Who Was Peter Paris of Philadelphia?

WHO WAS PETER PARIS OF PHILADELPHIA? by Patricia Law Hatcher, FASG. M ichael Heninger of "Maxawtawney" Township [Berks County], "taylor," is distinguished by having three wills in his probate file: a signed will from 1763, an unsigned will from August 177 4, and a nuncupative will from September 177 4. 1 Between the first and second will, his wife Anna Maria, who was executrix, and his son Michael had died. The wording and provisions of the unsigned will and the nuncupative [oral] will are essentially the same. The portions of interest for this article are: 5 August 1774. "equally to be divided among my three children as namely Conrad Heninger and Rosina now Martin Gingingers wife and the shildern [sic] of my son Michael Heninger's late deceased ... my son in law the said Martin Ginckinger and my son in law Peter Paris of Philadelphia the executors ... " [the will is not signed, there are no witnesses, and the following is in smaller faint letters at the bottom: "The above was wrote by Nicholas Hermany at the request of Michael Heninger who died before it could be executed."] 15 September 1774. "Memorandum ... Michael Henninger ... did make and declare his Last Will and Testament Nuncupative in these words or words in the German language to the like effect ... I appoint my son in law the said Martin Ginckinger and my son in law Peter Paris of Philadelphia the executors ... " The problem is that research shows Michael Heninger had no daughter to be married to Peter Paris. The possibility that "son in law" referred to a stepson was investigated. Michael married Anna Maria Pary in Hatten, Alsace [now Bas-Rhin, France], on 18 February 1721. 2 No other mention of the Paris family was found in the Hatten church records. A Stammtaf el for the Hennigers of Hatten says Hans Michel was a taylor and that Anna Maria's father Joh. was hen-schaftl. Wachtmeister [territorial patrolman]. 3 " Patricia Law Hatcher is the editor of the Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine, [called Publications of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania before 1948, both hereafter cited as PGM]. 1 Probate File, Michael Henninger, Maxatawny, 1774, Berks County Register of Wills. These documents were provided by Isabel Henninger of Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, who is working on several publications about the Henninger family. 2 Evangelische Kirche Hatten, page lo6, #49; FHL #731,404. 3 Hatten Stammtafeln, FHL #l,070,129. For more information on his family see Annette K. Burgert, Eighteenth-Century Emigrants from the Northern Alsace to America (Camden, Me.: Picton Press, 1992), 243-46 [hereafter cited as Burgert, Northern Alsace]. Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol. 44 (2005) 5 6 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol. 44 The French pronunciation of Paris suggests that Anna Maria shar d a surname with Peter, but the chronology doesn't fit for her to have been his mother by a first marriage because when Michael Heninger arrived in Philadelphia on 11 September 1731, be was 32, accompanied by Anna Maria, 26, and Conrad, 9.4 If the age is correct, Anna Maria had been a young bride at 16. Assigning her an earlier marriage and child is not rea onable. The German word for son-in-law is Schwtegersohn, with schwieger meaning in-law. A similar-sounding, but more general, word is Schwager, which means brother-in-law, father-in-law, relative, or good friend. 5 In any language there are problems of dialect and accent. The will in question was dictated in German by a dying man forty-three years after leaving his homeland of Alsace. Thus, it seems likely that either Michael could not remember the word for the relationship he meant to describe or that Nicholas Hermany, who scribed the will, did not understand that the more generalSchwagerwas used, indicating "relative."6 PURPORTED ORIGINS OF PETER PARIS Adolf Gerber, in his second volume about emigrants to America, says: Grossvillars: Pf. Hahn-Knittlingen 1751: Paris, Isaac & Rachel Cochet, K. Pierre I I. 7.44; Jean Martin I.4.46; Daniel I 0.3.47; Anne M. Rachel 22.1.49. Lbg 12.3.51 Barri Penns. u. seines Sohns Vermogen mitnehman. Danach scheint er sweimal verheiratet gewesen zu sein und swar in 1. Ehe m. Jeanne M. Trenchant. deren Tod jedoch nicht verzeichnet ist. Der Sohn ware dann Isaac Barthelemi n. 24.2.41. R 160.7 Don Yoder translates this in Pennsylvania German Immigrants: Paris, Isaac-Knittlingen (Grossvillars Parish) (I 75 I). Wf (1st): Jeanne Marie (Trenchant), death not recorded. Ch: (I) Isaac Barthelemi, b. 2-24-1741. Wf (2nd): Rachel (Cochet). Ch: (2) Pierre, b. 7-11-1744; (3) Jean Martin 4-11746; (4) Daniel, b. 3-10-1747; (5) Anne Marie Rachel 1-22-1749. From the Waldensian Church Register for Gross- and K.leinvillars, induding Knittlingen and Diefenbach. Ludwigsburg Protocol, 3-12-I 75 I, "Barri," permission to go to "Pennsylvania," and to take his son Isaac's property with him.8 4 Ralph Beaver Strassburger and William John Hinke, Pennsylvania German Pi~ neen; A PubUcation of the Original Lists of Arrivals in the Port of Philadelphia from 1727-1803, 3 vols. (Birdsboro, Pa..: Pennsylvania German Society, 1934; Picton Press, 3 vol. reprint, 1992), 1:49-53; 2:38-43; Lists 16A, B, C [her~ cited as Strassburger and Hinke, Pennsylvania German Pioneers]. 5 Definitions ~cd on Ernest Thode, German-English Genealogt.cal Dictionary (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1992). 6 Appreciation is expressed to Gordon L Remington and Larry 0. Jensen of Salt Lake City, who suggested this solution. 7 Adolf Gerber, Neue Bettrdge zur Auswanderung nach Amerlka im 18. Jahrhunderl ... (Stuttgart:). F. Stcinkopf, 1981), 15. 8 Don Yoder, Pennsylvania German Immigrants, 1709-1786 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1980), 99. 2005 Who Was Peter Paris of Philadelphia? 7 Yoder then adds comments: // Isa Paris, Shirley, September 5, 1751. Hinke, I, 454. ote however, Pierre and Isaac Paris, Brotherhood, November 3, 1750, Hinke, I, 447. Some people have interpreted the "Note, however" as suggesting the 1750 immigrants were from Kneitlingen, Wiirttemberg. There are several things that point against this. • Neither Isaac Bartholomew nor Pierre of Grossvillars would have been old enough to sign the oath in 1750. • Pierre and Isaac Paris both signed the oath in cursive, suggesting they were educated either in France or in a strongly Huguenot settlement. • Peter Paris's relative Anna Maria Pary married in Hatten, Alsace, which is quite some distance from Knittlingen. A careful compilation and examination of Pennsylvania records (see below) added additional and conclusive indications that Peter/Pierre was not the child born in 1744 in Knittlingen: • A 1762 Philadelphia church record explicitly states that the sponsor, Johan Peter Paris, was "of Alsace."9 • Peter Paris, age 56 years, was buried 9 February 1783 at First Reformed, Philadelphia [i.e., born about 1726 or 1727]. 10 PENNSYLVANIA RECORDS FOR PETER PARIS Between 1753 and 1780, Peter Paris is mentioned in many Pennsylvania records, primarily in Philadelphia. From these, we can determine that Peter married three times but had children only by his second wife. His wives are documented not by marriage records but by their sponsorship at baptisms, by the births of his children, and by the wills of his in-laws. • 3 November 1750, Pierre Paris and Isaac Paris arrived in Philadelphia on the Brotherhood. 11 • 1 April 1753, Peter Paris and Anna Maria Siver(in) sponsored a child of Philip Anton and Anna Maria Saureman at St. Michael's and Zion Lutheran. 12 • 6 October 1753, Peter Paris and wife Maria sponsored a child of Michael and Anna Margretha Schwing at St. Michael's and Zion Lutheran. 13 9 Baptisms from the Church Book of the German Reformed Church at Philadelphia, 1762-63," PGM 35: 1O;also F. Edward Wright, Early Records of the First Reformed Church of Philadelphia, Volume I: 1748-1780, 2:1781-1800 (Westminster, Md: family Line., 1994) 1:31 [hereafter cited as Wright, First Reformed, Philadelphia J. lO Wright, First Reformed, Philadelphia, 2:4. 11 Strassburger and Hinke,Pennsylvania German Pioneers, 1:447; 2:521; List 159C. l 2 Robert L Hess, translator, and F. Edward Wright, editor, 18th Century Records of the German Lutheran Church at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (St. Michael's and Zion) Volume I: Baptisms 1745-1769 (Colonial Roots, Lewes, Delaware, 2004), 1:35 (hereafter cited as Hess and Wright. St Mich.tul's and Zion, German Lutheran, Philadelphia]. o indication is given if she was his wife, but if not, they may have married soon uter, as Anna Mada was the name of his wuc a few months later. l3 Hess and Wright, St. Michael's and Zion, German Lutheran, Philadelphia, 1:39. • • • .. r • • • • • • • theran. 18 19 March I 758, Peter Paris and wife sponsored a chiJd of Johan George Fadel (Reformed) and Christina (Lutheran) at St Michael's and Zion Lutheran. 19 3 June 1759. John Peter Paris and wife Magdalene sponsored a child of Christian and Juliana Ritz at Germantown Reformed. 20 9 November 1759, Peter Paris witnessed the will of Isaac Fitzrandolph of Philadclphia. 21 9 November 1759, John Peter Paris, child of John Peter P.iri and Mary Magdalene, baptized at First Reformed, Philadelphia, sponsors Abrah2m Wild and Anna Barbara. 22 10 .April 1760, Peter Paris and Abraham WiJd were naruralized. 23 8 August 1761, Mary Magdalene Paris, child of Peter Paris and Magdalene, baptized at First Reformed, PhH2delphia, sponsors the parents; Mary Magdalene, child of Peter Paris, age 1 year, 4 months, buried 7 December 1762 at First Reformed, Philadclphia.2• 23 October 1761, Sower's Newlft&at,,,,,rr ·Ir his brother Jacob, born at Hoffi • 10 America nine years ago. otify c.e Moravian alley on Second street • l4 Hess and Wright. St. Michael's 15 Hess and Wright, St. Michael's a . 16 "Taxables in the City of Pblladci 17 Hess and Wright, St. Michael's 18 Hess and Wright. SL Michael's The wife's name would seem to be a.n Anna Maria's death and bis marria another marriage. The entry above, 9 1 2005 Who Was Peter Paris of Philadelphia? • l 5 August l 762, Peter Paris and wife Magdalena ponsorcd a child of n, Id and Susanna Claus at St. Michael' and Zion Luthcran. 26 • 5 September 1762, Johan Peter Paris of Alsace and wife Mari.a Madle sponsored a child of Jacob KledVKJedy from Canton Zurich and Moser at First Rcfonned. 2 7 • December 1763 or Janu2I}' 1764, Dominick Abraham Paris born; D<: u Abraham, child of Peter Paris, age 1 year, 5 months, buried 26 May 1765 Reformed, Philadelphia. 28 • 27 May 1765, Peter Pati and Mary Magdalene sponsored a child of P tut Mary Magdalene Strauber at First Reformed.29 • 20 August 1765, Peter Paris became an administrator of the will of Anna Weiss, relict of George Michael Weiss, deceased Calvinist minister of Upper Hanover Township, after the executors renounced30 • 6 December 1766, Peter Paris and Magdalene sponsored a child of Ludwig and Louisa Kuhn at First Reformed.3 1 • 8 March 1767, Peter Paris and wife Magdalena sponsored a child of Conrad and Barbara Baety at St. Michael's and Zion Lutheran.3 2 • 11 May 1767, Margaret Paris, child of Peter Paris and Mary Magdalene, bom, baptized 8 June 1767 at First Reformed, Philadelphia, sponsors the father and the grandmother at First Reformed; Margaret Paris, age 5 years, 7 months, bur• icd 11 December 1772 at First Reformed.33 • 25 December 1767, Peter Paris and Helena sponsored a child of Jost and Catherine Eberth at First Rcformed.34 [Helena is a diminutive of Magdalena.] • 1769, Mulberry Ward, Petet Paris, tobacconist, 1 horse, 1 servant, tax £52.3.4. 35 • 18 May 1769, Maria Magdalena Paris, child of Peter and Maria Magda.leoa, baptized 18 May 1769 at First Reformed, sponsors the parents; Maria Magd. Paris, age 3 years 6 months 20 days, buried there 29 December 1772-36 • 24 January 1772, Abraham Parics, child of Peter and Mary Magdalena, born, baptittd 14 March 1n2 at Germantown Reformed, no sponsors mmed; 37 Abraham Pari , age 11 months, buried December _, 1n2 at First Reformed-3 8 • 15 June 1773, Sower's Newspaper, "Simon Peter Baideman, cooper, with Isaac Paris, Stone Arabia, on the Mohawk River, in the Province of New York, seeks information about his brother, Johan Henrich, a cooper and beer brewer, born in the Rhine Grafschaft Daun, who came to America and was apprenticed with 26 Hess and Wright, St. Michael's and Zion, Gennan Lutheran, Philadelphia, 1:161. 27 MBaptisms from the Church Book of the German Reformed Church at Philadclpnia, 1762-63," PGM35:10; aJso Wright, First Reformed, Philadelphia, 1:31. 28 Wright, First Reformed, Philadelphia, 1:93. 29 Wright, First Reformed, Philadelphia, 1:41. 30 Philadelphia Wills G:448; •Abstracts of Wills of Philadelphia County," PGM5:212. 3 l Wright, First Refonned, Philadelphia, 1:48. 32 Hess and Wright, SL Michael's and Zion, German Lulheran, Philadelphia, l:227. 33 Wr,ght,FirstReformed, Philadelphia, 1:50, 103. 34 Wright, First Reformed, Philadelphia, 1:52. 3S Proprietary and Other Tax Lists of the County of Philadelphia; William H. glc, editor, Pennsylvania Archives, 3rd $C:t'ies, 14(1897): 196 [hcte2ftcr cited as ..Philadelphia County Taxes"]. 36 Wright, First Reformed, Philadelphia, 1:59, 104. 37 Wright, Germantown Reformed, 35. 38 Wright, First Reformed, Philadelphia, 1:104. 10 Pennsylvania Genealogtca/ Magazine Vol. 44 - Frick, brewer, in Lancaster. Address Peter Paris, merchant, Philadelphia, or his brother, I aac Paris, Stone A.rabia."39(Sec comments below.) • 4 October 1773, John Paris, child of Peter and Madelene, baptized at Second Presbyterian, Philadclphia. 40 • 1774, Mulberry Ward, Peter Parris, innkeeper, 1 cattle, taxed £54.13.8.'h • 11 February 1776, Peter Paris and Helena sponsored a child of Frederick and Barbara Schnyder at Pirst Reformed 42 • 25 January 1777, unnamed servant of Peter Paris, age -, who was shot, was buried at First Reformcct:0 • l April 1778, the unnamed wife of Peter Paris was buried at First Reformed, aged 40 years, 6 months:' 4 • 20 December 1778, Peter Paris sponsored a child of Jacob and Esther Zicblc at First Rcformed. 4 5 • 1779, Middle Ward, Peter Paris, double tax, 2 shillings; Mulberry Ward, east part, Peter Pari , 90 shilling (£22.10.0). 46 • 28 June 1780. Peter Paris, innkeeper, of Mulberry bought an esche2ted lot and stable on the north side of Sa safrass. 47 • 23 December 1782, Peter Paris of the City of Philadelphia, innholder, wrote his will, naming wife Sarah, and children Peter and John Executors were to be Sarah Paris, Peter Thomson, brother-in-law Abraham WiltJunr., and Peter Paris. Peter Thomson was named guardian for son John; witnesses were Christian Snyder, Robert Kerr, and Daniel Hapi.48 • 9 February 1783, Peter Paris, age 56 years, buried at First Rcformcd. 49 • 21 April 1787, Abraham Wilt, gentleman, of the City of Philadelphia wrote hi will naming wife Barbara, children Abraham Junr. and Christian (sons named as executors), and grandsons Peter and John Paris. 50 • 6 September 1792, will of Paul Engle of Germantown names nieces Sarah Paris, Esther Woodrow, Mary Rush. and Ann Stoneburner (children of Leonard Stoneburner and his ister Mary). 5 l • 14 June 1797. wiU of widow Sarah Paris of Germantown names sisters Hester Woodrow, Mary Rush, and Ann Stoneburner, but no children of her own. 52 • 13 July 1797, Sarah Parris was buried at Upper Gcrmantown.53 39 Hocker, German Settlers In Pennsylvania Newspapers, 123. 4o John T. Humphrey, Pennsylvania Births, Philadelphia County, 1766-1780 (WashingtOn. DC: Humphrey Publications, 1995), 389. 41 "Philadelphia County Taxes; Pennsylvania Archives, 3rd series, 14(1897): 274. 42 Wright,FirstReformed, Philadelphia, 1:150. 43 Wright, First Refonned, Phtladelphta, 1:111. 44 Wrigh.t,FlntReformed, Phtladelphta, 1:113. 4 5 Wright,FtntReformed, Phtladelphta, 1:166. 46 "Philadelphia County Taxes," Pennsylvania Archives, 3rd series, 14(1897): 505, 528, duplicates: 781, 805. 47 Anne M. Osterhout., "Oppone.nt:S of the Revolution Whose Estates Were Confiscated,,. PGM 30:247. 48 Will of Peter Paris, Philadelphia Wills S:262, probated 12 MMch 1783. 49 Wright. First Refonned, Philadelphia, 2:4. 50 Will of Abraham Wilt, Philadelphia Wills T:502, protnted 31 May 1787. Sl Will of Paul Engle, Philadelphia County Wills W:333. 5 2 Will of Sarah Paris, Philadelphia County Wills X:608. 53 Her pucnts Mary and Leonard Stoneburner arc also buried there. "Upper Burial Ground, Germantown, Burial Records, 1756-1907," PGM 43(2004): 342,345. 2005 Who Was Peter Paris of Philadelphia? 11 EUROPEAN ORIGINS These records identify many friends, relatives, neighbors, and associates of Peter Paris, with origins for some. Analysis of the origins of these individuals and, in turn, of their associates eventually highlighted a location not named in any record for Peter Paris-Bischweiler in Alsace [now Bischwiller, Bas-Rhin, France]. Bischweiler and Hatten are about 11 miles apart, separated by a forest. There, in the records of the French Reformed Church, two significant baptisms were found: • Pierre, son of Pierre Paris and wife Margueritte Reich born I 4th and baptized 19th 7ber [September] 1726.5 4 • Isaac Paris, son of Jacob Paris shoemaker and wife Elisabet Etter, born 3rd, baptized 9 March 1727_55 The date of the baptism of Pierre Paris in Bischweiler coordinates quite well with the age at death of Peter Paris in Philadelphia. The identification was eventually confirmed by their signatures as catechumens (see "Editor's Notes: Diligence and Serendipity''). The search in Pennsylvania records had located a 1773 newspaper ad calling Peter and Isaac brothers (see above). Thorough review of the Bischweiler records and comparison of signatures shows that this was not correct; they were second cousins. This still leaves the original question-how was Peter Paris related to Michael Heninger? The Paris family in Bischweiler was extensive (see "Paris of Philadelphia and New York from Bischweiler in 1750"), but there was only one Anna Maria close to the correct age, born in 1703-a few years off from the passenger list. Resources used in the research included two sets of charts for families of Bischweiler, one in German, the other in French; some were annotated with occupations, origins of the family, and outmigrations. A notation for the father of the Anna Maria born in 1703 says that he was a concierge [caretaker] at Hatten. Anna Maria and Peter were second cousins once removed: • Pierre (Pierre, Pierre, Antoine, Germain, Noe) • Anna Maria (Jean, Gervais, Germain, Noe) The search for Peter Paris also led to the identification of many emigrants from Bischweiler during the eighteenth century (see "Connections between Bischweiler, Alsace, and America in the 1700s"). 54 Eglise Reformee Franf(lise de Bischwiller, Baptemes 1722-1751, #86, FHL #727,363. 55 Eglise Reformee Franfaise de Bischwiller, Baptemes 1722-1751, #93, FHL #727,363.