Re: John Nicholas Gift
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In reply to:
Re: John Nicholas Gift
Tom McDavitt 1/18/00
You have George and Adam confused with sons of Mathias.Jacob is indeed a son of Johann Adam Gift Sr.Some info on Johann Adam follows:
John Adam Gift, Peter Gift, and Nicholas Gift, were three brothers (Mathias is another brother), who came to Pennsylvania about 1748-50.They first settled in Weisenberg Township, Information from Mary Bell Lontz, professional genealogist, Milton, Pa. 17847:
Northampton County, which is now Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.Peter was a clockmaker and remained there.Nicholas married and moved to Franklin County, Pennsylvania.
In September, 1754, Adam Gift, was granted a warrant of survey for 25 acres in this township.December 10, 1773, he was granted a warrant of 100 acres more.In 1778, he ws assessed in Penn Township, Northumberland County, near Middleburg, Pennsylvania.His farm land was originally warranted to Richard Tea.1793, Adam Gift purchased 225 acres on the south side of Middle Creek, Franklin Township, which is now in Snyder County, Pennsylvania.Later Jeremiah, one of Adam's sons, owned this land, and a fine brick was made at this place.
1786, Adam Gift was inspector of elections of Penn Township.
1789, he is listed as being in Beaver Township.
John Adam Gift, was usually referred to as Adam Gift, and he and his wife are both buried in the Old Hassinger Cemetery, just west of Middleburg, Pennsylvania; but the stones are no longer readable.Her name was Maria Catharine.It is possible they were married in or near the Lehigh County area, by Vashti, circa 1754.
He served in the Revolutionary War with a company of rangers, Private, 5th class, 1st Bn. Cumberland County.
Excerpts from the "History of the Gift, Kern and Royer Families, compiled by Aaron Kern Gift, Middleburgh, Pa. (Snyder Co.), Copyright 1909, Herald Printing and Publishing Company, Beaver Srings, Penna.:
In 1750 Johan Adam, and his two brothers, Peter and Nicholas Gift, emigrated from Germany to America.
Johan Adam, settled in Weissenberg Township, Northampton County, (since the division in 1812, this Township is within the territory of Lehigh County, Pa.)In this latter county his two brothers also settled.
In September, 1754 a proprietary warrant was granted to Johan Adam Gift for 25 acres of land, also on Dec 10, 1773, he procured a warrant for one hundred acres all located in Weissenberg Township.
In about 1777, he sold his real estate and with his family migrated to Penn Township.This section of country on the east, as well as for some distance on the west side of the Susquehanna River, was known as Shamokin.He settled in Middlecreek Valley, formerly Cumberland County, Pa.Johan Adam Gift owned and settled here on a farm which was warranted and surveyed in the name of Richard Tea, on the left or north bank of Middlecreek, about three miles wests of where MIddleburg is now located, and now within the boundary of Franklin Township.This farm then contained 250 acres.Afterwards he conveyed this farm to his son Anthony.
John Adam Gift and his beloved wife, Anna Catherine, were blessed with the following children;The sons were Jacob, Anthony and Jeremiah, the daughters were Eleanor, Mary, Gertrude and Eve the youngest, who was accidentally killed.
Johan Adam Gift died a a ripe old age.His beloved wife, Anna Catharine, must have preceded him to the spirit world.We believe this for the reason that he signed deeds, alone, for years before his death.Tradition says that they are buried in the cemetery at Christ's church, more familiarly known as Hassinger's church, two miles west from Middleburg, Pa.Here their ashes rest in unmarked graves, but these level spots can not speak, hence their history is lost in oblivion.This burial ground is the oldest in this part of Pennsylvania.
From a paper called: "The Trail of an Old Martin Luther Bible", unsubstantiated within the document, we find the following additional claims:
Apparently an old Bible, printed in the print shop of Hans Lufft, Wittenberg, Germany, in 1556, was passed down through several generations of the Gift family.It was brought by the three brothers to America from their home in the Palatinate country, Upper Rhine Valley, Germany, near the town of Ludwigshafen.They apparently left with their parents love and blessing, as indicated by their bringing this family treasure.
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Re: John Nicholas Gift
Gary Boyer 6/03/00