View of Bethlehem. Aquatint by Karl Bodmer from the book Maximilian, Prince of Wied’s Travels in the Interior of North America, during the years 1832–1834 by Prince Maximilian of Wied (Publisher: Ackermann & Co., 1839) Source URL: http://www.gallery.oldbookart
I was recently contacted by Jean Brewer who is hoping to establish that Daniel Brodhead Jr., son of Brigadier General Daniel Brodhead and Elizabeth DuPuy, is her ancestor. With her permission, I am publishing the letter she sent me. If you can shed light on this topic to help Jean, please leave a comment at the end of this post and/or email Jean at ancestortracker2 at gmail dot com. Thank you!
Dear Author of Chips Off The Old Block,
I have looked for years for the correct Daniel BRODHEAD in my family. Yesterday I came across your 11 June 2013 article entitled “Daniel BRODHEAD, Jr.: A Timeline of Life Events.”
After reading your research on this Daniel I feel more strongly that ever this is the right Daniel for my connection. Back in December 1985 Charles SANDWICK also thought this was mostly likely the Daniel I needed. Here are the facts as I presently know them:
Old Moravian Chapel (est. 1751) & dead house (in the foreground). Wikimedia Commons: Image from NYPL collections is in public domain). Image date unknown-between 1865-1875 (?)
1) Abstract of Baptisms from Bethlehem Moravian Congregation, Bethlehem, Northampton CO., PA
Johann and Mar Cath LISCHER
had daughter Maria LISCHER b. 7 April 1761 at Bethlehem, bapt. same day at Bethlehem Moravian Church
{my note: Parents John LISCHER/LESHER and his wife Maria Catherine’s maiden name LOESCH – JMB}
2) 18th Century Vital Records from the Early Registers of the Moravian Church of Schoeneck, Northampton Co., PA, compiled by Charles SANDWICK, Jr.
Dan and Maria (LISCHER) BRADHOT (sic) {Daniel and Maria (LISCHER) BRODHEAD – JMB}
had daughter Anna Maria BRADHOT bapt. 23 Dec. 1781 at Schoeneck Moravian Church {my note: The mother Maria (LISCHER) BROADHEAD would have been about 20 years old. If Daniel BRODHEAD Jr., b. ca. 1756 is the father, he would have been about 25 years old. – JMB)
3) Will of Mary Catherine LISHER, Dated 3 May 1803, Proved 10 May 1803, File #2085, Northampton County Court house, Easton, PA
“I give and bequeath unto my granddaughter Mary BROADHEAD the only child of my daughter Mary, now the wife of Samuel RUSSELL, by her first husband Daniel BROADHEAD, deceased, the sum of ten pounds,…” {my note: Mary Catherine referred to Daniel as deceased – was he deceased or had he abandoned his family and gone to KY, VA, Philadelphia?
4) Will Book E-3, p. 407 Northampton Co., Courthouse, Easton, Northampton Co., PA
“I Mary BROADHEAD, alias Mary YOHE of Lower Saucon, in the county of Northampton, PA one of the granddaughters and legates named in the will of Mary Catherine LISHET late of Nazareth in the county of Northampton, PA the aforesaid the widow and relict of John LISCHER late of the same place, yeoman, deceased, do hereby acknowledge receipt of ten pounds from John LISCHER (uncle of Mary-JMB) and Nathaniel MICHLER, administrators of said will of Mary Catherine LISCHER, 20 Nov. 1803 {my note: In 1803 Mary (BROADHEAD) YOHE, b. ca. 1781 would have been 22 years old. – JMB}
5) In a letter dated 15 August 1985 from Charles SANDWICK – by going over possible Daniel’s he concluded – “I am of the opinion Daniel BRODHEAD, son of Daniel and Elizabeth (DEPUE) BRODHEAD, of whom so little has been recorded, did indeed die soon after his release as a prison of war, but only after a brief marriage with Anna Maria LISCHER.
Based on your research:
1776-78 – Daniel prisoner of war from Nov. 16, 1776 until 26 Aug. 1778
1779 – Daniel retired from Military
1781 – Daniel became a clerk in the office of Robert MORRIS, US Superintendent of Finance
1782 – Daniel fired by MORRIS on 29 May 1782
1782 – Daniel possible with his father in Reading, PA
1783 – Daniel first merchant to arrive in the new frontier town of Louisville, KY
1800-1802 you wrote – “The son appears to have taken a stab at married life,…” “I must say that I feel slightly suspicious that “Christian” may have been second wife since Daniel Jr. would have been between the ages of 47-58 when his six known children were born.”
I have a strong feeling Daniel married my Maria LESHER/LISCHER b. 1761 , fathered daughter Maria/Mary ca. 1781 and then left the family for “bigger and better things.”
Any input you have or ideas for further research are most welcome. Thank you for your time to read through this. My grandmother was the LESHER. I’ve worked on the family some 40 years or more.
Jean (CHRISTIAN) BREWER
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Chips Off the Old Block 