1709 Johan Jurg Meisser is listed in the sixth embarkation list of German Palatines who sailed from Holland for New York via England, on July 28, 1709, " with wife & 4 kinder," [1] [2] [3]
1710-12 Johan Jurg Meisser is recorded under the New York Subsistence List for 1710-1711 as, "MAUSER, Johann Georg, 2-2; 2-1." indicating first, those over ten and those under ten in 1710, and second, those over ten and under ten in 1712. [4]
A Genealogy of the Meisser Family reports [5]
By Al Boffo
Johan Jurg Meisser, First ImmigrantJOHAN JURG MEISSER is listed in the sixth embarkation list of German Palatines who sailed from Holland for New York via England, on July 28, 1709, "with vvrow & 4 kinder," as referred to by Walter Allen Knittle on page 272 of Early 18th Century Palatine Emigration. (1)
Much has been written of the hardships of the journey to the NEW LANDS, after they had scraped up every bit of property and belongings and converted them into cash to eke out enough for the bare fare for the long journey. First the trip down the Rhein in river boats; the delays at each customs check point -- twenty-six in all -- each delay eating into their money reserve for the necessary food. Then the long wearisome, and hazardous sea voyage, with still more delays, eating more and more into their money reserve. Passengers were crowded and herded like cattle, making for unsanitary conditions; and lack of sun and fresh air contributed greatly to a "fever" that developed. Many died at sea and many more on or soon after arrival; many whole families, with many families reduced to one member. Many were buried at sea with no records having been kept. Neither are there records of those dying upon or immediately after arrival. Those who finally survived were a very poor, weak, discouraged people. Many had to mortgage themselves for various services for many years to repay for their "Subsistence" during the voyage. (2)
Johan Jurg Meisser is again recorded on page twenty-eight of Knittle's Early 18th Century Palatine Emigration, under the New York Subsistence List for 1710-1711 as, "MAUSER, Johann Georg, 2-2; 2-1." indicating first, those over ten and those under ten in 1710, and second, those over ten and under ten in 1712.
CHILDREN:
2/2 Johann Michael Meiser, born ca. 1703 in Germany, married Anna Elizabeth Sixt ca. 1723/24, had ten children.References
(1) Knittle, Walter A. The Early Eighteenth Century Palatine Emigration: A British Government Redemptioner Project to Manufacture Naval Stores. (Philadelphia: Dorrance, 1937), p. 272.
(2) Lichtenthaeler, Frank E. Storm Blown Seed of Schoharie. Allentown, Pa.: Pennsylvania German Folklore Society, vol. 9: 1944)
Another Meiser line of Perry Twp, Snyder County, Pennsylvania might also be related. [9] Several anecdotes in the story below are repeated in notes for Henry Meiser (1728-1801), son of John Michael (1703-1745). [10]
EARLY SETTLERS AND MILLS. -- Henry Meiser, grandfather of David Meiser (now an aged citizen of Perry township), came from Germany. David Meiser says that his grand - father, in company with other German families, first settled at Albany, N. Y., and from there went up the Mohawk and crossed to the headwaters of the Susquehanna and came down the North Branch and landed at Swatara and Hummelstown. From there the grandfather came to now Perry township and stopped where Markley now lives, near Aline. He brought his effects on a two - horse wagon and built a hut made of bark. He moved away from this place three times on account of the Indians. On one occasion he put his children in a chaffbag, placed them on a horse and went to where New Buffalo, in Perry County, is now located, to escape the Indians. At this place they had a temporary fort, where they would flee for refuge from the Indians. On one occasion an Indian came and took the bread out of the bake-oven. At another time an Indian came where Mrs. Meiser was alon He appeared cross and snappish. She gave him bread and eatables such as she had, to pacify him. When Mr. Meiser returned he followed the Indian and an encounter ensued, which resulted in the killing of the Indian. Mr. Meiser was a great hunter ; he devoted much of his time to this pursuit. He had a deer lick in the swamp now owned by Mr. Markley, near the new covered bridge, where he killed deer whenever he chose to do so. One day two panthers passed his hut ; he followed them and shot one of them near where Dinger 's mill - dam now is. The same night the other panther came to the hut and called for his mate, when he shot him through an opening in the side of his hut.
Michael Meiser, son of Henry Meiser, built an oil mill near Meiserville about eighty - five years ago. The old stone building is still standing but not occupied.
[1] Walter Allen Knittle, Early 18th Century Palatine Emigration (1937), 272, [InternetArchive].
[2] U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s, right, 4 from top, [AncestryRecord].
[3] Palatine German Immigration to Ireland and U.S., Hank Z Jones collection, 1654-1878, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[4] Walter Allen Knittle, Early 18th Century Palatine Emigration (1937), 287, [InternetArchive].
[5] Lloyd E. Mizer, Joseph A. Meiser, Meisser Genealogy Association, A genealogy of the Meisser family (Meiser, Miser, Mizar, Mizer, Myser, Myzer) (1975, other versions: 1986), Johan Jurg Meiser, see page 5, image 27, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[6] Joseph A. Meiser, A genealogy of the Meisser family (1975), [URL].
[7] Lloyd E. Mizer, A genealogy of the Meisser family (1986), [URL].
[8] Ella Kennard, Kennard Family, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[9] History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata Valleys, embraced by the counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union, and Snyder, (1886), page 1523, DGS 7549648, image 861, [FamilySearchImage].
[10] Lloyd E. Mizer, Joseph A. Meiser, Meisser Genealogy Association, A genealogy of the Meisser family (Meiser, Miser, Mizar, Mizer, Myser, Myzer) (1975, other versions: 1986), [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].