Zeigler, John (b. ABT 1752, d. ABT 1819)

Note: John "Duddy" Zeigler was the first deacon in the Union Church in Berlin, PA, which he helped to establish in 1777. In 1796 Stonycreek tax list, he was listed with 297 acres, of which 35 was cleared, three horses, 6 cattle, and a house. His name also appears on the 1793 tax list.

John obtained a land warrant of 295 1/2 acres in Stonycreek township, Somerset County, PA. It was surveyed Nov. 29, 1786.
In 1796 Stonycreek tax list, he was listed with 297 acres, of which 35 was cleared, three horses, 6 cattle, and a house.

William Zeigler (wzeigler@@home.com) writes on 4/7/1999:

As far as the Revolutionary War record, I have looked up the PA Archives and found information on John Zeigler. It says that he served with Capt. Robert Samuel's Company in the Kishacauquillis Valley in 1782. It lists him as a member of the Cumberland Co. Continental Line. See series 5, volume 4, page 643 and series 5, volume 6, pages 574 and 648. I also received a military abstract card from the PA Historical and Museum Commission that lists his service from 28 Apr to 28 Jun 1782, 8th Battalion, with Capt. Robert Samuels.


Feb. 1976 Laurel Messenger Article:
"Old Duddy," the Coat Which Belonged to a Ghost

Grandpa Blattenbcrger's house in Springhope, Bedford Co., was an in-
teresting place for a child to visit -especially Grandpa's attic. Like many
Pennsylvania attics, it was stuffed with an odd assortment of relics
handed down from long-forgotten ancestors. The house had been built
by his wife's father, Henry Zeigler, shortly after he had married Susan
Keller and moved down to Bedford County, way back in the 1850's.
Henry, who had a terrible fear of lightening had built one tiny room
into the house with no windows, where he would go and stay during
a storm. He had never known his father, Jacob Zeigler (1782-1824), who
drowned at Meyersdale 2 months before Henry was born, but he DID
have a black coat that had belonged to his grandfather, John "Duddy"
Zeigler. This coat and other personal items had been carefully handed
down and kept for sentimental reasons.

Henry's mother, Polly Hess Zeigler, had made her home with them and
died there, leaving more items to be carefully stored away in the attic.
My grandfather Blattenberger moved into the house around 1900, when his
wife's mother became too old to live alone any longer. Since Grandpa
had 11 children, it's no wonder that everyone in Springhope called the
elderly lady "Grandma". Even today, some old-timers talk about "Grand-
ma Zeigler" and her psychic powers. There were also many old-timers a-
round who liked to tell ghost-stories on cold winter nights and often the
Blattenbergers used "scare tactics" to make their large brood behave.
For instance, there was that ancient black coat which was known as
"Old Duddy". As a child, my mother was so terrified of that old coat that
she never overcame the fear. When any of the Blattenberger children
misbehaved, they risked having to walk up the attic stairway - right
past "Old Buddy" - a coat which certainly belonged to a ghost - who
just might appear ANY MINUTE!!

None of them knew exactly who Old Duddy really was - they only knew
he was an ancestor who had died many years ago, and they really be-
lieved that his old black coat was haunted.
In 1940, after Grandpa died, all his furniture and belongings were
sold at public auction. I watched as my mother and her sisters opened
the endless boxes brought down from the attic - boxes that held the per-
sonal possessions of early Somerset Co., pioneers, for several old ances-
tors had ended their days in this house. A large box of old photos
and tintypes was opened and someone asked, "Does any one want any
of these?" Someone else answered, "Nope - we don't know who they
are - they're too old." The box was thrown into a bon-fire with other
items no one wanted. Another box was opened and out came a tiny
black dress of Civil War vintage that had belonged to Susan Keller Zeigler
years ago. I was 11 years old then and the dress was just my size, for
she had been a tiny woman. Another box produced a pair of knee-length
breeches that must have been ancient indeed, and they too wound up in
the bon-fire, for none of the adults were interested. I had taken my al-
lowance of 50¢ and made a bid on a spinning-wheel once owned by my
great-great-grandmother Polly Hess; however an antique-dealer outbid me
and got it for 75!

But of all the looms, wheels, toys and other strange things to be car-
ried down from Grandpa's attic - one item stands out in my memory.
While the burning of the unwanted relics continued, I heard my mother
say to a neighbor, "There's one special favor I'd like to ask of YOU
- please - go up to the attic stairway and take that old black coat
hanging there - bring it down and burn it up as fast as you can." Even
in her 30's mother was still terrified of that old coat!
I watched sadly as an old black coat was carried downstairs and
thrown onto the bon-fire - while my mother breathed a sigh of relief.
"Old Duddy" was gone forever.
- Mrs. Mildred Donley
----------------------------------------
JOHN (DUDDY) ZEIGLER was a Rev. War Vet., Pvt in Cpt Robt Samuel's
Company Penna. Line, (see Pa. Archives) bur. Gideon Kimmel Cem-
etery nr Shanksville. (See Laurel Messenger May 1969.)

Occupation: Place: Weaver

Note: -Edward W. Hocker *Genealogical Data Relating to the German Settlers of Pennsylvania and Adjacent Territory*

These are newspaper advertisements listed in German newspapers in Philadelphia and Germantown from 1743-1800. I found what I believe is a listing for Elizabeth Barbara. It reads:
16 Feb 1776
Heinrich Kurz [sic] seeks Elisabeth Barbara Kurtzin [sic], born in Ober Amt Kayserslautern, Dorf Katzenbach, who came to Philadelphia eight years ago, served in Lancaster and married Johannes Ziegler. Notify Friedrich Dietz, tailor, Philadelphia.

The information seems too coincidental not to be our ancestors.
Kaiserslautern is in south-west Germany near the French border. Directly in the Palatinate.


Pennsylvania German Marriages by Donna R. Irish [1982] lists the marriage of John Ziegler and Barbara Koch on 9 Apr 1771 by Rev. Charles L. Boehme at First Reformed Church in Lancaster, PA.

Source: (Birth)
Title: World Wide Web
Media: Electronic

Note: George Masters came to America as a young man and settled in Somerset County,
PA. His time and attention was especially devoted to educational work, and
for many years he followed the vocation of school teacher. He was a member of
the Lutheran church. -Source: History of Bedford & Somerset Counties, Vol. 3, p. 167.

[Brøderbund Family Archive #315, Ed. 1, Census Index: U.S. Selected Counties, 1830, Date of Import: 27 Jan 1999, Internal Ref. #1.315.1.5874.131]

Individual: Masters, George B.
County/State: Somerset Co., PA
Location: Somerset Twp
Page #: 089
Year: 1830


Notes show George had five sons and two daughters.

Source: (Birth)
Title: Welfley, W.H.
Media: Book

Page: Vol. 3, p. 167
Data:
Text: History of Bedford and Somerset Counties

Source: (Death)
Title: Estate Inventory
Media: Official Document

Data:
Text: Estate no. 21 of 1850, Somerset Co., PA. Filed 22 July 1850.

Occupation: Place: School Teacher

Note: Resided in Shevington in the parish of Standish.
Will dated 7 Nov 1608 and proved 24 Jan 1609.

Note: He resided in Shevington in the parish of Standish, Lancashire, England.

Note: of Shevington

Note: Married Alexander Wymarde.

Note: James Prescott of Standish, Lancashire was one of the gentlemen of
Lancashire. He was required by an order of Queen Elizabeth, dated August 1564
to keep in readiness horsemen and armor.

Note: Married Alice Molineaux. For his bravery and military prowess he was created
lord of the manor of Dryby in Lincolnshire, and had new arms granted to him,
and was afterward known as Sir James Prescott.

Note: Married Elizabeth Nightengale 3 Feb 1565. He resided at Standish and had sons
John and Robert and Daughter Elizabeth who married Alexander Standish.

Note: Resided in Sutterby in Lincolnshire. He married Anne and had only one
daughter, Anne, who married William Boston of Phimbleby, Lincolnshire.

Note: Roger Standish is mentioned in Earwaker confirmation deed (#218, page 65,
dated March 24, 1523/4) as the third son of Ralph Standish, Esq.

Source: (Death Field)
European Ancestry of the Prescott Family in America, by Doris Cline Ward
Ward Publishing Company, 1977

Source: (Birth Field)
European Ancestry of the Prescott Family in America, by Doris Cline Ward
Ward Publishing Company, 1977

Note: His will, Jan. 15, Feb. 19, 1738-9.

Note: Knighted for his services at the Battle of Hutton-Field, Scotland, 1482.

Source: (Death Field)
European Ancestry of the Prescott Family in America, by Doris Cline Ward
Ward Publishing Company, 1977

Source: (Death Field)
European Ancestry of the Prescott Family in America, by Doris Cline Ward
Ward Publishing Company, 1977

Note: of Kingsley and Bryn.

Note: Her will, Aug. 18, Sept. 21, 1741.

Source: (Death Field)
European Ancestry of the Prescott Family in America, by Doris Cline Ward
Ward Publishing Company, 1977