Hans Georg Ebert

At the Courtho. of Philadia., Sepr. 21st, 1731. Present: The Honble Patrick Gordon, Esqr., Lt. Govr Clement Plumsted, Esqr., Member of Council Thomas Laurence, Esqr, Member of Council Derick Jansen, Esqr., one of His Majties Justices of Peace for the county of Philadelphia.

Michael Franklyn, Mr., from Rotterdam, but last from Cowes 21st of Septr., 1727

The Palatinate or German Pfalz was subject to invasion by the armies of Britain, France, and Germany. As well as the devastating effects of war, the Palatines were subjected to the winter of 1708 and 1709, the harshest in 100 years. The scene was set for a mass migration. At the invitation of Queen Anne in the spring of 1709, about 7 000 harassed Palatines sailed down the Rhine to Rotterdam. From there, about 3000 were dispatched to America, either directly or via England, under the auspices of William Penn. The remaining 4 000 were sent via England to Ireland to strengthen the protestant interest. In 1710, three large groups of Palatines sailed from London. The first went to Ireland, the second to Carolina and the third to New York with the new Governor, Robert Hunter. There were 3 000 Palatines on 10 ships that sailed for New York and approximately 470 died on the voyage or shortly after their arrival. Over the next 100 years, impoverished Palatines fled from Germany to America - many arriving in Pennsylvania. One of the ships carrying Palatines from Germany to Philadelphia from 1727 to 1808 was the Britannia of London which arrive in Philidephia in 1731. On that ship's roster of passengers, is Hans Jerg Ebert. Han Jerg Ebert was later known as Jerg or "George" Eppard.

The Ship Britannia of London

At the Courthouse of Philadelphia., 21st September, 1731. Present:

The Honorable PATRICK GORDON, Esqr., Lt. Govr

Clement Plumsted, Esqr., Member of Council

Thomas Laurence, Esqr., Member of Council

Derick Jansen, Esqr., one of His Majesties Justices of Peace for the county of Philadelphia.

A list was presented of the Names of One hundred and six Palatines, who with their Families, making in all Two hundred and sixty - nine Persons, were imported here in the ship Britannia of London, Michael Franklyn, Mr., from Rotterdam, but last from Cowes, as by Clearance from that Port. The Master, being Examined, said he had no particular License for their Transportation. They were then called in, and having declared that their Intentions were to settle and live Peaceably in this Province, the several persons whose Names are subjoyned, did repeat and sign the Declaration inserted in the Minutes of the 21st September 1727 and likewise took and subscribed the Declaration of Fidelity and Abjuration.

Robert Louis Hovde Notes on Ebert/Eppard Family

Name Spellings and Land Issues It is possible that the Ebert men used many similar names to obtain additional land under other names. It is also possible that neither the Ebert men nor the government officials knew how to spell very well or did not take the time to double-check spellings of names. Finally, it is possible that there was a whole slew of Germans with Ebert-type names that were quite similar. At this point, we do not know the answer to the above. Some of the names may well be our Ebert names in a variety of forms. Here is a sampling of these many names:

Hans George Ebert - 1731 John George Eberd - 1733 Hans Michael Ebert - 1731 John Michael Eberdt - 1733 Michael Ebert - 1733-1736, 1734 Michael Everrard - 1734, 1738, 1740 Michael Evarrard - 1735 Michael Everd - 1738, 1748 Michael Emmit - 1739 Frederick Ebert - 1735 Frederick Everhart - 1738, 1755, 1787 Frederick Everard - 1747 Frederick Eberhard - 1786 John Ebler - 1740, 1754 John Ebhard - 1747 John Ebert - 1747, 1752 John Everett - 1748 John Ehrhart - 1750 John Egard - 1751 John Eppler - 1752 John Eckert - 1772 John Everhard - 1793 Philip Ebrecht - 1748 Jacob Epler - 1776, 1791 Jacob Sr. Evererd - 1786 Jacob Sr. Everett - 1791

Immigration: 1731 Hans Michael and Hans Georg arrived in Philadelphia on Ship Britannia on 21 Sep 1731. The first record of Georg and Michael after leaving Philadelphia is the christening of two sons as recorded by Rev. John Casper Stoever, Pastor of the Falckner Swamp Evangelical Lutheran Church, New Hanover, PA in 1733 as follows: Jacob Eberd to John George Eberd 5-31-1733 Colebrookdale, Bern Twp., Berks County, PA; Tobias Eberdt to Michael Eberdt 11-13-1733 Colebrookdale, Bern Twp., Berks County, PA. Also, records show that Georg and/or Michael purchased or sold lands in the counties of Philadelphia, Lancaster and Berks between 1734 and 1746. In 1752-54, John Ebbert and Andrew Eber, sons of Georg Ebert purchased land in Berks County, PA.

Resettlement: 1734 VA. Is it true that George moved to VA this early and died in 1742?

Research Issue: from Bavaria or Wallertheim? Some researchers indicate that Hans George Eppard born 1674 in Wallertheim, not Balthus Ebert, is the father of Hans Georg and Hans Michael Ebert.

The issue of whether Hans Michael and Hans Georg were born in Wallertheim or Bavaria Germany (Unter-Anfrech, Margraviate, Anspach) needs more research.

Resettlement Alternate Date: 1738 resettled in VA In 1738, when moved to Virginia, the ages of the parents and children: Father Hans Georg = 37 Mother = 40 Philip = 15 Johannes = 12 Catherine = 11 Andrew = 10 xxxxxxxxsecond family: Jacob = 5 Windle = 3 George = 1 Margaret Christine = 0 The rest were born in Virginia.

Resettlement Scenario: after Hans Georg died, family may have moved back to PA before returning VA

If the dates and sequences suggested by Shirley Seal Breeden regarding the whereabouts of Hans Georg Ebert are correct (that he resettled in Naked Creek in 1734 and that he died there in 1742), then one possible scenario is that Margaret Christena Starke took her own seven children as well as the older four children from Hans Georg's first marriage back to Pennsylvania after Hans Georg's death. This would help to explain Phillip, John, and Andrew being in PA in the 1750s and 1760s purchasing and selling land there. Also, why would family historians suggest that Windle was the first to reach the Shenandoah Valley to buy land in Naked Creek if the Eberts were not returning to Virginia and Windle preceded his half-brothers while they made their way through Maryland making land deals. It is presumed that Windle returned to a more stable VA with his mother, Margaret, and her other children. Phillip, John, and Andrew, older than the rest, moved from place to place in PA and then MD purchasing and selling land. Andrew, wife Mary Elizabeth Unknown, and their son, John, eventually resettled with Margaret's family in Naked Creek.

Robert Hovde's Summary of Above

Note: A major branch of the Hans Georg Ebert/Eppard family came to reside in the counties of Rockingham and Page, Virginia (see the Gerald Zimmerman article below). Another branch of this same family, the Ebert branch, eventually migrated to Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Here is a peek at the Ebert branch of Linda Kay Ostema from that latter branch.

Relationship Chart (Linda Kay Ostema is the 6th great-granddaughter of Hans Georg Ebert)

Hans Georg Ebert (Cir 1701-1743/1744) Unknown Wife Hans Georg ( -1732) Married n.a.

Andrew Ebert (1728-1804) Mary Elizabeth Unknown (1732-1804) Married 1761 abt.

John Ebert (1762-1834) Sarah (Sally) Cliften Married 8 Nov 1804

Enoch Eppard Ebert (1811-1863) Elizabeth Jenkins (1805-1840) Married 4 Dec 1829

George T. Ebert (1831-1910) Elizabeth E. Ebert (1833-1907) Married 4 Sep 1853

Andrew Irwin Ebert (1859-1925) Margaret Amanda Chambers (1861-1920) Married 15 Jun 1879

Ora Orville Ebert (1891-1951) Daisy Mae Neal Ebert (1898-1998) Married 1 May 1915

Lawrence William Ostema (1919-1992) Dorothy Ebert Ostema (1919-1998) Married 9 Oct 1938

Linda Kay Ostema (1944-

An Ebbert branch migrated to Uniontown PA, IA, OR/WA. An Eppert branch migrated to OH, IN, and MI.

Additional Material about Ebert/Eppard

The following article by Gerald Zimmerman may be found at:

https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/ebert/614/

HISTORY OF EBERTS/EPPARDS/ETC. IN AMERICA

By GERALD ZIMMERMAN August 24,2003 at 10:54:57

ORIGIN OF THE NAME "EPPARD"

The following article appeared in a California newspaper in 1964 giving the origin of the name "Eppard." The source of the information to the paper was not traced at the time, however, the article is here reproduced as it appeared in the paper and was copied by Claude and Carolyn Eppard.

"The name Eppard is a French form of the German surname "Eppert." Far back in Medieval times Eppert originated as the Hero-Name "Agabert," meaning Brilliant Swordsman. Dialectical German and French alterations resulted in the name Agabert being changed to Egbert, Ebert, Ebbert, Eppert, and Eppard."

SPELLING OF THE NAME "EPPARD"

In the pioneer days of our country very few people could read or write, and as a consequence could not spell their own name. Public officials that could read and write such a Clerks employed in County Court houses, were often at a loss as to how a name should be spelled; so they asked the Will and Deed maker to pronounce his name and they recorded it by "Phonetic Spelling" i.e. as it sounded. The deed maker then made his mark (x) in the space provided on the document. Those bearing the name Eppard are already aware that in addition to pronouncing the name, they usually follow up by spelling it because others will interpret it as Eppert, Epert, or Epart. In fact in tracing several early Eppard ancestors the authors found the name spelled eight different ways, some two or three different ways in the same document. The different version were: Ebert, Ebbert, Eberth, Eppert, Epert, Epart, Epard, and Eppard. In the early 1800's, the families finally settled on the spelling as Eppard.

With the above described spelling situation, the reader will necessarily understand the laborious work involved in making positive identification of our very early ancestors. We have undoubtedly lost some early Eppards by not being able to identify them because of other pioneer families by the name of Ebert.

TRADITIONAL EPPARD LEGEND

We have found that a legend has been carried down in two independent branches of the Eppard family, unbeknown to the other until a couple of years ago, concerning the "origin" of the Eppard family in America; and, strangely enough, the stories coincide. The legend carried by the Andrew and John Sr. lines is that two Eppard brothers migrated from Holland to America in the early 1700's and settled in Page County, Virginia.

Our research tells us that this is true only in a broad sense, a more factual explanation being that our people probably came from the Rhineland of Germany into Holland and there boarded a ship for America, landing at Philadelphia, PA as we shall later see.

IN THE BEGINNING

Anyone who has had experience in tracing his ancestors soon learns that the longer the trail the dimmer the pathway becomes. Eventually the steps become so blurred that fancy and imagination can easily give way to facts. We hope we have stopped short of this point in tracing our earliest Eppards.

Many factors plus an early Church Record lead us to believe that the two brothers were Hans (John) George Ebert and Hans (John) Michael Ebert. It is thought that one or both were married before coming to America because there is a record of the marriage of George's son Johanne Eberth (John Jr.) to Elizabeth Richm in 1750. In those days men deferred marriage to an average age of 24 or 25, so this son must have been born around 1726, if we can depend on average circumstances. There is also a church record of the Christening of two sons later on in 1733. There were other children in the two families because we find some fourteen people who are associated by proper name, dates and places that tie them to these early Eppard lines.

Later on we trace these same people by names and land Deeds from Pennsylvania on down into Maryland.

EUROPEAN EPPARDS

It is now believed that the European Eppards lived in the Rhineland Provinces of Germany, generally identified as the Palatine. The reasons for their decision to migrate to America can best be explained by a brief history of events taking place in the 1600's in that part of Europe as well as America.

In 1681, King Charles II of England granted 40,000 square miles of land in America to William Penn in liquidation of a debt of 16,000 Pounds which the Crown owed to William Penn's father. In order to obtain Settlers for his land, Penn visited the Rhine Provinces where once peaceful valleys, thriving fields and vine-clad hills had now become the hunting grounds of political and religious fanatics.

Personally, and through agents, William Penn disseminated news of his American lands and invited the Rhinelanders to help him found a State in America in which Religious and Civil Liberties would prevail. Some 100,000 people answered his call.

EMIGRATION TO AMERICA

It is most likely that our people joined the great migration from the Rhineland Provinces to America between 1683 and 1808. The logical route was down the Rhine River on barges or flat­ boats out of Germany and into Holland, and thence to Rotterdam where the Rhine River flows into the sea.

Here the people boarded ship with their worldly belongings and sailed by way of England (to take on fresh water and provisions) before undertaking the long and perilous voyage to America. Practically all of the immigration sea routes to America terminated at various ports on Chesapeake Bay, the most notable of which was Philadelphia at that time.

ARRIVAL IN AMERICA

When the Pioneers arrived, the government of Pennsylvania was in the hands of British subjects, William Penn's agents were Englishmen, and the English language was used as well as English Common Law. Early, it became a matter of concern to these Englishmen that so large a number of "Continentals" speaking another language and accustomed to another form of government should be admitted to the land.

In order to correct this situation the Provincial Council passed a law in 1727 requiring all Continentals who arrived in Philadelphia to take "Oaths of Allegiance" to the British Crown. Two years later "oaths of Abjuration and Fidelity to the Proprietor" (William Penn) and the laws of the Province were also required. When taking these Oaths, the emigrant was required to sign his name or place his (x) mark alongside where his name had been entered by a Clerk, who more often than not misspelled the name.

The original lists with the Pioneer's signatures are still in the possession of the State of Pennsylvania Archives, and have been published by Rupp and Strassburger. Many emigrants arrived before the oaths were required and others disembarked at other parts so the lists cover only some 30,000 names of those landing at Philadelphia.

OUR ORIGINAL EMIGRANTS

Legends sometimes have a way of proving to have real substance. From the "Minutes of the Provincial Council in Philadelphia" we find the following:

"At the Courthouse in Philadelphia, Sept.21,1731, a list was presented of the names of 106 Palatines who with their families making 269 persons, were imported here in the Ship Britannia of London, Michael Franklyn, Captain from Rotterdam, but last from Cowes, England."

LIST 16-A. In this list, we find two names, one following the other, indicating the two people were together.

Hans George Ebert Age 30 Born 1701 Hans Michael Ebert Age 35 Born 1696

PENNSYLVANIA EPPARDS

One can only surmise what the newly arrived brothers did on setting foot in America. They may have stayed on in Philadelphia for several months plying a trade to make a living white at the same time learning to speak the English language; or they may have gone directly to the location of earlier emigrants back in the wilderness.

In any event, the first record we have of George and Michael after leaving Philadelphia is the Christening of two sons as recorded by Rev. John Casper Stover, Pastor of the Falckner Swamp Evangelical Lutheran Church, New Hanover, Pennsylvania in 1733 as follows:

"Jacob Eberd to George Eberd 5-31-1733 Colebrookdale, Bern Twp., Berks County, PA. "Tobias Ebert to Michael Ebert ll-13-1733 Colebrookdale, Bern Twp., Berks County, PA.

The Falckner Swamp area and Church was named after Daniel Falckner, son of Rev. Daniel Falckner who owned considerable land in the area. It was the younger Falckner who wrote "Curieuse Nachricht Von Pennsylvania," a veritable encyclopedia of the Pennsylvania area and published in Germany to inform and entice prospective Emigrants on how to prepare to come to America, and what they would find after arriving. It seems logical to conclude that our two Emigrant brothers and their families headed directly for the area they had read about. We have also found land records showing that George and Michael purchased lands in the Counties of Philadelphia, Lancaster and Berks, from 1734 and 1746. In 1752-54, John Ebbert and Andrew Eber, sons of George Ebert purchased land in Berks County, PA.

The next exciting evidence we have of the Eppards in America is the finding of the "Naturalization listing" for John Sr., Andrew, Philip and Valentine, sons of George and Michael.

PENNSYLVANIA ARCHIVES -- BOOK 2 PAGES 421,425

At the Supreme Court held in Philadelphia, Province of Pennsylvania Sept. 10, 1761,and later days, the following persons being foreigners (not English} and having inhabited and resided the space of seven years and upwards and having taken the Sacrament of the Lords Supper in some Protestant or Reformed Church Congregation in this Province within three months before said Court, took and subscribed Oaths --to entitle them to the benefit thereof and thereby became Natural Born Subjects of Great Briton.

Andrew and John Sr. were registered from Berks County, and Philip and Valentine were listed from adjacent Lancaster County. The date of Sacrament for Andrew was 9-18-61, for John Sr., 9-21-61, and for Valentine 8-21-61.

MIGRATION TO MARYLAND

As new frontiers opened up we find the four people listed above moving Southwestward through Libertytown into Frederick and Baltimore Counties, Maryland in 1769. One exception is where a Windle (Evert) Eppard migrated to Augusta County, Virginia around 1754 and later moved over the Blue Ridge Mountains into the Shenandoah Valley in 1761 where he patented a large tract of land on Naked Creek in 1764. In later years, Eppards from Maryland migrated to this same area on Naked Creek.

There are records where Andrew and John Eppard Sr. each purchased 250 acres of land in Maryland, called the "Plains of Paron," located in Baltimore County. Other Eppards owned land in Frederick County and in Baltimore City on Fayette Street.

MIGRATION TO VIRGINIA

Andrew Eppard moved with his family to the Shenandoah Valley around 1790-91 and purchased land not far from where Windle Eppard had patented his tract of land on Naked Creek. In 1802, we find George Eppard, son of John Eppard, Sr. being married to Catherine Beasley, and later purchasing land adjacent to Naked Creek. George evidently left his home in Maryland and decided to homestead in Virginia where his Uncles had settled.

The procedure for obtaining a "Land Patent" was to secure a probationary grant for the land from the Crown Council of Virginia. Once armed with this grant, the applicant had to establish residence on the land for three years and build a house after the "manner of Virginia buildings," which meant a log house at least 16ft. by 24ft. Successful completion of the three year tenancy and other stipulated conditions, resulted in a full grant or "Confirmation of the Patent".

The first U.S. Census of 1790, lists John Epard, Sr. with two males under 16,and 2 females including wife: a John Epard, Jr. with one male under 16 and wife; both Epards living in Baltimore County. John Sr. had a son John, so this must be the John Jr. listed. A Philip Epperd was listed from Frederick County, Maryland as well as his brother Henry. The latter two along with Valentine are believed to be sons of Michael (Ebert) Eppard.

In 1792, we find Andrew and John Eppert listed in the 10th Legion list of Tithables for Rockingham County, Virginia, so we know these two Eppards came to Virginia between 1790 and 1792, to the area on "Naked Creek" where Windle Evert (Eppard) had patented his land holdings.

MIGRATION TO OHIO, INDIANA, ILLINOIS, IOWA, DAKOTAS, AND CANADA

In the 1840's, 50's and 60's, new lands were being opened up in the Midwest for people willing to brave the Indians and homestead the land; so the Sons and Grandsons of the Virginia settlers migrated to these areas, settling in Clermont County, Ohio; Madison County, Indiana; and at Anderson and Peru, Indiana; in Madison County, Iowa; and other scattered locations. We know of and have contacted Eppards in Missouri, and Spokane, Washington, but have not at this time been able to relate them to our line, due to lack of time to search the records.

SUMMARY

With this background of Real and Shadowy information we have elected to put together two "Original Families," selecting the children principally by name association that we know has been carried down in later Eppard lines.

Pages l and 2 following is the ASSUMED (not proven) families for Hans George Ebert (Eppard), and Hans Michael Ebert (Eppard); together with sons and grandsons for which we have factual data. This is presented primarily to acquaint you with a family structure so that later generations will readily fall into place. (Note: these two pages are NOT attached.)

All dates listed are factual unless they are preceded by an asterisk(*).

GEDCOM Note

At the courthouse in Philadelphia, Sept 21, 1731, a list was presented of the names of 106 Palatines who, with their families, making 269 persons, were imported here in the Ship Britannia of London, M ichael Franklyn, Captain from Rotterdam, but last from Cowes, England." List 16-A. In the list we find two names, one following the other, indicating the two people were together.

Hans George Ebert Age 30, born 1701 Hans Michael Ebert, Age 35, born 1696