Revolutionary Patriot

One of my hobbies is tracing the family tree, which has been very interesting for me.  My mother was fascinated with the Koontz side of the family, through which we gained entrance to the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution).  Our Patriot is Johannes Koontz, whose Revolutionary War service was served in North Carolina.  John was born November 17, 1753 in Littlestown, York Co. (now Adams), PA and died Aug 5, 1842 in Welcome, Rowan Co. (now Davidson), NC.  In 1776 he was involved in the Cherokee expedition under General Rutherford and Captain Lyons.  He served a second time in 1779 under Captain Lopp, then again in 1781.  His Pension application states that he “marched to the East in pursuit of the Tories through Randolph and Moor Counties, served three months and was discharged.”

Johannes married Dorothy Glattfelder (later changed to Clodfelter) November 28, 1775 in Rowan Co., NC, and they had ten children, two of whom I am descended from (we had cousins that married each other!).  The two oldest sons died in the same county before their father, but lived into their 50′s and had families.  The next three were daughters that married and stayed close to home, also with families.  The fourth daughter, Magdalina, never married, and was known by the nickname of “Mollie.”  At the time of her father’s death, when all the sons were receiving 100 acres of land each, she received two cows!  But she purchased a corner cupboard from her father’s estate in 1842, and these have apparently passed down through succeeding generations.  Another odd item that was passed down from Mollie was a pair of tooth extraction pliars!  Actually, Mollie was treated well by her father, for he said in his will, “I give, will and bequeath to my beloved daughter, Magdalena, two cows, her choice – two feather beds, and furniture belonging thereto the bedsteads and loom and all the utensils is anywise belonging to the same – she is to have the privilege of living with her mother in the same house as long as her mother lives, she is also to have two iron pots one reasonably large for washing, the other a middling size, also one frying pan all to be enjoyed by her…”  I hadn’t thought of “enjoying” iron pots, washing and frying pans!

The next four children were sons — John, David, Philip and Andrew — and I have been fascinated with them since I was young, because they left some letters that were shared between them.  John Koontz was the oldest of these four, and was known as “Chapel John” because he left the Lutheran church to join the Wesley Chapel Methodist Church, known facetiously as the “Shouting Methodists.”  I will share more about him in the future.  The second and fourth sons of the youngest four were David and Andrew, and these are the two that we trace our ancestry to. Below is a photo of David Koontz — my Uncle Baxter once sent this to us as a card with the statement “Merry Christmas On You.”  We thought it was hilarious.  He does look a bit formidable.  I will share more about him, and his two wives, later — Sevele Magdalina Sowers and Sevele Magdalina Evans (honest truth); and also about the story of George Washington’s stop at his home in 1791.  And let’s not forget his two daughters — Sevele Magdalina (again!) Koontz and Catherine Koontz (step-sisters) who both married his brother, Andrew’s, son (are you confused yet) — Philip H. Koontz (my 2nd great-grandfather).

Finally, the 3rd of the four youngest sons was Philip Koontz, who was the only one to move out of North Carolina — to Parke County, Indiana — in the 1830′s.  Because of this, we have some wonderful letters that were sent back and forth.  I share one with you below, from the father, Johannes Koontz, to his son, Philip Koontz and his wife, Rebecca Grimes, written August 13, 1837.  I have transcribed it exactly with the spelling and punctuation marks (or lack of them) that were in the original:

Dear beloved Son and dauter in law I take this opportunity to rite you a few lines to let you no that we are a livein amonst the livin and we air all well that is my famly  hoping to god that thes few lines will find you all well and the ballance of my children is all well but John is wery sick.  David Cooze and his famly is well.  Henory brother George Cooze and his famley is well.  I will in form you about our crops our wheat crops is good but it stood thin on the ground corn crops will be middlen good but we had a very dry spell last april it sot people back in plantin it got late before they got done and it was dry the hole summer our corn looked like doin till now about too weeks we had rain a plenty oats was short bacon 12 and half corn 75 cent, wheat is 1 dollar  Jacob is a livein with me yet he is well and skipin and a jumpin about I think a great del of him he dose a most all my work he wery smart Pegy is well and is a liven at George Cooze   Now I want you to rite me an answer as quick as you can rite with leonard if you can and I want a full statement & you to rite a little about them all.  I want you to rite where Henry is we heard he was sick and was at his step mothers and Jacob Long sick there too

Alexander grub we heard you lost your little boy and we feel very sorrow but I hope you and your wife Suanna is well and I so want you to rite us where you live and how you are doin and wether yours are well Philip we want to hear from your famly how they have increased and what is there names my eyes is got no better then they was when you left here nothing more at present but don’t for get me as I am a getin old you cant escap [expect] me to come to see you any more if you want to see me you must come to see me we can com together by sendin each other letters it makes me feel very glad to here from you nothing more but remain father and mother sons and dauter until death if I don’t see you on this side of my grave I am in hopes I will on the other.    John Cooze  & Charoty Dady and mama and molley

By way of explanation, “John is very sick” refers to Philip’s brother John, known as “Chapel John.”  Later, I hope to share with you the letters sent between John and Philip at the time that John was leaving the church for the “Shouting Methodists,” in which Philip pointed out that “even the Indians shout and are not Christians.”  Most of the other names in the letter refer to the family members of Michael Koontz, the oldest son of Johannes and Dorothy, who had died in November of 1834.  We learn from this letter that Dorothy went by the nickname of “Charity,” and that Magdalina, Johannes’ daughter, was known as “Mollie.”

It’s really great to have this kind of heritage — a family that loved each other, that shared letters (and kept them) and that obviously cared about one another.  Imagine that — a letter from my 4th great-grandfather to his son!  Priceless!  And born in 1753 — that’s a long, long time ago.  Here are photos of the graves of Johannes and Dorothy Koontz, which shows the front and back of a remodeled memorial that incorporated the original stones as part of the design.  Yes, the birth date is incorrect on the stone, for we have the original records from the Christ Lutheran Church of York Co., PA, which clearly shows it was 1753.