#46054 Christopher Gettig

Other names for Christopher: Stophel Gettig.

Christopher was born 1740/1743. He died 2 Jul 1790 in Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania. He was buried in Sunbury Cemetery, Sunburgy, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania.

[Bell] lists him as among the taxables in Augusta, Northumberland County in 1774.

On 17 Apr 1775, he acquired the right to run a ferry over the Susquehanna at Sunbury, Pennsylvania from Adam Heverling. [Bell]'s recording of this event identifies him as Stophel Gettig, tying him to the individual of that name who appears periodically in records of the time and place. Christopher then sold that ferry right to Abraham Dewitt on 8 Oct 1779.

[Linn2] records that the Committee for Safety met on 26 Feb 1776 to authorize raising batallions. Christopher joined the Continental Army as a First Lieutenant on 14 Oct 1776, serving with the 12th Pennsylvania under Captain Nicholas Miller.

[Heitman] states that he was wounded on 10 May 1777 and taken prisoner on 11 May 1777 at the Battle of Piscataway. Christopher's wound ended up requiring that his leg be amputated. There were a number of skirmishes with the British and Hessians in Piscataway, New Jersey through the early months of 1777 that bore that name; this one is occasionally referred to as Piscataway III. Major General Adam Stephen, hoping to surprise the British 42nd Highlanders encamped there, mounted a surprise attack with 150 men. The Continentals were defeated and driven back to Metuchen with fairly high casualties. Washington later expressed his displeasure with the ill-conceived operation.

He became a Justice of the Peace after the war and was elected as a coroner on 20 Oct 1781. His name appears in the list of taxables in 1788 for Augusta township.

His will was probated on 12 Jul 1790.

Here is a transcription I've made from the registrar's copy in the Pennsylvania will books. It is, unfortunately, one long paragraph.

In the Name of God Amen, I Christopher Gettig of the Town of Sunbury in the County of Northumberland and Common-wealth of Pennsylvania notwithstanding bodily Infirmities, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, Do this twenty eighth of June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety, make this my last Will and Testament for the apportiment[sic] and division of such Worldly Estate, which God hath pleased to bestow on me, in manner and form following viz. In the first place, I order and allow my funeral Expenses and all my just debts to be paid and discharged out of my personal Estate. Secondly, I give and bequeath unto my beloved Wife Anna Dorothy my Messuage [ed. note: a messuage is a dwelling with all outbuilding and lands attached] dwelling house barn Stables, and other out Houses and Improvements now in my occupancy where I dwell, Together with the lot of ground on which such Improvements are built and erected, during her natural life. Also my Meadow ground adjoining or near the Town of Sunbury afsd now in my tenor. And as the lot is yet to be purchased from the Proprietaries I do hereby order and Impower [sic] my Executors herein aftermentioned to purchase the same on the best terms in their power, and the payment thereof to be paid by my Executors out of the whole of my Estate, and then to be in the occupancy of my Wife Anna Dorothy during her natural life. Also I give devise and bequeath unto my said Wife Anna Dorothy, all my household furniture, Farming Utensils, Cows, Horses, provender provisions as are now about my Dwelling house, during her natural life. Thirdly, I give and bequeath further to my said wife Anna Dorothy, all the rents issues and profits arising out of my land and Plantation in Penns Township now in tenor of [a blank here] Houshal, during her natural life. All these bequeathments aforesd I give to my said Wife Anna Dorothy, on these Express Conditions, to maintain herself, and also to maintain support and Educate my three youngest Children, to wit, Christopher Catharine and Joseph, till they arrive at the full age of fourteen years, when they are then to choose their Guardians, who are to put them to trades, or what they think most needfull or necessary, for their good & benefit, but if it should so happen that my Wife Anna Dorothy should alter her state and marry again, Then and in that case I order and alow [sic] her, only, the one third of the Rents Issues and profits of the Real and personal Estate aforesaid, as her right of Dower. Fourthly, And whereas in Consideration of the filial duty and services and affection of my Daughter, Maudelena to me, I have procured her an Estate in fee simple of and in certain lot of Ground, situate in the Town of Sunbury aforesd adjoining Nicholas Roushar and others, and known in the General plan of the said town by the № 207. I now do hereby confirm the same unto her in fee, over and above what I give unto each of my other children. Fifthly, I give devise and bequeath unto my son Frederick five pounds Good and lawful moneys over and above what I give unto each of my other Children, to be paid when of age. Fifthly [ed. note: fifthly is given twice], I give devise and bequeath unto my children, Maudelena, Barbara (intermarried with Paul Sebo) Elizabeth (intermarried with John Bucher) Frederick, Christopher, Catharine, and Joseph all the rest and residue of my Estate both real Personal (after deducting my legacies devices and bequests aforesd) to have and to hold to them my said Children, Maudelena, Barbara, Elizabeth, Frederick, Christopher, Catharine and Joseph their Heirs and assigns for ever in Severalty as Tenants in Common, and not as Joint Tenants, to be holden as tenants in Common and so with my said Wife during her natural life afsd and after she decease. I give devise and bequeath the Reversion and Reversions, Remainder and Remainders of the said several Estates so bequeathed to my said wife for her life, to my said Children, Maudelena, Barbara, Elizabeth, Frederick Christopher, Catharine and Joseph to be by them holden by them in manner aforesd as tenants in common, and not as joint tenants. And Whereas I have purchased of a certain John Reeser a certain Estate in Land situate in Augusta Township, and in payment have given him three pounds in Specie and Bonds to the amount of one hundred pounds; but it is said that the obligee in sd bonds has become insolvent, and other difficulties have arisen to perfect my Title to the estate last mentioned, I do hereby impower [sic] my Executors either to take measures and means for completing my title afsd to the same, or upon delivery of the said Bonds, to cancel and make null my agreement with the said Reeser, and even to pay a small sum of money to be acquitted and discharged from my Covenants with the said Reeser, all this to be at the discretion and Wisdom of my said Executors. Sixthly, I do hereby nominate constitute ordain and appoint my beloved wife Anna Dorothy Executrix of this my Last Will, and John Weitzel & Christian Gettig Esqs Executors of this my said last Will and Testament. And lastly, I do hereby Ratify and confirm all and Singular the Legacies Bequests & devices contained in this my last Will and Testament revoking and annulling all other & former Wills by me heretofore made. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first above Written.

Christopher G. his mark Gettig.

Signed Sealed published, pronounced and declared by the sd Christopher Gettig as of and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in the presence of the sd Testator and in the presence of each other have hereunto Subscribed our names as Witnesses to the Execution of the said Will and Testament at his Request. Daniel Witmer, Jacob Witmer, Nicolaus Schreiner[ed. note: appears as Junniner but see the registrar's note below].

Northumberland County fs: Before me the subscriber Register General for the County aforesaid on the Twelfth day of July Ano Domi 1790. Personally appeared Daniel Witmer and Nicholas Schreiner, two of the Subscribing Witnesses to the foregoing Will or Instrument of writing and made Oath on the holy Evangelists of Almighty God, that they saw Christopher Gettig subscribe with his own hand his mark to the same, and heard him publish & declare it to be his last Will and Testament, and that they together with John Witmer Subscribed their names as Witnesses to the same, that this Happened in the sickness of Christopher Gettig, and that the was at the time of so doing of sound and disposing mind and memory. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand the day and year first above Written. J. Simpson Reg.

Be it remembered.

That on the twelfth day of July in the yeasr of our Lord 1790 before me was proved and approved the Last Will and Testament of Christopher Gettig deceased, of which the foregoing record is a true copy and Letters Issued in due and common Form of Law to Anna Dorothy, John Weitzel and Christian Gettig, Executors, therein named, on the same day. Witness by Hand the same Day and Year. J. Simpson Reg.

Christopher married #46055 Anna Dorothy.

Relationship notes

They married.

 

Other names for Anna: Anna Dorothy Gettig.

Anna was born in England. She died 1827 in Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania.

The warrant for a Penn Twp. property, perhaps the one that Christoper leaves to Anna in his will, is dated 24 Aug 1786.

She appears on the 1790 Federal Census for Northumberland Co, Pennnsylvania. There were three males under age sixteen and two other females living in the household. We know that Christopher Jr., Catharine, and Joseph were under fourteen from their father's will, accounting for two of the males and one of the females.

There are two entries for a Mrs. Gettig on the 1800 Federal Census for Sunbury. One is likely Maudelena — her father bequeathed her a house of her own when he died — and the other is probably Anna. The second entry has two girls, age 10–15, living in the household.

[Bell] notes that the 1808 triennial census for Sunbury has an entry for "log house and stable, owned and occupied by Ann Gettig, widow," on Front Street.

About that time she appears to have sold the larger property. The Pennsylvania State Archives hold warrantee maps for certain townships that show the original land purchases from the Proprietors or the Commonwealth. Christopher's land appears on the Shamokin map (Shamokin was later renamed to Sunbury), with transfers to other owners in 1813 and 1816.

Children of this relationship:

#68555FiMaudelena Gettig(Bef 1776–)
#68557FiiBarbara Gettig(Bef 1776–)
#68556FiiiElizabeth Gettig(Bef 1776–)
#46052MivFrederick Gettig(–1835/1840)
#68552MvChristopher Gettig(Bef 1790–)
#68553FviCatharine Gettig(Bef 1790–)
#68554MviiJoseph Gettig(Bef 1790–)

1790 U.S. Census, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, Ancestry.com. 1790 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010, Series: M637; Roll: 9; Page: 32; Image: 274; Family History Library Film: 0568149.

1800 U.S. Census, Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, Ancestry.com. 1800 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010, Series: M32; Roll: 37; Page: 654; Image: 104; Family History Library Film: 363340.

Christopher Gettig will, Pennsylvania, Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Wills, 1772-1907; Index, 1792-1930; Author: Northumberland County (Pennsylvania). Register of wills; Probate Place: Northumberland, Pennsylvania.

Christopher Gettig, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Ancestor #A044443. Citing PA ARCH, 5TH SER, VOL 3, P 683; 5TH SER, VOL 8, P 633.

Christopher Gettig, cemetery notes, www.findagrave.com, #89288843.

Christopher Getting land warrant, Pennsylvania, Land Warrants and Applications, 1733-1952 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Original data: Warrant Applications, 1733-1952. Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania State Archives and Land Warrants, Pennsylvania State Archives, Harrisburg, PA.

Deanna Pickering, "Pickering", RootsWeb GEDCOM, (Ancestry.com WorldConnect , db=:674833). Ref. as [Pickering].

Francis Bernard Heitman, Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army during the War of the Revolution, April 1775, to December, 1783, (Washington DC: The Rare Book Shop Publishing Company, Inc., 1914), p. 246. Ref. as [Heitman].

Herbert C. Bell, History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, (Chicago: Brown, Runk & Co., Publishers, 1891), p. 455. Ref. as [Bell].

Herbert C. Bell, History of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, (Chicago: Brown, Runk & Co., Publishers, 1891), pp. 183, 483, 700. Ref. as [Bell].

John Blair Linn, Annals of Buffalo County, Pennsylvania 1755-1855, (Harrisburg: L. S. Hart, 1877), p. 44. Ref. as [Linn2].

John Blair Linn, Annals of Buffalo County, Pennsylvania 1755-1855, (Harrisburg: L. S. Hart, 1877), pp. 102 & 143. Ref. as [Linn2].

Pennsylvania, Revolutionary War Battalions and Militia Index, 1775-1783, [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012, Vol. 1 p. 778; Vol. 2 pp. 331 & 786.

Warrantee Township Maps, Records of the Land Office RG-17, Pennsylvania State Archives, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, map of Shamokin Twp., Northumberland Co.


Line Generation: 1

Relationship: Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather