Hans Kneisley (abt. 1690 - 1757)

Born about 1690 in Province of Alsace

Ancestors

Husband of Magdalena (Unknown) Kneisley — married [date unknown] in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died 1757 at about age 67 in Hempfield Township, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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Biography

John Kneisley is of Swiss descent

Birth and Parents

Hans Kneisly, son of Anthony and Magdalena, was born about 1690, probably in the Province of Alsace. The common belief is that he was born in Bern, Switzerland, but this is unlikely. The Taufrodel (baptism register) of Eggiwil confirms no record of his baptism in 1690, so it is believed that his parents already had emigrated from Eggiwil to the Province of Alsace sometime about 1671 and settled there.

Richard Warren Davis, in his hypothetical "census" of 1709 records Hans, aged 19, with his parents and siblings in the Province of Alsace. However, this census did not exist and can not be relied upon as a source.^[1]

Migration

Hans Kneisley, his parents and his siblings left the Province of Alsace and joined the Mennonite families to follow the Rhine River to Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, then by ship to a British port, London, and then by a British ship to Philadelphia in America. This was the typical route of travel for Swiss and German immigrants to America during the early 1700s.

Life in Lancaster County

His parents and siblings emigrated by ship from London to Philadelphia and settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in 1717.

John Knisely settled on the north side of the Lancaster and Marietta turnpike, about a mile east of "Silver Spring," in 1718.^[2]

He died in the year 1758, and left eleven children, viz.: Michael (who moved to Cocalico), Ann (Folwell), Mary (Mumma), Anthony, John, Abraham, Maria (Beaver), Beverly (Harnish), Christian, Peter, and Joseph.

Marriage

DISPROVEN:

• Hans "John" Kneisley of Hempfield Township was not the husband of Mary Siegrist/Secrist.

The book, Kneisley Genealogy, was printed in 1932, and it did not mention Mary Secrist on pages 11 thru 13. It implied John Kneisly of Hempfield Township married an unknown first wife and married a second wife, Christina.

Somehow, our research has inherited this common belief that Mary Secrist married Hans "John" Kneisley of Hempfield Township.

There is no source or evidence to prove that Hans "John" Kneisley of Hempfield Township married Mary Secrist. Examining the probate records, historical records, genealocial books, and the genealogical card files from Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society has clarified that there were two different men of similar name in Lancaster County. One man named Hans "John" Nissley (1707 - 1789) of Donegal Township who married Mary Siegrist. Another man named Hans "John" Kneisley (1690 - 1757) who married an unknown first wife and married a second wife, Christina. It is clear that Hans "John" Nissley is not identical to Hans "John" Kneisley. It is the result of conflation, misattribution, and misinterpretion.

Unfortunately, our research has inherited this erroneous common belief, and it is copied in numerous public and private family tree onlines.

Finally, at Nissley Farm Cemetery in Elizabethtown, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, there is a memorial plaque that made a clarification on Mary Siegrist's relationship to her husband and her parents. It says she married Hans "John" Nissley, who died in 1789 and was the daughter of Michael and Anna Siegrist. They were of Donegal Township in Lancaster County.

Mary Secrist was previously and erroneously attached to Hans "John" Kneisley of Hempfield Township (1690 - 1757) and has been now disattached from him. She is now attached to Hans "John" Nissley of Donegal Township (1707 - 1789).

PROVEN:

• Hans "John" Kneisley of Hempfield Township married first, an unknown woman, perhaps identified as Magdalena.

The book, Kneisley Genealogy, was printed in 1932. It implied John Kneisly of Hempfield Township married an unknown first wife. Her parentage is unknown.

The identity of his first wife is unknown. However, perhaps, there is a curiosity to look at the genealogical card file from Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society. It says he married Magdalena and had eleven children, and it identifies just five children, which is consistent with the deed record of 1775. It is possible that his first wife is identified as Magdalena.^[3]

His first wife died before he married his second wife, Christina.

PROVEN:

• Hans "John" Kneisley of Hempfield Township married second, Christina.

Her parentage is unknown.

His wife, Christina, is once mentioned in his will in 1757 and is referenced as the mother of his three minor children.

The evidence is that John's will indicates Christina was the mother of three minor children, so it implies that other eight older children were his first wife's, and the deed of 1775 confirms this.

In conclusion, Hans "John" Kneisley of Hempfield Township did marry twice.

Children

John Kneisly and his first wife had four daughters and four sons as follows:

1. Magdalena or Margaret Kneisely was born about 1720 in Pennsylvania. She died in 1775. She married John MUMMA.
2. Barbara or Beverly Kneisely was born about 1721 and died in 1775. She married John HARNISH.
3. Michael Kneisely was born on February 17, 1723, in Pennsylvania. He died on July 2, 1793, in Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He married Anna UNKNOWN.
4. Anna Kneisely was born about 1724. She died in 1775, probably in York County, Pennsylvania. She married John FOLWELL.
5. Anthony Kneisly was born on March 7, 1728, in Pennsylvania. He died on March 19, 1801, in York County, Pennsylvania. He married Mary Ann DAUGHERTY.
6. Johannes Hans Knisley was born about 1730 in Pennsylvania and died 28 May 1787 in York County, Pennsylvania.
7. Mary or Maria Kneisely was born about 1731 in Pennsylvania. She lived in 1775 in Virginia. She married Conrad BEAVER.
8. Abraham Kneisely was born about 1734 in Pennsylvania. He died in about 1764 in York County, Pennsylvania. He married Mary HOW.

The deed of 1775 proves that John Kneisley and his second wife, Christina, had three sons as follows:

1. Christian Kneisley was born sometime between 1736 and 1757.
2. Joseph Kneisley was born sometime between 1736 and 1757 and died young in 1761.
3. Peter Kneisley was born sometime about 1754. (Peter arrived at the age of 21 years in 1775.)

Property

John Kneisly settled near Silver Spring, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in 1718.^[4]

Warrant was issued on 21 February 1734 to Hans Nisely, for a tract of 234 acres in East Hempfield, and was returned on 23 February 1760. It was patented on the same date to Christian Oberholtzer, who had purchased from Nisely's heirs.^[5][6][7] The Copied Survey Book C-179 on page 64 says, "In pursuance of a warrant from the Proprietaries dated the 21st day of February 1734. Survey'd. to Hans Niseley on the 20th day of November then next ensuing. The above described tract of Land Situate on a branch of Little Conostogoe Creek in the County of Lancaster, containing two hundred and thirty acres and the usual allowance for Roads.^[6][8]

Hans Kneisly took out a warrant for 100 acres in East Hempfield on September 4, 1745. It was surveyed on May 1, 1761. It was returned on January 1, 1862, and was patented to Christian Overholtzer for 187 acres.^[8][9] The Copied Survey Book C-107 on page 102 says, "A Draught of Christian Overholtzers Lands (in right of Hans Nisly) Situate in Hempfield Township Lancaster County containing One Hundred and Eeight Seven Acres (and a Quarter crossed out) with allowce of six p. ct. By Virtue of the Honble the Proprietaries Warrant Dated the Fourth Day of September 1745. Survey'd this 1st Day of May 1761. p. Bartrem Galbraith. To Niche Scull Esqr. Surve Genll."^[10]

Deed

In a release of heirs of John Kneisly on 26 June 1773, they sell his land in Hempfield Township to Jacob Neff. John Kneisly had, at his death, 200 acres which was part of a tract of 234 acres surveyed to him by the Land Office under date of 21 February 1734.^[11]

The indenture was made to deed two parts, the first part to the eleven heirs of John Kneisley, deceased, of Hempfield Township and the second part to Jacob Neff on 4 March 1775 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.^[12]

Death

Hans Kneisly of Hempfield Township died sometime after he signed his will on 15 June 1757 and sometime before 30 July 1757 when his will was entered for probate record in Lancaster County courthouse.

Probate Records

John Knissly of Hempfield Township, Lancaster County, signed his will on June 15, 1757 and his will was proved at Lancaster County courthouse on July 30, 1757.^[13]

Will of John Knissly, June 15, 1757

John Knissly Deceased}
In the Name of God Amen I John Knissly of Hempfield Township in the County of Lancaster Yeaman being sik and weake of Body, but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God therefor calling unto mind the mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to dye: to make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, That is to say principaly and first of all I recomand my Soul into the hands of God that gave it; and for my Body I recomand to the Earth to be buried in a Christian like and decent manner; at the Discration of my Executors nothing doubting. But at the generall ressurection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God, and as Toughing such worldly Estate wherewith it has pleassed God to bless me in this Life, I Give Devise and Dispose of the same in the following manner and form, Imprimis It is my Will and I do Order that in the first place and my just Debts and Funerall Charges shall be paid and satisfied. Item I give and bequeatch unto my beloved Wife Christina the Sum of one Hundred Pounds to be paid to her by my Executors after my youngest Son is of the Age of twenty one years. Item I Will that my said Wife Christina shall have the Use of my half plandation and the Buildings thereon erected and build durring the Term dill my youngest Son is of Age as aforsd. Item I Will that my said Wife shall raise up my three youngest Childrens upon that place and to learn them read and write. Item I Give and bequeath unto my said Wife one Mare with Sadle and Bridle being the old Baall face Mare together with all singular the Goods and Chattles which she braught to me. Item It is my Will that the other halfe part of my Plandation shall be rented out by my Executors, till my youngest Childrens of the Age of twenty one year; But in case if my Executors should think proper or nessessary to sell any part of my said Land, Then I do hereby Impower my Executors to sell and Dispose of the same as much as they thinks Nessasary the remainder to be keep save for my Childrens. Item I will that this my Plandation and Tract of Land shall be Equally Devided in two parts in Medow orched Woodland as Equally as cane be done, and whereas I had befor Give and Granted unto my Son Michael Knissly and Son in Law Conrad Bever a certain Tract of Land adjoining to this my Land whereon I now live, and if said Tract should not be the Quantity of Two hundred Acers. Then I will that as much be taken of this my Land whereon I now live and Messured to the other pice till it is Two Hundred Acres. Item it is my Will That this my Land after my youngest Son is of Age shall be equally devided in two equall parts, and praissed by my Executors or other deferant and sincipal mens. Item it is my Will that all my Estate shall be Equally devided among all my Childrens in share and share alike. Item I Nominate macke and appoint my beloved Son Michael Knissly and my Brother George Knissly and Jacob Myer Executors to this my last Will and Testament and I do hereby utterly Disallow revoke and Disannul all and every other former Wills Lagacies and Executors, by me at any time before this time named willed and bequeatch Ratifying and Confirming this and no others, to be my last Will & Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the fifteenth Day of June Anno Domini 1757. Jans Knissly {L:S:}

Signed Seal Published pronounced and declared by the Testator as his last Will and Testament in the presents of us.
Abra: Myer, David Miller, Christian Muller.

Lancaster County Ss. July the 30th 1757 Before me the Subscriber came Abraham Myer, David Miller & Christina Miller the Witnesses to the above written Will & on their Solemn Affirmations did declare and say that they were present & saw & heard Hans Kneisly the Testator above named Sign Seal publish pronounce & declare the above writing as and for his last Will and Testament and taht at the doing thereof he was of sound & disposing Mind Memory Understanding to the best of their knowledge observation & Belief
Edwd Shippen DRr.

N:B: to the above Will is annexed a Writing in the German Language whereon is wrote as follows.

Lancaster Coty. Ss. July the 30th 1757 Before me the Subscriber came Juliana Housennaught and Jacob Shivitaker who on their Affirmation s to be a Codicil to his Will.
Edwd. Shippen DRr.

Examined with the original} & Edwd Shippen Deputy Register:

Be it Remembered that on the 30th: day of July 1757 The last Will and Testament of Hans Knissly deceased was proved in due form of Law and Probate and Letters Testamentary were granted unto Michael Knissly, George Knissly and Jacob Myer the Executors in the said Testament named they being first duly Qualified will and truly to Administer the said Decedants Estate and to bring an Inventory thereof into the Registers Office at Lancaster on or before the 30th: day of August next And also to render a true & just Account of their said Administration when thereto lawfully required.
Given under Seal of the said Office & me Edwd. Shippen Deputy Register

Abstract of Will

John Knissly, Hempfield Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
Signed June 15, 1757. Proved July 30, 1757.
Wife: Christina Knissly.
Children: Michael Knissly (names and number not given).
Son-in-law: Conrad Bever.
Brother: George Knissly
Executors: Jacob Myer, Michael Knissly (son), and George Knissly (brother).
Witnesses: Abraham Myer, David Miller, and Christina Miller.

Research Notes

This information was obtained from a book written by E. Herman Shelley, titled Genealogical Notes on the Shelly-Shelley Family, dated March 6, 1955, and it was located at the Lancaster County Historical Society under the card catalog #929,S545. This copy of the book is in my possession. The following was recorded: death, marriage, children, and tax list. Mary Kneisley was the daughter of Anthony and Magdalina Kneisley. Mary Kneisley, who died in 1733, appeared on tax lists for Conestoga Township in 1724 - 1725. In addition to Mary, Anthony Kneisley was survived by the following: 1. Elizabeth Kneisley, the wife of Andrew Kauffman. 2. Barbara Kneisley, the wife of Michael MIller. 3. Christina Kneisley, the wife of Christian Holdeman. 4. Anna Kneisley, the wife of Jacob Jacobs. 5. Sybilla Kneisley, the wife of Joseph Galladay. 6. Hans Kneisley. 7. George Kneisley. 8. Anthony Kneisley. This material was referenced from the Kauffman Family History on page 512.

Descendants of Konrad Nusli

Date: May 5, 1997. Page: 1. Source: Family Tree On Line.

Information found:

Descendants of Konrad Nusli, Page 1 of 7

(1) Konrad Nusli b: in Zell, Zurich, Switzerland

+Dorothea Bolsterli

(2) Hans Jacob Nusli 1596 - b: May 10, 1596 in Zell, Zurich, Switzerland

+Anna Mullhaupt

(3) Hans Knussli 1624 - b: October 11, 1624 in Zell, Zurich, Switzerland

+Elsbeth Muller b: in Swtizerland

(4) Antonius Kneussel 1657 - 1733 b: September 20, 1657 in Eggiwil, Bern, Switzerland d: May 14, 1733 in Hempfield, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

+Magdalena Abt 1665 - b: Abt 1665 in Switzerland

(5) 1. Christina Kneisley 1681 - 1758 b: 1681 d: August 1758 in Luray, Virginia

+Christian Haldiman - 1758 d: 1758 in Luray, Virginia

(5) 2. Hans Kneisley 1682 - 1757 b: 1682 d: 1757

(5) 3. Anna Kneisley Abt 1688 - 1758 b: Abt 1688 d: June 24, 1758

+Jacob Jacobs

+2nd Husband of Anna Kneisley: Michael Kaufman - 1717 d: 1717

(5) 4. Mary Kneisly 1689 - b: 1689 in Switzerland (?) d: in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

+Jacob Shelley Abt 1690 - 1752 b: Abt 1690 d: 1752 in Hempfield Twp, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Sources

1. ↑ Davis, Richard Warren (1995) Emigrants, Refugees and Prisoners. NOTE : The "1709 census" did not exist but was created by Davis in an attempt to reconcile hypothesised family groupings. Davis explicitly comments that : "There is no such census that exists for the year 1709 for Mennonites in the Pfalz, but I have endeavoured to reconstruct a census for that year" and warns that "some of the placements are speculative as are some of the ages of those listed."
2. ↑ Ellis, Franklin, and Evans, Samuel. History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania: With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men. United States, Everts & Peck, 1883, p. 877.
3. ↑ Genealogical Card File. Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society. Ancestry.com. Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S., Mennonite Vital Records, 1750-2014 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/405023:60592. It says with later added handwriting in italics as follows:

   
   Nissley, ("Knysly"/Kneissley), John - 1758
   Hempfield Twp., Lanc. Co., Pa.
   s
   m Magdalena
   dau. 11 children
   • Michael
   m Barbara
   •
   Lanc. Boro m John Mumer/Mummert,
   • Anna
   m Follweil/Follwill
   • Peter
   • Christian
   • Joseph - (died by 1761)
   •
   •
   •
   •
   •

   
   
4. ↑ Ellis, Franklin, and Samuel Evans. History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania: With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men. Philadelphia: Everts & Peck, 1883. Print, p. 877.
5. ↑ Lancaster County Patent Book "AA", Vol. 1, p 62.<http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r17-88WarrantRegisters/LancasterPages/Lancaster159.pdf>
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Lancaster County Copied Survey Book C-179, p. 64.<http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r17-114CopiedSurveyBooks/Books%20C1-C234/Book%20C179/Book%20C-179%20pg%20127.pdf>
7. ↑ “Patent Index, A and AA Series, 1684-1781. (1 Volume) {Series #17.147} (Microfilm Roll #LO 1.16).” Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Pennsylvania State Archives, <http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r17PatentIndexes/A-AAPatentIndex167.pdf>
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. (http://www.phmc.pa.gov). RG-17, Records of the Land Office, Warrantee Township Maps {series #17.522} Lancaster County, East Hempfield.<http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r17-522WarranteeTwpMaps/r017Map2822LancasterEastHempfieldWeb.pdf>.
9. ↑ Pennsylvania Archives, 3rd Ser. Vol. XXIV, p. 450.
10. ↑ Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Pennsylvania State Archive, RG-17, Records of the Land Office, Coped Survey Book C-107, p. 102. <http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r17-114CopiedSurveyBooks/Books%20C1-C234/Book%20C107/Book%20C-107%20pg%20203.pdf>.
11. ↑ Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book Y, pp. 152-157.
12. ↑ Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book Y, pp. 158-166.
13. ↑ Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994, images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-899B-V8J7?cc=1999196&wc=9PM8-4WY%3A268493801%2C268514701 : 3 July 2014), Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, "Wills 1730-1773", Vol. B, p. 169 - 170; Lancaster County courthouse, Pennsylvania.

See also :

• Kneisly, Harry Loren. Kneisly Genealogy. Mt. Penn, Reading, Pennsylvania: Author. 1932, pp. 11, 12, 13.
• Beaver, I M. History and Genealogy of the Bieber, Beaver, Biever, Beeber Family. Reading, Pa: I.M. Beaver, 1939. Print.