Jacob Bear

Notes:

Died:


OBITUARY
Bear —At his residence, near Conrad's Store, Rockingham county, Va., on Tuesday, the 27th ult.. Col. Jacob Bear, father of Prof. Henry A. Bear, of the D. D. B. Institution of this place, aged 75 years. He had been a consistent and exemplary member ofthe Methodist church for fifty years. His remains were interred at Eik Run Church on last Thursday. (Staunton Spectator, 6 March 1877)

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]

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:

• Baptism: 8 Apr 1746, Wackernheim, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany; now Wackernheim, Mainz-Bingen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
• Immigration: 7 Sep 1748, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial Ameirca; Aboard the ship "Hampshire"
• Census: 1810, Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Virginia, United States; 1810 Federal Census
• Census: 1820, Rockingham County, Virginia, United States; 1820 Federal Census
• Will: Aug 1821, Rockingham County, Virginia, United States
• Probate: 7 Aug 1821, Rockingham County, Virginia, United States

Notes:

Peter Runkle served as Constable of Augusta County in 1767 and served in Frazer's Company from Virginia during the Revolution.

Peter received his share of the estate in his father's lifetime so that he would take care of his mother, Anna Maria (Hammer) Runkle, who was nearly helpless for two and a half years before her death in 1813. Therefore, Peter is not named in his father's will. Margaret Runkle b: 04 APR 1776.

Birth:
now Wackernheim, Mainz-Bingen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany

Immigration:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS84-X3QT-M?cat=1031370

Census:
as Peter Runkle

Census:
as Peter Runkle

Will:

I Peter Runcle of the county of Rockingham and State of Virginia do hereby make my last will and Testament in manner and form following First I desire my that all the perishable and moveable part of my estate be immediately sold, after my decease and out of the monies arrising therefrom, all my Just debts and funeral expences to be paid. 2ndly. After the payment of my debts and funeral expences by my Executers which will be named hereafter I give to my wife Margaret Runkle during her natural life the one third part of my real and personal estate (the negroes only excepted) to be taken by her at the Appraisment with two rooms in the house I now life and one Negroe woman her choice of my Stock and at her death I give and the aforesaid moveable and perishable property that may be left to be sold and equally divided among my children 3rdly. The negroes that are left after my wife has taken her choise-is to be appraised and as equally divided among my children as the case will admit the shear or shears that mey fall to my Daughters Mary Price and Christina Sellars after they have received one each of equal value with the rest of my children I give to my then children by their first husbands and after such division of the negroes is made it is my will and desire that each one retain such negro or negroes as may fall to each ones share and not sell them to Strangers but that they be retained amongst the family except the increase thereof which they are at Liberty to do as they please with 4thly. the land that was willed to my son Jacob Runkle by his Grand Father Jacob Runkle which will more plainly show for it self by having reference thereto is not to be considered as any part of my estate or as any part of his my son Jacobs sh---------------------------------ally divided-------------------------cepted and at the death of my wife M---------------her my will and desire that the plantation where ------------------ two or more three disinterested discreet men to be chosen by ---------------- the payments I wish to be made thereof and after the estimate ---------------- of payment fixed and agreed on by the men so chosen (which -------------- wish to be made easy It is my Will and desire that my son Jac-- -------- said plantation to have and to hold the same in fee simple forever ------------- said plantation to have and to hold the same in fee simple forever ---------- or is not able -- to -- comply with the terms agreed on then and in tha- ------- will and desire that any other of the within named Children or them -------- shall have a right to take the land in like manner he or they payi-- ----- ---- aforesaid arbitrators.
6th. An lastly all the rest of my estate both real and personal of what natu--- soever it may be not herein before particularly dispose of I desire may ------ divided among my several children before name which I give to the---------- heirs executors or assigns forever. And I do hereby constitute and appoint Jacob Runkle and Daniel Sellars executors of this my last will and Testa--- hereby revoking all other of former wills or testaments by me heretofore mad-
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal ----- lmy seal this day of in the year of our lord 1821
Peter (his mark) Runkle
Signed sealed published and declared as and for the last will and Testament of the above named Peter Runkle in the presence of us.
Philip Moyers
Michael Snyder
T. R. McGahey

Peter married Margaret Steiner Koch about 1772 in Elkton, Rockingham County, Virginia, British Colonial America. Margaret (daughter of George Koch and Maria Sara Reiner) was born on 14 Dec 1753 in Delkton, Virginia, British Colonial America; died in 1834 in Virginia, United States; was buried in 1834 in Elkton, Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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]

Other Events:

• Immigration: 7 Sep 1748; on the ship Hampshire from Rotterdam

Notes:

Jacob was a slaveholder. Sometime before 1791, he sold his slave named Paul to his son Peter in Rockingham Co, VA. This was mentioned by the Ammon vs Runkle lawsuit. It added that Peter then sold Paul to Henry Cook.

Johann Jacob Runckel and Friedrich Hammer, from Wackernheim, were granted permission to emigrate on May 14, 1748. They had to pay 40 and 10 florins respectively for the permission. They landed at Philadelphia on the Ship Hampshire, September 7, 1748 (Strassburger-hinke, List 118 A-C). List A gives Runckel's age as 27, Hammer's as 35. [Reference: Friedrich Krebs, Palatine Emigrants to American from the Oppenheim Area, 1742-1749, (Journal Article p. 46-48 in no. 1 : ill. part of Pennsylvania Folklife v.22, 1972)]

1748 Hampshire
[List 118 A, B, C]
Captain: Thomas Cheesman
From: Rotterdam
By Way of: Falmouth
Arrival: Philadelphia, 7 Sep 1748

Jacob Runkle had established himself in Augusta Couinty, VA by 1757 and was receivving pay for services with the county militia during the French and Indiana War. In 1763 he patented 225 acres in Augusta County, a portion of which was given to Peter Runkle in 1772 to care for his aged mother. Lewis Runkle was granted land through Jacob Runkle's will. The will is among the lost records of Rockingham County, Va, but a law suit in Augusta titled "Ammon vs. Runkle" yields additional facts. Mary Ammon claimed that Peter Runkle had received more than he was entitled to. [Reference: June Runkle Grove, "The Runkle Family and Associated Families", ([S. I.] J. R. Grove, 1999), pg. 379]

Birth:
now Wackernheim, Mainz-Bingen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany

Johann married Anna Maria Hammer on 1 Feb 1740 in Wackernheim, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. Anna (daughter of Nicholas Hammer and Anna Maria _____) was born on 20 Sep 1720 in Wackernheim, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany; died in Nov 1813 in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Mary Hammer

Notes:

Birth:
now Wackernheim, Mainz-Bingen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany

Notes:

Married:
now Wackernheim, Mainz-Bingen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany

Other Events:

• Name: George Cook

George married Maria Sara Reiner. Maria was born on 21 May 1724 in Schwaigern, Baden-Württemberg, Germany; was christened on 21 May 1724 in Schwaigern, Baden-Württemberg, Germany; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]