Notes for John Bortner and Rachel Jamison

1830 John Bortner lived in Codorus Twp, York County, Pennsylvania in a household with males: 1 (under 5) and 1 (30 thru 39); and females: 1 (under 5), 2 (5 thru 9), 1 (20 thru 29), 1 (30 thru 39), and 1 (50 thru 59). [1]

1840 John Bortner lived in Shrewsbury Twp, York County, Pennsylvania in a household with males: 1 (5 thru 9) and 1 (15 thru 19); and females: 1 (10 thru 14), 2 (15 thru 19), and 1 (40 thru 49). [2]

1850 John Bortner (age 60, born in Pennsylvania) lived in Shrewsbury Twp, York County, Pennsylvania, in a household with Royal Bortner (age 54), and Jesse Bortner (age 19). [3]

1860 John Bertner (age 66, born in Pennsylvania) lived in Shrewsbury Twp, York County, Pennsylvania, in a household with Rachel Bertner (age 64), Amanda Rohrbach (age 15), and Leah Rohrbach (age 15). [4]

1860 Rachael Bortner died on September 17, 1860 and was buried at New Hope United Church of Christ Cemetery, Glen Rock, York County, Pennsylvania. [5]

1870 John Bortner (age 77, born in Pennsylvania) lived in Shrewsbury Twp, York County, Pennsylvania, in a household with Jane Bortner (age 17). John Bortner's occupation was farmer. [6]

There are two different reports of the death of John Bortner.

1872 John Bortner died on March 23, 1872 and was buried at New Hope United Church of Christ Cemetery, Glen Rock, York County, Pennsylvania. [7]

1872 John Bortner died on March 29, 1872 and was buried at Fissel's cemetery. He was a veteran of the War of 1812. [8]

The York Dispatch, York, Pennsylvania, June 6, 1983. [9]

Fissel's Church bicentennial— Site of a bicentennial celebration this month.

GLEN ROCK — Jerusalem Union (Fissel’s) Church stands a few hundred 4 yards from an area which at one time was the hunting grounds of Susquehannock Indians.

The red brick church, founded in 1783, is about three miles west of Glen Rock, Shrewsbury Township. The congregation marks its bicentennial this month.

It was in the latter part of 1700 when Frederick Fissel (Fishel) granted an acre of land for five shillings. Almost six months later the land was granted to “Calvinistic Presbyterians” (German Reform) and Lutheran congregations.

In 1783, Lutheran and Reformed congregations were organized. By July 1, 1785, their land amounted to four acres. After 11 years the entire farm of more than 291 acres was purchased for 14 pounds 10 shillings.

The church charter was established in l814.

The original church structure was a small log building situated in the present garden of the sexton’s home. In 1793, it was replaced by a larger building. In 1851, the third church, a brick building, was completed.

The present church was constructed in 1907. Originally it was a Lutheran Church in Spring Grove. Reportedly, beams woodwork and brick were dismantled and transported to the Glen Rock rural area by horse and wagon. …

A biosketch reports [10]:

John Bortner, 1789-1872; m. Rachel Jamison, 1797-1860 (v); buried at Fissel's. His farm,. which he acquired from his father., is now the Maggie Bowman property, adjoining Glen Rock borough. To distinguish him from the other John Bortners, he was called Big John — der gross John. Another of his nicknames was "Lep kuche Fresser", because of his fondness for ginger cakes such as were sold at public sales which he attended.

Footnotes:

[1] United States Federal Census, 1830, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[2] United States Federal Census, 1840, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[3] United States Federal Census, 1850, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[4] United States Federal Census, 1860, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[5] Find A Grave Memorial 11020061, [FindAGrave].

[6] United States Federal Census, 1870, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].

[7] Find A Grave Memorial 11020042, [FindAGrave].

[8] Pennsylvania, Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-2012, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].

[9] The York Dispatch, York, Pennsylvania, June 6, 1983, page 24, [NewspapersClip].

[10] Charles Henry Glatfelter, George Bortner of Codorus Twp, York County, Pennsylvania and His Descendants (1949), 37, [HathiTrust].