Reverend Benjamin Landis [1697-1781) and Maria Herr Weber (1695-1787)

Jacob’s son Benjamin [1700-1781], minister in Lancaster County, Mellinger District; progenitor of Lancaster County Landis line [ME III:281].

Reverend Benjamin Landis

It was from the vicinity of Manheim, Germany, that the three brothers, Benjamin, Felix, and John Landis, in 1717, emigrated to Pennsylvania. Benjamin, the eldest, settled in what is now Lancaster County, where in 1718, he received by patent from the London company, a tract of two hundred and forty acres of land situated in East Lampeter Township. He was a Mennonite minister and his house became a refuge for many of the Swiss emigrants who enjoyed his hospitality until they were able to secure homes of their own. [The Strassburger Family, p. 331]Benjamin Landis, the younger, of East Lampter.

Rev Benjamin Landis

Birth:  2 September 1697, Zurich Switzerland
Death: 1781 (aged 83-84), Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Burial: Mellinger Mennonite Cemetery, Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Benjamin married Maria Herr Weber in 1729 in East Lampeter Township, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania. She was also born in Zurich, Switzerland and immigrated to America during 1717 at the age of 15. This Mennonite couple had many children, some of whom are reported to be named: Benjamin, Maria, Jacob, Henry, Barbara, Ann and Abraham Landis. Benjamin was not only a farmer but was ordained as the Minister of the Mellingers Mennonite Church in Lancaster Co., PA.

Maria Herr Weber Landis

Birth: 1695, Switzerland
Death: 1787 (aged 91-92)
Burial: Mellinger Mennonite Cemetery, Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Maria immigrated with her parents to America in 1710. The family relocated during 1717 to Lancaster Co., PA. She was raised on the Weber “Weizenthal” pioneer homestead. The house, built in 1735, still stands today at 1835 Pioneer Road, Lancaster Co., PA.

Maria married Benjamin Witmer Landis during 1729 in East Lampeter Township, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania. He was also born in Zurich, Switzerland to Jacob Landis and Anna Witmer and immigrated to America during 1717 at the age of 19.

This Mennonite couple had many children some of whom are reported to be named: Benjamin, Maria, Jacob, Henry, Barbara, Ann and Abraham Landis. Maria’s farmer husband was ordained as the minister of the Mellingers Mennonite Church in Lancaster Co., Pa.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/64187031/maria-herr-landis

Maria Weber, daughter of Hans Anton Weber and Maria Margaretha. [Best, “Swiss Origins.” p. 18-18, according to Kendig, M.D. PMH, July 2005, p. 47]

Jacob Landis 1667-1730 and Anna Witmer Landis 1671-1725

 Hans Landis, last Anabaptist executed in Ct. Zurich, 1614.

Jacob Landus [1667-1730], emigrated with his brothers Benjamin, Felix, and Johannes, 1717 to Pennsylvania from Mannheim; brothers [ME III: 280-282; MC 202-203]

Jacob’s son Benjamin [1700-1781], minister in Lancaster County; progenitor of Lancaster County Landis line [ME III:281].

In 1717, three brothers, Rev. Benjamin, Felix, and John Landis, all Swiss Mennonites, came to American from the vicinity of Manheim on the Rhine, where they had been driven from Zurich, Switzerland, and purchased land from Penn and the Conestogoe Indians. p. 140–Oberholtzer Genealogy

Jacob Landis
Birth: 1667, Switzerland
Death: 1730 (aged 62-63), East Lampeter Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Burial: Mellinger Mennonite Cemetery, Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Jacob was a descendant of the 1614 Martyr, Hans Landis of Canton, Zurich, Hirzel, Switzerland. At the time of his birth this part of Steinsfurt, Germany was actually part of Switzerland. The Mennonite Jacob Landis married Anna Witmer about 1688 in Zurich, Switzerland. Jacob knew her family growing up as he lived on a farm in the neighborhood. Jacob’s family immigrated during 1717 and then in 1722 they bought farm land in Lancaster Co., PA and relocated one last time. The rest of Anna & Jacob’s lives were spent on their farm of 200 acres on both sides of what is now know as “The Old Road”. Their son Benjamin was the first Mennonite preacher in the area and where they lived became the center of the Mellinger church activities.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/35906373/jacob-landis

Anna Witmer Landis

Birth: November 1671, Switzerland
Death: 1725 (aged 53-54), Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Burial: Mellinger Mennonite Cemetery, Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Anna was the first born child of Ulrich Witmer (b.1633, d.1685) and Barbara Ebbe (b.1643, d.?). Her parents were an Anti-Baptist family. At the time of her birth this part of Steinsfurt, Germany was actually part of Switzerland. Some records suggest her ancestors used Widmer as their surname. Anna married the Mennonite Jacob Landis about 1688 in Zurich, Switzerland. Jacob knew her family growing up as he lived on a farm in the neighborhood. Jacob’s family immigrated during 1717 and then in 1722 they bought farm land in Lancaster Co., PA and relocated one last time. The rest of Anna & Jacob’s lives were spent on their farm of 200 acres on both sides of what is now know as “The Old Road.” Their son Benjamin was the first Mennonite preacher in the area and where they lived became the center of the Mellinger church activities.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/67090737/anna-landis

Durst Buckwalter and his wife Barbara Landis Buchwalter

Durst Buckwalter,  Lampeter Township.
June 6, 1773–April 17, 1782
Children: Francis, Abraham and Henry.
Ex.: Francis Buckwalter and John Witmer.

[Abstracts of Lancaster Co., PA, Wills, 1729 ­ 1819]

Lived on the land he owned in Lampter Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

All four of his sons are mentioned in Pennsylvania Archives, Vol VII.

Theodorus Yost “Durst” Buchwalter
BIRTH July 1701 Switzerland
DEATH 7 Jul 1782 (aged 80–81)Lampeter, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA
BURIAL Mellinger Mennonite Cemetery, Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA

Husband to Barbara Landis Buchwalter, who was the mother of Abraham Buchwalter. The Mennonite farmer Theodorus Yost was the son of Francis Bough Buchwalter and Mary Durst Mellinger. He immigrated with his parents to America in 1717. He married Barbara Witmer Landis during 1724 in Lancaster Co., PA. She was also born in Canton, Zurich, Switzerland to Jacob Landis (b.1667, d.1730) and Anna Witmer (b.1671, d.1725).

Between 1725 and 1746 Theodorus & Barbara had 13 children which they named: Anlea “Ann”, Maria, Barbara, Frantz, Martha, Hans, Johannes, Lizzie, Abraham Landis, Joseph, Henrich, Henry and Veronica Buchwalter. They were all born in Lampeter Township, Lancaster Co., PA.
His parents, Francis and Mary Buchwalter are thought to have been buried in an old Indiana cemetery that is now under what is downtown of Phoenixville, PA.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20169776/theodorus-yost-buchwalter

Deed Book 4, p. 389. Indenture dated 3 Feb 1777. Dores buckwalter transferred land to his son Abraham 68 3/4 acres [and other land] in Lampter Township. Indenture dated 24 Oct 1811. Abraham and his wife Barbara transferred this land, 68 3/4, acres to his oldest son John. [later sold to Abraham Herr]

Barbara Landis
Birth: 1702, Zürich, Switzerland
Death: 1782, Lampeter Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA

Barbara, a Mennonite, was the daughter of Jacob Landis and Anna Witmer. She immigrated with her parents through Germany in 1717.
The Landis family were descendants of the 1614 Martyr, Hans Landis of Canton, Zurich Hirzel, Switzerland.

At the age of 22 Barbara married the Mennonite farmer Theodorus Yost “Durst” Buchwalter in 1724 in Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania. Between 1725 and 1746 Theodorus & Barbara had 13 children which they named: Anlea “Ann”, Maria, Barbara, Frantz, Martha, Hans, Johannes, Lizzie, Abraham Landis, Joseph, Henrich, Henry and Veronica Buchwalter. They were all born in Lampeter Township, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania.

Family links on findagrave:
Parents:
Jacob Landis (1667 – 1730)
Anna Witmer Landis (1671 – 1725)

Spouse:
Theodorus Yost Buchwalter (1702 – 1782)*

Children:
Barberra Buchwalter Weber (1730 – 1796)*
Frantz Buchwalter (1731 – 1816)*
Hansli Johannes Buchwalter (1735 – 1808)*
Abraham Buchwalter (1740 – 1819)*
Henrich Buchwalter (1742 – 1805)*

 

Francis Buchwalther [Frantz Bouch Walder] and his wife Mary Mellinger

Francis (Frantz) (Bouch Walder) Buchwalter
1665–1723
BIRTH 1665 • Canton, Zurich, Switzerland
DEATH 20 JUL 1723 • Phoenixville, Chester, Pennsylvania

Francis Bouch Walder came in September of 1720 to Chester County, Pennsylvania, where he purchased 620 acres in the Manavon Tract from David Lloyd, along the French Creek and Schuylkill River, near Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. His sons Joseph, Johannes, Jacob, and Durst {Theodorus} and daughter Mary came with him.

According to Futhey and Cope, History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Vol 2, p 484 in Heritage Books reprint in 1995 of 1881 original, the Buckwalters in the Phoenixville area in the 1880’s were all descended from the German immigrant Francis Buckwalter, a Protestant refugee. In 1713, the Manovon tract where Phoenixville is now located was patented to David Lloyd. Francis Buckwalter was the first settler, purchasing 650 acres in 1720 for 195 pounds.

History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Futhey and Cope, 1881.

“In 1713, the Manovon tract, at what is now Phonizville, was patented to D. Lloyd. The earliest settler upon it was Francis Buckwalter, to whom Lloyd sold 650 acres in 1720 for [pounds] 195. Buckwalter, a Protestant refugee from Germany, was subjected when in the fatherland to many persecutions because of his faith. It was a matter of family history that he was compelled to read his bible in stealth, concealed in a cow trough. He finally concluded to flee and after leaving his home was pursued for three days by his vindictive Catholic brothers who were determined to cause his destruction. His children were Joseph, Jacob, Johannes, Mary, and Yost, and from him are descended all of the Buckwalters in this country. Of these, Johannes’ son John, b. Sept 15, 1777, married in 1800 Mary Bachtel, b. Jan 2, 1775, and their children were Samuel, John, Henry, James, and Elizabeth, who married James Wynn. Of these children, the eldest was born May 5, 1801, in East Nantmeal Township, and in 1817018 went to Charlestown Township to live with his grandfather, Johannes [John], on the farm on which John Henry Buckwalter now resides. In 1832, he was married by Rev. O. Wample to Mary, daughter of Daniel and Margaret High, of Schuylkill township, by whom he had seven children–Charles C; John Henry; Samuel R; Elizabeth, married to E. Davis; and Helen Caroline, all living; and two deceased, David and Margaret died young. Samuel Buckwalther died Feb 26 1869, and his wife Mary died, 4 1850. He was a second time married, in 1855, to Anny Pennypaker, widow of James Pennypaker. He was one of the most systematic farmers in the county and was, with his family, a member of the Mennonite church.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/67089976/francis-buchwalterFrancis, a Mennonite farmer, married Mary Durst Mellinger in 1692 and they immigrated with their family to America in 1717.

Thanks to Lori Gilbert for the following:
He could have been buried on his farm, long since overgrown and gone. He owned the land only 3 years prior to his death and at the time of purchase was ‘the only white settler’ in the area. This indicates that the only ‘cemetery’ could have been an old Indian burial ground.
The cemetery in what is now Phoenixville [possibly the very same ‘old Indian burial ground’] has since been built upon. Records indicate the bodies were moved prior to construction, but Francis is not on the lists. Not that the list would be 100% accurate; perhaps they did not remove all the bodies? No way to know. The Mennonites were so poorly treated in Germany, that the elders did not keep records after coming to America out of habit; thus the severe lack of anything on Francis. His sons began appearing in records mostly after Francis’ death.
The county courthouse was not built for some time after Francis died, so no records there. Perhaps a newspaper, family record, letter, bible will turn up someday with information. Right now, there is just quite a bit of repeated misinformation and ‘assumptions’.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/67090041/mary-durst-buchwalter
Mary Durst Mellinger Buchwalter
BIRTH 1668 Solothurn, Switzerland
DEATH 20 Jul 1723 (aged 54–55)Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA
BURIAL Non-Cemetery Burial, Specifically: Old Indian Burial Ground, Phoenixville, Chester Co., PA Mary Mellinger, a Mennonite daughter of Durst Mellinger, married the farmer Francis Bouch Buchwalter in 1692 in Switzerland. They immigrated to America with their family in 1717.
Francis and Mary are thought to have been buried in an old Indiana cemetery that is now under what is downtown of Phoenixville, PA.