Johann Mathias Gisch Gish
Birth 19 Oct 1710
Saarland, Germany
Death Nov 1757 (aged 47)
White Oak, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA
Burial
Gish Farm Cemetery
White Oak, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA
"Our Matthias Gish, the immigrant, was a son of Jacob and Maria Caterina (Heyd) Gish, as shown in Burgert's 'Pennsylvania Pioneers of Wolfersweiler Parish, Saarland, Germany"
Wolfersweiler Reformed KB -
Hans Jacob Gisch, son of the late Philip Gisch of Answeiler, married 19 Nov 1709 Maria Catherine, daughter of late Jacob Heyd of Schellweiler. They had a son Joh. Matheis, bap 19 Oct 1710."
"Emigrants to America From the Duchy of Zweibrucken" Translated by Krebs 1972
"Matthes Gisch, stepson of Andreas Kneibes of Asweiler, has gone to America in 1733 and received 40 gold florins for the journey expenses" (Pennsylvania Merchant)
Also we have the German church records on all the Gish's that have been transcribed.
Came to Pennsylvania September 1733 on the Pennsylvania Merchant with his cousin Christian Lauer.
In the court records you find the spelling Gish, Gisch, Kish Keach, etc. By the third generation the spelling is Gish.
He is listed on page 237 in the book "First Families of America". He received a grant of land from William Penn under the name of Matthew Keach. He was one of the first settlers of Lancaster Co, Pa., and was the father of five sons and three daughters, all of these children born in Lancaster Co, Pa. Christian,John, David, Abraham,and Jacob, Anna Katerin , Anna Maria and Catherine. There had been published some old eighteenth century documents which tell of the departure of emigrants from various localities in Birkenfeld, Saarbrucken and the Pflaz. Among these in the records of Nohfelden occurs the announcement that Matthias Gisch of Answeiler, stepson of Andreas Kniebes, has left for America. From land records in the state house at Harrisburg, the first warrant of survy was issued to Mathias Gisch in 1739. This called for 107 acres plus six percent for roads and highways. The deed, was signed by James Hamilton, Lieutenant Governor, and was issued in 1743. He soon secured more land until the final acreage was 180 acres, this was in the White Oak district. Matthias was both a farmer and blacksmith, as farmer he made a living and as a blacksmith. We know that Mathias went to Lancaster and started building on his farm as early as 1733 although it was 1739 when he applied for the warrent of survy. When the barn he built burned a few years ago (2002), the cornerstone said 1733. Mathias took his oath of Allegience Sep 18 1733 when he stepped off the Pennsylvania Merchant, John Stedman Captain, from Rotterdam. So he must have gone to his property right away and started the barn.
Guardians of the minor children Of Mathias are Christian Lauer(cousin to Mathias), Christian Gish(the oldest son) and Conrad Mark (probably relative of his wife Katherine).
Katherine and Mathias married about 1734 as their first son Christian was born Sep 1735. We do not know Cathrina/Catrina's parents but I think either John Stern or John Leaman.
Jan 11 1791 Book 1788-1791 page 318-319 (wife of Mathias, Catherine Gish has died)
"The court appoints John Stern guardian of the estates of Anna Maria Gish, Abraham Gish and Jacob Gish minor children of John Gish late of Mountjoy township Yoeman(?Leaman) deceased during their minority.respectfully (their being several over the age of fourteen yearrs) agreeable to their written application for that purpose.
The "court appoints John Stern of Mountjoy township guardian over the estates of Mathias Gish and Catheerine Gish minor children of John Gish, Yoeman deceased during their minority, they being several years under the age of minority.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39818870/johann-mathias-gish
