Descendants of Jacob Chrisman of
the Lower Palatinate, Germany

Palatinate of the Rhine (14th - 18th C.)

Generation #1

Jacob Chrisman

Jacob Chrisman was born 1696 near Worms in the Palatinate of the Rhine (Germany). Severe climate and the devastation by the French Army in the Rhineland during the War of Spanish Succession (1704-1805) forced tens of thousands of other ethnic German Protestants to flee. These Palatinates survived a journey down the Rhine River to Rotterdam and a voyage across the English Channel to a temporary haven south of London. [Palatinate Immigration]

Jacob has been reported having immigrated in the company of his parents, crossing the English Channel on 6/21/1709. However, the Board of Trade list of persons embarking from Rotterdam to England only shows Jacob's mother, Elizabeth, as "Head of Household" accompanied by six children. Did Jacob's father die en route to Rotterdam, or did his demise precipitate the family migration? 

Once in England, charities provided for what would now be described as displaced persons camps in and around southern London. Eventually, these immigrant Palatinates were shipped off as settlers to British possessions--Ireland, the Caribbean and America. And, Jacob, mother Elizabeth, and five sibling immigrated 6/14/1710 to Ulster Co NY aboard the Baltimore. Jacob, mother Elizabeth and one other sibling are found enumerated in both the 1710 and 1712 Palatinate Subsistence Ledger of New York. Note, the Krantz Family and the Chrisman Family sailed together to the New World.

Jacob migrated before 1728 to Philadelphia Co PA. Did he migrate in the company of Jost Hite, his future father-in-law, in 1714? In about 1728 in Philadelphia (now Montgomery) Co PA, Jacob married Magdelena Hite ch. 9/13/1713 Kingston, Ulster Co NY.

In the fall of 1731, Jacob and Magdelena and fifteen other families migrated in the company of Magdalena's father, Jost Hite, to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Although other ethnic German families had pioneered west of the Susquehanna River, this group of pioneers were the first to continue down what would come to be called the Great Wagon Road and are credited as the first white settlers west of the Blue Ridge.

Jacob and Magdelena settled in what would become Frederick Co VA. And in 1745, Jacob became a naturalized British citizen in Williamsburg, Virginia, where he stated he was a native of Worms, Palatinate of the Rhine. [Hite Migration Map]

Jacob and Magdelena lived the remainder of their lives along Opequon Creek near Winchester VA. Jacob wrote his will on 5/27/1772, mentioning four sons and his wife. Magdelena is believed to have died prior to 1777; as an additional document written by Jacob omitted Magdelena.

Jacob wrote his will in 8/1777 where he left all his property to his children and furniture to a wife named Mary. Some have taken from this document that Magdelena had died and Jacob later married a woman named Mary. Instead, I propose that his wife was actually Mary Magdelena, and she was known to the family as Mary.

Jacob died after 9/1777 in Frederick Co VA. Jacob and Madgelena are believed to be buried at the ruins of the original Lutheran Church in Winchester, Virginia.

Embarkation List from Holland (Fourth Party)
Embarked June 10 to June 19; Sailed June 21, 1709:

Name Age Wife Sons Daughters Church
Creuzin, Elizabeth

48

--

 16-13 19-17-11-8 Luth
1710 New York  #  Chrisman
Adult  1   Elizabeth Christmannin
under 10 2 Jacob
Unknown
Christman, Hanns
Christmannin, Elizabeth
1712 New York  #  Chrisman
Adult  3   Elizabeth     
Jacob
Unknown
under 10 0  
Baptismal Records of Rev. John Casper Stoever
BAUMANN, GEORGE (Opequon) [Frederick Co VA]
Baumann, John Jacob, b 12 02 1733; bap 05 16 1735, Spon. Jacob Christman
1745 Jacob Chrisman was fined 2000 pounds of tobacco for "operating a tippling house without a license."
2 Apr 1771 Jacob Chrisman and wife to William Goody.
Note: Last mention of Magdalena ("wife").
Will of Jacob Chrisman
Wife: Mary
Sons: Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Isaac
8 Aug 1777, recorded 7 Oct 1777: Jacob Chrisman to sons George Chrisman and Henry Chrisman. . ."Be it remembered (goods and property) was delivered by giving to the said George Christman and Henry Christman, one pewter dish in the name of the whole slaves, goods, chattels, etc. . .whatsoever in whose hands, custody or possession so ever they be within the Thirteen United States of America."
September 6, 1777, Will of Jacob Chrisman:
Written Sept. 6, 1777 and probated in Frederick Co., VA. . .names his children Jacob, Abraham, George, Henry, Elizabeth Broughton, Rebecca Scott, and granddaughter Mary Christman. Other legatees included son Isaac, sons of son John, namely George and Henry, and daughters Sarah Bailey and Mary Stephens."
. . .to my beloved wife Mary one feather bed and furniture to her and to her heirs and assigns forever.
April 4, 1804 Frederick County VA Court Record:
Probate for the estate of Jacob Chrisman totaled 1583 pounds, 19 shillings, 6 pence.
George Chrisman, Administrator.

    Children

Note: There was no stone church in the Winchester/Opequon area until 1764. Worship was conducted in log structures and/or family homes. The original church whose congregation would become Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church was destroyed by fire c. 1840. The ruins of the first church are found inside Mt. Hebron Cemetery, Winchester VA.

    1. Jacob Chrisman II b. c. 1729 Chester Co PA

    2. Joseph Chrisman

    3. Abraham Chrisman

Evangelical Lutheran Church at Opequon, Frederick Co VA:
Rev. John Casper Stoever
DOB: 10/15/1733 CH: 5/16/1735
Parents Child Sponsors
Jacob Chrisman Abraham John Heydt

    4. Sarah Chrisman

Evangelical Lutheran Church at Opequon, Frederick Co VA:
Rev. John Casper Stoever
DOB: 9/23/1734 CH: 5/16/1735
Parents Child Sponsors
Jacob Chrisman Sarah Maria Baumennin

    5. Anna Maria Chrisman

Evangelical Lutheran Church at Opequon, Frederick Co VA:
Rev. John Casper Stoever
DOB: 9/29/1735 CH: 5/2/1736
Parents Child Sponsors
Jacob Chrisman Sarah Magdelena Chrisman

    6. Isaac Chrisman (Ancestor of Lois Drummer & Tim McGraw)

Evangelical Lutheran Church at Opequon, Frederick Co VA:
Rev. John Casper Stoever
DOB: 11/9/1736 CH: 6/5/1737
Parents Child Sponsors
Jacob Chrisman Isaac

John Jost Heydt his son Isaac & his wife Anna Maria
Lost River, the most easterly of the Cacapon tributaries, in what is now Hampshire County, West Virginia:
On August 8, 1769, [Isaac Chrisman d. 1766] sold 36 acres to Joseph Claypool and 350 acres to Abraham Fry, apparently preparatory to moving 300 miles south, for the next year, 1770, finds him listed as a tithable on the clinch River
Tithables On Clinch River 1772
From Botetourt County Records:
Chrisman, Isaac - 1
Isaac Crissman entered 225 acres of land on both sides of Cove Creek in Fincastle Co., VA, February 28, 1774.
FRONTIER FORTS, HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF  SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA, PUBLICATION 4 - 1968:
At the Glade Hollow Fort - 29 August to 6 November, 1774
Isaac Chrisman (killed by Indians Rye Cove 1776)
The estate of Isaac Crissman was administered at the first court held for Washington County on January 28, 1777, by Archibald Cox, with John Kinkaid, Abraham McClellan, John Anderson and John Snoddy as securities, and the appraisers of the estate were: John Kinkaid, Sr., James Wharton, John Dunkin and Samuel Porter.

    7. Johannes Chrisman

Evangelical Lutheran Church at Opequon, Frederick Co VA:
Rev. John Casper Stoever
DOB: 3/9/1739 CH: 4/29/1739
Parents Child Sponsors
Jacob Chrisman Johannes

Jno Heydt and Sara

    8. Rebecca Chrisman b. c. 1741 Frederick Co VA

    9. Henry Chrisman

8 Aug 1777, recorded 7 Oct 1777: Jacob Chrisman to sons George Chrisman and Henry Chrisman, grant of property, slaves, ready money and personal estate.

    10. George Chrisman

8 Aug 1777, recorded 7 Oct 1777: Jacob Chrisman to sons George Chrisman and Henry Chrisman, grant of property, slaves, ready money and personal estate.

    11. Magdelena Chrisman

Generation #2

Caveat
This site is provided for reference only. Except where specifically cited, information contained is conjecture and should not be considered as fact.
Home Index About Me