Five More Revolutionary War Patriots Honored

SAR member pays homage to Patriot Michael Boger (Photo: Chip Daniel)

Five more Revolutionary War Patriots were honored in an April 10 ceremony at the New Jerusalem Lutheran Church Cemetery in Lovettsville. The grave-marking event was sponsored by three local chapters of the Sons of the American Revolution: the Sgt. Lawrence Everhart (SLE) Chapter of Frederick, MD, along with the Fairfax Resolves Chapter (FXR) and the Sgt. Major John Champe Chapter of the Virginia Society of SAR (VASSAR).

Over 100 people attended the event. This included at least 69 lineage society members representing 28 chapters of the Sons, Daughters, and Children of the American Revolution. Other participants included Christopher Hornbaker, Vice Mayor of the Town of Lovettsville, who presented a Proclamation issued by the Town; plus direct descendants of the Patriots, representatives of American Legion and other veteran organizations, church members, and citizens of the Lovettsville area.

Vice-Mayor Chris Hornbaker addresses audience (Photo: Town of Lovettsville)

The five Patriots being honored were members of the New Jerusalem Lutheran Church, which was organized in 1765 as part of Evangelical Lutheran Church in Frederick. What is now called Lovettsville was then known as the “German Settlement.” Histories of Loudoun County describe the residents of the German Settlement as “intensely loyal” to the cause of freedom and to the cause of the American Revolution. All the Patriots were farmers who owned or leased their land, and who paid the military supply tax for 1782, 1783 or both.

The main portion of the program began with Vice Mayor Hornbaker presenting greetings and reading the Town’s Proclamation declaring 10 April 2022 as Revolutionary War Patriots Day. Michael P. Zapf, New Jerusalem’s historian, summarized the history of the church from its beginnings in a log cabin located in a corner of the old church graveyard. The German-speaking members of the church came from Switzerland, Alsace and Lorraine (now part of France), the upper Rhine territories of Wurttemberg, Baden, and the Palatinate. Michael described how the colonies offered them an opportunity for asylum from the disasters of war and economic hardship. They came to see this new land as “das gelobte land”– the promised land.

The reading of short biographies of the five Patriots followed starting with Dr. Don Cooper, (FXR) who spoke about his Patriot ancestors Michael Cooper, Sr. (1742-1815) and John Fawley (1719-1803). Dave Cook (FXR) spoke about Frederic Belse (1741-1831); and Ed Spannaus (SLE Chapter) talked about Patriots Michael Bogar (1762-1822), and John Compher (1740-1814).

Joint MD-VA SAR Color Guard (Photo: Chip Daniel)
Wreaths in front of old cemetery (Photo: Karl Woodcock)

The program featured a joint Maryland-Virginia Color Guard, which was organized into three elements: the seven-member Color Guard which carried the U.S. colors and the Maryland and Virginia State colors, a 13-member Honor Guard which carried chapter and other flags, and a 12-member firing detail, which fired a three-volley salute toward the end of the program. Wreaths were presented by five State Societies, 11 SAR Chapters, 10 DAR Chapters, two CAR Chapters, and the Virginia Order of Founders and Patriots of America.

Ed Spannaus receives Virginia SAR patriot grave preservation medal. (Photo: Karl Woodcock)

A number of Lovettsville citizens were recognized during the awards portion of the event:

  • Vice-Mayor Christopher Hornbaker — Certificate of Appreciation
  • Rev. Krista Vingelis, New Jerusalem – Certificate of Appreciation
  • Dr. Donald Cooper, SAR — Certificate of Appreciation
  • Michael Zapf, New Jerusalem – Certificate of Distinguished Service
  • Edward Spannaus, Sgt. Lawrence Everhart Chapter SAR — Certificate of Distinguished Service, and Virginia SAR Patriot Graves Preservation Medal.

The Virginia Graves Preservation Medal for Spannaus was in recognition of his work in identifying 16 Patriots who are buried in the New Jerusalem Cemetery, and his efforts to have the cemetery and its Patriots recognized by the Virginia State Patriot Graves Preservation Program.


HISTORY OF NEW JERUSALEM LUTHERAN CHURCH

(OUTLINE OF REMARKS DELIVERED BY CHURCH HISTORIAN MICHAEL ZAPF, TO APRIL 10, 2022 GRAVE-MARKING CEREMONY)

  • GOOD AFTERNOON, I AM MICHAEL ZAPF. WELCOME BACK TO NEW JERUSALEM LUTHERAN CHURCH.
  • NEW JERUSALEM WAS ORGANIZED IN 1765 AS PART OF FREDERICK, MARYLAND’S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH’S CHARGE.
  • AT THE TIME IT WAS KNOWN AS “THE GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH AT THE SHORT HILL”.
  • THIS NORTHERNMOST POINT OF VIRGINIA HAS BEEN KNOWN AS “THE GERMAN SETTLEMENT” SINCE PROBABLY THE 1730S.
  • OUR SISTER CONGREGATION, ST. JAMES UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, THEN KNOWN AS “THE GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH,” WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1733.
  • NEW JERUSALEM’S FIRST STRUCTURE STOOD IN THE CORNER OF THE CEMETERY TO YOUR LEFT; A LOG STRUCTURE OF POSSIBLY TWO STORIES. THE ORIGINAL PARSONAGE WITH SCHOOL BUILT IN THE 1830S IS THE BUILDING ON THE OTHERSIDE THE FENCE TO YOUR LEFT. THE LAND, SOME 20 ACRES WAS GRANTED BY THOMAS LORD FAIRFAX. THE DEED THAT FIRST DOCUMENTS THE “NEW JERUSALEM” IS DATED OCTOBER 1797.
  • THE PRESENT CHURCH IS THE 4TH CHURCH AND WAS BUILT ON THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE CHURCH THAT BURNED IN 1868.
  • THE GERMAN-SPEAKING MEMBERS CAME FROM SWITZERLAND, ALSACE AND LORRAINE (NOW PART OF FRANCE) THE UPPER RHINE TERRITORIES OF WUERTEMBERG, BADEN, AND WEST OF THE RHINE, THE PALATINATE.
  • AT THAT TIME IN THE EARLY AND MID 18TH CENTURY OVER 365 STATES (PRINCIPALITIES, DUKEDOMS, COUNTIES, AND FREE IMPERIAL CITIES) WERE SPREAD OUT IN THE TERRITORY THAT WE TODAY CALL GERMANY, KNOWN THEN AS THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE OR SIMPLY “THE EMPIRE”.
  • GERMANY DID NOT EXIST AS A NATIONSTATE.
  • THERE WAS ONLY A SENSE OF COMMON IDENTITY BASED ON A COMMON LANGUAGE AND RELGION.
  • GERMANS HAVE ALWAYS TURNED TO LANGUAGE AS THE DEFINING ELEMENT OF THE HEIMAT, THEIR HOMELAND.
  • IMMIGRATION TO THE ENGLISH COLONIES IN AMERICA AT THE INVITATION OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND ENTICING RECRUITMENT BY THE PENN FAMILY WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ASYLUM FROM THE DISASTERS OF WAR AND ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENT. ABOVE ALL PENNSYLVANIA WITH ITS PROMISE OF RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE AND RICH, ABUNDANT LAND CAME CLOSEST TO ESTABLISHING A SENSE OF HOMELAND, ALBEIT IN A RELIGIOUS, MESSIANIC SENSE. PENNSYLVANIA BECAME “DAS GELOBTE LAND”, THE PROMISED LAND.
  • THAT BIBLICAL SENSE OF THE PROMISED LAND IS REFLECTED IN THE OLD HYMN WHICH WAS WRITTEN AT THE TIME, “JESUS, STILL LEAD ON” WHICH IS STILL SUNG IN THIS CONGREGATION:
    • “JESUS STILL LEAD ON, TILL OUR REST BE WON,
    • HEAVENLY LEADER STILL DIRECT US,
    • STILL SUPPORT, CONSOLE PROTECT US,
    • TILL WE SAFELY STAND IN OUR FATHER LAND”
  • BY EXTENSION, WHEREVER GERMAN-SPEAKING PEOPLE SETTLED, ESTABLISHING CHURCHES, FARMS AND VILLAGES, EVEN IN MARYLAND, EVEN IN VIRGINIA AS FAR SOUTH AND WEST INTO THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY, HERE IN THE LOUDOUN VALLEY WAS “GROSS PENNSYLVANIEN”, GREATER PENNSYLVANIA, HEIMAT.
  • IN THE “OLD COUNTRY” THE CONCEPT OF NATIONHOOD WAS A CONCEPT OF SOCIETY’S ELITES, PRIMARILY THE NOBILITY AND THE SOCIALLY PRIVELEGED. FRENCH WAS THE LANGUAGE OF THE ELITE. “DAS VOLK,” THE PEOPLE, ENCOMPASSED A VARIETY OF ETHNIC GROUPS, GERMANS, CZECHS, ITALIANS, FRENCHMEN.
  • THE REVOLUTION THAT ERUPTED IN THE BRITISH COLONIES OF AMERICA ADDED A NEW, POWERFUL DIMENSION; THE NOTION THAT THE PEOPLE WERE SOVEREIGN AND THAT THE PEOPLE IDENTIFIED THEMSELVES AS THE NATION.
  • IT WAS AN IDEA THAT GRABBED THE IMAGINATION AND ASPIRATIONS OF MANY IN OUR CONGREGATION AND LED THEM TO FIGHT FOR THIS NEW IDEA.
  • OUR OLD CEMETERY IS THE FINAL RESTING PLACE OF AT LEAST 18 PATRIOTS OF THE REVOLUTION AND THE WAR OF 1812, AND THEIR KIN.
  • WE REMEMBER AND HONOR THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE TO THEIR COUNTRY, THE RISKS THEY TOOK AND DANGERS ENDURED TO ESTABLISH A REPUBLIC OF CITIZENS NOT SUBJECTS, A NEW NATION TO RAISE THEIR FAMILIES, TO TILL THE SOIL, TO BUILD HOMES AND BUSINESSES, TO PRAY AND SING GOD’S PRAISES AND FINALLY TO CLOSE THEIR EYES AND REST HERE IN SURE AND CERTAIN HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION—IN OUR FATHERLAND.


The Five Patriots Honored on April 10, 2022

The five Revolutionary War Patriots honored on April 10 have all been recognized for Patriotic Service, which including material support for the war, and specifically payment of the supply tax in 1782 and/or 1783. Remember, the Continental Congress had no taxing power, so the Continental Army was dependent upon the states for support. Only six states passed tax laws specifically for support of the war; among these were Virginia and Maryland. If a person failed to pay the supply tax, or paid late, this disqualifies that person from recognition for Patriotic Service by the SAR and DAR.

Frederic Belse/Belts/Beltz

Frederic Belse

Not much is known about Frederic Belts aside from what can be gleaned from church, land, tax and census records. His tombstone indicates he died 19 Jan 1831 at the age of 88 which would make his birth year about 1745. Unverified information found on Ancestry.com suggests he was born in Germany to Johannes Peter Beltz and Anna Maria Ziglers and that Frederick lived in Bedford County Pennsylvania before moving to Virginia.

The earliest record of Frederick Beltz residing in Loudoun County, Virginia is also proof of his patriotic service. He is listed on the rolls of the First Battalion as having paid taxes on 1 Jun 1782. He paid tax on himself a horse and one head of cattle. Andrew Beltz is listed with him on the same roll as paying for himself, seven horses and 27 cattle.i The two are once again listed on First Battalion rolls as having paid taxes on 20 Apr 1783. Now Frederick pays taxes on himself, two horses and seven cattle. Andrew pays taxes on himself seven horses and 26 cattle. The tax roll also lists a William Smith Beltz as paying taxes on himself, a slave, one horse and one cattle.ii The relationship between the three is yet to be determined.

Frederick and William Smith appear on the 1784 Tax Roll.iii Frederick appears again on the 1787 Tax Roll,iv the 1788 Tax Roll (with Andrew and William),v and the 1789 Tax Roll (with Andrew). Andrew now pays taxes on himself, Andrew, and four other males.vi Andrew, William and Frederick appear on the 1790 Tax Roll, now along with a Peter Beltz.vii The 1791 Tax List includes Frederick, William and Peter.viii In 1793, Frederick pays taxes on himself and a John Harringer (presumably a farm laborer). Andrew, Peter, William S and another William (presumably son of William Smith) appear on the same roll.ix

Frederick Beltz appears in most every tax roll through 1811. Throughout that time his income does not appear to change much. In 1811, he paid taxes on himself and one horse.x The fact that he was paying taxes in Loudoun County suggests the Frederick Belse listed in the 1810 census for Bedford County, Pennsylvania is a different person.xi

Frederick is first identified as a farmer when on 1 Apr 1785 he leases for three life terms 125 acres from George William Fairfax. The property located in Shelburne Parish on Dutchman Run. Part of the property adjoins that of the Earl of Tankerville. Frederick is charged rent of two Pounds 13 Shillings and half Pence per year. The lease names Frederick’s wife, Catherine and daughter Susan.xii

On 10 May 1785, Frederick leases from Henry Counce for 142 Pounds part of the property leased by Counce from the Earl of Tankerville in 4 Jun 1762. The size of the property is not mentioned.xiii

On 9 Aug 1792, Frederick sells the 1 Apr 1785 lease to one Adam Woolf, Jr. for 125 Pounds.xiv On 1 Apr 1796, he acquires from John Potterfield for 260 Pounds 135 acres initially leased by Lord Fairfax to one John Hackle and then transferred to John Potterfield.xv

The last indenture is dated 6 Apr 1803 and is between Frederick and Jacob Axline. The indenture indicates Frederick Beltz transferred a lease dated 18 March 1786 initially let by George William Fairfax to a John Hackelroad. Hackelroad transferred the lease to John Potterfield. Frederick received 520 Pounds from Jacob Axline.xvi

The 1830 census indicates Frederick Beltz resided in Waterford, Loudoun County. He is in his 80s and his spouse is in her sixties.xvii

Frederick Beltz wrote his will on 25 July 1830. In it he leaves to his wife, Marian, the farm on which they currently reside, all his money and his property. In it he directs that his three slaves Marian, Lucy and John are to be freed on the death of his wife. All his remaining property is to be divided between his daughters Susan Ruse, Catharine Naulton, Mary Weiser and Elizabeth Arline.xviii No mention is made of his sons.

Based on the above and available church records we can assess that Frederick married first Catharina. They had a daughter, Susan (born before 01 Apr 1785), Anna Maria (born on 8 Jan 1787,) a daughter, Elizabeth (born 26 Jan 1789, died about 13 Oct 1784) and a son, Johannes (born about 17 Jan 1791, died 23 Nov 1791).xix His first wife Catharina dies sometime after 17 Jan 1791, and he marries Marian sometime before 25 July 1830.

There is no further confirmed information concerning his sons. However, it is possible that Peter and William Smith mention above are Frederick’s sons but that is beyond the scope of this effort.

References

i binnsgenealogy.com, Loudoun County Personal Property Tax Lists, 1782-1790, 1782, B, p.4.
ii Binnsgenealogy.com, Loudoun County Personal Property Tax Lists, 1782-1790, 1783, A, p. 4
iii Binnsgenealogy.com, Loudoun County Personal Property Tax Lists, 1782-1790, 1784, p.4.
iv Binnsgenealogy.com, Loudoun County Personal Property Tax Lists, 1782-1790, 1787, B, p.4.
v Binnsgenealogy.com, Loudoun County personal Property Tax Lists, 1782-1790, 1788, B, p.3.
vi Binnsgenealogy.com, Loudoun County personal Property Tax Lists, 1782-1790, 1789, B, p.3.
vii Binnsgenealogy.com, Loudoun County personal Property Tax Lists, 1782-1790, 1790, B, p.3.
viii Binnsgenealogy.com, Loudoun County personal Property Tax Lists, 1782-1790, 1791, B, p.3.
ix Binnsgenealogy.com, Loudoun County personal Property Tax Lists, 1782-1790, 1793, C, p.3.
x Binnsgenealogy.com, Loudoun County personal Property Tax Lists, 1782-1790, 1811, A, p.4.
xi 1810 US federal Census, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, 542.
xii Loudoun County Deed Book, Vol.. P, 1785-1787, pp. 268-272.
xiii Loudoun County Deed Book, Vol., O, 1784-1785, pp. 369- 371.
xiv Loudoun County Deed Book , Vol, U, 1791-1792, pp 59-61.
xv Loudoun County Deed Book, Vol., X, 1796-1797, pp. 22-24.
xvi Loudoun County Deed Book, Vol., 2C, 1802-1803, pp. 286-288.
xvii 1830 U.S. Cen. Loudoun County, VA, p. 63, Frederick Belt, 01 Jun 1830.
xviii Loudoun Co., VA, Will Books, Vol S-U, 1829-1833, pp. 113-115.
xix Weiser, Frederick S; Swisher, David, Mrs.; Hutchison, W.E., Mrs.; “New Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church Lovettsville, Loudoun County, Virginia, Parish registers, 1784-1836” 1770 as appears on familysearch.org, p. 12, 18, 228.

(Submitted by David Cook)


Michael Boger

Michael Boger

Johann Michael Boger (“Michael”) was born 1 April 1762 in Lancaster County Pennsylvania and was baptized on 23 May 1762 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lancaster Pennsylvania. (sources: Ancestry.com; FamilySearch.org; Pennsylvania Births and Baptisms 1747-1799, Historical Society of Pennsylvania).

Michael Boger supported the Revolutionary War effort by paying the supply tax included in his personal property tax in 1782 and 1783. [source: Loudoun County Personal Property Tax 1782 B image 3, 4 http://www.binnsgenealogy.com/MembersOnlyArea/pdfs/Loudoun/1782PersonalB/04.pdf and Loudoun County Personal Property Tax 1783 A image 3, 4 http://www.binnsgenealogy.com/MembersOnlyArea/pdfs/Loudoun/1783PersonalA/04.pdf]

The Boger family came from the south-central area of modern-day Germany, from the village of Schwaigern, near Heilbronn in Wuerttemberg, near the Alscace-Lorraine region of modern-day France.

Johann Michael’s grandfather Hans Paulus Boger (1684-1765), along with his wife Anna Eva Fuchs and their children, emigrated to America, arriving in Philadelphia on the ship Samuel on August 11, 1732. Johann Michael’s father, Michael Joseph Fuchs Boger (“Joseph”) (1719?-1784), was listed as 12 years old when the family arrived.

Joseph married Anna Magdalena Wampfler on 7 January 1746, in Hill Church Number 2, Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Joseph died on 27 March 1784, in Annville, Lebanon, Pennsylvania, at the age of 60, and was buried in Locust Grove, Conoy Township, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. [source: familysearch.org]

Joesph’s son Michael Boger (1762-1822) married Maria Elisabeth Brenner, daughter of Philip Brenner, on 13 April 1785, at New Jerusalem Lutheran Church, Lovettsville Virginia. (source: New Jerusalem Parish Register, 1784-1836).

Michael and Elisabeth had seven children: Philip (1786-1805); Maria Magdalena (1788-1827); Catharina (1789-17820); Ana Maria (1794- ); Jacob (1799- ); John (1801-1862); Samuel (1806-1867). (sources: birth dates for all but Catharine in New Jerusalem Parish Register; other information from Family Search)

Michael Boger and the Boger family owned a number of land tracts southeast of the Town of Lovettsville. The area between the old German Reformed Church (now just a cemetery) and the New Jerusalem Lutheran Church and Cemetery was known as “Boger Woods.” During the winter 1864-65 Union Cavalry encampment around the town of Lovettsville, the 1st New York Dragoons were camped in “Jacob Boger’s Woods.” [source: Taylor M. Chamberlin and John M. Souders, Between Reb and Yank: A Civil War History of Northern Loudoun County, Virginia. (Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co. 2011), p. 310]

The 1810 U.S. Federal Census lists Michael Boger living in Loudoun County, Virginia. His name is listed immediately above Christian Ruse, who was a neighbor just east of the town of Lovettsville; Ruse’s property is now the site of the Lovettsville Community Park.

Michael Boger died on 26 March 1833, and is buried at New Jerusalem Cemetery, Site CC3. The entry in the burial register at New Jerusalem Lutheran Church is in German; translated, in translation it reads: “Old Michael Boger, March 28, 1822, 60 years [illegible].

The inscription on his gravestone reads:

Memory of
MICHAEL BOGER,
who was born 1st April
A.D. 1762, and departed
this life 26th March
A.D. 1822, Aged 59 Years,
11 months, and 25 days.


(Submitted by Edward Spannaus)


Michael Cooper, Sr.

Michael Cooper

Michael Cooper was born 20 June 1742 and died 19 February 1815, according to the inscription on his tombstone.

He supported the American cause by paying the supply tax included in his 1782 personal property tax in Loudoun County.[1]

Michael’s will was written in December 1813. In his will, he states he is of Loudoun County in the state of Virginia and identifies his wife as Catharine. Also named in his will are their nine children, sons Frederick, George, Jacob, Michael, Peter, John and Daniel and daughter Charlotte Shoemaker.[2] His will was probated on 8 May 1815.

Michael Cooper Sr was buried in New Jerusalem Lutheran Cemetery, Lovettsville, Loudoun County Virginia. His wife, Ann Catharine was buried beside him. She died in June 1834 after living 91 years, 2 months and 5 days. Also buried in the same cemetery are Michael’s sons Frederick, George, Philip and John.

References

[1] Binns Genealogy, 1782 and 1783 Personal Property and land Tax Lists for Virginia cities and counties., These taxes were used to support cost of Rev War expenses proving patriotic service, 1782B image 05.pdf, Loudoun County Virginia, 1782B image 05.pdf.
[2] Loudoun County Virginia Will Books, Volume L-N, 1814-1821, pp 169-171. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/920401:62347?tid=&pid=&queryId=dd72caff0a7b3363c32a2185350398e6&_phsrc=XLc200&_phstart=successSource

(Submitted by COL William Forrest Crain Ph.D.)

Donald Cooper’s line from Michael Cooper, Sr.:

  • Michael Cooper, Sr.
  • Daniel Cooper, son
  • Noah Cooper, grandson and Eliza Cooper, great granddaughter of Michael
  • Joshua Franklin Cooper, great grandson and Sallie E. Mason
  • Keeler Cooper, 2nd great grandson and Mary Lynn, 2nd great granddaughter of Michael
  • Charles Cooper and Catherine Coffman (my parents)

John Compher, Sr.

John Compher

John Compher was born 16 October 1740 and died 26 March 1815. He is buried in New Jerusalem Lutheran Cemetery, Row HH, Lot 4. His inscription reads:

IN MEORY OF JOHN COMPHER SENR WHO WAS BORN OCTOBER THE 16TH 1740 AND DEPARTED THIS LIFE MARCH THE 26TH 1815 AGED 75 YEARS 5 MONTHS AND 10 DAYS.1

John was born in Pennsylvania, according to FamilySearch.org. His wife Maria Catarina (Cathren) Wielandt was born in Atolhoe, in the Tulpehocken Valley, Berks County, Pennsylvania on 4 February 1755, and was baptized on 9 March 1755.2
John provided patriotic service by paying supply taxes in Loudoun County, Virginia in 1783.3
John is buried right next to his wife, Maria Cathren, who died 12 days before him. She is buried in Row HH, Site 5. The inscription on her headstone states that she is the “wife of John Compher Sr.”, and that she was born on February 4, 1755, and died 14 March 1815.4

They had at least three children:

  • John (1773-1846, also known as John Compher Sr);
  • Anna Maria Magdalena (1775-1859, married to John C. Mann); and
  • Peter (1776-1858).

All three are buried at New Jerusalem.

His son Peter Compher was born 24 August 1776 in Loudoun County and died 5 November 1858 at age 82. His parents are listed as John and Maria C. Compher.5 Peter is buried right next to his parents, in Row HH, Lot 6. Peter’s wife Susanna Stoneburner Compher is buried in Lot 7.

References

  1. Note: spelling as in original. The calculated age from the birth and death dates is 74 years, 5 months, and 10 days, although on the headstone it seems clearly to say “79 years.” We have not been able to determine what the “L.C.V.” at the top of the headstone stands for.
  2. Early Lutheran Baptisms and Marriages in Southeastern Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, 1896), as reported on Ancestry.com.
  3. Binns Genealogy, 1783 Personal Property and land Tax Lists for Virginia cities and counties, Loudoun County Personal Property Tax 1783A image 5, p. 4.
  4. The entry in the church’s burial register is dated March 16 – which indicates that she was buried two days after she died.
  5. Library of Virginia, Death Records, Loudoun County, 1854-1896. Accessed through “Virginia, Library of Virginia State Archive, Births, Marriages, and Deaths 1853-1900”, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHN-R3YR-S61D?cc=4231103 : 30 March 2022), > image 1 of 1.

(Submitted by Edward Spannaus)


John Fawley

John Fawley

John Fawley was born about 31 December 1719 and died 11 June 1803. The inscription on his tombstone states he was “83 years, 5 months and 11 days” at the time of his passing.

He supported the American cause by paying the supply tax included in his 1782 and 1783 personal property tax in Loudoun County, Virginia.i

John Fawley was the son of Thomas Fawley (1681-1727) and Mary Fretwell (1689-1736). His parents married in 1707 in Yorkshire, England. John married in 1759 Anna Maria Ault (1737-1803), the daughter of Johann Valentin Ault (1709-1755) and Anna Catharina Schneider (1716-1742). Her parents married in 1733 in Hessen, Germany. John and Anna Maria Fawley had 11 children – John (1760-1850), Jacob (1761-1843), George (1764-1815), Margaret (1768-1807), Adam (1769-1788), Anthony (1770-1814), Anna Maria (1771-1841), Peter (1775-1815), Catherine (1777-1818), Elizabeth (1780-1845), and Henry (1784-1860).

An inventory of John Fawley’s estate was recorded in the Loudoun County will books.ii

John Fawley was buried in New Jerusalem Lutheran Cemetery, Lovettsville, Loudoun County Virginia. His wife, Anna Maria was buried in the same cemetery. She died on 2 October 1803 at the age of 66. Also buried in the same cemetery are sons Jacob, Adam and Henry; and daughters Anna Maria Stoneburner, Catherine Slater and Elizabeth Spring.

References

i Binns Genealogy, 1782 and 1783 Personal Property and land Tax Lists for Virginia cities and counties, Loudoun County Personal Property Tax 1782 B image 3, 4
http://www.binnsgenealogy.com/MembersOnlyArea/pdfs/Loudoun/1782PersonalB/04.pdf
and Loudoun County Personal Property Tax 1783 A image 3, 4
http://www.binnsgenealogy.com/MembersOnlyArea/pdfs/Loudoun/1783PersonalA/04.pdf
ii Loudoun County Virginia Will Books, Volume G-H, 1802-1809, pp 133-135. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/923007:62347?tid=&pid=&queryId=749a94c24efd611c8f0999dfff19f018&_phsrc=XLc219&_phstart=successSource

(Submitted by Dr. Donald Cooper and COL William Forrest Crain Ph.D.)

(Editor’s note: There is a dispute among Fawley family researchers as to whether John Fawley was born in England or Germany. See name variations in http://www.lovettsvillehistoricalsociety.org/index.php/whose-folly-or-whos-fawley/