| Mefford Ancestors Return to Contents Ancestors Index Who are George Mefford's Parents? Different names have been offered as the parents of George Mefford. Perhaps we can use this page to share findings and speculations and eventually come to some conclusion. Please send e-mail if you have information to contribute. The Traditional Story Tradition has it that George Mefford's father was Andrew Conrad Mefford, an Englishman living in Germany, and that George, his oldest child, had been born during the sea voyage from Germany to America. The following example is from Treasures of Pisgah and Levanna, Ohio, by Carl N. Thompson, p311: “About 1757, Andrew Conrad Mefford and his wife immigrated to this country from Frankfort, Germany, and located in what is now the state of Maryland. By birth, Mr. Mefford was an Englishman, his wife, (name unknown), a German. He served in the Revolutionary as a Captain, moving after the conflict, to the southwestern part of Pennsylvania, in or near the present site of Pittsburgh.” Recent Findings, from Harold Meeker and Elizabeth Mefford Henning Records have been discovered by cousin Harold Meeker – descendant of George and Malinda through son Joshua Mefford (1805-1880) and first wife, Susannah Hodgkins – and Elizabeth Mefford Henning (don't have Elizabeth's lineage!) that give a little different picture of the date and place of George's birth, as well as his father's name and nationality. Estate Records In Estate Records 1781-1796 and Deed Records 1782-1785 for Washington Co, PA, compiled in 1967 by Raymond Martin Bell of Washington & Jefferson College, Washington Co, PA, there was an Administrator's Bond filed for George Mefford's estate in 1789, and that the names on the bond are John Mefford, Henry Speers and Frederick Cooper. An Account was filed in 1790 by John Mefford. Mr. Bell states that there was no will and that George was dead before the estate sale in Nov 1788. The children named are: "oldest son George" then Elizabeth, Jacob, John. The Washington Co, PA Tax List of 1784 for Fallowfield Twp. includes George Milford Sr., George Milford Jr. and John Milford. The Botetourt Co, VA Tax List of 1782 includes Jacob Mefford. Birth and Christening Records The Adams County Historical Society in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in a letter dated June 23, 1983, certified that a transcript of the register of Christ Lutheran Church in York, Pennsylvania included the following entry: John George Meffors The same letter further certifies that, "according to Pennsylvania German Church Records of Births, Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, Etc, Volume 1 (Baltimore, 1983), pp. 22, 45, the following entries appear in the register of Trinity Lutheran church, Lancaster:" Johann Jacob Mayfarth Maria Elizabeth Mayfart Ship Records Thirty Thousand Names of German, Swiss, Dutch, French and other Immigrants in Pennsylvania, by Prof. I. Daniel Rupp, p. 257, has an entry for the ship "Brothers", William Muir, Captain, which arrived from Rotterdam Sept. 16, 1751 carrying 200 passengers. George Conrad Meffet is among the list of passengers. Pennsylvania Archives, Volume XVII Series 2, p. 339, states that George Conrad Messert, ship "Brothers" from Rotterdam, Capt. William Muir, took an oath of allegiance to the king of Great Britain on 16 Sept. 1751. Pennsylvania Pioneers, by Ralph Beaver Strassburger, p. 464, includes the folowing: Johannes Gorg (George) Conradt Meffert arrived at Philadelphia, Pa. 16 Sept. 1751 on the ship "Two Brothers" Rotterdam to Eng. signed the Oath of Allegiance 16 Sept. 1751 in Philadelphia, Pa. at the Court House. Earlier Ancestors Cousin Clifford Dullea, descendant of George and Malinda through oldest son Andrew Mefford and Susannah Burns, has contributed the following information that goes back a few generations in Germany: George Mefford 19 Apr 1757-18 Oct 1814 md Malinda Masters. Hans Henrich Meffert was born and died in Wachenbuchen, Hessen, Prussia, as was his wife Anna. John Condradt and his wife Anna Marie also were born and died in Wachenbuchen. Andreas was born in Wachenbuchen and died in Coventry township, Chester County, Pa. Andreas' wife Magdalene was born in Oberndorfelden, Hessen, Prussia and died in Fredricks County, Maryland. Johannes Georg Condradt was born in Oberdorfelden and died in Scott County, KY. [Note: Has anyone noticed the similarity in surname of Suzanne Kuntz (m? Johannes Georg Conradt Meffert) and George and Mary Elizabeth Kuehns (Godparents of John George Meffors above)?] Discussion I haven't personally researched any of the generations beyond George and would like hear more from the first-hand researchers – hopefully we can all learn together:
Rather than trying to present my own interpretations, which could be faulty, or any one person's conclusions, I would rather present all the information that has been found so far, along with sources, reasoning, speculations, etc. That way everyone can look it over and perhaps add our store of knowledge. |
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And on behalf of the contributors. All rights reserved. |