+ 37 ii.Michael Winemiller
was born 1777.He married Elizabeth about 1770. (Elizabeth is #593.) Ellis was born 1750. Ellis died 1820 at 70 years of age. As I write this, I still have not been able to determine the exact birth date of this man. I first believed the records from Germany were in error and that he came to America with his parents, Johannes and Christina. Additional information, which has become available, convinces me that my original assessment was wrong. Christopher's birth probably took place in early 1746.
He married a girl named Elizabeth about 1770. Unfortunately, it's still "Elizabeth Who?". I have no idea who this young lady or her parents were. Christopher and Elizabeth probably farmed with her parents or with Johannes but by 1783 tax records show them is Paradise Twp., York Co. which means they had become land owners or, at the very least, owners of equipment and livestock.
The couple had at least six children that survived. There was a daughter named Eva who was born in 1788, baptized at Zeigler Church in 1789, and leaves no trace beyond 1789.
By 1795, Christopher and his family were living in Germany Twp. Which, at that time was in York Co. but now is in Adams Co., Pa. I believe their farm, in Germany Twp., is the farm Christopher bought from his father, Johannes. There is a surveyor's map of the farm in this chapter. The purchase of the land was not tied to this survey. Johannes had been dead six years. There doesn't seem to be any other land deals involving Christopher so I suspect the survey had something to do with taxes. Sons, Michael and Jacob were listed as single on these tax lists. They were assessed the usual rate, one dollar each. By 1808, Jacob's name was crossed off the list and marked sick. What ever it was, it was serious. His father made provisions in his will to care for Jacob for the rest of his life.
The year 1810 must have been the year Michael left his father's home to marry Polly. Michael was to go on to a pretty sad life. Since he is a member of my direct line, there will be a chapter devoted to him. Adam who was a shoemaker, apparently lived with his father until the time of Christopher's death in 1812. By 1811 he is shown as having no possessions. Adam did have a family. He had a wife, Regina, and two daughters, Anna Maria, born 1795 and Elizabeth, born 1797. Adam did not prosper as a shoemaker. Shortly before his death in 1847, he went bankrupt. There is no word of his family after his death. The records are confusing with regard to Adam. There is reason to believe he married a second time to a girl named Rachel. There were three children born to this union. The Carroll Co., Maryland census records of 1850 list Rachel Winemiller age 76, Elizabeth, age 48, Zacharias, age 48 (female and idiot), Andrew, age 38, (insane and a cooper). All four born in Pa and all four were wards of Carroll Co., Md. All three of the girls born to Christopher and Elizabeth died young. Reasons and their ages of death are not available. Despite the problems with their family, Chris and Liz seamed to do OK. He had served in the militia during the Revolutionary War from 1780 through 1782. The National archives have no record of him serving in the Continental Army so I suspect, as a farmer, he chose to fight, if need be, when the British showed up at the front gate. This was the origin of the term "citizen soldier". His brother, Frantz, also served in the York Co. militia although they were in different combat companies. Both were privates then sergeants, then privates again. This doesn't mean demotions. The normal enlistment period was between plantings and harvesting the crops. If an enlistee could get his work done and get to the militia company assembly area before the noncommissioned officers were elected by the troops, he might be elected a corporal or sergeant. At any rate, we Winemillers can say our ancestors served in the Revolutionary War. One of the more interesting points about Christopher was his obvious concern for family members he felt would need long term care after his death. His concern for Elizabeth was very evident in the way he arranged his will ---- provided she did not remarry. The same concern for Jacob can be seen. George, chosen to carry out the directions of the will, was his youngest son. A copy of the original document is included in these pages. At the time of his death, Christopher had reduced the land holdings of his estate by half. The farm was now 134 acres, down from the high of 258 acres and there were fewer numbers of livestock. Further, the will mentions income from rental which indicates the family was no longer farming the land but were leasing the acreage to a neighboring farmer. In this case, it was probably his friend, David Hoover.
The will stipulates that Adam and Michael were to receive 200 pounds each and that the money was to be paid from the money owed Christopher by David Hoover. It is interesting that he chose to have Adam receive the first bond and Michael the second. He must have felt Adam needed the money more. At any rate, the two were not to get more than the total of 400 pounds and, if there happened to be less than the stipulated amount of 400 pounds, tough! Under that arrangement, Adam almost certainly got his 200 and maybe Michael got his full share and maybe he didn't.
To George went the spoils. He inherited the land, the "house creatures" (cats & dogs ?), livestock and the house and barn. He also inherited the lifelong care of his mother and brother Jacob. The sale of Christian's personal inventory, including the horses and the "forth old vessels for stilling", was intended to pay his debts with any left over going to support Elizabeth. Elizabeth inherited the right to have a room in the house and all house privileges. Her expenses were to be covered by one third of the land rental income yet she had no administrative say over income distribution. That was the responsibility of George. These rights were to remain in place as long as she lived provided she did not remarry. Should she do the unthinkable, she would be gone and be broke to boot.
Jacob was to work on the farm as long as he was able to assist in his maintenance but one third of the land rental income was rightfully his and was to be used for his support.
The executors of the estate were Ludwick Sherer and David Hoover. Their job was to see to it that all of these things happened the way Christopher had dictated. I suspect there was further motivation on the part of Christopher. I think he wanted to make sure that Adam and Michael wouldn't get their hands on the money.
George did sell four acres to Adam later; acres which Adam gave up to satisfy a judgment in his bankruptcy. The land was sold in 1827, which I assume was after the deaths of Elizabeth and Jacob. The tax records reflect that George then left the township. He appears again in 1830-1 and then disappears again. I concluded my search on Christian and his heirs at this point.
Note: Text for Christopher was provided by Jerrald R Winemiller, from his book "The Winemiller Family Tree Our Branch (Three Hundred Years)" and edited by Larry Winemiller.
For a copy of the Orignal text click here.
Christopher (Stophel) Winemiller and Elizabeth had the following children:
+ 37 ii.Michael Winemiller
was born 1777.