Johann Heinrick Mathais Esch

Johan Heinrick Mathias Esch M, #192, b. 13 February 1703, d. 15 November 1782

Father* Johan Theis Esch Mother* Maria Juliana Zimmer d. 23 Apr 1734

Source Source(s): Many of the notes incoporated with this family are from the web site and correspondence with Mary Ash.1

Address* Johan Heinrick Mathias Esch List of researchers of the "three brothers" who came to America. Source* Source(s): Click here to see an extract of the 1st report by Paul Schmidt that gave us a start on all these new ancestors. For a copy of his 2nd report (27 Feb 2000), click here. Note that this one is in PDF format and since it's 13 pages will take a little time to load.

To-Do* On To-Do list. Story* The "Family Tradition" is the usual chestnut about 'three brothers", and as usual, there is a grain of truth, but not all of it is true - they are not Scotch-Irish. First are some examples of the "tradition".

In the book - The Purkey Family and the Delaney Family by Sandra L. Delaney (Allen Co., Fort Wayne, IN, Library) a genealogy of Adam Ash is described:

    "Henry Ash was the brother of Adam Ash. They came to the United States along with a third brother, John, in about 1770. Henry first settled with his brothers in Chester County, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. He patented land with his brother, Adam, in Bethel Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, in 1789. He served during the Revolutionary War in the Chester County militia and enlisted in the Bedford County militia in 1781. In 1778, he took the Patriots' Oath of Fidelity and Support in Washington County, Maryland. Apparently, he ultimately settled in Washington County. Henry married Catherine ??, probably prior to his immigration to the United States. They had five children: Abraham, died ca. 1833 in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. Married Catherine ??. Jacob; David; Henry, born ca. 1760 in Germany; died in 1849 in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Married Barbara Miller (ca. 1765-1849) in ca. 1784; John, born February 8, 1775, died ca. 1830 in Washington County, Maryland. Married Mary ??."

    continuing..."Adam Ash was born in Germany in March 1744. He is said to have been of English (Scotch-Irish) ancestry on his father's side and German on his mother's side. He and his wife, Catherine Yost, sailed from Amsterdam, Holland, to settle in the United States about 1770. Adam married Catherine in Germany in ca. 1768, before their immigration. Catherine was born in Germany in 1749. Adam was accompanied to America by his two brothers, John and Henry, and their families. The passage took about six weeks, and they encountered many storms which drove the ship back toward Holland. Adam's and Catherine's first child Christopher, was born on the voyage over. The three brothers settled first in Chester County, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. While living in the state, Adam served as an American soldier in the Revolutionary War. He served as a private in Captain Parker's company, 2nd Battalion, of the Chester County militia from August 5, 1776 to September 10, 1776. He then moved westward to Bedford County. A land warrant was issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for 200 acres in Bethel Township, Bedford County, on November 4, 1789 to Henry and Adam Ash. In return, the brothers agreed to pay the state ten pounds per 100 acres "in Gold, Silver, Paper Money of this State, or certificates." The land, situated on both sides of Tonoloway Creek, was surveyed April 30, 1795 for 286 acres 107 perches. This particular parcel of land was later given to Henry Ash, Jr., by his father, Henry (brother of Adam), and is mentioned in Henry's will, dated January 6, 1801 in Washington County, Maryland."

In the book - The George Morris Family of Ten Mile, With Genealogical Charts For Other Affiliated Families, A Story of The Pioneer Families of The Ten Mile Valley In Harrison County West Virginia by Ollie B Morris and Eva Ruth Morris copyright 1967. [my Evd 180] On page 294 it says:

    "Three Ash brothers named John, Adam and Henry were of Scotch-Irish nationality, but in their younger days had gone to Holland where they seem to have married and lived for awhile. Several years before the Revolutionary War these brothers with their families embarked for America sailing from Amsterdam, Holland. After a six-weeks voyage they arrived and settled in Chester County, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia."

The proof that John and Henry are brothers is as follows (info provided by Mary Lowe Ash): The Pennsylvanische Geschichts-Schreiber newspaper, published by Christopher Sauer, mentions in an article the following advertisement:

    "April 1,1755. Johann Wilhelm Esch, from Runckelischen Land, arrived in America a year and a half ago. His brother Henrich arrived last autumn, and is serving with Georg Schmitt, opposite the printer, in Germantown. He seeks his brother." The author of "More Palatine Families" comments "The origins of the family, then, probably would be at or near 6251 Runckel, home of several 1709er emigrants. As Henrich Esch of Pennsylvania had been looking for his brother for over six months, there is the strong possibility that Johann Wilhelm Esch may have settled in another colony. The Red Hook Lutheran Church book in Dutchess Co., N.Y., notes that a John Wilhelmus Esch joined the church there June 5, 1757. Wilhelm Esch and his wife Elisabetha Dopp are then found in other churches in the Hudson Valley, such as the New Hackensack Reformed, Schaghticok Reformed, and Poughkeepsie Reformed Churches.

    "'Heinrich Esch' arrived October 21, 1754 on the ship Friendship, Charles Ross, Captain. The ship sailed from Amsterdam, with the last port being Gosport, England. The inhabitants of the ship were from Franconia and Hesse, and there were 7 Roman Catholics." The ship landed in Philadelphia.

Why these men were thought to be of "English (Scotch-Irish)" ancestry is unknown because Esch is a German name, they were associated with Germans traditons and churches, and Adam wrote one deed in German. The "Runckelischen Land" clue was invaluable since it was what led to the Runkel church records where the marriage of Adam and Catharine was found and eventually broke open the ancestry of the three brothers.

Immigration* He immigrated Esch's other than Adam & Henry, who are listed in the passenger logs included the following:

-Daniel Henrich Esch, October 2, 1741, Ship, St. Andrew; 103 men; 72 women, 87 children -Johan Frederich Esch, September 30, 1743. Ship Phoenix from Rotterdam. Manifest does not indicate number of passengers, although 83 men were listed. -Johan Gorg Esch, August 13, 1750. Ship Edinburgh from Rotterdam. 151 male names, 314 whole freights. -Jacob Esch, October 16, 1751, Ship Duke of Wirtemberg, 406 passengers from Rotterdam. -Michael Esch, October 16, 1751 Ship Duke of Wirtemberg, 406 passengers from Rotterdam and Cowes in England. -Michael David Esch, September 30, 1774. Ship Union from Rotterdam. 133 male passengers listed. -Jonathan and Mary Magdelene Eash (sic), September 10, 1804, included men, women and children.
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[Kathryn's Evd 277] Bio on an Ash/Esch family from book on Chester & Delaware Counties PA (1901). Frederick Wilhelm Esch & Anna Elizabeth Empelerin. Daniel Heinrich Esch b. Haschenburg Germany 10 Apr 1717.

m. Elizabeth who died about 1807. Daniel to US 1741 settling in PA.

He went back to Germany and was lost. Two sons as follows. Joseph B. b.7 Mar 1744 m.Rachel Whitaker - 13 kids no Adam or Henry. John b.7 Mar 1747. He died with no family.

If there is any connection with this family, it would have to be in Germany. Birth* 13 February 1703 He was born on 13 February 1703 at Runkel, Hessen, Germany, (more about Runkel), 50.406111,8.155556G, born 3:00pm in Hofen, Christened 18 Feb 1703, child named Johan Henrich Matthias, father Johan Theis Esch, mother not given, sponsors 1) Johan Henrich Huth of Hofen 2) Mathias Gernert, the miller's son, of Hofen 3) Margretha, daughter of Unknown Winter of Schade[c]k (scanned image).2

Marriage* 5 November 1726 He married Anna Maria Graw, daughter of Johann Wilhelm Graw and Anna Catharina Reuther, on 5 November 1726 at Blessenbach, Hessen, Germany, (more about Blessenbach), 50.411389,8.301667G, Groom: Johan Henrich, legitmate son of Theis [Mathias] Esch(en), musketeer and Bride: Anna Maria, legitimate daughter of Johan Wilhelm Kroh(en) of here (scanned image).3 Death* 15 November 1782 Johan Heinrick Mathias Esch died on 15 November 1782 at Blessenbach, Hessen, Germany, (more about Blessenbach), 50.411389,8.301667G, at age 79 Died between 1:00 and 2:00am, buried 17 November. Widower in Blessenbach, age 80 years, less 3 months, married for 25 years, less 1 month and 5 days, widower for 31 years, 1 month and 21 days

(scanned image).4

Family Anna Maria Graw b. 29 Oct 1707, d. 24 Sep 1751

Marriage* 5 November 1726 He married Anna Maria Graw, daughter of Johann Wilhelm Graw and Anna Catharina Reuther, on 5 November 1726 at Blessenbach, Hessen, Germany, (more about Blessenbach), 50.411389,8.301667G, Groom: Johan Henrich, legitmate son of Theis [Mathias] Esch(en), musketeer and Bride: Anna Maria, legitimate daughter of Johan Wilhelm Kroh(en) of here (scanned image).3

Children

   (__________) Esch b. 1727

   Johan Henrick Esch (Immigrant 1754)+ b. 27 Oct 1730, d. bt 6 Jan 1801 - 14 Feb 1801

   Johann Wilhelm Esch (Immigrant ca 1753)+ b. 26 Dec 1732, d. c Apr 1796

   Maria Catarina Esch b. 25 Mar 1735

   Johann Jacob Esch b. 15 Sep 1737

   Johan Conrad Esch b. 2 Jul 1740

   Johann Adam Esch (Immigrant 1772)+ b. 1 Mar 1744, d. 1 May 1819

Citations

   [S1447] Descendants of Henry Ash Sr (web site takes time to load) https://web.archive.org/web/20100608033810/http://familytreemaker.g..., Mary Lowe Ash e-mail address or e-mail address.

   [S1462] Birth Record of Johan Henrich Matthias Esch Evd #1462.

   [S1452] Marriage record of Johan Henrich Esch & Anna Maria Kroh Evd #1452.

   [S1459] Death Record of Johann Henrich Esch Evd #1459.