Johann Jacob Beyer
First Generation
1. Johann Jacob Beyer
Johann was born in Oberalben, Rheinpfalz, (now Germany) about 1724. To reference location: Luxembourg, the Saarland and Rheinland. Rheinland and Baden belonged to Bavaria but is now part of Westfalen (Westphalia) and the Pfalz.
He married __?__ about 1748. She was born about 1724. Johann arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania September 2, 1743 on the ship Loyal Judith. He came from Rotterdam, Holland, the Netherlands.
RG - 26
Records of the Department of State
These are lists of immigrants from Germanic provinces, especially the Palatine Region of the Rhine River, required by law to be kept by the government of Pennsylvania between 1727 and 1808. in the early 1680's, William Penn and his agents invited persons suffering from religious and political persecution in this area of Europe to help settle his new colony in America.
By 1727, foreigners were arriving in such great numbers the Pennsylvania government, under Governor Patrick Gordon, passed legislation to regulate the settlers. The captain of each incoming ship was required to provide a list of all passengers and all passengers upon arrival were required to take an Oath of Allegiance to the British Crown and an Oath of Abjuration, renouncing the Pope. The Oath of Abjuration was especially important to Pennsylvania, a proprietary colony of the British government, made Protestant beginning with the overthrow of the Catholic Stuart Monarchy in 1689.
The lists have been published in various forms and modifications including A Collection of Thirty Thousand Names of Immigrants by Isaac Daniel Rupp, 1856; and the Pennsylvania Archives Second Series, volume 17. These are partial lists, many with transcription errors. in 1934 the entire record series was published as Pennsylvania German Pioneers (Volume XLII of the Pennsylvania German Society) by Ralph B. Strassburger and William J. Hinke (3 Vols.)
There were usually three lists per vessel:
A List - Captain's list of passengers.
B List - Oath of Allegiance to the British Crown.
C List - Oath of Fidelity and Abjuration.
The A and B lists are loose sheets most often filed together; occasionally a C list is with them. Most C lists are arranged separately at the end of the series in six bound volumes called Exhibits A through F. in some cases, not all lists for each arrival have survived.
My earliest known Bowers family progenitor Johann Jacob Beyer appears alone on all three of the previously mentioned lists of the immigrant ship: Loyal Judith from Rotterdam, Holland, the Netherlands September 2nd, 1743 arriving in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. in addition, I have found the following surname variants of Johann Jacob Beyer on various documents and all proved to be the same individual. I have found that his family & friends and in-laws referenced him and their name as "Bowers" but census takers & other gathers of information used at least the following variations: Beyer(s), Bayer(s), Bauer(s), Bowar(s), and Bower(s).
Johann Jacob Beyer and __?__ Had at least the following children:
2. Jacob Adam Bowers I (Pioneer)
I. Jacob Adam Bowers I was born about 1749 and died 1807 in Rowan County, North Carolina.
Second Generation
Jacob Adam Bowers I (Pioneer) (Johann Jacob Beyer 1)(came by Charleston, South Carolina to Rowan/Davidson County, North Carolina) he may have been born in Oberalben, Germany about 1749. Moreover, coming to America with [unknown] mother or other relative to be with father Johann after he was somewhat stable is one possible scenario that commonly occurred with other German immigrants of his day.
He may also have been born in Hesse, Germany; alternatively, Pennsylvania. (Still seeking more data at this time.) Around 1776 Jacob Adam Bowers was in the Revolutionary War.
On 1 August 1791, he secured a Deed in Rowan County, North Carolina [Book 12:32] on the Hamby Fork of Abbott's Creek adjacent to John Lopp. On 2 September 1796, he also purchased another 177 acres from John Fritz on Hamby Fork [Book 187].
Jacob Adam Bowers married Catherine Myers about 1776. Catherine was born 1758. She was the daughter of Johann George Myers, Jr. and Catharine __?__. Catherine Myers died 1817 in Rowan County, North Carolina at 59 years of age. Her body was interred 1817.
Jacob Adam Bowers died 1807 in Rowan County, North Carolina, at 57 years of age he was buried at Emanuel United Church of Christ Cemetery. (The Church itself was formerly Bowers Meeting House.) Jacob's son, John, later became a church elder at this Lutheran church of old Rowan County, North Carolina.
Jacob Adam Bowers I (Pioneer) and Catherine Myers had at least the following children:
3. John Jacob? Bowers I - born 19 January 1777 and died 9 January 1836.
4. Mary Bowers - born about 1778. She married Charles Patterson 20 August 1822 in Rowan County, North Carolina.
5. Sarah Bowers - born about 1780.
6. George Peter Bowers Sr. (twin) - born 23 February 1782 and died 20 August 1844.
7. Jacob Bowers II (twin)- born 23 February 1782. He married Catherine __?__. She was born 15 Jul 1794. Her body was interred September 1842 (Emanuel United Church of Christ Cemetery.) Catherine died 18 Sep 1842 at 48 years of age. Jacob died September 1842 in Davidson County, North Carolina at 60 years of age. His body was interred 1842.
8. Elizabeth Bowers - born about 1783. She married John Meyers. John was born 17 January 1781. John died 28 Dec 1848 at 67 years of age. Elizabeth died December 1849 at 66 years of age.
9. Catherine Bowers - born 20 March 1788 and died 25 July 1851.
10. Barbara Bowers - born 26 October 1791 and died 10 July 1839.
11. David Bowers - born 8 May/March 1793. David Bowers is said to have married Catherine/Katherine Grimes. Catherine was born 18 January 1792. She died 4 April 1804 at 12 years of age. Her body was interred April 1804 in Greene Township, Parke County, indiana (Old Philadelphia Lutheran Church Cemetery). No marriage record found. David died 21 July 1821 in Putnam County, indiana at 28 years of age (Russell Townpoint). Old German Lutheran Pilgrim Baptism records list his birth date of 8 March/May, 1793.
Third Generation
John Bowers I (Jacob Adam Bowers2) was born in Rowan County, North Carolina 19 January 1777. He married Margaret Elizabeth Myers about 1798. She was born 30 Feb/March 1778 and died 10 July 1827 at 49 years of age. Her body was interred 10 July 1827 in Rowan County, North Carolina.
I have another marriage of John Bowers I (Sic) to Mary Ann Frazier marriage on 25 April 1797 in Greene, Tennessee. (LDS data lists both Margaret Myers & Mary Frazier as wives of John Bowers I).
John died 9 January 1836 in Rowan County, North Carolina, at 58 years of age. His body was interred January 1836.
John Bowers I and Margaret Elizabeth Myers had at least the following children:
12. Catherine/Katherine Bowers - born about 1799.
Transcribed & copied by Patrick Kenney of Phoenix, Arizona. For non-commercial, non-profit family genealogical uses only. As of 6 March 1999, I am in possession of a reproduction of the original record of the Pennsylvania State Archives, Harrisburg, PA. Original records may be found in the Colonial Records of the Pennsylvania Archives, Vol. III. (I acquired my reproduction directly from the PSA)
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