming this to be my Last Will and Testament, in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 16th day of March A.D. 1807.

Witness: Michael Rishe & Peter Rutledge. Signed: Bastian [X] Lentz

his sons some of his farm land. On 15 May 1802, Bastian gave each of these sons (Devault, Michael,

adn Jacob) "IO0 acres by estimation," for "five shillings" each. Then he left two of them off his Will, Devault (Dewalt) and Jacob, and required son Michael to give bond to support his mother during her widowhood in order to inherit the home place. He signed the deed as "bastiann lentz."

B- Bastian Lentz, Sr., prepared his Will on 16 Mar 1807. (See text herewith.)

It is believed that Bastian Lentz, Sr., died in 1807. Col. Ray K. Smathers states that a severe epidemic passed through Rowan Co. in 1807, killing many older people. Smathers is a descendent of the William Smathers who married widow M. Lentz. This epidemic msut have hit the elderly since J- John Lentz, Sr., also died that same year. On 30 Jul 1808, Peter Lentz and William Sifford (Jr.), executors of his estate, sold to Michael Lentz of Rowan Co., NC, for $200.00, 196 acres that had been "granted by North Carolina to Bostian Lentz."

On 17 Mar 1809, widow M. Lentz married William Smathers. This could be widow Margaret Lentz, wife of J- John Lentz, Sr., except for information that appears in Smathers family records, which show that Mareretha Lentz, widow of Bastian Lentz., Sr., married their elderly ancestor, William Smathers. Their records also show that she survived William Smathers and that two of her grandsons and possibly a granddaughter who cared for her in her old age was said to have received the Smather farm. Apparently, however, they did not receive it outright but purchased it after the division of the estate. On 13 Jan 1810, Rowan Co. Court Minutes show the final settlement of the Will of Bastian Lenz, Sr., dec'd, by his administrators, (B2-) Peter Lentz and William Sifford, husband of (B3-) Elizabeth Lentz.

Several ladies who were elderly when J. Paul Lentz was compiling LENTZ HERITAGE grew up in the neighborhood of he William Smathers farm and could remember the houses, roads, and neighbors quite well. These ladies were "Mrs. File," "Mrs. Plyler," and "Mrs. Plyler's sisxter." Mrs. Plyler and her sister studied Rowan Co. deeds and others records and produced a rough map showing the land their ancetors inherited through their grandmother, Mareretha Lentz Smathers. This is in the vicinity of Liberty Church where Stokes Ferry Road crosses St. Matthews Road, showing both the old and new cemetaries where Lentz ancestors are buried. They show proof of the statements made by Col.Ray K. Smathers about his ancestors and widow Mareretha Lentz. Mrs. Plyler wrote: "This map was made from research, talking with old friends, and from our memories, having walked these roads,known and visited in these homes, and having a blood relationship to most of these people - this place is very dear to us. "My sister Hazel and I were born in the old Barringer Mill house. Though its walls and roof are gone and the yard is now a field, some of Mother's rose bushers still grow and bloom along the old garden fence to bear mute testimony that this place was once a home."

Unfortunately the map would not reproduce (according to J. Paul Lentz, LENTZ HERITAGE, Chap. IV, p. 9. (I wish I had the map; it probably could be redrawn and made reproducible.--JWL.)

The statement in the Will "to make them equal with my others sons" can be explained as follows: It will be remembered that in 1802 B- Bastian Lentz, Sr., sold to Devalt (Dewalt) and Jacob Lentz 100 acres by estimation for only "five shillings" and that son Peter, listed only as an executor of the Will, was sold 301 acres on Dutch Second Creek for only 60 pounds on 26 Jan 1788 (Rowan Bk 11, p. 604), which was considered as his inheritence. The deed says that "Bostian Lentz sells his son Peter Lents...it being a tract originally granted to Bostion Lentz by the state of North Carolina on Oct 10, 1783." Signed: Bastinn Lentz, Witness: David J. Lentz.

There was a known son named Adam Lentz, but, since no records on him have been found, it is assumed that he died early.

Almost all family members show on the records of Organ Church--records of communion, the signing of the church constitution, marriages, births, confirmations, deaths and other records. Bohrer reports that the first pastor of Organ Church recorded loaning books to the families of Bastian and Dewalt Lentz. Rev. Storch's diary shows, on page 23, that Dewalt and Bastian Lentz paid 18 pounds, 3 shillings to Organ Church in 1796-1798. These families wer strong supporters of the Lutheran Church.

Capt. 3rd company 1st BN Berks County Militia 1777

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Nov 24 2018, 21:17:44 UTC
• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Nov 24 2018, 21:33:59 UTC