Looking for any historical information on subject, married to Christiana Kneissly, and immigrating from Switzerland sometime after their marriage in 1714. Died 1758, Shenandoah, VA. Some of my information may be incorrect. Just starting this search.

Prudence,
I'd like to know your source for Christian and wife Christiana. I am related to the Halterman who moved from Virginia into Ohio. Elizabeth Halterman married William Hawkins. I've seen postings that have Elizabeth's father as Christian but apparently not this Christian as Elizabeth was born in c. 1814 in Virginia.

Thanks,
Becky

Try this link: http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/10123672

My Mother was a Halterman and she had been contacted many years ago by someone doing research. He left her copies of several pages from two different books. Portions are paraphrased below.

The spelling of Christian's last name varies: Look for Holdeman, Haldeman, Halteman and Halterman.

Found references to Christian in two sources:
'History of Jackson County, Ohio' by Daniel Webster Williams
and 'History and Families of Jackson County'

The 'History of Jackson County, Ohio' by Daniel Webster Williams states that Christian sickened and died sometime prior to an attack by Shawnee Indians in the Fall of 1759. It portrayed Christina as a heroic widow determined to carry on. The article states that the attack occurred in the headwaters of a tributary of the Ohio River somewhere in southern Ohio.

The other book, 'History and Families of Jackson County', states that Christian was killed during the attack and that the attack occurred in August, 1758. This article places the attack as having taken place in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia.

In both articles his wife, Christina, was killed during the attack.

The 'History of Jackson County, Ohio' states that three little girls were killed and a baby. Three sons; Christopher, Jacob and Gabriel were captured and taken with the Shawnee. In October the band of Shawnee headed toward the Chillicothe area where the three boys were supposedly adopted into the Shawnee tribe.

Gabriel died that same winter. Christopher and Jacob were surrendered in a prisoner exchange 11/9/1764 at the forks of the Muskingum river with 204 other white prisoners.

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Between the two articles my best guess is that Christian (if he had not died of sickness prior), Christina, Maria Catrina Boin (Jacob Halterman Sr's wife) and Jacob Sr. were killed during the attack. The three boys captured by the Shawnee were Jacob Halterman Sr. sons. 'History and Families of Jackson County' makes no reference to the three little girls and the baby.

Gary, thank you for the interesting information. I will also take a look at the ancestry link.

Thanks for responding,
Becky

I too am a Halterman of direct decent from Christian Halteman and Christanna Kneissley.It's my understanding a group of the mennonites moved from Lancaster,Pa. and establised a settlement in the Shenandoah valley called Hawksbill near Brocks Gap,Va. There is an account of the Indian raid in a book titled "The Ancestors and Descendents of Christian Halterman of Hardy Co. Va. Now W.Va." by H. Gamle Grady. The book is quite extensive. Unfortunately there were only a few published. There is one at the Morman Library @ Salt Lake and one at public library of Hardy Co. in Moorefield, W.Va. I also have a copy.

There were several Christian Haltermans in the Shenandoal Valley. You need to attach bithdates to them to keep them straight. There was a Chritstian Haldeman abt. 1780, who was married to an Elizabeth Fout abt.1784. I have not researched their progeny. The above Cristian Haldeman was the son of Cristopher Haldeman abt.1741. He goes back to Christian Haldeman and Christanna Kneisley. My source is The Ancestors and Descendents of Christian Halterman of Hardy Co.,Va. now W.Va. by H. Gamble Grady