| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. FHL book 929.273 St67d "Descendants of William Stoker (1819-1892): with a View of his Ancestors," by Jay and Rachel Phillips Deeben, Feb. 2014, pp. 11-17:
"Michael Stoker (1762-1838), compiled by Jay Deeben.
Michael Stocker/Stoker, Sr.,[1] son of Johann Michael Stocker and Ana Barbara Romer/Romerin, was born on 24 Mar 1762,[2] in Frederick, Maryland and baptized on 20 May 1762, in Frederick, Frederick, Maryland.[3]
Michael moved to North Carolina sometime prior to or early on in 1790. His name appears on the first Federal Census in 1790,[4] for Wilkes County,[5] North Carolina. In this census he appears alone and his surname is spelled Stockerd.
On 7 Feb 1792, he married Catherine Martha Eller in North Carolina.[6] Catherine was born 6 Mar 1773, Rowan County, North Carolina.[7] Her parents are Peter Eller and Elizabeth Dick. It is noted here that there was a Peter Eller[8] family that appears on the same page as Michael on the 1790 census. Michael was the fifth family down from the Eller family. Though the 1790 census does not list each member of the family there were five females counted in the Eller household.
While in North Carolina, Michael Stoker procured two pieces of land on the North Fork of New River. The first piece of land was for 300 acres and the recorded entry is dated 11 Dec 1805,[9] on this entry his surname spelled "Stockerd." The second entry is for 150 acres, also on the North Fork of New River. This entry is dated 13 Mar 1806. Both of his land parcels were in Ashe County, North Carolina. His name appears a third time[10] in the Ashe County Land Book but this one is as a reference point for some land that a "Ephraim Stanaford" entered. The entry is dated 6 Jul 1806, and a corner of Michael Stoker's property is used as a reference along with a Ellers Fletcher.
On 1 Jul 1829 Michael Stoker received a Land Patent for 80 acres in Jackson County Ohio. This is the same land that is referenced in a land transaction when he sold the land to a William Whilmore for $350. The date of the land transaction is 7 Oct 1836.[11] The sale of this land was in preparation to move to Far West, Missouri to join with the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who were beginning to establish a community there.
Sometime in 1815 Michael and Catherine moved their family from Ashe County, North Carolina to Jackson County, Ohio.[12] One of the first records that can be found of Michael Stoker is the 1820 Federal Census for Bloomfield Township, Jackson County, Ohio.[13] Michael's name also appears on the 1830 Federal Census for Bloomfield Township, Jackson County, Ohio.[14] Other records that Michael Stoker's name appears on are the tax records the run from 1826 to 1831, for Bloomfield Township, Jackson County, Ohio.[15] His name also appears on a land transaction for 80 acres that he purchased from the US Government land patent on 1 Jul 1829.[16]
Sometime between 1833 and 1836 Michael Stocker/Stoker and his family were approached by the missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and accepted the teachings of the missionaries and joined the church. Then in 1836 (as described above) they sold their Ohio property and moved to Missouri to be with members of the Church at church headquarters.[17] Michael and Catherine and their family lived through the good times and bad times that occurred to members of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while in Missouri and Illinois. To get a sense of what occurred during the years of 1836 through 1846/1847 one just has to read a history of the church during those years. He died sometime in 1838, probably in Caldwell County, Missouri, United States.18]
Catherine Eller Stoker lived at least 14 years after her husband, Michael, died. All records found thus far indicate that she died sometime after 1 Jul 1850, probably in Pottawattarnie, Iowa.[19]
Children of Michael Stoker and Catherine Eller[20] Stoker (Name - Birth - Place - Death - Place):
Mary Stoker, 24 Nov 1792 Jefferson, Wilkes, North Carolina, 18 Feb 1864 Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa. Mary Stoker married Michael Graybill, in May 1811 in Jefferson, Ashe, North Carolina. He is the son of John Peter Graybill and Christina Wampler. Mary was also known as Polly.
David Stoker, 23 Mar 1795, , Wilkes, North Carolina, 27 May 1872 Traders Point, Pottawattamie, Iowa. See chapter on David Stoker (1795 - 1872)
Elizabeth Stoker, 28 Feb 1800 , Ashe, North Carolina, Jan 1868, Bloomington, Oneida, Idaho. Elizabeth Stoker married James Welker 2 Jul 1822. He is the son of Adam Welker and Sarah Fletcher.
John William Stoker, 16 Mar 1803, , Ashe, North Carolina, 2 Aug 1857, Traders Point, Pottawattamie,
Iowa. John W Stoker married Sarah Electa McDaniel on 13 Mar 1827 in , Jackson, Ohio. Sarah is the daughter of James McDaniel and Zebiah McCarley.
Michael Stoker Jr., 10 Feb 1805, , Ashe, North Carolina, 30 Mar 1858. Michael Stoker, Jr. married Martha Carr McDaniel on 1 Jan 1829 in , Butler, Ohio. Martha is the daughter of James McDaniel and Zebiah McCarley and the sister of Sarah Electa McDaniel.
Rebecca Stoker, 19 Mar 1807, , Ashe, North Carolina, Abt 1821, Bloomfield Twp, Jackson, Ohio. Rebecca Stoker died at age 14, thus she did not marry.
Catherine Stoker, 19 Feb 1809, , Ashe, North Carolina, 3 Aug 1896, , Gallia, Ohio. Catherine Stoker married Alexander Lackey on 1 Jan 1829 in , Jackson, Ohio. He is the son of James Lackey and Esther McAlexander.[21]
Jacob Stoker 7 Apr 1812, , Ashe, North Carolina, 22 Feb 1893 Adelaida, San Luis Obispo, California. Jacob Stoker married Catherine Burcham on 8 Oct 1835 in Lawrence, Ohio. She is the daughter of John Sylvester Burcham and Nancy Ann Dowden.
Eller Stoker, 28 Jul 1816, Bloomfield Twp, Jackson, Ohio, 18 Jul 1855, Council Bluffs, Pottawattornie,
Iowa. Eller Stoker married Margaret Judd abt 1839 and thought to have been in , Jefferson, Iowa. She is the daughter of John Judd and Rhoda Sheperd.
Chapter Notes for Michael Stoker, Sr (1762-1840):
1. International Genealogical Index(R), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, International Genealogical Index(R) (Copyright (c) 1980, 2002).
2. Statement on back of Michael Stoker or Stocker and Catherine Eller family group sheet that was assembled by the family Genealogist V. S. Barlow. The Lackey Family Bible gives the date of 24 March 1762 and a birth date and from the Evangelical Lutheran Church records we get the baptismal date of 20 May 1762. Also referenced in James W. Hook's book "George Michael Eller and Descendants of His in America," vol. 1, page 88, referring to the "Lackey Family Bible," owned by the Lackey Family.
3. Hook, James W.; "George Michael Eller and Descendants of His in America," p. 88-89. Reference to the translated record of the German Reform Church of Frederick, Maryland at the Family History Library of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah, call No. 929.273 EL54h - FHL FAM HIST Book. ... Book is online at Heritagequest.com under the "Search Books" option from main menu. … Weiser, Frederick S. (Frederick Sheely); "The Evangelical Lutheran Church Frederick, Frederick County, Maryland / Parish Register Books I & II 1743-1811"; call No. 975.287/F1 K2wf.
4. Year: 1790; Census Place: Wilkes, North Carolina; Roll: M637_7; Page: 169; Image: 103; Family History Library Film: 0568147 … Original data: First Census of the United States, 1790 (NARA microfilm publication M637, 12 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
5. To track the Stoker family it is necessary to keep track of what county boundaries are in place at what period of time. The county boundaries of this comer of North Carolina change over a period of about 46 years. Rowan County was the first county created in this part of North Carolina and then subsequent divisions of this county up through 1799 brought about the creation of Ashe County in 1799. Keep in mind this same problem will confront any researcher as they follow the Stoker family as they move into Ohio.
6. John Michael Stoker Family, John Michael Stoker Family Descendant Chart via Michael Stoker and Catherine Eller, p. 2. Copy of this chart is in the possession of Rachel A. Deeben, Payson, Utah.
7. Hook, James W.; p. 88.
8. Year: 1790; Census Place: Wilkes, North Carolina; Roll: M637_7; Page: 169.
9. Pruitt, Dr. A. B.; "Abstracts of Land Entries: Ashe County, NC Part 1,Abstracts of Land Entries:
Ashe County, NC; Part I (Feb. 1800-Jun. 1809)," p. 103, entry 1415; call number FHL US/CAN
Books 975.6835 R2p v.1 & v.2. The second entry is on page 113 entry # 1562.
10. Pruitt, Dr. A. B., p. 117.
11. A copy of the Land Patent filed by Michael Stoker is included in this history. The sale of land was obtained from a land transaction document provided by Randal Stoker in his written history of Michael Stoker (1762-1840).
12. Rowley, Alta Aitken, Aitken, Grant, Aitken, Charlene; "The Stoker/ Winegar/Wet/Youd Legacy"; p.
12; FHL US/Can 929.273 St67ra.
13. 1820 U S Census: Bloomfield, Jackson, Ohio, page 275; NARA Roll: M33_89; Image: 157.
Ancestry.com. 1820 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA.
14. 1830 U S Census: Bloomfield, Jackson, Ohio, page: 111; NARA Roll: M19-134; Family History
Film: 0337945. Ancestry.com. 1830 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT,
USA.
15. "Jackson County Ohio Tax Record 1819 - 1838, Jackson County (Ohio)." Auditor, Tax duplicates,
1819-1838, film 493,566, year of 1826, p.5, 1827 p.5, 1828 p. 4, 1829, 1830 p.4, 1831 p. 5. film 493615, image 100 p. 6, image 203 p. 5, image 301 p. 2, image 361, p. 3.
16. Kocher, L. Richard; A Listing of Entrymen on Lands in Jackson County, Ohio; p. 67;. . .Original
Documents in BLM -General Land Office Chillicothe, General Land Office, Land Patent Search,
DocumentNo.1091. Ohio, Jackson County;
17. Rowley, Alta Aitken, Aitken, Grant, Aitken, Charlene; p. 12.
18. Alta Aitken Rowley, Grant Joseph Aitken, Charlene Attryde Aitken, "Stoker/Winegar/West/Youd
Legacy," page 3. Repository: Family History Library, 35 N West Temple Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84150 USA, Call Number: 929.273 St67ra. And Jimmie "B" Stoker, "The Michael and Catherine Eller Stoker family as early Mormons in Ohio and Missouri"; p. 5 [printed page number in upper right hand corner], Nauvoo Land and Records, P.O. Box 215, Nauvoo, IL 62354
19. Rowley, Alta Aitken, Aitken, Grant, Aitken, Charlene; p. 11.
20. Information concerning the children of Michael Stoker and Catherine Eller came from the following sources: (1) Rowley, Alta Aitken, Aitken, Grant, Aitken, Charlene; p. 17 & 18; (2) Hook, James W., p. 115; (3) Stoker, Elayne, "Our Stoker Family Histories 1731-1881," Vol II; p. 122 & 123.
21. Note to those researching Esther McAlexander. Watch the formation date of the county. In checking her birth county it was found that she was probably born in Pittsylvania County, Virginia and not Patrick County, Virginia. There are two or three counties listed on new.familysearch.org as the county of birth for Esther. But in looking at her birth date and the county formations her parents would have been living in Pittsylvania County, Virginia at the time of her birth. Following the time line back: Patrick County was not formed until 1790 from Henry County. Henry County was not formed until 1776 from Pittsylvania County which was formed in 1766. Her parents may have been living in the area at the time but the actual county of birth would have been Pittsylvania."
2. The use of a middle name Martha appears not to be reliable and proof is needed for it..
James Hook in his book states: "There is some evidence stemming from endowment transcripts in the Index Bureau of the Gen. Soc. of the LDS Church in SLC that she had a middle name, Martha. Some of her children, viz. Elizabeth, John and Michael appear on those transcripts as children of Michael Stoker and Catherine Martha Eller."
I have verified the documents cited in the above quote and it is incorrect concerning Elizabeth, John, and Michael. Each of their endowment records occurred in the LDS Nauvoo temple in the mid-1840s and I have looked at the Index Bureau records on FHL film 1263432 (Special Collections) - in all cases the mother's name appears as Catherine Eller. There is a relatively modern subsequent index card for Elizabeth of erroneously duplicated LDS temple work ca. 1923-1925 in which she appears as Catherine Eller with Martha pencilled in afterwards -- this late work was by a grandnephew named David Stoker and is not contemporaneous to the earlier records making it too late of an addition to be considered reliable. Additionally, in the films I have viewed of the originial entries for her own temple endowment of the 1840s in Nauvoo, she gives her name as "Catherine Stoker." In her sealing record of the same time she gives her name as "Catherine Eller." In her LDS Patriarchal Blessing July 30, 1843, it states: "A blessing given by Hyrum Smith, Patriarch, upon the head of Catherine Eller Stoker daughter of Peter Eller and Elizabeth Dick Eller born March 6, 1773 at Rowan County, North Carolina. Sister Catherine Eller..."
3. Censuses:
1800 US: Ashe County, North Carolina. The total population for Ashe County, North Carolina in 1800 was 2785, including slaves. The 1800 Ashe County Census was the first for the northwestern most county in the Tar Heel State. This county was formed in late 1799 and included all of Wilkes County west of the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountain. The 977 square miles that then composed Ashe County has been further divided, first in 1849 to form Watauga County, North Carolina and again 10 years later to form Alleghany County. This record includes families who may have been living in those areas at the time. The original census was in rough alphabetic order, and this does not facilitate the research of particular communities. I include all interrelated families of this time and place to better show relationships. A word of explanation on some of these families:
A. Mary and Barbara Burkett who married Peter and David Graybeal, had a father named Christian - unsure as to which is correct of the two.
B. Elizabeth Eller appears to be Elizabeth Dick, the wife of Peter Eller who had just died per his probate of 1799.The one daughter is probably Mary; unsure who the two boys are since there should be three: Jacob, Henry, and George. John Eller would be Elizabeth's eldest son and married to Susannah Kerns.
C. Henry Graybeal would have recently married Celia Henson and also the eldest son of [John] Peter and Christina [Wampler] Graybill who also appear to be in this same census. Note that Peter evidently had owned slaves at that time - the census does not say how many.
D. One of the William Hensons could be somehow related to William Henson who marries Nancy Graybill and to Celia Henson who marries Henry Graybeal.
E. The two Koons are probably brothers and are sons of Devault Koon judging from their ages. This would make them uncles to George Koons who eventually marries Mary Eller.
F. James Lewis, b. abt. 1790, marries Christena Graybill in 1807 - there may be a connection with these two James Lewis.
G. William Pennington marries Barbara (or Elizabeth) Eller and may be the younger of the two here listed.
H. Michael Stucker is a misspelling for Michael and Catherine Eller Stoker with their three oldest children: Polly, David, and Elizabeth.
Head of Family; Males 0-9, 10-16, 16-26, 26-45, 45+; Females - 0-9, 10-16, 16-26, 26-45, 45+:
Burkett, Christian; 1-2-0-1-0; 1-0-2-0-0
Burkett, Christian; 4-1-0-1-0; 1-0-1-0-0
Eller, Elizabeth; 1-0-1-0-0; 0-0-1-0-1
Eller, John; 3-0-0-1-0; 1-0-0-1-0
Graybeal, Henry; 0-0-1-0-0; 2-0-1-0-0
Graybeal, Peter; 2-1-1-0-1; 3-1-0-0-1
Henson, William; 0-1-1-0-0; 2-0-1-0-0
Henson, William; 3-0-0-0-1; 1-1-1-0-0
Koons, George; 0-0-1-0-1; 0-0-0-0-1
Koons, John; 0-0-1-0-1; 0-1-2-0-1
Lewis, James; 2-2-1-0-1; 4-1-0-0-1
Lewis, James, Jr.; 1-0-1-0-0; 1-0-1-0-0
Pennington, William; 0-1-0-1-0; 1-2-1-0-1
Pennington, William; 0-0-1-0-0; 0-0-1-0-0
Stucker, Michael; 1-0-0-1-0; 2-0-0-1-0
1820 US: Bloomfield Township, Jackson, Ohio, pg. 195, township had a little over 40 families; related families include James Lackey, Michael Stoker, and Michael Graybill. In neighboring Madison Township, related families David Stoker, Peter Graybill, Nancy (Graybill) Henson, and James McDaniel are found. Columns are male 0-10, 10-16, 16-18, 16-26, 26-45, 45+// female 0-10, 10-16, 16-26, 26-45, 45+:
Michael Stoker: 2,1,0,1,0,1//1,1,0,0,1. [Appears to be Michael, his wife Catherine, and their children John, Michael, Rebecca, Catherine, Jacob, and Eller; the three oldest appear gone in this census.]
Michael Graybill: 3,0,0,0,1,0//1,0,0,1,0.
James Lackey: 2,2,1,2,0,1//1,2,1,1,5.
1830 US: Bloomfield Township, Jackson, Ohio, pg. 109-112, note whole township had 527 people living in it, related families include Michael Stoker, Michael Stoker Jr., Alexander Lackey, James Welker, Michael Graybill, and John Stoker:
Michael Stoker. Males 10-15: 1; 15-20:1; 60-70:1. Females 10-15:1; 50-60:1. [Family appears to be Michael, his wife Catherine, and their two youngest sons Jacob and Eller; unsure who the girl age 10-15 may be.]
1840 US: Quincy, Adams, Illinois, the following related families living in near proximity to each other (with exception of John McDaniel and his wife Christina Stoker, all of David Stoker's siblings, children, and mother are accounted for and it confirms his father Michael was dead by 1840):
P. 43a:
David Stoker, males 5-10:1; 40-50:1//females 5-10:1; 10-15:1; 40-50:1. [David, his wife Barbara, and their children Sarah (13), Catherine (11?), and Michael (6). Note daughter Nancy not in census which means she was probably deceased by then.]
Simeon P. Grabell [Graybill], males 0-5:1; 20-30:1//females 0-5:1; 20-30:1. [David's nephew: Simeon and his wife Amanda Hill and their two oldest children.]
Jacob Stoker, males 20-30:1//females 0-5:1; 20-30:1. [Younger brother to David: Jacob and his wife Catherine and their oldest child.]
P. 44a:
Eller Stoker, males 20-30:1//females 0-5:1; 15-20:1; 60-70:1. [Youngest brother to David: Eller with his wife Margaret and their oldest child and probably their mother Catherine Eller.]
James Walker [Welker], males 10-15:1; 15-20:1; 30-40:1//females 5-10:2; 40-50:1. [Living next door to Eller and ages work perfectly that this is James Welker and Elizabeth Stoker, who is David's sister.]
John W. Stoker, males 0-5:2; 10-15:1; 30-40:1//females 0-5:1; 5-10:2; 30-40:1. [John and his wife Electa Sarah and their six oldest children.]
John Stoker, males 0-5:1; 20-30:1//females 0-5:1; 5-10:2; 20-30:1. [David's son: John and his wife Jane and their children.]
P. 52a:
William Stoker, males 0-5:1; 20-30:1//females 20-30:1 (father-in-law Samuel Winegar is next door). [David's son William and his wife Almira with their child.]
P. 55a:
Michael Stoker, males 0-5:2; 5-10:2; 10-15:1; 30-40:1// females 30-40:1. [Michael, his wife Martha, and their five oldest children.]
1850 US: District 21, Pottawattamie, Iowa, p. 128b, dwelling and family 1020:
Michael Graybel, 63, labour, NC.
Polly, 58, NC. [Wife]
Cimiel, 34, M, OH. [Son; should be Simeon.]
Michael, 22, OH. [Son]
Elizabeth, 17, OH. [Daughter]
Sidney, 14, OH. [Son]
Almeda, 14, OH. [Grandchild through David.]
Maridith, 12, OH. [Grandchild through David.]
David, 7, IL. [Grandchild through David.]
Amanda, 4, IL. [Grandchild through David.]
William, 10, IL. [Grandchild through Simeon.]
Andrew, 8, IL. [Grandchild through Simeon.]
Aaron, 5, IL. [Grandchild through Simeon.]
Cathern Stoker, 77, NC. [Catherine Eller, Polly's mother, before she died; census was taken 11 Nov 1850.]
1851 Iowa State: Pottawattamie County. FHL film 1022203. The entire state was counted but only Pottawattamie listed everyone by name in the household and their ages; other counties only listed the head of the household and a numerical count without names of the various ages by sex in the household. No date is given when the census was taken but it was certified in Dec. 1851; however, the other counties show a Sep 1851 date which also appears more likely for Pottawattamie as well in light of ages given some children with known birthdays in October. Census return:
Grabill: Michael 65, Polly 58, William L. 26, Michael Jr. 23, Elizabeth 17, Sidney R. 15, Almeda 15, Marideth 13, David 7. Also in household are Catherine Stoker 78 and Amanda Grabill 5. [Note that the following related families are in this census and very close neighbors: Simeon P. Graybill, Michael/Polly Graybill with Polly's mother Catherine Eller Stoker, Eller/Margaret Stoker, Jacob/Catherine Stoker, Philip/Catherine Gatrost, David/Barbara Stoker, Edward/Sarah Davis, and William/Almira Stoker. Other relatives in same county but separated by several pages of census include the following families: Thomas/Hannah Pilling whose daughter Hannah, later marries William Lenore Graybill, Levi/Patience Graybill, John W./Sarah Stoker, Hannah Ford whose son Martin later marries Zibiah M. Stoker, and John/Sarah Smith.]
1856 Iowa: (From Ancestry.com) Kane, Pottawattamie, Iowa, p. 14 of 63, 87/88:
Michael Graybill, 68, 10 years in Iowa, NC, farmer.
Polly, 63, 10, NC.
Michael S., 28, 10, OH, farmer.
Elizabeth, 22, OH.
Sidney R., 20, 10, OH, farmer.
Almeda, 20, 7, OH.
Merideth, 18, 7, MO.
David M., 12, 7, IL.
Amanda, 10, 7, IL.
Catherine Stoker, 83, 10 years in Iowa, MD. [Note: this individual shows up as the next entry on the top of page 15 as part of the next family of Walter J. Woodward. This appears to be a mistake and I believe it was intended that she be with the Graybill family since she is Polly's mother.]
4. The book "The Brethren in the New Nation, A Source Book on the Development of the Church of the Brethren, 1785-1865," compiled by Roger E. Sappington and printed by the Brethren Press, Elgin, IL, FHL 973 Kzch gives background on the Dunker or the Brethren religious movement and some family ancestors as follows:
Pp. 10-11: "The Brethren, frequently known as the Dunkers (from the German, tunken, to dip) from their pattern of baptizing adult believers by three separate complete immersions forward. They are distinctly different from other groups which use the term Brethren, including the Moravians, the Plymouth Brethren, the United Brethren, and the Brethren in Christ or River Brethren. In 1836 they became known officially as the Fraternity of German Baptists, which was changed in 1871 to German Baptist Brethren and in 1908 to the Church of the Brethren... these Brethren had been organized in Germany in 1708 under the leadership of Alexander Mack, a young German miller. They were influenced by the Pietistic movement of the late 17th and early 18th centuries and by the earlier Anabaptist movement, which was currently represented in Germany by the group known as Mennonites. Beginning in 1719 and for about the next fifteen years almost all of the Brethren emigrated to America, landing in William Penn's city of Philadelphia. From that port they moved west and south, primarily into the mountain valleys of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and the Carolinas, all of which had settlements of Brethren before 1785. They shared the German fame for agricultural skill, generally settling on limestone soil and building large bank barns to take care of their livestock. The Germans developed the Conestoga (from a stream in Pennsylvania) workhorse and the Conestoga wagon (the famed covered wagon of the American frontier)... [Information on the Brethren from] 1785 to 1865 is very limited, which was evidently the way the Brethren intended it to be... at present, a fixed principle with them, to make no communication; and that they feel hurt when interrogated respecting their society. Indeed, they have always been shy of the English, and suspicious of encroachment and exposure... [It has been observed that they] altogether neglect any records of their proceedings, and are opposed even to publishing their numbers, lest it should seem to savor of pride..."
P. 15: "During the years from 1785 to 1865... [the] Brethren were engaged [in emigrating] from their homes in the Atlantic seaboard states to the new territory of the U.S. that was being opened to settlement on the west side of the Appalachian Mountains... [due to] the dissatisfaction with one's status in the present location and the call to move to new areas because 'the grass might be greener...'
P. 17, 26-29: "North Carolina. Although there were Brethren living in in North Carolina at least as early as the 1740's and 1750's... none of these settlements became the basis of a permanent Brethren congregation. They usually came to an end as the result of the loss of leadership, either by death or by emigration. By the end of the 18th century, however, Brethren had established settlements in two areas which would survive across the years and become permanent congregations. The older of these settlements probably began in the 1770's in an area south of the present-day city of Winston-Salem. The Moravians had purchased a large piece of property on which they established several different communities, including Salem... In addition to the Brethren settlement known as the Fraternity congregation which developed on the south side of the Moravian territory, the Brethren also put down permanent roots before 1800 in the mountainous northwestern corner of North Carolina in Ashe County. When the first Brethren arrived in this area is not known, but certainly they were there by the 1780's, for numerous Brethren names were reported in this area in the census of 1790. The number of brethren in the settlement increased during the 1790's, and in 1801 many of them placed their names on a petition to the government of North Carolina dealing with land problems. [The petition is as follows:] 'To the Honourable House of the General Assembly. The distressed Situation in which your humble petitioners by the late Act of Assembly for the Year 1801 in the Second Section, in respect to the Land Law's is reduced: it is impossible without flowing Tears the Grievances thereof to prescribe! it is evident, that the County of Wilkes before its division, that part of it, which is called now the County of Ashe, being first inhabited with Hunters, made their living by Hunting game. Ulrick Kessler, a Dunkard Preacher coming from the North, was the first inhabitance of the Germans who bought his land for 300 £, and paid for it, and by his persuasion, drawing his congregation hither, till this Wild Country became inhabited with industrious farmers, Purchasing their land, and give their Money, Horses, Waggons and nearly all their living for their Possessions. Then this part of the Country being Granted by the Legislature unto a party of Speculators, who by their granted Authority, oppressed this people very much, to make themselves rich of their Labour. The first Settlers and Hunters could not endure to live amongst Labouring and industrious farmers, Sold their rights, moving to the West Country's, Cumberland, Kentucky, etc. The Germans who had bought their Possessions, labouring with industry, clearing Land, building Houses, Barns, planting Orchards, made Meadows, raising Stock, building Gear Mills, Saw Mills, fulling mills; that this Wild Country became fertile Utility, by the blessing of the Supreme being, who made all things; paying their taxes annually, and living peaceably and quietly in their Possessions, under the Protection of the legislature of the State; till this present juncture of the above mentioned late Act, when the Speculators Grants and Rights was broke, and the Land Office for to make Entry's upon Land was estblish'd. Some of them made Entry's upon Vacant Treasury, getting their Grants; improved it by their families, without hearing of any other Claim of any other person of persons, of their possessions till now. At the time when Wilkes County was divided, and this Country became the Name the County of Ashe, the Commissioners faithfully Purchasing Fifty Acres of Land, laying it out in Lot's, Sold them, and Builded a Court House, made a Contract for to Build the Prison, out of the Surplus of that Money, which gave the date to Conceive and bring forth a New-Birth of the infernal part of Self Interested party Speculators. Robert NaIl, Surveyor who. had undoubtedly a View of this Speculation; for the former Benefit, made him Sure of the New, that by his influence, to the Committee of this County, under a Cloak that it was beneficial for the poor inhabitance, to petition for that Law; no Sooner that Law came in existence; than he had a Store of Old Warrants, which was bought for a trifle, having the Books of Fletcher, forming a Body of party Speculators, claiming the Town Land and all the plantations within Six Miles round, near the Court House, Surveyes the Land and especially where a German lives without distinction. For this Speculators Say, they had the Oldest Warrant, it was their Right and Title, and in any Court of justice and Equity they could keep it, for the Word: previous of that date give it to them by the Said Act. and not in one clause of Said Act is left a iota of reserve, for the defence of a Labouring industrious Citizen; it is impossible that your humble petitioners can believe, that the Legislature could be so Tyrannical to pass Such Act and Law, with an intent; that Honest Citizen should be cheated and defrauded out of their property and Possessions for the Cause of a few Speculating individuals. Therefore your Humble petitioners beg the Honourable House of Assembly to take the Grievances of the foregoing Circumstances into Consideration; and Consider at first That the Established Land paid into the Treasury, and that the Grants for said Land is Lawfull and Ought to be protected. Secondly That the Warrants, with which the Speculators will Cheat and Defraud, to drive honest Citizens out of their Possessions; if they had not be revived by the late Act, being all Dead and out of date, and then to make a Conclusion for a remedy of redress. Thirdly That an Additional Act, that it the meaning of the Legislature not is, that honest Citizen should be cheated, defrauded and deprived out of their Possessions by the said Act, and that the Older Grant should be protected in any Court of justice and equity for ever in which hopes your humble petitioners is in duty bound, and will for ever pray.'
[Signed {Kerry's note: the ones with asterisks are in this database and related to me}:] Michajah Pennington, Wm hubbart, Peter Hart, Jos Rowland, James Mulkey Capt, David Connelson, John Johnson, John Byrket, Andrew Fouts, Jacob May, Christian Byrket *, Wm May, George Grubb, William Migapha, Moses Toliver, George Eberly, Allen Noulin, William Pennington *, G Koons *, John Phillips, Henry Miller, George Miller, Henry Dulheur, John Kessler, David Engrum, Lewis Bonner, Andrew Sheets, Peter Dick *, John Dick jr *, Conrad Grubb, Luke White, John Koons *, Daniel Miller, Leonard Baumgarner, Michael Stocker *, Jacob Fouts, Wm Shepperd, Emmanuel Croster, Henry Michel, Andrew Rowland, Jonathan Miller, Wilm Henson Junr *, Jacob Grimes, benja manhubbire, Woller Weaver, Jacob Reese, John Ford, John Norris, Gilbirt Norris, Barnet Owen, Henry Graybeal *, John Whit, Jacob Eller *, Peter Eller *, John Maxwell, Zacariah Harwood, James rowrick, Jacob Pfau, Samuel Wilcocken, John Sturgin, Charles Williams, John Miller, Jas Bunyard, Samuel Taylor, Isaac Weaver, Id manhubbire, Landrine Eggers, John Ress, Henry agrer, Wm Morris, Ephrim Norris, Wm Owen."
5. 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. 17-31, clarifies early North Carolina counties and land grant practices:
"Land grants in North Carolina originated with an entry application which was filed in the county where the land was situated and if not lost are now on file there. This was followed, sometimes soon and sometimes years later by an order from the land office for the tract to be surveyed. Sometimes soon and sometimes years later the survey was made and a surveyor's plat filed with the Secretary of State in Raleigh. Then came the grant which may have been issued reasonably near the date of the survey or sometimes several years later. These grants, orders to survey and the survey itself are on file now in the Secretary of State's office at Raleigh...
Many counties were formed from what originally was Rowan County, namely Surry and Guilford in 1770, Burke and Wilkes in 1777, Randolph in 1779, Iridell in 1788, Stokes in 1789, Buncomb in 1791, Ashe in1799, Davidson in 1822, Yancey in 1833, Davie in 1836 and Yadkin in 1850. Some of these counties were grandchildren of Rowan County; for instance Wilkes was taken partly from Burke and partly from Surry, Randolph from Guilford, Buncomb and Yancy form Burke, Ashe from Wilkes and Stokes and Yadkin from Surry. These facts must be kept in mind when tracing early Rowan County families."
6. From Sep 2006 Internet, http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ridge.2509/brownson.html: It appears the Stoker family probably knew the Seymour Brunson family of nearby Lawrence Co., Ohio. Brunson had served with Luke Johnson in 1832. In 1833 he is again with Luke in the area as are Zerubbabel Snow and Amasa Lyman. He is also specifically in Bloomfield, Jackson, Ohio in Nov. 1834 when his son his born and also per letters he wrote. He appears generally in Kirtland thereafter. His journal notes that in July 1836 he visited the church in Bloomfield. He does note the baptism of John Stoker 13 Nov 1837. It was at his funeral in Nauvoo in 1840 that Joseph Smith first revealed the doctrine of baptisms for the dead.
7. Mentioned in 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. 87: Michael Stoker, the son of (John) Michael Stoker, was a 28 year old bachelor in Wilkes County, NC when the US census was taken in 1790. The farm which Michael Stoker bought from John Dick was on the north fork of New River in Ashe County. (The boundary line had been changed from Wilkes.) In 1792 Michael married Catherine Eller, the oldest daughter of Peter Eller and Elizabeth Dick. The Ellers and Dicks were settlers in this same area and all of Michael and Catherine's children, except Eller, were born and raised among numerous family members in North Carolina. In 1815, the family joined a migration of relatives moving west into Ohio. This party of Graybills and Stokers, all ages from babies to the elderly crossed the border into Ohio on Christmas Day, 1815. Michael and his son David, who had just turned 21, took part in the first election held in Jackson County on April 1, 1816. John Michael Stoker, Michael's father, settled in Perry County, Ohio, about 60 miles north. While in Ohio the Stokers became members of the newly organized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In 1837 [error: Feb 1836?], Michael, Jr., who was now a man and a member of the Priesthood, baptized Eller's future wife and her mother, Margaret and Rhoda Judd. Pauline Stoker of Council Bluffs has Michael Jr.'s old notebook where he kept records of baptisms, birthdays and deaths. On October 27, 1836, Michael and Catherine Stoker sold their land in preparation of the move to Missouri where the Saints were gathering. Michael was then 74 and Catherine 63 years old. Great persecutions took place in Missouri during the next two years and the family had to flee to Illinois for safety. Michael was not among those who reached Illinois, and how or when he died is not known. Catherine was at Nauvoo, IL, when the Saints again had to flee in February of 1846. She settled in Pottawattamie County, living with her eldest daughter, Polly, where she died. She is buried in the Stoker-Graybill Cemetery east of Council Bluffs, Iowa." (Note this same narrative appears almost verbatim in the book, FHL book 929.273 P684pn: "Graybill/Stoker/Eller/Smith/Koons/Pitt Connections," by Norman E. 'Gene' Pitt, 1996 p. 86.)
P. 89: "Peter was the first son of George Michael Eller. Because there were a number of years between Peter's birth and the others, the question arises if he might not be a child of a first marriage. He grew up in North Carolina and married Elizabeth Dick in 1766. His land grant was close to other Ellers, beginning at the spruce pine on the Upper Ford on Rones Creek. In 1797 he bought the 70 acres which had been granted to his father-in-law, Conrad Dick. This land had been surveyed and chain carriers were listed as Michael Stoker and John Eller, neighbors. Peter had 470 acres at his death... There oldest daughter, Catherine, married Michael Stoker and their youngest daughter, Mary, married George Koons and their great granddaughter, Betty Oman married Orson Hyde Stoker. Children:
a. John, b. 1767 or 1769; d. 1823; m. Susanna Kerns.
b. Catherine, b. 6 Mar 1773 at Rowan Co., NC; d. 1850 at Council Bluffs, Iowa; m. Michael Stoker.
c. Elizabeth, b. 1780; m. William Pennington.
d. Barbara, b. 1782; m. Pertune.
e. Mary, b. 1783, NC; d. 1872; m. George Koons (a Quaker who was disowned for marrying Mary, who was a Dunkard). She was 18 and he 19.
f. Jacob, b. 1784; d. 1855; m. Catherine White.
g. Henry, b. 1788; d. 1876; m. Elizabeth Johnson.
h. George."
Pp. 90-91: "Polly Stoker, also called Mary, was the oldest child of Michael Stoker and Catherine Eller. Her mother lived with Polly in her old age in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. In North Carolina Polly married Michael Graybill, born May 14, 1787 to Peter Graybill and Christina Wampler, both natives of North Carolina and children of German parents. When Christina was five years old she had been stolen by Delaware Indians, but had been returned to her family when twelve. Her families were Dunkards or Anabaptists, both groups stemming from German Protestants. The Graybills lived in the German communities of early America, Lancaster County in Pennsylvania, Frederick County in Maryland and Ashe County in North Carolina. After a forest area of Ohio had been cleared in the early 1800's, the main body of Stoker and Graybill relatives crossed the northwest line into Ohio on Christmas Day, 1815. Some Graybills moved into Indiana where they married the daughters of John Smith and Massie Koons, great granddaughters of Peter Eller. In 1837, The Graybills left Ohio and Indiana for Caldwell County in Missouri. During the Mormon persecutions in Missouri, they fled to Illinois, coming to Pottawattamie County in Iowa in 1846-48. Vivian Graybill, of Independence, Missouri, has worked on the Graybill genealogy for many years and since he plans to publish a book with a great amount of detailed information I will not list the names of their complete families."
Pp. 102-105: "Eller Stoker was the last and ninth child born to Michael and Catherine Eller Stoker. He was born in Jackson County, Ohio on July 28, 1816, just seven months after the family had made the trek from North Carolina. While in Ohio, probably in 1833 or early 1834, the family joined the newly organized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. His older brother, Michael Jr., baptized a number of relatives and friends in Feb. of 1836, among them, Margaret Judd, Eller's future wife. In 1837, the family moved to Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri, a gathering place for the Saints. Two years later, Eller, with numerous relatives, fled the persecutions in Missouri. His mother, Catherine, lived through these times to die in 1850 in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, but Michael was not among those accounted for later..."
8. The book "Mormon Redress Petitions, Documents of the 1833-1838 Missouri Conflict," edited by Clark V. Johnson, contains a copy of the "Scroll Petition" dated 28 Nov 1843 at Nauvoo, IL addressed to the U.S. Congress by members of the LDS Church who had property destroyed by Missouri mobs in the 1830's. Included with over a couple thousand signatures are Elles, Mary, and Catherine Stoker. Elles is Eller, Mary is Margaret, and Catherine is Eller's mother Catherine Eller.
9. Received her patriarchal blessing of Hyrum Smith, 30 Jul 1843 at Nauvoo, IL.
10. Mentioned in daughter's biography in the FHL book 929.273 P684pn:
"Graybill/Stoker/Eller/Smith/Koons/Pitt Connections," by Norman E. 'Gene' Pitt, 1996, pp. 17-24, note that this book has a considerable downline of the children of this couple: "Michael Peter Graybill, b. 14 May 1787, Jefferson, Wilkes Co. (now Ashe Co.), NC; d. 24 Sep 1856, Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co., IA; bur. in the Graybill-Stoker Pioneer Cemetery; Pottawattamie Co,., IA; md. 1811, Ashe Co., NC to Mary 'Polly' Stoker. Michael was the s/o John Peter Graybill and Christena Wampler. Polly was b. 24 Nov 1792, Ashe Co. [Wilkes], NC; d. 18 Feb 1864, Pottawattamie Co., IA; bur. in the Graybill-Stoker Pioneer Cemetery. She was the eldest child of Michael Stoker and Catherine Eller... Michael and Polly left North Carolina probably in early 1816, and settled in Bloomfield Twp., Jackson Co., OH. Michael's parents, Peter Sr. and Christena (Wampler) Graybill, accompanied them; also, Michael's brother Henry and sister Barbara who had married Polly's brother David Stoker. Polly's parents, Michael and Catherine (Eller) Stoker, and other Stokers also made the journey with them. [Also John Graybill?] In the early 1830's, the family was visited by Missionary John Fisher from Bloomfield Twp. and was introduced to the early Latter Day Saints church. Those who were old enough were baptized in 1833. Involved in the church, Michael Graybill Sr. and related families anxiously followed the news from Independence, MO. The wanted to gather with the Saints in Caldwell Co., MO to be part of Zion, the new Jerusalem. Michael sold his farm to his father, Peter Graybill Sr., who along with Henry, Michaels' brother, and sister Celia (Graybill) Henson, decided to stay in OH. In 1836, Michael and other relatives packed to make the trip to Far West, MO. They spent the winter with Stoker relatives in Monroe Co., IN, then arrived at Far West in September 1837. The family withstood the dangers and aggravations of mob attacks. They endured many hardships. They had their plows, wagons and horses taken and even their first crop was taken just before it was harvested. With no provisions of food for the coming winter, Michael's sons, Simeon and Levi, left to look for work. They found jobs chopping railroad ties for the Eastern Railroad in Hannibal, MO. But they were unable to collect their pay until the following spring of 1839, when they were allowed to take the amount of their earnings out in goods. This allowed them to obtain wagons and horses and move the related families to Quincy and Nauvoo, IL. Michael Sr. and his family, Simeon's family and Catherine (Eller) Stoker's lived eleven miles southeast of Quincy, IL. After the death of Joseph and Hyrum Smith in 1844, Simeon went to Nauvoo to help guard the secretly hidden bodies of Joseph and Hyrum. Fearful that the anti-Mormon mob might try to do further violence to Joseph's and Hyrum's bodies, their caskets were filled with sand for the public burial. By 1846, most of Nauvoo had been vacated. Michael Sr.'s and Levi's families had gone west and settled in Kanesville, now Council Bluffs, IA. Some of the related families went on to UT. Michael Sr.'s daughters, Juliana and Mary Ann, were among those who went to UT. Michael Sr.'s sister Barbara (Graybill) Stoker went to UT later. Michael's and Polly's children were David, Catherine, Simeon Peter, Joseph Levi, George Washington, William Lenore, Juliann or (Julia Ann?) Michael S., Jr., Mary Ann, Elizabeth, Sidney Rigdon and Christina."
11. 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. 88-97:
"Catherine Eller, was born in Rowan County, NC, 6 Mar 1773; d. after 1850, probably in Pottawattamie Co., Iowa at the home of her daughter Mary (Polly) Graybill. The date and place of her birth and the names of her parents were stated in the Patriarchal Blessing accorded her on 30 July 1843 at Nauvoo, Ill. by Hyrum Smith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Vol. 3, p. 148 on file at the Genealogical Society in Salt Lake City.) She married, about 1791/92, Michael Stoker, born 24 March 1762, according to a Bible owned by a member of the Lackey family and 20 May 1762 by Evangelical Lutheran Church Records of Frederick, Md. and died after 27 Oct 1836 when he sold land in Jackson Co., Ohio and removed to Missouri. There is some evidence stemming from endowment transcripts in the Index Bureau of the Gen. Soc. of the LDS Church in SLC that she had a middle name, Martha. Some of her children, viz. Elizabeth, John and Michael appear on those transcripts as children of Michael Stoker and Catherine Martha Eller. [KP note: Incorrect statement concerning Elizabeth, John, and Michael. Each of their endowment records occurred in the LDS Nauvoo temple in the mid-1840s and I have looked at the Index Bureau records on FHL film 1263432 (Special Collections) and in all cases the mother's name appears as Catherine Eller. There is a relatively modern subsequent index card for Elizabeth of erroneously duplicated LDS temple work ca. 1923-1925 in which she appears as Catherine Eller with Martha added afterwards. This late work was by a grandnephew named David Stoker and is not contemporaneous to the earlier records making it too late of an addition to be considered reliable.]
Michael Stoker, doubtless, was the son of Michael Stoker (Stocker) who settled in Frederick Co., Md. about the middle of the 18th century. No other family of the Stoker (Stocker) name was found by this writer in any of the early Frederick Co. records. The 18th century translated records of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Frederick, Md. established about 1746, show many Michael Stoker (Stocker) entries beginning with the birth, on 1 Apr 1758, of Anna Barbara, daughter of 'Mich. Stocker' and his wife 'Ana Barb.' On p. 552 of a copy of these church records, now in possession of the Maryland Historical Society in Baltimore, Maryland, will be found a recording of eight children of Michael Stocker, the youngest named George, born 13 Nov 1781. The first of these children was named Marie Barbara, born 1 Apr 1758. She doubtless was the same as or the twin of another daughter named Anna Barbara mentioned above as having been born on the same date. Another record shows, again, the birth of Marie Barbara, daughter of Michael Stocker born 1 Apr 1758; baptized 15 May 1758. Thus the church records contain three separate entries of the birth on 1 April 1758, of a daughter to Michael Stoker (Stocker) as follows:
a. 'On 1 Apr. 1758 to Mich. Stocker et uxori Ana Barbara a daughter Anna Barbara. Witnesses (to baptism) Marie Barbara filia coelebs Michael Roemers.' Filia Coelebs means unmarried daughter of.'
b. '1758, 1 April to Michael Stoker a daughter Marie Barbara, sponsored by Barbara Romerin, baptized 15 May 1758.'
c. '1758, 1 April to Michael Stocker a daughter Marie Barbara, sponsored by Barbara Romerin, baptized 15 May 1758.'
As already stated, page 552 of the church book records, on one single page, the birth of eight children to Michael Stocker the last child of whom, named George, was born 13 Nov 1781 and baptized 7 Jun 1782. The first seven of these recordings obviously were made in 1769, the 8th having been put there in 1782 as will be explained later. Preceding the names of the 1st, 4th, 5th and 6th and 7th Child, the symbol ϯ was added to show, doubtless, that the child was deceased when the record was made. The record, on page 552 of the church records, is as follows:
a. 1 April 1758, to Michael Stocker a child Marie Barbara; ϯ godmother, Barbara Romerin; baptized 15 May 1758.
b. 1 Jan 1760, to Michael Stocker, a child Johana Magdale, godparents, Heinrich Hanth (and wife) Magdalena. Date of baptism not stated. (Note by JWH - On page 454 of the church record is shown the marriage on 2 Nov 1784 'by license' of Johanna Magdalena Stockern and Johann Jost Stimmel, Michael Stocker, Peter Stimmel and John and Peter Schnog serving as witnesses.)
c. 20 May 1762, to Michael Stocker, a child Michael; godparents Michael Romer (and wife) Charlotte Amalia, (Amalis). Date of baptism not stated. (Note by JWH - This writer believes that this was the Michael Stocker who married Catherine Eller.
d. 26 Aug 1764, to Michael Stocker, a child, Elizabeth; godmother, Elizabeth Romerin. Date of baptism not stated.
e. 24 May 1767, to Michael Stocker, a child Balthasar; godparents, Balthsar Bock (and wife) Rosina. Date of baptism not stated.
f and g. 11 gbr 1769 (two children) to Michael Stocker, namely a child Marie Barbara; godparents, Johannes Haas (and wife) Mar. Barbara, and a child Christina; godmother, Christina Romerin, ledig, meaning unmarried. Baptized 19 gbr. 1769. (Note gbr is usually an abbreviation in German for born but in this case probably means November of possibly February.)
h. 13 Nov 1781, to Michael Stocker, a child, George; sponsor George Bens. Baptized 7 Jun 1782.
The above record of children of Michael Stocker, together with others shown below are interesting in two ways. First it will be noted that one of the sponsors in every case bore the same given name as the child. It was a custom in early German families to select as godmother or godfather of children being baptized the person for whom the child was named, usually a close relative and in some cases a respected friend. Second, as was shown by the first record quoted above and as will be shown by other records quoted below, Michael Stoker's wife as late as 24 March 1766 (Deed Record) was Barbara and as early as 12 April 1770 (Deed Record) was Elizabeth. That these two wives, Barbara and Elizabeth, were spouses of the same Michael Stocker is definitely established by the land records of Frederick County but, as the two next following church records show, Michael Stocker's full name was Joh. (John) Michael Stoker.
a. Page 564 of the translated church records at Maryland Hist. Soc. - Johannes, son of Joh. Michael and Elizabeth Stoker, b. 4 Jan 1772 and baptized 9 Feb 1772. (Note by JWH - p. 233 of the church records show that Johannes Stocker, aged 19, was confirmed on 22 Apr 1791. A translated record of the German Reformed Church of Frederick Co., Md., p. 196, found at the Gen. Soc. in SLC shows a child Marianna Stocker, was born to Johannes and Catherina Stocker 10 Aug 1809. Susan Kuntz (Frentz) was her godmother. A Catherina Stoker (sic) is mentioned as a dau. in the will of John Coons (sic) of Frederick Co., Md. dated 23 Dec. 1816 and proved 6 Mch. 1817. (Liber H.S, No. 2, p. 55, Frederick Co., Md. Wills.))
b. Page 591 of the translated record of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Frederick, Md. at the Gen. Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Salt Lake City - Marie Salome, dau. of Michael and Elizabeth Stocker b. 9 May 1773; bap. 27 June 1773. Her godparents were John Michel and Salome Alex (sic).
c. Page 617 of the translated record of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Frederick, Md. at Maryland Hist. Society [Baltimore] - Marie Barbara, dau. of Joh. Michael and Elizabeth Stoker, b. 23 Dec 1774; bapt. 16 Apr 1775. Her godparents were Johannes and Marie Barbara Hass.
d. Pages 638 and 1017 of the translated record of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Frederick, Md. at the Gen. Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Salt Lake City - Eva Margreth, dau. of Michael and Elizabeth Stocker, b. 22 Jul 1776; bap. 10 Nov 1776. Her godparents were Jacob and Margreth Bens. This child died 12 Sept. 1777, aged 1 year.
One may wonder why these four children were not listed with other children of Michael Stoker on page 552 of the church record (supra). After mentioning seven additional, more or less pertinent, translate church records the reason for this, as this writer sees it will be explained.
a. Page 407 of the translated record of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Frederick, Md. at Maryland Hist. Society, Baltimore, it is shown that Michael Stoker and Mary Adams were married, by license, 21 Jun 1778. The witnesses were Abraham Fah and his wife Juliana and Adam and Peter Schnock. Frederick Co. Marriage Records show that Michael Stoker and Mary A___, the spelling not complete, on 1 Jun 1778, were given a license to be married.
b. Page 209 [of the translated record of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Frederick, Md. at Maryland Hist. Society, Baltimore] shows that Michael Stoker born 24 May 1862 and Magdalena Stockern (sic) born 1 Jan 1760 were confirmed. These two were brother and sister, children of Michael and Barbara Stoker (Stocker), their birth dates in their confirmation checking substantially with those recorded on page 552 of the same translated church record.
c. Page 664 of the translated record of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Frederick, Md. at the Gen. Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Salt Lake City shows that Anna Margareth, daughter of Michael and Anna Marie Stocker was born 15 May 1779 and baptized 24 July 1779. Her godparents were Adam and Anna Margareth Schnock.
d. Page 686 [of the translated record of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Frederick, Md. at the Gen. Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Salt Lake City] shows that Marie Catharina, daughter of Michael and Anna Maria Stocker was born 4 Sept. 1780.
e. Page 752 [of the translated record of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Frederick, Md. at the Gen. Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Salt Lake City] shows that Jacob, son of Michael and Anna Maria Stocker, was born 22 May 1785. His sponsors at baptism were his parents.
f. Page 113 of the translated record of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Frederick, Md. at the Gen. Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Salt Lake City, Utah, shows that Charlotte, daughter of Michael Stocker, was born 19 Feb 1788. Her mother's name was not given. Her godparents were Peter and Julia (Juliana) Schnock (Schnod).
g. Page 1017 of the translated record of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Frederick, Md. at the Gen. Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Salt Lake City shows that Elizabeth, wife of Michael Stoker died 10 Oct 1777 at the age of 33 years.
It should be kept in mind that the only Stoker (Stocker) family found in the early church, land or court records of Frederick County, Maryland was one headed by Michael. The only suggestion of a Stoker of Stocker of another given name was the same Michael in the recordings of his children by his second wife, Elizabeth. In those recordings he was called Joh. Michael Stoker. Deed Records in Frederick Co., calling him a saddler in every case and showing his wife to have been Barbara in March 1766 and Elizabeth in April 1770 proves the two Michaels to have been the same person. The second wife, Elizabeth, died 10 Oct 1777 at the age of 33. On 21 Jun 1778 he married Mary (Marie) Adams as already shown.
This writer explains the one page record that is found of Michael Stoker's (Stocker) children in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Frederick Co., Md. as follows. When his first two daughters (twins probably) were born he had them baptized or recorded as they were born. When his twins, Marie Barbara and Christina were born in 1769 he had them baptized and recorded and when this was being done he decided to record all of his other children, four of whom had not been recorded, naming their godparents from memory. This would account for all of these children appearing on one page where immediately prior entries were 1769 and immediate subsequent ones 1770.
When children of his second wife, Elizabeth, came he had them baptized and recorded. Apparently there were four of them, one named Johannes, b. 4 Jan 1772, another named Marie Salome, b. 9 May 1773, the third was Marie Barbara b. 23 Dec 1774 and the fourth Eva Margreth b. 22 Jul 1776 - d. 12 Sep 1777. Then on 10 Oct 1777 his wife, Elizabeth, aged 33, died and on 21 Jun 1778 he married Mary (Marie) Adams, his third wife.
The first child of the third marriage was Anna Margareth, b. 15 May 1779. She was baptized and recorded. The second child by this third marriage was Marie Catherina, born 4 Sep 1780 and bapt. 4 March (May) 1781. She probably died young. The fourth child was Georg b. 13 Nov 1781. This child was baptized 7 Jun 1782 and the baptism recorded not on the current page of the record book but squeezed in on the 1769/1770 page where other children of Michael Stoker (Stocker) had been recorded enmasse. Thus we have on the 1769/1770 page of the church book a record of eight children of Michael Stoker (Stocker) born between 1758 and 1782 appearing on that page with other children of his who were born after 1769 appearing on other pages. The fact that his son Georg was so recorded is pretty conclusive proof that all of the eight Stoker (Stocker) children on that one page had the same father. The symbol ϯ apparently was to indicate that the child was deceased and, doubtless, was inserted when the baptism of the son George was recorded.
Other entries in the church records show Michael Stocker (Stoker) and his wife, Anna Maria, had two other children, one named Jacob, b. 22 May 1785, and the other named Charlotte, b. 19 Feb 1788, making 17 children as follows:
By first wife Barbara:
1. Anna Barbara Stocker, b. 1 Apr 1758. She died young.
2. Marie Barbara Stocker, b. 1 Apr 1758, the same as or twin of [Anna Barbara]. She died young.
3. Johana Magdale Stocker, b. 1 Jan 1760.
4. Michael Stocker, Jr., b. 20 May 1762 (24 May 1762 or 24 Mar 1762).
5. Elizabeth Stocker, b. 26 Aug 1764. She died young.
6. Balthasar Stocker, b. 24 May 1767. He died young.
7. Marie Barbara Stocker, b. 11 ??? 1769. [Twin of Christina.] She died young.
8. Christina Stocker, b. 11 ??? 1769. Twin of [Marie Barbara]. She died young.
By second wife Elizabeth:
9. Johannes Stocker, b. 4 Jan 1772.
10. Marie Solome Stocker, b. 9 May 1773.
11. Marie Barbara Stocker, b. 25 Dec 1774.
12. Eva Margreth Stocker, b. 22 Jul 1776, d. 12 Sep 1777.
By third wife Anna Marie Adams:
13. Anna Margareth Stocker, b. 15 May 1779.
14. Marie Catherina Stocker, b. 4 Sep 1780.
15. George Stocker, b. 13 Nov. 1781, bapt. 2 Jun 1782.
16. Jacob Stocker, b. 22 May 1785.
17. Charlotte Stocker, b. 19 Feb 1788.
[Note: James Hook totally missed one child, Eva Catherina, who was born between George and Jacob; see her notes for church record documentation.]
The church records also show that Michael Stocker witnessed a goodly number of baptisms and marriages. One marriage, 'by license in Virginia,' which he and George Schaeffer witnessed, on 20/21 Apr. 1788, was that of Christopher Schaeffer and Elizabeth Adams, she, perhaps, a sister of his third wife. (Page 309 [of church record].) Michael Stoker attended communion service on 18 Oct 1778, 13 May 1779, 14 May 1780, 19 May 1782, 8 Jun 1783, 30 Jun 1784, 4 Jun 1786, 27 May 1787, 7 Oct 1787, and 24 Apr 1791. On 30 Jun 1784 and 4 Jun 1786 he was accompanied by his 'filia', meaning his daughter. A Michael Stocher (sic) attended services 23 Oct 1803 and 2 Jun 1805. After the latter date he was not found again in the records.
The spelling of the name in the church records varied frequently between Stoker and Stocker but in deeds mentioned herein, it was spelled Stoker. He obviously was a German but from whence in Germany he or his parents came was not discovered. This writer once thought that he was, very likely, the son of Michael Stoker, aged 31, who came to Pennsylvania on the ship 'Brittania' with Margaret Stoker, aged 24, his wife probably, and took his oath of allegiance 21 Sep 1731 but dismissed the idea when he later learned that Michael and Margaret Stoker's son Michael died in 1771 in Macungie Twsp. of Northampton (now Lehigh Co.) Pennsylvania, his will having been probated there, 25 Jan 1771, naming a wife Margaret and children Mary, Elizabeth, Catherine, Susannah and George.
Michael Stoker of Frederick Co, MD is first found in the records of that county on 1 Apr 1758 when the birth dates of his daughters Ann Barbara and Marie Barbara (they may have been the same Child) were recorded in the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Frederick, MD. On 14 May 1760 he purchased from Ballis Paugh lot no. 118 in Fredericktown, Frederick Co., MD. (Deed Book F, p. 985.) In that deed he is called a sadler. Another Frederick Co. deed dated 24 Mar 1766, 'Michael Stoker, sadler,' his wife Barbara relinquishing her dower, sold this same lot in Frederick Town to John Hoffman. (Deed Book K, p. 432.) On 30 Aug 1768, 'Michael Stoker, sadler' purchased from Henry Brunner lot no. 83 and a half interest in lot No. 80 located in Frederick Town. (Deed Book L, pp. 473-475.) This deed was corrected on 24 Dec 1772 to read lot 82 rather than lot 83. (Deed Book P. p. 530.)
Sometime near the date of the last purchase his first wife Barbara apparently died because on 12 Apr 1770 'Michael Stoker, sadler,' his wife Elizabeth relinquishing her dower, sold to Henry Brunner, a five foot strip off of the lot purchased from said Brunner 30 Aug 1768. (Deed book N, p. 90.) On 7 Nov 1774 'Michael Stoker,' his wife Elizabeth relinquishing her dower, conveyed to Samuel Miller a part of lot no. 82 that he had acquired from Henry Brunner, 30 Aug 1768, when his wife doubtless was Barbara. (Deed Book L, p. 473-475 and Deed Book w, p. 235.) On 19 Nov 1778 'Michael Stoker farmer,' his wife Mary relinquishing her dower, sold another part on lot No. 82 to Philip Shade, (Deed Book RP1, p. 519.) These deeds relating to Lot No. 82 first when his wife, doubtless was Barbara, second when his wife, certainly was Elizabeth and third when his wife, certainly, was Mary (Marie) are conclusive proof that it was the same Michael Stoker who married these three wives.
The Archives of Maryland, Vol. XLVIII shows orders in Council on 30 Nov. 1781 to pay certain sums of money to Michael and James Stocker. On 14 Mar 1783 other orders were given to pay Michael Stoker 17 pounds, 17 shillings and 1 pence.
[The son] Michael Stockerd (Stoker) is shown in the 1790 census of Wilkes County, Morgan District as being over 16 [possible Hook error] years of age but with no other person listed in his family. Morgan District later (1799) became Ashe County and was the same District where Peter Eller, John Koons and Conrad Dick lived. His farm was on the North Fork of New River in Ashe Co. He married Catherine Eller about 1791/92 and on 29 Dec 1792 purchased of John Dick 100 acres of land on Naked Creek in Ashe Co. which creek flows from the west into the south fork of New River. Ames Bunyard was a witness. (Book B-1, p. 249, Wilkes Co., NC Deeds.) On 13 March 1806 he entered 150 acres of land on the North Fork of New River adjoining his existing land. This land was surveyed March 12, 1806 and granted to Michael Stoker, 27 Nov 1806. (Grant #629, Ashe Co., NC, Sec'y of State's Office, Raleigh, NC.) The survey was signed by Jesse and Eli Cleveland and attested by Peter and Jacob Ellar (sic).
The family removed to Jackson Co., Ohio about 1814/15. It was here, probably, that the parents embraced the Mormon Faith. On 27 Oct 1836 he sold his property in Jackson Co., Ohio and followed the Mormon migration to Missouri. His wife Catherine, apparently was living near Nauvoo, Illinois in 1841 where she had herself baptized for her father Peter Eller, her grandparents on her mother's side, vis. Kinrod (Conrad) and Catherine Dick, her brother John Eller and her dau. Rebecca Stoker. (Nauvoo, Ill. Baptisms for the Dead, Mormon, at Gen. Soc. of Utah, Salt Lake City.)"
12. 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. 17-31, in speaking about Peter Eller Sr.'s [b. abt. 1746, d. 1799] estate settlement, the following quotes refer to family members involved with the settlement. Note that sons-in-law William Pennington (wife Barbara or Elizabeth Eller?) and George Koons (Mary's husband) do not show up at the estate sale of 1799 but do show up from 1809 to 1817 when the inherited land of Peter Eller is sold
|
Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
1773 - Aft 1856 (> 83 years)