| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. FHL book 929.273 EL54ejg "John Jacob Eller and His Descendants with Other Pre-1800 Eller Immigrants to America...," by J. Gerald Eller, Edward K. Eller, and Janine Eller Porter (The Eller Family Association, 1998), pp. 22-27; the following is a partial excerpt from the full transcript which I place in the notes of George Michael Eller:
"George Michael Eller.
Many gaps in our knowledge of the genealogy of descendants of George Michael Eller are revealed in Table VI. Until new information was reported in the Eller Chronicles, the published genealogy of this immigrant and his descendants came exclusively from Hook (1925, 1955, 1957, 1957A). His genealogies were limited largely to descendants of four sons: Peter, Leonard, Jacob, and George. His listing of Jacob, as a son (1957, pp 53-63), has been questioned; this point is discussed further in chapters 8 and 10. Other researchers have now contributed extensively to the genealogy of this line, as shown in the bibliography at the end of the chapter. As can be seen in Table VI, little is known of the descendants of the daughters of immigrant George Michael Eller.
Table VI
George Michael Eller married (1st)? (2nd)? (3rd) Eva Maria. Frederick County, Maryland. Their children and grandchildren:
1. Peter, married Elizabeth Dick, children John, Catherine, Peter Jr., Elizabeth, unnamed daughter, Jacob, Mary, Henry, George.
2. Elizabeth married Heinrich Reb. Nothing more is known
3. Leonard married Elizabeth Mast, children: Adam, Elizabeth, John, Joseph, Sarah, Mary Lucinda, Jacob, Henry, George.
4. Jacob. No other known record unless he was the Jacob Eller of Chapter 8.
5. George died in Davidson County, North Carolina, before 1841; his wife was Susanna. Children: George Jr., Henry, David.
6. John married Catherine Fight (Fort)? Nothing more is known.
7. Eve. Nothing more is known.
8. Catherine married Peter Lehman? Nothing more is known. (From Hook, 1957, pp. 15-16).
9. Maria (Mary) married Jacob Eller; Children: Cloah (Chloe) "Glory" Eller. (Troutman and File. EC, XI:1, Sp. Ed., Feb. 1997).
Primary centers from which known descendants spread: Frederick Co., MD, Rowan Co., NC, Ashe Co., NC, Wilkes Co., NC, Miami Co., OH, Hamilton Co., IN, Wapello Co., IA. ..."
2. In Peter Eller's probate of 1799, there is a John Eller mentioned who could possibly be this individual (his brother) or possibly Peter's son John: FHL book 929.273 P684pn: "Graybill/Stoker/Eller/Smith/Koons/Pitt Connections," by Norman E. 'Gene' Pitt, 1996, pp. 119-123:
"An accounting of the sale of Peter Eller's personal estate after his death follows: The personal estate of Peter Eller was sold and an accounting reported to the Nov 1799 court of Wilkes Co., NC by John Eller, Adr. The property, 111 individual sales, consisted of household utensils and furniture, farm yard tools, and accessories, including one tomahawk, ten sheep, fifteen head of cattle, among which were a yoke of yearlings and one yearling bull, hogs, geese, beehives, etc. The widow took a good deal of the furniture and household accessories including interestingly enough a trumpet which indicates that the early Ellers possessed musical interest. Other items taken by her were one lot of books, a chest, five head of hogs, four cows, one mare colt, two sheep, oven hammer and anvil and a pair of saddle bags. Other purchasers were John Eller, Michael Bumgardner, Leonard Bumgardner, John Dick, Leonard Pfouts, Jacob Huntsinger, Daniel Dickson, James Dickson, James Cash, William Cash, Henry Michael Sr., Henry Michael Jr., Danien Michael, Thomas Baker, Alexander Smith who purchased the tomahawk and some of the farm animals and other items, David Smith, Frederick Younce, Christian Shear, Abraham Shear, Coonrod Coldiron, David Ingram, Balsar Raimer, Conrat Grub, William Colward, George Miller, John Calloway, Allen Nowlin, John Holman and John Tirey. The amount of the sale, including the items taken by the widow, totaled 300 pounds, 18 shillings, 7 pence. (Will Book 1, pp. 540-41, Wilkes Co., NC)."
3. There is a John Eller mentioned with Michael Stoker as chain carriers in the survey of some land in Wilkes Co., NC granted to Conrad Dick and later sold to Peter Eller. They are listed as neighbors. John may be this individual or Peter's brother John Eller.
4. The book "The Howard Leytham Stoker Von Dollen Family Histories," FHL 929.273 H833a, by Doris Lewis, 2017 So. 80th Ave., Omaha, Nebraska, 68124, p. 88 [FHL book 929.273 P684pn: "Graybill/Stoker/Eller/Smith/Koons/Pitt Connections," by Norman E. 'Gene' Pitt, 1996, pp. 119-123, has almost the same verbatim except what I note in brackets]:
"...James Hook wrote a history of 'George Michael Eller and His Descendants in America.' Much of the information I have on the Ellers come from this book or a book by Judge Johnson J. Hayes, called 'The Land of Wilkes,' a history of Wilkes County in North Carolina. In the ninth century Alamans, Teutons of Jutland, moved into Westallgan as early settlers. One group, called Ellers, started at the foot of Hirshberg in the Algauer Alp area near Bregenz, on Lake Constance. [They may have stayed in this general area for 600 years. This is the same area of the Palatinate that the Graybill religious refugees from Switzerland had fled and the same time frame. So the Ellers and Graybills may have known each other as neighbors or fellow churchmen.] Alta March, of Herman, Nebraska, has an Eller genealogy based in Germany, which probably connects with our family. In this record a Bartl and Barbara Swartz Eller had three children, Joseph, George and George Michael, the latter thought born in Baden, Sept. 5, 1695 and emigrated to America. He could well have been the father of our George Michael Eller, for he was a bit old to start his family in 1748. [The American Ellers apparently came from the Palatinate of Germany in the first half of the 18th century. The Pennsylvania Archives, 2nd Series, Vol 17, records the arrival of 13 Eller families who took the oath of allegiance between 30 Sep 1740 and 3 Nov 1772.] A Geo. Eller [age 20] emigrated on the ship 'St. Andrew,' and took his oath in Pennsylvania on Oct. 7, 1743 and [a George Michael Eller, apparently this same George Eller,] bought land he called 'Hammond Strife,' in Frederick County, Maryland. A Michael Eller aboard the ship Phoenix, took oath on September 30, 1743, and was on the tax list of Rowan Co. in N.C. in 1759. George Michael Eller, our ancestor, who may be the son or one of the above, was in Rowan County with Jacob, Christian and Melchoir Eller [Pitt book does not say location of the above three Ellers] at that same time and may have been there for a number years since his son Leonard said he was born at Fort Litters, N.C. in 1759. George Michael Eller bought land next to his brother Henry, in Frederick Co., MD in 1773, so he went back to Frederick County. His wife's name was Anna Marie and was the known mother of the last seven children, and may well have been Peter's and Leonard's mother. The Ellers of North Carolina have been connected with education since that state's earliest days. Academies in Virginia and North Carolina were started by Ellers and a list of the public school personnel today in N.C. is sprinkled with Ellers. [In 1790 there were 11 Eller families shown in the Rowan Co., NC census. At that time, members of the Eller family also were in Wilkes Co., NC and in Botetort Co., VA.] Children:
a. Peter, b. [1746/]1748 [possibly in Germany]; d. [bef] 29 Jul 1799 at Ashe Co., NC; m. [abt 1766/7 probably of Frederick Co, MD] Elizabeth Dick.
b. Leonard, b. 20 Mar 1752 at Ft. Litters [20 Mar 1754 probably in NC, possibly in Germany]; d. 1839, [probably] Hamilton Co., IN; m. Elizabeth Mast [Elizabeth ___].
c. Elizabeth, b. 1756; d. 1777; m. Henry Repp [10 Jun 1777 to Heinrich Reb, s/o Caspar Reb of Bucks Co., PA].
d. Jacob, b. 1758; d. 1830 [between 10 May 1830 and Oct 1830, Botetort Co., VA], m. Magdalena [___].
e. George, b. 1760 [d. probably abt 1839, Davidson Co., NC; m. Susannah [___].
f. John, b. 1762; m. [possibly] Catherine Fight [or Fort].
g. Eve, b. 1764.
h. Catherine, b. 1767; m. [probably 27 May 1788, Frederick Co., MD] Peter Lehman.
i. Maria, b. 1769."
5. FHL book 929.273 P684pn: "Graybill/Stoker/Eller/Smith/Koons/Pitt Connections," by Norman E. 'Gene' Pitt, 1996, pp. 119-123 notes that his children may have included Peter, David, and George.
6. FHL Book 929.273EL54h "George Michael Eller and Descendants of His in America," compiled by James W. Hook, 1957, also on FHL film 896571, item 2, pp. 15-16:
"John Eller. No identifiable record of him was found. He may be one of the John Ellers found in the early census records of Rowan Co., N.C. This writer's guess is that he was the John Eller who married Catherine Fight (Fort) 10 Aug 1785. (Rowan Co. Marriages.) She was the daughter of Peter Fight. (Deed Book 19, p. 876, Rowan Co., NC.) One son of theirs probably was Peter Eller, b. in Rowan Co. in 1788, who served during the War of 1812 as a private in Capt. W.L. Dufphey's Company Company of the 3rd Regiment of U.S. Riflemen. (His Hon. Discharge papers, Archives Bldg., Wash., D.C.) For these services he was granted 160 acres of Bounty Land in Missouri which he sold to Henry Fight, his brother-in-law probably, 10 Dec. 1819. (Deed Book 26, p. 112, Rowan Co.) Peter Eller, probably, m. 17 Apr 1809, Susannah Lemly and removed to Montgomery Co., VA and there shown in the 1820 census of that county, aged between 26 and 45 with wife of same age and with six male and one female children under 16. Others sons of John Eller may have been David Eller who had a license dated 31 Jun 1815 to marry Sarah Leonard, a dau. of Valentine Leonard of Davidson County, NC, and George Eller who had a license dated 9 Sep 1814 to marry Caty (Catherine) Eller. (Rowan Co., NC Marriages.)"
7. Censuses:
1790: FHL Book 929.273EL54h "George Michael Eller and Descendants of His in America," compiled by James W. Hook, 1957, also on FHL film 896571, item 2, p. 5:
"Of the 11 Eller families shown in the Fed. Census of Rowan Co., NC in 1790, 8 of them can be identified as sons either of Jacob, Christian or Melcher. The other three were named Leonard, John and George. That Leonard was a son of George Michael Eller who died and left a will in Frederick Co., MD that was probated 25 Aug 1778 is substantially proved. That John and George were Leonard Eller's brothers appears reasonably certain to this writer. Another brother of Leonard was Peter Eller, who lived first in that part of Rowan Co. that, in 1777, became Wilkes and 1799 Ashe Co., NC... Peter Eller is listed in the 1790 census (original list) of Wilkes Co., NC and is the only person of the Eller name outside of Rowan Co., NC who is shown in the 1790 census of North Carolina…" [Current thinking is that Jacob, Christian, and Melcher were probable brothers and that Leonard, John, and George were a separate group of brothers (sons of George Michael). The relationship between both groups are undetermined but believed to perhaps involve earlier relationship in Germany.]
8. FHL Book 929.273, film 6005243, "John Jacob Eller and His Descendants with Other Pre-1800 Eller Immigrants to America," by the Eller Family Association, 1998, 817-297-1280; Chapter 4, concerning the George Michael Eller and his children:
"Many gaps in our knowledge of the genealogy of descendants of George Michael Eller are revealed in [the following:]
George Michael Eller married (1st)? (2nd)? (3rd) Eva Maria [Why Eva and not Anna - later in same article they use Anna Maria]. Frederick County, Maryland. Their children and grand-Children:
1. Peter, married Elizabeth Dick; Children: John, Catherine, Peter Jr., Elizabeth, unnamed daughter, Jacob, Mary, Henry, George.
2. Elizabeth married Heinrich Reb. Nothing more is known.
3. Leonard married Elizabeth Mast; Children: Adam, Elizabeth, John, Joseph, Sarah Mary Lucinda, Jacob, Henry, George.
4. Jacob. No other known record unless he was the Jacob Eller of [Botetort Co., Virginia].
5. George, d. in Davidson County, North Carolina before 1841; his wife was Susanna; Children: George Jr., Henry, David.
6. John married Catherine Fight (Fort)? Nothing more is known.
7. Eve. Nothing more is known.
8. Catherine married Peter Lehman? Nothing more is known.
9. Maria (Mary) married Jacob Eller; Children: Cloah (Chloe) 'Glory' Eller (Source: Troutman and File, 'Eller Chronicles,' XI:1, Sp. Ed., Feb 1997)
The book comments on current thinking of the Eller Family Association (EFA) on Hook research into George Michael Eller (GME) which I summarize as follows:
A. The two arrival records, Michael Eller in the ship "Phoenix" and Geo. Eler and Hans Jerg Ohler of the "St. Andrew" continue to lead to some confusion and differences of opinion. Recent analysis has led the Eller Family Association to believe that Geo. Eler and Hans Jerg Ohler were apparently the same individual. The clarification of the misinterpretation is that EFA does not feel that Hook documented where he got an age of 43 for Hans Georg Oehler. According to the actual records as reported by EFA as found in Strassburger and Hinke, Vol. 1, pp. 348-352: List 103A, p. 349, 'Geo. Eler listed age 20 and between Johannes Mayer and Peter Warner; List 103B, p. 350, Hans Jerg Ohler listed between Johannes Mayer and Peter Warner; List 103C, p. 351, Hanes Jerg Ohler listed between Johannes Mayer and Peter Warner. My note: did not the age come from the Oaths of Allegiance taken in 1743 in Pennsylvania right after the 1743 ship arrivals?
B. The 1753 deed in Lancaster Co., PA to 25 acres, the 1759 Rowan County tax list, and the 1772 Randolph Co., NC, tax list for Michael Eller may or may not be for George Michael Eller. Specifically EFA thinks the 1759 tax list may actually be for Melchior Eller whom was in Rowan County at that early date - Melchior sometimes being rendered as Melker or perhaps even Michael. On the other hand, four of GME's sons were in NC in the 1770s including Leonard as a large landowner in Randolph County making the 1772 Randolph Co. tax list a possibility. There is still no concrete evidence that GME was in North Carolina before his 1773 evidence of being in Frederick Co., MD. 1773 was the same year Peter, his eldest son, first shows in Rowan Co. and it wasn't until 1778 that his other sons were in NC.
C. The Bible record of Leonard being born at Fort (Ford) Litters, NC and his father from Bebon (Baden?) continues to puzzle researchers. No record or location of Fort Litters has yet been found. Most researchers believe Leonard was born in the United States and not Germany as reported by Hook on page 32. My note: I don't believe that Hook ever stated one way or the other except to quote what the Indiana history book he cites had quoted.
D. A will for George Eller, son of GME has been located. An abstract of his will from the Division of Lands Book, pp. 32-33, Davidson Co., NC was obtained from the Public Library in Lexington, NC. His heirs listed in the may Term 1841 Court Record includes: Caroline Sowers, Katharene Darr(?), Sally Warlow, Dolly Long, David Eller, Christene Waggoner, Elizabeth Reket(?), George Eller, Sally Haines, Polly Reed.
E. As for John, son of GME, no further record has been found. EFA acknowledges that the name John Eller is too unspecific making it difficult to identify which John Ellers if any of Rowan Co. may be him.
F. "Based in part on an Eller family oral tradition in Rowan County, Maria, youngest daughter of GME, a recent report says she married Jacob Eller, a grandson of immigrant (John) Melchior Eller. Louise Barringer File of Salisbury, NC, now in her eighties, has vivid memories of being told by her grandmother, Joyce Delinda Eller Morgan, of her descent from George Michael Eller, and how intermarriages among descendants of four different Eller immigrants enabled her and many other Ellers to claim four immigrant Ellers as ancestors. …taken from the work of Troutman and File (1997)." A chart accompanies the book showing how children of the original immigrants John Jacob, Christian, Melchior, and GME intermarried over about four generations to produce Joyce Delinda Eller from all four immigrants. The connection with GME purports to be Maria, GME's dau., marrying the grandson of Melchior Eller.
G. Questions still to be answered according to EFA: Where in Germany is he from, how was he related to others original immigrants (John Jacob, Christian, Melchior, and Henry), what of his son Jacob and his daughters, and how many wives did he have and who were they?
H. When did the sons of GME arrive in North Carolina?
Hook (1957, p. 21). "Peter Eller was living in Rowan Co., NC as early as 6 Mar 1773."
Land deeds of Rowan Co., NC:
"#3068, 1778, Leonard Eller 300 A on both sides of Sheit's Crk., adj Widow Bower, & Valentine Beard, including his improvements." (R.A. Enocks, Indianapolis, 1988, p. 233.)
"#1605, 28 Sep 1778, Philip Sewell 100 A on the headwaters of Reedy Creek & Tinkers Crk [adj] Joseph Meizell, William Oliver & Lewis Defore, including his Improvements. Made to George Ellor by the Enterer." (ibid. pg. 115.)
"#1608, 28 Sep 1778, William Oliver 100 A on waters of Reedy Crk adj Philip Sewell, Joseph Meizell & Peter Eller, including his Improvements. Made over to Ja's Cheney." (ibid, pg. 115.)
Marriage Records, Rowan County, North Carolina: Hook (1957) p. 16: "This writer's guess is that this was the John Eller (s/o Geo Michael) who married Catherine Fight (Fort) 10 Aug 1785."
9. Index of miscellaneous deeds from the book "Our Stoker Family Histories 1731-1881," Vol. II, comp. and ed. by Elayne Stoker, 2004, printed by Stevenson's Genealogy Center, Provo, UT. I am not sure of the relationship, if any, of all the parties herein listed and this is for reference only:
"Some Frederick County Maryland Deeds:
E-125 Joseph Grable to Jacob Funk, March 20, 1753
E-509 Joseph Grable to Jacob Funk, August 21, 1754 Agreement
F-244 Joseph Grable to Jacob Funk, May 28, 1757
F-393 Joseph Grable from James ___, February 11, 1758
K-782 Joseph Grable to Jacob Roland, November 19, 1766
K-782 Samuel Grable from Leonard White, November 14, 1766
K-743 Joseph Grable to Jacob Funk - Release
K-803 Martin Garver from Jacob Danner, December 19, 1766
K-1284 Henry Eller to Jacob Flora, June 6, 1767
L-515 John Garver from Jacob Danner, October 1, 1768
N-396 Leonard Kitzmiller from Samuel Stringer, October 10, 1770
N-505 Peter Wampler from Richard Coroxal, December 15, 1770
S-96 George Michael Eller from Edward Gaither
O-3 Henry Eller to David Buzzard, January 14, 1771
L-665 John Grable to Jacob Roland, May 1772
P-128 Henry Eller from Leonard Kitzmiller, June 13, 1772
P-110 Leonard Kitzmiller to Samuel Carver, June 13, 1772
BD1-539 John Garver to Jacob Danner, May 22, 1775- did not find
BD6-34 John Grabill to Jacob Danner, June 20, 1775
WR-2-543 Peter Grable to Michael Christ, May 26, 1779
WR-3-71 John Grabell to Wm. Renner, July 27, 1782
GM2-444 Peter Wampler, 1782
WR-4-98 Peter Grable to Michael Christ, May 26, 1779
WR-6-4 Henry Eller to Philip Fishburn, June 22, 1784
WR-6-84 Henry Eller to Francis B. Sappington, August 19, 1784
WR-3-205 John Grable from John Bowman, Bill of Sale
WR-7-332 John Grable and others to George Kitzburger, June 12, 1787
WR-7-616 John Grable to Paul Clapsdale, December 4, 1787
WR-8-505 John Grable from John Shuk, June 8, 1789 Bill of Sale
WR-9-194 John Grable from Sam Cole, April 30, 1790
WR-9-250 John Grable from Joseph Boyer, June 1, 1790
WR-9-46 Peter Grable from Martin Sheets, July 8, 1790
WR-9-546 Peter Grable from Henry Repp, December 7, 1790
WR-11-279 John Garber and others, September 24, 1791, Agreement
WR-11-210 John Wampler to Lazarus Findburg, November 21, 1792
WR-11-199 Joseph Wampler from Michael Baer, November 19, 1792
WR-11-587 Joseph Eller from Jacob Baer, May 31, 1793
WR 12-41 John Garber, Upton Scott and others, May 9, 1794 Agreement
WR 12-445 John Grable from Balser Riam, June 3, 1794
WR 12-447 John Grable from Balser Riam, June 3, 1794
WR 12-456 John Grable to Christian Ebey, June 6, 1794
WR 12-451 John Grable to Christian Ebey, June 6, 1794
WR 12-535 John Grable from Conrad Cragon, August 14, 1794
WR 12-516 John Grable to Rebecca Reynolds, July 30, 1794
WR 13-153 John Grable to Conrad Hi , March 26, 1795
WR 13-126 Joseph Eller from Frederick Murray, March 24, 1795
WR 13-449 Martin Garber from Richard Cook, August 11, 1795
WR 13-263 Martin Garber from Philip Fishburn, May 6, 1795
WR 15-481 John Grable from Negro Bill, July 5, 1797
WR 15-595 Joseph Eller from John Kerr, September 6, 1797
WR 15-518 Martin Garber from Richard Coal, August 8, 1797
WR 15-519 Joseph Grable from Martin Garber, August 8, 1797
WR 15-395 David Wampler from Joseph Grable, June 8, 1797
WR 17-44 Jacob Grable from Wm. Hardin, May 24, 1798
WR 19-71 David Wampler from Christian Simmons, October 8, 1799
WR 12-245 Peter Wampler from Samuel Chase, March 1794
WR 16-463 John Wampler from Joseph Baker, May 2, 1795
WR 17-302 John Garber from ___ Scott, October 2, 1798
WR 19-247 Joseph Eller from Jacob Young, January 16, 1800
WR 19-250 Joseph Eller to Jacob Pofsbarger, January 17, 1800
WR 19-252 Joseph Eller to Michael Minor Sr., January 17, 1800
WR 19-444 John Wampler to John Iler, April 16, 1800
WR 21-466 John Grable from Christian Leasner, September 17, 1801
WR 21-541 Jacob Garber to Joseph Baker, October 21, 1801
WR 23-227 Martin Carver and others to Samuel Garber, July 29, 1802
WR 23-228 Samuel Garber from Christian Garber and others, July 29, 1802
WR 23-229 Samuel Garber and others to Christian Garber, July 29, 1802
WR 23-231 John Garber from John Wampler, July 29, 1802
WR 23-234 John Wampler to Martin Garber, July 29, 1802
WR 22-548 Moses Grable from Craig Marshall, May 15, 1802
WR 20-41 Martin Garber from Wm. Head, June 21, 1800
WR 20-43 Martin Garber from Peter Kramer, June 28, 1800
WR 22-4 Moses Grable to Michael Freeze, November 3, 1801
WR 25-579 John Garber from Israel Bigler, May 8, 1804
WR 26-71 John Garber from Anna Garber and others, September 5, 1804
WR 27-544 Joseph Grable to Peter Grable, October 10, 1805
WR 39-561 John Grable from Peter Grable, May 22, 1811
WR 42-380 John Grable and others to State of Maryland, May 31, 1813
WR 44-85 John Grable to Louis Mottier, April 5, 1813"
10. Mentioned in father's will per FHL book 929.273 P684pn: "Graybill/Stoker/Eller/Smith/Koons/Pitt Connections," by Norman E. 'Gene' Pitt, 1996, pp. 119-123, see George's notes for full quotation: "George Michael Eller's will, possibly written several years before his death, was proved 25 Aug 1778 (Will Book G M., No. 1, p. 76, Frederick Co., MD) follows: 'In the name of God amen. I George Michael Eller of Frederick County in the province of Maryland living, ...my beloved wife, Anna Maria ...my oldest son Peter Eller ...my son Leonard Eller ...my daughter Elizabeth ...the overplus shall be divided by my Executors among my six youngest children namely, Jacob Eller, George Eller, John Eller, Eve Eller, Cathrine Eller and Maria Eller; further Jacob Eller shall have the Bible..."
BIRTH:
1. Mother of this individual and listing of this individual in father George Michael's will is expertly discussed in the following per FHL Book 929.273EL54h "George Michael Eller and Descendants of His in America," compiled by James W. Hook, 1957, also on FHL film 896571, item 2, pp. 6-14:
"George Michael Eller died in Frederick County, Maryland before 25 Aug 1778 when his will, written in the German language and translated and put on record by Thomas Schley, was proved in the Frederick County court. The fact that his will was written in German indicates that he was born in Germany...
The wife of George Michael Eller as given in his will was Anna Maria, but the way the will reads it is apparent that she was not his first wife and very likely not the mother of any of the children named in same. The will bore no date but was proved by its witnesses 25 Aug 1778. This writer suspects that it was written several years before his death. It reads as follows, (Will Book G.M., No. 1, p. 76, Frederick Co., MD):
'In the name of God amen. I George Michael Eller of Frederick County in the province of Maryland living, am for this time sik and not right well but in my sound memory thanks be given unto God therefore seeing my nullity, ordain herein my Last Will and Testament in full love. I recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it and my body to the earth, to be buried in a Christian like manner at the discretion of my Executors, my Executors shall in the first place pay out of my Estate all my just debts, and the overplus what the Lord gave me in this world I ordain as followith, my beloved wife, Anna Maria I give fifty pounds lawful Money, the small red cow with a white head, thirty bushels of wheat, her bed and her chest she bought (brought) to me, also the small and large Iron Potts, a half dozn peuter plates, one peuter basin, a dozn peuter spoons and a small melt pan, three iron kettles, a small washer tup a water tup and the churn, her spinnin wheel, her lamp, her Bible and Psal mody, one quart tin mog, and a pint do, on quart bottle, and every year fifteen pounds as long as they can live together also her clothing out of my Estate they can agree together, the aforesaid fifteen pounds to be paid to her in the first year only out of my whole estate, and if they can agree to live longer together, then the six younger children shall pay her the same by themselves out of my good consideration I caused to be right and is my last will and Testament that my oldest son Peter Eller, shall have the sum of 97 pounds lawful money, and my son Leonard Eller shall have the sum of 82 pounds and my daughter Elizabeth shall likewise have 82 pounds lawful money; and these said three children shall have that money three years after my decease then my two Executors, namely Henry Eller and Martin Gerber, shall be impowered to sell the Place, wagon and horses, all the creatures and moveables, and shall pay to my beloved wife her part of the same; and the overplus shall be divided by my Executors among my six youngest children namely, Jacob Eller, George Eller, John Eller, Eve Eller, Cathrine Eller and Maria Eller; further Jacob Eller shall have the Bible and to pay to George ten shillings, also shall Jacob have the young colt, if it mare bring the same luky. This is George Michael Eller his x mark and Seal X (Seal) Attested by John Bergers and Henry Schmaus (Smous) - John Bergers, Henry Smouse the above witnesses were sworn Frederick County, 25th August 1778. Then came the above Thomas Schley and made oath on the holy Evangelists of Almighty God, that the within and above writing is a just and true Translation to the best of his knowledge of the original Will of the above named George Michael Eller, which is written in the German language and that he hath not knowingly or intentionally translated any matter of substance contrary to the true meaning of said Will. Certified by George Murdock, Regr.'
The phrases in the above will pertaining to his wife and the things 'she brought to me' and the legacies to her that were made contingent on his six youngest children and her being able 'to live longer together,' indicates that she was not their mother. The name of his first wife was not found. The Evangelical Lutheran Church records of Frederick County, Maryland, records the baptism, on 8 Nov 1756, of Marie Magdalena Aller, daughter of Michael Aller and his wife Salome. (Evangelical Lutheran Church Records, p. 40, Maryland Hist. Soc.) This, doubtless, was another family because in the same year (1756) Carl Aller baptized a daughter Anna Barbara and in 1775 one Michael Aller was recorded as owing money to Mr. Hass, the same probably being for the church. (pp. 42 and 49 Ibid.)
If all facts were known they might show that George Michael Eller was married three times and that his first son Peter was a child by his first wife and all others by his second. Peter was a grown man with a wife and child as early as the late seventeen sixties. His brother, Leonard, was born 20 March 1754. Peter Eller was called 'my eldest son' in the George Michael Eller will and the latter's children, Jacob, George, John, Eve, Catherine and Maria, called 'my six youngest children,' were given the residue of the estate in equal shares. The son, Peter, was given 97 pounds and the son, Leonard, and daughter, Elizabeth, were given 82 pounds apiece. All of this adds up to the fact that Peter, Leonard and Elizabeth were his eldest children and that Peter probably was some years older than the other two, and, maybe, their half-brother."
MARRIAGE:
1. See notes in quote above from James Hook's book.
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Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
Abt 1763 - 