THE HAUGER CHRONICLES

By William A. Brobst Sometime between 1749 and 1757, Jacob Hauger (b bef 1702) and his wife Anna Maria left their home in Hesse Cassel, Germany, with their son Jonathan (b 1723) and his wife and family, and emigrated to America. They probably landed in New York, for they settled in New Jersey, near a small town called Oxford. . Jonathan and his wife (name unknown) brought a young son from Germany, Johannes (b 1749) in Hesse Cassel(?). They also brought a second son, Jonathan (b 1752), who is reported to have been born in Hesse Cassel as well, in which case their immigration would have come between 1752 and 1757. Its possible, though, that Jonathan was actually born in New Jersey, in which case the immigration would have come between 1749 and 1752. The actual date of their immigration remains to be discovered. Johannes (1749) and Jonathan (1752), along with their father Jonathan (1723), moved south-westward after their grandfathers death in 1757, and settled in Hagerstown, Washington County, Maryland, where there were several Hager families already living after their arrival from Germany in 1736 (Jonathan b 1719 and David b 1712). Jonathan (1719) and David (1712) were the founders of the town of Hagerstown, although David died before the town was actually named as such. Jonathan, the father of Johannes (1749) and Jonathan (1752), himself is reported to have moved on from Hagerstown and settled in Somerset Co, Pennsylvania where he died in Berlin in 1775. What the relationship was between Jonathan Hauger and the two Hager brothers (the founders) is not known, but it appears likely that there was some close relationship, probably at their roots in Germany. Why else would have Jonathan Hauger gone to Hagerstown (then known as Elisabethstown)? Jacob Hauger the immigrant could have been an older brother of the Hagerstown founders. Who knows? In any case, the brothers Johannes (1749) and Jonathan (1752) settled in Hagerstown, and began raising their families. Johannes is reported to have been a tailor, and so would have found work there as a tradesman. In 1771, he married Maria Barbara Miller who had been born in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Jonathan was a craftsman engaged in making and repairing wagons, but was evidently more inclined toward the inn-keeping trade, and, in fact, would become later referred to as Jonathan the Tavernkeeper. Jonathan married Nancy Ann Moyer (Royer/Rohrer?) in 1778. Both Johannes (1749) and Jonathan (1752), and their families, moved to Chambersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania around 1781. Johannes set up a tailor shop on Queen Street, and Jonathan worked at the Chambersburg Tavern. Around 1795, Johannes moved to Somerset

County, Pennsylvania, and in 1798, Jonathan returned to Hagerstown when he lived out his life as a wagonmaker and tavernkeeper. Is all that really true? The evidence is part factual, part circumstantial, part deductive. All of those people really did exist. The story has been pieced together from research done by the author and others based on information found in New Jersey, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. The family of Johannes Hauger (1749) has been well researched through the records in Franklin and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania, and Washington County, Maryland. The family of Jonathan Hager (1752) (Tavernkeeper) has been well researched through the records in Washington County, Maryland, and Franklin County, Pennsylvania. The research regarding the initial residence in New Jersey is asserted but verification has not been discovered to date in the preparation of The Hauger Chronicles. A major part of the problem is in the confusion of names. It seems that half the men in these families were named either Johannes (John) or Jonathan! Plus the fact that there were other Johns and Jonathans named Hager in and around the same places and times. Well, what do we really know? The history of Johannes and Jonathan seems quite well established through birth/baptism, marriage, death, and land records. New Jersey records discuss Johannes move from New Jersey to Maryland. Their life first in Hagerstown and then in Chambersburg is well recorded, as well as Johannes later move to Somerset County and Jonathans later return to Hagerstown. Both of them are reported to have had a father named Jonathan. That they are of German origin is unquestioned, but whether they were both immigrants is not as certain; they might have been born in New Jersey. Certainly they both lived in New Jersey at some time in their early lives. The Tavernkeepers grandfather is identified as the immigrant Jacob Hauger who died in New Jersey in 1757.

JACOB HAUGER (??)

Sometime between 1749 and 1757, Jacob Hauger (b bef 1702) and his wife Anna Maria left their home in Hesse Cassel, Germany, and emigrated to America. They probably landed in New York, for they settled in New Jersey, near a small town called Oxford. They brought at least one of their grown children with them -- their son Jonathan (1723). They were probably near fifty years old themselves when they left Germany for a better life in the English Colonies. Jacobs will was probated in Oxford in 1757.

JONATHAN HAUGER (1723-1775) (Jacob)

Jonathan Hauger, b 1723, is reported to have immigrated to America and settled in New Jersey. The immigration must have taken place between 1749 and 1757; see the discussion above. One record at the Washington County Historical Society in the Hager file in Hagerstown, MD, noted that Johannes (1749) descended from David Hager. Other references at Hagerstown and from Somerset County, PA, assert it was this Jonathan. It is noted that the name David is 2

clearly an unusual name for a German. Probably there was some confusion with David (1712), the brother of Jonathan (1719) the founder of Hagerstown, with an incorrect assumption that Johannes Hauger (1749) had descended from that David Hager. However, that reference may have made in the thought that Johannes might have descended from David Hager (1712), brother of Jonathan the Founder Hager (1719); that assumption is now held in discredit. Was this Jonathan actually the father of both Johannes Hauger (1749) and Jonathan Hager (The Tavernkeeper) (1752)? Circumstantial, but strong, evidence points that way. Both Johannes and Jonathan are reported to have come to Hagerstown from New Jersey. Records in Hagerstown state that the Tavernkeeper's father was Jonathan; records in Chambersburg state that Johannes' father was Jonathan from New Jersey, and that the Tavernkeeper's grandparents were Jacob and Anna Maria Hager who died in Oxford, NJ in 1757. And this Jonathan died in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, as did Johannes (1749). Early Germans of New Jersey shows the following addendum to the section on the Hager family of NJ, but doesn't tie the line in with the other NJ and MD Hagers: "John Hauger, b. 1749, d. 1813, Dec 6, m. Maria Barbara Miller, b. 1749, d. 1826, May 11; came from Hagerstown, MD to Somerset Co., PA, 1793 (then Bedford). His parents came from Prussia to Phil., then to Hagerstown, when he was 13 years of age....." (Actually, as discussed later, they did not come from Prussia.) From this, it appears that Jonathan accompanied his two sons to Hagerstown, although he does not appear in records there. It is noted that his death year, 1775 in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, is the same death year as for Jonathan Hager, founder of Hagerstown.

JONATHAN (THE TAVERNKEEPER) HAGER (1752-1823) (Jonathan,

Jacob) Jonathan is not obviously related to the founder of Hagerstown, Jonathan (1719). He certainly shared to some extent the founding of Hagerstown with that other Jonathan because he was also one of the early settlers of that area. There is some information which alludes to a relationship between the two, and it is probably true, although the relationship may well go back to similar German roots. Why else would this Jonathan have come to join the other Jonathan? The Hager files in the Washington County Historical Society, Hagerstown, MD, show that Jonathan came to Hagerstown at the age of eight, in 1760, from somewhere in New Jersey. Whether he was born in New Jersey or he immigrated to America with his parents is not known. The Hagerstown records all show his name as Hager, not Hauger, although both the names Hauger and Haeger are found in the records associated with all of the Hager families of Hagerstown. He is reported to have served in the Revolutionary War from 1780-1781, under Captains Joseph Culbertson and William Berryhill. In 1778, he took the Oath of Fidelity. About 1788, in Hagerstown, he married Nancy Ann Moyer. (One researcher shows her name as Royer or Rohrer.) They had five known children: Jacob, Katharine, Samuel, George, and 3

Jonathan. Jacob was born in Hagerstown; the others in Chambersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Jonathan Jr was later to become known as Jonathan the Miller in Hagerstown. On Aug 29, 1780, he bought land from Jonathan Hager (b 1755; son of Jonathan 1719)) and wife Maria Magdalena. A year or so later, he moved to Chambersburg to learn the tavern business, where he operated the Chambersburg Tavern in the 1790s. His brother Johannes (1749) was in Chambersburg operating a tailor shop during that same period of time. Jonathan returned to Hagerstown in 1796-1798 to open a tavern called the Fountain Inn, on the Public Square, facing the Court House. His Inn became the favorite place for Independence Day celebrations. The name was later changed to "Jonathan Hager's Tavern". He and his son George were shown as merchants in Hagerstown in 1805 and 1815. He may have raised two other children (sons of an unidentified George Hager), Jacob Hager b 1779 and John Hager b 1783, per records of Washington Co. Historical Society. His family history is recorded in some detail in Jonathan Hager, Founder, by Mary Vernon Mish (Gc 929.2) and on LDS Film H 12153m. From the Franklin Republican (Franklin Co, PA), Feb 25,1823: "Hagerstown, MD, Feb. 13. Died on Sunday night last in his 71st yr. Jonathan Hager Sr. He was one of the oldest inhabitants of Hagerstown." (There were several land purchases in Franklin Co, PA, near Greencastle, southeast of Chambersburg and close to the PA/MD border, by a Jonathan Hager in the mid-1800s; that Jonathan has not been identified, although it might have been his son Jonathan the Miller.)

JOHANNES HAUGER (1749-1813) (Jonathan, Jacob)

The records of the Washington County Historical Society in Hagerstown, Maryland, show that Johannes immigrated around 1762 or 1763 from Hesse Cassell, Germany. He must have lived first in New Jersey, where his immigrant grandparents died. He then moved in 1762 with his parents to Hagerstown, MD, where several of his children were born; they were baptized in the Salem German Reformed Church, Conococheague District, Washington Co, MD: Johannes Jr, Barbara, Heinrich, and Josiah Daniel. He then moved in 1782 to Chambersburg and Antrim Township, PA, where several more children were born: Simon, Henry, Joseph, Jacob, William Henry, and Lizzie. Later, around 1795, he and his family moved to near Berlin, Somerset County (then part of Bedford County), Pennsylvania (some 50 miles west of Chambersburg). Most of the records on Johannes state that he immigrated from Hesse Cassel, but are silent about his parents or the date of his immigration. It is also possible that he might have been born in New Jersey to his immigrant parents. It is not known just when he immigrated. For him to have been born in Germany, the immigration would have to have taken place after 1749. Per Beverly Hager (Mrs. Charles W. Hager), 4832 Wedgview Dr, Hurst, TX 76053: "Property records show that he was in Chambersburg and surroundings from 1783 to about 1794, after which he was in Somerset County." 4

John Hauger, husband of Maria Barbara Miller, purchased Lot 170 in Ben Chamber's Plan, on Queen St. in Chambersburg, Franklin Co, PA, from John Trees and wife Hannah, on April 19 1783, probably for a house or tailor shop, not a farm. He also purchased Lot 121 (location in Chambersburg not stated). He then purchased on Sept. 1 1784 for 200 pounds a large section of land in Hamilton Twp, Franklin Co, PA, from William and Isabel Cowan of Hamilton Twp. Shortly thereafter, on Nov. 18 1784, he purchased for 295 pounds a large section of land in Hamilton Twp, Franklin Co, PA, from William McClure. On March 31, 1785, he and Barbara sold Lot No. 170, on Queen St, Chambersburg, to George Clinghan of Chambersburg. On June 15 1785, for 100 pounds, John Hager purchased from Henry Sites 10 acres of land in Antrim Twp, Franklin Co, on the waters of Muddy Run. Another report from Mrs. A. Lepore states he purchased 300 acres of land on Muddy Run. John Hauger was shown on the Franklin County tax lists in Antrim Township for 1788 through 1794. It is noted that his brother Jonathan "Tavernkeeper" Hager b 1852 was in Franklin County at the same time, having gone there to learn the tavern keeping trade. History of Somerset County, Pennsylvania, (appx 1900), states that he purchased the old homestead "near Berlin now occupied by Mr. Bruce Hauger. This farm has been in the Hauger name ever since that time. John Hager was married to a lady named Barbara Miller. Her home and entire family were destroyed by the Indians, and herself and one brother held captives by the Indians for eight years, when they were finally exchanged in Philadelphia in return for an Indian chief held by the whites. Her brother liked the Indian life and returned to the Indians, but was never heard of again. Originally, the family settled in the eastern part of Pennsylvania ...... (Johannes) is the great-great grandfather of most of the Hagers in Somerset County today, (he) and his wife are buried in the old German Reformed Church burial ground in Berlin, PA." Although his name was spelled Hager in that book, his son Henry is buried on a farm near Beechdale, Somerset Co, and his name was spelled Hauger. Early Germans of New Jersey, shows the following addendum to the section on the Hager family of NJ, but doesn't tie the line in with the other NJ and MD Hagers: "John Hauger, b. 1749, d. 1813, Dec 6, m. Maria Barbara Miller, b. 1749, d. 1826, May 11; came from Hagerstown, MD to Somerset Co., PA, 1793 (then Bedford). His parents came from Prussia to Phil., then to Hagerstown, when he was 13 years of age. John's children were: John, m. Hannah Schultz; Daniel m. Susan Cramer; Simon m. Maggie Smith; Lizzie m. Michel Cober; Jacob, b. 1788, June 4, d. 1862, Sept 23, m. Elizabeth Knepper; Henry, m. first, Barbara Horner; second, Sarah Buckley; Joseph m. Susan Baker; William, m. Barbara Hay; Barbara, m. a Dunham." Was there a Jonathan, too? History of the Hauger Family, by D. S. Hager, MD, Chicago, has following notes: "John Hauger was born in Prussia in 1749. He married Maria Barbara Miller. He moved from NJ to Hagerstown, MD to be near relatives, and then to Bedford County (now Somerset), PA. Maria Barbara Miller was possibly from Berks County, PA. Her father was scalped and killed by the Indians [in about 1756, per Mrs. A. Lepore]. She and a brother were captured and held for 7-10 5

years. The brother went back to live with the Indians after their release. Their mother and a baby were also captured, and disappeared." From the New Jersey Archives - A John Hager (Hauger) served in the Revolution. He had a son, John Hager, b. Oct 22, 1772, and died in Somerset County, Pennsylvania May 3, 1836. (Elsewhere in the records, his dates are given as Oct 22, 1773-May 11, 1826. The 1836 date appears to be the accurate one.) Another source states that John Hager came from Antrim Twp, Franklin County, PA directly to Somerset County, Pennsylvania (Brothers Valley Township). He bought land in Franklin County between 1783 and 1792 from John Ferees, Wm. Cowan, and Henry Sites. In 1784-85, he sold land to Wm. McClure and Jacob Whitmer. These transactions were signed, "John and Barbara Hauger". John bought land in Somerset County Jan 4, 1794. Another source states that John Hager served as a soldier in Cpt. Ladick's Company in Berks County, PA militia, Oct 1 -Oct 17, 1781." He was shown on the tax list for Somerset Co, PA, in Brothers Valley Township, in 1796 and 1800. He settled on a farm at Beachdale about 3 miles east of Berlin, Somerset Co., PA. He was shown in the 1800 census in Somerset Co, with 1 male <10, 3 males >10 <15, 2 males >15 - <25, and 1 male >45; 1 female >45. None of his family is shown in the 1820 census in Somerset Co. There is a Hauger Family Cemetery in Brothers Valley Township; also called the Old Rodamer Farm Cemetery. There is another Hauger Burial Ground with 224 graves situated in Black Twp., Somerset Co, at the Hauger Church and next to a farm owned by Scott Snyder and occupied by Adam Snyder about 1/4 mile from Rockwood. His gravestone in the German Reformed Cemetery in Berlin, Brothers Valley Township, is inscribed "Hager", not "Hauger". There are several internet websites which deal with the Hauger family. These include: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~quick/index/ind2020 http://www.members.home.net/tarie2/hauger.htm. http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/h/a/u/Robert-A-Hauger/ http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=brobst http://genforum.genealogy.com/hauger/ There is a Hauger Family Reunion every year in Berlin, Brothers Valley Township, Berlin, Somerset County. The reunion is normally held on the last Saturday of June.

THE HAGER FAMILY NAME

Hager. Hauger. Haeger. Heger. They are all apparently the same German name. The original German name appears to have been either Haeger or Heger, depending on which report one reads, and depending on how one pronounces the name. In 1906, with the publication of A History of Washington County, Maryland, the name Heger was the one most associated with the American Hager families. Today, it seems more accepted that the German name was most likely Haeger. The Hauger name appeared in New Jersey with the immigration of Jacob and Anna Maria Hauger in the mid 1700s, but that name appears to be the same as the German Haeger. The names Hager and Hauger have now become quite interchangeable in the genealogical records. Many Hauger children became Hagers. When Jonathan Hauger moved from New Jersey to Hagerstown, he apparently changed his name, and his familys name, to Hager. When Johannes Hager (1749) moved to Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, about 1781, the name was once again Hauger. His gravestone in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, shows his name as Hager, and many of his descendants are known as Hagers. There is an annual Hauger family reunion in Somerset County.

WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?

In A History of Washington County, Maryland, 1906, by Thomas J. C. Williams, the name Heger is discussed. The Heger family is of old Saxon origin; the very name denotes its source and its antiquity. The Heger was one of the sworn and knowing freemen, called Vierherren, holding the Folkkmoete or Thing, which was legislature, divine-service, and court of justice combined. The mystic-square of the Thing, on which sat or stood the officers, was called Die Hegung, and one of the Vierherren, who had to look to it that no uninitiated person overstepped the boundaries of the square, was the Heger; afterwards, the representative of the Count or Graf, when holding coure, was called Heger. It appears most likely that the American Hager/Hauger families had their roots in the Nassau-Siegen area of Germany. Jonathan, the founder of Hagerstown (1719), had Siegen roots, and perhaps our Johannes (1749) and Jonathan (1752) did also. Hesse-Cassell is identified as the specific region. Comments that they came from Prussia appear to be incorrect; it has been asserted that Hesse-Cassell is not in Prussia.