Johannes Lapp

The story of the Lapp Family 1733-2006 The clerk at the dockside wrote down the name of the boarders as best as he could. Johannes did not speak any English and could only write his name in high, German script. The given names were clear (Johannes), though the clerk spelled the last name exactly as it sounded (Lap). All male passengers above 16 years old were required to put a check near their name. Unfortunately for many of us with Germanic surnames, it has been said that, “owing to the adoption by the English (immigration) clerks of the maxim that anything would do for the name of a Dutchman, (the) appellations are wonderfully disguised and disfigured.” This means that it may be impossible to determine the original spelling of our surname with any certainty.Mary is the name of the ship, Pink is the type-a vessel with a high narrow stern.The Pink Mary had stopped at Plymouth, England where they took on additional provisions before making the voyage across the North Atlantic, eventually heading up the Delaware Bay for the Port of Philadelphia. On board the Pink Mary were 171 passengers; 55 men, 37 women, and 79 children, or persons under 16 years of age. Those on board the Pink Mary were described as “Palatines”, German-speaking people generally from the Pfalz province of the Rhineland. Many left there homeland to escape political oppression or religious prosecution, though Johannes and his family left their homeland because of “recruiters” who received a bounty for each family the convinced to emigrate to the colonies, in this case, Pennsylvania. The Lapps’ were quite successful farmers, and were promised success and prosperity in going to the land of “milk and honey.” For others, the voyage to America was disastrous. As the passengers disembarked from the Pink Mary and gathered their possessions, all the new immigrant’s names were to be entered in the official ledger. German-speaking immigrants were also required to take an oath of allegiance to the King of England. These passengers, including Johannes Lapp, were escorted “en masse” to the nearby Philadelphia courthouse, where Honourable Patrick Gordon Esq., lieutenant governor of the Commonwealth, conducted ceremony in which they swore the oath of allegiance to King George II. On September 29th, 1733 was the first time Rudolph Lapp saw America. On board the ship called the Pink Mary of Dublin, Rudolph, a young German boy from Rhineland gazes out at the New World, the new place that would become his home. Master James Benn, from Rotterdam captained the Pink Mary as she arrived in Philadelphia. Rudolph Lapp, 11 years old at this time, was on the ship with his 2 sisters, Anna Maria, who was born about 1724 and Anna Catherina, who was born about 1725. There is also Johannes (John) Lapp born about 1710 and his wife Hanna Christina, though it is uncertain whether Johannes is his father, or brother. Johannes was brought up Amish, fell in love with and married a Mennonite. Johannes settled in Berks County, Pennsylvania. " The Lapps are a brilliant, well-to-do, law abiding people. They have produced some very able pastors and also missionaries to the foreign fields." From Annals of Conestoga Valley. -- by C.Z. Mast. Los Angeles Gen R 974-81 624MA (12B) The Ship List September 29th, 1733 {ship list-http://olivetreegenealogy.com/ships/pal_mary1733.shtml}. Rudolph married Mary Weirman, a young girl from Switzerland. They had a son, Jeremiah Lapp in 1750, he was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia at that time was the 2nd most populated town in the American Colonies. Jeremiah Lapp was to grow up in a time of little unity and great conflict. While the American colonists including Ben Franklin looked forward to American Independence, 15%, or 250,000 of the colonists in the New World were Loyalists, Americans loyal to the allegiance of the British, they opposed the revolution. The Loyalists depended on the Crown for their status and livelihood. Many of them were farmers, clerks, lawyers, soldiers, and slaves. Along with Native Americans and recent immigrants from Europe that shared loyalty to the British.Jeremiah Lapp was one of these recent immigrants who felt that the colonies under their own democracy would suffer from mob rule.He married in 1768 to a woman that remains unknown, though they had a daughter, Elizabeth Lapp born 1770. There is also a daughter named Rachel Lapp born about 1784. The uncertainty of this marriage, it was cut short for whatever reason, assembly ending before 1786, when he married his 2nd wife, Amy Smith. Jeremiah and Amy had 5 children all together; John Lapp 1786, Samuel B. Lapp 1789, Anthony Lapp 1793, Jeremiah Lapp 1794, and Richard Lapp 1795-1801.In 1775, war ensued between the American Colonists and the British. While France and Spain were allied with the colonies, Germany and the Native Indians fought with the British and it’s Loyalists. Jeremiah Lapp enlisted as a Tory, or Loyalist, on October 22nd, 1777 in a Pennsylvania Regiment. He served under Captain Thomas Stephen. Jeremiah was a private for the Regiment, and fought in battle. West Florida, at this time, was the home of many Loyalists, who retreated to these parts for salvation during the war. Relations were good with the Chickasaw, and Creek Indians in efforts to keep the American colonists away. Though in March of 1781, a battle ensued between the Loyalists and the Spaniards, who fought with the rebels. Pensacola was seized in 1781 by Bernardo de Galvez, the Spanish Governor of Louisiana. During the wars in Pensacola, Jeremiah Lapp was captured on May 10th when the English General John Campbell surrendered. This was one of the turning points in the war. West Florida was under British rule between 1763-1783, and was a critical part of the war strategies. June 5th, they sailed from Pensacola and arrived in Havanna, Cuba on June 20th. They remained there for 10 days to take provisions and water and than sailed to NY. On July 12th, 1781, along with 1,113 other prisoners, Jeremiah Lapp arrived in New Town Long Island to be repatriated. Cuba, was territory recently acquired from the Spaniards. {A book, “Tories, Dons, and Rebels” written by Barton J. Starr examines the details of the Pensacola wars}As the Revolutionary War continued, so did the battle over political control between the American Colonies, and the British. It seemed evident that the Crown would take back their power, France and Spain then declared war on the British. With the aid of these countries, the American colonies conquered British rule forever.April 11th, 1783 the war was declared over as Americans gained their independence. Loyalists were given pardon during this time and Jeremiah was now to come back to the colonies under the colonist’s rule. Jeremiah Lapp, now 33, went to Kings County, NY. Although his fighting days were over, he had to deal with the aftershock. The American colonists didn’t take kindly to the past motive of the Loyalists remaining in America. Jeremiah meets a woman, Amy Smith, a daughter of a loyalist, U.E. Herman Samuel Smith. Amy was born in Kings County, NY in 1764, which is probably where Jeremiah met her. They lived in Kings County for a while and in 1786 they had their 1st child together, John Lapp. Samuel Lapp, the 2nd child of Jeremiah and Amy Smith, was born in 1789 also in Kings County, NY. In 1790, living in New Utrecht, Kings County, NY, Jeremiah and Amy decided that was a better life somewhere else for there children. Their 3 other children were born in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.Eventually, Jeremiah Lapp mustered out of the military, fleeing to Canada where he applied for a Revolutionary War land grant in Kingston Twp, Frontenac County, Ontario, Canada in 1791. He was awarded 200 acres from the Land Board Meckleburg. 80 % of the immigrants in what is now Ontario were British Loyalists and once American Colonists who got land grants from. By trade he was a tanner. Those Loyalists who have adhered to the Unity of the Empire, and joined the Royal Standard before the Treaty of Separation in the year 1783, and all their Children, and their Descendants by either sex, are to be distinguished by the following capitals affixed to their names U.E. Alluding to their great principle The Unity of the Empire" Gov. Guy Carleton Nov. 9, 1789 So his name became U.E Jeremiah Lapp. Jeremiah left to Ontario Canada defecting from America in fear that he and is family would be tarred and feathered, from the backlash that was threatened by the American Colonists. This part of Canada was still owned by the British, and the Loyalists were promised land due to there fighting in the war. Jeremiah Lapp lived in Kingston, Ontario, which is just under 400 miles north of his American stomping grounds in Kings County, NY. He had to start over in Canada, the first few years were very rough, living in tents and having to clear wood for land. Many of the Loyalists died during this trying time. Jeremiah Lapp died there in 1806, 15 years after is arrival to Canada. Some of our Lapps also fought in the War of 1812, preserving the areas they retreated to. Kingston, Hamilton, and Haldimand were towns they lived in. You could say they felt a sense of redemption after successfully defending their new land. John Lapp was born in Kings County NY in April 17th, 1786. (It has been stated that John Lapp was born in either NY, Ontario, or PA. To my research, I have concluded he must be from Kings County, NY.) At 5 years old, John moved with his family to Ontario, Canada. He had 1 child, a son Asa Lapp. Asa was born about 1810 in Hamilton Township, Northumberland, Ontario, Canada.Asa married Catherine Alexander and they had 8 children together; Sabra E. 1837, Richard Rueban 1841, Bethamy 1843, John William Jul 1845, Catherine 1846 (Brighton, Northumberland, Ontario, Canada), Minerva 1848, Samuel, 1852, and William 1856.Asa Lapp also married Endora Jenners. John Lapp died in 1861. Sometime in the 1840s, John Lapp spent the rest of his life in New York. The 4th child, John William, born Jul 1845 in Ontario, Canada. On November 5th, 1867 John married Jane (Jennie) Wright in Richfield, Genessee, Michigan. A few months before in May of 1867, they had a child together, George W. Lapp. George was born in Forest, Genessee, MI. Jennie Wright died shortly after. John William married Irenea Tryon sometime before 1873 in Michigan. This was most likely a marriage of convenience being that he was widowed, and they were close neighbors whose families traveled from Ontario to Genessee, Michigan together. They had 3 children together; Alfred Richard May 3rd, 1873 in Mt. Pleasant, Isabella, MI, Martha September 17th, 1876 in Forest, Genessee, and Henry Samuel February 25th, 1881 in Thetford, Genessee, MI. To ease the transition back to America, the children were told they were of English and Irish descent. Alfred Richard Lapp (Richard A.D. Lapp), the eldest of John and Irenea had quite a story. He spent a good part of his life as a coal miner. He married Ida Cummings in MI about 1893. Ida was of African American descent, her family was one of the first black settlers in Mecosta, MI, land given by Abraham Lincoln. This marriage had to be a rough. They had 2 children together; Kittie Lapp born September 7th, 1894 and Preston (or Prescott) Lapp born April 27th, 1896 both in Wheatland Township, Mecosta, MI. Kittie died December 11th, 1897 in Wheatland just past 3 years old. Kittie died of Tubular Meningitis. Preston at age 4 and a half, died from membrane cramps, though before this had happened, Alfred had left the state of Michigan forever, never divorcing Ida. Alfred Lapp left MI in 1898 and left his entire family to coal mine in Wapello, Iowa. Almost immediately, he married an English/Welsh woman Sarah Ann Foulkes. Sarah was born August 15th, 1879 in Farnworth, Lancashire, England. 1st child of Robert Moses Foulkes and Mary Ann Ramsell, Sarah came with her parents in 1885 when she was 6. Her father was also interested in mining in IA. Alfred and Sarah had 10 children together; Pearl May August 9th, 1899 in Center Township, Wapello, IA, Richard Robert December 15th, 1900 Willard, Wapello, IA, Clarence Orson July 30th, 1902, John William October 26, 1904 in Hiteman, Monroe County, IA, Samuel Edward September 27, 1906 in Everest, Marion County, IA, Thomas Chester 1907 in Watertown, Van Buren County, IA, Albert Ernest October 3rd, 1908 in Everest, Marion County, IA, Minnie Marie December 10th, 1912 in Excelsior, Mahaska County, IA, Violet Irene December 17, 1914 in Excelsior, Mahaska County, IA, and George Buster April 6th, 1918 in Rexfield, Monroe County, IA. Their 1st daughter, Pearl, died as a toddler, she choked herself in her highchair.Along with their father Alfred, the children worked in the coalmines as soon as they were able to. Alfred Richard Lapp was known for being rough around the edges. He was not gentle in his words or his actions, and his children had to respect the uncertainty of his behavior. Sarah Ann Foulkes was going through health problems for quite some time, and in 1937, Sarah died from Dropsy. Alfred and Sarah had there 7th child together October 3rd, 1908 Albert Ernest Lapp. Albert had to quickly learn that life was not going to be sugarcoated. Along with the harshness of his father’s ways, he had to deal with the poverty and hardship that went along with a coalminer’s life. Right before Christmas, December 21st, 1928, Albert married Beulah Irene Wright. Beulah was also not a stranger to poverty and hardship. The Wrights also were coalminers by trade. Beulah, daughter of Clyde Monroe Wright and Alma Brave Briggs, was born July 28th, 1911 in Iowa. She was the oldest daughter of 12 children. Both Albert, and Beulah came from exceptionally large families. Albert and Beulah Lapp had 5 children; William Albert 1929, Francis Edward 1932, David Robert 1934, Shirley Ann 1936, and Allen Clyde 1949. In 1929, the family moved to Waukesha, WI where Albert had found a job that would take him from coalmining. Shirley Ann Lapp, the 4th youngest of the children, and only daughter, was born August 26, 1936 in Waukesha, Wisconsin. With the exception of a year living back in her father’s hometown in Iowa, Shirley spent the next 55 years in Waukesha. On April 3rd, 1952 she married Glenn William Jamieson, a Waukesha service man who had recently served his time with the U.S. Air Force. Together they have 9 children; Randy Allen, Ricky William, Scott Christie, Barry Lee, Nathaniel Joseph, John William, Todd Andrew, Joel Jay, and Gary Donald Jamieson. Glenn William and Shirley Ann Lapp Jamieson celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2002. All there children were there. The Lapp/Jamieson family is one of strong family pride. This details our Lapp bloodline and shows our past as a significant part of history, which I would like to preserve. Loyalists of the American Revolutionary War were just that; loyal to what they thought to be the right. Their pursuit against American mob rule was justifiable and proves to me that this was a war of perspective. http://jamiesonlapp.familytreeguide.com/browsedocs.php

B: 1710?

John Lapp, arrived in Philadelphia Sept. 29, 1733, aboard Palatines, - Pink Mary of Dublin, James Benn, Master from Rotterdam. There was a boy under 16 years of age named Rudolph Lapp on this ship. We do not know if there is any relatinship between John Lapp and him. Tradition has it that John Lapp was reared Amish, fell in love with and married a Mennonite. The Amish branch of their Family settled first in Oley Valley and later in Berne (now Upper Bern Township ) Berks County, PA.

"The Lapps are a brilliant, well-to-do, law abiding people . They have produced some very able pastors and also missionaries to the foreign fields." From Annals of Conestoga Valley - by C.Z. Mast, Los Angeles Gen R 974-81 624MA (12B)

• Reference: WikiTree Genealogy - SmartCopy: Jul 18 2022, 16:27:45 UTC
• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Apr 6 2023, 0:39:24 UTC