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 1713 - 1762 (49 years)
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| Name |
BEST, Wilhelm |
| Born |
1713 |
Switzerland  |
| Gender |
Male |
| Died |
24 Nov 1762 |
Indianland, Lehigh Twp., Northampton Co., Pa. |
| Buried |
St. Paul Lutheran Cemetary, Indianland, Lehigh Co., Pa. |
| Person ID |
I426 |
Butler Spangs |
| Last Modified |
11 Oct 2013 |
| Family |
SCHAFFER, Anna Susanna, b. 1717, Palatinate, Germany , d. 1769, Pa. (Age 52 years) |
| Married |
1732 |
Germany |
| Notes |
- [Tracey3.FTW]
Married in Palatinate, Germany.
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| Family ID |
F206 |
Group Sheet |
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| Notes |
- [Tracey3.FTW]
He was born in Switzerland, where his family had temporarily fled seeking safety from the invasions of Louis XIV armies. Later he lived in Palatinate, near northern Switzerland.
He was tall for the day --- 6'2" and called the runt of the family.
He married a German girl, Anna Susanna Schaeffer. Two of their children were born in Germany, Wilhelm Jr. and Susanna. They emigrated in 1738 from Rotterdam to the English port of Deal, then to Philadelphia, aboard the "Winter Galley". The fare was 5# sterling and the trip took over six weeks. Their child Anna Elizabeth was born at sea. The passengers were allowed to take little with them, but had to take their own food. They arrived in Philadelphia September 3 (5), 1738. Also on board was Anna Susanna's brother John Adam Schaeffer, Jr. and George Smith (who later wed Anna's sister Barbara in Lehigh Twp.)
They settled in Lehigh Township in Northampton County, Pa. near an old Indian trail, not far from Lehigh Gap (near modern towns of Walnutport and Cherryville). At night wolves climbed onto the roof of their cabin and howled. Since rifles were scarce, they had to trap game at first.
Wilhelm's name appears on a petition in 1757 asking for assistance against the Indians. (Pa Archives, Series I, Vol. III, pp.164, 284-286).
He fought in the French and Indian War.
Fought in French and Indian War, and this may have undermined his health.
His estate was appraised at 415 pounds.
Copied from "The old Grave-Yards of Northampton and Adjacent Counties" by John Eyerman in June 1899.
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