Rev Joseph Showalter

Joseph Showalter immigrated to Philadelphia in 1750 aboard the ship Brotherhood, Jacob Showalter, Joseph's Father, purchaed land in 1759 and settled his family on a 450 acre tract in Whitehall Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, along the east side of the Lehigh River. The old family burying ground is now in the heart of the little town of Siegfied, just across the river from Amenson. They worshipped at the Siegfried Mennonite Meetinghouse, probably built in 1760. The meetinghouse and cemetery were conveyed on 10 March 1770 by Daniel Chambers to Joseph Showalter, Henry Funk, Peter Fried and Jacob Baer in trust for the Mennonist Congregation of Whitehall and Allen Townships. Several of the Showalter brothers relocated to Chester County, Pennsylvania between 1770 and 1772. It is suggested they left because of Indian raids on Northampton county during this period. Joseph arrived in Chester County in 1771 and purchased 60 acres on 18 March. On 1 April 1771, his land in Whitehall township in Northampton County was sold. In 1772 he purchased 200 more acres in Chester County. He began selling his land in 1791. On 16 March 1795 Joseph conveyed 40 perches of land in Charleston Township, Chester County to Mathias Pennypacker, Jacob Johnson, Christian Wisler, George Clemens and Abraham Haldeman, in trust for the use of a place of worship and burial for the Society of people called Mennonists and for no other use forever. Joseph had become a Mennonite minister before 1773. He wrote his will 22 March 1802 and it was probated 21 August 1802.