Michael See (bef. 1727 - 1795)

Born before 27 Mar 1727 in Tulpehocken Creek, Chester, Pennsylvania

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 3 Jul 1795 after age 68 in Hardy, Bedford, Virginia, USA

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Sara Patton [send private message], Gail Williams [send private message], and Dee Christophel D'Errico [send private message]

Biography

Due to the confusion by some early 20th century genealogists, Michael See has been mistakenly called Michael Adam or Adam Michael See or even Frederick Michael, which combines the names of two brothers--Frederick of Greenbrier and Michael of Hardy counties. All official records in Hardy County, WV, where Michael lived throughout his adult life, show him as Michael See. He did have a son named Adam Ib. 1764) who became a well-known lawyer and VA state legislator. The confusion was first started by TJJ See who compiled a See genealogy in 1913. Unfortunately, TJJ did little to document his work and came up with an entirely different origin story on the two brothers, stating they came from Silesia in 1733. He totally ignores the records showing that their father and grandfather came to America as early as 1710. Unfortunately a critical analysis of his assertions and assumptions reveal numerous errors when compared to documentary evidence. Michael See and his wife Barbara or Barbary appear in numerous county records in Augusta, Hampshire, and Hardy counties in Virginia and West Virginia. In these records, Michael is always referred to as Michael and never as Adam. Nor have any documents come to light that refer to him as Michael Adam. Helen Yoakum Black, who apparently was familiar with many of her Yoakum and Harness relatives also called him Michael. ^[1] Sadly many later genealogists and even some published histories used TJJ assumptions without checking records and continued to perpetuate the same misinformation.

Michael See was the son of Johann Georg and Margaret ZEH/See. His exact birthdate has not been documented though it is usually given as 1726/27 when the Zeh family was living in the Swatara region of today's Lebanon Co, PA near today's Myerstown, PA, on the border with Berks Co. Until 1752, this entire area was part of Lancaster Co., PA.  If he was born earlier than 1725, he was born in Schoharie, NY where the Zehs were then living.

The Zeh (aka SEE) family moved to the South Branch Valley of the Potomac in today's Hardy and Grant counties, WV (then part of Augusta Co, VA then Hampshire Co, VA) around 1747-48 when his father and brother Frederick appear on South Branch tax lists.

Michael married Barbara HARNESS about 1750. Their fathers, George Zeh/See and Michael Ernst/Harness are listed as land holders in the same neighborhood of Tulpehocken-Swatara region of Pennsylvania from 1725-1740s and again as close neighbors in the South Branch Valley west of Moorefield WV. So Michael and Barbara may have known each other in Pennsylvania. There is no documentation for their marriage but Barbara's father, Michael Ernst (aka Harness) names her in his 1779 will as his beloved daughter, "Barbara Zee."^[2]

The first mention of Michael See as a land holder comes in the Fairfax Rental rolls where he is identified as leasing 216 acres on Lot #40 of the South Branch Manor.  Brothers Frederick and George See are signatories to the transaction. Although no date is given, the dates for transactions on nearby manor lands are 1748 and 1749, and several other names listed are known to be dead by1751, so it is assumed that this is about the time the South Branch Manor was settled and about the same time Michael got married and wanted his own land. While there is no contemporary map to show the location of Michael’s land, lot numbers can be compared with other known landmarks to get the location. Anthony Baker (of Baker Rocks) was on Lot 46, and several Harness sons were on Lot 49& 48.  Knowing that the Baker and Harness family lived southwest of Fisher, WV, we can assume that Michael's land was close by -- near where the golf course is today. 

There are many entries for Michael and Barbara See in early Deed Books. The description of one piece of land they bought in 1787 states that the land was located along the South Branch River, at the foot of the mountain and near a ridge line including a portion of an island in the middle of the river.  According to the inventory of Michael’s estate, he had at least 15 acres planted in corn, including “five acres on the Island.” ^[3]   Michael’s father died in the summer of 1751, leaving no will but a fairly substantial inventory of some value. Brother Frederick, the eldest son, was made the administrator of their father's will. Michael’s mother Margaret died in 1757-58, some seven years later leaving a will that named her children, including “Michel”. 

Because neither Michael nor Barbara left wills with the names of their children, putting together the list of their children has been challenging. There are many charts with differing names and dates, all without documentation based on memories of various great grandchildren. Probably the most accurate is a list from Peter H. See, a grandson of Adam See, the son of Michael and Barbara.  Peter wrote: My great grandfather Michael See had three sons and seven daughters: Adam, George who married Cathrine (sic) Seymour and Michael.  The eldest daughter Polly (Mary) married a Mr. (John Robert) Shanklin, the second daughter (Hannah) married a Mr. (Felix) Renick ; the third, Christine married Wm. Seymour, the fourth, Barbara married Mr. (John) Pancake, The fifth, Betty (Elizabeth), married Isaac Miller, thesixth, Katy (Catherine), married Leonard Stump, the seventh, Dolly (Dorothy),married twice, first to Thompson 2nd to McKinley Adams (or Adam McKinley)...."  The most UNRELIABLE list comes from Thomas Jefferson Jackson See who got the generations all mixed up. Unfortunately, his material was used in a couple of published local histories like the History of Randolph Co. WV and Montgomery Co, MO, and by Irene See Brasel, thus perpetuating mistaken information.

The 11 children of Michael and Barbara See are: Mary"Polly"     (md John Robert Shanklin) George    (md Catherine Seymour) Catherine"Kate"    (md Leonard Stump Sr.) Elizabeth"Betty" (md. Isaac Millar/Miller) Christina   (md Wm James Seymour, Adam Fisher?) Adam     (md Margaret Warwick)-lawyer and VA State legislator during War of 1812) Barbara    (md Capt John Pancake) Charles    (said to have been kicked by horse and died age 9) Hannah    (md Felix Renick)  Dorothy"Dolly" (md Thomas Thompson) Michael Jr. (md Kitty Baker)

In spite of the danger from Indian attack during the French and Indian War (1754-63) and Pontiac’s War (1763-66), both of which hit settlements on the Virginia frontier particularly hard, the family remained in the South Branch Valley. Two of Michael’s brothers, John and Frederick, both living in the Greenbrier region, were killed by Indians.  In 1765-66.  Michael and Barbara took in 2 of his nephews after their father, Frederick See, was killed by Indians and the children taken captive. ^[4] Some family stories state that Michael paid a ransom for the return of the children though no evidence can be found to support this.

In the fall of 1790, Michael and Barbara sold the 90 acres to their son Adam for £100 current Virginia money.  Adam, in turn, sold the same land to his brother George, for 5 shillings in February 1795.  On the same day, February 11,1795, Michael also sold land to George, who turned around and leased the land back to Michael for the yearly rent of “one pepercorn” for the rest of his natural life.  Four days later, Michael sold George 216 acres for 5 shillings — land which Michael was granted by lease from Fairfax in 1773. Apparently these Hardy County land transactions occurred just prior to or just after sons Adam and Michael Jr. moved to Randolph County and just before George and father Michael were killed by lightning the summer of 1795.

Most family histories give date of Michael's death as July 1795 stating that he, son George and one of the family slaves, were killed by lightning while gathering hay. ^[5] This "death by lightning" story has been handed down to numerous great grandchildren. Hardy Co land and estate records show Michael and son George both alive Feb 1795 but both dead by 1796.   Some family histories claim that Michael and George were living in Lost City, Hardy Co, when they were killed but land documents show that they were living on the South Branch just west of Moorefield. It seems unlikely they would move there after a lifetime on the South Branch River.   Michael was in his 60s when he died. While he left no will, he did leave a fairly valuable estate including numerous horses, cows, hogs, and sheep, in addition to his land, household goods, farm equipment and 3 slaves. The estate sale brought in some £746.19.0, a sizeable amount. Barbara, his widow, received her legal one-third share.^[6]   It is probable that both Michael and son George were buried on the See farm on the South Branch of the Potomac, as was most common in an area with few cemeteries.  

Sources

1. ↑ Helen Yoakum Black Letters, http://www.wvgenweb.org/hardy/hyblack.htm
2. ↑ Michael Ernest (Harness) will. Original recording at Hampshire Co, WV courthouse (Romney, WV), Bk. 2:110-12 dated 1779, proved March 1785.
3. ↑ Reference: Northern Neck Surveys No. 1, 1786-1789, p. 154; Northern Neck Grants S, 1780-1788, p.197-198, images online at Library of Virginia (http://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/wv/index.htm)]  and Augusta Co, VA Survey Records, Hardy Co, WV Deed Books. Fairfax Rental Rolls, WV Archives by Morrison, Chas.  “Early Fairfax Land Grants and Leases along the South Branch of the Potomac” WVA History V38:#1: 1-22 Oct    1976
4. ↑ The American Pioneer”, V1:73-80. 1842 "A TRIP TO THE WEST" by Felix Renick
5. ↑ Helen Yoakum Black Letters http://www.wvgenweb.org/hardy/hyblack.htm
6. ↑ Hardy Co. Wills 1:125-26, Hardy Co Will Bk 1:153-54, Mss 79-198.18 Michael See Mss. WV Archives. 

Will of Margaret See, written 28 Mar 1757, letters of administration 14 Feb 1758.

Tulpehoken Pennsylvania Christening Record.

Helen Yoakum Black Letters http://www.wvgenweb.org/hardy/hyblack.htm

1782 Hampshire County Tax List of Abel Randall, Michael See with 9 in family.

The 1787 Census of Virginia, Vol. 2 compiled by Netti Schreiner-Yantis and Florene Speakman Love, Genealogical Books in Print, Springfield, Virginia, p. 822:

See, Michael (self) and: Number of white males above 16 & under 21-0 Blacks above 16 - 1 Blacks under 16 - 0 Horses, mares, colts,&mules-16 Cattle - 47 .