116. Documentation for Michael Hillegas Senior
(circa 1742 to between 10 October 1782 and 2 November 1782)
father of Michael Hillegass Junior
(15 November 1775 to 11 March 1859)
Michael Hillegas Senior, Fourth Great-Grandfather of Curtis Lynn Older:
1) Micheal Hillegas Senior, husband of Catharine Gery, parents of Michael Hillegas Junior
2) Michael Hillegass Junior, husband of Anna Yeakel, parents of Susannah Hillegas
3) Susannah Hillegas, wife of John L Fox, parents of Daniel Alexander Fox
4) Daniel Alexander Fox, husband of Elizabeth Jane Ricketts, parents of Ethel Belle Fox
5) Ethel Belle Fox, wife of Robert William Gouty, parents of Mavis Lorene Gouty
6) Mavis Lorene Gouty, wife of Truxton James Older, parents of Curtis Lynn Older
Download Adobe Acrobat File - 116. Michael Hillegas Senior - (The file has the following text plus images.)
[Note: Perhaps the most important thing to remember about Michael Hillegas Senior is to not confuse him with the Michael Hillegas who was the Treasurer of the United States.]
Michael Hillegas Senior was born about 1742.(1) He was baptized 4 September 1742.(2) Michael Hillegas Senior died between 10 October 1782 and 2 November 1782.(3) His parents were Adam and Margaretha Hillegass.(4)
Michael Hillegas Senior married Catharine Gery on 10 November 1767 at Upper Hanover Township, Philadelphia Co. (now Montgomery Co.), Pennsylvania.(5) Michael and Catharine were the parents of eight children, two boys and six girls.(6) All eight children are mentioned in the will of Michael Hillegas Senior.(7)
i. Anna Margaretha Hillegas – the oldest child according to the will of her father.(8)
ii. Rebecca Hillegas - baptized 03 April 1770.(9)
iii. John Hillegas - baptized 16 January 1772.(10)
iv. Elizabeth Hillegas - baptized 01 November 1773.(11)
v. Michael Hillegas Junior - baptized 15 November 1775.(12) He married Anna Yeakel, daughter of Jeremiah Yeakel and his wife, Susannah Wiegner.(13) Michael Hillegas Junior received a payment of $253.33 from the estate of Jeremiah Yeakel, father of Anna Yeakel, as payment for his wife's share of her father's estate.(14) Payments from the Jeremiah Yeakel estate were also made to the husbands of the other married daughters of Jeremiah Yeakel.
vi. Eva Hillegas - baptized 20 December 1777.(15)
vii. Catherina Hillegas – unmarried.(16)
viii. Anna Maria Hillegas - born 16 October 1781 and baptized 10 March 1782.(17)
On 3 June 1778, Michael Hillegas Senior signed the Oath of Allegiance to the newly formed United States of America.(18) The State of Pennsylvania passed the Militia Act on 17 March 1777 which was a draft law. Prior to that time, Associators and men in the Pennsylvania Line were volunteers. The Militia Act of 1777 included the following provisions:(19)
1) eight battalion districts were set up in each of Pennsylvania's eleven counties
2) a man's usual place of residence determined his militia battalion
3) each county was under the direction of a County Lieutenant, a civilian employee
4) companies were broken down into eight classes
5) all men were listed by company, battalion, and by class in a permanent roll
6) each of the classes could be called up in rotation for two months of active duty
7) an active duty roll was made for men who served in person or as a substitute,
8) active duty rolls listed men by Co. Captain, not by class as in permanent rolls
9) County Lieutenants kept "fine lists"
Michael Hillegas Senior served as a Private in the 8th Class in the Pennsylvania Militia for the County of Northampton, in the 5th Company under Captain John Roberts.(20) John Roberts was the Captain of the 5th Company of the 1st Battalion in Upper Saucon Township in 1777.(21)
Michael also served as a Private in the 8th Class in the Pennsylvania Militia for the County of Northampton in the 5th Company under Captain John Stahl.(22) John Stahl was Captain of the 5th Company of the 4th Battalion in Upper Saucon Township in 1780 and of the 2nd Battalion in Upper Saucon Township in 1783.(23)
Records of the Pennsylvania Orphans Court provide additional information on the children of Michael Hillegass Senior after his death in 1782.(24) A petition was filed by John Wagner, the stepfather of the minor children of Michael Hillegass Senior, on 24 March 1785 indicating Michael HIllegass Senior left eight children after his death. The two oldest children, Ann Margaret and Rebecca, were above the age of fourteen. The remaining six children, John, Elizabeth, Michael, Eve, Catharina, and Mary were under the age of fourteen.
There was money left in the estate of Michael Hillegass Senior for the children. The court was requested to let Ann Margaret and Rebecca choose their guardians. The remaining children would have a court appointed guardian. Ann Margaret appeared in the court and chose Jacob Gary of Upper Hanover Township in Montgomery County as her Guardian. No Guardian was appointed for Rebecca since she did not appear in court.
Daniel Cooper of Upper Saucon Township was appointed to be the Guardian for John, Michael, and Elizbeth. John Newcomer the Elder of Upper Saucon Township was appointed to be the Guardian for Eve, Catharine, and Mary.
Another Orphans Court was held on the 24th of March in 1787 in Easton in the County of Northampton related to the children of Michael Hillegas Senior. John Newcomer appeared and requested that he be permitted to decline the guardianship for Eve, Catharine, and Mary Hillegas. The court so agreed and appointed Francis Hartman of Upper Saucon Township as the Guardina for the thee children who were still under age fourteen.
Michael Hillegas Junior was buried beside his wife, Anna, at the Gebhart or Saint John Cemetery in Miamisburg, Ohio. The tombstone of Michael Hillegas Junior reads, "Michael Hilligass died Mar. 11, 1859 aged 83 ys. 3 m. 26 d."(25)
Children (Hillegas) born in Pennsylvania:
i. Anna Margaret
ii. Rebecca
iii. John
iv. Elizabeth
v. Michael
vi. Eva
vii. Catharine
viii. Anna Mary
ORIGINAL SOURCE MATERIAL to support the RELATIONSHIP between
MICHAEL HILLEGAS SENIOR and his son MICHAEL HILLEGAS JUNIOR
1) Michael Hillegas (Senior) married Catharine Gery on 10 November 1767 at Upper Hanover Township, Philadelphia Co. (now Montgomery Co.), Pennsylvania. (Pennsylvania German Church Records Records of Births, Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, Etc., Church Records at Goshenhoppen, Clearfield Publishing, Volume III, page 93, 10 November 1767. Michael Hellicas, son of Adam Hellicas, of New Goshenhoppen, and Catharina Geri, daughter of Jacob Geri, of New Goshenhoppen)
2) Michael Hillegas (Junior) was baptised on 15 November 1775, a child of Michael (Senior). Sponsors were Joh. Cunius and wife. (Pennsylvania German Church Records, Church Records of Great Swamp, Zionsville, Upper Milford Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, Volume 3, pages 177)
3) The will of Michael Hillegas Senior names his wife as Catharina and his eight children: Anna Margaretha, Rebecca, John, Elizabeth, Michael, Eva, Catharine, and Anna Mary. (Will of Michael Hillegas Senior, Upper Saucon Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, Case #983, made 10 October 1782, probated 2 November 1782.)
4) The eight children of Michael Hillegas Senior are identified in Orphans Court records. (Pennsylvania Orphans Court, 24 March 1785, Book E, pages 73-74 and 19 March 1787, Book E, pages 123-124, lists the eight children of Michael Hillegas Senior)
5) Michael Hillegas Junior married Anna Yeakel, daughter of Jeremiah Yeakel and his wife, Susannah Wiegner. (The Genealogical Record of the Schwenkfelder Families, edited by Samuel Kriebel Brecht, Rand McNally & Company, 1923, page 471, [38-17] Jeremiah Yeakel and page 475, [38-35] Anna Yeakel)
6) Michael Hillegas Junior received a payment of $253.33 from the estate of Jeremiah Yeakel as payment for his wife Anna's share of her father's estate. (Jeremiah Yeakel Estate Papers, File Number 211-325, Case #243, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, 1818.) Payments from the Jeremiah Yeakel estate were also made to the husbands of the other married daughters of Jeremiah Yeakel.
7) Daughters of the American Revolution, Michael Hillegas (Senior) Ancestor #A204003, member National Numbers 813936 (Judith Lee Chapman Frisch), 823545, and 958278 through Michael Hillegas (Junior) and his wife, Anna Yeakel.
8) Daughters of the American Revolution, Jeremiah Yeakle, Ancestor #A129524, member National Number 813936, Judith Lee Chapman Frisch, through Michael Hillegas Junior and his wife, Anna Yeakel.
9) Possible – TO DO – Letters in the H. K. Gerhard Collection at the Schwenkfelder Historical Library written by Jacob Hillegass, 04 November 1839, to Jacob Kriebel. (The Genealogical Record of the Schwenkfelder Families, edited by Samuel Kriebel Brecht, Rand McNally & Company, 1923, page 475, [38-35] Anna Yeakel)
REFERENCES
1) Daughters of the American Revolution, Ancestor #A204003, Michael Hillegas (Senior), member National Number 813936, Judith Lee Champan Frisch; Pennsylvania German Church Records of Births, Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, Etc., Clearfield Publishing, Volume 3, page 15, Church Records of the New Goshenhoppen Reformed Congregation, Upper Hanover Township, Montgomery County, Pa., Baptisms, 4 September 1742, "John Michel, parents, Adam Hilligas and Margaretha. Witnesses, Michel Reder and his wife."
2) Pennsylvania German Church Records of Births, Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, Etc., Clearfield Publishing, Volume 3, page 15, Church Records of the New Goshenhoppen Reformed Congregation, Upper Hanover Township, Montgomery County, Pa., Baptisms, 4 September 1742, "John Michel, parents, Adam Hilligas and Margaretha. Witnesses, Michel Reder and his wife."
3) Will of Michael Hillegas, Upper Saucon Twp, Northampton Co., PA, #983, made 10 October 1782, probated 2 November 1782. [Register of Wills, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, Michael Hillegas, 1782, Case #983, Registers Index, Surnames H, 1752-1966.] See APPENDIX A below.
4) Pennsylvania German Church Records of Births, Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, Etc., Clearfield Publishing, Volume 3, page 15, Church Records of the New Goshenhoppen Reformed Congregation, Upper Hanover Township, Montgomery County, Pa., Baptisms, 4 September 1742, "John Michel, parents, Adam Hilligas and Margaretha. Witnesses, Michel Reder and his wife."
5) Pennsylvania German Church Records of Births, Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, Etc., Clearfield Publishing, Volume III, page 93, Church Records of the New Goshenhoppen Reformed Congregation, Upper Hanover Township, Montgomery County, Pa., Marriage Records, 10 November 1767. "Michael Hellicas, son of Adam Hellicas, of New Goshenhoppen, and Catharina Geri, daughter of Jacob Geri, of New Goshenhoppen."
6) Daughters of the American Revolution, National #813936, Judith Lee Chapman Frisch, ancestor Michael Hillegas, Ancestor #A204003.
7) Will of Michael Hillegas, Upper Saucon Twp, Northampton Co., PA, #983, made 10 October 1782, probated 2 November 1782. See APPENDIX A below. Also see, Pennsylvania Orphans Court, 24 March 1785, Book E, pages 73-74 and 19 March 1787, Book E, pages 123-124, lists the eight children of Michael Hillegas Senior. See APPENDIX B below.
8) Will of Michael Hillegas, Upper Saucon Twp, Northampton Co., PA, #983, made 10 October 1782, probated 2 November 1782. See APPENDIX A below. Also see, Pennsylvania Orphans Court, 24 March 1785, Book E, pages 73-74 and 19 March 1787, Book E, pages 123-124, lists the eight children of Michael Hillegas Senior. See APPENDIX B below.
9) Pennsylvania German Church Records of Births, Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, etc., Clearfield Publishing, Volume 3, page 174, Church Record of the Great Swamp Reformed Congregation, Lower Milford Township, Lehigh County, Pa., Parents: Michael Hellicas, Children: Rebecca, 3 April 1770, Sponsors: Jacob Geri and wife.
10) Pennsylvania German Church Records Records of Births, Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, etc., Clearfield Publishing, Volume 3, page 175, Church Record of the Great Swamp Reformed Congregation, Lower Milford Township, Lehigh County, Pa., Parents: Michael Hellicas, Children: Johannes, 16 January 1772, Sponsors: Johannes Hellicas and wife.
11) Pennsylvania German Church Records of Births, Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, etc., Clearfield Publishing, Volume 3, pages 176, Church Record of the Great Swamp Reformed Congregation, Lower Milford Township, Lehigh County, Pa., Children: Elisabetha, 1 November 1773, Parents: Mich. Helligas, Sponsors: Adam Geri, Elisabetha Neukomer.
12) Pennsylvania German Church Records of Births, Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, etc., Clearfield Publishing, Volume 3, page 177, Church Record of the Great Swamp Reformed Congregation, Lower Milford Township, Lehigh County, Pa., Children: Michael, 15 November 1775, Parents: Mich. Helligas, Sponsors: Joh. Cunius and wife.
13) The Genealogical Record of the Schwenkfelder Families, edited by Samuel Kriebel Brecht, Rand McNally & Company, 1923, page 475, [38-35] Anna Yeakel.
14) Jeremiah Yeakel Estate Papers, File Number 211-325, Case 243, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, 1818.
15) Pennsylvania German Church Records of Births, Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, etc., Clearfield Publishing, Volume 3, page 178, Church Record of the Great Swamp Reformed Congregation, Lower Milford Township, Lehigh County, Pa., Children: Eva, 20 December 1777, Parents: Mich. Helligas, Sponsors: Georg Horlacher and wife.
16) Will of Michael Hillegas, Upper Saucon Twp, Northampton Co., PA, #983, made 10 October 1782, probated 2 November 1782. See APPENDIX A below. Also see, Pennsylvania Orphans Court, 24 March 1785, Book E, pages 73-74 and 19 March 1787, Book E, pages 123-124, lists the eight children of Michael Hillegas Senior. See APPENDIX B below.
17) Pennsylvania German Church Records of Births, Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, etc., Clearfield Publishing, Volume 3, page 180, Church Record of the Great Swamp Reformed Congregation, Lower Milford Township, Lehigh County, Pa., Children: Anna Maria, Parents: Michael Hillegas, Catharine, his wife, Sponsor: Dorthea Beyer.
18) An alphabetized listing of those subscribers to the Oaths of Allegiance, Northampton County, Pa., 1777-1784: (also Oaths of Office, 1789-1804), Gaylord Griffiths, Closson Press, Apollo, PA, page 31: Name – Hilleges, Michael, No. – 261, Date – 3 June 1778, Justice of Peace – Jacob Morry, Page – 32. Also see, Henry F. Marx, ed., Oaths of Allegiance of Northampton Co., PA 1777-1784.
19) Hannah Benner Roach, "The Pennsylvania Militia in 1777", The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine, Vol. XXIII, No. 3, 1964, Philadelphia: Genealogical Society of PA, 23:162-166.
20) Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Volume 8, edited by Thomas Lynch Montgomery, Harrisburg, PA, pages 88.
21) Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission website, Northampton County Revolutionary War Militia.
22) Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Volume 8, edited by Thomas Lynch Montgomery, Harrisburg, PA, page 359.
23) Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission website, Northampton County Revolutionary War Militia.)
24) Pennsylvania Orphans Court, 24 March 1785, Book E, pages 73-74 and 19 March 1787, Book E, pages 123-124, lists the eight children of Michael Hillegas Senior.
25) Photograph of the tombstone of Michael Hillegas Junior taken by Curtis Lynn Older about 30 September 1998 at the St. John or Gebhart Cemetery in Miamisburg, Ohio.
Appendix A
Will of Michael Hillegas Senior
Register of Wills, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, 1782
Case #983, Pages 311-313
Last will and testament } In the name of God Amen I Michael Hillegass of Upper
of } Saucon Township in the County of Northampton and in the
Michael Hillegass } state of Pennsylvania wheel right being very sick and weak
in body but through the Mercy of my God of sound and perfect memory and understanding, and so I do make this my Last Will and Testament (page 312) of and concerning the temporal estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in my life time. In manner and form as Follows Viz. Impremise it is my will and I do order that all mu just debts and funeral charges be paid and satisfied and I do nominate and appoint my dear and well beloved wife Cathrina and my well beloved brother John Hillegass to be the executor of this my last will and testament first I give and bequeath unto my dear beloved wife my whole bed and bedstead with the curtains where I former and at present use to sleep in it and a white tail mare and her sadle and bridle and five cows and two sheeps and she shall have the choice amongst my cows and sheep to take which she pleased, a I give more to her one iron kettel one iron pot two pewter dishes and ?five? ?dito? plates and one washing tup and one pail and one meat fork one ladle one ? and six pewter spoons and six earthen pots item it is my will and ??? she shall have the full management of my plantation and land to occupy the same until my son John arrives to the age of twenty one years provided she shall not ?or? suffer any destruction to be made of the woods or timber and it is my will that my said wife Catherina shall bring up my children in a Christian like manner and to give them good learnings in reading and writings without any cost thereof to be rendered to my children and it is my will and I do order that my children shall be ? out to learn trades to such trades as they will chuse to learn by my said executors item I give and bequeath unto my dear beloved wife Catharina the third part of all my moveable and personal estate and goods whatsoever pertaineth to me besides the above particulars and the residue of my moveable and personal estate I give and bequeath the same unto my eight children viz. to – Anna Margareth, Rebecca, John, Elisabeth, Michael, Eve, Catherina, Anna Mary Hilligass the same to be divided and distributed share and share alike item I give and bequeath unto my two sons John and to my son Michael Hilegass my plantation and tracts of land and all the buildings and appurtenances whatsoever there unto belonging to hold to them their heirs and assigns forever upon condition that they said John and Michael Hillegass shall pay unto my herein named executors of this my last will and testament for the use of my heirs in general the sum of nine hundred pounds in hard money an ? gold or silver money at these presents as final ?rate? two hundred and twenty five pounds they the said John and Michael shall keep in part of their portion of my estate and the remaining part as? ?six hundred and seventy five pounds they shall pay the same in fourteen equal payments the first payment shall be made on the twenty seventy day of November when my son John shall come to the age of twenty one years and the first payment shall be paid (page 313) unto my oldest child Anna Margaret and so on yearly to the next born child according as they are born and further I give and bequeath unto my son John over and above his share and portion the sum of nine pounds to be paid to him when he comes to the age of twenty one years. I do hereby revoke all former wills and testaments by me made declariing this to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I the said Michael Hilligass have by these presents and to this my last will and testament set my hands and seal hereunto the tenth day of October Ano Domini One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eight Two Michael Hilligass (Seal) Signed sealed Published and declared by the above named Michael Hilligass for and as his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request have subscribed our names here unto Abraham Bachman Daniel Cooper ---- Northampton County ?SS?: On the 2nd day of November A.D. 1782 before me John Arnd Esqr personally came Abraham Bachman and David Cooper the ?Endenees? to the within last will and testament of Michael Hillegas deceased who on their solem affirmation according to law did respectively affirm and declare that they and each of them were present as heard and saw Michael Hillegas the testator sign seal publish pronounce and declare the same as and for his last will and testament and that at the doing there of he the said testator was of sound mind memory and understanding to the best of their knowledge and belief and also that they these affirmants subscribed their names as witnesses to the same in the presence and at the request of the said testator and in the presence of one another
John Arnd Esqr.
Appendix B
Children of Michael Hillegas Senior
Pennsylvania Orphans Court
Book E, pages 73-74 and 123-124
(page 73) the same day [24th day of March (1785)] On the petition of John Wagner stepfather to the minor children of Michael Hillegass late of Upper Saucon Township Yeoman deceased, setting forth, that the said Michael Hillegass afs died sometime ago leaving eight children, to wit, Ann Margaret and Rebecca (page 74) above the age of fourteen years, and John, Elizabeth, Michael, Eve, Catharina and Mary, who are all under the said age, having some estate left them by their said father; praying the court would be pleased to permit the said Ann Margaret and Rebecca to chuse their guardians, and that the court would appoint guardians for the said minor children under the age of fourteen years; whereupon the said Ann Margaret appeared in court, and did chuse Jacob Gary of Upper Hanover Township in Montgomery County Yeoman as and for her Guardian to take care of person and estate, and he is approved by the court and appointed accordingly; the said Rebecca not appearing in court there was no guardian appointed to her; and the court did appoint Daniel Cooper of Upper Saucon Township Yeoman to be Guardian for the said three Minor children John, Michael, and Elizabeth; and John Newcomer the Elder of Upper Saucon Township aforesaid Yeoman is appointed to be guardian for the other three Minor children, Eve, Catharine and Mary to take care of their respective persons and estates, and they are so appointed accordingly.
(page 123) At an orphan's court held at Easton in and for the County of Northampton the nineteenth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven before Peter Kohler, Benjamin Dpue, and Thomas Hartman Esquires Justices Etc.
John Newcomer appears in court, who at an Orphan's Court held the twenty fourth day of March one thousand seven hundred and eighty five had been appointed Guardian for Eve, Catharine and Mary Hillegas three of the Minor children of Michael Hillegas late of Upper Saucon Township Yeoman deceased, and desires he may be (page 124) permitted to decline the said guardianship; which being considered by the court and agreed to, the court do now appoint, as the said Orphans are under the age of fourteen years, Francis Hartman of Upper Saucon Township aforesaid, to be the Guardian of the said three Minor children, in the room of the said John Newcomer, and he is so appointed accordingly.
