Ancestors who were Stonemasons in York County, PA
I started this message board because I recently learned that I have ancestors who lived in York County, PA and the father and son are both listed as being masons by trade. This appears to be a trade that was passed down in the family from father to son. Since the family I'm researching is named SMITH/SCHMIDT having the profession to separate my SMITHs from all the others is a valuable clue in my research.
My SCHMIDT/SMITHs were apparently German immigrants who arrived in the latter part of the 1700s.
Tell us about your ancestors on this board who were also masons (stonemasons) by trade.
Joan Young
|
Re: Ancestors who were Stonemasons in York County, PA
Well like you I had ancestors who were Stone Mason's. They also apparently passed the trade on from father to son(s).
It was the fact that they were stone masons that helped me find the family in 1860. You see they went by the name of HUNT from 1870 to present but I could never find them in 1860. Finally when I searched by first name, DOB and place of birth I found them living under the name of HANCE. I knew it was the same family because all the names and years of birth matched also because they were stone masons.
Michael
|
Re: Ancestors who were Stonemasons in York County, PA
Hi, Michael-
That is one of the reasons I started this message board--sometimes (especially where common names are involved in our research) it can be helpful to trace our ancestors by their profession or trade and as you have noted the trade of being a mason appears to have been taught from fathers to sons.
You can imagine my problem of searching for SMITHs--but when I narrowed it down to SMITHs who were stone masons--that made the task much easier. Most of the others in the area were farmers.
Joan
|
Re: Ancestors who were Stonemasons in York County, PA
Would your ancestors in York County Happen to be from Chanceford Twp. York County, PA I'm looking for informatiion on Levi Smith and He was a stone mason.
|
Re: Ancestors who were Stonemasons in York County, PA
My SMITHs who were stonemasons were living in the City of York at times but mostly in Dover Township. My Samuel SMITH (my 2nd great-grandfather), a stonemason, was born 28 Feb. 1823 and bapt. at Christ Lutheran Church, York. His parents are Bernhard and Catharine SMITH.
If your Levi SMITH was born about 1853 I believe he is the son of a Barnet (or Barnhart) SMITH and wife Mary who appear on the 1860 census in Dover Township, York County. The household consisted of:
Barnet SMITH born about 1802 Mary born about 1815 Barnet born about 1842 William born about 1844 George born about 1844 Reuben born about 1846 Levi born about 1853 Mary born about 1857 Samuel born about 1846
My best guess is that Barnet--father of Levi, is the son of my Barnet and Catharine SMITH based upon naming patterns and occupation as well as location.
My Barney/Barnet SMITH was born about 1779 and Catharine was born about 1783. They appear on the 1850 in the City of York (South Ward) and the ages are based upon that census listing. My 2nd great-grandfather, Samuel, age 27, is listed with them in 1850. Both Barney and Samuel are Masons by trade. Note that on this census record Catharine and Samuel are incorrectly listed with the surname REED because the enumerator put "ditto marks" beneath a listing for a Black girl living in the household in 1850, 12 year old Ann REED.
Joan
|
Re: Ancestors who were Stonemasons in York County, PA
My gggrandfather Levi smith was born in 1832/33 wife frances Plantholt any information would be greatly appreciated I cant find anything before 1870, or anything about his parents all being born in PA.
|
Re: Ancestors who were Stonemasons in York County, PA
I found your Levi on the 1870 and 1880 census in Chanceford but don't see him listed as a stonemason--only as a laborer and farmer.
I did find one clue for you though--something to look into. Your Levi served in the Civil war and is listed in the 1890 Veterans census: Levi SMITH, Chanceford Twp., Private, Company E, Regiment: 166 PA Infantry, and he served from: 8 Nov. 1862 to 28 July 1863. You may learn something by sending to NARA for his Civil War records.
Good luck!
Joan
|
Re: Ancestors who were Stonemasons in York County, PA
thank you joan ill keep trying
|
Re: Ancestors who were Stonemasons in York County, PA
Not only were my York County ancestors stone masons, but they also lived in Dover Township--and knew your ancestor Barnet Smith.
I am curious as to if there is a family connection.
I cannot interpret the record below--and I don't have access to the York County legal case--but the people listed below have some sort of connection. My ancestor is George Stoll, a stone mason of Dover Township who passed the trade down to his son John Stoll (1835-1909) who had several sons who also practiced the trade in their youth.
Ed Wevodau Grapevine, TX
-----------
A York County judicial record dated 5 Apr 1831 indicates the following:
Commonwealth vs. John Kochenaur
Catharine Kochenauer tent $50 (number crossed out) Susan Smith tent $50 (number crossed out) Samuel Meisenhelder tent $100 “Conditioned for the appearance of said Catharine Kochenauer & Susan Smith at a court of quarter sessions on the 1st Monday of August next to give evidence.”
Same vs. Same
Juliana Smith tent $50 Harriet Heneisen tent $50 William Caldwell tent $50 George Stoll tent $50 Barnet Smith tent $50
“Conditioned for the appearance of said Catharine Kochenauer & Susan Smith at a court of quarter sessions on the 1st Monday of August next to give evidence.”
Daniel Beitzel his Recognizance forfeited.
Michael Wolf tent $50 James Patton tent $50
“Conditioned for the appearance of said Catharine Kochenauer & Susan Smith at a court of quarter sessions on the 1st Monday of August next to give evidence.”
|
Re: Ancestors who were Stonemasons in York County, PA
Interesting. I don't know if there is any relationship or not between the Stolls and Smiths but they obviously knew each other.
I can tell you that the Kochenaurs (originally Gochenour) and I believe the Beitzels also were early Mennonite families in Lancaster County (originally). I do have Gochenour ancestors.
Joan
|