West Family Tree

Excerpts on the Ankney Family From:

 

Some of the Ancestors and Descendants of Dewalt Ankeny
By Helen S. Ankney
Format altered to match that used in the Lawrence Jenkins books (incomplete)
R. J. Bergman 3-7-2007

"...As you go through the manuscript you will find that the previous writer and I agree that the name of the first (1st) wife was Catherine and not Mary Jane Domer as many have led us to believe. In those days a man did not venture very far from his place or home and thus the idea of going to Maryland for a wife seems a little out of line. Miss Jean Woods of Clear Springs, Md. also agrees with our assumption. Furtherrmore, none of the children were named Mary or Jane. The name of his first female was Catherine, which according to families in those days was generally the name of the wife. In the case of the name Mary, my Great- great- great grandmother came the closest to having been named Mary. Her name was Anna Maria Ankeny who married John Chorpenny. In this case the name has been changed by Henry, her son to Chorpenning, probably due to the number of different spellings of the name in the Estate papers. Some of the data on Christian Ankney comes from the work of Chester L. Shaver in his resume of George Shaver, father of Christian's first wife and one of the Executors of the Estate of George Shaver. Others is from the manuscript of Rev. Albert N. Corpening, who published a manuscript on John and Anna Maria Ankeny Chorpenning. He is a descendant of Albert, the brother of John who settled in North Carolina and still uses the original spelling of the name. More will be said of this family in its section. As the previous writer expressed himself, I also hope the effort is appreciated.
Lawrence W. Jenkins
Harrison City, Pa.
August 27, 1981

In writing my share of this manuscript to make it easy to understand, I have used numbers and g to indicate generations. The second number indicates their rotation according to birth. (HAS) An example: 1A indicates 1st generation, 1st child; 1B indicates 1st generation, 2nd child. I have worked on this a number of years. The information on the Norman B. Ankney, Lemon Orange Ankney Family and their descendants are mine, with the help of several family members...

M indicates marriage
HSA --------Helen Sites Ankney
CRS---------Charles Ross Shultz
LWJ---------Lawrence W. Jenkins
CLS---------Chester Lewis Shaver
GAR---------Grand Army Republic
Twp---------Township
DAR---------Daughters of the American Revolution
SAR---------Sons of the American Revolution
Unm. -------unmarried
Inf.--------information
Twp---------Township
Cem---------Cemetery
C or Cir ---Approximately
Dau.--------daughter...

A SKETCH OF THE LIFE, AND SOME OF THE DESCENDANTS OF DEWALD ANKENY
Born in Germany 1728
Came to America 1746
Settled first in Lancaster County, now Lebanon County, PA
Moved about 1726 to MD
Settled at Clear Spring
Died there in 1781

Collected and arranged by Charles Ross Shultz, a great-great-great-grandson of the pioneer. December 1948.

One of the Pioneers in the later Colonial Period of Pennsylvania and the father of other Pioneers, of the Revolutionary Period is the subject of this sketch, Dewald Ankeny, an immigrant who arrived on these shores in the year 1746. This fact is found in the list of immigrants or passengers on the Ship Neptune, which arrived at the Port of Philadelphia on October 25, 1746. The name given there was Dewalt Ancony. (We shall find that both his names were given in those early days under various spellings.) On the same ship was one Caspar Dewalt, said to be an uncle,, a brother to his mother. In the list of those who took the oath of allegiance to the king on the same date, his age was given as 18; so from that we get the date of his birth as the year 1728. The list of immigrants can be found in the book of immigrants from the Rhine Palatinate, and Switzerland, by Strassburger_Hinke. From the same list of Immigrants is also found the name of Johann Nickel Angne, age 47 and his wife, Anna Catherine, age 38, as having come to America in 1736.The name appears later in the Bucks County, Pa. records as Nicholas Onkeny, and will be referred to again. Also the list of Immigrants reveals the name Theobald Angane as having come to America in 1753. Both of these names are found in the sketch of Joseph Ankeny, a grandson of Dewalt, in a book "Prominent Iowans' by Brigham, as brothers of Dewalt, but this statement is probably not correct as will be shown hereafter.
By tradition the Ankeny family originated in Phalzburg, Alsace - Lorraine, France and the name is said to be Enghen at that time. The early members of the family were Protestants and followers of the Prince of Conde and Admiral Coligny, that is they were Huguenots. Persecution forced them into exile, and they later appear in the Rhine Palitinate. In the proceeding of the Pa. Folklore Society, edited by the late Rev. Dr. John Baer Stoudt, is found data pertinent to this sketch from the Bavarian State Archives, found at Speyer, Germany, and other sources. In Volume 1, page 105 Stoudt refers to several immigrants from various towns in Zweibrucken in the Palitinate, or The Pfalz, as it is sometimes called. One of these was Peter Heyderick, of Oberalba, who left there in 1738 for Pa., and who afterwards lived as a neighbor to Dewalt Ankeny, in Lancaster County, Pa. In 1736 he points out one John Nickel Agne, of Eineth, left for America. In the same list was one Theobald Kieffer, the change from Theobald to Dewald being significant, as indicated later. Also from the same Oberant (District), in 1746, came Theobald Agne and his sister Magdalena Agne of Lambsborn. The reference is without a doubt to our Dewald Ankeny who came in that year. (as Nicholas and Dewalt came from different towns and ages are quite different, they were probably not brothers, as given in the account referred to above.) Also in Volume 3, page 19, Pa. Folklore Society Proceedings, items from German Newspapers which are of interest to us are quoted. on September 30, 1758, a notice by John Theobald, who had come to America in 1752, and had settled 3 miles from Ephrata, Pa. advertised for the whereabouts of his brother, Caspar Theobald, who had come to America 15 years earlier, The article said John was accompanied by his sister Catherine who had married on shipboard, (married name not given) Dr. Stoudt again in a footnote, refers to
the dates of entrance of John Dewalt and Caspar Dewalt, as given in the lists of immigrants referred to above. He also mentions that Johan Dewald was born in Hahspeyer, Germany. In the preceeding two paragraphs, the writer has given the data on which he bases his conviction that the names, Theobald and Dewalt are the same, or were used thus at that time. Hence, he believes that the Theobald Angena who came to America in 1753 was actually Dewald returning from a visit to his former home. He signed his name to the ship's register as Theobald Angnee (with an X as he could not write.) and we find the name spelled thus in church records in Somerset County when Dewald's children settled there. Again we find in a church record of Salem Church, near Hagerstown, Md. where he settled. This item: Born to Theobald Angena and wife, a daughter, Elizabeth, December 4, 1772, and christened February 28, 1773. Also in the same record it is found that Theobald Angena and wife, Margaretha were witnesses at christening of a son David born to John Schaff and Fronica, the latter being a daughter of Dewalt's wife, Margaretha by her 1st marriage. It can also be stated here that later in the church records of Somerset Co., it is found that a son was born to Peter, son of Dewalt Ankeny, and was christened as Theobald. Thus the writer is convinced that Theobald is none other than “our" Dewald, wherever the name may be found in those early records. Many instances can be found where the ministers of that period usually used the name Theobald, rather than Dewald, though the latter was generally used colloquially. Regarding John Nickel Angne who came to America in 1736 and was probably an uncle of
Dewald, it appears he settled in Bucks Co., Pa. and the name soon became Onkeny.His descendants lived in Bedminster Township, according to records of the county histories as well as the Historical Society of Bucks County. Christian and Jacob Angeny are mentioned in the latter, and in the county history it is found that Nicholas Onkeny settled in the "Deep Run" section in 1741, and is mentioned as one of the Tohickton settlers. In the 1790 census, one finds the names Jacob Onkeny, Sr. and Jacob Onkeny, Jr. The Pa. Archives, series 3, volume 13, page 304, refers to a David and a Christopher Angeny, all of whom were taxed during 1781 - 1787. There was an Angeny Mill on Deep Creek in 1785, the earliest mill in that section. Thus it appears this family has a "Posterity", though it is not clear as to whether the name Angeny or may perhaps become Ankeny. A recent item has been found in the Congressional Library, Wash., DC, in which it appears one Jacob Ankeny who had married Mary Slifer, who was a grandson of Jacob Angeny, born in 1740, who had married Elisabeth Wismer in 1762. He was the son of Jacob Ankeny who had married Barbara Gehman, and the other children were named Elisabeth; Abraham; Samuel; William and David. Also, his children were named Joseph of New Britain, Pa; Jacob of Dublin, Pa.; and Nancy. So it is possible some of the Ankeny names found in various localities may be traced back to Nicholas Angne, rather than Dewalt Anconi (See supplement page)

Now turning to the subject of this manuscript, it is found that Dewald settled in Lancaster Co., Pa., somewhat west of Ephrata, now Lebanon Co, Pa. A letter from the Director of the Pa. Land Office (South Office Bldg, Harrisburg, Pa.) states a Warrant for 50 acres of land was granted to Dewalt Angena on February 14, 1750, and a survey of the tract was made, and returned 121 acres, 120 perches. (Pa. Archives , Series 3, Volume 24, Page 352.) He also stated the land was in Hanover Township, Lancaster Co. but now is in Union Township, Lebanon Co., a short distance west of Swatara Creek, midway between Jonestown and Licksdale, Pa. (History of Lebanon Co., by Egle, page 179,) It is found that he was taxed in East Hanover Township in 1756 under the name of Dayvolt Angony and he was not one of the settlers that fled because of Indian Attacks. A church record in the Jonestown Reformed Church shows this item: Christian, son of Dewalt Annias, (as translated) and Catherine, was baptized December 23, 1750 and witnessed by Christian Lang and Anna Maria, daughter of Peter Hedrick. This is an interesting item for several reasons; Peter Hedrick came from the same District in the Palatinate as did the Ankeny's. Also on the same ship with Nicholas Angne, there was one Nickel (Nicholas) Lang, and this man was a member of the Jonestown Church as early as 1742, at which date he had a daughter baptized there. These two men may or may not have been related to Dewalt; possibly one was a brother-in-law but at least all of them seemed to settle together. As the name Dewalt is not common and the name Annias is not known to have existed, it's almost certain the item refers to the subject of this manuscript and further evidence of that likelihood is the fact that Dewalt did have a son, Christian, was born December 25, 1749 and the christening at that time was quite likely. Reference to the name Catherine in the above
item will be made in a later Paragraph. But another item comes from the Host Church on the Big Swatara near Jonestown. Here we find that Rebecca was born to Theobald Angne on July 5, 1755, christened August 17, 1755, witnessed by Peter Heitherick and Rebecca Lang, both single. As the sponsors are from the same families, and from the similarity of names, it's clear both items refer to Dewalt. From the tax records we know he lived in that section and no other name like his is found.
Tradition has it that Dewalt had married Mary Jane Domer and she was the mother of the older children. This name is found in the account of Joseph Ankeny given in ”Prominent Iowans”, already referred to. Here it is stated she was a daughter of Thomas Domer and the first two sons were named for two brothers, Peter and Christian Domer. We know the Domers lived in Md. where Dewalt later lived but it is not known they ever lived in Pa. Also we know some of the names used in the account were not entirely correct. So far as the writer (Charles Shultz) is concerned, there is a question as to the verity of that tradition. From the above item it appears the wife of Dewalt and mother of Christian was named Catherine. Her family name is not evident but may possibly be Lang or Hederick. It is noted that none of the daughters of Dewalt were named Mary Jane but nearly all of them did have a daughter named Catherine. And Dewalt’s first daughter was named Catherine. And we are quite sure the items mentioned refer to Dewalt and it must follow the first wife was Catherine, not Mary Jane, and probably not Domer. Tradition has it that she died at an early date from injuries she received from their burning barn when trying to save some of the cattle. The exact date is not known. Before leaving the matter of names, It might be noted that one of the members of the Jonestown Church was William Lang, whose wife was Magdalena; that was also the nameof Dewalt's sister, who came with him to America in 1746. These two Magdalina’s may be be the same person. Living near them at the time was a man named Noah Frederick who on October 12, 1756 was killed by the Indians in one of the frequent attacks that they made on the frontier settlements. Also several of the children were carried off by t hem. The widow of Frederick was left with two small daughters, and several months later a son was born to the widow. About 1758 Dewalt married this widow, Margaret Becker Frederick and perhaps adopted the posthumously born son as his own. This son was named Johann George, born March 27, 1757 and christened May 8, 1757 as recorded in the Bethel Church in that district. A Lancaster
Co. Court record shows that on January 16, 1759, Dewalt Ancony and his wife, Margaret, (Frederick), widow of Noah Frederick were appointed to administer the estate of Noah Frederick. The 2 daughters of Noah and Margaret Frederick were Veronica, born 1752 and Christina, born 1754. The Court in 1762 appointed a guardian for them, and in 1766 a different man was appointed until they became of age.

It appears that Margaret may have been the 2nd wife of Noah Frederick and so the older children who were carried off by Indians were not hers, only stepchildren. It was about this time that Dewalt and Margaret Anconi moved to Md., settling in a
place called Clear Springs, in the Conococheague District (Valley.) Here he bought a small tract of land in 1764 and on January 19, 1773, it is found in the Maryland Records, that Duval Anconi had a warrant for 500 acres, the tract he named " Well Pleased" He lived here for the remainder of his life and became one of the wealthy men of the region. He later took out warrants for (or purchased) 4 tracts of land in what was then Bedford, now Somerset Co., Pa. where several of his sons settled. Very likely all the children, the ones born to the first wife and several of those born to the second wife came before he left Pa. and were probably baptized there. At any rate, only the christening of his last child, 7th in the 2nd family, is shown in the old church records. This is found as already mentioned, in the Salem Church where the records show Elisabetha was born to Theobald and Margaretha Angena, December 4, 1772, and was christened February 28, 1773, the witness being Ruffin.
It is interesting to note, in referring to these early records how many different spellings are found for both the first and last name of our subject. Dewalt is written as Dewald; Dayvolt; Duval and Devault. The last name comes in even more spellings: Anconi; _ncony; Angne; Agnee; Angena; Acconi, etc. It is generally spelled Ankeny, Ankeney or Ankney as some of the families in the second family spell the name. Ankeney is the spelling usually used by the families who lived in Md. and their descendants who live in the West. And regarding the form, Theobald, it might be mentioned that one of the sons of John, oldest of the second family of Dewalt was named Dewalt for his grandfather but in Greene Co., Ohio where he spent most of his life, he was known as Theobald Ankeney. The subject of this manuscript died in 1781.

He left a will in which he directs that he was to be buried in the orchard by the graves already there. Just who is buried there is not clear, possibly several infants who's names are not recorded. This burial plat has been lost and plowed over; so today there is only a Memorial stone set up at St. Paul's Church on highway US # 40, a mile or two east of Clear Springs, Md., this cemetery being on his original estate and given for burials by his son, John. The inscription on this stone is: To the memory of Dewalt Ankeny, the first of this name and the founder of that name in America, one thousand seven hundred forty six, Born 1728, Died 1781 at Clear Springs, Md., Lawrence Jenkins, a descendant of Anna Maria, youngest daughter of his first wife has a baptismal record from the town of Lambsborn, Germany, which states Johan Theobald Angne was baptized in January 1727, thus he was born in early 1727 or 1726. In his will which is very interesting in many ways, especially as to his specific directions for the dividing of his properties and the caring of his widow, Dewalt refers several times to his "12 children", or the " seven sons and five daughters". As he names individually the seven in the second family, it is clear there were 5 children in the first family, two sons and three daughters. Another odd feature of the will is that he provides for giving his property in Md., divided into two farms, to two of his sons "by the casting of lots", though the two who got these lots were to pay out to the others according to the value, and the others were to each have one tract in Somerset, then Bedford Co., Pa. This will is published in JOURNALS of AMERICAN HISTORY, Vol. 2, pages 661 - 662, under the heading "The Will of A Wealthy Colonial American of 1781.” Most of the larger libraries are likely to have a publication.

He took the Oath of Allegiance to the Colonial Cause before John Barnes, Justice of the Peace in Washington County, Maryland, on February 28, 1778, as found in the UnpublishedRecords, Vol. 3, page 39, of the Daughter of the Revolution, and from the Maryland Historical Magazine, Vol. 12, page 345, it is found he was one of 54 persons named to relieve the distress among the inhabitants. His name is given here as Devault Anchony. A record of grants in his name is found in Scharff's History of Western Md., Vol. 2, page 985, and in the Pa. Archives, series 3, Vol. 24, Page 352. References to him is also found in Memorials of the Huguenot, by Rev. A. Stapleton, as follows: "North or South Mountain, in the limits of Washington Co., Md., the first settlements were made by Pennsylvania Germans prior to 1735, in the vicinity of Clear Springs, Md. Among the settler with Huguenot Antecedents was Dewalt Ancony who arrived in Phila., Pa. from Europe in 1746 and
died at Clear Springs, Md. in 1781 at a very advanced age of 53. (Today we would hardly call 53 an advanced age)

If the first wife of Dewalt was really a Domer, this paragraph may be of some interest. Tradition says that a sister of Mary Jane Domer married Joseph Fiery, and a daughter of that union was married to Dewalt's son, George. The following is found in a Maryland record: Joseph Fyers (Fiery ?) married Anna M. Dommer, August 3, 1762. Others of this name who are shown by the 1790 census to have been in Washington Co., Md. then are Ludwig, John and Christian. In Hagerstown or nearby in 1776 were Michael Domer and wife, Anna, sons Michael, Jr. and Frederick. The name is also common in Somerset Co.,, Pa. and in Tuscarawas Co., Ohio. In the latter county one of the first settlers was a Frederick Domer from Somerset Co., Pa. known as "Judge Domer" and was a Dunkard Preacher. Brothers of his were George and Jacob. Also, Michael Domer settled in Holmes Co., Ohio, adjoining Tuscarawas Co. Jacob and George at a later date went to Elkhart, Indiana. Michael died in 1845 and left sons John, Jacob and George and six (6) daughters. The sons and sons-in-law of Dewalt Ankeny were among the first settlers in that part of Bedford Co., Pa., which later became Somerset County, Pa. when the county was divided in
1795. Christian, the oldest of the family was listed in there in 1775 and Peter in 1776. In the Pennsylvania Archives it is found that Dewalt, Christian and George, a son of Christian had taken out Warrants for lands in that part of Bedford Co., Pa. on September 6, 1774, the amount of lands being 250 acres, 150 acres, 150 acres, respectively. Altogether the family; father, sons and grandsons had taken out Patents for a total of over 3,000 acres. Probably most of these tracts were later surveyed and patented to them. They also purchased other lands, either by Warrants or Deeds, as for instance, the lands of Ulrich Bruner, who had laid out a town plan called Milford, and of his sons, Henry and George which was purchased by Peter Ankeny and more lots were laid out on portions of this land by him. This was the beginning of the town of Somerset.

In Blackburn's History of Somerset and Bedford Counties, Vol. 2, Page 128, reference is made to a letter written by request apparently by Joseph Ankeny, son of Peter to David Husband in 1870. Quoting this letter after he refers to his Uncle Christian who came first to Somerset in 1772 or 1773, and settled on the Fritz Farm near Pine Hill. Then the letter says, he later returned to Somerset where " Christly" settled on the John Schrock farm west of town, and Peter on the Hugus place where he built a log cabin and planted an orchard. Peter went back to Washington Co., Md. for the winter and returned in the spring with his wife, oldest child and household goods, including a stove. Then he says, to quote directly, “My impression is that Uncles, Chorpenning and Walter did not come until 1780. Uncle Chorpenning's first improvement was on the same ground still occupied by the Buildings on the "Old Chorpenning Farm. Walter's, I am not able to describe.” (Thus he must have been referring to John Chorpenning as his uncle, as there are no other Chorpenning families in the county except John and his family) He adds that he thinks that Harmon Husband came the next summer, 1781, when he rode a sorrel horse and had one son, Isaac, whom he called "Trippy" along. He went by the name, Harmon Scapedeath, came often to Ankeny's as he and his son had kept "Batchelor's Hall" and he enjoyed the cooked meals. (Again one might mention that in 1781 he was just returning from the general flight of 1778, due to the Indian Scare. He had been to Somerset Co. much earlier and had made surveys prior to that time)

Thus it seems probable that in the early years the men raised the crops on the frontiers in the summers and returned to Md. in the winters. But in 1784, both Christian and Peter were included in the list of residents of Somerset County, each with a family of seven children. There are also Records of baptism of their children in Somerset even earlier than that date. Catherine Ankeny, the oldest sister of Christian and Peter, had married Michael Walter and had lived for several years in or near Hagerstown, Md., and had also moved to Somerset by that date or earlier; and possibly several of the other sons,half brothers had settled there, too, as well as the other son-in-law of Dewalt referred to above as Joseph's Uncle Chorpenning. In the records of Berlin Church, both Lutheran and Reformed at that time, entries are found giving baptismal dates of children of all the following: Peter and Christian Ankeny, Michael Walter, Jacob, and David Ankeny, and John Schaff, husband of Dewalt's stepdaughter, Veronica. In 1789, according to the Pa. Archives, Christian, Peter, Jacob and David Ankeny were all registered for military service, as well as Gillian Gary, who after the death of Michael Walter in 1785 had married Catherine,
Michael's widow. The Census of 1790 gives all the above names as residents of that part of Bedford Co., which will later become known as Somerset Co., Pa. Children of John and Anna Maria Ankeny Chopenning were also found in the baptismal records of the Berlin Church. You will note that an earlier parenthetic statement referred an uncertainty in regard to the Ankeny relationship to a member of the Corpenning family. The spelling was originally spelled thus, and by tradition again, it is said one of three brothers had married one of the Ankeny girls. It is said by some that Elizabeth Ankeny had married George Corpenning and had gone to North Carolina to live with the oldest of the sons, Albert Corpenning. He was one of only two as we now know, married Barbara Probst on June 23, 1774 and had gone to that state, although they were detained in the state of Va. the first winter by a storm. Correspondence with members of the family now living in N.C. has brought out the fact they know of no George in the original family of Hendrick Kourpening who came to America in 1751 on the ship "Duke of Bedford" with his two sons, Albert and John Kourpening. Albert had a son, George. Dewalt's grandson, Joseph in the statements quoted above clearly established the fact that he had an uncle by that name, and the description of the farm definitely refers to the other brother, John, though he does not use the name. The trouble indentifying this Corpenning uncle may have come from a statement from a sketch of the family of John Corpenning written some years ago by J. Harry Fritz, an attorney of the Somerset bar, who should have known how to base his writing on facts but apparently did not. In this account he says that John Corpenning, (the spelling of the name was changed to Chorpening by the oldest son, Henry after the death of John and Anna Maria Korpenning), probably due to the several spellings of the name in the estate papers of both
in 1804 and 1806. John had married Anna Maria Ingrason. So far as known, he did not give the source of his information; but one can assume he found the name in an old Bible or an early church record. If so, the name was probably written in German and the form at that period would add the letters "in" to the name of a woman to make it feminine. Thus the Ankeny name would appear “Angnesin". This would look much like the name Ingrasin in the German script, and anyone not skilled in translation of the German names as written 150 years ago might readily make this error. At any rate, all evidence we can get clearly shows that it was John Corpenning who married Anna Maria Ankeny, the youngest daughter of Dewalt's first family. Further reasoning for taking this view comes from the fact that in the census, taken in Hagerstown, Md. (then called Elizabeth Hundred) in August 1776, as given in a photostat in the History of Western Md., by Brumbaugh; the names and ages of
Michael Walter and his wife, Catherine are given and immediately following each (men and women were given separately) comes the name John Corpenning and his wife, Mary, and their ages. Apparently they were living together or next to each other as would be natural for two sisters. The date given for the marriage of the Corpennings was March 1776, so they might well have lived together with members of the family until then. Another striking bit of evidence is the practice of having the christenings witnessed when possible by parents, brothers or sisters. We find that in the case of the Ankeny, Walter and Corpenning families, members of these families frequently, or generally did that for each other. Thus John and Mary Corpenning were witnesses twice for Ankeny children, and the Ankney's or Walter and his wife witnessed four times for the Corpenning children. This is for only a part of the children as the records are not all given.

Also when John Corpenning died at an early age and left most of his children still minors, several of them were guardians for some of the children, and were also on the administers bond. This mass of evidence makes it evident that Fritz errored when he gave the name of Mrs. Corpenning as he did. In addition, the name Ingrasin can not be found in any of the lists of names of that period; so there can be no reasonable doubt that John Corpenning was a son-in-law of Dewalt Ankeny.
In this sketch of the family, we shall take up the children in the order of their ages, so far as that order is known. Then we shall give the same data for the stepdaughters, Veronica and Christina. The children of the first wife were Christian, Peter, Catherine, Rebecca and Anna Maria(Mary) The seven of the second marriage were John (apparently adopted by Dewalt as his own), Henry, Jacob, Margaret, George and Elizabeth *Ankeney (*latter family seemed to all spell their name Ankeney. Margaret may have been older than one or both of the two brothers named ahead of her. But otherwise the order seems to be correct. We shall give pertinent facts about each as to where each lived, died and is buried, if known. Also, something
about their activities, the names of their children, in some cases, down to the present generation.

The children of Dewalt shall be numbered according to generations, second number shall be their rotation of birth.(where known) (example; 1B, thus 1st gen., 2nd child, g denotes generation) Signatures on the bond for the administration of the estate of Noah Frederick, in Lancaster Co., Pa., January 16, 1759, of Dewalt and Margaret Ancony were made by their marks, thus:
Dewalt (X) Angeny
Margaret (X) Angeny
The signature to the ship’s roll and Oath of Allegiance,
September 14,1753. This relates to a literate man of which the above item in Lancaster
County, Pa, show that our Dewalt was not. His will also shows that he could not write.
(LWJ)
Catherine Ankeny.
Elisabeth Ankeny.

An addition to the discussion of the names Dewalt and Theobald, given earlier in this Account, comes from a Circular #6, recently sent out by the Historical Society, of York County, Pa., on the confusion of names among the Pennsylvania German families. In this list of confused names given by the Circular is:

Dewald, 18th century German form, is the same as Theobald, the correct English translation. Then follows that the name is often confused with the name David.

Anna M. Angeny, 600 Market St. Perkasie, Pa., a grand-daughter of Samuel Angeny, who was a grandson of Nicholas Angeny, an older brother, or uncle, of Dewalt Angeny, (Anconi - Ankeny). A letter from her to Mrs. Foster was seen and returned to Mrs. Foster. It is not certain that Samuel was related just as stated above, but he was a son of Jacob, who was possibly a son of Christopher, a son of Nicholas. At any rate she is of the line of Nicholas, reference to whom was made in the early pages of the Dewalt Ankeny account.

---------------------------------------------------------

This is the end of the discussions by Charles Ross Shultz. The present writer will attempt to add to and update this work as I proceed. This is not an attempt to use the work of another for my own gain but to correct errors and bring the work to a more fuller advancement of the work. I will use the initials of the person who did the research before me to identify his work and my own to identify mine. All of those who gave of their information and help I cannot begin to thank enough. As there are many I cannot list each one personally so shall use an asterisk before the name of an informant when I get to a part given by them. Some of the information in the family of Christian will be the work of Chester L. Shaver in his manuscript on the family of George Shaver. If I make errors I am sorry and say, pardon.
Sincerely,
Lawrence W. Jenkins.

 

Dewalt Anconi, A Colonial Pioneer
Addenda

In order to understand the name Ankeny, one has to remember they were French Huguenots (Protestant) by religion, therefore the name and spelling has changed over the years.

Originally the name was Engken, and another version states the name as Anguenet. One can choose either one and it is still French. One of the occupations of the Anguenet family was that they were swordbearers for the Duke of Origny, and Huguenot adherents of Prince Conde, and Admiral Coligny. Gaspard De Coligny was Admiral of France, and a beloved leader of Navarre; (King Henry 1V); who issued the Edict of Nantes guaranteeing a measure of security and freedom to the Huguenots. Following the death of King Henry IV; and the elevation of Louis XIV to the throne; the Edict of Nantes was annulled. Religious persecution followed with severe prison sentences handed down to those who did not repent. 14 years was the sentence in the galleys as oarsmen; and if they still did not repent, 14 more years and then death if they still persisted. This caused a mass exodus of the Huguenots to England, Germany, Switzerland and other nations where they could serve God in an apparent degree of safety. Eventually they heard of the British Colonies and the religious freedom enjoyed there and they joined other groups in an emigration to America.

Dewalt Anconi was one of them. Altogether France lost over 400,000 Huguenots, referred to by some Historians as "Some of the best intellects and skilled Artisans in France" who were forced into exile and their property confiscated.

Many have stated that Dewalt was born in 1728 in Wurtemburg, Germany. This statement has been proven to be false due to a copy of the Baptismal Certificate that was copied and sent from Germany by Gustav Angne, Mainz, Germany.

Translated it reads thus:

Johan Theobald, son of Johann Heinrich Agne and Christina; legitimate son of both of them from Lambsbor. He was brought for Holy Baptism on 16th day of January 1727. The witnesses were Johann Abraham Muller, Johann Theobald Trautmann (Michael Trautmann's son), Anna Elizabeth, Johann Michael Trautman (the elders wife) and Anna Barbara, wife of Johannes Agne, both from here.

Two other names are on the record and the start of a fourth. A copy of the Baptism record follows the addenda.

From the Laurel Messenger, February 1978, Page 8; (Publication of the Somerset Historical Society, Somerset, Pa.,) under title " Ankeny Antecedents in Europe" A. Abel Anguenet’ of Phalzbourg, Alsace - Lorraine, France (Lorraine, Duchy 1532, parts taken by France 1552 and 1661, annexed to France 1766) He married Angelica Vinon (Vinot) of Pfalzburg. She was of the Vitry-le- Francois Family. The Ankeny family was Huguenot with some members being Reformed Church Ministers. Peter Anguenet, evidently left France and went to the town of Zweibrucken, and from there to the village of Lambsborn, some time before 1673. Persecutions were prevalent in France at the time and culminated in 1685, when King Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes. This religious intolerance led to many of the Huguenots leaving France for Germany, Switzerland and England, as the Ankeny family did. In Lambsborn the Anguenet family came into contact with the Trautmann family and Peter Agne married Otillia Trautmann.

2A. Peter Johan Agne was baptized at Pfalzburg, (now Pfalzbourg), in the Moselle area of the Lorraine section of France about 1650. He emigrated to the Duchy of Zweibrucken (Twin Bridges) Germany cir1670.A carpenter and mill builder by trade. He married Otillia Trautmann cir 1674, a daughter of George and Elizabeth Romer Trautman She was baptized May 6, 1665 in Lambsborn Reformed Church. She died February 21,1730 in Lambsborn. He died cir. 1702 in Lambsborn, Germany. (age 52)

3A. Johann Heinrich Agne was born March 2, 1698 in Lambaborn, Germany and died December 25, 1727 in Lambsborn at age 29. He married Christina Cantor on January 19, 1723 in Lambsborn. She was born 1696 in Sana Canton, Bern, Switzerland, a daughter of Johannes Cantor, a Tanner by trade. Johann died while his son Johann Theobald (Dewalt) was still an infant. John Jacob Bachlein married Christina on July 13, 1728, six years before she died on February 17, 1734 at age 38. These are from European Records, Lambsborn Reformed KB

The Family of Otillia Trautmann
A. Jacob Trautmann, Sr., the Stammvater (ancestor) of the Trautmann Family was born 1535, married -----------Schneider, daughter of Hansen R. and Otillie Beyer Schneider.He lived in Lambsborn, Germany, died 1589. (at age 54)
2A. Jacob Trautmann, Jr., born 1558, was a student at Hornbach Gymnasium (High School) from 1573 - 1581; a student of Theology at Straussburg; Lutheran Minister, 1573- 1593; and again from 1595 - 1609. From 1593 - 1597, a farmer in Lambsborn, Germany, Jacob Trautmann died 1609 (age 51). M. Barbara------- Their children included
3A. Jacoby Trautman
3B. Theobald Trautman
3C. Frederich Trautman
3D. Peter Trautman
3E. Joes Trautman
3F. Rosina Trautman Jacoby Trautmann (3A) , married Margred ------.
4A. George Trautmann was born in Vogelbacherhoff, near Lambsborn, Germany. He married Elisabetha Romer of Kashofen, a daughter of Daniel Romer. He was a farmer and Schultiess (Village Mayor) of Vogel-Bacherhoff, He died November 4, 1680,
The children of George and Elisabeth Trautman were:
5A. *Otillia Trautman; baptized in the Reformed Church May 6, 1655, in Lambsborn. She died February 21,1730. *Our Ancestor's grandmother.
5B. Michael Trautman
5C. Ruprecht Trautman
5D. Jean George Trautman
5E. Anna Elizabeth Trautman
5F. Anna Catherina Trautman
5G. Agnes Trautmann.
This brings us to Dewalt Anconi, our ancestor and progenitor in America and early Anguenet’ came from the German work of Gustav Angne, Mainz,References for the material shown on the Trautmann Germany.

It also shows the many ways the name has been spelled over the years. Anguenet’ Agne; Agni; Angne; Angenet’; Angony; Anconi; Ankeny; Ankney; and Ankeney are just a few of them.

 

The Last Will and Testament of Dewalt Anconi
The Will of a Wealthy American in 1781

In the name of God Amen: The 11th day of March in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty one. I, Dewalt Anconey, of Washington Co., Md. State; being sick in body but of good and perfect memory, thanks be given to Almighty God and calling to Remembrance the uncertain Estate of this Trancetory Life and that all flesh must yield to death when it shall please God to call, do make constitute ordain, and declare this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following, revoking and annuling by these presence, all and every Testament and Testaments, Will and Wills heretofore by me made and declared either by word or writing, and this is only to be taken only for my Last Will and Testament, and none other, and first being penitent and sorry from the bottom of my heart for my sins past, most humbly desiring forgiveness for the same. I give and commit my soul unto Almighty God, my Savior and Redeemer in whom, and by the
merits of Jesus Christ, I trust and believe assuredly to be saved and to have full remission of all my sins, and that my Soul with my body at the General Day of Resurrection shall rise again with joy, through the merits of Christ's Death and Passion, possess and inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, prepared for His Elect and Chosen, and my body to be buried within my orchard fence by the graves that is already therein and now for the settling of my Temporal Estate and such goods, chattels, and debts as it hath pleased God far above my deserts to bestow upon me, I do give and dispose the same in manner and form following; that is to say:

First I will that all those debts and duties as I owe in right to any manner of person or persons whatsoever shall well and truly be 0aid within convenient time after my decease by my executors hereafter named --- Item, I give and bequeath three hundred acres of land, the lower part of the original whereon I now live with all the meadows and improvements thereunto belonging to which two of my sons it shall fall to by a fair drawing of tickets for the same by my seven sons, hereafter named; Christian, Peter, John, David, Jacob and George Anconey, the advantage of the water within the meadow to be equally advantageous each to the other, and further the said three hundred acres of land is to be justly appraised and valued in hard money or the exchange at the time of the appraisement by my sons which have come of age, and them the said sons, shall find and give to my beloved wife, Margaret Anconey yearly and every for the term of six years if in case the younger is
not properly educated, the two sons aforesaid is to give to the said Margaret Anconey yearly, twenty five bushels of good merchantable wheat, each ten good bushels of rye each, also ten bushels of good Indian corn, also ten bushels of good buckwheat each, also fifteen bushels of potatoes each, likewise, the sons is to find the said Margaret Anconey one ton of good first crop hay, each also one ton and a half each of second crop hay and the whole to be delivered by said sons in good order into the barn or stable which she shall think proper and the aforesaid sons that get the land is to move the old house from where it now stands on the other side of the upper spring, and to repair the same in such manner as she, the said Margaret Anconey may live warm and decently in the same, also they are to put into the said house my forge stove which now stands in my room with the pipe thereto and she, the said Margaret Anconey, is to have the said house and stove during her natural life if she chooses. Likewise my wife is to have the said negro girl called Rachael during her natural life, then after her decease the said girl, Rachael is to be sold and the money or price of her is to be divided amongst the whole children, seven boys and five girls; the sons is to chop and have all the firewood for said Margaret Anconey during the time she shall have occasion for it. Likewise the said sons shall find said Margaret Anconey one year old hog each yearly and every year fit for fatting, also fifteen pounds of hackled hemp each and fifteen pounds of good ton, (tow) each likewise all I have with her saddle and bridle, the saddle and bridle to be found by her said sons, likewise she is to have three cows, the choice being of the Penn.

Item: I give and bequeath two hundred acres of land it being the remaining part of my original tract called "Well Pleased" lying Northeast of the three hundred acres to any of my seven sons as aforesaid whichever one shall draw it by a fair draft of tickets aforesaid for the other three hundred acres it also being appraised or valued by my sons as before mentioned and at the expiration of six years the appraisement money of the said two hundred acres of land is to be equally divided amongst my twelve children to be paid in equal payments every year within the term of four years after the said appraisement of said land, likewise the before mentioned three hundred acres the value of which is to be equally divided amongst my children and paid them within or at the expiration of four years as before mentioned by whichever two sons get it, but if in any case my son, Peter Anconey should draw one of the improved places in the original tracts whereon I now live, it is my desire that he would let one of his younger brothers have the place where he now lives, according to the appraisement of each or as they may otherwise agree but if my son, Peter Anconey should not be willing to agree with his brother it is my desire that he will
purchase one for his brother that may be adequate to the appraisement.

Item: Whichever of my sons as does not draw a piece of land in my original tract shall each one have one tract of land lying in Milford Township, ye state of Pennsylvania at the first cost. One bought of Michael Huff $55.00. One bought of John Shoff at $143.00, One bought of Matthias Ditch at $36 10. One bought of Jacob Houke $110.00 hard cash. Item: I give to my beloved wife to take of her choice of four ewes of the best of my flock, likewise all my household furniture during her natural life and after her decease it is to be sold and the money equally divided amongst the children except the three cows and their increase after her decease is to be given to my youngest daughter Elisabeth. Moreover I do ordain that my beloved wife shall have the privileges of pasturage for her stock in the same pasture with my two sons stocks that gets the places, also my beloved wife is to have the privilege of what apples as she may think necessary and proper for the use of her
house. Moreover after the expiration date of six years which the two sons gets the places they are and shall find my beloved wife yearly and every year a good and sufficient maintenance of meat and drink and clothing and other necessaries which she will stand in need of.

Item: I do order and ordain that all my stock and farming utensils except what I have already bequeathed shall be sold at Public vendue and the money arising there from shall be equally divided among my twelve children and my beloved wife Margaret. Likewise, sixty pounds good money which I received with my wife Margaret by our marriage which sum I appoint to be divided said wife and the children she had by me (viz) my sons; John; Henry; David; Jacob and George Anconey and my daughters, Margaret and Elisabeth Anconey, by her first husband Franey and Christina Frederick, all in equal shares, and if God in his Providence should call me off the stage of life before my younger children should receive their learning in the Dutch (Deutch) school I appoint that my wife shall receive twenty pounds of good money from the vendue money for to school the said children and I ordain and appoint my beloved wife Margaret and my son Christian Anconey my executor of this my Last Will and Testament for the true intent and meaning of the same whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above writing.
his
Devault X Anconey { seal }
mark
Signed, Sealed, Published and Pronounced, and Declared by the said Devault Anconey as his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us the subscribers.

N.B. I give to my beloved wife to be found by her by the beforehand mentioned sons all the necessary clothing for my youngest for the term of six years and also for the negro girl, Rachael and money to be drawn by said sons from the Vendue of my stock.

Joseph Brewer; Henry Gerbach; Thomas Van Swerigan, Washington County, Maryland, SSt
April 7, 1781.

On the back of the original will and the following indorsements, to wit Washington County, Maryland, Sst April 7, 1781.Then came Margaret Anconey and Christian Anconey and made oath on Holy Evangels of Almighty God that the within instrument of writing is the and Whole Will and Testament of Devault Anconey late of the said county, deceased, that have come to their hand or possession and that they do not know of any other.

Certified by Thomas Belt, Register Washington County, Maryland; SSt April 1781.

Then came Joseph Brewer, Henry Gerbach and Thomas Van Swerigan, the subscribing witnesses to the Last Will and Testament of Devault Anconey late of said County, deceased and severally made oath on the Holy Evangels of
Almighty God that they did see the Testament therein named Sign, and Seal this Will andthat they heard him Publish, Pronounce and Declare the same to be his Last Will and Testament; that the time of so doing he was to the best of their apprehensions of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding and that they respectively subscribed their names as witnesses to this Will in the presence and at the request of the Testator and in the presence of each other.

Certified by Thomas Belt, Register

(Will Book of Washington County, Maryland: Liber "A" folio

--------------------------------

Naturalization and Allegiance of Devold Angene;
Source: Wyand, Jeffery and Florence; Colonial Maryland Naturalization C1975.
Page 54, Item 292 Date of Naturalization: Date of Communion:
Angene Devold, September 11, 1765
Ash Henry
*** St.Anne's Witness, Phillipp ---
*** Three hyphens indicate an illegible name.
Source of Volume and Page;
Provincial Court Judgements Libers on Deposit, Hall of Records DD9. Page 2.
*** Appendix; Page 77, Love, Dacid, Church of England, Rector All Hallow Parish, Anne
Arundel County, Established 1692, Parish located in Annapolis, Maryland.
Received from Marie Friedline of Chicago, Ill., March 12, 1980.

 

Will of George Shaver, Sr.

In the name of God Amen: I, George Shafer of Washington County and State of Maryland am sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory and calling to mind the mortality of my body knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, I do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament, that is to say: Principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul unto God that gave it; and for my Body I recommend to the earth to be buried in a Christian manner at the discretion of my Executors, nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the Mighty Power of God, and as touching as such worldly Estate where with it hath blessed me in this life. I give and dispose of the same in the manner following:

First: I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Barbara, all the profits, rents, and income of my land and plantation purchased from the late Samuel (sic) Stuky, deceased during her widowhood in my name.

Item: I will and bequeath to my wife the black riding mare, two cows and a heifer, one bed, bedstead and all and all thereto belonging, in her lieu of Dowry.

Item: I will and bequeath to the heirs of my eldest son George Shafer, Jr., deceased each of them an equal share of the portion of my Estate after my decease his son David only excepted, who shall have but one Spanish Dollar for his share and each of the rest shall have the sum of Forty Pounds to be paid to them by my executors at age of Twenty one years.

Item: I give and bequeath to my son Paul all the land and *Plantation in the State of Pennsylvania whereon he now liveth in lieu of his portion or expectancy of my Estate.
*Farm located in Montgomery Township, Franklin County, Pa.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my son David the sum of One hundred pounds in lieu of his portion of expectancy of my Estate.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my son Henry the sum of Two Hundred Pounds current money beside his portion or expectancy of my Estate.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Catherine *Werstone or her heirs two hundred pounds currency. *Anglization of the German surname Wertzstein.

Item: I give and bequeath to my three daughters, Viz; Elisabeth Ankeney; Eve Lander (Lauder) ?), and Ann Mary*Hayin each and every of them an equal share with my son Henry, after the two hundred pounds above mentioned are paid to the said Henry.
*German feminine ending.

Item: It is further my will that my Negro Jack shall be free and for himself in six months after my decease and if he will and can pay to my heirs or Executors the sum of fifty pounds currency for the freedom of his wife Racchel, she shall likewise be free also.

Item: I give and bequeath unto the heirs of my son deceased their fathers equal share or portion with Henry; Elisabeth; Eve; and Ann Mary above mentioned the two hundred pounds aforesaid, except for Henry and it is further my Will that my Executos as soon as it conveniently can be shall sell at Public Sale the Land and Plantation where I now live together with all the goods and chattel and movable Estate, as also the land and Plantation adjoining Conococheague Creek where my son Peter lived and likewise my land in the Glades in Pennsylvannia; and I nominate and appoint my son Paul and son- in- law, Christian Ankeney Executors of this my Last Will and Testament, revoking and annulling all former Wills by me heretofore made ratifying and confirming this and none other to be my Last Will and Testament.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this eleventh day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety six. 1796.
his X mark
George Shafer (Seal)
Signed sealed published and declared by George Shafer the above named Testator as and for his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.
Phillip Krigg; - John Gilless; - Jesse Jones
Washington County, SS:On the 30th day of July 1796, came Paul Shafer and Christian Ankeney and made Oath that the within instrument of Writing is the true and whole Will and Testament of George Shafer late of said County, Deceased that hath come to their hands or possession and that they do not know of any other. And at the same time came Phillip Krigg and Jesse Jones two of the subscribing witnesses to the within last Will and Testament of George Shafer of the said
County, deceased and made Oath on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God, that they did see the Testator herein named sign and seal this Will, that they heard him Publish, pronounce and declare the same to be his Last Will and Testament, that at the time of his so doing he was to the best of their apprehensions of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding and they respective ly subscribed their names as witnesses to the Will in his presence and at the request of the Testator and in the presence of each other, and that they saw John Gilless the other subscribing Witness do the same.

Certified by Thomas Belt, Register.
On the 27th day of August 1796 came Barbara Shafer the widow of George Shafer deceased and quited her claim to the several bequests and devises made to her in the Will of her said Husband Deceased, and elected in lieu there of her dower or third part of the deceased's Estate both real and personal.

Certified byThomas Belt, register.
(Will Book of Washington County, Maryland, Liber "A" Folio 344)Ankneytown, Berlin Township, Knox County, Ohio.

 

"Ankneytown, or Squeal" as it is more commonly called for the sake of euphony, is noted from the fact that when the Steamhorse first made it's appearance there, "his squeal" so terribly alarmed the natives that they came out armed capapie with gun and blunderbuss, to capture him, and some worthy German denizens attempted to stop him in his travel by tearing up the rails; the history of which fully and at large appears in the records of Knox Common Pleas Court; Pages 307- 308.

 

Among the Justices of the Peace of his Township were George Ankeny in 1836, 1839, 1842; George Shafer in 1848; and Joseph Ankeny in 1850, 1853, and 1858. Page 309.
From A. Banning Norton; " A History of Knox County, Ohio" from 1779 to 1862 inclusive.

 

(Columbus: Richard Nevins, Printer; 1862George Shaver Synopsis and Service:
Copied from the Long Grapevine, November or Fall Edition 1978. Mrs. Alice Long Wiatr of Mt. Clemens, Michigan gave permission December 19, 1978 to use it in the Ankney Manuscript. She also gave the Hiram Brubaker information found later in the Christian Angeny Chapter. As the name Ankeny is spelled different in several places, it is done to show the spelling of the name of that person and some of them are taken from their tombstones Washington County, Maryland

 

A. *George Shaver, (Shafer; Shaffer; Shover; Scheffer; Schafer; etc.) was born in Germany Cir.1725 He settled first in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and *died July 11 1796, in Washington County, Maryland. *Date taken from Will and date of filing. (CLS)

His naturalization record show he received the Sacrament in Frederick County, Maryland, August 16, 1764, and took the Oath of Allegiance on September 24, 1764. It is recorded in the Maryland Judgement Book DD6, Page 286, Hall of Records, Annapolis, Maryland.

George Shaver married three times;
M#1. Elisabeth Miller, Cir 1747 and they had 10 children.
M#2. Margaretha----? Eiteneiuer, widow of John, of Washington County, Maryland.
M#3. Barbara ------, a widow of Simon Stukey. Barbara survived George.
*name Simon from work of Chester L. Shaver.

George Shaver crossed the Delaware River with George Washington. He was a Revolutionary War Soldier who enlisted September 25, 1776, as a 2nd Lieutenant in Daniel Burchardts Company, of Colonel Nicholas Hauseggers, Continental Troops. This Battalion was formed in compliance with resolutions of Congress, May 25, 1776 and June 27, 1776, which provided that a battalion of Germans be raised for the service of the United Colonies, and that four Companies be raised in Pennsylvania and four Companies in Maryland.

While serving with Col. Hausegger's Regiment, George Shaver was one of those soldiers who attacked the Hessians on Christmas night in Trenton, N.J. 1776; after crossing the Delaware River in one of the small boats; (Durham Boats) with Gen. George Washington. The defeat of the Hessians were followed by *2 more victories which gave new hope to the sagging spirits of the exhausted, hungry and nearly frozen Colonial Troops--- their first real victories of the war.
*(Second Battle of Trenton, and the Battle of Princeton,) For a more complete account of these Battles, " The Winter Soldiers" by Richard M. Ketchum; Pages 290 & 341 for reference to Col. Hausegger's Regiment.

George Shaver was mustered as 1st Lieutenant in Capt. Boyer's Company, August 1777, and served in that capacity in Capt. John Lorah's Company, commanded by Lt. Col. Ludwig Weltner, from August to November 1777.

His military record on file in the National Archives contain Muster and payroll receipts, which prove he was present and received pay fron December 1, 1776 to March 1, 1776, while serving with Col. Hausegger's Regiment. Other orders may be found in the Archives of Maryland, XVIII, folio 182, Hall of Records and NSDAR# 551278.

Mr. Shaver was an influential and affluent person and resident of Washington County, Md., being owner of several tracts of land there and in Somerset County, Pa. At that time it was part of Bedford County, (Somerset County not having been founded until 1795.) When he died some of the land was in production, and with unharvested crops. It was 13 years before his Estate was settled. His will, which was written July 11, 1796 and probated July 30, 1796 and is recorded in Hagerstown, Md. in the Wills Library, "A" folio 345. In it he mentioned his wife, Barbara and these children.
2A. George Shaver Jr was born 1756, eldest son, deceased, his heirs each received an equal share.
2B. Paul Shaver,.All the land and Plantation in the State of Pennsylvania, whereupon he liveth. Paul Shaver later moved to Franklin County, Pa. and died October 1807. The children named in his Estate were: George; Paul; Henry; Peter; John; Catherine and Mary.
2C. David Shaver received 100 Pounds.
2D. Henry Shaverreceived 200 pounds in addition to his share.
2E. *Elisabeth Shaver, eldest daughter was born July 14, 1748,.married to Christian Angeny.
2F. Eve Shaver married to Jacob Laud. He died before October 23, 1812, in Somerset Co, Pa.; They had four children named: Maria, born March 3, 1774, baptized July 10,1774 Witnesses were: George and Elisabeth Shaver.(Salem Reformed Church, Washington Co.,, Md); Elisabeth married John Shull Jacob, Jr. and Peter.(CLS)
2G. Anna Maria Shaver was born September 13, 1754, married Simon Hoh, (Hay), Each of the three daughters were to receive and equal with Henry, minus the 200 Pounds. (CLS)
2H. Peter Shaver, deceased, his heirs to have their father's share. Peter had land and a Plantation adjoining Conococheague Creek. M. Elizabeth Earhart and they had 5 children:
3A. Phillip Shaver, born November 11, 1786, married Sarah Smith.
3B. Phillip Shaver was born August 1790 and married Rosina Ankeny.
3C. Mary (Polly) Shaver was born Nov., 17,1792 and married Christian Ankeny, Jr.
3D. Jacob Shaver was born June 15, 1793.
3E. Catherine Shaver married to Matthias Whetstone.
3F. Phillip Shaver.
The last two were not mentioned in George Shaver's Will. He named his son Paul and his son-in-law Christian Angeny as his Executors. It is signed by mark, and witnessed by Phillip Krigg, John Gilless, and Jesse Jones.

It is interesting to note that 67 years before President Lincoln issued his famous Emancipation Proclamation, George Shaver, the owner of two slaves, chose to Emancipate them in his Will with these words: Item- "It is further my will that my Negro, named Jack shall be free and for himself, in six months after my decease , and if he will and can pay to my heirs or Executors the sum of Fifty Pounds Currency , for the freedom of his wife Rachel, she shall likewise be free also.
A. George and Elisabeth Shaver,Our double descent from George and Elisabeth Shaver:
2A. Elisabeth Shaver was born July 14, 1748, died 1816, interred on the original Christian Angeny farm, now known as the Derencin farm, M. Christian Angeny and they had 10 children. He was born December 25, 1749, died March 17, 1824, interred in Brant Cemetery, Ligonier Township, Westmoreland County, Pa. They had 10 children:.
3A. George Ankney
3B. David Ankney was born 1774, died Oct. 10, 1805, Estate # 10, Somerset Co., Pa.
M#1. Elizabeth Capp and had 6 children. She died March 12, 1864.
M#2. David White was her 2nd husband and they had 6 children. (no names mentioned)
3C. Henry Ankney
3D. Elizabeth Ankney
3E. Christian Ankney, Jr
3F. Rosina Ankney
3G. Anna Maria Ankney
3H. (Mary) Margaret Ankney
3I. Jacob Ankney
3J. -------------
4A. John Ankney
4B. Michael Ankney
4C. Rebecca Ankney4D. Rosina Ankney
4E. David Ankney
4F. *Elisabeth Ankeny was born April 19, 1806, died September 30, 1893, interred in
Emanuel Cemetery (Lichty), Lincoln Township, Somerset County, Pa.
M. Joseph Brubaker.
He was born December 15, 1796, died December 11, 1863 in Somerset Township.
5A. *Hiram Brubaker was born January 15, 1832, died March 13, 1892.
M. *Elisabeth Hoh (Hay).
She was born June 27, 1837, died March 4, 1906.
2G. Anna Maria Shaver was born Dec. 19,1754, died May 25,1818 at Hay's Mill, Pa
M. Simon Hoh, (Hay) and had 11 children.
He was born in Sweibrucken, (Twin Bridges), Germany on April 18, 1742 and died
February 3, 1842, age 99 years, 9 months, and 15 days.
3A. Michael Hay
3B. Jacob Hay
3C. Valentine Hay
3D. *George Hay
3E. Susanna Hay
3F. Anne Mary (Anna Maria) Hay
3G. Elisabeth Hay
3H. Eve Hay
3I. Simon Hay
3J. Peter Hay
3K. Catherine Hay
3D. *George Hay was born May 7, 1781 and died June 18, 1844.
M. Mary Countryman on April 16, 1806 and they had 11 children.
She was born Sept. 21, 1789, baptized February 10, 1790, died March 14, 1872.
4A. Simon Hay
4B. *Benjamin George Hay
4C. John G. Hay
4D. William G. Hay
4E. George G. Hay
4F. Harry G. Hay
4G. Herman Hay
4H. Jacob Hay
4I. Elisabeth Hay
4J. Harriet Hay
4K. Mary Ann Hay4B *
4B. Benjamin George Hay was born June 1809 and died February 8, 1874.
M. Susanna Wingert and they had 8 children.
She was born March 24, 1818, died September 5, 1871.
5A. Roseann Hay
5B. William Frank Hay
5C. *Elizabeth Hay
5D. Lydia Harriet Hay
5E. John Ephriam Hay
5F. Samuel P. Hay
5G. William G. Hay
5H. Susan Hay
5A. *Hiram Brubaker and Elizabeth Hay Brubaker
6A. Martha Jane Brubaker was born October 10, 1861.
M. Henry William Shaffer was born October 6, 1855.
7A. Marion Irene Shaffer was born November 7, 1879.
M. John Wagner Long was born August 14, 1879.
8A. Frank Wesley Long was born May 26, 1903.
M. Mildred Irene Schragel was born November 23, 1907.
9A. Alice Louise Long was born April 23, 1926.
M. Edward Wiatr was born December 26, 1921.
10A. Diana Darleen Wiatr was born September 2, 1944.
M. Gordon Graham was born December 5, 1941.
10B. Linda Janet Wiatr was born August 21, 1945M. David C. Kelley was born December 30, 1942.
10C. Rebecca Tansy Wiatr was born December 8, 1944.
M. Steven A. Evans. He was born May 21, 1947.
10D. Bonnie Jean Wiatr was born July 4, 1950.
M. James E. Fischer was born August 6, 1947.

George Shaver Land Deeds; Somerset County, Pa.
Somerset County Deeds:
Volume 3, Page 548. George Shaver, Warranted 1744, 290 acres in Milford Township, June 20, 1744, Surveyed September 10, 1787, #640. Paul Shaver and Christian Angeny Executors of George Shaver, June 30, 1804, sold to Jacob Haines; adjoining properties of Christian Angeny, Frederick Wiemer, Paul Ernsberger, John Prinley, John Schoaff, Jacob Raines, and Gillian Gary, in presence of John McClean, Jacob Schneider and Henry Shaver.
Volume 3, Page 555, April 27, 1805, Henry Shaver of Somerset County, Pa., sold Tract in Milford Township containing 112 1/2 acres called "Emsworth" Christian Weyandt of Washington County, Maryland for $337.50, adjoining lands of Joseph Haight, Joseph Warral, Cornelius Marteeny, John Martiny and John Crossley.

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Quit Claim Deed of Phillip Shaver
Vol. 3, Page 326 Deed Book of Somerset County, Pa.

Know all men by these presents; that I, Philip Shaver now of Somerset County, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; one of the sons of George Shaver, late of Washington County, Maryland, deceased, do hereby acknowledge that I have this day had and received of and from Christian Angeny; Simon Hay; and Henry Shaver; three of the heirs of the said George Shaver, deceased; the sum of One Hundred Pounds, lawful money of Pennsylvania, in full satisfaction and payment of all such sum of money, or sums due and coming to me, as one of the heirs, of the said George Shaver, deceased; and therefore I the said Philip Shaver, do by these presents, release, acquit, and for ever discharge the said Christian Angeny; Simon
Hay; and Henry Shaver; and also all and every of the heirs of the said George Shaver, deceased, his Executors and Administrators, of and from all actions, suits, payments, accounts, reckonings, claims, and demands whatsoever, for and by reason thereof, or of any other act, matter, cause, or thing, whatsoever, from the beginning of the world, to the date of the day of these present and further do I hereby release, acquit, and forever quit claim all of my right and title to all of the Estate, both Real and Personal of the said deceased, especially to all the lands and Plantations of the said deceased, situate in the State of Md; one of them now in the tenure of Jacob Seibert; one other in the tenure of Barbara Shaver, widow of the said deceased; one other in the possession of Paul Shaver; and also two tracts of land situate in Somerset County, Pennsylvania; and also any other property whatsoever, left by the said deceased. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this twenty-sixth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and three

Signed; Philip Shaver (Seal) Sealed and delivered in the Presence of Otho Shrader- Eva Shrader.
Copied by Alice Long Wiatr from The Long Grapevine Volume II Fall 1978, Pages 25-27

 

Dewalt Ancony, A Colonial PioneerChristian Angeny:, 5th Generation
5A. Christian Angeny was the oldest son of Johann Theobald (Dewalt) and Catherine Anconi, born December 25, 1749 in Hanover Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He was baptized in the Jonestown Reformed Church, December 23, 1750. Christian's mother died in 1757 when he was 8 years old and his father remarried Cir 1758 to Margaret Becker Frederick, widow of Noah Frederick, who was killed by Indians and left his wife a widow. She was pregnant at the time and evidently Dewalt claimed him as his own.also were two stepdaughters, Veronica and Christina Frederick. Shortly after this, the family moved in 1762 to Maryland, settling in the Conococheague Valley, near what would become Clear Springs, Md. The family attended the St. Paul's Reformed Church, that was founded in 1747, and there were also records of the family at the Salem Reformed Church, further east near Hagerstown, Maryland. Dewalt Anconi owned a large tract of land that he called, “Well Pleased".

In 1771, Christian Angeny married Elisabeth Shaver, (Shaffer) She was born July 14, 1748, a daughter of George and Elizabeth Miller Shaver (some say Anna Maria Shaver) of Washington Co., Md.

George Shaffer died in 1796 and left a will which is recorded in Hagerstown, Md. in that he named his son Paul and his son-in-law, Christian Ankeny as executors. It is known also, from the will of Conrad Miller, of Cumberland Co., Pa. that Shaffer
was married to a daughter of Miller Soon afterwards, like other members of their families, they settled in Somerset County, (then Bedford) Pennsylvania. They became members of the Samuel's Reformed Church of which is located West of the town of Somerset. Christian Angeny owned several tracts of farmland and was an active member of the Pioneer community. He served in the Revolutionary War as a First Lieutenant and a Court Martial Officer. He erected the first Grist Mill near Somerset and later built a Fulling Mill.

His wife, Elisabeth Shaver Angeny died in 1816 in Somerset County, and was buried on their farm (referred to now as the Derencin farm). On April 7, 1817, in Somerset County, Pa. Christian Angeny married Mary (Polly) Kooser, a sister of the early settlers, John and Jacob S. Kooser. Shortly after, the family moved to Donegal Township, Westmoreland County, where Christian Angeny had two tracts of land. He died in the Township on March 17, 1824, and his obituary notice was carried in the March 26, of Donegal Twp, formerly of Somerset Co., who died March 17, 1824, aged 72 years, 2 months 1824 issue of the Greensburg Gazette, Westmoreland Republican newspaper: "Christian Angeny and 9 days. Christian Angeny was buried in the Brant's Cemetery adjacent to the old German Reformed Church. Later his daughter and son-in-law John William and Anna Maria (Polly) Ankeny Weaver; and his son and daughter-in-law Christian and Mary (Polly) Shaver Ankeny Jr., and other
members of the family were buried beside him in Brant's Cemetery. The location of the grave of his second wife, Mary Kooser Angeny who died in 1847, is unknown.
*Later several members of the family were disinterred and their remains were moved to Pleasant Grove Cemetery It is located about 3 miles south of Brant's cemetery. I have copied the above item from the George Shaver work of Chester L. Shaver.
*The part on the removal of the remains is my Addenda. (LWJ). The names of the members are spelled as they appear on tombstones.Dewalt Anconi, a Colonial Pioneer Elisabetha Shaver Angeny, 5th Generation. Elisabetha Shaffer, eldest daughter of George Shaffer, Sr., was born July 14, 1748, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and died in 1816, in Somerset County, Pa. The following Record is the earliest reference to her that has been discovered this far:

"1769, the 10th February, was born to Nicholas Shafer a daughter, and was on the 4th of July 1770, publicly baptized by the Pastor Henlop, the godmother was Georg Shaffer’s first daughter, Elisabetha. The child received the name Susanna." This baptism occurred at Salem Reformed Church, west of Hagerstown, in Washington County, Md. Records of the church also indicate the birth of Elisabeth Shaver Angeny's oldest child:

George, born 16th October, 1772, baptised 12th November
Parents: Christian Angena; Mother Elisabetha
Both married Sponsor Georg Schaefer

 

Elisabetha Shaver married Christian Angeny, son of Theobald (Dewalt) and Catherine Anconi, at an unknown date, probably Cir 1771. By 1772, Christian Angeny had started to clear a tract of land in Somerset County, formerly Bedford until 1795 and family tradition relates that he worked and cleared the land in the spring and summer months and returned to the Conococheague District for the winter. Obviously, he was back by fall of 1772 when his first child was baptized. The family spent the winter in Maryland and then went by pack horses in the spring to Somerset Co., Pennsylvania. Although the mothers of the young couple were both deceased by this time, their fathers were still living- George Shaver dying in July 1796; and Dewalt who was baptized in 1727 in Lambsborn, Germany, living on his farm `Well Pleased’ near Clear Springs, Maryland, until his death in March or April 1781.During the Revolutionary years, Christian Angeny served as a Lieutenant in the Conflict.

Elisabetha Shaver Angeny died in 1816 (Dates taken from her tombstone) and was buried on the original Christian Angeny farm, now known as the Durencin farm, a few miles south of Somerset, Pennsylvania, on the Water Level Road leading to Rockwood, Pennsylvania. Her husband remarried and moved to Donegal Township, Westmoreland County, Pa, where his death occurred on March 17, 1824. (Greensburg Gazette obituary 1824, March 24) His estate was probated in both counties Somerset and Westmoreland, and he was buried in the Brant's Cemetery, located south of Ligonier on a farm adjacent to Route 711. This small Cemetery has 86 burials and contains the graves of many early Ligonier Valley Settlers, some of
whom, like Christian Angeny, fought in the Revolutionary War. His name was spelled "Angeny" on the grave marker which is probably illegible now, (1981) and is located in the Weaver plot. His second wife was Mary (Polly) Kooser who died in 1847. Her place of interment is not known.Christian and Elisabetha Shaver Angeny,5th Generation.
The 9 children of Christian and Elisabetha Shaver Angeny were:
6A. George Angeny
6B. David Angeny
6C. Henry Angeny
6D. Elizabeth Angeny
6E. Christian Angeny, Jr
6F. Rosina Angeny
6G. Anna Maria Angeny
6H. (Mary) Margaret Angeny
6I. Jacob Angeny
6A. George Ankeny was born October 16, 1772, near Hagerstown, Md. as recorded in the record of the Salem Church, where he was baptized November 12, 1772, and witnessed by George Shaffer, died at age 78 on November 28, 1850 in Milford Township, Somerset Co., Pa., probably on the tract which his father had taken out in his name in 1774.He was the George Ankeny to whom Paul Shaver and Christian Angeny sold the tracts belonging to George Shaver, Sr., his grandfather in Milford Township, Somerset Co., Pa. M. Magdalena (Mary) Putnam in 1794 and they had 9 children. She was born September 30, 1773, a daughter of John Putnam, and the niece of Adam Schneider, a joint founder, and of Henry Bruner original owner of most of the------. She died October 2, 1858 and both are buried in the New Centerville Cemetery It is stated in an account of the Putnam family, by an author named Williams, the Book being in the Hagerstown Library, that John Putnam, her Father was a veteran of the Revolution but the writer has no other data on that point, that George Ankeny was married to a daughter of Putnam is found in Penna. Germans, Vo;. 10, and in the Estate Papers in which Putnam’s widow, Sara, and his son-in-law,
George Ankeny, made July 5, 1846, there is a list of heirs given, nine children being named.
6B. David Ankeny was born 1774, died October 10, 1805, (age 31). M. Elisabeth Capp and they had 6 children. Two of his children, Sarah and Maria Margaretha were baptized in Samuel's Reformed Church in Somerset County, Pa.
6C. Henry Ankeny was born 1776. M. Susanna Koontz and they had 8 children.
6D. Elizabeth Angeny was born November 28, 1779, died May 8,1863 and is buried in Cole’s cem., near Rector, Westmoreland Co., Pa
M. Martin Phillippi, Sr., and had 10 children. He was a son of Francis Phillippi, a Revolutionary War soldier.
6E. Christian Ankeny Jr; was born August 12, 1783, (Tombstone states his birth as May 13, 1782), died June 1, 1864, (age 81).
M. Mary C. Shaver, his first cousin. She was the daughter of Peter and Elisabeth Earhart Shaver. They had 9 children.
6F. Rosina Ankeny was born November 4, 1784, M. Peter Gunderman (Countryman) and they had 11 children.
6G. Anna Maria Ankeny was born February 8, 1787, died May 9, 1855 (age 68) M. William Weaver and they had 15 children. .
6H. Margaret Ankeny was born August 4, 1789, died August 6, 1886, (age 97). M#1. Jacob Sanner and they had one son, Michael. M#2. Bernard Connelly Jr. and they had 5 children.
6I. Jacob Ankeny was born February 21, 1792, died January 21 1873, (age 87). M#1. Sarah (S Sally) Young Friedline M#2. Christine Knable and they had 9 children.

This is the record of Chester L. Shaver.

Revolutionary War Service of Christian Angeny; 1st Lieutenant under Captain Rhoads, 1st Battalion Pa. Riflemen.Under Colonel Smith; Under Captain Black he was Court Martial Man (Turkeyfoot Militia) Ref, Eagle (Pennsylvania in the Revolution) Pages 646-656.

Court Cases Addenda:
Henry Shaver, Plaintiff, versus Christian Angeny:
Court of Common Pleas: Somerset County, Pennsylvania: Number 50, September Term; 1803.
Henry Shaver vs Christian Angeny et al; Executors of George Shaver. Filed the 7th day of September 1803:
Christian Angeny, late of Somerset County, one of the executors of the Goods and Chattles, Lands and Tenements of George Shaver, late, deceased, was summoned to answer unto Henry Shaver of a Plea of Trespass upon the case etc.
And whereupon the said Henry Shaver, by Samuel Shelby, his attorney Complains that whereas the aforesaid George Shaver in his lifetime to wit: on the first day of January in the year of our Lord Seventeen Hundred and Ninety Four, at the County, aforesaid, was indebted to him the said Henry Shaver, in the sum of One Hundred and Twenty Pounds, Lawful Money of Pennsylvania, for the like sum of money by him the said George for himself the said Henry and to his use before that time had and received and being thereof Indebted the aforesaid George then and there faithfully promised that he the aforesaid George, the aforesaid sum of money, to him the said Henry when afterwards he should be there unto required, would well and truly content and pay. Nevertheless the aforesaid George in his lifetime and the aforesaid Christian Angeny since the death of him the said George, the promise and assumption so as aforesaid of the aforesaid George in his lifetime so as aforesaid made not regarding, but minding, and fraudulently intending the same Henry Shaver in this part; craftilly, and subtilly to deceive and defraud, the aforesaid sum of money, or any part thereof to the same Henry Shaver in his lifetime, nor the said Christian
Angeny, since the death of the aforesaid George hath contented or paid; (although so to do the afore said George hath afterwards to wit: on the day and year aforesaid at the County aforesaid, and the said Christian Angeny since the death of the said George to wit: on the first day of January in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred and Three and often afterwards at the County aforesaid by the same Henry have been requested) but the aforesaid George in his lifetime and the aforesaid Christian Angeny since the death of him the aforesaid George; the aforesaid sum of money or any part thereof to the same Henry to pay or tender for the same or in any manner to content or pay hath altogether refused, and the said Christian still doth refuse to the damage of him the said Henry in the sum of Two Hundred Pounds money as aforesaid and therefore brings suit etc.
John Doe
Pedgers Pro &
Richard Roe.
(This Document filed in the Prothonotary’s Office, Somerset, County, Pa.) Continuous
Docket, Volume 2, Page 195, shows as follows:
No. 50. September Term, 1803;
Shelby Henry Shaver vs. Christian Angeny and Paul Shaver
for Shaver executors of George Shaver deceased; Summons case
writ paid by attorney, served, 7th, September.
Shrader 1803. Rule to plead in six weeks or Judgement
for Angeny Narr (I.E. Narratie or plaintiff’s bill file)
for Shaver deceased; Summons case writ paid by attorney, served, 7th, September 1803.
Rule to plead in six weeks or judgment.
Shrader Narr (I.E. Narratie or plaintiff's bill) file continued: for Angeny October 17th, 1803: Shrader appears for Christian Angeny, prayseyer of the writ and pleads nonassumpsit, and non-assumpsit infra six Annos, and leave to give the special matter in evidence.
Rule to take Depositions of the Witnesses to be read in this cause in Washington County, Maryland., exparte 10 days notice at the house of Henry Creager, between the hours of 10 O'clock in the forenoon and 5 O'clock in the evening, of the 28th day of November 1803.
Same day Rule 2: for agreement filed November 17, 1803: It is agreed the depositions of witnesses residing in Maryland be taken before any Justice of the Peace of the State ofMaryland to be read in Open court and provided exparte rule plaintiff; gives two days notice of the time and place to Christian Angeny, lef'd plaintiff. Re lies that he did assume within six years Issue and Rule for trial. Continued: February Term, 1804: May Term,
Continued: on payment of costs this term. Costs paid leave to amend. (In the margin: "20 Rule. March 804 to take Depositions of witnesses to be read in this cause at the home of Henry Ankeny, Psqr and before him in Washington County, Maryland., exparte 10 days notice.
September Term: non-suit with leave to move at next Term to set it aside. December Term:
Non Suit absolute, Costs paid".)

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Number 68: September Term, 1805: Henry Shaver vs Christian Angeny:
Christian Angeny late of Somerset County, yeoman was summoned to answer to Henry Shaver (Shaffer) of a Plea of Trespass on the case etc: And whereupon the said Henry Shaver, by Samuel Shelby, his attorney Complains whereas the said Christian Angeny on the first day of August in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred and Five at the County, aforesaid was indebted to him the said Henry in the sum of one hundred and ninety pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania, for the like sum of money by him, the said Christian for him the said Henry, and to his use before that time had and received and being so thereof Indebted; the aforesaid Christian afterward to wit: on the day and year last aforesaid, at the County, aforesaid in consideration thereof upon himself assumed and the said Christian then and there faithfully promised that he the aforesaid Christian, the afore said sum of money to him the aforesaid Henry when afterwards he should be thereunto required would well and truly content and pay: And whereas the aforesaid Christian afterwards to Wit: on the day and year aforesaid last, at the County, aforesaid, was indebted to him the said Henry in another sum of the Hundred and ninety pounds by him the said Henry, at the special instance and request, and to the use and behoof of him the said Christian Angeny, before that time laid out expended and said, and so being thereof Indebted, the aforesaid Christian afterwards to it on the day and year last aforesaid,at the County aforesaid, in consideration of the promises upon himself assumed, and to the said Henry, then and there faithfully promised that he the said Henry, then afterwards he should be thereupon required should well and truly consent and pay. And whereas the aforesaid Christian afterwards to wit: on the day and year last aforesaid, at the County aforesaid, was indebted to him the said Henry Shaver, in another sum of One Hundred and Ninety Bounds, to him the said
Christian, by him the said Henry, at the special instance and request of the said Christian, before the time lent and delivered, and so being thereof Indebted the afore said Christian, in consideration thereof afterwards to wit: on the day and year last aforesaid, at the County aforesaid, upon himself assumed and to the said Henry then and there faithfully promised that he the said Christian the last aforesaid sum of money to him the said Henry when afterwards he should be thereunto required would well and truly content and pay. Nevertheless the aforesaid Christian his several assumptions and promises aforesaid, so as aforesaid made not regarding but minding and fraudulently intending by him the said Henry Shaffer, in this behalf, craftilly, and subtilly to deceive and defraud the aforesaid several sums of money, or any part of either of them to him the said Henry Shaffer, hath not contented or paid (although so to do the aforesaid Christian Angeny was afterwards to wit: on the day and year last aforesaid and often afterwards at the County aforesaid, by the said Henry requested) but the same or any part of either of them to content or pay he hath altogether refused, and still doth refuse to the Damage of him the said Henry, in the sum of Two Hundred Bounds money as aforesaid, and therefore he brings suit and so forth.
Samuel Selby for Plaintiff.
1.Count Money had and received.
2 Money paid, laid out & expected.
3.Money lent.
Filed September 26th, 1805.
(This Document filed in the Office of the Prothonotary, Somerset County, Pa.)
Continuance Docket, Volume 3, Page 98, shows the following:
No. 68: (September Term), 1805: Henry Shaffer vs Christian Angeny. August 22nd, 1805.Summons case served. Appears Praysoyer of writ count and Special information, Narr.
filed. Continued December Term. Rule to plead by the first day of next term or judgment.
1806. February Term. Defendant pleads non assumpsit infra six annos and leave to give the special matter in evidence. Report of the defendant non-solvit and that he did assume within six years. Issued and rule for trial. By consent rule that a commission issue to Otho Williams Esq. of Washington County, Maryland to take depositions on Interrogation filed 12th May, 1806. Continued by Plaintiffs attorney, and rule by consent for trial by proviso and that plaintiff pay the costs of the term. Non-suited at August Term 1806.
The Court Cases are from the Manuscript of Chester L Shaver.

Court Cases, Etc.
Volume 5, Orphans Court Docket Pages 208-212: Westmoreland County, Register of Will's Office, Greensburg, Pa. Page 208:
At an Orphans Court, held at Greensburg, in and for Westmoreland County, twenty second day of November, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-four; present Judge, John Young, President & John Lobingier, & Thomas Pollech, his associates, Justices of said court.
CHRISTIAN ANKENY Dec'd;
Christian Ankeny came into court and presented a petition in the manner following to wit: To the Honorable John Young, and his associate Judges, of the Court of Common Pleas, and composing an Orphans Court, in and for the County of Westmoreland.
The petition of Christian Ankeny, humbly showeth, that your petitioner's father Christian Ankeny, lately died intestate, at said County, leaving a widow named Polly; and several children, and grandchildren, to wit: George Ankeny; the children of David Ankeny, son of said Christian, and who died in the lifetime of his father, to wit: John Ankeny; Michael Ankeny, Peggy married to George Emmert; Rosanna, married to John Martiny; David Ankeny; and Elizabeth Ankeny, which two last are in their minority; Henry Ankeny; Elisabeth intermarried with Martin Phillippi; Christian Ankeny, your petitioner, Rosanna intermarried with Peter Countryman; Mary intermarried with William Weaver; Margaret intermarried with Bernard Connelly; and Jacob Ankeny. That the said intestate at the time of his death was seized in his demesne, as of fee and of two tracts of land in Donegal Township, Westmoreland County, adjoining lands of Henry Baly; William Weaver; Seymore Moses; John
Harbeson; and others, and adjoining to the other each other. One of them containing one hundred and ninety acres, be the same more or less, and the other containing two hundred and sixty-six acres more or less with the appertenances, both of them held by Patent. Your petitioner prays your Honor to award an inquest to make partition of the said two tracts of land, to and amongst the children and Representatives of the deceased, if partition can be made without prejudice to or spoiling the whole. But if said partition cannot be made then to value and appraise the same, and make return thereof to this Honorable Court, he will pray, viz;
His
In the presence of Christian X Ankeny
J.B. Alexandere Mark
which petition having been read and heard the court thereupon awarded an inquest, agreeably to the prayer of the petitioner returnable at the Orphans Court to be held in and for the said County, on the third monday of February, Eighteen Hundred and twenty-five. Whereupon a writ was made out directed to the Sheriff of the said County, commanding him that taking with him twelve honest and lawful men of his Bailiwick he should go to and open the said premises, and there by their oaths or solemn affirmations in the presence of the parties aforesaid by him to be warned, if upon being warned, they should be present.value there of that he should on a report thereof to and among the widow and children of the said intestate in such manner and proportioned as by the laws of the Commonwealth is directed if such partition can be made without prejudice, to or spoiling the whole, and that if the said inquest by him to be summoned as aforesaid should be found the said plantation or tract The said partition or tract of land with the appertenances having respect to the true of land, could not be divided to and among the widow and kin aforesaid of the Intestate without prejudice to or spoiling the whole that then they should
value and appraise the same according to law and that they should enquire and report whether the same plantation or tract of land would conveniently accommodate more than one of the children of the intestate aforesaid, without prejudice to or spoiling the whole, and if they so found then they should ascertain and report how many of the children (Page 209) of the said intestate the same would as conveniently accommodate describing the same by bounds and returning a just appraisement thereof,. and that that partition be made out after valuation, he distinctly and openly should have before the Justices of Greensburg at an Orphans Court, there to be held for the County of Westmoreland aforesaid the thirdMonday of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five, at which day as set of said court holden at Greensburg, for said county, before John Young, John Lobingier Judges for said court; 3 John Niccolls, high sheriff of the said County, came into court and made known of said visit with the following returns endorsed, thereon, that is to say.To the judges within named, I do respectfully certify that by virtue of the within visit by me to the parties being first duly notified, I took with me twelve free, honest, and lawful men of my bailiwick, and went to the lands and all and singular the premises therein mentioned and by their oaths and affirmations finding that the same could not be parted and divided among the same, all the parties of the said writ named without prejudice to or spoiling of the whole.
The execution of this writ appears by a certain schedule annexed, so answered.
John Niccolls.
Inquisition indented and taken at the dwelling house, late of Christian Ankeny, in Donegal Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, on the eighth day of February, eighteen hundred and twenty-five, before John Niccolls Esq., high sheriff, of the County of Westmoreland, by virtue of a writ of Partition or valuation, to him directed, and to this inquisition and by the oaths and affirmations of William King; John Campbell; Seymour Moses; Leonard Samuel Mathews; William Gaibreath, David Henry; James Henry; John Wissing; Lavan E. King; Jacob Roadman, twelve free and lawful men of his bailiwick who on their oaths and affirmed aforesaid respectively do say that they went to and upon the land and tenements whereupon Christian Ankeny died seised in said writ contained on the day and year aforesaid and here and there did find that the said lands, and tenements with the appertenances could not be parted, and divided to and among all the heirs and children of the said deceased, without prejudice to or spoiling the whole thereof and the jury aforesaid, upon their oath and affirmations aforesaid, do further find, that the said lands and tenements with the appertenances will accommodate two of the children of the said
deceased, that is to say, that part of said lands and tenements included in and bounded by the following courses and iistances to wit: Beginning at a hickory, thence by part of the original tract, (whereof this is a part) South forty and one half degrees, West fifty four perches to a black oak, South sixty nine and three quarter degrees, West seventy one perches and three tenths to a white oak, thence by other lands of the said estate, South seventy and one half degrees, West sixteen perches and five tenths to a white oak, South sixty six degrees and a quarter, West ninety perches and six tenths to a white oak, thence by other lands of the said estate, South thirty three degrees and one half, East one hundred and seventy two perches to a post, South two and a half degrees, East seventy eight perches to a locust, South twenty seven and an half degrees, East twenty four perches and eight tenths to a post, thence by land of William Weaver, North eighty three degrees, East seventy one perches and two tenths to a white oak, North thirty degrees, West nine perches and seven tenths to a post, North forty five degrees, East sixty one perches and three tenths to a white oak, North eighty five degrees and a half, East ninety nine and three tenths to stones, North five degrees, West sixty two perches and three tenths to a post, thence by lands of Henry Yealy, South eighty four and three quarter degrees, West fifty eight perches and five tenths to a post, North two degrees and a half, West one Hundred and fifty two perches to the place of beginning; containing two hundred and seventy five acres and allowance of six percent and marked in the annexed diagram, No. 1., will accomodate one of the children of the said deceased. And that other part and residue of the lands and tenements of the said deceased in said writ contained including in and bounded by the following courses and distances that is to say: Beginning at a white oak and hickory,
thence by land of John Harbison, John Withrow and Martin Philippi, South sixty two degrees and an half, West two hundred and two perches and three tenths to a white oak, thence by Seymour Moses's land, South fifty degrees and three quarters, East one hundred and fourteen perches to a maple stump, South nine degrees and a half, East eighty five perches and eight tenths to a stump, thence by land late of Samuel Shannon, North sixty one degrees, two hundred and two perches and eight tenths, to a post, thence by the lower tract, North thirty three degrees and a half, West one hundred and eighty two perches to the place of beginning; containing two hundred acres and the usual allowance and marked as annexed
diagram (Page 210): No. 2., will accommodate one other of the children of the said deceased, and the jury aforesaid upon their oaths and affirmations aforesaid, do value andappraise that part of the said property contained in and described, by the diagram hereunto annexed and marked No.1, appraised for the sum of Nine dollars and sixty cents lawful money of the United States for each and every acre thereof; and the said inquest' upon their oaths and affirmations aforesaid, do value and appraise that other part of the said property in said writ contained, described, by one of the diagrams hereunto annexed and marked number 2., at and for the sum of Seven dollars and twenty cents lawful money as aforesaid per acre for each and every acre.
In testimony whereof the said Sheriff as well as the inquest aforesaid to the inquisitions in the names of the Parties interested have interchangeably set their hands and seals the day and year aforesaid.
John Niccolls, Sheriff, {Seal}
William King {{Seal}} Hugh Larrimer {Seal} James Henry {Seal}
John Campbell {Seal} Samuel Matthews {Seal} John Wirsing Jr.
Seymour Moses {Seal} William Galbreath {Seal} {Seal}
Leonard Meterich {Seal} David Henry {Seal} Samuel Singer {Seal}
Jacob Roadman {Seal}
Situated on Loyalhannah Creek in Donegal Township, Westmoreland County, containing Two hundred and sixty three and one hundred and forty three perches, and allowance; and is part of two tracts of land, Viz: James Milligan 439 acres on order No. 7., by lands of Arthur St. Clair 412 acres on order, No.19, the former dated 7th April 1764, the latter dated 9th February 1769, and both patents to Arthur St. Clair dated 10th October 1788, Surveyed 12th March 1818, and the variation of that time (ie) the then county offered to this draught by John Wills. Page 211: Orphans Court Docket of Christian Ankeny Sr., Dec'd At an Orphans Court held at Greensburg in and for the County of Westmoreland on the twenty-seventh day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty six by John Young, Esq, President, and John Lobingier, and Thomas Pollock, Esquires, his associate judges, of the said County.
On a motion of Joseph H. Kuhns, Esqe, rule on the heirs and legal representatives, of Christian Ankeny late of said County of Westmoreland, deceased, that they be and appear at an Orphans Court, to be held at Greensburg, in and for the said County, on the third Monday of August, next, then and there to accept or refuse the Real Estate at the evaluation and appraisal of the inquest.
Page 211: Orphans Court Docket of Christian Ankeny, Sr., Dec’d At an Orphans Court, held at Greensburg, in and for Westmoreland County, on the eigh-teenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-six, Present John Young, Esq, President, and John Lobingier, and Thomas Pollock, Esquires, Associate Judges of the said court On the motion of Joseph H. Kuhns, Esq. the rule granted on the twenty-sixth day of May upon the heirs and legal representatives of Christian Ankeny, dec’d continued to appear at an orphans Court, to be held at Greensburg, on the third Monday of November, next. At an Orphans Court held at Greensburg, in and for Westmoreland County, on the twenty- first day of November in the year of our Lord, one Thousand eight Hundred and twenty- six, Present, John Young, resident, and John Lobingier and Thomas Pollock, Esq’s, associates judges of the said Court. Proof having been made of the service of the above rule upon the proper persons and now the said heirs of the said deceased, having appeared, Peter Countryman, in right of his wife Rosanna, one of the children of said Christian Ankeny, deceased, came into court and requested that part of his real estate of the said ceased, numbered 2 in the diagram annexed to the inquisitions, holden on the said estate described as following to wit: Beginning at a white oak and hickory tree, thence by land of John Harbison, John Withrow and Martin Philippi, South sixty- two degrees and a half, West two hundred and two perches and three tenths to a white oak, hence by Seymour Moses land, South fifty degrees and three quarters, East one hundred and fourteen perches, to a maple stump, South nine degrees and a half, East eighty-five Perches and eight tenths, to a stump, thence by the land of the late Samuel Shannon, North sixty-one degrees, East two hundred and two perches and eight tenths to a post, thence by the lower tract, North thirty-three degrees and a half, West one hundred and eighty two perches to the place of beginning, containing two hundred acres and usual allowance, should be assgned to him in right of his wife as his several property, at the valuation thereof, made by the said inquest and agreed to pay thesame in the manner and proportions required by law in one year from this date to the other heirs and legal representatives with interest on the several heirs from this date,
whereupon it is ordered by this court, that upon payment of the several shares as prescribed by law, in one year from this date to the other heirs and legal representatives with interest on said several shares from this date and paying to Polly Ankeny, widow of said deceased, yearly and every year of her natural life the interest of the third part of Fifteen hundred and forty dollars, the amount of the valuation of the third part of the real estate in the order described and at the death of the said Polly, paying to the heirs or legal representatives their respective portions of said third part all right of said widow, heirs and legal representatives be forever named and cease and the aforesaid two hundred acres of land with the appertenances be the sole property of the said Peter Countryman as fully and as for such estate as the said Christian Ankeny deceased, in his lifetime held the same. And William Weaver being offered as security is approved as such. Peter Countryman held in the sum of $3080.00, William Weaver held in the sum of $3080.00 The above named Peter Countryman and William Weaver jointly and severally acknowledge themselves to owe and stand indebted to Polly Ankeny, the widow; and to George Ankeny; and to John Ankeny, Michael Ankeny, George Emmert and Peggy, his wife, in right of said Peggy, John Martiny and Rosanna, his wife in right of said Rosanna, David Ankeny and Elizabeth Ankeny, children of David Ankeny, deceased; and to Henry Ankeny; Martin Philippi and Elizabeth, his wife, in right of said Elizabeth; Christian Ankeny; William Weaver and Mary, his wife in right of said Mary; Barney Connelley and Margaret his wife, in right of said Margaret; and Jacob Ankeny, in the sum of three thousand and eighty dollars, for their respective interests in the same. ON CONDITION that if the above named Peter Countryman shall well and faithfully perform and comply with the terms of the above written order then this recognizance to be void, otherwise in force. Acknowledged in open court at an Orphans Court held for said County the twenty-second day of November 1826.
D. Marchand, Clerk.
At an Orphans Court held at Greensburg on the 20th day of August 1827 On motion of Mr. Kuhns, Esq., upon the heirs and legal representatives of Christian Ankeny dec'd, to appear at an Orphans Court to be holden for the said County on the third Monday of November next, and show cause why the real estate of said deceased remaining undisposed of should not be sold agreeably to the Act of Assembly in such case made and provided. At an Orphans Court held on 20th day of November 1827, on motion of Joseph H. Kuhns, Esquire, to the Court to continue the above rule until the next term. At an Orphans Court held at Greensburg on the 18th day of February 1834, Christian Ankeny son of and one of the heirs at Law of Christian
Ankeny came into court and accepted and agreed to take that part of the real estate of said dec'd marked No.1 in the diagram annexed containing 275 acres and usual allowance valued and appraised at $9.60 per acre and desired that the same might be assigned to him. Whereupon it is adjudged by the Court that the said Christian Ankeny shall and may upon payment of and securing to be paid the several shares as prescribed by Law in one year from this date to the other heirs of said deceased, with interest on the several shares from this date, and his paying to Polly, the widow, yearly and every year during her natural life, the interest on the one third of the valuation of Inquest of said Real Estate, and at her death paying to the other heirs or legal representatives their respective portions of said third part. All eight of the other heirs or legal representatives of said deceased in the above mentioned part of the real estate be forever barred and ceaseand the said tract
of land with the appertenances be the sole property of him, the said Christian Ankeny as fully and as for such estate as the said Christian Ankeny deceased in his lifetime held the same and Joseph Matthews offered as his security for the payments thereof is accepted by the court.
ChristCChristian Ankney, of Somerset County, Joseph Matthews, of Ligonier Township each acknowledged themselves to owe and stand jusstand justly indebted to Polly Ankney, the widow, George Ankney, the children of Dawid ow, George Ankeny, the children of Ankeny, dec'd to wit: John, Michael, Peggy married to George Emart, Rosanna, married to John Martiny, and Elizabeth Ankeny; Henry Ankeny; Elizabeth Ankeny intermarried with Martin Phillippi; Rosanna Ankeny married with Peter Countryman; Mary married with William Weaver; Margaret married with Bernard Connelly; and Jacob Ankeny in the sum of Five thousand two hundred and eighty dollars $5280.00 to be made and levied of their Respective goods and
chattels, lands and tenements, upon condition of the said Christian Ankeny shall in allthings faithfully perform and comply with the terms of the above order Then these recognizances to be void, otherwise in full force and intact. Taken and acknowledged in open Court, this 18th day of February A.D. 1834
Randell McLaughlin, Clerk his mark
Joseph Matthews, et, ul Christian x Ankeny

First Family of Dewalt Anconi:
4A. *Dewalt Anconi was born Cir 1726, Baptized on January 16, 1727, died 1781 (age 55) M. Mary Catherine ----, Cir 1748 Her maiden name could have possibly been Hedrick. Two of the sons were named after sons named Christian and Peter. The fathers name was also Peter. Although this is not proof it is at least evidence concerning the names of the sons of Dewalt.
5A. *Christian Angeny (Sr.) was born December 25, 1749, in Lancaster Co., Pa. He was christened at the Jonestown Reformed Church there on December 23, 1750. He died March 17, 1824 (age 75), in Donegal Township, Westmoreland Co., Pa. and buried in the Brants Cemetery, about two miles South of Ligonier, off the West side of Route 711 and near Slater Road.
M#1. Elisabetha Shaver, (Shaffer) Cir. 1771 and they had 10 children; five sons and five daughters. She was born July 14, 1742, daughter of George Shaver of Washington Co. Md. died. 1816. (age 74) in Somerset Co., Pa. and is buried on the orignal Christian Angeny Farm, now referred to as the Derencin Farm. Her father died in 1796, and left a will which is recorded in Hagerstown, Md., where he named his son Paul and his son-in-law Christian as Executors. It is also known from the Will of Conrad Miller, of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania., that George Shaver was married to a daughter of Miller.
M#2. Mary (Polly) Kooser on April 7, 1817 and they had no children. She died 1847; her place of interment is unknown. Her Estate was settled by her nephew, David Shultz. She was a sister of John and Jacob S. Kooser, and of Catherine, wife of Conrad Shultz, all prominent citizens of Somerset County, Pa. Christians name is spelled Angney on the grave marker, and this is the way it is spelled in other instances. The inscription on his marker reads: Christian Angeny, born the 25th of December 1751, died the 17th of March 1824. For some reason there was an error of 2 years in the year of his birth; as his younger brother, Peter was born in March 1751. (CRS) From the appearance of the lettering it seems that the
stone may have been renovated and the error made in the recutting. His Estate was settled with his Executors being Christian Ankeny Jr, and Conrad Shultz. It was probated in both Somerset and Westmoreland Counties. Christian was an active citizen and had many interests. He served in the Revolutionary War as First Lieutenant in the Company of Captain Rhoads in the First Battalion of Pennsylvania Riflemen, under Command of Colonel Thomas Smith. He was also Courtmartial Officer in the Company of Captain Black, of Turkeyfoot Township. (Militia).
References for this data is from Pennsylvania in the Revolution; by Egle, Pages 646 and 656.
He was the owner of several tracts of land in Somerset County, and later in Westmoreland County, as well as land in Ohio. (At the end of the Christian Angeny family see probate of Christian in which settlements were made and the tracts of
land mentioned.) He was the builder of the first gristmill near Somerset, this being on his tract of land about a mile south of the Town of Somerset. It was a large log structure, and he later built a fulling mill at the same place. Up until then all grain had to be packed to Hagerstown, Md to get their grain ground into flour and meal. The latter passed in 1842 into the hands of John F. Kantner, whose father was a pioneer in the same industry near Stoystown, Pa. He was also active in Samuel's Church about three miles west of Somerset. **Most of the above narrative is the work of Charles Ross Shultz and his Initials are used to denote his work.
The 10 children of Christian, Sr. and Elizabeth Ankeny were:
6A. George Ankeny
6B. David Ankeny
6C. Henry Ankeny
6D. Elizabeth Ankeny
6E. Christian Ankeny, Jr.6F. Rosina Ankeny
6G. Anna Maria Ankney
6H. Jacob Ankney
6I. Margaret Ankney
6J. ---------------------

 

An article from the book BEDFORD AND SOMERSET COUNTIES found at the Historical Society, Somerset, Pa.
BridgesError! Bookmark not defined.

Once that roads began to be laid out that were something more than mere bridle paths, bridges in time also followed in their wake. But the earliest of these were over the smaller streams. The first bridge that we can find any account of in the comissioners’ records was built across Laurel Hill Creek, near the mill that had been built on one of it’s tributary streams by William Jones. The time was in 1797 and the locality was in what is now Jefferson Township On March 19, 1798, the commissioner’s contracted with Jacob Harbaugh and John Weimer, Jr. to build a bridge across Laurel Hill Creek on what in their minutes is called the Middle Road. The price agreed on was $283.00

On Sept. 18, 1798, the commissioner wrote advertisements inviting proposals for the building of a bridge across Cox’s Creek, where the Berlin road crossed it near Ankeny’s Mill This was south of Somerset. This contract was let to Christly A Aho received $140.00 for doing the work. In 1802 another bridge was built across Cox’s Creek, on the Bedford Road. This is what is popularly called Town Bridge, east of Somerset. Of course, it has been renewed several times since 1802 In 1811 Conrad Will and Peter Kimmel built a bridge across Laurel Hill Creek, in Somerset Township, as the minutes read, but it was probably near the present village of Bakersville, and now in Jefferson Township The Castleman’s River is a good sized stream where it enters Somerset County about 3 miles South of Salisbury. In it’s course of upwards of 40 miles through the county it receives the water of many tributary streams.which go to swell it’s own volume of water The various bridges which span this stream are all of them of the largest and most expensive in the county. At this day it looks as though at that time the county commissioners were slow in responding to the demands that must have been made for at least some bridges where important roads crossed the river on account of the heavy expense that they would have entailed on the county. It was until considerable sums had been subscribed by the citizens most directly interested in having bridges at several places that the county gave any help toward building any of them. But in 1815 a contract was let to John Anawalt, John Webster, Jacob Blocher and Jacob Ankeny in which they were to receive $799.00 for building a bridge across Castleman’s River at or near Green’s fording; a part of this money was made by subscriptions made by the citizens. This bridge in time became known as the Harnedsville Bridge. In 1832 it was washed away, but was presently rebuilt by John Mong at a cost of $900.00.

In 1816 the commissioner’s contracted with John Anawalt, John B. Webster Jacob Ankeny and John Gebhart to build a bridge at or near John Shoaff’s fording. This bridge was known for many years afterward as Shoaff’s bridge and is where the town of Rockwood now is. The contract price for the original bridge was $1,350.00, seven hundred dollars of which was subscribed by the people interested. In letting the contract for both of these bridges, the commissioner’s were careful to say that the contractors would have to collect the money subscribed themselves, and that they would have to assume all risks of any part remaining unpaid

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The Christian Angeny Family:
Christian Ankeny, Jr: --6th generation.
6E. Christian Ankeny, Jr. was born May 13, 1782, died June 1, 1864. M. Mary Shaver in 1808.
She was born April 12, 1792 and died February 11, 1863.
Christian Ankeny, Jr. married his first cousin; a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Earhart Shaver. She was born in Washington County, Maryland. If her birthdate is correct she was born prematurely. One of the birth dates is recorded in the Ankeny - Phillippi files as April 12, 1791. Charles Ross Shultz in his book on the “Genealogy of the Descendants of Dewalt Ankeny” states “1791” for her birth. In family records prepared by the Ankney - Irwin families (Mrs. Retta Irwin Leichliter) the date November 18, 1792 is given for her birth. Since her brother George Shaver was born August 31, 1790, the April 12, 1791, birthdate, would mean she was born prematurely; since her brother Jacob Shaver, wo evidently died in infancy was born on June 15, 1793; so the November 18, 1792 date could also be open to question. On her tombstone in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery (Presbyterian Churchyard) near Ligonier, Pennsylvania, it states that Mary Ankney died February 11, 1863, aged 71 years, 10 months and 25 days. This would indicate she was born March 17, 1792, which would seem to be the most plausible birthdate; in light of the births of her brothers.

She spent her early years in the Conococheague District and by 1800, had moved with her two brothers, George and Philip Shaver, and her mother and step-father John Winders, to the town of Somerset, Pa.She married cir 1808 her first cousin,
Christian Ankeny, Jr., the son of Christian and Elizabeth Shaver Ankeny of Somerset, Pa. They lived in Somerset and later moved to Cook Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Christian Ankeny, Jr. was a farmer and owned farms in both Somerset and Westmoreland Counties. He was a veteran of the War of 1812. He died June 1, 1864, in Westmoreland County, and both he and Mary were originally interred in the Brant’s Cemetery which was adjacent to the old reformed
church; and is now on the farm of John and Betty Leichliter McElveen, of f Route 711, South of Ligonier, Pa. They were later removed from Brant’s Cemetery to the Pleasant Grove Presbyterian Churchyard. Christian Ankeny, Jr. died at the age of
82 years.

Pleasant Grove Cemetery, where the couple is buried is one of the oldest Presbyterian Churches in Ligonier Valley and was originally called the Donegal Church. During the 1850’s the name was changed to Pleasant Grove. The first two churches were log edifices and the stone church which stands today was built in 1832.On May 13, 1809, Christian Ankeny, Jr. and his wife Mary, of Somerset Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, sold a tract of 60¼ acres in Somerset Township to Ulrick Ellenberger of Somerset Township for $693, which tract had been conveyed to Christian Ankeny Jr. on May 9, 1808; by Killian Lichtenberger and his wife Catharina. (Deed Book of Somerset County, Volume 5, page 102) Ellenberger is buried in Ankeny Square with his tombstone reading “Ulrick Ellenberger died May 20,1831, aged 59 years, 2 months, and 15 days.This sketch on Mary Shaver comes from the George Shaver Manuscript; which was tendered to the Somerset County
Historical Society by a descendant of Professor Chester L. Shaver, deceased.

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The Christian Angeny Family
Christian Ankeny, Jr.
7G. Peter Ankney was born January 14, 1824, died January 17, 1892.
M#1. Nancy Beatty and they had 7 children.
She was born August 15, 1819, died October 11, 1865. Her birth date is computed from the age marked on her tombstone in Pleasant Grove Cemetery. She was the mother of (7) seven children, two of whom grew to maturity. The age on her tombstone states her age to have been 46 years, 1 month, and 26 days. She evidently died in an epidemic as certain deaths of her children show. Isaac's family at this time is the work of Charles Ross Shultz.
M#2. Alice Fry and they had 19 children. There are 26 children between the 2 marriages.
(Whew!!!, all letters of the alphabet.) HSA
8A. Isaac Ankney
8B. David B. Ankney
8C. Emanuel Ankney
8D. John W. Ankney
8E. Amos Ankney
8F. Mary Ankney
8G. Catherine Ankney
8H. Freeman Ankney
8I. Della Mae Ankney
8J. Elwood Beltz Ankney
8K. Sarah S. Ankney
8L. Lawrence Albert Ankney
8M. Nettie Rachel Ankney
8N. Gilbert Peter Ankney
8O. Watson M. Ankney
8P. Ella Norah Ankney
8Q. Jacob Harry Ankney
8R. Josiah Ankney
8S. Charles A. Ankney
8T. Ratie A. Ankney
8U. Stella E. Ankney
8V. Clida B. Ankney
8W. Herman Henry Ankney
8X. James Henry Ankney
8Y. Eli H. Ankney
8Z. Infant Female _____ Ankney

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8H. Freeman Ankney was born January 5, 1868, died 1944 M. Jennie Perkey on November 16, 1892 and had 4 children. She was born 1872, died December 16, 1958.
9A. Charles Harry Ankney
9B. John Gilbert Ankney
9C. Raymond Winfield Ankney
9D. Mabel E. Ankney

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9D. Mabel E. Ankney was born April 18, 1899, died May 23, 1950.
M. Arthur Miller Wolford on December 14, 1918. They had 3 children.
He was born May 1, 1897
At the time of their meeting they were school teachers.
Information and family stories on this family came from Genetta Wolford.
They live in Waterford, Pa.