Pennsylvania

Christian Fegley, our 4^th great-grandfather, married Anna Maria Dresher and they also settled in Longswamp Township and had 8 children. In 1781 he was taxed 8 pounds, 7 shillings, and 6 pence on 300 acres of Longswamp Township property, 4 horses and 4 cattle. In 1784, the township had 117 resident families, 42 non-resident property owners, and 9 single men. He was taxed that year on the 300 acres, plus tax for 3 horses, 3 cattle, 5 sheep and 6 persons in the household. His will was written on 29 March 1806 and probated on 10 January 1807. It provides for everything going to his wife Anna Maria and after her death all of it to be divided among children Henrich, David, Anna Maria wife of Christian Reitz, George and Philip in equal shares. Sons Christian and Peter received their parts in land and “the bonds they have given shall be divided among above 5 children.” The executors were his wife Anna Maria and son Henrich. Witnesses to the signing were Samuel Drosher [probably Dresher] and John Daniel Young. Like his father’s, Christian’s will was written in German.

Family of Christian Fegley

Christian Fegley born 15 Dec 1743 in Philadelphia Co., PA, died 1807 in Longswamp Twp, Berks Co., PA, married to Anna Maria Dresher born 23 May 1749 in Northampton Co., PA, died aft. 29 Sep 1811 in Northampton Co.

Children:

1. Johannes Fegley born 21 May 1769 in Longswamp Twp, Berks Co., PA, died abt. 1806

2. Christian Fegley, Jr., born 23 Oct 1770 in Longswamp Twp, died 17 Feb 1841, married to Catharina Fisher born 10 Oct 1780, died 26 Mar 1866

3. Heinrich Fegley born between 1771-1774 in Longswamp Twp, died 11 May 1871, married on 14 Oct 1798 to Catherine Gaumer born 9 Aug 1776, died 15 Sep 1846

4. Philip Fegley born abt. 1774 in Longswamp Twp, Beerks Co., PA, married 7 Apr 1798 in Longswamp Twp to Elisabeth _____

5. Johan Peter Fegley born 22 Jul 1776 Longswamp Twp, died 1844 Lower Macungie Twp, Lehigh Co., PA, married abt. 1796 to Elizabetha _____ died after 1 Apr 1847 in Lehigh Co., PA

6. David Fegley born 20 Apr 1779 in Longswamp Twp, died 20 Jun 1866 in Lehigh Co., PA, married abt 1800 Macungie Twp to Susanna Gaumer born 9 Feb 1778 Macungie Twp, died 6 Mar 1868 in Lower Macungie Twp, Lehigh Co., PA

7. Anna Maria Fegley born 16 Feb 1782 in Macungie Twp, Northampton Co., PA, married Christian Reitz

8. Johan George Fegley born 7 Sep 1786 in Macungie Twp, died 7 Mar 1857 in Pennsylvania, married to Magdalena Kercher born 4 Jul 1786, died 27 Dec 1862 in Pennsylvania

Johan Peter Fegley, our 3^rd great-grandfather, was born 18 days after the Declaration of Independence. He married Elizabetha whose last name has been impossible to track down. Peter was christened in the Longswamp Church, which is in Berks County. However, his confirmation at age 14 took place in the Lehigh Church, which was in Northampton County then, later Lehigh. This change of churches was found for most of Peter’s siblings. His father’s and his grandfather’s farms were very close to the county line, and it can be seen that both churches were equidistant from the border on either side of it. In his father’s case, the first United States census was taken in 1790 and he is shown in Berks County, the Longswamp side. Peter’s farm location has been pinpointed and it straddles the line. The house is apparently on the Northampton/Lehigh side since the 1800 census places him in Northampton. Both Christian’s and Bernhard’s houses are said to be still standing near the county line today. Peter mentions in his will “my stone dwelling house” and it remains to be verified that his house is still standing at the known location on the county line. Peter’s brother David had a farm that was close to Peter’s on or near the county line also.

Peter died in about 1844 and left a detailed will he had signed in 1841 that stated specifically how he wanted things done. Of course, in those days everything belonged to the man so it was important to be specific about the wife since she did not generally receive the farm property itself.

“……………

Item: I give and bequeath unto my dear wife Elizabeth two cows the choice of my cows together with such of my household beds, furniture and kitchen utensils as she may choose to keep for her own use.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my dear wife the use and occupation of my stone dwelling House at the corner of the crossroads and the garden adjoining, a right to use the cellar under the wash house room in the cow stable of the large stone barn for two cows she owns of my farm or the person in possession of the farm shall feed two cows with good hay, put the cows in the stable and out of the stable and keep the stable clean in the summer season, put the two cows in the field with his cows and bring them out of the field with his cows.

The owner or the person in possession of my farm shall each and every year during my dear wife's natural life give one fat hog weighing one hundred and fifty pounds, Twenty five pounds good beef from a hind quarter in a proper season of the year, twelve bushels of rye, nine bushels wheat, six bushels buckwheat, six bushels corn, twelve bushels potatoes, six chickens, twelve dozen eggs, the owner of the aforesaid farm or the person in possession of it shall take the potatoes in the cellar and the grain to mill and bring the flour and the [chefstaff?] to the house of my dear wife, good Fine wood as much as my dear wife wants for her use cut and split fit to use in the stove of my dear wife, want a woman to do her house work the owner of my said farm or the person in possession of it furnish her with a woman to do her work and shall keep the aforesaid house in good repair and the garden fence in repair, haul manure in her garden when she wants manure.

Item: I give and bequeath to my dear wife the interest on one thousand dollars yearly and every year during natural life for her maintenance and support, the thousand dollars shall remain on my real estate all which legacies to my said wife I do hereby declare to be in lieu and stead of her dower at common law.

I do order and direct that my executors hereinafter named or the survivor of them shall as soon as the lease is out that I have leased the farm as conveniently may be after my decease sell at public vendue or outcry all my personal and real estate for cash except one thousand dollars which shall remain on my real estate during the natural life of my widow.

………. I do direct that the net proceeds of my personal and real estate theretofore ordered by me to be disposed of be divided equally as soon as it can be done, share and share alike amongst my twelve children Peter, Charles, Maria, David, Reuben, Yetta, Lecanta, Hannah, Elizabeth, Sarah, James, Caroline.

And lastly I nominate constitute and appoint my said son Peter Fagely and my son in law Charles Ruth to be executors of this my will …………

in the presence of us:

David Schall

Charles Mickley”

Family of Johan Peter Fegley

Johan Peter Fegley born 22 Jul 1776 in Longswamp Twp, Berks Co., PA, died abt 1844 in Lower Macungie Twp, Lehigh Co., PA. married abt 1796 to Elizabetha _____ who died after 1 Apr 1847 in Lehigh Co., PA

Children:

1. Peter Fegley born 21 Dec 1797 in Northampton Co., PA, died 11 Jan 1885 in Lehigh Co., PA, married Hannah Heinly born 24 Mar 1801 in Northampton Co., PA, died 13 Jul 1875 in Lehigh Co., PA

2. Charles Fegley born between 27 Mar 1799 - 26 Mar 1800 in Northampton Co., died 16 Feb 1871 in

Union Co., PA, married 11 Mar 1827 in Lehigh Co. to Susannah Ruth born 20 Nov 1801 in Bucks Co., PA, died 1854 in Lycoming Co., PA

3. Maria Fegley born 9 Jan 1802 in Lehigh Co., died 27 Dec 1851 in Lehigh Co., married Charles T. Ruth born 31 May 1796 in Northampton Co., PA, died 3 May 1876 in Lehigh Co., PA

4. David Fegley born abt 1805 in Lehigh Co., married to Deborah Mickley born abt 1812

5. Reuben Fegley born abt 1807 in Pennsylvania

married to Nancy _____ born abt 1808 in Pennsylvania

6. Henrietta Fegley born 12 Jan 1809, died between 1841 - 1848, married to Charles Mickley

7. Leanda Fegley born 2 Aug 1811

8. Hannah Fegley born 25 Sep 1813, died between 1841 - 1848, married to Monroe B. Missimer

9. Elizabeth Fegley born 18 Feb 1816 in Lehigh Co., died 17 Jun 1858 in Lehigh Co., married Peter Titlow

10. Sarah Fegley born abt 1817, died between 1841 - 1848, married to William Elliott

11. James Fegley born abt 1820 in Pennsylvania, married to Mary Bernhardt born abt 1822 in Pennsylvania

12. Caroline Fegley born abt 1822, died between 1841 - 1848, married to ____ Kider

Peter named his eldest child and son, Peter, Jr. as co-executor along with son-in-law Charles Ruth who had married his second child Maria. One might wonder at first glance if second son Charles was skipped over because of some disagreement with his father or due to some mistrust. But upon closer inspection we find that Charles Fegley, our 2^nd great-grandfather, had left Lehigh County 5 years before his father died. It certainly looked in the beginning like Charles would settle down for a long, comfortable life in the land of his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was confirmed on Easter Sunday in 1815 at age 15 at Zions Lutheran Church near Weilersville. This church was also attended by the Ruth family, a branch of which is said to lead to the famous baseball player George Herman “Babe” Ruth. Charles married Susannah Ruth, sister of the Charles Ruth mentioned above, in 1827. Her great-grandfather Johan Christian Ruth, Sr. emigrated from Steinberg, Saarland, Germany in 1737. On her mother’s side are found the German names of Eigner, Romig, Siegfried and Bernhardt.