The Three Joseph (Van) Gundys

N Eq .v N N N N A .W:' A 4 ,:` A A 7:' - q!',WMPMMNNEEMPDS - The Pennsylvania GENEALOGICAL M m 63 M 63 Magazine 63 2q amg2AgMgmmmrammuivigsomragaggaigiam The Three Joseph (Van) Gundys MARY K. MEYER OR MANY years the early history of the Gundy and Van Gundy family in Pennsylvania has been accepted as published by Dr. William Henry Egle. Dr. Egle tells us that Peter Van Gundy died in Bethel Township, Lancaster (now Lebanon) County, Pennsylvania, prior to 1763 leaving a widow and children: John, Peter, Magdalena, Joseph, Benjamin, Christian, and David. He then continues with the family of Joseph, saying he was the father of Joseph, Jacob, Samuel, Catharine, Margaret, Mary, Elizabeth, and Susanna. He further states that Joseph, son of Peter, was a Lieutenant in a company of associators during the Revolutionary War and was granted a tract of donation land in the New Purchase for his services.' Dr. Egle's account of the family was accepted without question by various descendants as well as patriotic organizations as a basis of membership for more than 75 years. 2 It was also assumed that there was but one man named Joseph Van Gundy in that area at that period. In recent years an exhaustive research effort on this family has been undertaken under the auspices of the Gundy-Van Gundy Family Association.' It soon became apparent that an overabundance of records existed concerning Joseph Van Gundy. It was more than apparent that one man could not have lived in as many different locations at the same time, could not have been married to as many different women at the same time and served in the 111 112 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Militia in as many different Pennsylvania counties at the same time as did this Joseph (Van) Gundy. By careful sifting of the records of Pennsylvania and Ohio, enough evidence was accumulated to identify three different Joseph (Van) Gundys, all living at one time in the same general area. Our search was complicated by a complete lack of birth, baptism, and marriage records of the families of the children of the first (Van) Gundy in Lancaster County as well as the infrequency of deeds and later census records for the family. It has been said that the early family in Pennsylvania were Mennonites. 4 Some credence for this statement is found in the fact that one of the Joseph Gundys was a minister of that faith.' JOSEPH VAN GUNDY OF LEBANON AND NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTIES This Joseph Van Gundy is said to have been born in 1740 and 1742 and died in 1795 and 1803 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; to have married Margaretta Haldeman (1748-1790) as well as a Martha Alderman!' In the course of exhaustive research no record of the existence of either of these women has ever been found. As a matter of interest, it is doubtful that these are two different women but rather the garbled version of the actual name of his wife. However, there is a remote possibility that Joseph was married twice. We do know that Joseph was married to Magdalena Haldeman, the widow of Jacob Shonower. Magdalena's first marriage took place in Lancaster City, Pennsylvania, "Maudlin Holdiman married Jacob Shinaver 10 December 1759." ' Jacob and Magdalena were married a little more than four years when Jacob died, having written his will 13 December 1763, leaving his widow with two children, John and Barbara, and pregnant with a third. On 30 December 1763, Magdalena signed a statement to the effect that she understood the terms of her late husband's Just exactly when or where Joseph Van Gundy and the widow Shonower were married is not known. But they were man and wife by 1 May 1769 when they were "of Bethel Township, Lancaster (now Lebanon) County" and they appointed Jacob Miley their attorney to recover from the executor of Jacob Shonower, deceased, all incomes due Magdalena, "leat" wife of Jacob Shonower.' This same deed recites that the last will and testament of Jacob Shonower was dated 27 January 1765 and that Joseph "VonGundy," Jacob Erb (Erp) and Jacob Sencenick (Sansinich?) were named executors. In turning again to the original will we find only Erp and Sencenick were named executors and that 13 December 1763 was the date it was written. It 1$ very possible The Three Joseph (Van) Gundys 113 that the date 27 January 1765 recited in the body of the above deed was the date Joseph became an interested party in the proceedings — possibly the date of his marriage to the widow, Magdalena — or at least an indication they were married by that date. Joseph's son, Jacob. was born 13 October 1765 at Stumpstown (now Fredericksburg), (now) Lebanon County, Pennsylvania." His daughter, Catharine, was also born at Stumpstown on 13 December 1767." We do not, however, have proof of the name of their mother but in view of the above she was, in all likelihood, Magdalena (Haldeman) Shonower Van Gundy. An alleged daughter of Joseph, Margaret, married Frederick Agler and died in Franklin County, Ohio, 10 December 1843, ae. 80 years." Margaret was therefore born sometime in the 12 month period prior to 10 December 1764. If this Margaret was actually the daughter of Joseph (and there is grave doubt she is), she could not have been the daughter of Magdalena as the latter was still married to her first husband at the time Margaret was born. She would therefore have to have been born to a previous wife. We have said that Margaret was an alleged daughter of Joseph. We have no proof that such is a fact, only information that seems to have come down through the family through the years." There is good reason to doubt the accuracy of the age/date on Margaret's gravestone. If the inscription is accurate, she would have been about 26 or 27 years of age at the time of her marriage and about six years older than her husband; she would have been age 52 at the birth of her youngest daughter and even older at the birth of her youngest son. None of these things is impossible; but it was not commonplace in those times — nor indeed in our own time — for a man of age 21 to marry a woman six or seven years his senior. As a matter of fact, at that time a woman 26 years of age was considered a confirmed spinster and had very little chance of marrying unless to a much older man with a large family that needed care.. As for a woman giving birth after the age of 50, it is not impossible, but it is rare. Dr. Lawrence R. Wharton, an obstetrician at the famed Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, made a study of the subject. In reviewing all medical literature and records available over the past 100 years and checking out every reported case of birth of a child to a woman over fifty years of age, he found only 26 actual cases." We do find a record of a Maria Margaret, daughter of Joseph and Magdalena County, born 2 September 1770, baptized at the Tabor First Re- 114 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine formed Church, Lebanon, Pennsylvania, 4 January 1771." In view of this, we must conclude that Margaret (Van Gundy) Agler who died in Franklin County, Ohio was not the daughter of Joseph Van Gundy. Along the same line of reasoning we may also conclude that Joseph's first and only wife was Magdalena (Haldeman) Shonower In 1773 Joseph appears on the tax list of Stumpstown, (now) Lebanon County, Pennsylvania." On 22 December 1774 another deed, a settlement of the estate of Jacob Shonower — his son, John having attained the age of 14 years — shows Joseph still in Bethel Township." On warrants dated 19 October to Joseph Van Gundy and 22 December 1774 to Joseph Gundy, he had two parcels of land surveyed called Parma and Palatine, containing in all 150 acres in Penns Township, Northumberland (now Snyder) County, Pennsylvania. These lands were patented to him 20 April 1776." Joseph evidently moved his family to Penns Township, for we find a record of the baptism of his daughter Elizabeth in Rau's (Salem) Lutheran Church there. Elizabeth was born 16 October 1775- Her sponsors were Paul Gemberling and his wife." On 9 March 1775, Joseph bought from Jacob Armbrister (Armbruster) two more tracts of land next to those he already owned, called Verona (42 acres) and Veroli (42 acres). These two tracts were patented to him in April 1776." On 18 April 1776, Joseph obtained yet another warrant for survey of lands in what is now Chapman Township. Snyder County. This land was never patented to him but by "sundry conveyeances and long possession" was finally. patented to Abraham Zeigler in 1842." Bartol in her list of Revolutionary S:ildiers, makes the following statement: "Joseph Van Gundy, 1742-1795; Third Lieutenant in Capt. Benjamin Weiser's Company of Northumberland County [Pennsylvania] Militia, 1776. He commanded a company in Sullivan's expedition to guard supplies- He married Margaretta Haldeman (1748-1790)." " Mrs. Bartol gives no reference for any part of her statement. But on closer examination we find the birth dates of both Joseph and his wife impossible to accept as will be shown later in this work. In the course of all our research we have been unable to substantiate Joseph's date of death. Without a doubt, this Joseph Van Gundy is the one who is listed on a muster roll of Benjamin Weiser's Company of Northumberland County Militia at Philadelphia 30 January 1777, as a Third Lieutenant." Of the other two Josephs with whom we are concerned , the second never seems to have lived in the Northumberland County area, and the third Joseph, who did live in the Northumberland County area at a later date, was too young to The Three Joseph (Van) Gundys 115 have been in the militia as he was only about ten years old at the time." As for Joseph commanding a company in General John Sullivan's expedition against the Indians in Pennsylvania and New York state, it is possible but again we have been unable to establish it as a fact. We know that in the spring of 1779 many of the able bodied men in the Susquehanna Valley were preparing to enter "boat service," that is, the convoying of Sullivan's commissary up the north branch of the Susquehanna River. One Adam Schaefer, a resident of Northumberland County, was drafted into Benjamin Weiser's Northumberland County Militia and was on a tour of duty between 1 January and 10 March 1777; marched to Philadelphia and thence to Princeton, New Jersey. Schaefer was also in a company of drafted militia on 1 May 1778, and marched against the Indians on the West branch of the Susquehanna to Wallis Station. From the last of August until the end of October 1779, he boated supplies (flour, etc.) by canoe from Coxtown to Sunbury for the use of General Sullivan." Inasmuch as Joseph Van Gundy was on the same tour of duty with Captain Weiser's Company in January 1777, it would seem reasonable he too continued on to Princeton. It is also possible he joined the other men in the area in convoying supplies for Sullivan's army, although there is some evidence that he was living back in the Lebanon County area at the time. In the late 1770s there were numerous Indian forays into the Susquehanna and Juniata valleys and a great many settlers in the outlying areas fled back to the settlements and their former homes for protection. This was probably the case with Joseph's family- There is evidence that Joseph himself returned to the present Lebanon County area following his tour of service with Benjamin Weiser's Company. On 11 November 1777, Joseph Van Gundy took the Oath of Allegiance as a resident of the area. There is also evidence that Joseph again served with the Militia, this time in Lancaster County." There is concrete evidence that Joseph's family had returned to the Stumpstown area by 1780, for on 5 October 1779 a son Joseph was born to Joseph and Magdalena, and was baptized at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Stumpstown (now Fredericksburg) in April 1780. His sponsors were Frederick and Elizabeth Kamper (Gamber)." Another child was born to Joseph and Magdalena on 26 June 1782. She was named Catharine Susanna and baptized at the Swatara Reformed Church in Jonestown, (now) Lebanon County." This does not necessarily indicate a move on the part of the family, as Jonestown and Fredericksburg are only a few miles apart. Susanna was confirmed 30 April 1797, age 14 years, at 116 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg.' Joseph continued to be taxed on his land in Penns Township, (now) Snyder County until 1787, the last three years noted as a nonresident." In the August 1787 session of Northumberland County Court, Amos Loney and Arabella Young, late Loney, executors of the estate of Hannah Lethgo, deceased, entered a suit against Joseph Van Gundy for a debt of $200.00. Joseph had given a mortgage in that amount to Hannah Lethgo but had failed to meet payment. The case was continued; Joseph confessed judgement in February 1790; he filed a no contest in May 1790 court; in August 1790 court a note on the docket states, "witness not to be found." ' The case was finally decided against Van Gundy and the sheriff was ordered to sell the four parcels of land in Penns Township, previously mentioned, at public vendue. Accordingly, the land was sold 3 August 1791 to Thomas Duncan." This is the last record we find of this particular Joseph Van Gundy. There has been much conjecture as to where and when he died. It has been said by Egle that he received acreage in the New Purchase for his services in the American Revolution and that he died in Lincoln County, Kentucky in 1805." Although a diligent search has been made in the records of the Pennsylvania Land Office no record has come to light to support the former statement. A John VanCounty does appear in a Lincoln County, Kentucky, tax record dated 3 April 1790; " however, there is no indication whatsoever that he was kin to Joseph. According to various DAR applications, Joseph died in 1795 or in 1803 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania." The claim for the 1803 date is understandable, although erroneous. A Joseph Gundy did die in Harrisburg in 1803, and Letters of Administration on his estate were granted to Mary Gundy, Sr. and Mary Gundy, 16 May 1803.. This particular Joseph died 10 March 1803, aged 24 years," and was actually Joseph Van Gundy, Jr., son of our subject. He was originally buried in the cemetery of the Salem Reformed Church in Harrisburg. When the Pennsylvania Railroad Station was built on the site of the old church and cemetery, his body was reinterred in the Harrisburg Cemetery in a plot purchased by Mary Gundy in 1853." Mary Gundy was a sister of Joseph, Jr., and a daughter of Joseph Van Gundy, Sr. We have no record of her birth, but other evidence proves her relationship." She was confirmed at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania, 3 May 1795, aged 20 years." The DAR in more recent years have accepted the 1795 date of death and place of death for Joseph Van Gundy, Sr., as Harrisburg; on what authority, I do not know. There is some indication that Joseph died prior to The Three Joseph (Van) Gundys 117 or early in 1797, and it is my own opinion that he died in Bethel Township, (now) Lebanon County. This opinion is based on the fact that on 5 April 1797. Elizabeth Gundy and Mary Gundy, spinsters, of Bethel Township, (now) Lebanon County bought a lot of land with a log dwelling on it at 129 Walnut Street, Harrisburg." If Joseph, their father, had been living, it would seem unlikely that these two single daughters (Elizabeth was only 21 years of age at the time and Mary perhaps a year older) would have purchased property in their own name. Because the deed states they were "of Bethel Township" it would seem reasonable to believe they had been living there with their parents, and after the father's death, decided to move to Harrisburg where their sister, Catharine (now Mrs. Caspar Shrom)," was living. As a point of interest, Joseph's daughter, Susanna, was confirmed in Fredericksburg 30 April 1797," about three weeks after the older sisters purchased the Harrisburg property. This might indicate that the family had not as yet moved to Harrisburg. The family appears in the 1800 census of Harrisburg " as a household consisting of one female over 45 years of age (Magdalena), two females 1626 (Mary and either Elizabeth or Susanna);" and one male under 10 years of age.. Magdalena Gundy, the widow of Joseph, Sr., died 20 November 1810, ae. "about 72 years," having taken communion from the Pastor of the Salem Reformed church a few days prior." She was probably buried in the cemetery of the same church, but the records of the Harrisburg Cemetery Association do not show that her body was reinterred there as was that of her son, Joseph. Possibly her body could not be found at the time. This work would not be complete without at least some conjecture as to the parentage of Joseph Van Gundy, Sr- Actually we have no indication as to the identity of his parents, or when he may have arrived in this country. There was a David Gunde whose daughter Magdalena married 21 April 1755, evidently in the Lancaster County area." This is the only mention in all the records we have searched of this David Gunde. However, if he was old enough to have had a daughter married in 1755, he would have been old enough to have been the father of Joseph. The only other possibility that has come to our attention is one Hans Gunde:. a member of the German Baptist Brethren from Creyfelt (Germany), who arrived in Philadelphia in 1729,' and was living in Germantown in 1733.' We can, however, say who Joseph was not; he was not the son of Peter Gundy who died 1756'57 in Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, as published by Dr. Egle.'" 118 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine After a close look at the readily available records of Lancaster County and by the process of some very simple arithmetic, it is obvious that the Joseph under discussion here could not possibly have been the son of this Peter. Peter's son, Joseph, was under the age of 14 in 1763; by 8 May 1772, he was above the age of 21 years." He was therefore born prior to 8 May 1751, but after March 1749. If this Joseph were born say in 1750, and he was the one who married the widow Shonower about 1763, he would have been only about 13 years of age at the time. It is not reasonable to assume that a 25 year old widow with three children would marry a 13 year old boy. It is difficult to understand how Dr. Egle happened to make this error in identification, particularly in view of the fact that his wife, Eliza White Beatty, was a great-grandaughter of this particular Joseph Van Gundy. Mrs. Egle was born in 1833, and was 22 years of age when her grandmother, Catharine (Gundy) Shrom died. Mrs. Egle's mother, Catharine (Shrom) Beatty lived until 1891," and presumably had conversations on the subject with Dr. Egle. Children of Joseph Van Gandy: i. JACOB VAN GUNDY, b- 13 October 1765. ii. CATHARINE VAN GUNDY, b. 13 December 1767. MAR. MARGARET VAN GUNDY, b. 2 September 1770. iv. MARY VAN GUNDY, confirmed 3 May 1795 or. 20 yrs. V. ELIZABETH VAN Gurmy, b. 16 October 1775. vi. JOSEPH VAN GUNDY (JR.), b. 5 October 1779. vii. CATHARINE SUSANNA VAN GUNDY, b. June 1782. a The above Mary and Mar. Margaret may have been the same person, and Mary may have been fudging her age a bit at the time of her confirmation, as well as in the 1850 census, which shows her aged 70 years. JOSEPH GUNDY OF SOMERSET COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, AND HARRISON COUNTY, OHIO The second Joseph Gundy with whom we are concerned is the one who died in Harrison County, Ohio, leaving a will dated 28 June 1820 which was proved 18 March 1823." He was buried beside his wife in the Methodist Burying ground in Conotton, Ohio.' , Unfortunately the inscriptions on both stones are completely illegible. On Joseph's stone only his given name can be read, and on that of his wife the inscription is completely worn away." It has been stated by various sources that this particular Joseph was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. a son of Peter Gundy who was a native The Three Joseph (Van) Gundys 119 of Switzerland- The biography of Joseph's grandson, Michael V. Gundy, was in all likelihood furnished by Michael himself." Michael repeated the same statements in a letter some fifteen years later." A brief account of Joseph Gundy reciting much the same story appears in a small Ohio church history and is attnbuted to Professor W. H. McGuffey." One wonders where this latter account first appeared and under what circumstances it was written. Peter Gundy died intestate prior to 25 March 1763, seized of a tract of land in Earl township, Lancaster County, leaving a widow Ann (or Fronica), and seven children; John, the eldest son; Christian, Peter, Joseph, Benjamin, David, and Magdalen." The sons, John and Christian were above the age of 21 years, as no records are found of guardianship for them, and John was the petitioner for settlement of the estate. The children Peter and Magdalen were above the age of 14 years, but under the age of 21 years and chose their own guardian. Jacob Kurtz of Manheim Township, and Jacob Erb of Warwick Township, Lancaster County, were appointed guardians of the younger children, Joseph, Benjamin, and David, on 25 March 1763." On 8 May 1772, Jacob Kurtz and Jacob Erb came into court to exhibit their account. David and Benjamin, having attained the age of 14 years, chose their brother. John, as their guardian, Joseph having attained the age of 21 years." We know, therefore, that Joseph was born after 25 March 1749 but prior to 8 May 1751. We lose track of Joseph for some years after this. However, in 1780 and 1781 a Joseph Gundy is listed in Capt. Reagel's Company of Berks County Militia." Whether or not he was this particular Joseph it is difficult to say. Joseph probably married in Berks County, as his wife, Fronica Kaufman, was a daughter of Stephen Kaufman and his wife Barbara, of Berne Township, Berks County." Joseph's wife's name is also given as Veronica " in the same instrument. This same information is given in the Kaufman Genealogy without proof or cited source." We next find Joseph, now a Mennonite minister, in Brothers Valley Township, Bedford County (now Elk Lick Township, Somerset County), assessed for 100 acres of land, two horses and two cows, on the 1783 tax lists." In 1784 he appears on a tax list for the same township with one house and six whites in the household." Here he took out warrants for some 265 acres of land dated 25 June 1793. and 13 January 1801. The survey on the lands was dated 25 June 1819, and the Deputy Surveyor General, John Wells, entered a note on the report stating the first Improveinent on the land was made in April 1784, and the family had lived there since that date." 120 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Joseph Gundy was a cooper " and, as before stated, a Mennonite Minister." He may have been the leader of the Mennonites who settled in Brothers Valley; certainly he was one of the important members of the community. He is mentioned several times in Christian Newcomer's Journal. Gundy and Newcomer evidently became good friends. On one occasion Newcomer wrote in his Journal under date of 27 October 1798, "I stayed this night with a Mennonite preacher named Gundy; our souls immediately flowed together in Love." " Newcomer appears to have stayed with Joseph Gundy whenever he visited in Somerset County. It may have been through Newcomer's influence that Joseph left the Mennonites and joined the United Brethren." It has been stated by Beers, and quoted by Rev. Michael Gundy and subsequent descendants, that Joseph removed from Somerset County to Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and thence to Harrison County, Ohio, in 1812 Beers further states that Joseph, with his daughter, Magdalena, then age 10 years, came to the location of Conotton, Ohio. in 1805, built a cabin, cleared some land and returned to Pennsylvania in the fall." These statements, however, are not altogether accurate. We know from her gravestone that Magdalena was born 15 June 1786, and would have been nineteen years of age in the summer of 1805. Joseph did have a daughter, Fanny. age 10 years that summer. Secondly, there seems to be no real evidence that Joseph ever lived in Westmoreland County. We know that Joseph was still living in Somerset County in November 1803, as he was visited by Christian Newcomer, who probably stayed the night in the Gundy home. On 17 November 1803, Newcomer wrote in his Journal, "This morning we set out very early. Rode 36 miles over very mountainous country, arrived at night at Joseph Gundy's." Newcomer preached there on Sunday, 27 November, to a gathering, "followed by Brother Crum and then Gundy. a Mennonite preacher.' Newcomer did not return to Brother's Valley again until 3 September 1807, when he wrote in his Journal, "traveling west from Frankford, leaving Joseph Crisup's, I again pursued my journey; rode all day across a very mountainous part of the country: stopped at a public house to get refreshment for myself and beast. After we had recruited our strength, I set off with the intention of reaching Joseph Gundy's. When I arrived at the place where he formerly lived, I found he had removed to the western country, but found his son-in-law lived at the place. Both young people rejoiced to see me and entertained me with the greatest pleasure." Joseph Gundy "of Somerset County, Pennsylvania," entered the N.E. of Section 14, Township 13, Range 6. in Harrison County, Ohio, 28 April The Three Joseph (Van) Gundys 121 1806." The land in what is now North Township, Harrison County. was patented to him 10 January 1812."" It seems unlikely that Joseph would have given his place of residence as Somerset County if he was actually lir ing in Westmoreland County at the time. It would seem reasonable to conclude, therefore, that Joseph moved his family directly from Somerset County to Harrison County sometime in the spring of 1806 or 1 807As stated earlier, Joseph Gundy appeared on a tax list of Brother's Valley Township, Bedford County (now Elk Lick Township, Somerset County) in 1784, with six whites in his household, himself, his wife, and probably 4 children."' In 1790 he appears in the census as Josiph Gunty with one male above 16 years, (himself), and 6 females (probably his wife and 5 daughters)." In 1800, Joseph is listed in the census in Elk Lick Township, Somerset County with one male above 45 years (himself), 2 males under 10 years of age (born between 1790-1800), two females also under ten years of age, four females 16 to 26 years of age, and one female above 45 years of age." If these figures are correct in all instances and if we accept them as representing only Joseph, his wife, and children as members of his household, we may conclude that Joseph had four daughters born prior to 1784; by 1790 there were five daughters in the family, and two girls and two boys were born between 1790 and 1800, a total of nine children. But Joseph named only eight children in his will (see below), leaving us to assume that one of the children died prior to the father's death. We might also assume that more than one child was born between 1784 and 1790, and if so, that all of them died young except oneUsing these figures, dates, gravestone inscriptions, marriage records, and Joseph's will," we can now construct a picture of Joseph's family. Children of Joseph Gundy: i. REBECCA Gunny, b. bt. 1774-1784, M. MR. OVERHOLZER (eldest dau.). ii. CHRISTINA Gunny/ b. ht. 1774-1784, M. JOHN HEASTAND. iii. MARY Gunny, b. bt. 1774-1784, m. JOSEPH NABZINGER. iv. REGINA Gunny, b. bt. 1774-1784, mi Ma. FOLK. V. MAGDALENA GUNDy, b. 15 June 1786 (T.I.), M. DAVID F1ERBAUGH. vi. BENJAMIN Gunny, I, 1790-91, d. 16 April 1867, as. 76 yrs. (TI.). vii. FRAMIA or FANNY Gunny, b. bt. 1790-1800, M. PETER FORNEY , viii. JOSEPH Gunny, b. 10 July 1799 (Ti.). As Joseph seems to have had at least four children born prior to 1784, one may suppose that he had been married approximately nine or ten years by then, or about 1774-1775. If he were about 24 years of age at the time he married, we could conclude he was born about 1750-1751. 122 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Joseph, the son of Peter of Lancaster County, was born, as previously stated, after 25 March 1749, but prior to 5 May 1751. An exhaustive search for birth records of the children of Peter Gundy has been made, but none have been found. Although we have not proved conclusively that the Joseph Gundy under discussion here was the son of Peter of Lancaster County, we have shown him to be the strongtst if not the only possible candidate for the position. And we must admit to the possibility that Rev. Michael V. Gundy, grandson of Joseph of Harrison County, Ohio, did indeed know for a fact that his great-grandfather was Peter Gundy of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. JOSEPH VAN GUNDY (ca. 1767 1852) The third Joseph Van Gundy with whom we are concerned is the Joseph who died in Ross County, Ohio "on or about 22 May 1852." " This par ticular Joseph was listed in the 1850 census as aged 83 years, born in Pennsylvania." Using this latter record, as it is the only indication we have of his date of birth, we may say that he was born ca. 1767. Our first record of this Joseph here shows that he obtained a Warrant for 400 acres of land in Buffalo Township, Northumberland County, Pa., in March 1793 under the name Joseph Vangundy." Under the name Joseph Gundy, he conveyed this same tract of land to one John Gundy by deed dated 25 May 1799, and the property was patented to John by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 30 May 1803." On 2 July 1804 this same tract was sold by John Gundy and his wife, Polly." The 1798 Federal Tax Assessment shows Joseph as owner of the above tract, as well as another tract in White Deer Township." Joseph obtained warrants for several other tracts of land in Northumberland County," but no record has been found to show that he ever patented any of them. He had warranted a 408 acre tract in West Buffalo Township, Northumberland County, but sold or assigned it to a Mr. Gray and Mr. Hayes." The 1790 census shows a Joseph Vangundy in Northumberland County with one male above 16 years, 3 males under 16, and two females in the household, living next door to a Christian Vangunday." This Christian it is known from various land records lived in what is now Buffalo Township, Union County, Pa." According to our best information, Joseph would have been about 23 years of age at this time, and although records of his children indicate he was married probably by 1790, it does not appear that he was the father of as many as four children as indicated in the census. It is possible that he had relativt% living with him at the time. He was said to have had three - The Three Joseph (Van) Gundys 123 brothers, John mentioned previously, Peter and Samuel, as well as a sister." At any rate, neither of the other Josephs discussed in this series ever lived in the area of the present Union County. Joseph did not remain in Pennsylvania any great length of time, only long enough to leave records of his many land warrants, which although never patented, brought about a great deal of confusion for the early family researchers. By 28 October 1799, Joseph was living in Ross County, Ohio, where he gave a promissory note on that date to Samuel Hornback. When he became delinquent on the note, Hornbeck entered suit against him in August term of court, 1803." On 15 April 1805, Joseph entered land in the SW1/4, Sect. 11, Twp. 8, Range 21 in Ross County." Following the precedent established in Pennsylvania, he assigned the land to John Van Gundy who by that time had also moved to Ohio. John patented the land and with his wife, Polly, sold it in 1830, at which time they were residents of Indiana." It is evident that Joseph also purchased property in Harrison Township, Ross County, although the purchase is not a matter of record. He sold five acres of this property (NE1/4 , Sect. 20, T9, R20) to Ira Ring," 34 of an acre to his son Peter, in 1847 "° and another portion to his son Eli, in 1848." After his death the remainder was sold by his heirs.'" Very little is known about Joseph's wife, Mary, other than her first name, which appears on a deed when they sold land in Crawford County, Ohio, in 1832, 10 ° and on the death certificate of her son, Jonathon, in 1873. 1" She was evidently the female who appeared in the 1840 census in Joseph's household aged between 60 and 70 years.'" In the 1850 census, Joseph is living in the household of his son, Jonathon, but Mary is not listed; '" presumably she died between the time of the 1840 and 1850 census enumeration. Neither Joseph nor Mary's grave has ever been located. From Chancery Records we learn the name of Joseph's children: Children of Joseph Van Gundy: I. CORNELIUS VAN GUNDY. ii. SARAH VAN GUNDY, M. HENRY SWINGLER. iii. PETER VAN GUNDY, M. 16 Jan. 1822, to PHEBE SPEAKMAN... iv. CATHARINE VAN GUNDY, M. I Jan. 1832, to JOSEPH HARKER. V. JOSEPH VAN GUNDY, M. 8 Feb. 1826, to ANNE WILCOX. vi. MARY VAN GUNDY, m. 21 March 1824, to PETER CHESTER. vii. JONATHON VAN GUNDY, M. MARIA MERRYMAN. viii. JOHN VAN GUNDY. IX. SAMUEL VAN GUNDY, M. 3 February 1834, to MARY ANN COM/3S. X. GABRIEL VAN GUNDY, M. 20 February 1836, to ANN (WILCOX) VAN GUNDY. xi. ELI VAN GUNDY, M. 12 July 1836. to LYDIA NICE, xii. AARON VAN GUNDY, M. 20 February 1836. to SUSANNAH HAGER. The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 124 NOTES 1 William Henry Egle, M.D., History of the Counties of Dauphin and Lebanon in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania . • . (Philadelphia, 1883), 352, 353. Vols. 14:281; 29:269,270; 100:214; 115:286; 117:3,4,80; 2 N.S.D.A.R. Lineage Books, 121:273; 127 , 136; 12919; 158:157. 1 The Gundy-Van Gundy Family Association. Mary K. Meyer, Research Director, Rt. 10, Box 138-A, Pasadena, Maryland, 21122. History of That Part of the Susquehanna and Juniata Valleys, Embraced in the Counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union, and Snyder in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. ed. Everts, Peck, and Richards (Philadelphia, 1886), II, 1235. John Hildt, Life and Journal of Christian Newcomer, 1795-1830 (Hagerstown, Md., 1834), 116. sSee Note 2 above. Carl Thurman Smith, "A Survey of Immigrants of the Haldeman Family of Switzerland to Montgomery, Chester, and Lancaster Counties, Pennsylvania Before 1750," The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine, XXI, 74. s Lancaster County, Pa. Will Book C-1, 53. Will of Jacob Shonower, probated 14 Jan. 1764 and acknowledgment by Magdalena Shonower. Lancaster County, Pa. Deed Book 0, 153" 1 May 1769, Joseph and Magdalena Van Gaudy to Jacob Miley. 18 National Archives. Revolutionary War Pension Application of Jacob Gandy, Na. S 32284, at ibid. Gravestone inscription of Catharine (Gandy) Shrom, Harrisburg Cemetery, Harrisburg, Pa. 12 Gravestone Inscription of Margaret Agler, Riverview Cemetery, Gahanna, Franklin Co., Ohio, 11 N.S.D.A.R. Membership application of Ethel Denuene Young, No. 165915 Supplementary papers. ta Lawrence R. Wharton, M.D., "Normal Pregnancy with Living Children in Women Past the Age of Fifty," American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vol. 90, No. 5 (November, 1964), 672-677. ta William 3. Hinke, trans., Church Records of Tabor First Reformed Church, Lebanon, Pa., 5, at the Historical Society of the Evangelical and Reformed Church of America, Philip Schaff Library, Lancaster Theological Seminary. Lancaster, Pa. Pennsylvania Archives, 3rd Series, XVII, 390. Tax returns for Stumpstown, Lancaster Co.: Joseph Gundy, 1 cow, tax: 2 shillings. to Lancaster County, Pa. Deed Book S, 65: 22 Dec. 1774, Quit Claim, Joseph Gaudy et al to John Shonower et al. 1 . Bureau of Land Records, Department of Community Affairs, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, Pa., Patent Book AA, 682: 20 April 1776, John Penn to Joseph Gundy• See also Pennsylvania Archives, 3rd Series, XXV, 149, 334, for warrantees. Bureau of Land Records, cited in Note 18. 28 Dr. Charles A. Fisher, Early Pennsylvania Births 1675-1875 (Selingsgrove, Pa., 1947), 2. as of Land Records, cited in Note 18. Patent Book AA-15, 681: 20 April 1776, John Penn, Jr. and John Penn, Esquires, to Joseph VanCundy [rid. 22 Ibid. Patent Book H-43, 599: 2 Dec. 1841, Jake Klingensmith, Jr., Secretary of the Land Office of Pennsylvania, to Abraham Ziegler. Pennsylvania Archives, 3rd Series, XXV, 334. 21 Mrs. W. C. Bartol, Shikelimo Chapter, D.A.R. Revolutionary Soldiers List, 1926, I, 20. Unpublished typescript. 2, Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, VIII, 669. 20 This latter Joseph will be discussed more thoroughly later. 2 National Archives. Revolutionary War Pension, Adam Schaeffer, R94I2. at Egle, History of the Counties of Dauphin and Lebanon, cited in Note I, 40. 20 Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, VII, 142, Joseph Van Gundy, 2nd Bat., 5th, 6th and 7th classes on tour of duty to Bucks County. Pa. commencing 25 Sept. 1781, furnished a ° ° The Three Joseph (Van) Gundys 125 substitute Ibid., 171, Joseph VanGundy is listed 9 July 1782 in Capt. Stoever's 3rd Co., 2nd Bat., Lancaster Co. Militia, 6th Class. Ibid., 117, "Pay role of Capt. Caldwell's Co. of Militia of Lancaster County Militia on duty in Northumberland Co. • .• two militia men say Kleinfeller and Van Goody paid them their tour of Duty on 21 May 1782." aa C. C• Beaver, trans., and Frederick S. Weise;, ed., St. John s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fredericksburg, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, Church Registers, 1774-1945 (1968), 15, at Pennsylvania State Library, Harrisburg, Pa. a° William J. Hinke, trans., Church of the Swatara Reformed Congregation, Jonestown, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, Church Registers, 1740-1862 (1936), 21, at the Historical Society of the Evangelical and Reformed Church of America, cited in Note 15, St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fredericksburg, Lebanon County, Pa., 69, cited in Note 29. "Pennsylvania Archives, 3rd Series, XIX, 450, 500, 607, 744. aa Northumberland County, Pa. Court of Common Pleas, Aug. 1787, Case No. 87; Feb. 1790, Case Na. 72; May 1790, Case No. 34; Aug. 1790, Case No. 86; Aug. 1791, Case No' 42. a4 Northumberland County, Pa. Deed Book S, 29: 3 Aug. 1791, Andrew Allbright, Esq., Sheriff, to Thomas Duncan. au Egle, History of Dauphin and Lebanon Counties, 352, piled in Note 1. a° Charles B. Heinemann, First Census of Kentucky (Baltimore, 1965, reprint), 97. " N.S.D.A.12- Lineage Books, cited in Note 2. as Dauphin County, Pa. Index to Wills and Administrations. n.p. an Harrisburg, Pa., Cemetery Association Records. 40 /bid. °Dauphin County, Pa. Will Book F, 524 .. Will of Mary Gurisly, ".the balance of my personal estate to Susanna Lebrun, daughter of my sister Elizabeth. Elizabeth Gaudy was married at least three dines: first to John Howard (Dauphin County, Pa. Deed Book L-1, 335: 9 March 1801, "Elizabeth Howard, late Elizabeth Gandy . • . to Mary Gandy ...Elizabeth Goody now intermarried with John Howard"); Elizabeth's last husband was one Fox. Dauphin County records shown deed (Book Q-2, 199) dated 22 June 1813 1 "Peter Geistweitt and wife, Catharine, to Mary Gandy in trust for the use of Elizabeth Fox, her sister, and the children of said Elizabeth Fox." Between her husbands, John Howard and Mr. Fox, Elizabeth seems to have been married to one Isett, as her will, written as Elizabeth Fox, 1 July 1818, and probated 24 March 1823 in Dauphin County (WII Book D, 297), gives her personal estate to her children: Henry Isett and Susanna Lebrun, intermarried with William Lebrun. and also names her sister, Mary Gaudy. 4 a St. John s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fredericksburg, Lebanon County, Pa., 68, cited in Note 29. , Cu Dauphin County, Pa. Deed Book L-1, 333: 5 April 1797, Thomas Ridge and Margaret, his wife, to Elizabeth Gaudy and Mary Gandy. both of Bethel Township, spinsters. 44 William Henry Egle, Pennsylvania Genealogies, Chiefly Scotch Irish and German (Baltimore, 1969, reprint), 86. St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fredericksburg, Pa., 69, cited in Note 29. as Heads of Families. Second Census of the United States, City of Harrisburg, Pa., Dwelling No. 132. 41 We know Elizabeth was married to John Howard prior to 9 March 1801, when she deeded her half of the Walnut Street property to Mary Gaudy' See Note 41. In all probability Susanna was the third female in the household. This male was undoubtedly George S. Gundy, who died September 1817, aged 22 years, and is buried in Mary Gundy's lot in the Harrisburg Cemetery. He has never been identified. He was too old to have been a son of Joseph, Jr., and children of Jacob, son of Joseph, are well accounted for. He may have been the son of one of the Gundy daughters. 4 . William J. Hinke, trans., Church Record of Salem Reformed Church, Harrisburg, Pa., Vol. I, 1788-1842 (1940). 71 , 79, at the Historical Society of the Evangelical and Reformed Church, cited in Note 15. " Pennsylvania Archives, 6th Series, VI, 250, but see ibid., 224, where her name is given as GuncPt 126 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine William 1. Hinke, ed., Pennsylvania German Pioneers (Norristown, Pa., 1934), I. 27, 29, 30. 5 .F. T. Cole, ed., The Old Northwest Genealogical Quarterly (Columbus, Ohio), Vol. 7 (1898), 126. 5 z Egle, History of Dauphin and Lebanon Counties, 352, cited in Note I. 5 . Lancaster County Orphans Court Docket 1760 - 1763: 235; ibid. 1768 - 1772: 350, 352. . N.S.D.A.R. Lineage Book 29: 269. ...Harrison County, Ohio, Will Book A, 97. In recent years a new marker has been placed on the graves. Unfortunately, the inscription may not be altogether accurate. 55 Ross and W. E. Masters, A Brief History of Conotton Methodist Church and Its Community Background (Carrollton, Ohio, 1953), n.p. 5 .1. H. Beers & Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Harrison and Carroll, Ohio (1889), 386, 387. Letter. Michael V. Candy to Franklin P. Van Goody, Convoy, Ohio, 16 April 1904. m masters, cited in Note 58. Supposedly this was Professor William H. MeGuffey (18001873). of reading book fame. na Lancaster County Orphans Court Docket, 1760-1763, 234, 239. .. /bid, 235. Ibid., 1768-1772, 352. as Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, V, 184, 245. ..Berks County, Pa. Deed Book 19, 70: 19 April 1800, Release, Barbara Kaufman, widow of Stephen Kaufman, late of Berne Township, deceased, John Kaufman, Joseph Candy and Fronica, his wife, late Fronica Kaufman, to Jacob Faust. .3 The names Fronica and Veronica were used interchangeably by the German speaking people. The name evolved into Frances and Fanny in the anglicized form. 05 Charles Fake Kauffman, A Genealogy and History of the Kauffman - Coffman Families in North America, 1584 - 1934 (Scottsdale, Pa., 1940), 726. Pennsylvania Archives, 3rd Series, XXII, 254. Ibid., 312. Si Pennsylvania Archives, 3rd Series, XXV, 524. Bedford Co. Warrantees. Somerset County, Pa. Survey Book G. 96, 97. aa Ibid. 7 . Bildt, 62, 116, 117, cited in Note 5. sa Ibid., 62. Masters, cited in Note 58. .Beers, Commemorative Biographical Record, 386, 387, cited in Note 59. 77 Hildt, 116, cited in Note S. 10 /bid., 158. 75 State of Ohio, Auditors Office, Columbus, Ohio. Tract Book, Congress Lands, 22 Ranges and U.S.M., Vol. I, 110. 50 Charles A. Hanna, Historical Collections of Harrison County, Ohio (Cadiz, Ohio, 1900), 214. .3 See Note 69. Heads of Families at the First Census - .1790 Pennsylvania (Washington, D.C., 1908), 26. Heads of Families at the Second Census 1800 Pennsylvania, Somerset County, 23. en Harrison County, Ohio Will Book A, 97, Will of Joseph Gundy dated 28 June 1820, probated 18 March 1823. 55 Ross County, Ohio Chancery Court, Vol. 14, 346, "Peter VanGundy vs. heirs of Joseph VanGundy." Heads of Families' at the Sixth Census U.S.A., Springfield Township, Ross County, Ohio, 448. Pennsylvania Archives, 3rd Series, XXV, 335. Two warrants, each for 400 acres, were dated 1 March and 14 March 1793. Bureau of Land Records, Harrisburg, Pa., Patent Book 54, 273: 30 May 1803, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to John Gandy. The Three Joseph (Van) Gundys 127 00 Northumberland County, Pa. Deed Book N, 139: 2 July 1804, John Gandy and Pony, his wife, to Solomon Betzer. 90 Federal Assessment 1798, Northumberland County, Pa., n.p. b , Pennsylvania Archives, 3rd Series, XXV, 335. 92 Federal Assessment 1798, Northumberalnd County, Pa., n.p. 95 Heads of Families • • 1790, Pennsylvania, 183, cited in Note 82. 9 I Northumberland County, Pa. Deed Book D, 276: 1 November 1788, Bill of Sale, Christian Van Goody, Sr., of Buffalo Township to Christian Von Dandy, Jr. and Jacob Van Gaudy of the same place; Deed Book D, 370: 1 April 1789, Christian Van Dandy, Sr., to Christian Van Goody, Jr. and Jacob Van Gaudy, of the same place, Deed Book E, 308: 19 December 1791, Henry Peters of Buffalo Township to Christian Van Dandy, Jr. of the same place. .5 John David Van Gaudy (1874-193-) personal papers in possession of his daughter, Esther Van Gandy Beck, Lancaster, Ohio. Mr. Van Dandy also stated that these four men and the sister, not named, who married a Mr. Egerly [Agler?I were children of Peter Dandy, Jr. A Peter Gaudy purchased property in Penns Township, Northumberland County, Pa. (now Snyder County) in 1777, and sold it in 1778, at which time he was a resident of Buffalo Township, Northumberland County (now Union County). See Northumberland County Deed Book E, 50, Peter Van Goody to John Aurant. No other record of him has been found. 96 Ross County, Ohio Execution Book, 1802-1805, 48. .7 Recited in Ross County, Ohio Deed Book 34, 429: 23 August 1830, John Van Gundy and Mary, his wife, of Fountain County, Indiana, to William Claybaugh of Ross County, Ohio, "SW! Sect. 11, Twsp. 8, 1221, patented to John Van Gundy as assignee of Joseph Van Gaudy, recorded in Ross Co. Deed Book 17, 9." 50 Ibid. This John seems to have picked up the pieces, no to speak, when things went awry for Joseph. It is this that lends credence to the supposition that these men may have been brothers. 95 Ross County, Ohio Deed Book 46, 407: 17 May 1847, Joseph Van Gaudy to Ira Ring. 000 Ibid., Deed Book 47, 249: 14 December 1847, Joseph Van Gaudy to Peter Van Gandy. 00 ibid., Deed Book 48, 553: 4 August 1848, Joseph Van Gundy to Eh Van Gandy. too Ross County, Ohio Chancery Court Book 14, 346: 23 June 1856, Jonathon Van Gaudy vs. heirs of Joseph Van Gaudy. tm Crawford County, Ohio Deed Book 2, 319: 2 November 1832, Joseph Van Gundy and Mary, his wife, to William Griffith. 1 m Ross County, Ohio Death Records, Vol. I, 5. ,55 Heads of Families, Fifth Census, U.S., Harrison Twp., Ross County, Ohio, 419. 555 Heads of Families, Sixth Census, U.S., Harrison Twp., Ross County, Ohio, 448. . 7 Chancery Court Book 14, 346, cited in Note 102. 008 Marriage records of all these children from Ross County, Ohio, Probate Court, with exception of Samuel, who married in Wyandot County, Ohio. Information Wanted Mrs. John A. Toner, Box 294, Lodi, NJ 07644, has been collecting data on the NORCROSS family, with a view to publication. She will be glad to hear from anyone having informatton on members of the family who settled in Pennsylvania, especially during the 18th century, and to exchange information.