Person:Daniel Ferree (7)

A birth date and place of 10 March 1646/47 in Picardie, France , and a death date and place of 10 March 1707/08 in Steinweiler, Bittingheim, Germany has been given by some researchers for Daniel Ferree. However, strong documentary evidence to support these dates and specific places is unknown to this researcher. I have chosen to use approximate years of about 1646 and about 1707. I believe he was born in France, with reasonable certainty his ancestors were. There is evidence that Daniel had business in Steinweiler and it is the location from where Marie Warenbuer (Ferree) and her children left for their journey to England and eventually America. Because they were not accompanied by Daniel Ferree, it is assumed he had died, and had probably died in Steinweiler, though there is no direct evidence to support these assumptions.

Linda Ferree - December 23, 2007 Translation (by me) of Emigrants from Steinweiler over three centuries, by Fritz Braun, 1968

Writings about the migration history of the Palitines from the homelands of Pfalz and Kaiserslautern

Fierre (Führe, Ferree, Fier, Fiere, Firre, Free) Daniel, born 1650, originating from a Huguenot family, who resided allegedly first in the Picardie, later in Flanders, had established himself in Steinweiler with his wife and 5 children after a short stay in Landau. He became a citizen of Steinweiler on July 25, 1679. By occupation he was a silk weaver. After his death in 1687 his wife, Marie Warenbuer (Warembur), born about 1653, decided to emigrate to America in the year 1708.

He followed the group of Palatines which arrived under the guidance of minister Josua Kocherthal on the ship "Globe" in the New Years night 1708 to 1709 at New York. For two and a half-centuries, the origins of Kocherthal were wrapped in darkness. It was always maintained that he originated from Landau. Only in 1967, completely by coincidence, was his correct name discovered. He was really called Josua Harrsch, and was born on July 30, 1669 in Fachsenfeld bei Aalen. (20)

Marie Fierree had already begun efforts at the beginning of the year 1708 for emigration to America. After Mayor Fischer of Steinweiler had been heard about the matter, they were given permission to emigrate by the Billigheim council on October 3, 1708.

[Then he quotes from Rupp's translation of the document.]

On May 10, 1708 the consistory of the Walloon church community of Billigheim executed an escort letter in French language for Daniel, the son of the Marie Fierree, which translates as the following text:

"We, ministers, elders, and deacons of the Walloon Reformed Church community of Billigheim in the lower Palatine, of whom the honorable Daniel Fierre, [along with] his wife Anna Marie Leininger and their children Andreas and Johann Fierree, asked to give them a witness about their life, certify and testify that they adhere to the official reformed beliefs, attended our public services and with other believers partook of the Lord's supper. Finally they always behaved honorably, without a cause to have given offense, which would have come to our knowledge. Since they leave now, in order to establish themselves elsewhere, we recommend them to the protection of God and the sympathetic consideration of all of our brothers in the Lord Jesus Christ. We have provided the present reference document with our usual indications. Given to Billigheim in our constitory, the 10th of May, 1708.

Michael Meessakop, J. Roman, minister and inspector Pierre Scharlet, Jaques Bailleux, deacon Jean Baptiste La Place, deacon"

Concerning the children named Andreas and Johann Fierre, the first was baptized on 28 September 1701 in the church of Steinweiler. Godparents were Andreas Leininger and his wife Maria Margaretha, the second with the name Johann was baptized on 8 February 1703 in the church of Rohrbach, Godparents were Abraham Petillon and Judith Mueller, both from Steinweiler.

The dates of birth of the two children align themselves with the age data from Rupp (19), where it means that they were 7 and 6 years old. From Rupp we find in addition that with the settlement in the valley of the Hudson the following implement was assigned to the family: 1 broad axe, 1 carpenter's square, 1 carpenter's block, 1 hole saw, 1 smooth plane, and further tools (19). Esopus (= Kingston) at the Hudson was the first settlement place. From there the family, in the autumn of 1712, moved to Pennsylvania.

From these two certificates it follows that the widow Marie Fierre - always called "Madame Ferree" in America - emigrated with the family of her son Daniel and six single children. Since the oldest daughter was already married at this time to Isaak Le Fevre, who is likewise mentioned in this list of emigrants from Steinweiler, this undoubtably deals with the four still unmarried children, Marie, Johann, Philipp and Johanna (Jane), as well as the two grandchildren Andreas and Johann, the children of her son Daniel. It is known that she was the first one buried, in 1716, in a cemetery 1½ miles south of Paradise, near Lancaster, in Pennsylvania. This cemetery was later designated the Ferree Cemetery. (6, 9).

Children: 1. Daniel, b. France 1676; m. Steinweiler around 1700 Anna Maria Leininger, b. ?Steinweiler 1678, d. America 1762. 8 children, 3 known (a baptized in Steinweiler, b in Rohrbach, , c in Kingston on the Hudson): a) Andreas, baptized Sep 28 1701; Godparents: Andreas Leininger and wife Margarethe, b) Johann, baptized Feb 8 1703; Godparents: Abraham Petillon and Judith Mueller, both from Steinweiler, c) Elizabeth, baptized May 22 1711; Godparets: Johannes Fire and Jannetjen Fire.

2. Catherine, d. Pequea Valley, Pa. 1760; m. Steinweiler around 1703 Isaac Le Fevre, b. France (Rupp says May 26 1669).

3. Maria, baptized July 14 1678 as "child of Daniel Fieres of Deutschof" Godfather: Rogier Balli and his Mrs. Maria; m. Thomas Faulkner.

4. John, b. assumed Steinweiler 1685. d. Pequea Valley September 1769; m. 1. Mary Musgrove; m. II. Ruth Buffington.

5. Philipp, b. assumed Steinweiler around 1686, d. Pequea Valley May 19 1753; m. (? 12. 6. 1713) Leah DuBois, baptized New Paltz near Kingston Oct 10. 1687. d. Pequea Valley Sep 12 1758.

6. Jane, b. assumed Steinweiler around 1687, d. Pequea Valley 1754; m. Richard Davis, d. before 1730.

1. ↑ Jessie A. Landis nee Witmer. Ferree - du Bois Family Tree. (1913).
2. ↑ kamp3genealogy@@netscape.net. Heisterkamp, Charles, III, M.D..

   1949 Pine Drive, Lancaster, PA, 17601, ckamp3@@netscape,net, 717-392-0562

3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Charles Heisterkamp, III, M.D. Annotated Landis Ferree Tree. (30 April 2004).

   Date of Import: Jul 14, 2004

4. ↑ Ferree, E. Maurice.

   611 Conowingo Road, Quarryville, PA, 17566, 717-786-7790

5. ↑ Ferree-Maurice-GM.GED.

   Date of Import: Nov 11, 2004

6. ↑ ^6.0 6.1 Notes. (See Notes Section for this information).
7. ↑ ^7.0 7.1 Smoke, Michael Alan. Smoke Genealogy - Family Tree Maker Web Site -01. (updated September 5, 2000).
8.   Charles Heisterkamp, III, M.D..

   1949 Pine Drive, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA, 17601-5529, kamp3genealogy@netscape.net