Posted on: Pennsylvania Dutch Queries Board URL: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Pa/Dutch?read=4996 Surname: Jung, Young ------------------------- Well, most of my friends (even my girlfriend) have made the same joke "Mountain Mary Project starring Mike York, with music from Instink, The Back Door Boys and THAT GUY!" But, no, I'm looking for legitimate information on this woman, and actually looking for some of the stories that go along with her too. Here's what I've been able to find out. Anna Maria Jung was born (possibly to Jakob Jung) in 1749. Sometime between 1764 and 1773 the Jung family fled Germany to escape persecution from the wars that raged on. Anna Maria Jung, her father, mother and two sisters, Anna Elisabeth and Maria Elisabeth, settled in the Germantown area. After a few years, as the Battle of Germantown began to brew the father suddenly died. Once again, forced to flee, Anna Maria, her mother and two sisters found refuge in the hills of Oley. They bought a tract of land and, with the help of some neighbors errected a cottage and barn. Things went well, they would buy livestock when their means permitted. Shortly after the mother died. Then each of the sisters got married to men in the Oley valley (one sister possibly getting married twice (she became widowed)). Then, eventually, each sister died, the last one dying in 1799. The mother and two sisters were all buried on the hill on the farm where Mary still lived. It's said that Mary would tend to three or four cows by herself, tending to her own milk, cheese and butter and she would take care of bees as well, cultivating the honey. All of these products would be taken to one of two Philadelphia businessmen she knew. One Daniel Yoder, or one Issac Lee. They would take the goods to philly and sell them for her, and provide her with the money. Her reputation was well-known for two main reasons. It's said that she knew her roots and herbs that she grew intimately. She would be able to use them to heal almost anything. This some say came from indian sources, other say she was a witch. The other part of her reputation came from her concrete and far-seeing advice giving skills. Some people said she had a way of seeing the future. It's also been said that she was very religious. So religious that she knew her "good book" inside and out and could quote any scripture without reading it. Another strange fact, is that the first census in 1790 had her listed as the head of household of her two sisters, and she herself was marked by three words: "Mary (the Abbess)" Indicating maybe her leading of a religious group? Some places where history deviates is whether or not Mary was ever married. In a book called Die Berg Maria written in 1880 by L.A. Wollenweber he states that she met a man named Theodore Benz on the ship on the way over, and that he was an indentured servant to a man named Lienbach in Oley who was a farmer. After Mary and her family had moved to Oley, it was said that Mary and Benz were married in a quick ceremony. But, as the call came from General Washington, Theodore left for war. It's said that he was killed in war, and Mary was never to love another man again. But, a search of records reveals that Mr. Wollenweber made this Theodore Benz up, and merely used it for plot positioning in his book. His book is more used to give an insight into the German-American plight at the time of the American Revolution, so she was the perfect individual to do this with. That's about as much as I know. As you can see, I know very little of the lore, I've only touched on her connection with indians, and her reputation for being a witch. I also was hoping to help sort out the myth from the woman (i.e. whether or not she was actually married). As always, I appreciate any help anyone can give me, and I appreciate all the e-mails I've already received! Thanks!