Johannes Michael Rohrer

M, #10208, b. 1 November 1701, d. 1772
Father*Hans Michael Rohrer b. c 1665
Mother*Katherina Schwagler
ChartsPedigree - Helen Bernice Orendorff
Reference5G Grf, J208
Story* Info copied from old gedcom.
Surname Card File card CCIV - Lancaster Mennoite Historical Society
Lancaster Co Court House Orphan's Court 1772 pg 221 card CCVII
Immigrated from Alsace France to Big Spring Cumberland Co PA 18 Sep 1732 card CCXXV
Jacob Rohrer and Mary his wife of Lampeter Twnshp, Lancaster Co PA; Christian Rohrer of same; Martin Rohrer of Frederick Co MD; Jacob Houser of Lampter and Anna his wife; Francis Smith of same and Elizabeth his wife; John Bachman of Connestoga Twp Lancaster Co PA and Mary his wife: Peter Miller of Martick Twn Lancaster Co PA.. The said Jacob, Christian and Martin Rohrere, and Anna the wife of Jacob Houser, Elizabeth the wife of Francis Smith and Mary the wife of John Backman being six of the children of John Rohrer late of Lampeter deceased and Peter Miller being the husband of a minor daughter Susanna of the deceased.
Whereas: John Rohrer, deceased, possessed of the following land in Lampeter Twp - beginning at a black oak a corner of land formerly of John Rudolph Bundley, thence Northwest by the London Co land 160 perches to a White Oak, thence west by south by land formerly of William Hughes 318 perches to a black Oak, thens southeast 160 perches by land of Martin Millen to a white oak and thence east by north by land late of Isaac LeFevre 318 perches to the beginning - containing 300 acres - and leaving issue to wit: John Rohrer, Jacob Rohrer, Christian Rohrer, Martin Rohrer, Anna wife of Jacob Houser, Elizabeth wife of Francis Smith, Mary wife of John Bachman and Susannah the wife of Peter mMiller; and by his will gave Jacob Rohrer 140 acres; Jacob, Christian and John mills on 15 acres of land; and John Rohrer his son 145 acres. Will dated 1 Dec 1768.
Probate Records Will Book, John Rohrer C-1-246 written 1 Dec 1768 probated 7 Dec 1771 Lancaster Co PA
Bibliography: St Marie-aMines, Haut-Rhin, France: At the time this family lived in the area, the city was named Markirch, Elsass, Germany. It is now named St Marie-aux-; Mines, Haut-Rhin, France.
1) John Rohrer of Lancaster co PA by Albert Lawrence Rohrer 1856
2) Compiled Genealogy: Biographical History of Lancaster Co PA by Alex Harris, Lancaster 1872 pg 501 Rohrer, 1939 LofC CS71 .R74 1941
3) ?
4) Printed Genealogy The Saga of a People
5) ?
6) Probate Records
Johanne Rohrer by Lister O Weiss CS71.R74 1939 Suppl A Story of Two Johns compiled by Donald L. Spidell
I. Migrations of John Rohrer: the numbers refer to the Bibliography above
1) Johannes Michael Rohrer was born 1 Nov 1701 in Markirch, Elsass, Germany, which is now Ste. Marie-aux-Mines, Haut-Rhin, France. His parents were Hans Michael and Katherina (Schwager-in) Rohrer. It was customary in that area and at that time to give children middle names, and many germanic families had patron saints, after which they named their children. Two sons of Hans Michale were named Hans Jakob and Hans Michael. Hans is Swiss for John, so these two were probably named with their family was still in switzerland. The next two sons were given the name of Johannes, which is German for John. I found from my research that the middle name of Johannes, born 13 May 1696, was Jacob, so I feel it is safe to assume that the middle name of the second Johannes, born 1 Nov 1701, was Michael. Actually we now have five Johns, but I am going to focus on the two named Johannes.
2) The family of Hans Michael Rohrer, Sr was forced to move from Markirch to escape relitious persecution about the year 1711. Johannes Jacob was captured by the French. He somehow excaped from prison, and if he followed the usual route of the Palatine emmigrants, he escaped into Southern Germany. In Southern Germany, with the aid of German Protestants in a sor of underground railroad, most Palatines made their way North down the Rhine River. At the mouth of the Rhine River was Holland and the dutch followers of Menno Simmons, the Mennonites. The Mennonites helped the Palatinates to emmigrat to the American Colonies, usually via London. Actually the ship owners usually sol the emmigrants to England for their passage fees. Most of the Palatines were then put in one of two concetration camps: there was one outside of London, and when that got too full, one was set up in Ireland. There is still a colony of germanic people in Ireland to this day. From theconcetration camps, the English would ship people to oany one of a number of it's colonies throughout the world. Family tradition states that Johannes Jacob studied veterinary surgery in London, and then migrated to the colonies and settled in Lancaster County PA. Another story states that he was sold into bond slavery, he ran off and then married the daughter of a rich land owner, Maria Souder. A family Bible states that John Jacob married Maria Souder in Mannheim in 1732 which is the same year that he arrived in Lancaster PA with his bride and her father.
4) Johannes Michael Rohrer went with his family and they settled in Strasburg. About the year 1725, religious persecution again forced the family of Hans Michael Sr to flee its home. As they left Strassburg, Johnnes Michael was seperated from his family and was captured by the French. He later escaped or was forced to emmigrate. At this time he was about 24 years old.
3) he probably followed the route of the Palatine Migration, and he was most likely the Johanne Roer who landed at Philadelphia in the ship "The Mortonhouse" on 24 Aug 1728. He most likely worked for four years on an English plantation near Philadelphia to pay off his passage fee. About the year 1732, Johannes Michael went to Lancaster co PA and found his brother Johannes Jacob Rohrer. Johannes Michael married Elizabeth Snavely about 1735 and settled near his brother in Lampeter Twp.
5) He bought a farm on the Conestoga Creek 8 Oct 1763.
6) & 7) On the conestoga Creek farm, John Micael raised his family and died in the year 1772. In his will he left his land to the sons who had settled in PA with provisions that his wife be well taken care of until her death or remarriage. His other children apparently had already ceveived their inheritances and moved away from the family "homestead".
II Chronology of the Two Johns:
1696 John Jacob Rohrer born in Markirich
1701 John Micael Rohrer born in Markirch
1710 Family of Hans Michael Rohrer leaves Markirch, John Jacob seperated
1715 Family of Hans Michael Rohrer leaves Markirch
1728 John Michael arrives in Philadelpia on the ship "Mortonhouse"
1728-1732 John Micael most likely an indentured servant
1732 John Michael settles in Lancater Co
1732 John Jacob married Maria souder in Mannheim Germany
1732 John Jacob arrives on the ship "Johnson"
1733 John Macob mentied in the will of Jacob Souder
1734 Jacob Rohrer born to John Jacob
1737 John Rohrer born to John Michael
1738 Ann Rohrer born to John Jacob
1740 Christian Rohrer born to John Michael
1741 Christian Rohrer born to john Jacob
1742 Jacob Rohrer born to John Michael
1743 Isaac Rohrer born to John Michael
744 Elizabeth Rohrer born to John Jacob
1746 Henry Rohrer born to John Michael
1746 John Rohrer born to John Jacob
1749 Maria Rohrer born to John Jacob
1750 Abraham Rohrer born to John Michael
1751 Martin Rohrer born to John Jacob
1753 Magdalena Rohrer born to John Michael
1756 Susanna Rohrer born to John Jacob
1767 david Rohrer born to John Michael
1771 John Jacob Rohrer died
1772 John Michael Rohrer died
Rohrer Family Bible Records Lancaster co Hist Soc Vol.XLI 1937
Compiled Genealogy: Genealogical Data Relating to the Rohrer Family by George Castor Martin LofC CS-71-R74
The PA Magazine v.34 pg.484 From a "scrap book commenced about the year 1832" by Mrs Susan Henning; Suspension Brige
Lancaster Deeds bk NN-573 1 Feb 1775 and NN-576 1 Feb 1775. 
Birth*1 November 1701 Johannes Michael Rohrer was born on 1 November 1701 at St Marie-a-Mines, Haut-Rhin, France. 
Immigration*24 August 1728 He immigrated on 24 August 1728. Listed in Strassburger, ship Mortonhouse. 
Marriage*1735 He married Elizabeth Snavely in 1735. 
Deed*8 October 1763 Johannes Michael Rohrer was deed Bought 570 acres on 8 October 1763 at Connestogoe Creek, Lampeter Twnshp, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania. 
Death*1772 He died in 1772 at Lampeter Twnshp, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania. 
Probate*17 June 1772 His estate was probated on 17 June 1772; Will written in "high Dutch", presented to court 17 Jun 1772, and some time later translated but not recorded. Inventory dated 3 July 1772. 
Deed6 March 1773 He was deed Deed to heirs indicates that he was a "kinsman" of Charles Christophel. After copying this deed, figure out who Charles is. on 6 March 1773 at Lampeter Twnshp, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania. 
(Witness) DAR Candidatebetween 19 April 1775 and 26 November 1783 Did Johannes Michael Rohrer serve in the Revolutionary War? DAR accepts service for the period of 19 Apr 1775-26 Nov 1783; DAR accepts service for this period. 

Family

Elizabeth Snavely b. c 1701, d. a 1788
Marriage*1735 He married Elizabeth Snavely in 1735. 
Children
Last Edited18 Sep 2012