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Hershey Family members identified in a book by Scott Funk Hershey

Project Tags

Purpose of Project

The Hershey family has been very difficult to keep attached to the correct line. This project is intended to help by identifying those members of the Hershey families that emigrated to United States from Switzerland contained in the book - "History and Records of the Hershey Family from the Year 1600" by Scott Funk Hershey originally published in 1913.

The Hershey Lines

The 1709 Branch

Bishop Christian Hershey was the first Hershey to appear in the United States. He located in Lancaster County with his three children, Benjamin, Andrew, and Anna. Christian was the first Mennonite Bishop in this country. He was succeeded by his son, Benjamin.

The 1719 Branch

Jog Hersche is the original ancestor known. He was born in Appenzell, Switzerland about 1535. His son, Conrad married Greth Lamere at Appenzell in 1621. Franziest Hersche, son of Conrad, married Engel Darig in Appenzell in 1662. His son Hans Hersche married Anna Geunder in 1696. Hans moved his family to the Palatinate at the Court of Friedensheim. In the year 1719, Hans and his two sons, Andrew (1702-1792) and Benjamin emigrated to America and settled near the Little Conestoga in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. His third son, Christian was obligated to remain at the Court until 1739 when he went to America. All three brothers were preachers in the Mennonite Church.

Unconnected branches

There are some Hershey families that have not yet been connected to one of the main branches.

Spellings of the Hershey surname

The following fourteen alternate spellings were collected from bibles, tombstones, and court records:

  1. Hershi
  2. Hersha
  3. Hershy
  4. Hersche
  5. Harsy
  6. Hersay
  7. Harsey
  8. Hartha
  9. Herseey
  10. Herzey
  11. Hersee
  12. Hirschey
  13. Harschey
  14. Harse

Adding Profiles

Any profile added to this project should be listed in the book and have a placard added to the profile identifying the branch. The placards are:

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project created by Jim on 11.26.2018