Felix Jackson Motsinger, Sr

Felix Motsinger

Find A Grave Memorial ID # 10450992

Birth: 1726 in Switzerland
Death: 8 June 1791 (aged 64–65) in Rowan County, North Carolina, USA
Burial: Abbotts Creek Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery Wallburg, Davidson County, North Carolina

A Patriot of the American Revolution for North Carolina. DAR Ancestor # A075666

Felix is the ancestor of all the North Carolina Motsingers. He was baptized at Marthalen in 1727, immigrated with his parents in 1735, and appears on Pennsylvania tax lists in 1762 and 1763 in Heidelberg township, Northampton County. The birthdates of his children suggest that he married probably in the late 1750s in Pennsylvania, but we don't know the name of his first wife. In 176 he moved to Rowan County, North Carolina and purchased land in the Abbotts Creek area (present-day Davidson County). He served with Francis Marion in South Carolina during the Revolution. In 1790 he married Elizabeth, widow of John Long. He died in Rowan County, North Carolina on 8 August 1791. His will names his sons John, Jacob, and Daniel Motsinger, and a daughter Elizabeth Ham, also Elizabeth Long's children Susannah, John, Jacob, and Frederick Long. "War of 1812: Felix, 1st Regiment of Sutton's Ohio Militia, Capt. McMaine's Riflemen, November 30, 1812 to February 11, 1813." Felix's grave is lost, the cemetery was plower over in 1920.

Notes for Felix Motsinger, Sr.: [goodwin.ged]

The church records reveal that the witnesses at the baptism of Felix Matzinger were:Felix Frauenfelder, from Flaach and Werena Fehe (possibly) also from there (Flaach).

There is a discrepancy in the death date of Felix.One record shows he died after August 8, 1791 in Rowan County, North Carolina.

In the book by Lois Gerstenberger Harvey titled "The life sage and stories of Harvey-Cisler-Gerstenberger-Mosher: and some related lines", this is her story.

"...Reference to Felix Motsinger is also made in the book 'An Abstract of North Carolina Wills' by Fred A. Olds, reprinted 1972 by the Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, p. 278.This lists the will of Felix, with heirs:Elizabeth, John, Jacob, Daniel, and Elizabeth.The 1966 edition of the DAR Patriot's Index, p. 484, lists Felix Motsinger and mentions his second wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Long.The reference DAR number is 560848. (This DAR Application, accepted on October 16, 1971, was submitted by Mary Anne Houston, wife of John F. Houston.)

"...FELIX MOTSINGER, SR. is found on Pennsylvania tax lists in 1763, but in 1765 moved to Rowan County, N.C. where he recorded purchase of 360 acres of land 'on both sides of the drains of Abet's Creek' from Joshua and Dorothy Teague, who had previously obtained that land from the 'Lord Proprietor of the Carolines.'He obviously was married while still in Pennsylvania, for some of his children were born there, but as yet we have found no information about his first wife.

"On 27 Jan. 1790, in Rowan County, NC, Felix Sr. married the widow Elizabeth Long. She had four children by her first marriage (to a man named 'Feteinger' or 'Oetinger'). She was pregnant with Felix Jr. at the time of Felix Sr.'s death in 1791, for the elder Felix' will mentions 'an child encased' as one of his heirs; and Felix Jr. was born in Rowan County on 18 Sept. 1791; (see obituary of Felix, Jr. on following pages). Elizabeth Long Motsinger died between 1830-40 at the home of her son Felix, Jr. in Clermont County, OH.

"Felix Motsinger, Sr. had five children (see Family Group Sheet No. 15). John, Jacob II, Daniel, Elizabeth, and Felix, Jr. "Old Rowan County Marriage records show marriage of Felix Sr. to Elizabeth Long on 27 Jan. 1790, bondsman Thomas Long and witness John Monro.

"Pension Records Show: Felix, widow Elizabeth, Co. B, 155th Illinois Infantry. Felix J., widow Nancy A., Company H, 81st Illinois Infantry.

"War of 1812: Felix, 1st Regiment of Sutton's Ohio Militia, Captain McMaine's Riflemen, Nov. 30, 1812 to Feb. 11, 1813."

Felix Motsinger died June 8, 1791, and his Will was in probate in 1791. He had 300 acres of land on Abits (Abbotts) Creek, Rowan County, North Carolina.(See Will Abstracts 1753-1850)

Felix Motsinger is shown on the 1768 Rowan County Tax List of William Spurgin (C.R. 85.925.1, Box 2, Rowan Co., NC. North Carolina State Archives).

Folex (sic) Motsinger: 1783 Rowan County Tax List of Capt. William Davis 200 A deeded land, 4 horses or mules, 20 cattle.

Felix Motsinger is shown on the 1784 Rowan County Tax List of Captain Davis as having 700 acres in Bushy Fork.

1785 Rowan County List of Taxables in Capt. Henry Davis' Company (Davidson County area): Felix Motsinger 400 A Bushy Fork.

There is a notation in the "Minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions" which reads:"James Billingsley to Felix Motzinger for 540 A 15 Sept. 1787 preserved by Henry Davis."

Rowan County Deeds, cont. from Vol. 1, No. 3, page 160 - 11:141.25 Oct. 1786.State Grant #1198 @ 50 sh the 100A to Felix Motsinger, 300 A on Abbotts Crk adj Barnet Mires, James Billings, and Widow Richardson.

1820 Census, Indiana, lists Jacob Motsinger, page 223, Washington County.

More About Felix Motsinger, Sr.: Baptism: November 21, 1726, Marthalen, Ellikon, Switzerland. Will: North Carolina State Archives, 109 E. Jones St., Raleigh, North Carolina. More About Felix Motsinger, Sr. and Unknown: Marriage: About 1754, Pennsylvania. More About Felix Motsinger, Sr. and Elizabeth Long: Marriage: January 27, 1790, Rowan County, North Carolina.

Includes Notes: Marriage Notes for Felix Motsinger, Sr. and Elizabeth Long: [goodwin.ged]

A copy of this marriage record is available. Also, see "Rowan County Marriages: 1753-1868" (B. H. Holcomb, ed), Baltimore 1986