BEAR, Jacob

Jacob — KARNS, Mary. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

John originally lived at Brock's Gap Va., with brother his Jacob and his father. In 1747 he purchased 300 Acres at Linville Creek, Rockingham Co.,Va. He lived on Fort Run about 1 Mi. west of Timberville on the road to Rader's Church. This is about 6 Mi. east of Brock's Gap and 18 Mi. northwest of Bear Lithia Springs. Land records show that John bought and sold several 1000 acres over the years. He and brother Jacob married sisters of the Miller family.

John married MILLER, Elizabeth Catatrina Bef Jan 1753. Elizabeth (daughter of MILLER, Adam and KOGER, Anna Maria Barbara) was born 20 Dec 1734, Virginia; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Known as the first white child born in the Shenandoah Valley.
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Child: Catarina Mueller
Birth/Baptism Date: 20 Dec 1734
Source: Personal register of Rev. John Casper Stoever
State: Pennsylvania
Father: Adam Mueller
Mother: Mrs. ??? Mueller

Notes:

Jacob came to the colonies with his parents and siblings in 1717+/- to Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania.

His name was originally spelled (Jagely Bare).

He moved to the Shenandoah Valley in about 1740 with son's Jacob and John. Jacob is said to have been a Tavern keeper.

Jacob — BARABARA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Adam (Mueller) Miller was born at Schersheim, Germany about 1703. The family name was spelled Mueller in Germany. His father lived and grew up in Lamsheim.

Adam came to America in 1720 to Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania. He and his wife and an unmarried sister moved to Williamsburg, Virginia in 1724.

In 1726 -1727 he visited the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and settled there with his family at Hawksbill Creek, in present day Page Co. They were the first European settlers in the valley.

In 1733 Adam's name appears on a list of petitioners who were trying to obtain land from Jacob Stover.

Adam was naturalized in 1741. Later the family settled in what would become Rockingham Co.

In 1742 Adam purchased 820 Acres including the Lithia Springs near present day Elkton, Rockingham Co., Virginia, where he built his first cabin. The house still stands.

Adam became the guardian of Michael (Cogar) Koger, his nephew, November 19, 1755, 2 years after Nicholas, Michael's father, was killed by indians.

Adam was a soldier in the French and Indian War, as indicated on a military schedule for 1758, in Hennings Statutes.

Adam was of the Lutheran denomination, and was probably buried at St.. Peters Church, 4 miles north of Elkton.

From the Moravian Diaries (December 3, 1749):
"Towards evening a man from another district, Adam Mueller, passed. I told him that I would like to come to his house and preach there. He asked me if I were sent by God. I answered, yes. He said, if I were sent by God I would be welcome, but he said, there are at present so many kinds of people, that often one does not know where they come from. I requested him to notify his neighbors that I would preach on the 5th, which he did."...

"On December 4th, we left Schaub's house, commending the whole family to God. We traveled through the rain across the South Shenandoah to Adam Mueller, who received us with much love. We stayed over night with him."...

"On December 5th, I preached at Adam Mueller's house on John 7: "Whosoever thirsteth let him come to the water and drink." A number of thirsty souls were present. Especially Adam Mueller took in every word, and after the sermon declared himself well pleased. In the afternoon we traveled a short distance, staying over night with a Swiss. The conversation was very dry and the word of Christ's sufferings found no hearing."

Adam married KOGER, Anna Maria Barbara Germany. Anna (daughter of KOGER, Joss and LOWENBERGER, Anna) was born 1716, Auggen, Loerrach, Baden, Germany; died , Near Elkton, Rockingham County, Virginia. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Hans was Baptized January 23, 1648 in Hausen, Switzerland. He came to the Colonies, Lancaster , Pa. in 1717.

Hans married HAUSER, Barbara 11/11 Jan 1681/1682. Barbara (daughter of HAUSER, Hans and RINGGER, Barbara) was born 1654, Schweichlof; died 30/30 Jan 1708/1709. [Group Sheet]

Johann — MARGARETTA, Ann. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Five sons and one daughter of Joss Koger came to America between 1725 and 1738 to found the Koger, Coger, Cogar, and Cowger clans.
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"In 1710, Jos Koger was a Cooper."

This entry, found on page 254 of the book "Der Weinort Auggen", a written history of Auggen, published by the Borough of Auggen, indicates for us the importance that was placed on the "Cooper", the wine cast maker, by the elders of that wine-making village.

This Jos. Koger, the Cooper, or wine-barrel maker (an important position in a wine-making village like Auggen) represented the last of our Koger ancestors to be live his life in his German homeland.

Joss Koger married Maria Catharina Gebhard, daughter of the Pastor of the nearby village of Feldburg, on February 22, 1701. These were troubled times in Europe, and a family's Church Records were often left incomplete as the family moved from village to village to seek sanctuary from the incessant fighting. The records which do yet exist show these children for Maria and Joss: Maria, born December 25, 1701, died May 8, 1703; Nicolaus, born February 21, 1704, died April 4, 1704; Joss, born March 14, 1705; and Bernhard, born November 15, 1706. We must assume that Maria Gebhard Koger died, although the records do not list it, as the records next show Joss Koger marrying Anna Lowenbergen on April 23, 1709. Two of their sons are mentioned in the records; Hans Jacob Koger, born July 24, 1710, and Nicholas Koger, born January 30, 1712.

It is these two brothers who, between 1728 and 1732, came across the Atlantic to America.

For whatever reason, whether due to religious persecution, continuing trouble from the French troops crossing the border, or trouble with the Margrave, the political head of the state of Baden, Jacob and Nicholas Koger left Germany and immigrated to the new land of America.

Joss Koger, their father, died at Auggen on August 23, 1733.

Joss married LOWENBERGER, Anna 23 Apr 1709, Auggen, Loerrach, Baden, Germany. Anna was born 19 Sep 1675; died 23 Jun 1735. [Group Sheet]