Person:Johan Lerchenzeiler (1)

JOHAN HINDRICH WILHELM LERCHENZEILER was born about 1650 in Palatinate, Germany.

Listed in his will as John William Lurkingsiler. Also listed in 5th Palatine Sailing as John William. However, in the communicants and attendance at the Old Sweeds Lutheran Church, it is spelled as Lerchenzeiler, repeatedly. The will lists his mark, not his signature.

On November 18, 1718, New Castle County, Yoeman, some marsh at the mouth of Drawyer's Creek and a parcel of land on the most northernly branch of Second Drawyer's Creek on which he built a house and made some improvements. Just when this faithful communicant (sometimes absently-minded recorded as John Hendrich Lerchenzeiler and sometimes simply as Lerchenzeiler or the German Lerchenzeiler) removed from Third Hook, Brandywine Hundred to St. George's Hundred is not clear.

His wife Susanna died in July 1719, and on April 19, 1720 (Holy Trinity Records, 2nd Book, pg.106) he married Margareta, widow of Cornelius Vandever. Later he transferred the property he had bought from Elrod to Margareta's son William (New Castle County Deeds, book Y-1, pg. 567). By virtue of a warrant dated Nov. 16, 1736, there was surveyed for John William "Lurkenserler" a piece of land adjoining his old land in St. George's Hundred and this was apparently his dwelling place at the time of his death. His will dated September 1, 1745 directed that his grave at the Christina Swedes Church be marked by a tombstone made by Timothy Stedham. Pounds 3 being provided for this purpose.

Lerchenzeiler's executor, who was also his only heir, was John Michael Sigmund referred to in the will as "respected son-in-law". Since Sigmund's wife was the daughter of Cornelius Walraven of St. George's Hundred, it must be supposed that the relationship to Lerchenzeiler was that of stepson, a meaning often intended by the term son-in-law at that time.