Johan Martin Bash (abt. 1738 - abt. 1824)

Born about 1738 in Kurfürstentum Pfalz, Heiliges Römisches Reich

Descendants

Died about 27 Mar 1824 at about age 86 in Washington Township, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Martin Bash has German Roots.

NOTE : Martin should not be confused with Martin Bash of Maryland, whose wife was also named Catherine, but who does not appear to have spent time in Westmoreland.

Birth : Martin was born c.1738 in Germany.^[1][2]

Marriage and children : Martin's wife is named in an 1803 deed (Deed Book 7, p.66) as Catherine.^[2][1] No evidence has been located to confirm her LNAB. (See Research Notes for discussion.)

Martin and his wife were the parents of seven children, the first four of whom are believed to have been born in Lancaster and the others in Westmoreland :

1. John (1760-1852) m. Magdalena Lauffer ^[1][2]
2. Martin (1764-1845) m. Margaret Ackerman ^[1][2]
3. Jacob b.1768 m. Rachel [LNU] ^[2]
4. Henry b.c.1776 m. Charlotte [LNU] ^[2]
5. Barbara (1780-1859) m. George Smith ^[1][2]
6. Catherine (1783-1851) m. Adam Hartzel ^[1][2]
7. Michael (1788-1864) m. Elizabeth Dolvin ^[1][2]

Private Martin Bash served with Westmoreland County Militia, Pennsylvania Militia during the American Revolution.

Martin Bash is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A007159.

Martin served as a Ranger on the Frontier, under Captain James Clark Clark-25867, 1778-1783, and was living in Westmoreland County then.^[1][2][3][4]

He was taxed in Washington, Westmoreland, in 1798.^[5]

1790 : In Washington Twp, Westmoreland, PA : Martin Bash.^[6] Household includes :

2 males over age 16 (assumed to be Martin and 1 other male)

3 males under age 16 (assumed to be Henry, Michael and 1 other male)

5 females (assumed to be Catherine, Barbara, Catherine, and 2 other females)

1800 : In Washington Twp, Westmoreland, PA : Martin Bash.^[7] Household includes :

1 male aged over 45 (assumed to be Martin)

1 female aged over 45 (assumed to be wife Catherine)

1 female aged 16-25 (assumed to be daughter Catherine)

2 males aged 10-15 (assumed to be son Michael and another unknown)

He died intestate in Washington Twp, Westmoreland, in 1824.^[1][2] Newspaper notices of his death give that he died on 27 Mar 1824, drowning when his flat sank in the Kiskiminitas River.^[8] Letters of administration on his estate were granted on 29 Mar 1824 to John Bash and Adam Bowman.^[9][10]

Research Notes

Birth : Black gives Martin's birthdate as 1728-1738.^[2] This is presumably in order to accomodate the hypothesis that Martin may have been the man named in passenger lists in 1749 (see following) and would need to have been aged about 21 at that time, i.e. b.c.1728. If this were the case then it would mean that he married a woman 17 years younger than himself (Catherine can be assumed to have been born c.1745 since her youngest child was born c.1788), did not start a family until he was aged about 32, and died aged 96. It seems more likely that he was born c.1738, and was not the man who arrived in 1749.

Marriage : Martin's wife, Catharine, is sometimes identified as the daughter of Ulrich Schallenberger, whose daughter Catherine married Martin Bash; however that couple was living in Maryland in 1767, and no evidence is yet located to confirm that they moved to Westmoreland. Further research is needed.

An earlier version of the profile suggested that Martin may have married a daughter of the Stockberger family. Michael Stockberger, in his will made on 12 Feb 1800 (and proven on 1 July 1800), names one of his executors as Martin Bash Jr; Martin is to have first right of refusal on the purchase of Michael's plantation in Unity Twp (adjoining Martin's land, which had itself previously part of Michael's land), reserving two acres to be a burial ground in perpetuity. Michael's other executor is his brother Matthias, whose seven children are to share the proceeds of the sale of Michael's estate.^[11][12] The relationship between Michael and Martin Jr is unclear. However, since Martin is only offered the opportunity of purchasing the land and does not appear to have any claim to inheritance, this may have been simply a commercial transaction between neighbours.

Findagrave : An unsourced Findagrave entry ^[13] conflicts in numerous details with other sources, and should not be relied upon. Specifically, it gives that :

• Martin's full name was Johan Martin Bash, suggesting that he may have been the man named Johan Martin Busch who arrived in Pennsylvania aboard the Elliot on 24 Aug 1749.^[14] However, Martin Bash of this profile would have been aged just 11 years old in 1749, and would be unlikely to have been recorded by name on the passenger lists. (A search of records in Pennsylvania shows at least one man named Martin Busch living elsewhere in Pennsylvania in the 1750's.)
• Martin married Catharine (Katrina) Shallenberger (1745-1820), daughter of Ulrich Schallenberger & Maria Strickler. However, Catharine, daughter of Ulrich, was in Maryland with her husband in 1767 ^[15] and further research is needed to establish whether her husband was the same Martin who was living in Washington, Westmoreland in the 1770's.
• Martin died on 3 Apr 1749. This conflicts with the probate record which gives that he had died before 29 March of that year, and the newspaper notice which confirms his death date as 27 March.

Bash Cemetery : in Ligonier, Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania. GPS COORDINATES : Lat- N 40 14.472' Long- W 079 28.822' elev- 1072'. Cemetery lies on land originally owned by Michael Stockberger in late 1700's. General Overview Map of Bash Cemetery - General Cemetery Views - 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15. Cemetery is overgrown and neglected, and difficult to find. It is located in the middle of farm fields, along the side of a rural road. Directions to Cemetery :

1. From Greensburg, take Rt. 30 East.
2. Take Rt. 130/Pleasant-Unity Exit
3. Make right onto Rt. 130 East. Follow Rt. 130 East for 4.8 miles.
4. Make right onto SR 2017.
5. Cemetery is 0.4 miles on right. Look for cement steps on hillside.

Unrelated families : Black (p.94) ^[2] observes that three other Bash families in the area at the time are believed to be unrelated. These include :

• family of Rev. John Bash, a United Brethren minister who migrated from Baltimore, MD to Westmoreland, PA and from there to Stark, OH.
• family of Jacob Bash of Westmoreland, PA, whose son Jacob Jr moved to Grant Twp, Indiana County, PA
• family of Henry Bash of Westmoreland, PA who moved to Armstrong, PA

Possible conflation? : Some inconsistencies arise in this account of the immigrant Martin :

• His children's birth dates are spread over a period of 28 years, which is rather longer than would be expected for any one woman's child-bearing years. There is an 8-year gap between the three older and four younger children. Perhaps Martin married twice, or perhaps two families have been conflated into one.
• The 1790 and 1800 census listings do not line up with the reported family structure. Perhaps the inconsistencies arise from having children who died, or having other family members living with him.
• He does not appear on the 1820 census, living either in his own household, or any of his sons' households. Perhaps he was in one of his daughters' households.
• It's surprising that a man aged 86 or more would have been aboard a flat carrying cargo downriver, per the account of his death in 1824. Perhaps he was exceptionally healthy and active, or perhaps the death in 1824 was not associated with the immigrant Martin.
• He transferred land to his son Henry in 1803, reserving land for himself and his wife "near the river", which would suggest he was planning for his old age. And he would have been very old in 1824. And yet he died intestate. Again, perhaps the death in 1824 was not associated with the immigrant Martin.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8} Daughters of the American Revolution, Genealogy Research : Ancestor A007159, viewed at https://services.dar.org/public/dar_research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A007159, citing PA ARCH, 3RD SER, VOL 23, P 319; 5TH SER, VOL 4, P 735
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12} Black, Helen Jackson (1943) Hartzell & Allied Families of Bash Stauffer Worman & Shallenberger, pp.78-81. Wichita, KS : Author. Viewed at https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/758519 (images 173-179/324)
3. ↑ Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, Vol.23, p.310, viewed at https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/100128/?offset=&return=1#page=324&viewer=picture&o=&n=0&q= (image 324/834)
4. ↑ Pennsylvania Archives, Fifth Series, Vol.4, p.735, viewed at https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/188461/?offset=&return=1#page=737&viewer=picture&o=&n=0&q= (image 737/850)
5. ↑ United States Direct Tax of 1798: Tax Lists for the State of Pennsylvania. M372, microfilm, 24 rolls. NAID: 5121373. Records of the Internal Revenue Service, 1791-2006, Record Group 58. National Archives at Washington, D.C., viewed at https://www.ancestry.com.au/imageviewer/collections/2060/images/32643_B036834-00470
6. ↑ The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC; First Census of the United States, 1790.; Year: 1790; Census Place: Washington, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania; Series: M637; Roll: 9; Page: 68; Family History Library Film: 0568149, viewed at https://www.ancestry.com.au/imageviewer/collections/5058/images/4440871_00047
7. ↑ Second Census of the United States, 1800. NARA microfilm publication M32 (52 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. Second Census of the United States, 1800: Population Schedules, Washington County, Territory Northwest of the River Ohio; and Population Census, 1803: Washington County, Ohio. NARA microfilm publication M1804 (1 roll). Viewed at https://www.ancestry.com.au/imageviewer/collections/7590/images/4440908_00323
8. ↑ United States Gazette 13 Apr 1824, p.4, col.6, viewed at https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-united-states-gazette-death-of-marti/130324022/ : From the "Greensburg Penn. Republican April 2 ... On Saturday last, a flat sunk in the Kiskiminitas River, when Mr Martin Bash, a highly respectable citizen of Washington township, was drowned.
9. ↑ Westmoreland County (Pennsylvania). Register of Wills (Will Books, 1773-1917; Will Indexes 1773-1918), viewed at https://www.ancestry.com.au/imageviewer/collections/8802/images/005547050_00264
10. ↑ Lancaster Intelligencer 13 Apr 1824, p.3, col.2, viewed at https://www.newspapers.com/article/lancaster-intelligencer-martin-bash-drow/130488741/ : Greensburg, (Pa.) April 2. CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS. On Saturday last, Mr. Martin Bash, together with several others, started with a flat load of salt down the Kiskeminetas river. In descending the Big Falls, the flat was upset, and Mr. Bash was drowned.
11. ↑ Westmoreland County (Pennsylvania). Register of Wills (Will Books, 1773-1917; Will Indexes 1773-1918). Viewed at https://www.ancestry.com.au/imageviewer/collections/8802/images/005547050_00394 : Will of Michael Stockberger made 12 Feb 1800, proven 1 July 1800)
12. ↑ Fischer, Della Reagan. (1969). Wills & letters of administrations of Westmoreland County Court House, Greensburg, Pennsylvania, p.70. McKeesport, PA : np. Citing "Will Book 1 - 1773-1811 (Extracts) Westmoreland Co., Pa", viewed at https://www.ancestry.com.au/imageviewer/collections/25350/images/dvm_LocHist010193b-00098-0 (image 72/180)
13. ↑ UNSOURCED Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13483739/johan-martin-bash: accessed 19 August 2023), memorial page for Johan Martin “Martin” Bash Sr. (1738–3 Apr 1824), Find A Grave: Memorial #13483739, citing Bash-Somers Cemetery, Pleasant Unity, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, USA; Maintained by Jane C (contributor 46827933). Entry does not include burial details and is assumed to be virtual only. Links to family members are unsourced.
14. ↑ Pennsylvania Archives, Second Series, Vol.17 p.276, viewed at https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/85040/?offset=&return=1#page=277&viewer=picture&o=search&n=0&q=1749 (image 277/789)
15. ↑ Lancaster County Deed KK-686 (to 689) : Indenture dated 13 Mar 1767 signed by Jacob Shallenberger (of Manor Twp), John Witmer and Maria his wife (of Manor Twp), Martin Besh and Catharine his wife (of Maryland), Henry Neff (of Manor Twp, guardian of Magdalena, Peter and Mary Witmer, children of Peter Witmer and Magdalena Shallenberger, deceased ) and John Newcomer (of Hempfield Twp, joint guardian with Henry Neff of Henry, Barbara and Anna Shallenberger) - Jacob Shallenberger, Maria Witmer, Catharine Besh, Magdalena Shallenberger, Henry Shallenberger, Barbara Shallenberger and Anna Shallenberger being children of Ulrich Shallenberger, deceased, of Manor Twp. recites that Ulrick died intestate, in possession of a messuage, grist mill, saw mill, plantation and tract of land in Hempfield Twp, and his estate had been divided between his children and his widow, Maria, and that a minor son, Ulrick, had died unmarried. The estate had been appraised at 12,000 pounds. Ulrich's heirs acknowledge that they have received their portion of a 2/3 share of Ulrich's estate, leaving a 1/3 share in the hands of their brother, John, who is to use the proceeds to support Ulrich's widow, Maria.

See also :

• DAR patriot index (1966) pg.41

Acknowledgments

• Thank you to John Woolard for creating WikiTree profile Bash-74 through the import of JWtemp.GED on May 19, 2013. Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by John and others.