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Facts and Events
Records in Virginia
- John Messersmith came to Pennsylvania when he was 16 years old with his parents and other family members on the ship, "Nancy" on 16 Sep 1751. Capt. Thomas Coatam from Rotterdam was the Capt. There were 200 passengers but only 76 passengers' names were on the list. His brother, Barnabas was listed among the passengers but he was not probably because he was under age 18. His brother Barnabas was age 19. Women and children's names were not recorded. (Pg 462 Pennsylvania German Pioneers FHL #974.8 F2st 1966 v1.) On pg 436 of the Passenger & Immigration Lists Index it showed: "Andreas Messerschmidt & Hans Bernhart Messerschmidt, n. a.: Philadelphia Pa, 1750 7820 p 256 & 9041 p 463." Both indexes referred to the Passenger list of the ship "Nancy." (PALATINE IMMIGRANT, VOL ix, NO. 2 )
- 1810 census for Wythe Co., Va are Peter, Godfrey, Barnabas, Sr. and Barnabas Messersmith, Jr. Andrew Messersmith is in Tazewell Co., V. in 1810.
- John Messersmith was still alive in 1815 as there was a court case involving his brother, Barnabas Messersmith and John's son, Barnabas Messersmith, Jr. At one place in questioning one of the witnesses: William Ward had known Barnabas Messersmith, Sr. for upwards of forty years (since 1775) and recollected: "that the defendant (Barnabas, Jr) proposed to the plaintiff (Barnabas Messersmith Sr.) that he would leave the premises if the plaintiff wished the father of the defendant to have possession (the plaintiff having expressed a wish to that effect) that he would put the outside fences in good repair, that he would sow down a certain quantity of small grain, that he would complete the building of a certain house which he had previously commenced and make it comfortable for the father of the defendant to live in, that he could have nothing further to do with the land during the lifetime of the defendant's father (nor during the lifetime of the plaintiff as well as I can recollect.). The plaintiff would not agree to the proposal, but stated that the conveyance from him to the defendant was admitted to record without his consent and expected on that ground to have it set aside.". [1]
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