Becker Family Record, Philadelphia

BECKER FAMILY RECORD PHILADELPHIA from the GSP Collection * The Bible was published in 1776 in Germantown by Christoph Saur and included both Old and New Testaments. The family entries are written on blank pages. [Inside front cover, text in German] Carl C. Becker, business man in Philadelphia, was born in Germantown in the year 1751 on the 24th of August and died in the very hot summer of the year 1780, in the prime of life, on the 12th of August, due to the consequences of drinking very cold water. His straightforward ways procured him the people’s esteem and respect. “Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble; he blooms like a flower which will finally wither and drop to the ground without leaving a trace.” Samuel Becker was born in Philadelphia on the 2nd of March 1759 and died on the 25th of September of the year 1793 from the bad fever [yellow fever] which took so many lives in Philadelphia. More than four thousand people died. He was honest and industrious in his trade; he was virtuous so that everybody who knew him liked him and esteemed him. My mother-in-law, Anna Katharine Schlesman, died on the 27th of April 1799 at the age of 57 years, one month and 3 days after a fatal disease lasting for eleven days. Gottfried Becker was born in Germantown on the 1st of January 1754 and died on the 5th of July 1801. He reached an age of 47 years, 6 months and 5 days. His disease was pains in the joints that became worse due to a swelling on the feet and vomiting, which finally ended his life between 12 and 3 o’clock. He was honest and respectable in his mode of life. * Becker folder; nine photocopied sheets, two pages of transcript. Some text has been retranslated by the editor. 256 Proofreading copy 12 June, 2008 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol. 45 (2008) 2008 Becker Family Record 257 Johann Heinrich Schlösman was born at Warsig in the County of Wertheim, Franconia, on the 19th of April 1733, as the son of Christian and respectable parents; he arrived in America in the year 1752 and died on the 20th of September 1805 after having reached an age of 72 years, five months and nine days. During his life he had always been a religious man. Elisabeth Margaretha Becker was born at Odernheim in the Duchy of Zweibrücken as the daughter of Christian and respectable parents and raised in the Reformed religion. In the year 1750 she married the late Christopher Becker; five children were born of which one is still alive. She died from a paralytic stroke on the 31st of March 1808 at the age 84 years 2 months and 7 days. [This same text appears on a loose sheet in the Bible, with a note at the bottom left, mostly in English: Wrote Sonday 25 January 1807. She was at this date age 83 years 7 months and 24 days.] Samuel Becker was born in Philadelphia on the 18th of May l799 and died on the 5th of October 1825 in the City of Dresden in the state of Ohio from bilious fever; he was laid up for 4 days. He had traveled much and faced great danger in his life. He died in his 27th year. Johann Remagus Becker died in Philadelphia from consumption on Friday, the 25th of July 1829 at 2 o’clock A.M., at the age of 66 years, 5 months and 6 days. He was buried in the family vault of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. John on Sunday, the 27th of July, with his bereaved widow, children and a large number of friends in the funeral procession. [In English] Mary, wife of John R. Baker, departed this life on Thursday morning, on the 8th of August A.D. 1850, at 40 minutes past 10 o’clock (of old age). Aged 83 years 3 months, 17 days and was interred in Family Vault at St. John’s Lutheran Church on Monday morning the 12th instant. [Inside back cover, text in German] Today, on the 28th of December 1806, a daughter was born to me, and I had her christened with the name Matilda Baker on the 25th of January 1810 by Rev. Helmuth. Today, on the 25th of December 1809, a son was born to me, and I had him christened with the names Heinrich Slesman Baker on the 14th of January 1810 by Rev. Schmitt. This was written down on December 14, 1811, at 5 o’clock in the morning. Proofreading copy 12 June, 2008 258 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol. 45 I, John Remagius Becker, was born in Philadelphia on the 19th of February 1763 and married Maria Slesman on the 10th of December 1791; we begot one son called Carl Heinrich Becker on the 20th of February 1793, and my wife was born in Philadelphia on the 22nd of April 1767. My son was christened by Rev. Schmitt. Today, on the 23rd of April 1797, a daughter was born to me, and I had her christened Anna Maria Becker by Rev. Schmitt on the 13th of May 1797. Today, on the 18th of May 1799, a son was born to me, and I had him christened with the name Samuel Becker on the 9th of June 1799 by Rev. Helmuth. Today, on the 7th of January 1803, a daughter was born to me, and I had her christened with the name Eleanor Baker on the 30th by Rev. Schmitt. My father, aged 86 years, 5 months, 17 days Christoph Becker, was born in the year of Christ 1718 on the 6th of March in the Borough of Kalb in the Duchy of Württemberg and arrived in this country in the year 1748. In 1749 he married the widow Elizabeth Brunner who had no children. They had six children. He had been laid up for quite some time due to his age and weakness. He died in Philadelphia on the 23rd of August, at 9 o’clock in the evening, in the year 1804. He referred to the last Book of Chronicles, 30th Chapter, 15th verse. [loose sheet in English] To my Dear Son John On his 70th Birth Day Wishing many returns of health & peace with his children God bless you my Dear Son. Mother Proofreading copy 12 June, 2008