THE STRAUSBAUGH FAMILY HISTORY
Written by Don Osborn, 1983-1985
Scanned and edited, Barbara Brady O'Keefe, 1998
The Following material was prepared by Don Osborn, Muscatine, Iowa. We corresponded for years, and then we lost touch and have not written one another for years. I understand Don moved from Muscatine to another city in Iowa, but I do not have the address.
Don was a wonderful thorough researcher, and a good friend. I am attempting to get these pages into one compilation, and dedicate it to him. I hope it has not been published or under copywrite, but I'm sure Don would not mind, in the interest of genealogy, and Don definitely is an avid one.
Barbara Brady O'Keefe, Miami, Fl, 1998
CHAPTER 1-1 INTRODUCTION TO THE STRAUSBAUGH FAMILY HISTORY
ORGINIZATION OF THE HISTORY
Part 1 - Nicholas Strausbaugh the Immigrant
This part provides general information concerning the origin of the
family, the family name, the journey to America, and the history of
the immigrant ancestor, Nicholas Strausbaugh.
Part 2 - Nicholas Strausbaugh Branch
This part covers the history of Nicholas Strausbaugh Jr., the oldest
son of the immigrant, and his known descendants.
Part 3 - Michael Strausbaugh Branch
This part covers the history of Michael Strausbaugh, the youngest son
of the immigrant, and his known descendants.
Part 4 - The Daughters of Nicholas Strausbaugh
This part covers the history of the seven daughters of the immigrant
and their known descendants.
Part 5 - Unidentified Strausbaugh Families
This part covers some Strausbaugh families which are probably
descendants of Nicholas Strausbaugh, but which have not been
identified with a specific family.
Part 6 - Associated Families
This part covers the ancestral origins of some of the spouses of the
early Strausbaugh families.
EARLY SETTLERS AT PIGEON HILLS WHO CAME ON THE SHIP PRINCESS AUGUSTA
INTRODUCTION
The following genealogical report discusses origin and settlement in America of
a group of families who came to America from Rotterdam, Holland, on the ship
Princess Augusta, arriving at Philadelphia on September 16, 1736, and who made
their first settlement of any permanence along the branches of Beaver Creek,
north of the Pigeon Hills, in Lancaster County, now York and Adams Counties)
Pennsylvania.
These were the Strasbach, Noel, Delon, Christian, and Ory fanilies. They were
Catholics, were German speaking, with some branches using German in the homes
for several generations, and have been said to have come from France. They
were probably the first settlers of what some early writers called the "French
Colony" at Pigeon Hills. Some historians have questioned whether such a colony
really existed. The following study indicates that such a colony did exist,
the first Catholic settlers of the colony were probably the above families, but
"French" was probably a misnomer as these families were more likely Alsatians.
LAND MAP OF EARLY SETTLEMENT
Along with this document, a land ownership map is provided which shows the
earliest known holders of the land around Abbottstown, Pennsylvania, partic-
ularly, the area to the south between Abbottstown and the Pigeon Hills. The
main East-West Road through Abbottstown is now U.S. Highway 30, the North-South
road through Abbottstown is now Pennsylvania Highway 194, and the North-South
road at the left of the map, crossing Highway 30 at Cross Keys is Pennsylvania
Highway 94. Each land parcel has been given a reference code number.
The parcels of land settled by the Princess Augusta families are identified
with dark circles* It is seen that their lands located between Abbottstown and
the Pigeon Hills formed an almost contiguous group of land parcels extending
more than half way around the future site of Abbottstown. The present bound-
aries of Abbottstown are shown on the map) however it did not really exist as a
town until about 40 years after these families arrived in the area.
In 1749 this area became part of newly formed York County, Pennsylvania. The
east branch of Beaver Creek became the boundary between Paradise Township on
the east and Berwick Township on the west) thus dividing the settlement into
two townships. In 1800, Adams County was formed from York County and the
settlement area was then separated into two different Counties, Paradise Town-
ship being in York County, and Berwick in Adams County.
ORIGINS OF PRINCESS AUGUSTA FAMILIES
The Princess Augusta Families arrived in Philadelphia September 15, 1736, from
Rotterdam, Holland, suggesting they came from one of the lands along the Rhine
River, or one of its tributaries. They spoke German as their common language,
and at least those who were literate could also speak French and signed their
names with French spellings on the passenger lists at Philadelphia.
In those times, this particular bilingual language characteristic existed along
the Rhine River only in Alsace, and that portion of the Duchy of Lorraine now
located within the French Department of Mosel and stretching along the border
of German Saarland. From southern Mosei on south through Lorraine the language
was a local dialect of French.
Historically, the people of Alsace, the Alsatian speaking people of the Mosel
region of Lorraine, the German Swiss, and the people of Baden across the Rhine
River from Alsace, were of the same origins. These peoples were descendants of
the Alamanni, a Germanic tribe who conquered the lands of the upper Rhine
Valley in the 5th Century, and drove out the earlier Celtic tribes and Roman
settlers. Their language is the Alemannic dialect of High German, and in
France is commonly called Alsatian, whether spoken in Alsace or Lorraine.
The lands on the west side of the Rhine came under the control of France in the
mid 17th Century and French became the language of government, and thus became
a second spoken language, although Alsatian German continued as the most common
spoken language of Alsace and Northeastern Mosel even into the 20th Century.
In the early 1700s, use of French as a second language by the Alsatian speaking
people of Alsace and parts of Lorraine, linguistically separated these peoples
from those of Baden and the German Swiss.
The people who emigrated from Rotterdam can be divided linguistically as fol-
lows. The Dutch and Germans of the lower Rhine spoke Low German. The people
east of the upper Rhine and the German Swiss spoke High German. On the west
side of the upper Rhine above Koblenz the people spoke High German except many
Alsatians spoke French as a second language. Of the people coming down the
Mosel tributary to Koblenz, those coming from what are now Luxembourg and
German Rheinland-Pfalz and Saar spoke High German. Those from the Northeastern
Mosel region of the Duchy of Lorraine spoke Alsatian and French. Those of the
remainder of the Duchy of Lorraine spoke French.
Other emigrants who came down the Rhine who spoke French were most usually
French Huguenots. These were French Protestants who had fled overland to the
Rhine Valley to escape persecution in Catholic France. Some had lived among
the Germans long enough to speak German as a second language.
In summary, almost all bilingual German-French speaking people who came down
the Rhine were either the Alsatian speaking people of Alsace and the Mosel
region of Lorraine, or French Hugenots, some of whom could speak German. Both
Catholic and Protestants emigrants came from the Alsatian speaking group.
The Princess Augusta families who came to the Pigeon Hills area were Catholic
and were evidently bilingual and thus most likely either came down the Rhine
River from Alsace, or down the Mosel and Rhine Rivers from the Alsatian speak-
ing part of northern Lorraine.
On the Princess Augusta, the ship's Captain Marchant, a name of French origin,
In his ships records, singled out seven families and treated these differently
than the rest. These were the families of Nicholas Strasbach, Joseph Noel,
Eneas Noel, John Francis Christian) Peter Delon) Nicholas Gerard, and Francis
Ory and his adult son Nicholas.
Of 330 passengers on the ship, these were the only families for which the
captain made an addition to his ship's passenger list which indicated whether
the male passenger had brought a wife and also included a tabulation of the
number of children in each family.
One can only speculate as to the reason the captain did this. It is suspected
that these may have been the only families aboard who could communicate in
French and thus perhaps the only passengers with whom Captain Marchant could
easily converse.
When the males of the Princess Augusta appeared before the Philadelphia Court
for clearance) the following of this group signed in their own handwriting:
Francois Ory, Nicolas Ory, Jean Francois Chretien, N Gerard, Pierre Dulon, and
Joseph Noel, obvious French spellings. Nicholas Strasbach could not write and
his name was recorded on the Court's list as heard by others as Collas Drasbart
and Collas Prasbart. On the Captain's lists his name was recorded as Nicolas
Trasbart and Nicollas Drasbart. The other males of this group who did not
write their own name were Peter Noel, 16 year old son of Joseph, and Eneas
Noel, whose relationship to Joseph is unknown.
This group of passengers of the Princess Augusta signed their names in French,
found rapport with the captain of an English ship who was probably of French
origin, assimilated easily into a German culture on the Pennsylvania frontier,
spoke German in their homes and with their German neighbors, in Pennsylvania
records were called by the English or German versions of their names, were
called French by their descendants, were probable founders of what early
writers of the area called a "French Colony", and were Catholics who seem to
have gotten along well with their German Protestant neighbors.
The preceding statement seems quite contradictory, but it is these very contra-
dictions that uniquely identifies their origin as either Alsace or the Alsatian
speaking part of Lorraine. The preceding and other traces of information after
their arrival in America can only be considered circumstantial evidence. The
proof probably lies in Catholic Church records in one of the two named areas.
Some additional found circumstantial evidence concerning their origins has been
found in searches of their descendants and other associations and are discussed
hereafter.
Of these families, those of Joseph Noel, Peter Delon, John Francis Christian,
Nicholas Strasbach, and Nicholas Ory, came on to the settlement north of Pigeon
Hills as their first place of settlement of any permanence. Nicholas Ory is
the only one of his family known to have come to the Pigeon Hills, however not
long after arrival in America, he married the oldest daughter of Nicholas
Strasbach. The relationship between Eneas Noel and Joseph Noel Is unknown. It
is believed that Eneas settled in Berks County, Pennsylvania. What happened to
the rest of the Ory family and Nicholas Gerard is unknown.
Searches have made of family histories and other sources for family traditions
that might shed light on the origins of these families. It has generally been
found that most modern descendants of these families have no idea where their
ancestors came from. Some descendants believe they were from France, but it
appears this may have been learned from histories written during the 19th
Century.
A few cases have been found where it has been suggested these ancestors may
have come from Alsace. In most of these cases It appears that a researcher
suspected Alsace as place of origin but when tracing only one of these families
could not find enough evidence to support such a conclusion.
This writer was informed by one correspondent, that it had been passed down
through their family that their ancestor Catherine Strausbaugh was of Alsatian
ancestry. At the time of the first contact with this branch of descendants
they did not know the parentage of Catherine, only that she and her husband
William Cobb had come from Adams County, Pennsylvania. This family had been
isolated from other Strausbaugh descendants for about 130 years. The contact
was actually made with this family while seeking information on another common
ancestral family. Catherine was the daughter of Peter Strasbaugh and Barbara
Noel, and granddaughter of both Nicholas Strasbach Jr and Peter Noel, son of
Joseph, and thus descended from two of the Princess Augusta families.
A second Dellone immigrant came to America 14 years after the Princess Augusta
families. This was Nicholas Dellone, who also eventually came to the
Abbottstown area and whose descendants remained in the Abbottstown area after
those of Peter Delon left the area. Nicholas Dellone was also called "of
France", but he was from Alsace and returned to Alsace on several occasions,
reportedly once to settle his father's estate. Some historians have suggested
the possibility Nicholas was a relative of Peter Delon, however, that they were
related, or the degree of relationship, are unknown and unproven.
Nicholas Ory moved from Beaver Creek to Maryland about 1751. In Maryland, he
married as a second wife, a French Arcadian. They and part of his family even-
tually made their way to Louisiana where they settled in the St. Johns Catholic
parish. The captain of the ship on which they sailed from Baltimore to Louisi-
ana listed Ory as a German family. The majority of the passengers were Aca-
dians The 1774 marriage record of Mathias Ory, states he was a native of
Frederick County, Maryland) son of Nicholas Ory and Anna Strassbach. In this
French parish, the Ory family were considered Germans. This is another indi-
cation of the unique origin and bilingual nature of these families.
The statements that these families were from France, at least support they were
from the west side of the upper Rhine. However, by the time these statements
were placed in writing, Alsace and Lorraine had been fully incorporated Into
France. At the time of emigration of these families, Alsatians considered
themselves neither French or German. The French were occupying their land
against their will) although the French had originally been invited in by the
Alsatians for assistance in repelling neighboring German armies.
This group of families were almost certainly from the Alsatian speaking area.
The probability Is greater that they were from Alsace simply because many more
Alsatians came to America than did people from Lorraine, together with the fact
the great majority of Alsatian speaking people were from Alsace. Based on
preceding and the other circumstantial evidence, this writer believes It is
reasonable to assume these families were from Alsace.
EARLY SETTLEMENT AT BEAVER CREEK
It is not known when these Alsatian Catholic families first arrived at Beaver
Creek. This is difficult to tell from land records. When these early settlers
found an unoccupied piece of land on which they wish to settle, it was normal
practice for them to simply squat on the land, stake out a claim, and to
proceed with development of the land and building of primitive homes and farm
buildings. These claims were not recorded.
In those early times the land remained the property of the English Crown. The
Penn family had been given proprietary rights to the lands of the colony. The
Proprietaries in turn sold rights to occupy and use the land subject to a
yearly quitrent. The settlers acquired the permanent right to occupy this land
by obtaining a patent deed from the Proprietaries or their agents.
The process was for the settler to find and claim a desired land parcel, and
then obtain a warrant for the described land. Next an official survey was made
to define the location and determine the amount of land, and finally a patent
deed was obtained for the property. The quit rent was usually retroactive to
the time the settler started his improvements to the property.
The warrant, survey, and quit rent required cash payment, something many of the
early settlers did not have. Therefore it was common for the settler to squat
on the land until he could afford the payments.
The need for this delay in obtaining warrants was apparently recognized and the
officials more or less permitted a grace period before enforcing the legal
process for land acquisition. This unofficial grace period seems to have been
about seven years. However, many settlers took no action toward obtaining a
warrant for their claimed land until they were threatened with loss of the
land, or they had a need of their own to obtain a legal patent deed for the
land. It was said by one early official, the Germans would squat on the best
lands and never paid anything until made to do so.
The Lancaster County lands across the Susquehanna River In the Beaver Creek
area were not officially opened for settlement until 1736 when the Penns pur-
chased these lands from the Indians. There may been some unauthorized settlers
in the area before then.
The earliest found evidence of a settlement at Beaver Creek was a land warrant
to Jacob Eyler (L12) in 1738. He was not the only one there, as he indicated
the land was next to that of "old Cope" and "old Lexon". Cope may have been the
father of Jacob Shope. Jacob Shope was to became a son-in-law of Nicholas
Strasbach. Who Lexon was is unknown, but study of the lands surrounding that
of Jacob Eyler as shown on the Land Map, suggests he may have been the first
settler on the land acquired by John Abbott (J13).
The first of the land warrants obtained by one of the Princess Augusta families
was that of John Francis Christian (Ll4) in 1744. His land was surveyed in
1745 and showed Strasbaugh (L12) as a neighbor. In the same year the survey
draft of John Bready's land (M14) also showed Strausbaugh as a neighbor.
There appears to have been little land record activity in this settlement prior
to 1750. The warrants prior to 1750, found to date include: 1738, Jacob Eyler
(L12); 1743, John Bready (Ml4); 1744, John Francis Christian (Ll4); 1745, John
Bready (K19), 1746, James Reed (H5 & J5), Mathias Bowser (Fl6).
The officials must have then caused some activity. Warranted 1750, Nicholas
Strasbach (M12), Nicholas Noel (Kll), Peter Noel (J15), John Nagle (E16), Jacob
Eyler (M8); 1751, Melchor Kerbach (Ml6), Nicholas Shearer (Mil), John Hun-
singer (NIO), John Noel (MIO); 1754, Frederick Shulla (N13); 1756, Jacob Giles
(018); 1762, Peter Delon (K7), John Noel (Hl7 & Gl8); 1765, John Grove (G19).
Land surveys for the Alsatian families were made in 1745, John Francis Chris-
tian; 1751, Nicholas Strasbach; 1753, Nicholas Noel; 1764, John Noel; 1766,
Peter Noel, Peter Delon, Nicholas Strasbach Jr, 1767, Nicholas Delon.
Nicholas Ory (NIO) and Jacob Shupe (Mil) apparently left the area about 1751
without ever obtaining warrants for their claims.
Joseph Noel probably died before 1750 and his land warranted by one or more of
his sons) Peter, John or Nicholas. No land records have been found for his
younger sons Andrew or Joseph Jr in this area. The land (Hl7 & G18) north of
York Road, John Noel warranted in 1762 is somewhat of a puzzle. John obtained
a deed to this unwarranted land from Hans Hamilton in 1761. The Hans Hamilton
family were on west in Manor of Maske by 1741. Perhaps they settled on this
land prior to moving on to Marsh Creek, and the Noel family then occupied the
land. Perhaps the deed was needed to obtain clear title to the land which the
Noels may have been occupying for 20 some years.
Philip Noll and his sons John Yost and George Noll, who later acquired land in
the area were not of Joseph Noel's family. Philip immigrated in 1751. When
they arrived in the area is unknown. They appear to have been Protestants.
Nicholas Noel was another son-in-law of Nicholas Strasbach. John Heidler,
another son-in-law of Nicholas Strasbach, inherited land from his brother Jacob
in 1760. John didn't have this land surveyed until 1797.
Nicholas Strasbach inherited his fathers land (M12) in 1753. He acquired
another property (J5) out by Cross Keys in 1765, which he had surveyed in 1766,
and in 1768 sold to George Noll. This was a part of the land warranted by
James Reed in 1746. Not long after 1768, Nicholas and his son Peter relocated
to Buchanan Valley in that part of York County which later became Adams County.
Michael Strasbach, youngest son of Nicholas Sr) acquired land south of Pigeon
Hills and off the area covered by the Land Map. Most Strausbaugh families of
York County and eastern Adams County, descended from Michael Strasbach.
It should not be construed from the preceding, that these families straggled
into this area over a period of time. Study of various records provides
evidence the better lands in this settlement were occupied by 1741. Lands taken
by Princess Augusta families were some of the best. In order to acquire an
almost contiguous group of these prime properties, immediately surrounding the
land John Abbott and Jacob Eyler, the whole group of these families must have
arrived within a very short period of time, probably in 1738 or 1739, certainly
not later than 1740. They were the original warrantees of most of this land.
The Strasbach (Strausbaugh), Noel, and Delon (Dillon) families stayed in this
settlement for some time and descendants of the Strausbaugh family still live
in surrounding areas. Part of the Strausbaugh, Noel and Dillon families moved
to Buchanan Valley in Northwest Adams County and descendants of these Straus-
baugh and Dillon families still live in that area.
Some of the second generation of these families were born in the settlement,
essentially all reached adulthood and married here. The only marriage between
the second generation of these families that might have occurred before they
reached the Pigeon Hills was that of Nicholas Ory and Anna Strasbach.
THE STRAUSBAUGH FAMILY HISTORY
PART 1 NICHOLAS STRAUSBAUGH THE IMMIGRANT
CHAPTER 1-1 INTRODUCTION TO THE STRAUSBAUGH FAMILY HISTORY
SYNOPSIS
This is the history of the Strausbaugh families descended from the immigrant,
Nicholas Strausbaugh, who in the summer of 1736, sailed from Rotterdam, Hol-
land, with his wife and family , and arrived in America at Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania on September 16, 1736, and eventually settled in Paradise Town-
ship, York County, Pennsylvania, where he died in the year 1753.
Nicholas Strausbaugh arrived in America with six children. At the time of his
death, there were ten known surviving children, three sons and seven daughters.
Of the three sons, the second son died shortly after his father, without heirs,
thus the decendants of the name are either from the eldest son, Nicholas
Strausbaugh Jr, or from the youngest, Michael Strausbaugh.
Nicholas Strausbaugh Jr. lived in a number of locations, including what is now
Menallen Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania. Most of the Strausbaugh fam-
ilies who lived in, or migrated out of the western half of Adams County, are
descended from Nicholas Jr.
Michael Strausbaugh lived in Paradise Township, York County, and Pennsylvania. Most of the Strausbaugh families who lived in, or migrated out of York County and the eastern portion of Adams County, Pennsylvania are descended from Michael.
The seven daughters of Nicholas Strausbaugh all married and had descendants.
These sisters, Anna Strausbaugh Urigh, Mary Ann Strausbaugh Decker, Barbara
Strausbaugh Hinds, Margaret Strausbaugh Noel, Matalena Strausbaugh Gogh, Cath-
erine Strausbaugh Schoff, and Judith Strausbaugh Heidler, together with their
brothers Nicholas and Michael Strausbaugh were the ancestors of many of the old
families of York and Adams Counties.
Some Strausbaugh families still reside in the general area of the original
settlement in York and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania, however, most have scat-
tered to other places. About 1810 some of the descendants started moving
westward, particularly into Ohio. Today, descendants are found spread through
most of the states of United States. It is believed that the great majority of
the Strausbaugh families of various spellings, now living in the United States
are descended from this immigrant ancestor, Nicholas Strausbaugh.
THE STRAUSBAUGH FAMIIY NAME
In the 20th Century, Strausbaugh appears to be the spelling of the name most
commonly used by the descendants of the immigrant, Nicholas Strausbaugh. The
second most common spelling is Strasbaugh. A few other variations of the spel-
ling still exist.
In the early years the family was in America, many variations of spelling were
used.
In this family history, Strausbaugh is used as the general purpose spelling.
Other spellings are used when quoting a specific record, or in reference to
such a record, and elsewhere when appropriate.
While the Strausbaugh spelling is common today, this was not always the case.
This spelling has evolved as such in the last 100 years of the almost 250 year
history of the family in America. During the first 100 years, Strasbach was
the most common spelling, but it was just one of many.
Essentially nothing is known concerning the original European spelling or
pronunciation of the name. The immigrant, Nicholas, could not write his name.
On the first day that he was in America, his name was written into the Pennsyl-
vania Provincial records four times, with four different spellings. It was
recorded probably by Englishmen, who wrote it down as they heard it spoken in a
foreign tongue, and then Nicholas signed with his mark. In later years, re-
searchers studying these ancient documents have transcribed and published their
interpretations of these old hand written spellings. To date, published trans-
criptions have been found which provide five different spellings of his name as
it was recorded on his first day in America. These are: Nicolas Trasbart,
Nicollas Drasbart, Collas Drasbart, Colas Drasbarb, and Collas Prasbart. It
takes a little imagination to relate these to the modern spelling.
Thus, it is seen that the name Strausbaugh is probably an American invention or
an evolutionary derivation from the original, whatever that may have been. The
names Strausbaugh and Strasbach appear to be typical German names, but it is
doubtful that Nicholas was even German. He did settle in an area of
Pennsylvania which soon became predominately German in heritage. Thus it is
possible that with time the original name became Germanized as well as
Americanized in both pronunciation and spelling.
It must be remembered that for the greater part of the 250 years that the
family has been in America, the name was written down by record keepers as they
heard it, or as they thought it should be spelled. In many instances this was
true even when the person could write their own name. Written signatures were
most often used for signing legal record documents. For these documents, if
the person could not write, he made his mark along side his name after it was
written by others.
Following are various spellings found during family research: Drasbart, Dras-
barb, Prasbart, Trasbart, Trasbach, Trasback, Trasbaugh, Tresback, Treshback,
Trosbach, Trosbaugh, Trospaugh, Stars bach, Strasbach, Strasback, Strasbaugh,
Strawsbach, Strawsbaugh, Strawsbauch, Strawsbauck, Strassbach, Strasbock,
Strassbaugh, Strosbach, Strosback, Stroosbaugh, Strausbaugh, Strausbough,
CHAPTER 1-2 NICHOLAS STRAUSBAUGH THE IMMIGRANT
FIRST GENERATION
100 -1 NICHOLAS STRAUSBAUGH
Born: c 1696 Northcentral Europe, possibly Alsace-Lorraine
Died: c 1753 Paradise Twp, York Co, PA
Immigrated: 16 Sep 1736 Rotterdam, Holland to Philadelphia, PA
Ship: Princess Augusta, Samuel Marchant, Master
Resided: c 1738-c1749 Lancaster Co, PA
C 1749-c1753 Paradise Twp, York Co, PA
Parents: Unknown
Married: c1718
Spouse: Name unknown
Born: Europe
Died: p1753 PA
Children: 3 sons and 7 daughters known, order of daughters unknown
201-1 Nicholas Jr c 1721 Northcentral Europe
211-2 John 173- died prior to 1763, without heirs
221-3 Michael c 1742 PA
231-4 Anna c 1719 Northcentral Europe
241-5 Mary Ann 172- Northcentral Europe
251-6 Barbara 172- Northcentral Europe
261-7 Margaret 17-- Northcentral Europe
271-8 Matalena 173- probably Europe
281-9 Catherine 173- probably PA
291-10 Judith 173- PA
* The proper order of the children is not known
Nicholas Strausbaugh, the immigrant ancestor, was 40 years of age when he
arrived in America in the year 1736, indicating that he was born about the year
1696.
Essentially nothing is known concerning his parentage, birth place, marriage,
or his early life in Europe. Because of the religious preference of the
majority of his children and grandchildren, it is assumed that Nicholas was of
the the Roman Catholic faith. Based on somewhat flimsy circumstantial evi-
dence, it appears that his origin may have been in the Alsace-Lorraine region
of Northcentral Europe, and that he and his family traveled down the Rhine
River with a small group of Catholic families from that area, who were bound
for America. From wherever he may have come, the termination of the European
portion of the journey was at Rotterdam, Holland, located at the mouth of the
Rhine River. Rotterdam was the principle port of embarkation for those emi-
grants who came down the Rhine.
In the summer of 1736, Nicholas Strausbaugh, his wife and six children, boarded
the ship. Princess Augusta, captained by Samuel Marchant, which sailed from
Rotterdam, Holland, made a stop for provisions at Cowes on the English Isle of
Wight, sailed across the Atlantic to Philadelphia, arriving on, or shortly
before, September 16, 1736.
The trip across the Atlantic could not have been an easy journey. From Captain
Marchant's manifesto, it is learned that there were approximately 330 passen-
gers crowded into the sailing vessel. Of these, 112 were males over 16 years
of age, the remaining 218 were women and children. Two male passengers are
known to have died during the journey and the number of women and children who
shared this fate is unknown. Five of the male passengers were too sick to make
the appearance before the Philadelphia Court upon arrival.
Captain Marchant's manifesto indicated that the passengers were from the Pala-
tinate and other places. This suggests that the majority of the passengers
were from the Palatinate* However, there is reason to believe that Nicholas
Strausbaugh was not included in this majority.
On September 16, 1736, Captain Marchant and the male passengers appeared before
the Philadelphia Court for qualification as required by the laws of the Pro-
vince of Pennsylvania. The captain presented to the court his list of male
passengers over sixteen years of age who were transported to Pennsylvania on
the Princess Augusta. The Court prepared two lists on which the passengers
either signed their names, or if they could not write their name, they signed
with their mark alongside the name as it was written down by the Court's
recorder. Thus, for those who could not write, the name was written with a
phonetic spelling as heard by the recorder.
These three lists, which are extant, contain essentially all the known informa-
tion concerning Nicholas Strausbaugh prior to his arrival in America* These
three lists are published in "Pennsylvania German Pioneers" by Strasssburger
and Hinke and are identified as lists A, B, and C, List A being Captain Mar-
chant's list, and Lists B and C being the two lists prepared by the Philadel-
phia Courts. List A is of the most importance to the Strausbaugh history as it
gives Nicholas's age and the number of persons in his family.
The other lists are of interest as they indicate which of the passengers signed
their own names and which signed with their mark. Nicholas Strausbaugh signed
with his mark. Nicholas's name appeared twice on List A, thus from the three
lists, there are found four phonetic spellings of his name. None of the four
are identical. On List A, Nicholas is found as "Nicollas Drasbart and Nicolas
Trasbart", on List B as "Collas (+) Drasbart" and on List C as "Collas (+)
Prasbart." The (+) indicates Nicholas's mark.
Some of these differences in name spellings may be due in part to difficulty in
reading the deteriorated original documents and in deciphering the ancient
handwriting. It must also be remembered that the documents were prepared by
probably at least three different persons whose spelling proficiencies undoubt-
edly varied and for those passengers who could not write, the phonetic spel-
lings might vary considerably, depending on the familiarity of the recorder
with the language or dialect in which the name was pronounced.
An analysis of how Nicholas's name was written by others suggests the following
concerning the pronunciation of his name. The absence of the "S" indicates
that it was either missing or was very soft and followed by a harsh consonant
which made the "S" insignificant, also that it was hard to distinguish whether
the consonant was a "t", "d", or "p". The dropping of the "Mi" from Nicholas
suggests a French rather than German pronunciation, Ni-kol'as, with a soft
first syllable, rather than Nik'o-las*
The preceding suggests the possibility that the Nicholas Strausbaugh family was
from one of the French provinces along the Rhine River, rather than from one of
the German provinces. While there were numbers of French refugees in the
German Palatinate and also in Holland, these were predominately Protestant
Huguenots rather than Catholics.
Captain Marchant's list contains an oddity which indicates that research re-
lated to the origins of some of the other families aboard the Princess Augusta
might possibly provide information concerning the origin of the Strausbaugh
family.
Following his list of the 112 males over 16 years of age. Captain Marchant also
provided a listing of a few of the families aboard the Princess Augusta. In
the following table, the first column is Captain Marchant's family list, the
remaining three columns give the names as spelled on Lists A, B, and C:
Family List List A List B List C
Francis Ore, a wife Francis Ory *Francois Ory *Francois Ory
3 children age 56
Nicholas Ore Nicholas Oree *Nicholas Ory *Nicholas Ory
Age 26
Nicolas Trasbart, Nicollas Drasbart Collas Drasbart Collas Prasbart
Wife, 6 children
Pierre Dilon,wife Petter Delo *Pierre Dulon *Pierre Dulon
4 children age 40
Nicolas Gerard, Nichols Gerrard *N Gerard *N Gerard
a wife age 30
Jean Francois Chretien Francis Christian *Jean Francois *Jean Francois
a wife, 1 child age 40 Chrestien Chrestien
Eneas Newell, Ennos Newell Enoas Nowell Ennos Newell
a wife, 1 child age 36
Joseph Newell, Joseph Newell *Joseph Noel *Joseph Noel
Wife 6 children, age 56
of whom Pierre Petter Newell Peter Nowell Pieter Newell
Newell is one age 16
In the above lists, the names preceded by * are those which were written in the
person's own hand.
One can only speculate as to why Captain Mar-chant, with 330 passengers on his
ship, chose to prepare such a listing for 6 family groups with a total of only
36 passengers. Were these families of a higher class distinction than the
others? Where the heads of these families better known to the captain, and
possibly were those who shared the captains table? Had they paid for better
quarters for their families? Was the captain more conversant in their language
or dialect than the others?
>From the lists, it is surmised that, particularly for those who signed their
own names, the spellings generally appear to be French rather than German.
Nicholas Ory appears to have been the son of Francis Ory. Joseph, Ennos, and
Peter Noel appear to have been of the same family. Joseph was 20 years older
than Ennos, and Ennos 20 years older than Peter, however Peter was the son of
Joseph, therefore Ennos was probably either an older son or younger brother of
Joseph Noel.
At the time of this writing, comprehensive research on these other families has
not been done. However, information has been found which pertains to a con-
tinuing relationship between the Strausbaugh (Trasbart), Urigh (Ore), Delone
(Dulon), Noel, and Krichten (Chrestien) families extending through several
generations. This suggests an association of these families from the time of
boarding the Princess Augusta at Rotterdam and perhaps even earlier.
Presently no information is available directly related to the religious beliefs
of the immigrant families. However based on the church associations of their
children and grandchildren, it is believed that the Strausbaugh, Delone, Noel,
and Krichten families were Catholic while the Urigh family was Lutheran. This
suggests a different type relationship between the Strausbaugh family and the
Urigh family than with the other families.
Information concerning the origins of the Delon, Noel, and Krichten families of
the Princess Augusta is no better than for the Strausbaugh family. However,
later immigrations of other Delone and Noel families from Alsace and Lorraine,
who were possibly related to the Princess Augusta families, does suggest the
Alsace-Lorraine region as a place of origin. For centuries these adjoining
principalities were pawns of the wars between the French and Germans. They
were exposed to the language and heritage of both. In the early 1700s many
were bilingual, speaking both German and French, with French being the language
of the courts and business and the most commonly written language. While this
is highly speculative, the Alsace-Lorraine region appears to fit this small
group aboard the Princess Augusta better than most other regions along the
Rhine.
The first record of Nicholas Strausbaugh after arrival in Pennsylvania is found
in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where, on September 1, 1738, Nicholas Stars-
bach and Nicholas Orie each secured a warrant for one hundred acres of land in
Conestoga Township. Neither a survey or a patent deed followed for either of
the properties, suggesting that they soon moved on to other parts.
Francis Ore, father of Nicholas, apparently settled in Cocalico Township,
Lancaster County, and records of some of his children are found in the regis-
ters of the Lutheran Churches of the area. However, his son Nicholas followed
the Strausbaugh family, first to Conestago Township, Lancaster County and
eventually on to Paradise Township, York County, Pennsylvania. The reason for
this becomes finally apparent in the administration of the estate of Nicholas
Strausbaugh where it is learned that Nicholas's daughter Anna married Nicholas
Urigh.
The Strausbaugh family may also spent time in Cocalico Township and Nicholas
Strausbaugh Jr may have resided there as late as 1755.
Sometime, about 1748 or 1749, Nicholas Strausbaugh and Nicholas Urigh crossed
the Susquehanna River into that part of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania which in
1749 was to become York County.
On September 10, 1750, Nicholas Strasbach was granted a patent for 100 acres of
land in Paradise Township, York County, adjoining the land of Nicholas Oury and
Gotlib Breigner, including his improvements, for which he agreed to pay the
rate of 15 pounds, 10 shillings, with lawful interest for the same, and a
yearly quit-rent of one-half penny Sterling for every acre thereof.
It is not known when Nicholas Strausbaugh and Nicholas Urigh first settled on
this land in Paradise Township, or when Nicholas Strausbaugh made the original
application for a warrant, however, since the land then included his improve-
ments, it can be assumed that he had been there for some period of time.
Although Anna Strausbaugh and her husband Nicholas Urigh moved along with the
Strausbaugh family, rather than remaining in the same vicinity as the other
Urigh families, they appear to have followed the Lutheran faith.
Presently, the routes taken from Philadelphia to York County by the immigrant
Delone, Noel, and Krichten families are unknown, but they, or at least some of
their children ended up settling in in York County in the area surrounding
Conewago Chapel. This was then a small Roman Catholic log mission house,
established in 1741 by Jesuit missionaries sent out from Baltimore, Maryland.
This site is now occupied by the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which
is still commonly known as Conewago Chapel, and is a well known Pennsylvania
historic religious shrine. Conewago Chapel is located in what is now Conewago
Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania, and about three miles west of Hanover,
Pennsylvania. The presence of this Catholic chapel was probably what drew the
Strausbaugh, Noel, Delone, and Krichten families to the Conewago area.
In 1736, when these families arrived in America, there were few Catholics and
few Catholic Churches in Pennsylvania. While Pennsylvania was one of the few
colonies which professed to have freedom of religion. Catholics were not wel-
comed with open arms by the general populace. Thus the existence of a Catho-
lic church and congregation on the western frontier of Pennsylvania was un-
doubtedly an attraction to these Catholic families.
The extant records of Conewago Chapel do not begin until about 1791, therefore
they do not provide any assistance in researching the early years of these
families. However records of later generations of all four of these families
are to be found in the registers of Conewago Chapel. Intermarriages between
the Strausbaugh, Delone, and Noel families occurred for a number of genera-
tions.
It appears that some of the Krichten family settled in the immediate vicinity
of Conewago Chapel, in what is now Conewago Township, Adams County. Some of
the Noel family and possibly some of the Delone family settled a few miles
north in the Pigeon Hills in what is now Berwick Township, Adams County, and
Nicholas Strausbaugh and Nicholas Urigh settled to the east of the Pigieon
Hills, across Beaver Creek into what is now Paradise Township, York County. At
the time of their settlement this whole area was a part of Lancaster County,
the entire area became part of York County when it was formed from Lancaster
County in 1749, and the area was split when Adams County was formed from York
County in 1800. Thus, in the early years, these families were located relative-
ly close together and close to Conewago Chapel.
The dates of arrival of each of these families into the Conewago area is not
known. It has been said that the so-called French settlement in the Pidgeon
Hills, was started about 1749. The Noel family supposedly was one of the early
families in this settlement. Perhaps the Strausbaugh family, Nicholas Urigh,
the Delones, Noels, and Krichten families all came into the Conewago area
shortly before 1750, from some previous common settlement in Lancaster County.
Essentially nothing is known concerning the life of Nicholas Strausbaugh during
the period that he lived in Paradise Township, York County, Pennsylvania. The
only found records concern the administration of his estate.
Nicholas Strausbaugh died during the year 1753, at an age of about 57, as on
October 25, 1753, letters of administration for the estate of Nicholas
Strausbaugh were granted to his oldest son, Nicholas. Nicholas Jr. rendered his
account of administration on everything but the real estate on January 2, 1755.
On March 26, 1755, Nicholas Strausbaugh Jr. declared in Orphans Court that the
property of his father could not be divided equally among the heirs. He asked
the Court to summon an inquest to place a value on the real estate in prepara-
tion for its disposition. On the same date he gave a bond for the faithful
performance of his duties as the executor. This was necessary because he was
then living outside the province, in Frederick County, Maryland. Also on the
same day, Nicholas Strasbach of Frederic County, Maryland, sold for 100 pounds,
to F. Jollah and Godlip Briegner of Paradise Township, lands formerly of his
father, Nicholas Strasbaugh, deceased.
The final episode in the settling the estate of Nicholas Strausbaugh did not
occur until March 1763. Apparently the inquest requested in 1755 never func-
tioned and the Court ordered a second inquest. The property of Nicholas
Strausbaugh, deceased, was appraised at a value of 128 pounds, and was to be
divided as follows: Nicholas, the oldest son, to keep his share and that of
his brother John, deceased at full age, since the death of his father; and the
rest to be divided equally between the rest of the heirs. The other heirs were
listed as: Anna, wife of Nicholas Urigh; Mary Ann, wife of John Decker; Bar-
bara, wife of Anthony Hidsman (Hinds); Margaret, wife of Nicholas Noel; Lena
wife of George Gogh; Catherine, wife of Jacob Schoffin (Schoff); Judith, wife
of John Heidieren (Heidler); and son Michael Strasbach.
The places of burial are not known for either Nicholas Strausbaugh, the immi-
grant, or his wife. His wife, whose name is unknown, was not mentioned in the
administration of his estate and it is assumed that she died before Nicholas.
INDEX OF NAMES AND GENEALOGICAL NUMBERS
100-1 Nicholas Strausbaugh, Immigrant
201-1 Nicholas
211-2 John
221-3 Michael
231-4 Anna
241-5 Mary Ann
251-6 Barbara
261-7 Margaret
271-8 Matalena
281-9 Catherine
291-10 Judith
201-1 Nicholas Strausbaugh Jr and Matlena
301-1 Peter and Barbara Noel
401-1 Michael
402-2 Catherine and William Cobb
502-1 John
502-2 William
502-3 Mary Ann
502-4 Abraham
403-3 Susanna
404-4 Elizabeth and Peter Delone
504-1 Maria
504-2 Joseph
504-3 Unknown
504-4 Barbara
504-5 Samuel
405-5 Joseph and Christina Berger
505-1 Elizabeth and John Hull
505-2 Peter and Sophia Grim
605-11 Sarah Ann
605-12 Esther
605-13 Matilda
605-14 Abraham
605-15 Catherine
605-16 Sophia
505-2b Peter and Elizabeth Devault
605-17 Amos B.
605-18 Lydia Ann
605-19 Nancy Jane
605-20 Peter
605-21 Sophia
605-22 Clarisa
605-23 Lafayette
605-24 Rebecca
505-3 Valentine and Barbary Barger
605-25 Margaret
505-3b Valentine and Mary
605-26 Ellsworth
505-4 Barbara and Henry Barger
605-27 Christina
605-28 Nancy
605-29 Jane
605-30 Eliza
505-5 Michael and Mary Morehead
605-31 David
505-6 Susanna
505-7 Nancy
505-8 Margaret and Samuel Devault
605-41 Mary E
605-42 Joseph
605-43 Samuel
605-44 Christina
605-45 Barbara A
605-46 Lewis
505-9 Joseph and Rebecca Devault
605-51 Caroline
605-52 Ephriam
605-53 Almond
605-54 Rachael
605-55 Hiram
605-56 Sylvester
605-57 Emma
505-10 Ephriam and Jane Barger
605-61 Henry B.
605-62 Martha J
605-63 Margaret
605-64 John A
505-10b Ephriam and Catherine Strausbaugh
605-65 Clarence
505-11 Christina
406-6 Margaret
407-7 Jacob and Mary Beamer
507-1 Peter and Elizabeth Pollock
507-2 John and Sarah Smith
507-3 Samuel and Mary
607-1 Jacob
607-2 Elizabeth
607-3 Mary
507-4 Barbara
507-5 Mary Magdalen
507-6 Jacob and Mary Heist
408-8 Joanna
409-9 Barbara and John Weaver
509-1 Barbara
509-2 Elizabeth
509-3 John
509-4 Anna
509-5 Henrietta
509-6 Magdelena
509-7 David A
509-8 Margaret
509-9 John
410-10 John
411-11 Peter and Catherine Berger
511-1 Valentine and Anne
611-1 Lucindia
611-2 George
611-3 Catherine J
511-2 John and Jane
611-11 Joseph
611-12 Nancy
611-13 Nellie
511-3 Hannah and William Dewalt
511-4 George and Mary Elizabeth Smith
611-41 Malinda
611-42 Son
611-43 Elizabeth
511-5 Daughter
511-6 William and Jane T Busby
611-61 John
` 611-62 Henry B
611-63 Isaac
611-64 Delilah
611-65 Abraham
611-66 Jacob
611-67 George
511-7 Michael and Christina Strausbaugh
611-71 Rosanna
611-72 Mary M
611-73 Leletha
611-74 Hannah
611-75 Sarah C
511-8 Daughter
511-9 Son
412-12 Abraham and Catherine Bittinger
512-1 Anna Johanna
512-2 Abraham Samuel
512-3 Charles Abraham and Mary
612-1 Mary M
612-2 Catherine J
612-3 Louisa
512-4 William
512-5 John and Maria
612-10 James
612-11 Susanna
612-12 Augustin
512-6 Jacob Francis and Mary
512-7 Adam
512-8 Josephine
413-13 Anna
414-14 George and Elizabeth Bittinger
514-1 Nancy and George Cole
614-1 Jacob J and Josephine Rider
714-1 Edward J
714-2 Francis I
714-3 Mary J
714-4 Ellen C
714-5 Flemming C
714-6 Joseph K
714-7 Thomas J
714-8 Sara M (Pearl)
614-2 Josephine E
614-3 Mary E
614-4 Sarah J
614-5 Nancy J
514-2 Sarah and John Cole
514-3 Margaret and William Shepard
514-4 Lucy Anne and Joseph Warner
514-5 Mary Elizabeth and John McKendrick
514-6 Susanna and Vincent Childers
514-7 John William
301-2 John
211-2 John, died without issue
221-3 Michael Strasbach Sr and Eva Catherine Staub
321-1 John
421.1 Frederick
421-2 John and Sally Maurer
521-1 Andrew
421-2b John and Mary Blair
521-2 Margaret
521-2 Ambrose Anthony
521-4 John Frederick
421-3 Margaret
421-4 Catherine
421-5 Mary Magdalena
421-6 Anthony and Anna Nancy Magers
521-5 Mary Isabella
521-6 William
521-7 Martha Berlinda
521-8 Lewis
521-9 Daughter
521-10 Edmund
521-11 Mary Agnes
521-12 Thomas Augustine
521-13 Joseph Alexius
521-14 Alexius Miles
421-7 Jacob and Dorothy Bahn/Bohn
521-71 Matthias
521-72 Anne Marie
521-73 Catherine
521-74 Lucy
521-75 Emos Henry
521-76 Susan
421-8 Susan and Samuel Allwine/Alwine
521-81 Thomas F John
521-82 Joanna Mary
521-83 Margaret Eliza
521-84 Mary Anna
521-85 Pius
322-2 Michael Jr and Margaretha
422-1 Catherine "Kitty" and Michael Noel
522-1 Benjamin
522-2 Joseph Elias
522-3 Mary
522-4 Catherine
522-5 Michael
522-6 Margaret
422-2 John Michael and Margaret Elizabeth Marks
522-11 George
522-12 Henry
522-13 Elizabeth
522-14 Magdalen
522-15 Joseph
522-16 Anthony
522-17 Mary Anna
522-18 Sarah
522-19 Catherine and Joseph Bracht
622-191 William F
522-20 Michael
522-21 Agnes
422-3 Polly and Jacob Noel
522-25 Margaret
522-26 Jacob
522-27 Andrew
422-4 George and Mary Catherine Rutlege
522-31 Mark Soloman
522-32 Ismael
522-33 Mary
522-34 Laurence
522-35 Anastasius
522-36 Eva Catherine
522-37 Francis Xavier
422-5 Samuel and Margaret Topper
522-51 Elizabeth
522-52 Susan
522-53 John
522-54 Samuel
522-55 Michael
522-56 Mary Margaret
522-57 James Peter
422-6 Henry and Elizabeth Winters
522-61 Susan
522-62 Elizabeth
522-63 Margaret
522-64 Rebecca
522-65 Michael
522-66 Anthony (Henry)
522-67 Mary
522-68 Louise (Lucy)
522-69 Matthew
522-70 Joseph
522-71 Sarah Agnes
422-7 Peter and Dorothy Bower
522-72 Anna Mary
422-8 Jacob and Margarethe Flanagan
522-81 Michael
522-82 Susan
522-83 Joseph
522-84 Jacob Henry
522-85 John Francis
522-86 Mary Elizabeth
422-9 Margaretha
323-3 Catherine
324-4 Magdalena
325-5 Peter and Anna Maria Wans
425-1 John and Christina Ickes
525-1 Jacob
525-2 Mary Anna
525-3 Caroline
425-2 Son
425-3 Maria
425-4 Jacob and Margaret Ehedron (Eckenrode, BOK?)
525-31 Peter
425-5 Joseph and Margaret Weinbrenner
525-41 Anna Maria
525-42 Sarah
525-43 Amelia
525-44 Edward
525-45 Mary Ann
525-46 Louisa Appolonia
425-5b Joseph and Rebecca
525-47 Levi
525-48 Caroline
525-49 Harriett
425-6 Adam and Judith Klung/Klunk
525-51 Jerome
525-52 Mary A
425-7 Son
425-8 Theresa
326-6 Elizabeth
327-7 Jacob and Name Unknown
427-1 John and Sara Wans?
527-1 Mary
427-2 Peter and Martha Patterson
527-11 James
527-12 Anna Marie
527-13 Jeremiah and Mary Elizabeth Bishop
627-1 Emma
627-2 William O
627-3 Mary Susan
627-4 Charles
627-5 Luther G
627-6 Martha Jane
627-7 Edith
527-14 William
527-15 Anna Margaret
327-7b Jacob and Anna Nancy Bingham
427-3 Elias
427-4 Maria Anna
427-5 Henry
427-6 Tobias
427-7 Matilda Nancy
427-8 Cath. Magdalen
427-9 James William
427-10 Aloysius
427-11 Bernard Albert
427-12 Francis
328-8 Henry and Catherine Wagner
428-1 Benjamin Paul and Margaret Rebecca Noel
528-1 Catherine
528-2 Henry
528-3 Peter
528-4 Mary A
328-8b Henry and Maria Serf
428-2 Catherine and Daniel Saurbier
528-11 Francis Ignatius
528-12 Samuel Aloysius
528-13 James
428-3 Susan
428-4 Elizabeth and Peter Haefling
428-5 Charlotte
428-6 Mary Caroline
428-7 Rebecca and Joseph McMaster
528-41 James Henry
528-42 Levi Anthony
528-43 Mary Catherine
528-44 Gabrielle Joana
528-45 Rosa Ann Marg.
528-46 John Francis
528-47 Agnes
528-48 Sarah
528-49 Joseph Aloysius
329-9 Adam and Margaret Fissel
429-1 Adam and Rebecca Throne/Trone
529-1 Abraham
529-2 Sarah
529-3 Jonas
429-2 Jacob and Mary
529-4 Edward
529-5 Jacob
529-6 Lucinda
529-7 Caroline
529-8 Anna Mary
529-9 Amanda
429-3 Nicholas Abraham and Maria Kaltrider
529-11 Magdalene
529-12 Mandilla
529-13 Abraham
529-14 Adam
529-15 Laura
529-16 Meary (Mary?)
429-4 Margaret Anna
429-5 John and Sarah
529-31 Samuel
529-32 Jacob
529-33 Charles
429-6 Elizabeth
429-7 Joseph
429-8 Catherine
330-10 Nicholas and Catherine Sneeringer
430-1 Juliana
530-1 James Ambrose
530-2 Son
530-3 Daughter
430-1b Juliana and Henry Hart
530-4 Caroline
530-5 Matilda Elizabeth
530-6 Mary Magdalen
530-7 Henry Nicholas
430-2 Mary Elizabeth
330-10b Nicholas and Mary Magdalen Heidler
430-3 John
430-4 Josias
430-5 Son
430-6 Anna Maria
430-7 Mary Magdalen and Samuel Althoff
530-11 Louis James
530-12 Alexander C
530-13 Mary Elenora
530-14 John Samuel
530-15 Marsha Ann
530-16 Agatha and John Brady
430-8 Frederick
530-17 Emma Mary
430-9 Daughter
430-10 William
430-11 Daniel Andrew and Louisa Tyson
430-12 Henry
231-4 Anna and Nicholas Urigh/Ory
231-5 Mary Ann and John Decker
231-6 Barbara and Anthony Hidsman/Hinds
231-7 Margaret and Nicholas Noel
231-8 Matalena and George Gogh
231-9 Catherine and Jacob Schoffin/Schoff
231-10 Judith and John Heidler
CHAPTER 2-1 INTRODUCTION TO THE NICHOLAS STRAUSBAUGH JR FAMILY BRANCH
INTRODUCTION
Part 2 of the Strausbaugh Family History covers the family and descendants of
Nicholas Strausbaugh Jr., the eldest son of Nicholas Strausbaugh, the
immigrant.
Nicholas Strausbaugh Jr. and his younger brother, Michael Strausbaugh, were the
ancestors of all the descendants of the immigrant, Nicholas Strausbaugh, who
carried on the Strausbaugh name.
Because of the documents related to the administration of the estate of Michael
Strausbaugh, all of his children who reached maturity are fairly well estab-
lished by extant records of York County, Pennsylvania, Also through the re-
cords of Conewago Chapel the families of most of his children can be identi-
fied.
Very little similar information exists for the family of Nicholas Strausbaugh
Jr. No probate of an estate for Nicholas has ever been found. Nicholas
apparently made a number of moves during his life. Although he was probably
never far from York and Adams Counties, he did move back and forth across
county lines and the Pennsylvania-Maryland state line. Nicholas was 20 or more
years older than Michael, and the records of Nicholas's period were not as well
established as they were In Michael's period.
The research approach, because of necessity, has been to search out all Straus-
baugh families, all spellings, in York and Adams Counties and in the surroun-
ding counties in Pennsylvania and Maryland, and to assume that if they could
not be identified as sons of Michael Strausbaugh, it would be highly probable
that they were sons or grandsons of Nicholas Strausbaugh Jr.
To date, only one such Strausbaugh, of the age to be a son of Nicholas, has
been identified. This is Peter Strausbaugh, a long time resident of Menallen
Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania. Circumstantial evidence well supports
that he was the son of Nicholas Strausbaugh, Jr.
While Nicholas Strausbaugh Jr had only one known son, he had numerous
descendants through the many children of his son Peter.
The first record of Nicholas Strausbaugh Jr being in York County was in 1753,
when he became administrator of his father's estate. However, it is not known
whether he was living in York County at that time.
A Nicholas Tresback owned land in Cocalico Township, Lancaster County in 1755.
It is believed that this was Nicholas Jr, as his father was dead by that time,
However, in 1755, Nicholas is also known to have been in Frederick County,
Maryland. In that year, the records of the administration of his father's
estate, indicate that he provided a bond for the faithful performance of his
duties as administrator of the estate. The bond was required because he was
then living outside the Province of Pennsylvania, in Frederick County, Mary-
land.
It is not known what year Nicholas became a resident of York County. However,
by 1762 he was in York County, in that part that was later to become Berwick
Township, Adams County. He was on the tax roles for Berwick Township for the
year 1762. Berwick Township was located immediately to the west of Paradise
Township. On May 13 May 13, 1766, a tract of land in Berwick Township, along
the York Road, was surveyed for Nicholas Strausbaugh, indicating that he was
probably still living there at that time. It is believed that he was living
not far from the "French Settlement" in Pidgeon Hills of Berwick Township.
Sometime between 1766 and 1772, Nicholas Strausbaugh moved on to Buchanan
Valley in the western part of York County and located in what was to later
become Menallen Township of Adams County. In the year 1772, both he and his son
Peter appeared on the tax roles in Menallen Township.
Although his son Peter continued to be found on the Menallen Township tax
roles, after 1772, Nicholas Strausbaugh Jr is no longer found in these records.
(The next record after 1772 was 1779). Some historians believe that Nicholas
died between 1772 and 1779. This writer believes it is also possible that
Nicholas left Menallen Township during this period and later returned to be
near his son in his last years and Nicholas possibly died in Menallen Township,
sometime in the 1790s*
A Nicholas Trasbaugh is found in the 1790 Census of Menallen Township, living
in the household adjacent to Peter Trasbaugh. The household consisted of one
adult male and one adult female, suggesting either an older couple with all of
the children gone, or a young couple as yet without children.
While no other Nicholas Strausbaugh, other than Nicholas Jr, has yet been found
who could be the Nicholas Trasbaugh, neighbor of Peter in 1790, it must be
recognized that the probability exists that there were other Nicholas Straus-
baughs who have not yet been identified. It is most unusual that a son Nicho-
las has not been found for either Nicholas Jr or his son Peter. According to
the pattern of these families, each of these should have named a son Nicholas,
however it is also possible that they did have sons named Nicholas who died
young.
201-1 NICHOLAS STRAUSBAUGH JR
Born: c1721 Northcentral Europe, possibly Alsace-Lorraine
Died: 17-- Probably Menallen Twp, Adams Co, Pennsylvania
Immigrated: Sep 16 1736 Rotterdam, Holland to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Ship: Princess Augusta, Samuel Marchant, Master
Resided: 175- - 1755 Cocalico Twp, Lancaster Co, Pennsylvania
1755 - 17- Frederick Co, Maryland
1760 -c1768 Berwick Twp, Adams Co, Pennsylvania
1768 - 177- Menallen Twp Adams Co, Pennsylvania
Parents: Nicholas Strausbaugh, the Immigrant, mother unknown
Married: Prior to 1748, probably Lancaster Co, Pennsylvania
Spouse: Unknown
Children: One known son, probably other children
301-1 Peter c1748 probably Lancaster Co, PA
301-2 John?
Nicholas Strausbaugh Jr. was born probably about 1721 in one of the French or
German provinces along the Rhine River, possibly in the Alsace-Lorraine area.
Nicholas Jr was one of the six children of Nicholas Strausbaugh who came with
his parents to America in 1736 on the ship Princess Augusta* He was not yet 16
years of age when the family arrived in Philadelphia on September 16, 1736, or
he would have been included on the list of male passengers over 16 years of age
who arrived on the Princess Augusta. Thus his earliest possible birth date
would have been September 17, 1720. His first son Peter was born in 1748, so
it is probable that he was born not later than about 1726.
By the time that Nicholas reached adulthood, the Strausbaugh family was probab-
ly living in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Nicholas Strausbaugh Jr married
sometime prior to 1742, probably in Lancaster County. The name of his wife is
unknown •
In records concerning Nicholas Strausbaugh, he is usually found with variations
of the "T" spelling of the name rather than "S". The found exceptions to this
are in the records of the administration of his fathers estate in Paradise
Township, York County. Apparently in York County "S" spellings of the name
were used for Nicholas Strausbaugh Senior and in his estate records such spel-
lings were also used for Nicholas Jr. Therefore, in searching for the early
records for Nicholas Strausbaugh Jr, and his son Peter, it is necessary to look
for Trasbaugh and other "T" spellings as well as "S" spellings.
It is believed that none of the Strausbaugh families came to York County much
before 1749. By that time Nicholas Jr had his own family and it is quite
possible that he remained in Lancaster County for a time after his father moved
on to Paradise Township, York County.
Until the identity of Nicholas Trasbaugh of Menallen Township of the 1790
Census is established, it will not be known for certain whether Nicholas
Strausbaugh Jr died prior to 1779 or after 1790.
There are undoubtedly still unfound records that might provide more knowledge
concerning the life of Nicholas Strausbaugh Jr and his family. The search for
such data is made difficult due to his having been a mover. As a result it is
not known where all there is a need to search for his records and it is also
unknown what all variations of the name may have been used.
In the 1790 Census a search has been made of all states for the apparent
Strausbaugh families, of all spelling variations. Those found include the
following:
Peter Trasbaugh, Menallen Township, York County, Pennsylvania. Peter was the
son of Nicholas Strausbaugh Jr and grandson of Nicholas Strausbaugh, the immi-
grant.
Nicholas Trasbaugh, Menallen Township, York County, Pennsylvania. This next
door neighbor of Peter is as yet unidentified, but is obviously one of the
following: Nicholas Jr, Peter's father; an otherwise unidentified son of
Nicholas Jr and brother of Peter; a nephew of Peter and grandson of Nicholas
Jr; an older son of Peter. If the latter. Peter must have married twice or
married his wife Barbara when she was very young.
Michael Strosback, Paradise Township, York County, Pennsylvania. Michael was
the son of Nicholas Strausbaugh, the immigrant, and the uncle of Peter. It
appears that Michael's household included all of his known sons at the time of
the census. Thus all other Strausbaugh families are probably descendants of
Nicholas Jr or some completely different Strausbaugh family,
John Strosback, York County, Pennsylvania, in Berwick, Cumberland, Franklin,
Germany, Hamiltonban, Heidelburg, Mt Pleasant, Mt Joy, or Strahan Township.
There are three possibilities for the origin of this John. He was possibly a
son of Nicholas Jr, there is some evidence that Nicholas may have had a son
John. He may have been John, the oldest son of Michael (in which case there
was an extra male in the household of Michael in 1790), John son of Michael
resided in Paradise Township in 1800. Or this John was of a completely differ-
ent family. With two sons in 1790, this John would have been too old to be a
son of Peter, and Peter had a son John, who based on later census records, would
have been one of the sons counted in Peter's household in 1790.
John Stratsbaugh, Philadelphia County, Middle district, Pennsylvania, and in
the adjacent household, Peggy Stratsbaugh, a widow and probably the mother of
John. We have been unable to identify this family as a part of the family of
Nicholas Strausbaugh, our immigrant ancestor, but also we have not found traces
of this family in later census records.
No Strausbaugh families have been found in any other states.
CHAPTER 2-3 PETER STRAUSBAUGH
THIRD GENERATION
301-1 PETER STRAUSBAUGH
Born: c1748 Probably Lancaster Co, PA
Died: May 31 1830, Hamiltonban Twp., Adams Co, PA
Resided: 1772-1827 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
Parents: Nicholas Strausbaugh Jr, mother unknown
Married: c 1772, probably York Co, PA
Spouse: Barbara, surname unknown, but probably Noel
Parents: Probably Andrew Noel and his wife Elizabeth
Children:
401-1 Michael c 1773 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA**
402-2 Catherine c 1774 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
403-3 Susanna c 1776 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
404-4 Elizabeth c 1778 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
405-5 Joseph c 1780 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
406-6 Margaret c 1782 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
407-7 Jacob 6 Mar 1783 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
408-8 Joanna c 1784 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
409-9 Barbara c 1786 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
410-10 John c 1788 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
411-11 Peter c 1790 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
412-12 Abraham c 1792 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
413-13 Anna c 1793 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
414-14 George c 1795 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
* The dates and order of these children have been estimated
and may be incorrect, the dates or approximate dates for
the others are supported by records of varying degree of
of reliability. There were possibly other daughters.
** Menallen Twp was a part of York County until 1800 when Adams
County was formed.
Peter Strausbaugh was horn about 1748, probably in Lancaster County, Pennsyl-
vania, the son of Nicholas Strausbaugh Jr, and grandson of Nicholas Straus-
baugh, the immigrant ancestor. According to his death notice in the June 15,
1830 edition of the Gettysburg Compiler, Peter Strausbaugh died in his eighty-
second year on May 31, 1830. This indicates that he was born some time between
June 2 1747 and June 1, 1748. The part of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in
which he was born, is unknown. It is doubtful that his father had yet arrived
in the part of Lancaster County that later became York and Adams County.
It appears that during Peter's youth the family, at various times, lived in
what is now Lancaster, York, and Adams Counties of Pennsylvania and also in
Frederick County, Maryland. Nicholas Strausbaugh was still in Berwick Town-
ship, York County in May 1766 when Peter was about 18 years of age. Sometime
between then and 1772, they relocated to western York County, settling in what
is now known as Buchanan Valley in Menallen Township, Adams County.
When Peter and his father, Nicholas, arrived in Buchanan Valley, the valley,
then known as Paradise Valley, was entirely within Menallen Township, when
adjacent Franklin Township was formed in 1785, the valley was divided such that
the southwestern portion lay in Franklin and the northeastern portion in Menal-
len Township of York County. The neighborhood in which the Strausbaughs had
settled was split such that the part in which they settled remained in Menallen
Township but some of their neighbors were thereafter in Franklin Township.
It is thought that Peter married shortly after the move to Buchanan Valley.
Based on the 1790 Census data he had one son born before mid year 1774 and,
from other data, also had a daughter born probably in the year 1774 or early
1775. This indicates he married not later than 1772.
The name of Peter's wife was Barbara. There is circumstantial evidence that
she was probably the daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth Noel, close neighbors of
the Strausbaughs in Buchanan Valley, and who earlier, in Berwick Township, had
probably lived in the same general neighborhood as Nicholas Strausbaugh Jr.
It is believed that Andrew Noel, born about 1735, was the son of the immigrant
Joseph Noel, and at the age of about one year, was one of Joseph's six children
aboard the Princess Augusta on the journey to America with the Strausbaugh
family.
Andrew was about 14 years of age in 1749, which is about the time when the
Noel family is believed to have been one of the early families of the French
settlement in the Pidgeon Hills of Berwick Township, York County. It is be-
lieved that about the same time, Nicholas Strausbaugh Sr settled just a few
miles east of the Pidgeon Hills in Paradise Township.
It is believed that sometime prior to 1762, Nicholas Strausbaugh Jr moved into
the Pidgeon Hill neighborhood near the Andrew Noel family and that sometime
during the late 1760s or very early 1770s, these two families were among the
early settlers of Buchanan Valley. In the census of 1790, the Peter Trasbaugh
household was listed between those of Andrew Knowel and Nicholas Trasbaugh.
Since Andrew was only about 13 years older than Peter, the possibility exists
that Barbara Strausbaugh may have been a sister of Andrew rather than the
daughter, however Joseph Noel was about 55 when Andrew was born and thus Andrew
was probably one of the last of Joseph's children. Joseph Noel would have been
over 70 when Barbara was born, therefore, it is more likely that Barbara was
one of the oldest of Andrew's children. Andrew was probably a younger brother
of the Nicholas Noel who married Margaret Strausbaugh, one of the daughters of
Nicholas Strausbaugh Sr.
It is seen that a continuous interaction had existed between these families
from, or prior to, the time of the sailing of the Princess Augusta. Andrew
Noel or members of his family were second only to members of Peter Straus-
baugh's own immediate family in participation as sponsors for the baptisms of
Peter's grandchildren.
Barbara's grandfather, Joseph Noel, was possibly the source of the name given
to Joseph Strausbaugh, the second known son of Peter and Barbara Strausbaugh.
Their daughter Elizabeth was probably named for her mother Elizabeth. It is
unusual that none of their children were named Andrew, however, it is possible
they lost a son of that name. Also, only one given name is known for the sons
of Peter and Barbara and possibly Andrew was a second given name for one of
these sons.
Unfortunately, the Conewago Chapel records prior to 1790 are lost, and no other
proof has yet been found to definitely prove this relationship. Because of the
preceding circumstantial evidence, until proven otherwise, this family history
does assume that the wife of Peter Strausbaugh was Barbara Noel, daughter of
Andrew and Elizabeth Noel, and granddaughter of Joseph Noel, the immigrant
ancestor of the Noel family*
Peter Strausbaugh made his home in Buchanan Valley the rest of his life, except
for his last two years when he apparently lived with his son Abraham at Fair-
field in Hamiltonban Township, Adams County. All of his children were born in
Menallen Township, York County, Pennsylvania. Menallen Township became a part
of Adams County after the last of his children were born.
Peter and Barbara Strausbaugh were Roman Catholics and were associated with the
small group of Catholics in the Buchanan Valley who were ministered by Jesuit
missionary priests out from Conewago Chapel. Their services were generally
conducted in the home of Andrew Noel until about 1816 when they established
their own church, which was named the St Ignatius Catholic Church. This church
was built on a commanding eminence above the southern part of Buchanan Valley
in Franklin Township, and about ten miles west of Gettysburg. The land for the
church was given by John Lowstetter, a son-in-law of Andrew Noel, and the
cornerstone was laid in October 1816. The early records of this church are
lost and undoubtedly contained records which would have been of considerable
value to this family history.
It is said that in the early years of this South Mountains parish, the Rev
Adophus L DeBarth, one of the Jesuit priests, celebrated mass in the home of
Andrew Noel in Menallen Township. This was probably during the period of about
1797 to 1817. During the early years of this parish the records were placed in
the registry of Conewago Chapel by the missionary priests. The earliest of
the records found in the Conewago Chapel registry that can be identified as
related to members of the South Mountains parish was the marriage of Peter
Delon and Elizabeth Strasbach, daughter of Peter and Barbara, which occurred
January 8, 1798. The witnesses were Joseph Strasbach, Henry Becker, Catherine
Strasbach, and Elizabeth Dellow.
Thus, the church records of the Peter Strausbaugh family were kept first in the
registry of Conewago Chapel and later in the registry of the St Ignatius
Church. Unfortunately the records of Conewago Chapel prior to 1791 are lost as
were the early records of the St Ignatius Church.
The Conewago Chapel register sometimes, but not always, identifies the Buchanan
Valley records as being of the "South Mountains". Since the South Mountain
entries start in the late 1790s, the early baptisms of Peter's grandchildren
appear in these records but none of the baptisms of his own children are there,
indicating that the family of Peter and Barbara was apparently complete prior
to about 1797.
The marriage records of the children of Peter Strausbaugh which are found in
the Conewago Chapel records include: Elizabeth 1797, Joseph 1803, Jacob 1808,
Abraham 1818, and Anna 1820. Marriages that can be identified through bap-
tisms of the children found in Conewago Chapel records include; Catherine,
Barbara, Peter, and George. Marriages of the children of Peter and Elizabeth
not found include: Michael, Susanna, Margaret, John, and Joanna. Probably some
of these married out of the Catholic Church and possibly some of the daughters
never married.
It is thought that neither Peter or his father could write, hence a consider-
able variation on the spelling of the name is found in various records. The
early records in Menallen Township used variations of the "T" spelling. The T
spelling was used in 1772 in the earliest existing tax record of Menallen
Township. In 1779 Peter's name was spelled Trosbaugh, in 1781 it was spelled
Treshback, and in 1883 was spelled Trasback. In the 1790 Census it was spelled
Trasbaugh.
The earliest found spelling of the name Strausbaugh in the Conewago records for
Peter's family occurred in 1798 where it was recorded as Strasbach. This may
have been influenced by the Conewago priests who were also recording the names
of the Strausbaugh cousins living in the Conewago area who were using the "S"
spelling. In any event, after 1797, the spelling generally was generally some
variation of Strasbaugh. The last found use of the "T" spelling occurs in the
1810 Census where the name of Peter's son Joseph was spelled Trosbaugh.
However, "S" spellings were used for the other members of the family.
Peter's name was listed as Peter Strasback on the 1799 tax list for Menallen
Township. His assessed valuation was $424.
It is not certain just how many children Peter and Barbara Strausbaugh had. No
listing of the family, prepared by one of the immediate family, is known to
exist. Therefore it has been necessary to assemble the family by association
using bits of information gleaned from various records.
The 1790 Census of York County, Pennsylvania, shows the family of Peter Tras-
baugh to consist of 2 males over 16 (Peter and one son born prior to 1774,
probably Michael age about 17, 4 males below 16 (probably Joseph age 10, Jacob
age 7, Peter age about 5, and John age about 3) and 7 females (his wife Bar-
bara, and six daughters probably Catherine age about 16, Susanna, Elizabeth,
Barbara, Margaret, and Joanna).
After 1790 Peter and Barbara had two more sons, Abraham born about 1792 and
George born about 1795. They also had at least one more daughter, probably
Anna and possibly another. It is difficult to determine the total number of
children because Peter does not appear in the 1800 Census.
Peter and a group of his neighbors that appear in both the 1790 and 1810
Censuses are missing from the 1800 Census and it appears that a page may have
been lost by the time these pages were microfilmed.
In the Census of 1810, Peter is shown as a head-of-family in Menallen Township,
Adams County, Pennsylvania, Some published indexes show him in Cumberland
Township. A close examination shows that some of the pages were apparently
loose and were filmed out of order. While the page that includes Peter was
microfilmed with the Cumberland pages, it is very obviously a Menallen Township
page. The household included 1 male over 45 (Peter age 62), 1 male 26-44
(probably Michael about 37) males 10-15 (probably George 15, and 2 unidentified
younger males, possibly sons of Michael), 1 male 0-9 (again unidentified and
possibly a son of Michael), 0 females over 45 (where is Barbara? perhaps
staying with her daughter Catherine Cobb who had a new baby, and where there is
an otherwise unidentified older female), 1 female 26-44 (probably wife of
Michael or one of the unmarried older daughters), 3 females 10-15 (possibly
Anna, thought to be the youngest daughter, and the others were possibly gran-
daughters), and 3 females 0-9 (probably granddaughters).
Peter's sons, Joseph and Jacob Strausbaugh were married and listed as heads of
other households in the neighborhood.
William Cobb, husband of their daughter Catherine, and John Weaver, husband of
their daughter Barbara, were both listed as heads of households in the same
neighborhood.
The sons not accounted for in 1810 were John, possibly married. Peter, and
Abraham. Michael never appears until 1830 and is thought to be the son living
in Peter's household in 1810 and 1820.
In the 1820 Census of Adams County, Peter Strasbaugh is again found in Menallen
Township. The household included 1 male over 45 (Peter), 1 male 26-44 (prob-
ably Michael about 47?), 1 male 18-25 {probably George 25), 1 female over 45
(Barbara), 1 female 10-14 (probably a daughter of Michael).
Their son Jacob was listed as the head of the adjacent household in Menallen
Township. Additional research is needed for other members of the family in
Adams County*
Peter Strausbaugh appears in the Menallen tax lists until 1827. He was
assessed for land through 1822 and is shown with no land from 1823 through
1826, and was reported out of township in 1827. There is evidence that his
real estate amounting to 250 acres, was sold by the sheriff in 1824.
It is believed that about 1827, Peter then about 79 years of age, went to live
with his son Abraham at Fairfield in Hamiltonban Township, Adams County, Penn-
sylvania. It is probable that his wife Barbara had died by this time as no
female of her age is included in Abraham's household in 1830.
Peter Strausbaugh died at Fairfield on May 31, 1830 in his eighty-second year.
The place of burial for Peter and Barbara is unknown.
CHAPTER 2-5 CATHERINE STRAUSBAUGH-COBB FAMILY
FOURTH GENERATION
402-2 CATHERINE STRAUSBAUGH
Born: c 1774 Menallen Twp, York (Adams Co), PA
Died: c 1861 Green Twp, Harrison Co, OH
Resided: 1806-1818 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
1818-1861 Green Twp, Harrison Co, OH
Parents Peter Strausbaugh and his wife Barbara (Noel)
Marriage: c 1806 probably Adams Co, PA
Spouse: William Cobb
Born: c 1755 or c 1764 London, England
Died: c 1834 Green Twp, Harrison Co, OH
Parents: John Cobb and his wife Grace
Children: SURNAME COBB
502-1 John c 1807 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
502-2 William Feb 6 1809 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
502-3 Mary Ann Jul 5 1810 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
502-4 Abraham Sep 13 1813 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
Catherine Strausbaugh was born in the Buchanan Valley area of the South Moun-
tains, Menallen Township, York County, Pennsylvania. Menallen Township became
a part of Adams County in 1800. She was born about 1774 and was probably the
oldest daughter and second child of Peter Strausbaugh and his wife Barbara.
Catherine married William Cobb. The date and place of, and the person perfor-
ming the marriage are unknown, however, she was still Catherine Strausbaugh in
1803 when she witnessed the marriage of her brother Joseph. Her second child
was born in February 1809, and her first son probably about 1807, it is
therefore assumed that she married not later than 1806 nor earlier than 1803.
In Pennsylvania records, William's name has been found spelled Cohb, Kop and
Capp. The origins of William Cobb are discussed hereafter. William Cobb was a
carpenter by trade.
Catherine Strausbaugh was raised in the Roman Catholic faith and apparently she
and William Cobb associated with the Catholic Church after their marriage.
Their marriage has not been found in church records but the baptismal records
of their sons William and Abraham are in the register of the Basilica of the
Sacred Heart of Jesus, better known as Conewago Chapel. He was probably not
originally of the Catholic faith as there are no other Catholic records of the
Cobb family other than the baptisms of two of his children.
It is probable that the baptisms of William and Abraham did not take place at
Conewago Chapel, but rather in the South Mountains where the small group of
Catholics worshiped in the home of Catherine's grandfather, Andrew Noel, and
were ministered by Jesuit missionary priests from Conewago Chapel.
>From the Conewago Chapel records it is learned that William Kop, son of William
and Catherine Kop was baptized April 18, 1808 with Peter Strassbach (either his
grandfather or uncle) and Peggy Strassbach ( his mother's sister Margaret)
serving as sponsors.
Abraham Capp, son of William and Catharine Cap? was baptized on November 23,
1813. Abraham Strasbach and his sister Susanna (Catherine's brother and sister)
were sponsors. No baptismal record has been found for John or Mary Ann Cobb.
It is the Conewago Chapel records that establishes Catherine as a member of the
Peter Strausbaugh family. It has been seen that her father, brother, and
sisters served as the sponsors at the baptisms of her sons. In addition,
Catherine participated in other family events recorded at Conewago Chapel. A
few of these events are listed in the following paragraphs*
On January 8 1798, Catherine Strasbach and her brother Joseph were witnesses at
the wedding of her sister Elizabeth Strasbach to Peter Delon. On November 8
1803, Catherine, Susanna, and Peter Strasbach, and Henry and Valentine Berger
were witnesses at the wedding of her brother Joseph to Christina Berger. Su-
sanna was her sister. Peter was either her father or brother Peter, Henry
Berger was her future son-in-law, and Valentine Berger was either the father or
the brother of Henry and Christina Berger.
In the 1810 Census of Adams County, Pennsylvania, William and Catherine Cobb
were living in Menallen Township, in the midst of related families. Following
is a list of this group of families with the number of the household as record-
ed by the census taker; 107 Andrew Nowel (probably Catherine's grandfather),
109 Joseph Trosbaugh (her brother Joseph), III Peter Straughbaugh (her father),
112 John Weaver (her brother-in-law, Barbara's husband), 113 Jacob Strausbaugh
(her brother), 114 Wm Cobb (Editors Note: this census was difficult to read and
was copied as Coble, at the time it was not known we were looking for a Cobb
family), 115 Jacob Nowel (Andrew's son, probably Barbara Strausbaughs brother),
116 Valentine Berger (Joseph Strausbaugh's father-in-law), 117 Jacob Berger
(Valentine's son)
The William Cobb household included 1 male 46 and over (William), 3 males under
10 (John about 3 and William 1) 1 female over 46 (possibly Catherine's mother,
Barbara Strausbaugh, she was not listed in her own home and may have been
staying in the Cobb home to help out with the new baby), 1 female 26-45 (Cath-
erine), and 1 female under 10 (probably Mary Ann, then a new babe).
About 1812 some of the Buchanan Valley families started to move west to Harri-
son County, Ohio* Among these were Valentine Berger, a neighbor of the Peter
Strausbaugh family. Over the next few years the families of Valentine and all
his known children made this move. Included were Catherine's brothers Joseph
and Peter Jr, both of whom had married daughters of Valentine Berger. Joseph
Strausbaugh and his wife Christina Berger made the move in 1815. The date that
Peter Strausbaugh and his wife Catherine Berger made the move is not known, but
was prior to 1818.
In 1818, William and Catherine Cobb followed her brothers to Green Township,
Harrison County, Ohio. It is said that they built their cabin on the Berger
homestead. Valentine Berger had settled in Cadiz Township but also acquired a
tract of land in Green Township on which some of his children settled, includ-
ing his sons-in-law Joseph and Peter Strausbaugh. His son Henry also acquired
an adjacent tract. It is not known whether the Cobb cabin was on a parcel of
the Berger land occupied and farmed by one of her brothers or on the Henry
Barger land.
It is reported through family tradition that as William and Catherine were
preparing to leave for the west, that one of the Jesuit priests (probably
Father DeBarth who is thought to have been serving the South Mountain parish at
the time) warned them against the Methodists of the country, for he had heard
reports of their turning people from the Catholic faith. The warning was of no
avail as William and Catherine Cobb, like her brothers Joseph and Peter became
Protestants in Harrison County. Apparently William and Catherine became Metho-
dists while her brother Joseph became a Presbyterian.
In this pioneer community, there was not enough carpenter work to keep William
busy at his trade. He was better educated than most of his pioneer neighbors,
so he became a teacher and ran a subscription school.
William Cobb died in Green Township, Harrison County, Ohio in about 1834 at an
age of 79. The date and place of his death and burial are unknown.
In 1844, Catherine Strausbaugh Cobb's daughter Mary Ann married Henry Barger,
son of Valentine Berger Sr. At the time of the 1850 Census Catherine Straus-
baugh Cobb was living in Green Township, Harrison County, Ohio, with Henry and
Mary Ann Barger. Catherine apparently lived with Henry and Mary Ann the rest
of her life.
Catherine Strausbaugh Cobb died about 1861. The date and place of her death
and burial are presently unknown.
ORIGIN OF WILLIAM COBB
According to family traditions, the immigrant William Cobb was born in England,
the son of Captain John Cobb and his wife Grace. John Cobb was a seaman and
he had another son who also followed the sea, and a daughter, Grace. Captain
John Cobb reportedly drowned in New York harbor.
William Cobb was born and reared in London. His coming to a America was not
with the intention of making it his home. He made the trip as the ship's
carpenter. On the journey over he became convinced that the ship was not
seaworthy and when the captain refused to lay over until William could repair
the ship, he refused to return to England with the ship. According to the
tradition, the ship was lost at sea on the return voyage.
William decided to stay and cast his lot in the new land and eventually made
his way to Adams County, Pennsylvania working as a carpenter. Here he married
Catherine Strausbaugh
While this tradition from Catherine's descendants would have Catherine's hus-
band to be the immigrant, there is another source of information which appears
to raise some question as to whether he was the immigrant ancestor or the son
of the immigrant William Cobb.
There is an indication in the history of Buchanan Valley as presented by
Warner-Beers, 1886 History of Adams County, Pennsylvania, that William Cobb,
husband of Catherine Strausbaugh, may have been the son of the immigrant Wil-
liam Cobb. This story is also possibly a family tradition as it was supposedly
written by Jacob J. Cole who was the great nephew of Catherine, the grandson of
her brother George Strausbaugh, and son of Nancy Strausbaugh and George Cole.
Jacob apparently relied more on family and neighborhood traditions than on
research into county records and is off considerably on some of his dates.
According to the Buchanan Valley history, a William Cobb is credited with
being one of the early settlers of Buchanan Valley along with Nicholas Straus-
baugh, Peter Delon, John De lone, Andrew Noel and others. The permanent settle-
ment of Buchanan Valley did not occur in the 1730s as suggested by Jacob but
after the French and Indian War. The Strausbaugh, Noel, and most of the other
families appear to have arrived by about 1770. In any event, if William Cobb
arrived along with this group, he would have been far to old to have been the
William Cobb who married Catherine Strausbaugh.
There appears to be two possibilities concerning this matter. First, there is
the possibility that the William who married Catherine Strausbaugh was not the
immigrant, but the son of the immigrant English sailor William Cobb. The other
possibility is that Jacob J Cole made an error in including William Cobb along
with the Noel, Delone, and Strausbaugh families in the early settlement of
Buchanan Valley. Being a Strausbaugh descendant, Jacob would have been aware of
William Cobb's name but perhaps was in error concerning the time of arrival of
William Cobb in Buchanan Valley.
This writer has presently has found no trace of William Cobb in the Buchanan
Valley area prior to 1800 and believes Jacob Cole was in error.
RESEARCH NOTES - WILLIAM COBB FAMILY
Four children of William Cobb and his wife Catherine Strausbaugh are known
these being John, William, Mary Ann, and Abraham. Decendants have indicated
that John was the youngest. John is the only one for which the birth date is
unknown. This writer has placed him as the oldest because the family included
two sons in the 1810 Census and it is known that Abraham was born after this
date. John was placed as the oldest since there was not room for another son
between William and Mary Ann. If John was the youngest, the possibility of
another son exists. Prior to the knowledge that the Cobb family had moved to
Harrison County, Ohio, this writer had listed another possible son found in the
Conewago Chapel records. On 8-23-1827, Abraham Vincent Cope, born 7-19-1827,
son of Philip & Roseanne McDevitt Cope was baptized, sponsors were Abraham and
Mary Ann Strasbach. Abraham is thought to be the brother of Catherine Straus-
baugh Cobb and Mary Ann the daughter of Abraham. In the Conewago records, Cobb
had previously been spelled as Kop and Capp, so a Cope spelling is not supri-
sing. Thus we have the possibility of an oldest son of William and Catherine
Cobb, named Philip who either returned to Pennsylvania, or as a teenager re-
mained in Pennsylvania with relatives when his parents moved to Ohio. This
writer believes that it is more probable that either the decendants are in
error concerning the birthdate of John and that he was indeed the oldest son,
or that there was an older son of unknown name who died young but after 1810.
CHAPTER 2-6 ELIZABETH STRAUSBAOGH-DELONE FAMILY
FOURTH GENERATION
404-4 ELIZABETH STRAUSBAUGH
Born; c1779 Menallen Twp, York(Adams) County, Pennsylvania
Died: c1810 Menallen Twp, Adams County, Pennsylvania
Resided: 1797- Menallen Twp, Adams County, Pennsylvania
Parents: Peter Strausbaugh and his wife Barbara
Marriage: Jan 8 1797 probably at South Mountains, Adams Co, PA
Spouse: Peter Delone
Children: Surname Delone
504-1 Maria Dec 31 1798 Menallen Twp, York Co, PA
504-2 Joseph Oct 11 1800 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
504-3 ? Dec 12 1805 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
504-4 Barbara Nov 17 1807 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
504-5 Samuel Feb 14 1809 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
Elizabeth Strausbaugh was born in the Buchanan Valley area of the South Moun-
tains, Menallen Township, York (Adams) County, Pennsylvania. She was the daugh-
ter of Peter Strausbaugh and his wife Barbara. The date of her birth is not
known, but was probably prior to 1780, say about 1779.
On January 8, 1797, Elizabeth married Peter Delone, The marriage is recorded
in the register of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Conewago Town-
ship, Adams County, Pennsylvania. This Catholic Church is more commonly known
as Conewago Chapel and is one of the historic religious shrines of Pennsyl-
vania.
It is quite probable that the marriage did not take place at the Chapel, but
rather, was performed in Buchanan Valley by one of the Jesuit missionary
priests from Conewago Chapel who served the small Catholic congregation in the
South Mountains. The witnesses for the marriage were Joseph Strausbaugh (her
brother), Catherine Strausbaugh (her sister), Henry Decker, and Elizabeth
Dellow.
The parents of Peter Delone are not presently known, but Peter was undoubtedly
the descendant of the Peter Delone who came to America in 1736 on the ship
Princess Augusta, the same ship which brought Elizabeth's great-grandfather
Nicholas Strausbaugh.
Peter and Elizabeth Delone lived in Menallen Township, Adams County. They are
missing from the 1800 Census and are thought to be part of a complete neighbor-
hood (including the Strausbaugh, Berger, and Delone families) which is missing
from the census probably due to a lost page.
Peter and Elizabeth were members of the small South Mountains Roman Catholic
congregation which met in the home of Andrew Noel. Andrew Noel is thought to
have been the father of Barbara Strausbaugh, wife of Peter and was therefore
probably Elizabeth's grandfather. This congregation was ministered by Jesuit
missionary priests from Conewago Chapel.
The baptisms of Peter and Elizabeth Delone's children are found in the register
of Conewago Chapel. The children's baptismal dates and sponsors were as follows:
Maria Delow May 14 1799 Charles and Maria Delow
Joseph Delon Oct 11 1800 Peter and Barbara Strasbach
Unnamed child Aug 19 1806 James (Jacob) and Margerita Strasbach
Barbara Delon Nov 17 1807 Andrew and Elisabeth Noel
Samuel Dellon Apr 18 1809 George Strassbach
It is thought that Elizabeth died shortly after the birth of Samuel as there
are later baptisms which appear to be children of Peter Delone and a second
wife. The date and place of her burial are unknown.
CHAPTER 2-7 JOSEPH STRAUSBAUGH FAMILY
FOURTH GENERATION
405-5 JOSEPH STRAUSBAUGH
Born: mid yr 1780 Menallen Twp, York Co(Adams), Pennsylvania
Died: c 1860 Wilkesville Twp, Vinton Co, Ohio
Buried: place unknown probably Vinton Co, Ohio
Resided: 1804-1815 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, Pennsylvania
1815-1849 Green Twp, Harrison Co, Ohio
1850-186- Wilkesville Twp, Vinton Co, Ohio
Parents: Peter Strausbaugh and his wife Barbara
Married: Nov 8 1803 Adams Co, Pennsylvania
Spouse: Christina Berger
Born: c1784 prob Manheim Twp, York Co, Pennsylvania
Died: 186- Wilkesville Twp, Vinton Co, Ohio
Parents: Valentine Berger and his wife Elizabeth
Children:
505-1 Elizabeth Oct 21 1804 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
505-2 Peter Feb 6 1806 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
505-3 Valentine May 31 1807 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
505-4 Barbara Feb 9 1809 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
505-5 Michael Feb 20 1811 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
505-6 Susanna Oct 4 1812 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
505-7 Nancy Sep 8 1814 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
505-8 Margaret c1816 Green Twp, Harrison Co, Ohio
505-9 Joseph c1818 Green Twp, Harrison Co, Ohio
505-10 Ephriam Jan 21 1821 Green Twp, Harrison Co, Ohio
505-11 Christina c1828 Green Twp, Harrison Co, Ohio
Joseph Strausbaugh, the progenitor of the Strausbaugh families of Vinton Coun-
ty, Ohio was born about midyear 1780 in the Buchanan Valley of the South
Mountains of York County, Pennsylvania, in that part which in 1800 became
Menallen Township, Adam County, Pennsylvania. Joseph was the son of Peter
Strausbaugh and his wife Barbara. His mother in thought to have been Barbara
Noel, daughter of Andrew Noel, a neighbor of the Strausbaugh family in Menallen
Township, and earlier in Berwick Township, York County. Andrew Noel is thought
to have been the son of Joseph Noel, a co-passenger on the ship. Princess
Augusta, with the immigrant Strausbaugh family on the trip from Rotterdam to
Pennsylvania in 1736.
Joseph spent his youth in that portion of Buchanan Valley located in Menallen
Township of Adams County, Pennsylvania. The earliest record yet found for
Joseph is that of his marriage in the year 1803.
On November 8, 1803, Joseph married Christina Berger, the daughter of Valentine
and Elizabeth Berger, close neighbors of the Strausbaugh family in Buchanan
Valley. Valentine Berger is thought to be the son of the immigrant Andrew
Berger, who settled in Manheim Township, York County, Pennsylvania. Christina
is thought to have been born in Manheim Township before the family moved to the
Buchanan Valley in the late 1780s. Thus, Joseph and Christina had been raised
in the same neighborhood and had known each other since they were children.
Their marriage is recorded in the register of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart
of Jesus, Conewago Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania. This historic Catho-
lic Church is more commonly known as Conewago Chapel. It is quite probable
that the marriage did not take place at the Chapel, but rather, was performed
in the South Mountains by one of the Jesuit missionary priests from Conewago
Chapel who served the small Catholic congregation in the South Mountains. It
is probable that the marriage was performed in the home of Andrew Noel whose
home was used for the Catholic services in early Buchanan Valley.
The witnesses to the marriage included Valentine Berger, Henry Berger, Peter
Strasbach, Catherine Strasbach, and Susan Strasbach. It is believed that
Valentine Berger was either Christina's father, or her brother Valentine, and
that Henry was her brother. Peter could have been either Joseph's father or
brother and Catherine and Susanna were his sisters.
The Peter Strausbaugh family was Roman Catholic while the Berger family is
thought to have been Lutheran. The existing church records for the Berger
family during this period are found in the Union Records of the Zion Church at
Arendtsville, Franklin Township, Adams County, and also in the New Trinity
Lutheran Church records at Arendtsville. In the early years the Zion Church
building was shared by the Lutheran and German Reformed congregations. The
Union Records are the combined records of the two congregations. Since the
Berger records are also found in the New Trinity Lutheran Church records, it is
believed that they probably associated with the Lutheran portion of the com-
bined congregational records.
The Catholic church records for the Strausbaugh families, including the early
records for Joseph and Christina's family are found in the register of Conewago
Chapel, located in Conewago Township, Adams County.
Joseph and Christina adhered to the Catholic faith as long as they remained in
Adams County. Their marriage record and the baptismal records of their seven
children born in the South Mountains are recorded in the register of Conewago
Chapel. The last of their children born in Pennsylvania was Nancy, born Sep-
tember 8, 1814 and baptized October 27.
The earliest public record found for the Joseph Strausbaugh family is in the
1810 Census of Menallen Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania, where he is
listed as the head of a household. The name was recorded as Joseph Trosbaugh.
The household was shown as including two males under ten (Peter and Valentine),
two females under ten (Elizabeth and Barbara), one male 26-45 [Joseph) and one
female 16-25 (Christina).
About 1813, Valentine Berger started a migration of the Berger families from
Adams County, Pennsylvania to Harrison County, Ohio. Over the next several
years the families of all of his sons and daughters settled in and around
Cadiz, the county seat of Harrison County. Cadiz lies in Cadiz Township, near
the township line between Cadiz Township on the west and Green Township on the
east. The families settled in both Cadiz and Green Townships.
About 1815, Joseph and Christina Strausbaugh joined in this movement and lo-
cated in Green Township of Harrison County. They were joined in this move by
the family of Peter Strausbaugh Jr, a younger brother of Joseph who was married
to Christina's sister Catherine Berger and also by the family of Joseph's
sister Catherine and her husband William Cobb. It is not known when the Peter
Strausbaugh made to the move but was there by 1820. The Cobb family moved to
Ohio in 1818.
The earliest found record of Joseph Strausbaugh in Ohio is in the 1820 Census
of Harrison County. In that year and in the subsequent censuses of 1830 and
1840, Joseph Strasbaugh is shown as a head-of-household in Green Township,
Harrison County, Ohio. These early records did not tabulate the names of the
family members. The following tabulations give first the number of persons in
each age group as given in the census record, followed by the names and ages of
the known family members who best match the census data.
1820 Census, Green Township, Harrison County, Ohio, - Joseph Strausbaugh:
Males No Name Age Females No Name Age
0- 9 yrs 2 Joseph 2 0-9 yrs 3 Margaret 4
Michael 9 Nancy 6
10-15 yrs 2 Valentine 13 Susanna 7
Peter 14 10-15yrs 2 Barbara 11
45+ yrs I Joseph 39 Elizabeth 15
26-44 yrs 1 Christina 36
1830 Census, Green Township, Harrison County, Ohio, - Joseph Strausbaugh:
Males No Name Age Females No Name Age
5-9 yrs 1 Ephraim 9 0-4 yrs 1 Christina 2
10-14 1 Joseph 12 10-14 yrs 1 Margaret 14
15-19 1 Michael 19 15-19 yrs 2 Nancy 16
20-29 2 Valentine 23 Susanna 17
Peter 24 20-29 yrs 2 Barbara 21
40-49 1 Joseph 49 Elizabeth 25
40-49 yrs 1 Christina 46
1840 Census, Green Twp, Harrison Co, OH---Joseph Strausbaugh:
Males No Name Age Females No Name Age
15-19yr 1 Ephraim 19 10-14 yrs 1 Christina 12
20-29 2 Joseph 22 20-29 yrs 3 Margaret 24
Michael 29 Nancy 26
60-69 1 Joseph 60 Susanna 27
30-31 yrs 1 Barbara 31
50-59 yrs 1 Christina 56
It is noted that Joseph's age varies one year between census years, suggesting
that his birthday was about the time of taking the census.
It is not known what Joseph and Christina did about their church affiliations
after the move to Ohio. At the time of arrival there was not a Catholic in the
area. The families of Christina's brothers Jacob, Valentine, and Peter Barger
appear to have switched to the Presbyterian Church in Cadiz. By 1850 most of
the children of Joseph and Christina Strausbaugh had also affiliated the Pres-
byterian Church.
All of the children of Joseph and Christina, except Susanna and Nancy, married
while the family lived in Harrison County, Ohio. Susanna and Nancy were still
single when the family left Harrison County. Nancy never married and it is not
known what happened to Susanna.
Peter Strausbaugh married first, Sophia Grimm in 1833, and second, Elizabeth
Devault in 1845. Elizabeth married John Hall in 1843, Margaret married Lewis
Devault in 1843, Ephriam married Jane Barger in 1844, Valentine married Barbary
Barger in 1845, Joseph Jr married Rebecca Devault in 1845, Michael married Mary
Morehead in 1847, Barbara married Henry Barger in 1847, and Christina married
Michael Strausbaugh in 1847.
Lewis, Elizabeth and Rebecca Devault (also found as Dewalt) are thought to have
been brother and sisters and of a family also originally from Adams County,
Pennsylvania. Henry, Barbary, and Jane Barger were the children of Jacob Bar-
ger, brother of Christina Berger Strausbaugh. Michael Strausbaugh was the son
of Peter Strausbaugh Jr and his wife, Catherine Berger. Thus, Valentine,
Barbara, and Ephriam Strausbaugh all married first cousins, while Christina and
Michael Strausbaugh were double first cousins.
By early 1850, the majority of the Joseph Strausbaugh family had made the move
from Harrison County to Vinton County, Ohio. The exact date of the move is not
known but Joseph and Christina were probably still in Harrison County when
their daughter Christina was married in 1847. By the time of taking the 1850
Census, Joseph and Christina were in Vinton County as well as the families of
their children. Peter, Joseph, and Ephraim Strausbaugh, daughter Christina and
her husband Michael Strausbaugh, daughter Susanna, daughter Barbara and her
husband Henry Barger, daughter Margaret and her husband Peter Dewalt. Valentine
Strausbaugh was still in Harrison County for the 1850 Census but was in Vinton
County by 1852. Their daughter Nancy was in Vinton County by 1857. Their son
Michael, and his wife Mary, never moved to Vinton County and it is not known
what happened to their daughter Elizabeth Strausbaugh Hull.
In the 1850 Census, Joseph is shown as the head of household in Wilkesville
Township, Vinton County. The household included: Joseph 69, Christina 65,
daughter Susanna 37, son Joseph 33, daughter-in-law Rebecca 21, and grandchild-
ren Caroline 3, Ephriam 2, and Almon 3 mo.
In 1851, Ephraim and Jane, Joseph and Rebecca, and Michael and Christina
Strausbaugh joined the Wilkesville Presbyterian Church. In 1852, Peter and
Valentine Strausbaugh joined the church. By 1857 the other daughters and
daughters-in-law, Susanna, Nancy, Elizabeth and Barbara Strausbaugh had joined.
There is no indication that the parents, Joseph and Christina ever joined,
however this could be confused by the existence of two Joseph Strausbaughs and
two Christina Strausbaughs in the area.
At the time of the 1860 Census, Joseph Strausbaugh was still located in Wilkes-
ville Township, Vinton County as a head-of-household. The household included
Joseph age 80, Christina 76, Susanna 46, and Nancy 44* Presently no informa-
tion has been found concerning Joseph and Christian Strausbaugh after 1860.
They were not listed in the 1870 Census and it is presumed that they died
between 1860 and 1870 and were buried in Wilkesville Township, Vinton County,
Ohio, but the dates and place of burial are presently unknown.
FIFTH GENERATION
505-1 ELIZABETH STRAUSBAUGH-HALL
Born: Oct 21 1804 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, Pennsylvania
Died:
Parents: Joseph Strausbaugh and his wife Christina Berger
Married: Mar 7 1842 Harrison Co, Ohio
Spouse: John Hull
Children: Surname HALL
Unknown
Elizabeth was the first child of Joseph Strausbaugh and his wife, Christina
Berger. She was born October 21, 1804 and baptised on August 20, 1805 in the
South Mountains of Adams County, Pennsylvania. Her baptismal record is at
Conewago Chapel where she is listed as "Elisabetha of Josephus Strasbach &
Christina". The sponsors at the baptism were Peter and Susanna Strasbach,
probably her grandfather and aunt.
Elizabeth Strausbaugh married John Hall (or Hull) on March 7, 1842 in Harrison
County, Ohio. The service was performed by Wm Cobb, Justice of Peace. William
Cobb was Elizabeth's cousin, the son of Catherine Strausbaugh and her husband
Wiliam Cobb.
505-2 PETER STRAUSBAUGH
Born: Feb 6 1806 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
Died: 1880-1900 Vinton Co, OH
Buried: Place unknown
Resided: 1833-1849 Green Twp, Harrison Co, OH
1850-188- Wilkesville Twp, Vinton Co, OH
Parents: Joseph Strausbaugh and Christina Berger
Married:(1) Apr 4 1833 Harrison Co, OH
Spouse: Sophia Grim
Born: Date and place unknown
Died: 1845 Harrison Co, OH
Buried: Old Zion Lutheran Cem, Germany Twp, Harrison Co, OH
Parents: Abraham Grim and his wife Catherine
Children:
605-11 Sarah Ann c 1834 Harrison Co, OH
605-12 Esther c 1837 Harrison Co, OH
605-13 Matilda c 1839 Harrison Co, OH
605-14 Abraham c 1841 Harrison Co, OH
605-15 Catherine Jun 29 1843 Harrison Co, OH
605-16 Sophia 1844 Harrison Co, OH
Married(2) Apr 15 1846, Harrison Co, OH
Spouse: Elizabeth Devault
Born: Dec 23 1823 OH
Died: After 1900
Children: of Peter and 2nd wife Elizabeth Devault
605-17 Amos B. c1846 Harrison Co, OH
605-18 Lydia Ann c 1848 Harrison Co, OH
605-19 Nancy Jane 1850 Vinton Co, OH
605-20 Peter c 1852 Vinton Co, OH
605-21 Sophia c 1854 Vinton Co, OH
605-22 Clarissa c 1858 Vinton Co, OH
605-23 Lafayette c 1862 Vinton Co, OH
605-24 Rebecca 1865 Vinton Co, OH
Peter Strausbaugh was the first son of Joseph and Christina Strausbaugh. He
was born February 6, 1806, probably in Buchanan Valley, Menallen Township,
Adams Co, Pennsylvania. He was baptised at South Mountains on May 20, 1806.
His baptismal record is located at Conewago Chapel, where he is listed as
"Petrus of Josephus Strasbach & Christina." The sponsors at the baptism were
his grandparents. Peter and Barbara Strausbaugh.
On April 4, 1833, in Harrison County, Ohio, Peter Strausbaugh married Sophia
Grim, daughter of Abraham and Catherine Grim of Harrison County. Abraham Grim
died in 1842 and Peter Strausbaugh served as coexecutor of the estate. In
Harrison County records the name is found spelled as Grim and Grine. Grim is
correct as this spelling was used in the Church records and her father's will.
The Grim family were members of the old Zion Lutheran Church in German Town-
ship, Harrison County. Peter and Sophia Strausbaugh were married by Dewalt
Rothacker, minister of the church and were apparently members of the church.
Peter and Sophia were the parents of six children: Sarah Ann, Esther, Malinda,
Abraham, Catherine, and an infant Sophia who apparently died at or shortly
after birth along with her mother. The mother and infant were buried in 1844
in the Old Zion Lutheran Cemetery where they are buried along side Sophia's
parents.
On April 15, 1845, in Harrison County, Peter Strausbaugh married as his second
wife, Elizabeth Devault. The marriage was performed by the Rev. Amos Bartholo-
mew.
Peter and Elizabeth were the parents of ten children, eight of whom are known.
The first two, Amos and Lydia Ann were born in Harrison County. The others,
Nancy Jane, Peter, Sophia, Clarisa, Lafayette, and Rebecca were born in Vinton
County, Ohio.
Some time prior to the taking of the 1850 Census, Peter and Elizabeth Straus-
baugh were among the Strausbaugh families that made the move from Harrison
County to Vinton County, Ohio. In the 1850 Census the family was listed in
Wilkesville Township, Vinton County. The household included: Peter Strausbaugh
age 47, Elizabeth 37, Sarah A. 16, Esther 13, Mellinda 11, Abraham 7, Catherine
6, Amos 4, Lydia A. 2, and Nancy 3 months.
In Vinton County, the Peter Strausbaugh family became members of the
Presbyterian Church.
Peter was again listed in Wilkesville Township in 1860. The household included
Peter 55, Elizabeth 38(error). Ester 22, Malinda 21, Abraham 18, Catherine 17,
Amos 14, Lydia A. 12, Nancy J. 10, Peter 8, and baby 2.
In 1870, Peter and Elizabeth were still in Wilkesville Township and the house-
hold included Peter 69, Elizabeth 47, Amos 24, Nancy 20, Sophia 14, Clarrisa
12, Lafayett 8, and Rebecca 6.
The last record found concerning Peter Strausbaugh is the 1880 Census. Peter
and Elizabeth were still in Wilkesville Township and the family consisted of
Peter 75, Elizabeth 55, Sophia 24, Clarra 21, Lafayett 18, and Rebecca 15.
Peter's occupation was listed as farmer.
Peter Strausbaugh apparently died in Wilkesville Township sometime between 1880
and 1900 as in the Census of 1900, his widow, Elizabeth was living in the home
of their son, Lafaytte Strausbaugh. In the census report she indicated that of
her ten born children only 4 were still living.
The date and places of death and burial are presently unknown for both Peter
and Elizabeth.
505-3 VALENTINE STRAUSBAUGH
Born: May 31 1807 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, Pennsylvania?
Died: Nov 13 1881 Wilkesville Twp, Vinton Co, Ohio
Buried: Wilkesville Town Cemetery
Resided: 1845-1851 Cadiz Twp, Harrison Co, Ohio
1852-1862 Wilkesville Twp, Vinton Co, Ohio
Parents: Joseph Strausbaugh and Christina Berger
Married: (1)Apr 1845 Harrison Co, Ohio
Spouse: Barbary Barger
Born: Mar 27 1813 probably Cadiz Twp, Harrison Co, Ohio
Died: Nov 17 1862
Buried: Wilkesville Town Cemetery
Parents: Jacob and Barbary Berger
Children: One known child
605-25 Margaret born 18--, died 1848, Harrison Co, Ohio
Married: (2)date unknown, between 1863-68
Spouse: Mary, surname unknown
Children: One known child
605-26 Ellsworth 1869, died 1870, Vinton Co, Ohio
Valentine Strausbaugh, son of Joseph Strausbaugh and his wife, Christina Ber-
ger, was born May 31, 1807 in Menallen Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania and
was baptized at South Mountains, Adams County, June 2, 1807. His baptismal
record is located at Conewago Chapel where he is listed as "Valentinius of
Josephus Strasbach & Christina." Sponsors at his baptism were Jacob Straus-
baugh and his sister Margaret, brother and sister of his father Joseph.
Valentine Strausbaugh married his cousin, Barbary Barger, in Harrison County in
1845. The marriage license was obtained April 2, 1845, however the date of the
marriage was never recorded. Barbary was the daughter of Jacob and Barbary
Berger and a sister of Henry and Jane Barger who married Barbara and Ephraim,
the sister and brother of Valentine.
Valentine and Barbary had but one known child, Mary who died July 19, 1848 and
was buried in the old Cadiz Cemetery, Harrison County, Ohio.
In 1850, Valentine and Barbary resided in Cadiz, Harrison County, Ohio, and
adjacent to the household of Valentine and Jane Barger. They moved to Wilkes-
ville Township, Vinton County, Ohio by 1852, as in that year, Valentine joined
the Wilkesville Presbyterian Church. Barbary Barger joined the church in 1357.
Barbary Barger Strausbaugh died November 17, 1862 in Wilkesville Township,
Vinton County, Ohio and was buried in the Wilkesville Town Cemetery. There is
some confusion as to whether her name was Barbary or Barbara. It is given as
Barbary on her gravestone.
Valentine married secondly Mary, surname unknown. They had one son, Ellsworth,
born August 16, 1869 and died November 5, 1870, and was buried in Wilkesville
Town Cemetery. Valentine Strausbaugh died November 13, 1881, and was buried in
the Wilkesville Town Cemetery next to Barbary and son Ellsworth. His widow,
Mary, probably remarried and her date of death and place of burial are unknown.
505-4 BARBARA STRAUSBAUGH
Born: Feb 9 1809 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
Died: Dec 1872 Wilkesville Twp, Vinton Co, OH
Buried: Place unknown
Resided: 1842-1849 Harrison Co, OH
1850-1872 Wilkesville Twp, Vinton Co, OH
Parents: Joseph and Christina Berger
Married: 30 Aug 1842 Harrison Co, OH
Spouse: Henry Barger
Born: About 1808 probably Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
Died: After 1900 probably Wilkesville Twp, Vinton Co, OH
Parents: Jacob and Barbary Berger
Children: Surname BARGER
605-27 Christina c 1843 Harrison Co, OH
605-28 Nancy 1844, d 1848 Harrison Co, OH
605-29 Jane c1847 d 1848 Harrison Co, OH
605-30 Eliza c 1856 Vinton Co, OH
Barbara Strausbaugh, the daughter of Joseph Strausbaugh and his wife Christina Berger, was born in Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA on Feb 9, 1809 and was baptized April 18, 1809. Her baptismal record is at Conewago Chapel. The sponsors at the baptism were her grandparents, Peter and Barbara Strassbach.
Barbara married her first cousin, Henry Barger, in Harrison County, OH, on Aug 30, 1847. The marriage was performed by the Rev. James Kerr, pastor of the Cadiz Presbyterian Church.
By 1850, Henry and Barbara Berger were living in Wilkesville Twp, Vinton Co, OH. In the 1850 Census, the family was listed in Wilkesville Twp. The household included Henry Barger, 43, Barbara 43, Christina, 6. Henry and Barbara joined the Wilkesville Presbyterian Church in 1851.
Barbara Strausbaugh Barger died in Dec 1872 in Wilkesville Twp, Vinton Co, OH. The date of her death was obtained from the Wilkesville Presbyterian Church records. The place of her burial is unknown.
The date and place of Henry Barger's death is unknown. He was living in Wilkesville in 1880. The household included Henry Barger, age 72, his daughter Eliza Barger, age 23, his sister in law, Nancy Strausbaugh, age 68. Also living in the same house was the family of Charles and Christina Hawk. It is believed that this was his daughter Christina. This family included Charles Hawk, age 40, carpenter; Christina 36, Arminda 18, Viola 14, Orestes 11, Dorsia 6, Emerson6, Michael 3 and Jennie 6 months.
505-5 MICHAEL STRAUSBAUGH
Baptised: Feb 20 1811 Menallen Twp, Adams Co, PA
Died: Date and place unknown
Resided: 1850 Harrison Co, OH
Parents: Joseph Strausbaugh and Christina Berger
Married: Dec 9 1847 Harrison Co, OH
Spouse: Mary Morehead
Parents: John Morehead and his wife Mary
Children: One known child, probably others
605-31 David born c1849 Harrison Co, Ohio
Michael Strausbaugh, son of Joseph Strausbaugh and his wife Christina Berger,
was born probably early in the year 1811 in Menallen Township, Adams County,
Pennsylvania, and was baptised on February 20, 1811. The sponsors for the
baptism were Abraham and Johanna Strassbach, brother and sister of Joseph
Strausbaugh. The record of the baptism is at Conewago Chapel.
Michael Strausbaugh married Mary Morehead on December 9, 1847 in Harrison
County, Ohio. The marriage was performed by the Rev. James Kerr, pastor of the
Cadiz Presbyterian Church. Mary was the daughter John and Mary Morehead of
Green Township, Harrison County.
Michael was the only son of Joseph and Christina Strausbaugh who did not join
the family move to Vinton County, Ohio.
The last information presently available for Michael is the found in the 1850
Census of Harrison County, Ohio. Michael is listed as a head-of-household in
Green Township. The household included Michael age 39, Mary 31, David 1, and
Mary Morehead 61, mother of Mary Morehead Strausbaugh.
505-6 SUSANNA STRAUSBAUGH
Born: Oct 4, 1812 Menallen Township, Adams Co, Pennsylvania
Died: Unknown
Parents Joseph Strausbaugh and Christina Berger
Susanna Strausbaugh, daughter of Joseph Strausbaugh and his wife Christina
Berger, was born October 4, 1812 in Menallen Township, Adams County, Pennsyl-
vania, and was baptized June 15, 1813. Her baptismal record is located at
Conewago Chapel. The sponsor at the baptism was her father's sister Susanna
Strausbaugh.
In 1850, Susanna, age 37, was living in the home of her parents in Wilkesville
Township, Vinton County, Ohio. In 1860, she and her sister Nancy were the only
unmarried children of Joseph and Christian Strausbaugh and were both living
with their parents. Presently, no data concerning Susanna Strausbaugh has been
found after 1860.
505-7 NANCY STRAUSBAUGH
Born: Sep 8