Andreas Kuelisch Boyer

Probably the Andrew Bayer who arrived in PA from Gruenstadt, Palatinate aboard the "Philadelphia Merchant" on 11 Sep 1731 and settled near what is now Zieglerville, Montgomery Co, PA

His name is recorded in German as Andreas Bayer. His birth records are recorded by the Old Goshenhoppen Lutheran Church, Upper Salford Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

He arrived in Philadelphia aboard the "Philadelphia Merchant" with his parents, Johann Christoph (Chiristopher) and Anna Bayer on September 11,1731 at the age of 22. Interestingly, the book "Images of Old Upper Salford" lists the arrival in 1731 of Andreas Boyer in it chronology section. Arriving with him in Upper Salford was "John Boyer (this was probably his father Johann Christoph Bayer) and John George and Maria Wagner family". These may have been traveling companions on the voyage. It is interesting at this early point, that they have began spelling their name Boyer. In all later references, Andreas seems to use the Bayer spelling on most occasions, especially church related.

Upon arrival in Philadelphia in September, they probably began looking for land to settle. However, they found that the Mennonites, in the first wave of German immigrants, had taken the best, most fertile lands outside Philly. Thus they traveled North to 35 miles above the city to the Upper Salford Twp. area where many Germans were settling. We do not know if they were able to begin their own farm immediately, or if they had to work off their passage and duty costs.

Palinates who had arrived before them would have pitched in an helped Andreas and his father erect a log home and barn. They would have contributed fall plants such as winter cabbage, and if possible a cow, chickens, or pigs to begin to provide for their basic needs.

Andreas' future wife, Susanna Catharina Bergheimer arrived almost a year later On August 11, 1732. She arrived with her Brother Hans Wilhelm Berkheimer and his family on the ship "Samuel". This is the year the joint Lutheran and Reformed congregations jointly purchased 38 acres and erected a small log building to be used as both a schoolhouse and a church--the first Old Goshenhoppen Church.

They married almost another year later on July 8, 1733 and settled and farmed on the Perkiomen Creek near Zieglerville, Lower Frederick Township, Montgomery County. Pennsylvania. This indicates he moved a short distance from his parents farm in Upper Salford Township, which was also near or along the Perkiomen Creek.

His marriage to Susanna produced 6 children: John Valentine, Anna Margaretha, Leonard (1737), John William, Philip, and John Henry.

Susanna passed away on August 13, 1744, after 11 years of marriage. This is the same year the congregation of the Old Goshenhoppen Church laid the cornerstone and build a new church to replace the one build in 1732. It would seem likely that this is where she was buried.

With 6 children under the age of 11, Andreas quickly married a widow, Anna Maria Pickard, widow of Johann Pickard. There are no records of any children from this second marriage.

We know of this rather quick marriage by the fact that on February 13, 1745, he and his wife Maria served as sponsors at the baptism of Abraham Greter, son of Jacob and Barbara (Hurt) Greter (who married Sept. 12, 1737), as noted in "Eighteenth Century Emigrants from Northern Alsace to America".

It further notes that Jacob was from Gumbartshoffen in Lower Alsace, France--near Germany. Jacob was born in 1708, making him almost the same age as Andreas! They may have met each other on the voyage from the old country, or after arrival and remained livelong friends. Sadly, it notes that the child Abraham died May 17th , 1758. A bit of research further finds that natives of Alsace, in those days spoke a version of German, due to their location near the German boarder.

In 1751, the year of his father Johann Christoph's death, the Old Goshenhoppen began keeping records of it congregation, and lists 45 family's. The Bayer (Boyer) name is the first listed of the 45 families (per the book "Images of Old Upper Salford").

In 1754 he was Overseer of highways in Frederick Township. It was typical in those days for a farmer to have a second occupation which they practiced more during the winter months. In the harvest months of the year, German farmers took loaded their huge farm wagons on Wednesdays and Saturdays and met at the Farmers Market on Market Street in Philadelphia. They would be loaded with produce, live chickens, pigs, and cattle.

"On March 22, 1763, the respected Andreas Bayer presented a little box to the congregation (Old Goshenhoppen), which is to serve as a receptacle to place in it and preserve the church documents and accounts. It is all complete with lock and keys"  

He is listed in the 1776 Assessment List for Frederick Township, Montgomery County, PA

On July 4th of that same year, he lived to see the colonies Declare Independence from England very near to where he lived, and to see his son join the local militia or colonial army. He also lived to see, in 1777, his local Philadelphia area attacked and occupied by the full force of the British army. Likewise he lived nearby as George Washington encamped his forces at Valley Forge from December 1777 to June 1778.

Andreas lived until June, 1779. His death is recorded at the Lutheran Seminary, Mount Airy, Philadelphia which states "Andreas Bayer, church elder of the Evang. Luth. Cong. was buried in local cemetery, age 69 years, 6 month, 3 weeks."

In September 2011, Jennie Boyer located Andreas' headstone at the Old Goshenhoppen Church in Upper Salford, Pa. Pictures were taken and will be added to this leaf. His stone is approximately 2 to 3 ft tall. It is constructed of sandstone, and is very noticeable in the cemetery. Jennie believes his father Johnann Christph is buried nearby, but no longer has a headstone. I few days later, Jennie located Andreas' brother's headstone, Johann Heinrich. It was broken and laying face down, covered with dirt and grass. The cemetary keeper scraped it off, and turned it over. The keeper said they have access to land records at the church. These may only date back to the 1800's.

A reference to Andreas has been found the the book "Eighteen Century Emigrants to America". It states that "Rosina Boyer (this is the only reference to her), daughter of the late Andreas Boyer, both residing in Worchester Twp, Montgomery County, married Daniel Sperr on February 20, 1787".

His second wife Anna Maria, survived him, living to April 29, 1788.

Of his six children, our tree follows the line from his son Leonard.

Name: Andreas Beyer Sex: M Emigration: 10 SEP 1731 Ship "Philadelphia Merchant" Religion: Member, Goshenhoppen Lutheran Church, Woxall, Montgomery, Pennsylvania. Burial: 23 JUN 1779 Old Goshenhoppen Cemetery, Woxall, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, USA. Birth: 30 NOV 1709 in Dackenheim, Bad Durkheim, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany Death: 20 JUN 1779 in Frederick, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, USA

Name: Changed to "Andrew Boyer" Note:

   Burial:    Old Goshenhoppen Cemetery Woxall    Montgomery County    Pennsylvania, USA

Father: Johann Christoph Beyer b: 1677 in Dackenheim, Bad Durkheim, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany Mother: Anna Maria Kuehleisen b: ABT 1681 in Dinkelsbühl, Ansbach, Bayern, Germany

Marriage 1 Susanna Catharina Bergheimer b: 8 NOV 1714 in Kleinniedesheim, Ludwigshafen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany

   Married: 1 JUL 1733 in Trappe, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, USA

Children John William Boyer b: 21 JAN 1738/39 in Frederick, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, USA Anna Margaretha Boyer b: 25 MAY 1735 in Frederick, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, USA Philip Boyer b: 13 NOV 1740 in Frederick, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, USA John Henry Boyer b: 31 OCT 1742 in Frederick, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, USA Leonard Boyer I b: 1 MAY 1737 in Frederick, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, USA Maria Barbara Boyer b: 1735 in Frederick, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, USA John Valentine Boyer b: 2 MAR 1733/34 in Frederick, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, USA