Genealogies of PENNSYLVANIA FAMILIES
From the Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine
Volume 1
The Three Joseph (Van) Gundys
Mark K. Meyer
JOSEPH VAN GUNDY of LEBANON and NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTIES
This Joseph Van Gundy is said to have been born in 1740 and 1742 and died in 1795 and 1803 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: to have married Margaretta Haldeman (1748-1790) as well as Martha Alderman. In the course of exhaustive research no record of the existence of either of these women has ever been found. As a matter of interest, it is doubtful that these were two different women but rather the garbled version of the actual name of his wife. However, there is a remote possibility that Joseph was married twice.
We do know that Joseph was married to Magdalena Haldeman, the widow of Jacob Shonower. Magdalena's first marriage took place in Lancaster City, Pennsylvania. "Maudlin Holdiman married Jacob Shinaver 10 December 1763 , [s/b 10 December 1759, Source: Pennsylvania Church Records - Adams, Berks, and Lancaster Counties, 1729-1881], leaving his widow with two children, John and Barbara, and pregnant with a third. On 30 December 1763, Magdalena signed a statement to the effect that she understood the terms of her late husband's will.
Just exactly when or where Joseph Van Gundy and the widow Shonower were married is not known. But they were man and wife by May 1, 1769 when they were "of Bethel Township, Lancaster (now Lebanon) County" and they appointed Jacob Miley their attorney to recover from the executor of Jacob Shonower, deceased, all incomes due Magdalena, "Leat" wife of Jacob Shonower.
This same deed recites that the last will and testament of Jacob Shonower was dated 27 January 1765 and that Joseph "VonGundy," Jacob Erb (Erp) and Jacob Sencenick (Sansinich?) were named executors. In turning again to the original will we find only Erp and Sencenick were named executors and that 13 December 1763 was the date it was written. It is very possible that the date 27 January 1765 recited in the body of the above deed was the date Joseph became an interested party in the proceedings - possibly the date of his marriage to the widow, Magdalena - or at least an indication that they were married by that date.
