1728 Johann Weyrich Bentz
It appears one of our first founding fathers was a gentleman by the name of Johann "Weyrich" Bentz.
Aside from his immigration records, we don't see Weyrich using his first name anywhere else. The Bentz family, like many European families at the time, called their children by their middle name, whereas the first name was often that of a saint (in Catholic tradition). It wasn't uncommon to have several children with the same first name in the same family. Johann Weyrich probably only heard his first name on formal occasions, or when he got in trouble.
1704: It is probable that this is the Johann Weirach Conrad Bentz, baptized 24 Feb 1704 in Neckarbischofsheim, Baden, Germany - which is just a few miles southeast of Elsenz (where he later was married). In this record, his parents are listed as Johanneß Bentz and Barbara.
1728: This was a busy year for Weyrich. He got married and very quickly set off across the Atlantic with his new wife. Below is a quick synopsis of his record taken from Adelshofen Lutheran KB (18th Century Emigrants, Vol 1, Burgert):
** 27 April. Johann Weyrich Bentz was noted as the son of the late Johann Jacob Bentz; he's a former citizen at Elsens and a member of the Reformed church. On this day, he married Anna Barbara Schlauch, daughter of Johann Georg Schlauch. It notes also that Weyrich and Anna Barbara "are going to Pennsylvania".**
** 11 Sep. Weyrich arrived in Philadelphia aboard the James Goodwill out of Rotterdam. We can't say if Weyrich paid his passage in advance or came across as an indentured servant, but we do know he brought along his wife on this voyage: Anna Barbara Schlauch.**
1733: Weyrich Benns is noted as a member of Muddy Creek Lutheran KB, in Lancaster County.
1739: 1 Aug daughter Elisabetha born.
1744: Weyrich was noted as living in Lancaster County when, in 1744, a "Wyrick" Pence was naturalized: "Wyrick Pence, of Lancaster County, having lived in the United States at least seven years, took the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper Apr. 6, 1744 and was admitted as a citizen between Apr. 10-12, 1744." (Source: Lancaster County Naturalizations, 1740-1773). Now, in case you are wondering if this could be a different Wyrick Pence/Bentz living in the same area, keep in mind that Wyrick was a somewhat unique name, and the Pence/Bentz spelling flip was exceedingly common. On top of that, only one adult Weyrich Bentz was noted as living in America for the next forty years.
1748: Weirig Bence, Berks County, and Ann Mary, his wife, to George House, Cocalico Twp, 209 acres patented 3 Jun 1748. Land adjoined Hans Shonours, Cocalico Creek, etc. The grist mill and saw mill were sold to Nicholas Cerfas by Wirig Pence - Lancaster Deed Book R, page 194. June 15, 1767.
1749: On 25 Dec, we find 313 acres being sold to Weirich Bents of Cocalico Twp, Lancaster County, by Valentine Ent & Susannah, his wife - Deed Book O/Vol 1/Pg 238), Lancaster County Courthouse.
1751: 9 Oct, Weyerle Benss and Anna Maria have a daughter, Susannah.
1754: Weyrich is confirmed by Rev. Waldschmidt at Seltenreich Reformed Church in Earl Twp, near Cocalico Twp in Lancaster County.
1762: 21 June, Weirich Bence and his wife Mary, of Cocalico Twp, Lancaster County, sell 162 acres in Earl Twp to Jacob Bentz of Earl Twp for 1244 pounds and 1 shilling. The land adjoined George Bence (among others). This was part of the 313 acres he bought in 1749. Deed Book O/Vol 1/Pg 435), Lancaster County Courthouse. This wife "Mary" may be a second wife to Weirich, listed as "Anna Maria" in his will in 1783, and in the birth of his daughter Susanna in 1751. It is unclear what happened to his first wife, Anna Barbara Schlauch. As for Jacob (probably Weirich's son), he sold 33 acres of this land in 1771 to John Carpenter, and another 147.25 acres to Peter Bentz of Cocalico Twp, Lancaster County, in 1792. This Peter may also be one of Weirich's sons and who later died in Cocalico in 5 Apr 1814. Lastly, while Weyrich sold the Earl Twp land to Jacob, we do not know if Weyrich ever lived there himself.
1768: We next find a "Weirich Bentz" living in Cumru, Berks County in 1768. Berks was formed from northern Lancaster and Philadelphia counties. Perhaps he had lived there prior to his naturalization in 1744. As this is the first census style record we have of Weyrich, it may be useful to start noting other Bentz's that show up as his neighbors. In the case of Cumru in 1768, this would be Christian Bentz.
1779: It appears Weyrich moved west to York County by 1779 and for the next three years, he remains the only adult Weyrich in the entirety of Pennsylvania. His neighbors: Henry Bentz (butcher) and Philip Bentz. Henry's vocation is of interest because a Henry Bentz (butcher) ran a butcher shop in Baltimore in 1810, employing several family members, and this particular Henry Bentz appears to have moved out of York by 1800.
1780: In the 1780 York tax records, "Wyrick's" neighbors were named as Henry Bentz and Philip Bentz.
1781: In the York tax records, we find two Weyrich's. Both "Wyrich Bens Sr" and "Wyrich Bens Jr". Note the spelling. This illustrates the fluid use of phonetic spelling for both first and last names. This Wyrich Jr is most probably the Weirich Bentz that was born in 1756, and died in 1821 (buried at Prospect Hill Cemetery in York township, husband of Margaret Gerber).
Note: sometime between 1745 and 1800, Weirich Bentz of York County was a sponsor for a baptism in the First Reformed Trinity Church in York, York County. This is most probably Weyrich Jr. because Margaret Bentz is also listed as a sponsor and this may be the same Margaret Gerber Bentz that was listed as wife of Weyrich Jr. above.
1782: Both Weyrich Sr. and Jr. paid taxes in York and this was also the year that "Whyrich " of York County wrote his will, perhaps knowing he would soon die.
1783: Weyrich Sr. passed on and his will was proved on 11 Apr 1783. He left behind a wife (Anna Maria). The children listed in the will are as follows: Whyrich, Jacob, Peter, Catharine (m. Jacob Heller), Anna (m. George Rudy), Susanna (m. Abraham Frostle), Elizabeth (m. Peter Deckart), Lizzie (m. Jacob Sidler), and Ursula (m. Henry King). The son "Whyrich" mentioned above is most certainly the Weyrich Jr from the preceding tax years.
It's important to pause here. Until 1781, we've see only one Weyrich Bentz in Pennsylvania. Is it the same Weyrich that came to Pennsylvania in 1728? Let us suppose, to be conservative, that Weyrich was twenty years of age (and married to Anna Barbara) when he arrived in America in 1728. That means he'd have been at least forty-eight when Weyrich Jr was born. Certainly possible, but somewhat uncommon. This requires a bit more sleuthing, I think.
1786: The York Septennial census lists Weyrich Bentz. Neighbors: Peter Bentz and Henry Bentz. Also this year, Christian Bentz (brother of Weyrich Jr) appears to have died, as his death is noted in the dispensement of his orphans who will now live with Weyrich Jr. There is a letter, dated 21 Nov 1956, to Miss Dinkle, from M.L. Heisey, that says the Orphan Court Dockets (1782-1784, p.167) note that "Peter Bentz and Anna Maria his wife were administrators of the estate of the last Christian Bentz". This is the sam Christian Bentz (as it lists out his children complete with matching dates), and therefore would place Christian's death not in 1786, but rather prior to the end of 1784.
1787: Tax records list Weyrich Bentz. Neighbors: Peter Bentz, Henry Bentz and George Bentz.
1788: Tax records list Weyrich Bentz. Neighbors: Peter Bentz and Henry Bentz.
1789: Tax records list Weyrich Bentz. Neighbors: Henry Bentz and George Bentz.
1793: The census lists Wyrich Bentz. Neighbors: Michael Pentz and Barnet Pentz.
1798: Weirich Bentz is a resident in Manchester twp, York County (tax). Neighbors: Michael Bentz and Henry Bentz.
1800: The Septennial Census lists Weirich. Neighbor: Michael Bentz.
1805: The last record we have is of a Whyrich Bentz (and his wife Mary Lehman - perhaps a second wife) in 11 Mar 1805 where he acts as an executor of a will. Weyrich Jr would be about fifty years old at this point.
To sum up, it seems we have two Weyrichs. The immigrant Weyrich Sr (c. 1710-1783) and Weyrich Jr (1756-1821). Both died in York County, Pennsylvania.
Work left to do: We need to prove that the immigrant Weyrich (1728) is indeed the father of Weyrich Jr (1756) despite his advanced age (between 48-56). We'll want to follow any direct descendants as far as possible. And if there is a surviving direct male line, we'd want to get a y-DNA sample to help knit this line together. If you know of anyone on this line, let's talk!
Mysteries that remain: We'll want to follow any direct descendants as far as possible. And if there is a surviving direct male line, we'd want to get a y-DNA sample to help knit this line together.
Other Notes:
- Original data: Germany, Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013
- (Source: Records of First Reformed Church, York Co., Pa.; Pennsylvania Archives, Vol. VI, p. 334.)
1749: On 25 Dec, we find 313 acres being sold to Weirich Bents of Cocalico Twp, Lancaster County, by Valentine Ent & Susannah, his wife - Deed Book O/Vol 1/Pg 238), Lancaster County Courthouse.
1751: 9 Oct, Weyerle Benss and Anna Maria have a daughter, Susannah.
1754: Weyrich is confirmed by Rev. Waldschmidt at Seltenreich Reformed Church in Earl Twp, near Cocalico Twp in Lancaster County.
1762: 21 June, Weirich Bence and his wife Mary, of Cocalico Twp, Lancaster County, sell 162 acres in Earl Twp to Jacob Bentz of Earl Twp for 1244 pounds and 1 shilling. The land adjoined George Bence (among others). This was part of the 313 acres he bought in 1749. Deed Book O/Vol 1/Pg 435), Lancaster County Courthouse. This wife "Mary" may be a second wife to Weirich, listed as "Anna Maria" in his will in 1783, and in the birth of his daughter Susanna in 1751. It is unclear what happened to his first wife, Anna Barbara Schlauch. As for Jacob (probably Weirich's son), he sold 33 acres of this land in 1771 to John Carpenter, and another 147.25 acres to Peter Bentz of Cocalico Twp, Lancaster County, in 1792. This Peter may also be one of Weirich's sons and who later died in Cocalico in 5 Apr 1814. Lastly, while Weyrich sold the Earl Twp land to Jacob, we do not know if Weyrich ever lived there himself.
1768: We next find a "Weirich Bentz" living in Cumru, Berks County in 1768. Berks was formed from northern Lancaster and Philadelphia counties. Perhaps he had lived there prior to his naturalization in 1744. As this is the first census style record we have of Weyrich, it may be useful to start noting other Bentz's that show up as his neighbors. In the case of Cumru in 1768, this would be Christian Bentz.
1779: It appears Weyrich moved west to York County by 1779 and for the next three years, he remains the only adult Weyrich in the entirety of Pennsylvania. His neighbors: Henry Bentz (butcher) and Philip Bentz. Henry's vocation is of interest because a Henry Bentz (butcher) ran a butcher shop in Baltimore in 1810, employing several family members, and this particular Henry Bentz appears to have moved out of York by 1800.
1780: In the 1780 York tax records, "Wyrick's" neighbors were named as Henry Bentz and Philip Bentz.
1781: In the York tax records, we find two Weyrich's. Both "Wyrich Bens Sr" and "Wyrich Bens Jr". Note the spelling. This illustrates the fluid use of phonetic spelling for both first and last names. This Wyrich Jr is most probably the Weirich Bentz that was born in 1756, and died in 1821 (buried at Prospect Hill Cemetery in York township, husband of Margaret Gerber).
Note: sometime between 1745 and 1800, Weirich Bentz of York County was a sponsor for a baptism in the First Reformed Trinity Church in York, York County. This is most probably Weyrich Jr. because Margaret Bentz is also listed as a sponsor and this may be the same Margaret Gerber Bentz that was listed as wife of Weyrich Jr. above.
1782: Both Weyrich Sr. and Jr. paid taxes in York and this was also the year that "Whyrich " of York County wrote his will, perhaps knowing he would soon die.
1783: Weyrich Sr. passed on and his will was proved on 11 Apr 1783. He left behind a wife (Anna Maria). The children listed in the will are as follows: Whyrich, Jacob, Peter, Catharine (m. Jacob Heller), Anna (m. George Rudy), Susanna (m. Abraham Frostle), Elizabeth (m. Peter Deckart), Lizzie (m. Jacob Sidler), and Ursula (m. Henry King). The son "Whyrich" mentioned above is most certainly the Weyrich Jr from the preceding tax years.
It's important to pause here. Until 1781, we've see only one Weyrich Bentz in Pennsylvania. Is it the same Weyrich that came to Pennsylvania in 1728? Let us suppose, to be conservative, that Weyrich was twenty years of age (and married to Anna Barbara) when he arrived in America in 1728. That means he'd have been at least forty-eight when Weyrich Jr was born. Certainly possible, but somewhat uncommon. This requires a bit more sleuthing, I think.
1786: The York Septennial census lists Weyrich Bentz. Neighbors: Peter Bentz and Henry Bentz. Also this year, Christian Bentz (brother of Weyrich Jr) appears to have died, as his death is noted in the dispensement of his orphans who will now live with Weyrich Jr. There is a letter, dated 21 Nov 1956, to Miss Dinkle, from M.L. Heisey, that says the Orphan Court Dockets (1782-1784, p.167) note that "Peter Bentz and Anna Maria his wife were administrators of the estate of the last Christian Bentz". This is the sam Christian Bentz (as it lists out his children complete with matching dates), and therefore would place Christian's death not in 1786, but rather prior to the end of 1784.
1787: Tax records list Weyrich Bentz. Neighbors: Peter Bentz, Henry Bentz and George Bentz.
1788: Tax records list Weyrich Bentz. Neighbors: Peter Bentz and Henry Bentz.
1789: Tax records list Weyrich Bentz. Neighbors: Henry Bentz and George Bentz.
1793: The census lists Wyrich Bentz. Neighbors: Michael Pentz and Barnet Pentz.
1798: Weirich Bentz is a resident in Manchester twp, York County (tax). Neighbors: Michael Bentz and Henry Bentz.
1800: The Septennial Census lists Weirich. Neighbor: Michael Bentz.
1805: The last record we have is of a Whyrich Bentz (and his wife Mary Lehman - perhaps a second wife) in 11 Mar 1805 where he acts as an executor of a will. Weyrich Jr would be about fifty years old at this point.
To sum up, it seems we have two Weyrichs. The immigrant Weyrich Sr (c. 1710-1783) and Weyrich Jr (1756-1821). Both died in York County, Pennsylvania.
Work left to do: We need to prove that the immigrant Weyrich (1728) is indeed the father of Weyrich Jr (1756) despite his advanced age (between 48-56). We'll want to follow any direct descendants as far as possible. And if there is a surviving direct male line, we'd want to get a y-DNA sample to help knit this line together. If you know of anyone on this line, let's talk!
Currently accepted data points:
Name: Johann Weyrich Bentz (first and last names spelled variably, as noted above, as well as two passenger list transcriptions naming him "Hans Veery Bants" and "Hans Virech Bontz")
Y-DNA line: Based on genealogical references, likely I-M223:I-L812*
Born: c. 1704 in Germany (probably near Elsens/Elsenz, Baden)
Known relations: Johann Jacob Bentz (father, deceased by 1728), possibly Barbara.
Immigration: James Goodwill, out of Rotterdam, arriving in Philadelphia 11 Sep 1728. His wife Anna Barbara was with him.
Married: Anna Barbara Schlauch (m. 27 Apr 1728). He was married to a Anna Maria (Mary) (d. by 24 May 1796) at least by 1751 until his death in 1783.
Residence: Lancaster County by 1733; Cumru, Berks County by 1768; York County by 1779.
Died: 11 Apr 1783 at the age of about 73.
Male line – Named in will of 1783, and in Seltenreich church records:
- Christian Bentz; died c.1786. There is a possibility he died a decade earlier. However, estate records are dated to 1 Nov 1786.
- Jacob; given as ward to Weyrich Jr upon Christian's death prior to 1787.
- John; given as ward to Weyrich Jr upon Christian's death prior to 1787. This is most probably the man later known as Dr. John Pentz of York who married Sabina Sarah Hoke, daughter of Peter Hoke. Dr. John was b. 8 Aug 1778 and died in 1826. The below are male children of this union.
- John Gustavus (aka, Augustus); b. 10 Jan 1813; d. 1880; m. Susan Strine
- Charles
- John E.
- Wirich F.
- George H.
- William W.
- Jacob S.
- Werich; b. 26 Aug 1818
- William Alexander; b. 3 Apr 1821
- Weyrich Bentz, Jr; m. Margaret Gerber by 12 Jul 1778; d. 17 Mar 1821
- Weyrich Bentz;
- Christian
- Jacob (noted after 1827, with sisters Christina and Mary).
- Jacob Bentz
- Peter Bentz; m. Barbara; d. in Cocalico in 1814 (will proved in June 1814)
- George Bentz (m. 8 Dec 1761 Anna Maria Holtzinger - b. 15 Mar 1743); not named in father's will; d. 10 Dec 1805.
- Bernhard Bentz (b. 29 Oct 1767, sponsors: Bernhard Holtzinger & wife - Anna Maria's brother?). Often misspelled "Barnet". Went by diminutive "Bernd"; w. Elizabeth (m. bef 1796 in Deed).
- Daniel Pentz; b. 15 Nov 1794 (source 12021 York archive) in York; private, United Maryland Artillery War of 1812; m. Rachel Schaefer on 23 May 1819; d. 15 Jan 1871. Lived in Meadville, PA from 1856-9, then returned to York.
- William b. 2 Apr 1820; m. Mary A. Campbell (1825-1910) in 1841 in Allegheny City; moved to Meadville in 1845. Nine children were born to them; d. 1899.
- William H. ; b. 1848; a carpenter in Meadville; m. Tryphena Peese by 1870.
- Daniel b. 28 Sep 1824
- Henry b. 24 Feb 1823
- Emanuel b. 28 Feb 1830
- Samuel George
- David b. 25 Feb 1832
- Edward b. 24 Aug 1833
- John Bentz. b. September 8, 1774; d. Est. 1864.
- William Bentz, b. Est. 1760-1783; d. Est. 1850.
- Jacob Bentz, b. Est. 1760-1783; d. Est. 1850.
Mysteries that remain: We'll want to follow any direct descendants as far as possible. And if there is a surviving direct male line, we'd want to get a y-DNA sample to help knit this line together.
Other Notes:
- Original data: Germany, Births and Baptisms, 1558-1898. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013
- (Source: Records of First Reformed Church, York Co., Pa.; Pennsylvania Archives, Vol. VI, p. 334.)
- The constitution and register of membership of the general Society of the War of 1812 (Daniel Pentz's birth year, to match church birth records, and death year, to align with marriage records.
- Weyrich Jr buried in Prospect Hill Cemetery in York.
- Wills of York County
- Idences of the Bentz-Pentz Families in York county before the year 1850; Historical Society of York County, Henry James Young, 1935
- Wills of York County
- Idences of the Bentz-Pentz Families in York county before the year 1850; Historical Society of York County, Henry James Young, 1935
Hi, I hope this blog is still monitored. I think there is a chance that I may be able to trace my paternal lineage through this line. What is the best DNA test I could take to help compile your data?
ReplyDeleteI did my Y DNA testing at FTDNA.
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