Name | Johann Bernhard ZENTMEYER | |
Birth | 1 Jan 1707 | Roigheim, Württemberg, Germany [1, 2] |
Gender | Male | |
Death | 9 Mar 1784 | Warwick Twp. (now Penn), Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania [1, 2] |
Burial | Union (White Oak) Cemetery, Warwick Twp. (now Penn), Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania [2] | |
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Person ID | I1624 | Zentmeyer Main Tree |
Last Modified | 24 Oct 2023 |
Father | Johann Jacob ZENTMAIR, b. 15 Feb 1661, Vincenzenbronn, Bavaria, Germany d. 25 Aug 1733, Roigheim, Heilbronn, Baden-Württemberg, Germany (Age 72 years) | |
Mother | Ursula WALTER, b. Bef 1681 d. 2 Jul 1720, Roigheim, D-74255 (Age > 39 years) | |
Marriage | 1699 | Roigheim, Württemberg, Germany |
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Family ID | F22873 | Group Sheet | Family Chart |
Family | Maria Salome ROTH, b. 16 Mar 1712, Bischwiller, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France d. 1774, Warwick Twp., (now Penn) Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania (Age 61 years) | |||||||||||||||
Marriage | 16 Feb 1739 | Bischwiller, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France [1] | ||||||||||||||
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Photos | Bernhard and Salome's Marriage Record from the Bischwiller Kirchenbücher (Churchbooks) "16 Feb recorded in a public setting per priestly ordinances Joh. Bernhard Zentmeӱers, remaining marriage-eligible son of Jacob Zentmeӱers, citizen and resident and farmer at Roigheim, in the jurisdiction of Württemberg, and Maria Salomina, remaining marriage-eligible daughter of Jacob Roth, citizen and resident and metal worker/fitter here" This marriage record was the clue which led us the family's origins in Roigheim and then earlier in Franconia and southern Bavaria. Image by Gary Zentmyer | |||||||||||||||
Bischwiller Street Scene, Cafe and Bar. The Cafe Au Lion d'Or operates to this day in the same location in Bischwiller, Bas-Rhin, Alsace (Bischweiler or Bishweiler, Elsaß in German) Image by Gary Zentmyer | ||||||||||||||||
Notarial Register from Bischwiller for Centmeyer A recently discovered genealogical record from Bischwiller. The line under Jakob Centmeyer reads, 'Ackerer (farmer -Ed) in Roigheim, Württemberg.' The entry for his son Johann Bernhard reads, 'Lutheran, day laborer at the Keibelmühle (a mill -Ed) married on 16 Feb 1739 Maria Salome Roth.' The listing of their children reveals for the first time the death dates for Johann Jakob and Maria Salome. | ||||||||||||||||
Family ID | F014 | Group Sheet | Family Chart | ||||||||||||||
Last Modified | 31 Jul 2018 |
Photos | Plat Map of Bernhard's Farm in Warwick Township The farm was 'Patented' from Daniel Snider on 20 August 1766, which means that was when Bernhard came into title. It is likely however, that he worked the farm as early as 1754, when the birth of Görg was recorded at the White Oak Church there. Photo by Gary Zentmyer | |
Deed to Bernhard's Farm (first page) This Deed, also called a Patent, conveyed the land from Daniel Snider (Schneider) to Bernhard Zentmeyer. Interestingly, the farm was called "Bishweiller," which is the German spelling for "Bischwiller." Bischwiller is the town in Bas-Rhin, Alsace where Bernhard and Salome were married and where most of their children were born. But the fact that the farm was called Bishweiller prior to Bernhard's arrival in America points to the likelihood that Bernhard was following the path of earlier emigrants from Bischwiller who had settled near Penryn, including perhaps Snider. Photo by Gary Zentmyer | ||
Aerial View of Bernhard's Farm on what is now called Airy Hill Rd. Bernhard and Salome's farm on Airy Hill Rd., about one mile northeast of the cemetery in Penryn where they are buried. The farm has been owned by Ralph Myer & Sons since 1940. (no relation) Image by Gary Zentmyer | ||
Bernhard's farm in present-day Penn Township (formerly Warwick Township) Bernhard's original farm is mostly intact, and currently produces wheat, corn, and beef. The owners as of 2015, J. Marlin Myer and his brother Gerald, told me the farm has been in the Myer family since 1940. It is not clear what will happen going forward, as none of their offspring are interested in farming. They say the original farm house is made of square logs under the siding, and is contained within the left-hand portion of the farm house in the middle of the view. According to Cousin Ron, having two front doors was common for the period. Once a family had the ability to expand the house, the original door was used by the family, and the new door was for guests and opened into a parlor, where the family's best things were on display. The two ponds are fed by a perennial spring, which has flowed since the earliest written records. Native American artifacts have been found at the site, suggesting it was likely a pre-colonial settlement as well. Photo by Gary Zentmyer | ||
Floor beam in Bernhard's log house In June of 2015 I went into the basement of Bernhard's house and verified that it was in fact original log construction. Photo by Gary Zentmyer | ||
Pennsylvania Log House similar to Bernhard's From what we can tell, this is what Bernhard's original house would look like under the siding. Photo by Gary Zentmyer | ||
Corner detail on early log houses This detail shows how the log corners were interlocked for structual integrity. Photo by Gary Zentmyer | ||
Headstone for Johann Bernhard Zentmeyer
Inscription: Here • Rests • In the Grave • Bernhart Zentmeier • Was Born • Date • 1 January in the Year 1707 • Died • Date • 9 March in the Year 1784 • Was 77 Years 2 Months 9 Days Old
Although spelled 'Bernhart Zentmeier' on his headstone, this spelling was rarely seen; the most common spelling in written records was (Johann) Bernhard Zentmeyer. 'Johann' was his Saints' name, which was also bestowed on all of his sons. Photo by Gary Zentmyer | ||
Bernhard's Headstone - Reverse Side Translation: "The Soul at Peace in This Chamber, Devoid of Life's Miseries, Rests Undisturbed by its Great Sorrows, of which the Earth is Full" One would conclude that Bernhard, later in life, was not without his share of troubles. Photo by Gary Zentmyer | ||
Location of Headstones in Penryn Cemetery In June of 2015 we paid to have the headstones vertically stabilized, they were leaning significantly. Photo by Gary Zentmyer | ||
Penryn Cemetery Sign Cemetery is adjacent to St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 1258 Newport Rd, Penryn, Pennsylvania 17564 Photo by Gary Zentmyer |
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