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Note: Christian Fender was the first of the Fender Family that we know in North Carolina. We can account for his movements from about 1768 to the time he died in 1800. In 1768 he is on the tax list as owning land on the forks of the Yadkin River. He is on the Rowan County, North Carolina tax list in 1778. In 1782 he is on the tax list in Surry County as owning land on Deep Creek. One Researcher described him as a plantation owner and slave holder. In 1786 he was on the Surry County, North Carolina Census and was the only Fender listed in North Carolina. He was on the 1790 and 1800 Surry County Census. Christian died in 1800; left a will that named his wife and all his children.
Christians date of birth is based on age of his children. There are two undocumented stories about Christian's origin. One says he was an orphan boy who emigrated from Germany. The other says that his father was the emigrant. Both agree that he was of German origin.
Just what is a "Palatine"?
Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines Palatine (among other things) as: "a native or inhabitant of the Palatinate" or "a feudal lord having sovereign power within his domains". It defines "Palatinate" as: the territory of a Palatine". So much for dictionaries... its no wonder the term is not understood.
Generally speaking, a "Palatine" is someone who came from the region of Germany called "The Palatinate". Germany as a country has not existed very long. Prior to 1871, what is now Germany was a number of separate states, such as Wurttemberg, Prussia, Bavaria, etc., whose boundaries changed frequently as a result of war and other causes. The Palatinate was one of these states, and was located along the Rhine River, roughly where the modern German state of Rhineland-Pfalz is located.
In the 18th and early 19th century, the term "Palatine" was used in America to describe immigrants from "The Palatinate" and other adjoining German-speaking areas. Finding an American reference to someone being from the "Palatinate" may not point to a specific place of origin, but rather an approximate location in or near western or southern Germany.
Palatines to America is an organization for people researching the origins of their German-speaking ancestors, no matter where they originated. Many of the German-speaking people that came to North America did not come directly from what is now Germany. Many of them came here after spending time (from a few months to a few generations) in other countries, such as Switzerland, England, Russia, Ireland and other countries. Our members are researching immigrants from many of these areas.
A More Technical Description of the Palatinate
Palatinate, Or German PFALZ, was, in German history, the lands of the count palatine, a title held by a leading secular prince of the Holy Roman Empire. Geographically, the Palatinate was divided between two small territorial clusters: the Rhenish, or Lower Palatinate, and the Upper Palatinate. The Rhenish Palatinate included lands on both sides of the Middle Rhine River between its Main and Neckar tributaries. Its capital until the 18th century was Heidelberg. The Upper Palatinate was located in northern Bavaria, on both sides of the Naab River as it flows south toward the Danube, and extended eastward to the Bohemian Forest. The boundaries of the Palatinate varied with the political and dynastic fortunes of the counts palatine.
During the War of the Grand Alliance (1689-97), the troops of the French monarch Louis XIV ravaged the Rhenish Palatinate, causing many Germans to emigrate. Many of the early German settlers of America (the Pennsylvania Dutch) were refugees from the Palatinate. During the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, the Palatinate's lands on the west bank of the Rhine were incorporated into France, while its eastern lands were divided largely between neighboring Baden and Hesse.
After the defeat of Napoleon (1814-15), the Congress of Vienna gave the east-bank lands to Bavaria. These lands, together with some surrounding territories, again took the name of Palatinate in 1838.
In the Name of God Amen August 30th 1793. I, Christian Fender, of the County of Surry and State of North Carolina, Farmer, Being Weak of Body but perfect mind and Memory, thanks be to God for the same, Therefor Calling to mind the Mortality of my Body, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Die, Do make and Ordain this my Last Will and Testament. That is to Say Principally and first of all I Recommend my Soul unto the Hands of God that gave it, Nothing Doubting but at the General Resurrection with my Body which I recommend to the Earth to be Buried in a Christian like and Decent manner at the Discretion of my Executor I shall receive the Same by the mighty power of God And as Touching such Worldly Estate where with it has pleases Almighty God to Help me with in my Life, I Give, Devise and Dispose of in the following manner and Form. Imprimis, It is my Will and I do Order that all my Just Debts, and Funeral Charges be paid and Satisfied. Item, I Give and Bequeath Unto Mary Fender my well Beloved Wife, my Whole Personal Estate of Land, Household Goods and Movables, Horses, Cows, Hogs. During her Natural Life, Only upon my Decease. It is my Will and I Do Order that my Son Michael Fender, My Son Henry and my Son John Fender, Each of them receive a Horse Creature and a Cow, when They Arrive to the age of Twenty-One years. Item, I give also to my Two Daughters, Sarah and Catherine Fender at or on the Day of Marriage, One Cow and Calf and One Bed Each. And at the Decease of my Said Wife Mary Fender, all of my Whole and personal Estate to be Equally Divided as She shall see Cause Between my Sons Gabriel, Nimrod, Michael, Henry and John Fender And my Daughter Mary Hoppis, Sarah Fender and Catherine Fender. I also Ordain, Constitute, appoint my well Beloved Wife, Mary Fender and my well Beloved Son, Gabriel Fender, my whole and Sole Execatria and Executor of this my Last Will and Testament, and I do hereby utterly Disallow, Revoke and Disannul, all and Every Form and Testament, Wills, Legacies and Executrias and Executors By me and any wise before Named Willed and Bequeathed, Ratifying and Conforming this and no Other to be my Last Will and Testament. Whereof, I have hereunto Set my Hand and Seal, The Day and Year First above Written. Signed Sealed Published pronounced and Declared by the said Christian Fender.
In the Presence of us the Subscribers his Christian Fender Seal mark Jn. Castevens Henry Hamrick
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