Peter Blosser “the immigrant”

Evidence needed to support as son of Abraham Steiner Blauser & Anna Elizabeth Blauser

Peter Blosser 1st was born in 1716, in Bern, Switzerland. He married Barbara Berry in 1743, in Pennsylvania, British Colonial America. They were the parents of at least 6 sons and 6 daughters. He died after 1802, in York, Pennsylvania, United States, and was buried in Codorus Township, York, Pennsylvania, United States.

Peter Blosser “the immigrant” came from Switzerland to York County, Pennsylvania on the ship "Snow Betsy", landing at Philadelphia on August 27, 1739. Family name may have been Blaser originally.

From “Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online” < link >

Blosser (Blaser, Bläser, Blasser) family

Blosser (Blaser, Bläser, Blasser) is a Mennonite family name found in Switzerland as early as 1710. At that time Peter Blaser was a Mennonite prisoner in Bern. Later, on 27 August 1739, Peter Blaser arrived in Philadelphia. Christian Blaser was in a group arriving in Philadelphia on 31 August 1750. The family first settled in Pennsylvania and descendants moved to Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, and other states, but in the mid-20th century were found chiefly in Virginia and Ohio.

Family

Spouses:

1. Barbara
2. Miss Knicely

Children:

1. Magdaline Blosser
2. Anna Hade (born Blosser)
3. Abraham Blauser
4. Frances Hottel (born Blosser)
5. Elizabeth Baer (born Blosser)
6. Tobias Blosser
7. Peter Blosser 2nd
8. Susanna Printz (born Blosser)
9. Jacob Blosser

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Disputed origins

https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/blosser/436/

Can anyone really say who Peter the Immigrants father was with proof, I don't think so (if you can please let me know)?If you says its Abraham and Anna Eby Blaser, please give me the proof, Abraham being 13 and Anna being 10 for Peter's 1710 birth rule them out for me.I feel Abraham is either an Uncle or an older brother. Abraham does have relatives dating back to 1504 in the SAME AREA, Langnau, Canton Bern, Switzerland.Also, who is the Peter Blaser that is imprisoned in Bern in 1710 for his Anabaptist beliefs, maybe Peter's (Immigrant 1739) father, another Blaser, so more Blasers were present in the area. So, no documented proof past Peter for me but certainly the Blasers have some sort of connection to Switzerland since 1504.Nothing tying any of them to France.Before 1504, Celtic, Germanic,and yes, even Jewish is a possibility.

Biography

From "Genealogical History of the Blosser Family, as Known in America," by S. H. Blosser, Dayton, VA 1903

He was the progenitor of the entire Blosser lineage, whose descendants were mostly Mennonites, and by occupation many of them were millers, and are now scattered over the United States... Peter Blosser, in the Swiss language was Blaser, who came from Switzerland to York County, Pennsylvania, on the ship "Snow Betsy," landing at Philadelphia August 27, 1739. Peter had six sons and four daughters, who settled in Shenandoah, Rockingham and Page counties, Virginia. He was a Mennonite minister and is buried at North Garden, now in Albermarle County, Virginia.
After the death of his first wife his six sons, being full of "Young America," became rather unmanageable. He told them that he would marry a cross stepmother who would correct them. He married Miss Knicely, who sure enough was rather cross for himself to live with... and on which account he had to dismiss his ministry. But fortunately these bad boys reformed and came to be pious people, some of them having become ministers.

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https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/8839067?cid=mem_copy

History of Shenandoah Co., VA - - Wayland, 1927

Just before the Revolution the Baptists began to make inroads on the Mennonites through the preaching of John Koontz, James Ireland, and others. The Mennonites became alarmed and sent for preachers from Pennsylvania. As a result, Peter Blosser, Mennonite minister, arrived in Shenandoah from Pennsylvania in 1776, during the opening stages of the war. He was a man of 60, but very active. He led a drive for non-resistance among the German Quakers. This may have been as effective as keeping men out of the Army as that of Muhlenberg was in making soldiers out of them.

Pursuit of Blosser by an officer named Bender illustrates Blosser's fearlessness. Bender swore he would seize and punish Blosser. The latter to foil him would hide in immediate proximity to Bender, while Bender's men were scouring the country elsewhere for the non-resistant preacher. Discovery of the ruse threw Bender into rage, but Blosser eluded him. This incident is said to be well known as a reliable fact among Blosser's descendants, though it has perhaps not been put into print more than once.

Martin Kauffman, Baptist preacher convert from the Mennonites, did not believe in slavery, oaths, or war. He assisted Blosser in Peace propaganda and caused a division in the White House Church.

The work of Blosser and his associates explains in large measure why the Shenandoah minute books contain so few names of militia officers appointed during the Revolution from the Mennonite section of the County.

"As far back as I can trace by careful inquiry is that Peter Blosser (who I will name Peter first) came from Switzerland - - place and province not known to me. It is handed down to me by trandition, that he became singer and jester to some great person or noble man of that country, but in time of war he escaped and went to France...where he stayed for awhile, but war coming on in France he left that country and came to America - - August 27th, 1739. In ship "Snow Betsy," Richard Buden, Commander, sailed to Rotterdam, Holland - - last from Deal, 190 passengers and settled in the state of Pennsylvania at a creek called Cadoris, near Little York in York County, where it is supposed he married and had sons and daughters born unto him. He was also an ordained minister in the Mennonite Church. "In the course of time, his wife died and his sons, becoming somewhat unmanageable, he said he would get them a cross stepmother - - so marrying for his second wife, a Miss Knicely, who was sure enough a cross wife, on whose account he had to give up his ministry. He at one time owned two farms but lost the greater part of them to her. Her step-children, scarcely being able to live with her, left the parental roof as they became of age and went to Virginia and settled in Page County near Stonyman near the Blue Ridge." from "Genealogical History of the Blosser Family"

Notes

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:KNYK-Y6P

History: The original Blosser named Peter emigrated from Switzerland. He sailed on the good ship, "SNOW BETSY." He fathered twelve children. Some of them came to Virginia, locating near Massanutten at Blosserville.

Peter Blossers ancestors came from Switzerland.

Peter Blosser was bishop of the Lancaster Conference of the Church. Born in Blazen, Switzerland, he left there and went to France and then came on the "Snow Betsey" to America (190 passengers from Rotterdam, Holland, last from Deal). He first settled on Codorus Creek near Little York, York Co., PA. This info. from Jack Childer's info. on web. LDS film #1760924

Peter Blosser came to the United States from Switzerland on the ship Snow Betsey and landed at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 27, 1730. He settled in York County Pennsylvania. His children settled in the counties of Shenandoah, Rockingham, and Page in Virginia. He was a Menonite Minister. He is buried at North Garden, now Albomaral County, Virginia. His second wife was named Miss Nicely. The name of one of his sons was Jacob Blosser, who was born near York, York, Pennsylvania on January 13, 1758. He died in Hahoning County, Ohio on October 8, 1848, at which place Jacob and his former wife Barbara Beery are buried. They lived many years in Luray, Page, Virginia. Some of their children moved to Maheaing County, Ohio where Jacob and his wife moved about the year of 1825. His occupation was that of a miller. His religious faith that of a Menonite. He and Barbara Beery were married February 13, 1743. She died in Mahoning County, Ohio on June 3, 1840. (Ron Norviel on Family Tree.)

Emigration to U.S.: Book "Forerunners, A History or Genealogy of the Strickler Families by Harry M. Strickler. Book in possession of Carolyn BABER Doten of Yaak, Montana.

References

1. https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/KNYK-Y6P Source indicates this to distinguish from son
2. https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/8839067?cid=mem_copy
3. Emigration to U.S.: Book "Forerunners, A History or Genealogy of the Strickler Families by Harry M. Strickler. Page 176
4. Hartzler, Harold H. "Blosser (Blaser, Bläser, Blasser) family." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1953. Web. 2 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Blosser_(Blaser,_Bl%C3%A4ser,_Bla.... Cites
   1. A Genealogical History of the Blosser Family as Known in America (Dayton, Va., 1903) was written by S. H. Blosser. Later Mrs. Eli Blosser published Blosser Family History (North Lima, Ohio, ca. 1934), which contained 51 families and traced the descendants of Peter Blaser, the immigrant of 1739.
5. ” The genealogical research of Mark Blosser.” < link >
6. “Historical Notes on the Blosser Family during the Civil War.” (Monday, April 3, 2017) < link >