Keystone Threads

Johannes Sechler, the progenitor of the Sechler family in the United States, and my 7th-great grandfather, was born and christened on 18 Feb 1701 in Lomersheim, Germany. His wife, Anna Maria Maurer, was christened on 11 Dec 1701 at the Freinsheim Reformed Church, Palatinate, Germany. According to German tradition, she was most likely born on the same day or within a few days of her christening. They lived 60 miles apart in Germany, and likely did not meet until they were living in British America. It is interesting to note that Anna’s birth town, Freinsheim, was devastated by war, completely burned by French troops in 1689. The “church” was probably just a congregation sharing a shell of a church with congregations of other churches while the city was rebuilt. Johannes and Anna Maria emigrated to Pennsylvania separately, eventually met, and were married in 1728 at Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

I believe there are misconceptions regarding the birthplaces of most of Johannes’ children. For most of the 1700s, Philadelphia County was much larger than today. The map below shows the county stretching all the way up to modern day Lehigh County, almost to Allentown. Montgomery County did not exist until September 10, 1784, so references to “Montgomery” in earlier times would refer to “Montgomery Township, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, British America. Johannes and Anna married (1728), settled in Montgomery Township, and had the following children; Sophronia “Phroney” Sechler b. 1727, Abraham (1729-1783), and Anna Barbara b. 1729. You may notice that Abraham and Anna may have been twins!

The image above and markup shows the progression of Johannes Sechler’s family from southeast to northwest. Johannes likely stayed in Montgomery Township until he earned enough to purchase more land, then bought 150 acres in 1737 and moved to Upper Hanover Township. The map above shows a markup of the route (not actual, just connecting locations 🙂 Beginning with Anna Maria Sechler b. 1737, records show baptisms at the New Goshenhoppen Church and births in this new location. The rest of his children are as follows: Sergeant John (1739-1831), Johan Jacob (1740-1812), Pvt. John Andrew “Andreas” (1742-1830), Freidrich “Frederick” (1743-1825), Rudolph (1747-1776), Samuel (1748-1761), and Joseph (1749-1804).

Johannes was described as “well off” financially. Before his death, he invested in more land and bought a parcel (200 acres) in Lynn Township, at the foot of Blue Mountain in the Alleghenies, near modern day New Tripoli, Pennsylvania. A homestead was constructed and would be occupied by family members later, which I will discuss in a future post.

Johannes Sechler lived the remainder of his life in Upper Hanover Township and died in 1761. His will, dated 20 June 1761, provided for his wife, who remained in Upper Hanover Township. Son John was granted 28 acres in Douglass Township, Philadelphia County, and sons Jacob and Andreas were willed the land in Lynn Township, Northampton County. Anna Maria lived to an old age and passed on 5 January 1777.