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Note: theThirteenth Generation by George A Neidert)
Hans David the first of our ancestors to come to this country was born May 21, 1704 and was baptized the following day. Godparents were David Muesslingang, the Mayor in Burghausen, with his wife Anna Eva. Peter Minder and his wife Barbara.
It is evident that Hans David received his name in part from his grandfather (the Hans) while the name David was taken from his Godfather,the Mayor of Burghausen - a village near Soellingen.
In the third oldest church of that place covering the period from 1696-1738 traces were again found of Hans David, the records read: Year 1737, March 19 was married David Xander, the legitimate surviving citizen of this place with Anna Katherina the legitimate unmarried daughter of John Martin, the church builder and citizen of this place. Text;Proverbs 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing and obtain the favor of Jehovah.
Eight children were born to this union, namely George Frederick, born June 17, 1739, Katherina born June 3, 1741, Elizabeth born November 18,1742, Philip Jacob born September 25, 1744, Margaret Barbara born December 24, 1745, Margaret born October 8, 1747, David born March 22,1750.
Hans David applied for his release of bondage to the Markgraf of Baden,Hochberg and obtained his release March 21, 1752 this release paper was loaned to us by John George Xander of Reading, Pa and a photostatic copy of the original was made and is held by Wm. F Xander.
Release of David Xander of Soellingen, Baden, Germany,
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN We, Charles Frederick by the grace of God, Margrave of Baden and Hochber, Landgrove of Sausanberg, Count of Spouhein and Eberstein Lord of Rotein, Badeweyler Lahr and Mahlberg. Hereby acknowledge and make know that on the proper most humble petition we have graciously released David Xander, hitherto a civilian inhabitant of Soellingen of the superiorbailiwick who with his wife and children intends emigrate to Pennsylvania from the bondage where he had hitherto been connected and bound to us and we hereby do this in such a manner that neither we nor our princely heirs will have and obtain any further claim on David Xander or the heirs of his body on account of his Servitude unless he should again settle and establish himself for a short or long time in one place or another in such a case he shall again be and become subject to us as before.
In witness where of we have caused to be granted to the said David Xander this Certificate, issued under our signature and affixed princely official seal and given at our princely residence, City of Carlsruhe, theTwenty first of March in the year 1751.
Seal Signed Charles Frederick After obtaining his release Hans David and his family consisting of his wife and five children, George Frederick age 13, Elizabeth 10, Margaret Barbara 5, David 2, and Regina Katherina 6 months (the other 3 died inGermany) left Germany and traveled to Rotterdam, Holland, where they embarked on the sail ship, "Nancy", which sailed under Captain Ewing, and arrived in Philadelphia, Pa on September 27, 1752. It is possible that after his arrival Hans David under went a servitude of about two years to pay off the debt he owed to the ship Company which brought him and his family to America for we find that the first few years he and his family lived in the neighborhood of Old Goshenhoppen Lutheran Church, Upper Salford, Pa, as the Church records show that John David and his wife Anna Catherine and son George Frederick received Communion there December 3,1752 and again April 15, 1753 and March 30, 1755. On the latter date which fell on Easter Sunday Elizabeth Xander, age 14, daughter of David, was confirmed.
On March 15, 1755, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania granted Hans David Xander a tract of land consisting of 25 acres in Whitehall Twp. LehighCounty after receiving this grant the family prepared to go to their new home traveled by ox cart up the Penn Valley to Orefield, Whitehall Twp., Lehigh Co. Among their possessions was a chest which is now in possession of their descendant. They must have suffered great hardship by traveling the way they did as food and water was scarce and the roads were scarcely passable, add to this the hostility of the Indians and the ever present land sharks who tried to deprive the newcomers of what little they had.
How long it took them to make the journey we do not know but they finally reached their destination and established the first American homestead of our clan.
George Frederick later took over this homestead and increased its acreage considerable in 1798 and 1816. David, his brother went to WeissenburgTwp and married Catherine Stettler of that place.
In 1786 David purchased the farm of his father-in-law for 340 pounds of gold and silver.
Naturally the first settlers of Weissenberg had to endure hardship anddifficulties, having Longswamp, a large strip of unsettled land between and Oley Valley over which they had to pass when they wanted to have intercourse with the people of the latter place. Over this unoccupied region there were no roads, but simple paths through which it was difficult to get the teams. The people not being able to build mills during the first years took their grain on horseback to the Oley mills a distance of from 10 to 15 miles. With the first settlers came many that had trades, such as carpenters, weavers, shoemakers, smiths, tanners,wheelwrights, nailmakers, dyers and tailors, etc. As weavers came DanielStettler, David Xander, Casper Sunn, Bernard Rupert, etc.
The above history of Lehigh Co, Weissenberg Twp, February 1884 was taken from the History of Lehigh County.
Note: (From the Ancestors of Hans David Xander and his Descendants to
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