Henry Bear

Henry married Catherine Runkle in 1788 in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. Catherine (daughter of Peter Runkle and Margaret Steiner Koch) was born in 1773 in Augusta County, Virginia, British Colonial America; died on 9 Oct 1846 in Virginia, United States; was buried in Oct 1846 in Elkton, Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. John Bear was born in 1794 in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States; died in 1878.
2. Henry Bear was born in 1798 in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States; died on 1 Feb 1850 in Stockton, California Territory.
3. Jacob Bear was born on 14 Nov 1801 in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States; died on 27 Feb 1877 in Elkton, Rockingham County, Virginia, United States; was buried in Feb 1877 in Elkton, Rockingham County, Virginia, United States.
4. Alexander H. Bear was born about 1806 in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States; died in 1851.
5. Elizabeth Bear was born on 15 Jan 1806 in Elkton, Rockingham County, Virginia, United States; died on 29 Sep 1881 in Marksville, Page County, Virginia, United States; was buried in Sep 1881 in Stanley, Page County, Virginia, United States.
6. Charles Wesley Bear was born on 21 Sep 1808 in Elkton, Rockingham County, Virginia, United States; died on 14 Apr 1879 in Luray, Page County, Virginia, United States; was buried in Apr 1879 in Luray, Page County, Virginia, United States.
7. Anna Rebecca Bear was born on 12 Jun 1812 in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States; died on 16 Mar 1869.
8. Adam Clark Bear was born on 25 Jun 1820 in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States; died on 27 Sep 1906; was buried in Sep 1906 in Elkton, Rockingham County, Virginia, United States.

Other Events:

• Name: Whiskey Baer

Notes:

He came to Brock's Gap area of Rockingham (then Orange) County Va.with father Jacob and brother John around 1740, but earliest known record of him was dated 4 Feb. 1752 when he bought 400 acres at the Gap. He was elder of St. Peter's Reformed Church. 5 Miles NE of Elkton VA in 1767. (Reference: Groff Book II
Author: Jane Evans Best
 Publication: Masthof Press, Rt 1, Box 20, Mill rd, Morgantown, PA 19543)

Originally Brothers lived At Brock's Gap, a mountian pass, about 20 miles west of Lithia Springs from about 1750 to1763. In 1764 his Father-in-law, Adam Miller, offered him 280 acres and 200 pounds on the condition that he would be allowed to spend the rest of his life at "the new house now a building on said plantation", and that Jacob was to keep his in-laws supplied with two cows, a horse, meet, barley, wheat, and 33 gals. of whiskey. Jacob then moved to Lithia Springs. The springs are now know as "Bear Lithia Springs" They are about 2 mi. north of Elkton, Va. Jacob was a Lt. in the Militia during Revolution, recorded Feb. 23, 1780. He and brother John married sisters Ann and Elizabeth Miller. Spelled Bare and Baer was called "Whiskey" because he's kept his father in law warm with whiskey.

Jacob married Ana Barbara Miller. Ana (daughter of Adam Mueller and Anna Maria Barbara Koger) was born in 1726 in Elkton, Rockingham County, Virginia, United States; died on 27 Nov 1791 in Elkton, Rockingham County, Virginia, United States; was buried in Nov 1791 in Elkton, Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:


2nd known white person to be born in the Shennandoa Valley of Virginia.

Buried:
Inscription:
1726
ISTANABAR
BARA: BERIN
UNDEINLEBEN
LANDHABEGOTT
VORAUGENUND
IMHERZENUND
HETEDICHDASDU
INKEINESUENDEWIL
LIGESTUNDTHISTWI
DERGOTTESBEGOT
TOB 4 6
ISTGEBORN1726

(on the side)
IST GE
STOR:B
D.27 N.
1791

Tanscription:
1726
was Ann Bar-
Bara (Mrs.) Baer
"And all your
life keep God
before your eyes and
in your heart, and
guard yourself that you
consent to no sin
nor transgress
God's commandment."
Tobit 4:6
Was born 1726
Anna Barbara Baer
died
Nov. 27
1791

Other Events:

• Name: Adam Miller

Notes:

...First white settler in the Shenandoah Valley. Adam built his farm adjacent to the Shenandoah river at the Lithia Spring (now Bear-Lithia Spring). His two daughters Ana Barbara & Catherine married the two Baer brothers (Jacob & John) from Broc's Gap. Adam gave his farm to his son-in-law (Jacob) and his daughter (Anna Barbara) on the condition that he could live out the rest of his days there and that he be supplied with certain provisions including a generous amount of whiskey for which Jacob Baer gained the nick-name Jacob "Whiskey" Baer.

The following is from the program for the Adam Miller Memorial Dedication Ceremony (Friday, May 7, 2010), prepared by the Elkton Welcome Center:

Adam Miller (Mueller)

...Adam Miller (Mueller) was born in Germany, probably Schreisheim, in 1703. He was the son of Johann Peter and Maria Margaretta Mueller.
...Adam came to America as a young man in 1720. He came with his wife, Barbara Kooger Miller, and an unmarried sister, Catrina. The Millers first settled in Germantown, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, however, Adam was unsatisfied with the farming lands in Pennsylvania, so he moved his family to Williamsburg, Virginia. While in Williamsburg, Adam learned about Governor Alexander Spotswood's 1716 Expedition. After hearing about the wonderful fertile country beyond the mountains, Adam decided to see if for himself. He followed the same trail taken by Spotswood and crossed the Blue Ridge Mountains at Swift Run Gap. He was so pleased with the look of the country, that he immediately returned home for his family and brought them back to the valley. He built a cabin near the present day Page-Rockingham County line, however, this site proved to be unhealthy so, several months later he erected another cabin a few miles further south. This site, known as Green Meadows, is located a short distance north of present day Elkton, Virginia.
...Controversy still exists as to who was the first permanent settler in the Shenandoah Valley. There are many records of explorations of the Valley, however, it is traditionally claimed for Adam Miller, that he was the first permanent white settler here. The date given to this first settlement is 1726. It is believed that Adam Miller descendants have his original land patent of 350 acres of land, made at Williamsburg, written on sheepskin and signed by Governor Gooch, June 20, 1749 and his naturalization paper with one of the two great seals still remaining dated March 13, 1741.
...Two of Adam Miller's daughters, Anna Barbara and Catherine married two brothers, Jacob and John Baer (Bear). Later in life, Adam Miller deeded Green Meadows to his son-in-law, Jacob, and his daughter, Anna. Adam was able to continue living on his farm until his death in 1783.
...Controversy still exists about where Adam is buried. Some say there are historical accounts that place him with his daughter, Anna Barbara, in Bear family Cemetery at Bear Lithia Springs. Others say he was buried in St. Peters Church Yard, a Lutheran Church that Adam helped form and the oldest in Rockingham County. Still others say that his remains were buried in a family cemetery, on a hilltop across from the Miller homestead, and were removed to Elk Run Cemetery during the 1930s and now lie in an unmarked grave across from the Cover Masuoleum.
...In early 2009, the Elkton Centennial Jubilee Committee, decided to fulfill the wishes of the Elkton Historical Society and erect this monument to memorialize Adam Miller traditionally recognized as the first permanent white settler in this part of the Shenandoah Valley.

Adam married Anna Maria Barbara Koger. Anna was born in 1701; and died; was buried . [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]