Individual Details
Leonhardt FURRER
(1697 - )
Leonhard Furrer was born 19 September 1697 in the small rural village of Oberlangenhard, Switzerland, 2 miles south from the community of Zell in the Zurich Canton. He was the son of Hans Jakob Furrer (born 11 September 1649 in Zürich) and Magdalena (“Lieni”) Schickli.
Leonhard married Barbara (Babelj) Zuppinger who was born 6 or 8 August 1697, the daughter of Jakob Zuppinger and Barbara Wettstein.
Leonhard and Barbara became the parents of five children, all born in Switzerland. Sadly, three of them died very young. They are listed in Zurich records as:
Heinrich Furrer (b. 6 July, 1727, Zell ,Zürich, Switzerland)
Hans Konrad (b. 26 Dec 1728, Zell, d. 19 Mar 1729, Oberlangenhard)
Anna Furrer (b. 14 Mar 1730, Zell; d. 21 Nov 1734, Zell)
Hans Rudolf (b. 14 Dec 1732, Zell; d. 19 Mar 1735, Oberlangenhard)
Hans Rudolf Furrer (b. Jan 27, 1737)
IMMIGRATION
The brother of Barbara Furrer (Leonard's wife) was Hans Conradt Zuppinger. In 1734, Hans Conradt and his wife Babelj Meyer Zuppinger had travelled aboard the ship “Mercury” to Philadelphia. They sailed with their children: Hans Casper Zuppinger, Hans Ulrich Zuppinger, Margetlj Zuppinger, and Heinrich Zuppinger.
This would give Leonard’s family the privilege and security of having an established family already waiting for them in Pennsylvania, Colonial America. Conradt's family settled in Pennsylvania for the rest of their lives.
On 29 August or 8 September 1737, Leonard and Barbara Furrer (both age 40), along with their surviving two children, Heinrich (age 12) and Hans Rudolf (age 2), set sail on their voyage to America on the ship Jamaica Galley, ready to step out into the unknown and leave their native land.
Joining them on this same ship was Barbara’s sister Maria (Zuppinger) Peter and her family. The Furrers and Peters are listed together on the passenger list.
The Jamaica Galley routinely took her passengers from Rotterdam to Cowes, England, then to the Port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After a voyage of several months, the Leonhard Furrers and their fellow immigrants landed at the port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Leonard was on the list as “Leonard Furrer – age 40”. This list was verified as “Sworn by Robt. Harrison on 7 Feb 1738, that this is a ‘true and compleat List of Palatine Males of the Age Sixteen Years and upwards, to the best of my knowledge.’"
When the Leonhard Furrers and Peters arrived, Leonhard signed the Oath of Allegiance by spelling his name “Lenhart Furer”.
Leonard and Barbara's child Rudolph may have died as a young child, as there are no records of him yet found.
Documents show (see below) that Leonard Furrer settled in Pennsylvania close to Barbara’s siblings, the Zuppinger and Peters families.
Leonard appears in the Philadelphia early census of 1739, living by his brother-in-law Conrad Zuppinger, over a year upon arrival in America.
On 23 January 1745, six years following the Furrs arrival, Leonard Furr purchased 100 acres of land in Philadelphia County – the warrant purchased from Oley, Pa. Four days later on 27 January 1745, Leonard Furr purchased “113 acres, 106 perches” in Berks County, Pa.
Leonard appears to have died in 1790 in Berks County at the age of 92, as following this date, his estate division was a matter of legal discussion.
What became of Leonard's son Heinrich (Henry)?
At least two Henry Furr’s lived in colonial Pennsylvania. One of them could possibly be Henry (born 1727).
There is much confusion (based on assumption but there is no absolute documentation) as to the Henry Furr who settled in Dutch Buffalo Creek, North Carolina. The question of identity is between Leonard's son Heinrich Furrer (born 1727 who initially immigrated to Philadelphia, Pa), and another Heinrich Furrer (born 1691 who initially immigrated to S. Carolina), both from Zurich Canton, Switzerland. They were living at the same time and are related to one another.
SOURCES:.
1. Gale Research “Passenger and Immigration Lists Index 1500’s-1900’s”
2. Pennsylvania Census, 1772-1890. Compiled and digitized by Mr. Jackson and AIS from microfilmed schedules of the U.S. Federal Decennial Census, territorial/state censuses, and/or census substitutes.
3. Ship galley manifest of the Jamaica Galley from Pennsylvania Archives, Secretary of the Commonwealth, Penn State Library-1892 “Names of the Foray who took the Oath of Allegiance to the Province- State of Pennsylvania” 1727-1775. Here Leonard is listed as taking the Oath of Allegiance on February 7, 1738.
4. “Early Landholders of Pennsylvania, Berks County” by Sharon Cook MacInnes and Angus MacInnis” Notes: Warrantee Name: Furr, Leonard, alias Foore; Surveyed 8 Feb 1790 for Henry Hoffman in Right of Leonard Furrs”. This is an indication that Leonard Furr had passed away.1 Aug 1763, Deed: Henry Furry (Forry) (Fury) of York Co., sold to Christian Stoner
5. “Names of Foreigners Who Took the Oath of Allegiance to the Province and State of Pennsylvania 1727-1775”, Edited by William Henry Egle. M.D., 1892
6. "Passenger List, Mercury, Master: William Wilson. Emigrants from Parishes in Northern Switzerland, via The Netherlands, Qualified at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 29 May 1735." In Districts I and II New York State Genealogical Records Commission. Downstate New York D.A.R. Cemetery, Church and Other Town Records, vol. 458 (1976), pp. 78-90.
7. Warrant Applications, 1733-1952. Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania State Archives.
- By Nancy Hendrickson - This life history is the result of much diligent research on the Furrer families, which my sister (Debra Baugh) and I began in 1972.
"From the Parish Zell, against all warnings and admonitions, there left for the purpose of going to Pennsylvania, Carolina, etc., the following persons:"
August 29, 1734
Bernhardt Furer, September 19, 1697
Babelj Zuppinger, August 8, 1967
Children:
Heinrich, July 6, 1631 (sic)
Hans Rudolff, January 27, 1737"
However, a letter from the Swiss Record Office of the County of Zurich dated December 23, 1987 to Mary Ann Plumeri of Las Vegas, Nevada, states this information is incorrect. Instead, Heinrich Furrer emigrated in 1738 with his parents and siblings to America. He was actually born on July 6, 1727. His father's name was Leonhard, not Bernhard. He arrived on the ship Jamaica Gallery in Philadelphia.
Jamaica Galley 1738
Source: Strassburger & Hinke's Pennsylvania German Pioneers, 1934, by the Pennsylvania German Society, Norristown, PA.
pp. 252-253, Sworn by Robt. Harrison on 7 Feb 1738/9, that this is a "true and compleat List of Palatine Males of the Age Sixteen Years and upwards, to the best of my knowledge."
Leonard Furrer 40
[List 68 B] Palatines imported in the Ship Jamaica Galley, Robert Harrison, Commander, from Rotterdam, but last from Cowes in England. Qualified February 7th 1738/9. (pp 253, 254)
Linhart Furer
(pg. 255) [List 68 C] At the Court House of Philadelphia, February 7th, 1738/9.
Present: The Honorable George Thomas, Esq., Lieutenant Governour, Clement Plumsted, Esq., Thomas Griffitts, Esq., Thomas Lawrence, Esq., Anthony Morris, Mayor.
The Palatines whose Names are underwritten, imported in the Ship Jamaica Galley, Robert Harrison, Commander, from Rotterdam, but last from Cowes in England, did this Day take and Subscribe the Oaths to the Government, viz.,
Linhart Furer
Leonard/Bernhardt Furrer, h/o Barbara Zuppinger, of Oberlangenhard-Zell, is from Ober-Langehard.
Heinrinch, h/o of Susanna Baumann/Bowman, is from Gossau.
Ober-Langenhard is 2 miles from Zell(up river) & 15 miles from Gossau, Canton Zurich.
The Zell in Kanton Luzerne would be much further away
- - -
Lists of Swiss Emigrants in the Eighteenth Century to the American Colonies: Volume I
NO. 98. FROM THE PARISH ZELL [ =Oberl-Langenhard, Canton of Zurich], AGAINST ALL WARNINGS AND ADMONITIONS, THERE LEFT FOR THE PURPOSE OF GOING TO PENNSYLVANIA, CAROLINA, ETC., THE FOLLOWING PERSONS:
August 29, 1734 [This group actually left in Sept 1734=see follow up correction entry made in Vol II listed below]
[p.100]Bernhardt[should be Leonhard] Furer September 19, 1697.
Babelj Zuppinger, August 8, 1697.
Children:
1. Heinrich, July 6, 1631 [*SEE Vol 2 correction below]
2. Hans Rudolff, January 27, 1737.
Have wondered if the following are relations of Babelj Zuppinger as they seem to have left Parish at the same time(same group) :
Married July 17, 1722 Caspar Peter, October 27, 1698
Maria Zuppinger, February 28, 1699.
1. Hans Jacob, March 4, 1723.
2. Caspar, August 13, 1724.
3. Rudolf, December 25, 1728.
5. Anna, January 19, 1738.
...& this family is also with the group-
Hans Conradt Zuppinger
Babelj Meyer, March 19, 1689.
Margetlj, July 12, 1718.
Hans Uerech, September 20, 1722.
Heinrich, February 19, 1730.
Hans Caspar, December 21, 1732.
Correction to Heinrichs data...
Lists of Swiss Emigrants in the Eighteenth Century to the American Colonies Lists of Swiss Emigrants in the Eighteenth Century to the American Colonies: Volume 2
ZÜRICH TO CAROLINA AND PENNSYLVANIA, 1734-1744
Emigrants of Uncertain Date
BASEL
page 252
[98-100] Fourth line from top: reads "1. Heinrich [FURER], July 6, 1727," not "July 6, 1631."[p.252]ADDITIONS TO THE BERN LISTS
& also:
PER Swiss Record Office of the County of Zurich " Heinrich Furrer born July 6, 1731 (according to Faust and Brumbaugh) was actually baptized on July 6, 1727"
Leonhard married Barbara (Babelj) Zuppinger who was born 6 or 8 August 1697, the daughter of Jakob Zuppinger and Barbara Wettstein.
Leonhard and Barbara became the parents of five children, all born in Switzerland. Sadly, three of them died very young. They are listed in Zurich records as:
Heinrich Furrer (b. 6 July, 1727, Zell ,Zürich, Switzerland)
Hans Konrad (b. 26 Dec 1728, Zell, d. 19 Mar 1729, Oberlangenhard)
Anna Furrer (b. 14 Mar 1730, Zell; d. 21 Nov 1734, Zell)
Hans Rudolf (b. 14 Dec 1732, Zell; d. 19 Mar 1735, Oberlangenhard)
Hans Rudolf Furrer (b. Jan 27, 1737)
IMMIGRATION
The brother of Barbara Furrer (Leonard's wife) was Hans Conradt Zuppinger. In 1734, Hans Conradt and his wife Babelj Meyer Zuppinger had travelled aboard the ship “Mercury” to Philadelphia. They sailed with their children: Hans Casper Zuppinger, Hans Ulrich Zuppinger, Margetlj Zuppinger, and Heinrich Zuppinger.
This would give Leonard’s family the privilege and security of having an established family already waiting for them in Pennsylvania, Colonial America. Conradt's family settled in Pennsylvania for the rest of their lives.
On 29 August or 8 September 1737, Leonard and Barbara Furrer (both age 40), along with their surviving two children, Heinrich (age 12) and Hans Rudolf (age 2), set sail on their voyage to America on the ship Jamaica Galley, ready to step out into the unknown and leave their native land.
Joining them on this same ship was Barbara’s sister Maria (Zuppinger) Peter and her family. The Furrers and Peters are listed together on the passenger list.
The Jamaica Galley routinely took her passengers from Rotterdam to Cowes, England, then to the Port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After a voyage of several months, the Leonhard Furrers and their fellow immigrants landed at the port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Leonard was on the list as “Leonard Furrer – age 40”. This list was verified as “Sworn by Robt. Harrison on 7 Feb 1738, that this is a ‘true and compleat List of Palatine Males of the Age Sixteen Years and upwards, to the best of my knowledge.’"
When the Leonhard Furrers and Peters arrived, Leonhard signed the Oath of Allegiance by spelling his name “Lenhart Furer”.
Leonard and Barbara's child Rudolph may have died as a young child, as there are no records of him yet found.
Documents show (see below) that Leonard Furrer settled in Pennsylvania close to Barbara’s siblings, the Zuppinger and Peters families.
Leonard appears in the Philadelphia early census of 1739, living by his brother-in-law Conrad Zuppinger, over a year upon arrival in America.
On 23 January 1745, six years following the Furrs arrival, Leonard Furr purchased 100 acres of land in Philadelphia County – the warrant purchased from Oley, Pa. Four days later on 27 January 1745, Leonard Furr purchased “113 acres, 106 perches” in Berks County, Pa.
Leonard appears to have died in 1790 in Berks County at the age of 92, as following this date, his estate division was a matter of legal discussion.
What became of Leonard's son Heinrich (Henry)?
At least two Henry Furr’s lived in colonial Pennsylvania. One of them could possibly be Henry (born 1727).
There is much confusion (based on assumption but there is no absolute documentation) as to the Henry Furr who settled in Dutch Buffalo Creek, North Carolina. The question of identity is between Leonard's son Heinrich Furrer (born 1727 who initially immigrated to Philadelphia, Pa), and another Heinrich Furrer (born 1691 who initially immigrated to S. Carolina), both from Zurich Canton, Switzerland. They were living at the same time and are related to one another.
SOURCES:.
1. Gale Research “Passenger and Immigration Lists Index 1500’s-1900’s”
2. Pennsylvania Census, 1772-1890. Compiled and digitized by Mr. Jackson and AIS from microfilmed schedules of the U.S. Federal Decennial Census, territorial/state censuses, and/or census substitutes.
3. Ship galley manifest of the Jamaica Galley from Pennsylvania Archives, Secretary of the Commonwealth, Penn State Library-1892 “Names of the Foray who took the Oath of Allegiance to the Province- State of Pennsylvania” 1727-1775. Here Leonard is listed as taking the Oath of Allegiance on February 7, 1738.
4. “Early Landholders of Pennsylvania, Berks County” by Sharon Cook MacInnes and Angus MacInnis” Notes: Warrantee Name: Furr, Leonard, alias Foore; Surveyed 8 Feb 1790 for Henry Hoffman in Right of Leonard Furrs”. This is an indication that Leonard Furr had passed away.1 Aug 1763, Deed: Henry Furry (Forry) (Fury) of York Co., sold to Christian Stoner
5. “Names of Foreigners Who Took the Oath of Allegiance to the Province and State of Pennsylvania 1727-1775”, Edited by William Henry Egle. M.D., 1892
6. "Passenger List, Mercury, Master: William Wilson. Emigrants from Parishes in Northern Switzerland, via The Netherlands, Qualified at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 29 May 1735." In Districts I and II New York State Genealogical Records Commission. Downstate New York D.A.R. Cemetery, Church and Other Town Records, vol. 458 (1976), pp. 78-90.
7. Warrant Applications, 1733-1952. Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania State Archives.
- By Nancy Hendrickson - This life history is the result of much diligent research on the Furrer families, which my sister (Debra Baugh) and I began in 1972.
"From the Parish Zell, against all warnings and admonitions, there left for the purpose of going to Pennsylvania, Carolina, etc., the following persons:"
August 29, 1734
Bernhardt Furer, September 19, 1697
Babelj Zuppinger, August 8, 1967
Children:
Heinrich, July 6, 1631 (sic)
Hans Rudolff, January 27, 1737"
However, a letter from the Swiss Record Office of the County of Zurich dated December 23, 1987 to Mary Ann Plumeri of Las Vegas, Nevada, states this information is incorrect. Instead, Heinrich Furrer emigrated in 1738 with his parents and siblings to America. He was actually born on July 6, 1727. His father's name was Leonhard, not Bernhard. He arrived on the ship Jamaica Gallery in Philadelphia.
Jamaica Galley 1738
Source: Strassburger & Hinke's Pennsylvania German Pioneers, 1934, by the Pennsylvania German Society, Norristown, PA.
pp. 252-253, Sworn by Robt. Harrison on 7 Feb 1738/9, that this is a "true and compleat List of Palatine Males of the Age Sixteen Years and upwards, to the best of my knowledge."
Leonard Furrer 40
[List 68 B] Palatines imported in the Ship Jamaica Galley, Robert Harrison, Commander, from Rotterdam, but last from Cowes in England. Qualified February 7th 1738/9. (pp 253, 254)
Linhart Furer
(pg. 255) [List 68 C] At the Court House of Philadelphia, February 7th, 1738/9.
Present: The Honorable George Thomas, Esq., Lieutenant Governour, Clement Plumsted, Esq., Thomas Griffitts, Esq., Thomas Lawrence, Esq., Anthony Morris, Mayor.
The Palatines whose Names are underwritten, imported in the Ship Jamaica Galley, Robert Harrison, Commander, from Rotterdam, but last from Cowes in England, did this Day take and Subscribe the Oaths to the Government, viz.,
Linhart Furer
Leonard/Bernhardt Furrer, h/o Barbara Zuppinger, of Oberlangenhard-Zell, is from Ober-Langehard.
Heinrinch, h/o of Susanna Baumann/Bowman, is from Gossau.
Ober-Langenhard is 2 miles from Zell(up river) & 15 miles from Gossau, Canton Zurich.
The Zell in Kanton Luzerne would be much further away
- - -
Lists of Swiss Emigrants in the Eighteenth Century to the American Colonies: Volume I
NO. 98. FROM THE PARISH ZELL [ =Oberl-Langenhard, Canton of Zurich], AGAINST ALL WARNINGS AND ADMONITIONS, THERE LEFT FOR THE PURPOSE OF GOING TO PENNSYLVANIA, CAROLINA, ETC., THE FOLLOWING PERSONS:
August 29, 1734 [This group actually left in Sept 1734=see follow up correction entry made in Vol II listed below]
[p.100]Bernhardt[should be Leonhard] Furer September 19, 1697.
Babelj Zuppinger, August 8, 1697.
Children:
1. Heinrich, July 6, 1631 [*SEE Vol 2 correction below]
2. Hans Rudolff, January 27, 1737.
Have wondered if the following are relations of Babelj Zuppinger as they seem to have left Parish at the same time(same group) :
Married July 17, 1722 Caspar Peter, October 27, 1698
Maria Zuppinger, February 28, 1699.
1. Hans Jacob, March 4, 1723.
2. Caspar, August 13, 1724.
3. Rudolf, December 25, 1728.
5. Anna, January 19, 1738.
...& this family is also with the group
Hans Conradt Zuppinger
Babelj Meyer, March 19, 1689.
Margetlj, July 12, 1718.
Hans Uerech, September 20, 1722.
Heinrich, February 19, 1730.
Hans Caspar, December 21, 1732.
Correction to Heinrichs data...
Lists of Swiss Emigrants in the Eighteenth Century to the American Colonies Lists of Swiss Emigrants in the Eighteenth Century to the American Colonies: Volume 2
ZÜRICH TO CAROLINA AND PENNSYLVANIA, 1734-1744
Emigrants of Uncertain Date
BASEL
page 252
[98-100] Fourth line from top: reads "1. Heinrich [FURER], July 6, 1727," not "July 6, 1631."[p.252]ADDITIONS TO THE BERN LISTS
& also:
PER Swiss Record Office of the County of Zurich " Heinrich Furrer born July 6, 1731 (according to Faust and Brumbaugh) was actually baptized on July 6, 1727"
Events
| Birth | 1697 | Ober-Langenhard, Zell, Zürich, Switzerland |  | ||
| Baptism | 19 Sep 1697 | Ober-Langenhard, Zell, Zürich, Switzerland | |||
| Marriage | Jan 1724 | Ober-Langenhard, Zell, Zürich, Switzerland - Barbara ZUPPINGER | |||
| Alt name | Leonhard FURRER | ||||
| Alt name | Leonhart FURER |
Families
| Spouse | Barbara ZUPPINGER (1697 - ) |
| Child | Heinrich FURRER (1724 - ) |
| Child | Heinrich FURRER (1727 - 1769) |
| Child | Hans Konrad FURRER (1728 - 1729) |
| Child | Anna FURRER (1730 - 1734) |
| Child | Hans Rudolf FURRER (1732 - 1735) |
| Child | Hans Rudolf FURRER (1737 - ) |
| Father | Hans Jakob FURRER (1649 - ) |
| Mother | Magdalena "Lieni" SCHICKLI (1666 - ) |
| Sibling | Adelheit FURRER (1689 - ) |
| Sibling | Barbara FURRER (1691 - ) |
| Sibling | Anna FURRER (1695 - ) |
Endnotes
1. "Schweiz, Katholische und Lutherisch Kirchenbücher, 1418-1996", database, FamilySearch https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:66V3-94XP : 31 January 2022).