This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: Bea50691 Surnames: Lesher, Hill, Merkel, and Bender Classification: biography Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.lesher/453/mb.ashx Message Board Post: The following are items concerning Nichols Lesher of Oley, Berks Co. Pa. 15 Oct 1697 Petronella Loescher, d/o Johan Nicholas Loescher was baptized in Lampenheim, Heidelberg, Badenm I.G.I. Index LDS 13 Jan 1721 Petronella Loescher married Johan Ulrich Dreher , Dossenheim Heidelberg, Baden. Johan Ulrich Dreher was s/o Johann Adam Dreher and Anna Maria I.G.I. Index LDS Niclolas Leisher Sr. and Jr. and Edward Peters sold land to Jacob Hill in 1723 in the Towamencin area of Phila. Co. In 1735 Jacob Hill sold this land to Schwenkfelters, George Dreisher and David Seipt. Jacob Hill bought land from John Ellis in District Twp. Berks Co. on Aug 13, 1735 This property was on the border of District and Oley Twps. Deed Book F - 8 - 147 City Hall, Phila. Co. A Nicholas Lesher first settled in the Oley Valley in 1726. Philip Pendleton "Oley Valley Heritage" 1727: Nicholas Enser (Lesher?) and Jacob Hill signed this petition for a road. "Upon the petition of several of the inhabitants of the county of Philadelphia [representing their want of roads] to places of Worship, Mills, and Market, [and asking] a road to be laid out, beginning at or near a creek by John Jones' house, in the upper part of Gwynedth township and turn off at the Great Road through some part of the said John Jones' land to the Susquehannah Road or Line, six or seven miles along the same and running partly by the meeting-house and Garret Clement's mill to a branch of Perkyoming Creek; the Court ordered that Henry Penebecker, John Jones, of North Wales, John Newberry, William Harmar, Peter Wence [Wentz], and William Roberts, or any four of them, do view and judge if there be occasion for the road petitioned for, and if one road can be laid out to accommodate the said petitioners and those of Skippack who now petition for the road now petition for a road from a branch of the Perkyoming to the said Skippack Road, and if they judge that there ! is necessity for a road" [then to lay it out, etc.]. 1728 Jacob Hill signed this petition. There was no Lesher signature on the petition. "Upon the petition of divers Inhabitants between the townships of Gwyneth and Skippack Creek, on the north-easterly side of Providence, setting forth that a great many families are settled upon a large tract of land containing about 5,500 acres, whereof a Draught is to the said petition annexed, praying this Court would erect the same into a Township, the Court taking the said Petition into consideration do erect the said Portion of land into a township as the same is laid out and described in the Draught....and that the same be called by the name of Towamensing. 1729-1730 Nicholas Lesher was naturalized. 1731 Petition for Rights In the beginning of 1731 a petition was sent to the Assembly by Germans inhabiting the county of Philadelphia, wherein they pray "that they maybe permitted to enjoy the right and privileges of English subjects." Among the names are those of Peter Wentz, Michael Zeigler, Valentine Hunsicker, Nicholas Lesher, John Nicholas Kressman, Johannes Langnecker, Antonius Hallman, John George Reiff, Peter Reiff, Conrad Reiff, Gerhard Peters, Johannes Schaffer, Henry Pennebacker, John Snyder, George Merkle, and Daniel Langnecker. These were all residents within the present limits of Montgomery. A Nicholas Lesher warranted 60 acres in Phila Co on 5 Feb 1733 and 100 acres of land in Phila. Co. on 27 Feb 1733. At that time Berks and Montgomery were part of Phila. Co. Nicholas Lessher (and Jacob Hill) was a landholder in Towamencin Twp. Mont. Co. in 1734 On Feb 26, 1733 Johan Vincentz s/o Nicholas Loesher was baptized at Skippack, Mont. Co, Pa. Montgomery "History of Berks county" Rev Casper Stoever's Records On Feb 14, 1750 John Bowman of Germantown acknowledged that he saw Niheel Lescher and his wife Maria Johanna sign and deliver a deed to Niheel's son, John a farm of 215 acres for a nominal sum of 150 pounds. This farm was at the forks of the junction of the Manatawny with the larger stream (in Oley Twp.) "Annals of the Oley Valley" by Rev. P. C. Croll Nicholas Lesher and Johanna Drehar were married 24 Feb. 1694 in Germany. I.G.I index of LDS . No other source Nicholas Lesher was born about 1667 and died 30 Jan 1748/49 in Berks Co, Pa. His wife, Maria Johanna (Drehar) was born abt 1672 and died 01 Mar 1743/44 in Berks county. This Nicholas is said to have had two sons and two daughters. This is according to tradition and no source is given for this data. Nicholas Lesher (born about 1695) died in Oley Twp. 23 Mar 1744. His will of 1744 names children John Jacob, Nicholas, Michael, and Kinlenz (Vincent) and wife, Anna Klara. No daughters were mentioned. Wills of Phila. Co. G 180 BKG His wife, Anna Clara died 22 May 1766 in Oley LESHER, ANNE CLARA, widow of Nicles, (Oley Twp.) November 5, 1765 - May 22, 1766. Mentions that son John Jacob is quite unable to maintain himself and directs that he be maintained off her estate. George MERCKEL and Frederick KRAMER to be Trustees for said son. After his death estate to be divided among his bros and sisters, viz, John, Michael and Vinsentz, Catherine, Magdalen and Hannah. Letters to above named Trustees. Wit: Johannes HILBERT and Johannes MERTZ. Nicholas Lesher, mentioned in his father's will, was born about 1727 and died 13 Apr 1795 in Oley Twp. He married Barbara Kaufman, d/o David Kaufman 1752 Nicholas Lesher and John Lesher were tax payers in Oley Twp. 1767 Nicholas Lesher and John Lesher were taxpayers in Oley Twp. Deductions to be made from the above data: There were three Nicholas Leshers in Berks / Montgomery area of Pennsylvania in the 1700s. 1. Nicholas Lesher I Abt. 1667-1748 Father of John Lesher, ironmaster of Oley. 2. Nicholas Lesher II Abt 1795-1744. 3. Nicholas Lesher III, son of Nicholas Lesher II, Abt 1727-1704 Nicholas Lesher I probably sold property in Towamencin Twp in 1723 and then either moved to or bought land in Oley Twp. Nicholas II was probably the Nicholas Lesher, Jr. who sold land to Jacob Hill in 1723 and a land holder in Towamencin in 1734 and signed petitions there. About 1734 this Nicholas moved to Oley Twp. He died there in 1744. Nicholas III was taxed in Oley Twp. in 1752 and 1767. There is a relationship between Nicholas Lesher and Jacob Hill. They lived near each other in Towamencin. They came to Oley about 1735. Nicholas's son married David Kaufman's daughter Barbara and Jacob Hills' daughter married David Kaufman's son, Jacob. When Jacob Hill died George Focht, the husband of John Lesher's daughter, did the inventory of his estate. Jacob Hill's granddaughter, Hannah Hill married Henry Spang, brother of Frederick Spang who bought the Oley Forge from John Lesher. The Oley properties of John Lesher (which it is assumed belonged originally to his father) and Jacob HIll were just one tract apart. with Benjamin Longworthy between them. Philip Pendleton "Oley Valley Heritage" It is possible --- but NOT proved that the children of Nicholas I were John Lesher, Petronella Lesher, Nicholas Lesher, and, perhaps, Catherine, w/o Jacob Hill of District Twp. It is also likely that Bender or Benner was the maiden name of Anna Clara, wife of Nicholas Lesher II. This is based on the fact that in her will she named George Merkel and wife of Frederick Kramer (Anna Maria Merkel) as trustees of her disabled son. George and Anna Maria were siblings. Another sibling was Apolonia Merkel married to Jacob Hill of Windsor Township. Their mother was Anna Catherine Benner or Bender. Anna Catherine Benner was the daughter of Johannes Benner. She had a sister, Anna Klara, born to Johannes Bender and Anna Helena Bender in Lambsheim, Frankenthal, Pfalz, Bayern about 1708 I.G.I. indes LDS It would seem that Anna Clara Lesher chose her niece and nephew to be guardians of her son. And incidentally George Merkle was married to Christina Hill of Windsor Township. Michael Lesser (Lesher) of Greenwich Twp. Was an executor for the will of Jacob Hill of Windsor Twp. There is a connection between the Leshers, Hills, Merkels, and Benders. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.