Person:John Pontius (5)

John Frederick Pontius
d.Abt 1792 Pennsylvania
  1. John Frederick Pontius1718 - Abt 1792
  2. Johann Nicholas Pontius1728 - 1794
m. 14 Jan 1742/43
  1. Anna Maria Pontius1752 - 1811
Facts and Events
Name John Frederick Pontius
Gender Male
Birth? 18 Aug 1718 Berglangenbach, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
Marriage 14 Jan 1742/43 Pennsylvaniato Anna Catharine Zeller
Death? Abt 1792 Pennsylvania

BIOGRAPHY: Came with younger brother, Johann Nicholas [who becomes recorded and known as Nicholas]. Came from the area of the Nahe River on the border of France and Germany in 1738 on the ship Glasgow. They first came to Berks Co. PA...Johannes...was born 1717-1718 in Rhein Pfalz Germany, came to America in 1738 and died 1792. Source: Reynold Reep family group sheet research notes.

EUROPEAN CHURCH RECORDS: Birkenfield Nahes Evangelish-Lutherische Pfarrei Church identified by the late Reynold Reep of Honolulu, Hawaii.

Descendant has August 18, 1718 with 1717 being the birthyear in Reep research.

Johannes Pontius Johannes Pontius was bom in Beriangenbach, Germany, August 18, 1718. He was the son of Hans Peter Pontius and Anna Rosina Catharina Hauch. His father was a farmer and sheepherder. His mother was the daughter of Hans Nickel Hauch and Anna Maria of Berlangenbach Germany. Johannes had five brothers and a sister. According to the Ships register Johannes and his brother sailed to America in 1738. It is speculated that his Mother and Sister also came at that time. With his Father having died in Germany and a family to support, coming to American probably seemed to 20 year old Johannes to be his best or only choice. "A book, Pennsylvania German Pioneers", Vol, 1, a list headed "September 9, 1738, lists on page 204, the passengers of the ship Glasgow, (males 16 and over). Palatines, in all 349, imported in the ship GLASGOW, Walter Sterling, and Master. Ships sailing From Rotterdam, and last from Cowes, England." After docking in America the ship was inspected by a Health official before disembarking. Each individual was processed and an oath was taken by the group. The oath was as follows: "We subscribers, natives and late inhabitants of the Palatinate upon the Rhine and places adjacent, having transported ourselves and families into this province of Pennsylvania, a colony subject to the Crown of Great Britain, in hopes and expectation of finding a retreat and peaceable settlement therein, do solemnly promise and engage, that we will be faithful and bear true allegiance to his present Majesty, King George the Second, and his successors, Kings of Great Britain, and will be faithful to the proprietor of this province; and that we will demean ourselves peaceably to all His Majesties' Subjects, and strictly observe and conform to the Laws of England and of this province, to the utmost of our power and best of our understanding." This is an interesting passage reflecting the custom of children successively caring for the parents as they become more dependant. In 1788, Johannes made a legal agreement with sons Nicholas and Frederick to take care of them (the parents) in exchange for his land. Actually these two sons had been paying the taxes on it for five years (see above). Agreement and Obligation to John Pontius from His Son Frederick Deed book G., pp 25-26 Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. No 1. November 27, 1788. Frederick Pontius shall give to his father every year: in wheat 24 bushels, in rye 12 bushels, in oats 12 bushels, in flax 8 pounds, in tow 8 pounds, a fat hog of 100 weight, in beef 100 weight, in tallow 5 pounds, and must keep a mare and colt for his father, he must also keep 2 cows which must stand in the fore part of the stable, he must also keep 2 calves reserved unto themselves (the old people), the privilege of some grass in the fields, also their cattle to share of the pasture in the fields with Frederick's cattle, and to be kept in fodder the same as his, agreeable to the article here made between them. Further he must keep two sheep for him summer and winter, but the lambs only during the summer season-- further he must give him one third out of the orchard and half of the garden to be plowed and Bunged, also half of the spring house, and to sow a quarter of flax for Elizabeth (the unmarried daughter) so long as she is single and stays at home. And to haul the firewood to the door and if the Mother lives longer than the Father, then she must have half of all these mentioned articles, and must cut the wood for the Mother, and carry it into the house, and must attend and nurse his mother when she stands in need, he must also give them half of the hens and eggs, agreeable to this written article, and agreeable to the said article here written, if it should not be a sufficient supply an additional supply shall be made by the said Frederick Pontius or his successors without further delay, on the above mentioned date, at the expiration of the year as above mentioned to be delivered-- when the mother or father dies the moveable estate shall be divided equally among all the children. The pipe stove and the clock shall belong to the moveable estate.


Frederick shall have the wagon, tongue and breast chain to the place and 1 Frederick can pay more in a Gale than what is mentioned above, when eight years are expired, and he shall pay so much more in a gale as he can.

====John Pontius ====Frederick Pontius Then as added insurance, Johannes made almost the same agreement with Nicholas, except in addition Nicholas came across with 3 bushels of turnips and 3 bushels of potatoes. It was in 1788 that Johannes Pontius set aside a plot of land for a burial ground and church. This plot of 1.7 miles is east of the present Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania. Johannes Pontius died June 16, 1792, and was buried on the old place on Cedar Run. His wife Anna died in 1794. Of the children, Andrew moved to Ross Co., Ohio in 1805; Peter stayed back in Berks County; John Jr. went to Armstrong County, Pennsylvania; George went to Pickaway County, Ohio; Frederick to Ross County, Ohio; the others lived out their lives near the old place, Henry and Nicholas are buried beside their parents at the Pontius farm on Cedar Run. At Swatara, in Berks County, Pennsylvania, on January 14, 1743, at the age of 25, Johannes Pontius married Anna Catherine Zeller. The marriage was performed by Lutheran Rev. John Casper Stover. Anna was the daughter of Johann Heinrech Zeller and Anna Maria Zeller of Tulpehocken. They came to America with "Queen Ann's Colony" in 1709 and settled in upper New York State at the place called New Annesburg in the Schoharie region. In the 1720's they Moved to PenSylVania and settled on a tract along the Little Swatara. This beautiful little valley, watered by the Swatara and Tulpehocken Creeks is in Tulpehocken township, Berks County, about ten miles north of Reading. This community was mostly settled by refugees from the same area along the Rhine River from where Johannes Pontius came. Johannes and Anna had seven sons and three daughters, all born in Berks County. The sons were Henry, Andrew, Peter, Nicholas, John Jr., George and Fredrick. Their names were all preceded by "John", as was the custom, and the girls were Anna Maria, Anna Catherine, and Elizabeth. Shortly after the end of the French and Indian War in 1770, Johannes Pontius moved to Buffalo Valley, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. His eldest son, John Henry, preceded him. Five of his sons went with him, but Peter stayed in Berks County. The land which they acquired was part of the William Penn Grant. It was a 619.7 acre tract along what was called Cedar Run. It had been part of a military bounty tract granted to soldiers. It was usually the case that bounty land didn't stay with the soldier who had won the grant, but quickly sold for ready cash. This tract had belonged to a Captain Bucher since 1768. Johannes Pontius purchased the land for 900 Pounds on March 15, 1774. The 1775 tax list shows John Pontius Sr. to have 20 acres, Henry and Andrew each with 15 acres. It is interesting to note how the land changed hands in succeeding tax lists. 1775 1781 1782 1783-4 1785 1786 1787 John (Johannes) 20 410 410 0 Henry 15 205 205 200 200 200 Andrew 15 150 150 Nicholas 180 150 .-.......--N-7-- 200 200 200 Frederick Peter (stayed in Berks CO. George (not shown on lists). In 1776, Johannes Pontius was a Civil Officer in Buffaloes Township, an Overseer with John Clarke; with Christian Storms as Constable. Johannes was a Supervisor in 1788. All the boys went off to war in the Revolution. Henry was a lieutenant and his brothers were privates under him. Peter was in an outfit from Berks County.

Source: internet&Caroline W. Irwin research