Johann Frederick Kraft

Johann Friedrich Krafft, Jr.

• Birth: 1714 in Gross Readsheims, Nr Worms, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
• Death: Feb 1802 in Brothers Valley Tp, Somerset Co PA
• Burial: Luth Ch Cm, Berlin, Brothers Valley Tp, Somerset Co PA
• Son of Johann Friedrich Krafft, Sr.

His name Anglicized to Croft in the next generation.

family

Frederick Krafft was married three times.

1. Anna Barbara SALLADE on 15 Oct 1739 in PA
2. Maria Margaretta KUSIEN b: 1718 on 29 Apr 1746 in St Michael/Zion Luth Ch Cm, Bettelhausen, Germantown, Philadelphia Co PA
3. Anna Maria BAUMGARDNER on 6 May 1776 in Guilford Tp, Franklin Co PA

Children with 1st wife:

1. John CROFT b: Abt 1743 in Nr Phila PA ?
2. Frederick CROFT b: Abt 1746 in Nr Phila PA ?

Children with 2nd wife:

1. John Peter CROFT b: 23 Feb 1747 c: 2 Mar 1747 in St Michael/Zion Luth Ch Cm, Bettelhausen, Germantown, Philadelphia Co PA
2. Anna Dorothea Fronica CROFT b: 24 Oct 1748 in Guilford, Franklin Co PA c: 29 Oct 1748 in St Michael/Zion Luth Ch Cm, Bettelhausen, Germantown, Philadelphia Co PA
3. Anna Barbara CROFT b: 26 Jan 1751
4. John Martin CROFT b: 21 May 1752
5. John Valentine CROFT b: 2 Mar 1754
6. Eva CROFT b: 22 Dec 1756
7. Abraham CROFT b: 24 Mar 1759
8. Catharine Elizabeth CROFT b: 1 Mar 1761
9. John David CROFT b: 3 Aug 1765 in Guilford Tp, Franklin Co PA or MD

biography

From http://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/kraft/541/

In the year of 1714, there was born at Gross Riedersheim a small village, near Worms, Germany, one FREDERICK KRAFFT.

At the age of 24, he emigrated to America with his brother, JOHN JACOB KRAFFT, a few years his junior.
They sailed from Rotterdam, Holland, on the ship Winter Galley, whose captain was one Edward Paynter, and arrived at the port of Philadelphia, Pa., on Sept. 5, 1738.

We were unable to find how long they stayed in Philadelphia, but we know, that they shouldered their knapsacks and started on foot westward toward the settlement at what is now Lancaster, Pa.

They were in search, of some farmland, having been trained in the occupation, of farming. After staying some time at this settlement, being unable to find a suitable farm, and having heard of the beautiful Cumberland Valley, they decided to see that part of the country. Again travelling westward to Harrisburg, Pa., they turned southward through Carlisle, Pa., arriving at Shippensburg, Pa. Here they stayed for almost a year, looking for a desirable place to locate, but being unable to find any land to suit them, the moved on up the valley to Chambersburg, Pa., where they lived for some time in a cave in what is now, The Falling Spring Cemetery, and later they built a small cabin or hut at this place, where they lived, travelling around over this part of the country looking for a permanent location.

Frederick found a farm, near Brown's Mill, which is about a mile south of Marion, Pa., which pleased him very much. He decided to locate there, but his brother, John Jacob, wanted to move on southward to see if they could not find something better. Frederick, with an obstinacy that seems to be inherited by his progeny, refused to do this. John Jacob decided to move on by himself, but about this time he heard of a large German settlement in the State of New York, so he decided to go there instead; and except a record of a marriage in St. Michael's Lutheran Church at Philadelphia, on July 25, 1750 of John Jacob Krafft and Catherine Dorothea Seaman. We believe this to have been the brother of Frederick Krafft, for this was about the time of their separation.

The first historical record of Frederick Krafft in Franklin County, Penna., is in the land entry of Guilford Township, Cumberland County (now Franklin County) is as follows:

"Samuel Howard land entry, Oct. 24, 1749. Neighbors, Phillip Stump, Peter Gazett, and Frederick Krafft."

The farm bought by Frederick Krafft in 1749 was bounded by The Brown's Mill road on the west, and the Pine Stump Road, that leads from Marion, Pa., to Black's Gap, Pa., on the east. The farm contained, approximately, 290 acres, and was surveyed and conveyed to him by deed Aug. 9, 1768. The delay in receiving a clear title to the farm was caused by the dispute between Penn's Heirs and Lord Baltimore about the boundary between Maryland and Pennsylvania, which was finally settled by the Mason and Dixon Line in 1766. How long previous to the receiving of the title to the farm, that he lived there, we were unable to ascertain, but we know that he lived on this farm more than thirty years.

He raised a large family of eleven children, and sold the farm to John Miller on May 1, 1779.

After the death of his wife in 1779, we could find no record of him until 1792, when we find him as a resident of Hamilton Township. In 1796 we find him a taxable in Bedford County, Pa., but just when he moved there we were unable to say, possibly in the spring of 1793. He purchased a farm at a small village, called Brothers Valley, Bedford County, (now Somerset).

He made his will in 1798, and died at his daughter's (Mrs. Phillip Weigley) in the spring of 1802. He was buried in the cemetery of the Lutheran Church at Berlin, Somerset County, Pa.

PA Probate Records 1683-1994 on line, Somerset Co PA, Wills 1795-1814 Vol 1, Image 95, p 176-177:

• Frederick Kraft of Brothers Valley Tp
• Written 2 Mar.1798, Proved 4 Mar 1802
• Executor son-in-law Philip Weigley
• Witnesses Joseph Weigley & Philip Weigley Jr
• To "my son-in-law Philip Wegerline in whose house I now live, the sum of 20 pounds a year for my boarding and lodging" (He was living with his oldest daughter, Anna Dorothea (Kraft) Weigley/Wegerline & husband Philip).
• Estate to be divided into 5 shares and distributed as follows:
• 1 To my beloved son Frederick Kraft
• 2 To son Peter Kraft
• 3 To son Abraham Kraft
• 4 To son-in-law Philip Wegerline
• 5 To son John Kraft, son-in-law George Coleman, son-in-law Martin Fightner's 2 sons John and Martin, Jonathan Harry's son John (this share divided into 5 parts)
• Frederick Kraft's sons Peter & Abraham might have moved to the Ligonier Valley of Westmoreland Co., where those names appear in early census and tax records. His youngest son, David Kraft/Croft, remained in Franklin Co, in Hamilton Tp.

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• Religion: Lutheren
• Emigration: Sep 5 1738
  • Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Apr 18 2017, 4:58:17 UTC

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• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=kl2u&id=I...
  • Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Apr 19 2017, 7:43:49 UTC