Individual Details
Wolfgang Newcomer
(1710 - Mar 1771)
Wolfgang Newcomer came to the United States from Switzerland with his parents, landing at Philadelphia (most likely in 1719). He was a Mennonite and a carpenter. He later moved to Leola, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in 1749 where he took up farming. His farm site can still be found, and is still being farmed, by following the signs directing those interested to the birth site of Wolfgang's son Christian. The farm is at 353 Eby Road, Leola.
In searching the deed to the farm, Wolfgang is listed as the original patentee. However, Wolfgang's father, Peter, left Peter's farm to Wolfgang. Furthermore, Simeon King, who is shown as the owner of the neighboring farm was one of the witnesses to Peter's will. And, there I am confused about the sequence of dates.
As I understand the process, the first step in getting land from William Penn was a warrant, which authorized a survey. If all went well, ownership was conveyed with a patent.
Logically, Peter Newcomer would have started the process. However, he had died by the time the process was completed.
The earliest date is the "survey"--26 February 1726. Note, no warrant date in the 1720s.
The warrant date is 1 October 1738. The only thing that I can think of is that son Wolfgang re-warranted as dad Peter died in 1732.
The patent date is 8 February 1738. Originally, this seemed wrong, as the patent date should be last. However, now I think the key is the old Julian calendar, under which March was the first of the year. Under the Julian calendar, October comes before February. If I convert the Julian date to a modern Gregorian calendar date, 8 February 1738 becomes 19 February 1739. And, thus, the patent date is last in the process.
In February 1768, Wolfgang leased his farm to Jacob Hearsh and John Douglas for four years. Although Wolfgang's will of 1771 left the farm to his son, Christian, my guess is that Wolfgang's sons were not interested in operating the farm as they were all relocating to Washington County, Maryland. Christian was active in the early United Brethren Church as a circuit riding minister. Thus, Christian was not an active farmer, and he resided in Maryland. As Wolfgang was in failing health, Wolfgang was no longer able to operate the farm. Thus, leasing it to others made sense.
Newcomer may be spelled Neukommets, Neukomer, Neukomm, Neukommat or Neukommett.
Silas and Esther Smucker summarized the religious background of the Wiedertaufer (rebaptizer) or, in English, an Anabaptist. Most of the following is from their work.
Martin Luther's thesis posted at Wittenberg University on 31 October 1517 is recognized as the founding of the Protestant Reformation Movement. Anabaptists split from Martin Lurther's reformation movement. On 18 January 1525 the Zurich City Council ordered families who refused to baptize their children upon birth expelled from the city, by force if necessary. Meeting in Felix Manz's Zurich home three days later on 21 January 1525, Conrad Grebel and George Blaurock joined Manz in baptizing each other. This was the start of the Swiss Brethren, who advocated adult baptism.
The cardinal principles of Anabaptism included adult baptism, separation from the world, separation of church and state, individual interpretation of the Bible, and Christianity as a way of life in active discipleship to Christ. Out of this literal interpretation of the New Testament came the refusal to bear arms, hold political office or to swear oaths. It also entailed the obligation of Christian love for every person, even for non-believers.
Menno Simons, a Dutch priest converted to Anabaptism, in 1536. His followers became known as Mennonites. Jakob Amman in the late 1600s emphasized a more rigid observance of Simons's teachings. His followers were known as Amish.
Alexander Mack founded the Brethren sect in 1708. As was the Anabaptist custom, many off-shoots of Mack's off-shoots occured over the years. In 1836 the German Baptist Brethren broke off. In 1908 the Church of the Brethren was established. Today, the prominent branches of Mack's organization, ranked by membership size, are the Church of the Brethren, Fellowship of Grace Brethren Church, Brethren Church, Old German Baptist Brethren, Dunkard Brethren and other small off-shoots. Some church groups who use the name Brethren, however, are not descended from Mack's group. These include the Moravian Brethren, Brethren in Christ, United Brethren, Christian Brethren and Plymouth Brethren.
Continual persecution by provincial authorities led many Anabaptists to leave Switzerland for Alsace between 1671 to 1711. The Sante Marie-aux-Mines Valley received most of these immigrants. On 9 September 1712 local hostility to the Anabaptists led authorities to expel the Brethren.
Montbeliard, under control of the Duke of Wurttemberg until the French Revolution in 1796 annex Montbeliard into France, extended refuge to many of the Brethren, mostly Amish, fleeing Alsace. Other popular destinations for the Swiss Brethren departing Alsace were Breisgau, Zweibrucken and Palatinate.
In 1681 King Charles II of England granted William Penn the area known as Pennsylvania in repayment of debt to Penn's father. A Quaker, Penn invited all religious groups to settle his land and enjoy religious freedom. Mennonites eagerly accepted his offer beginning in 1710. Mennonites from Palatinate and Switzerland settled mostly north and west of Philadelphia. Beginning in 1736 Amish settled in Berks County, Pennsylvania. When the French and Indian War led to attacks on settlers in Berks County in the 1750s, many moved to Lancaster and Chester counties.
The American Revolution deterred immigration, but after 1815 Anabaptists renewed their immigration to America. Many of them settled west of the Alleghenies.
In searching the deed to the farm, Wolfgang is listed as the original patentee. However, Wolfgang's father, Peter, left Peter's farm to Wolfgang. Furthermore, Simeon King, who is shown as the owner of the neighboring farm was one of the witnesses to Peter's will. And, there I am confused about the sequence of dates.
As I understand the process, the first step in getting land from William Penn was a warrant, which authorized a survey. If all went well, ownership was conveyed with a patent.
Logically, Peter Newcomer would have started the process. However, he had died by the time the process was completed.
The earliest date is the "survey"--26 February 1726. Note, no warrant date in the 1720s.
The warrant date is 1 October 1738. The only thing that I can think of is that son Wolfgang re-warranted as dad Peter died in 1732.
The patent date is 8 February 1738. Originally, this seemed wrong, as the patent date should be last. However, now I think the key is the old Julian calendar, under which March was the first of the year. Under the Julian calendar, October comes before February. If I convert the Julian date to a modern Gregorian calendar date, 8 February 1738 becomes 19 February 1739. And, thus, the patent date is last in the process.
In February 1768, Wolfgang leased his farm to Jacob Hearsh and John Douglas for four years. Although Wolfgang's will of 1771 left the farm to his son, Christian, my guess is that Wolfgang's sons were not interested in operating the farm as they were all relocating to Washington County, Maryland. Christian was active in the early United Brethren Church as a circuit riding minister. Thus, Christian was not an active farmer, and he resided in Maryland. As Wolfgang was in failing health, Wolfgang was no longer able to operate the farm. Thus, leasing it to others made sense.
Newcomer may be spelled Neukommets, Neukomer, Neukomm, Neukommat or Neukommett.
Silas and Esther Smucker summarized the religious background of the Wiedertaufer (rebaptizer) or, in English, an Anabaptist. Most of the following is from their work.
Martin Luther's thesis posted at Wittenberg University on 31 October 1517 is recognized as the founding of the Protestant Reformation Movement. Anabaptists split from Martin Lurther's reformation movement. On 18 January 1525 the Zurich City Council ordered families who refused to baptize their children upon birth expelled from the city, by force if necessary. Meeting in Felix Manz's Zurich home three days later on 21 January 1525, Conrad Grebel and George Blaurock joined Manz in baptizing each other. This was the start of the Swiss Brethren, who advocated adult baptism.
The cardinal principles of Anabaptism included adult baptism, separation from the world, separation of church and state, individual interpretation of the Bible, and Christianity as a way of life in active discipleship to Christ. Out of this literal interpretation of the New Testament came the refusal to bear arms, hold political office or to swear oaths. It also entailed the obligation of Christian love for every person, even for non-believers.
Menno Simons, a Dutch priest converted to Anabaptism, in 1536. His followers became known as Mennonites. Jakob Amman in the late 1600s emphasized a more rigid observance of Simons's teachings. His followers were known as Amish.
Alexander Mack founded the Brethren sect in 1708. As was the Anabaptist custom, many off-shoots of Mack's off-shoots occured over the years. In 1836 the German Baptist Brethren broke off. In 1908 the Church of the Brethren was established. Today, the prominent branches of Mack's organization, ranked by membership size, are the Church of the Brethren, Fellowship of Grace Brethren Church, Brethren Church, Old German Baptist Brethren, Dunkard Brethren and other small off-shoots. Some church groups who use the name Brethren, however, are not descended from Mack's group. These include the Moravian Brethren, Brethren in Christ, United Brethren, Christian Brethren and Plymouth Brethren.
Continual persecution by provincial authorities led many Anabaptists to leave Switzerland for Alsace between 1671 to 1711. The Sante Marie-aux-Mines Valley received most of these immigrants. On 9 September 1712 local hostility to the Anabaptists led authorities to expel the Brethren.
Montbeliard, under control of the Duke of Wurttemberg until the French Revolution in 1796 annex Montbeliard into France, extended refuge to many of the Brethren, mostly Amish, fleeing Alsace. Other popular destinations for the Swiss Brethren departing Alsace were Breisgau, Zweibrucken and Palatinate.
In 1681 King Charles II of England granted William Penn the area known as Pennsylvania in repayment of debt to Penn's father. A Quaker, Penn invited all religious groups to settle his land and enjoy religious freedom. Mennonites eagerly accepted his offer beginning in 1710. Mennonites from Palatinate and Switzerland settled mostly north and west of Philadelphia. Beginning in 1736 Amish settled in Berks County, Pennsylvania. When the French and Indian War led to attacks on settlers in Berks County in the 1750s, many moved to Lancaster and Chester counties.
The American Revolution deterred immigration, but after 1815 Anabaptists renewed their immigration to America. Many of them settled west of the Alleghenies.
Events
| Birth | 1710 | Langnau Im Immental, Bern, Switzerland |  |  | |
| Marriage | Abt 1737 | Baer | | ||
| Marriage | Abt 1740 | Elisabeth Maudlin Weber | | ||
| Death | Mar 1771 | Leacock, Lancaster, PA | |||
| Will | 18 Mar 1771 | |
Families
| Spouse | Elisabeth Maudlin Weber (1722 - 1798) |
| Child | Henry Newcomer Senior (1744 - 1795) |
| Child | Barbara Newcomer (1747 - 1820) |
| Child | Christian Newcomer (1749 - 1830) |
| Child | Peter Newcomer Senior (1752 - 1826) |
| Child | Elisabeth Newcomer ( - ) |
| Child | Newcomer (1755 - 1805) |
| Child | Magdalena Newcomer (1758 - ) |
| Child | Anna Newcomer (1759 - 1808) |
| Spouse | Baer ( - 1738) |
| Father | Peter Newcomer Senior (1680 - 1732) |
| Mother | ms ( - ) |
| Sibling | Hans Newcomer Senior (1707 - ) |
| Sibling | Newcomer (1713 - ) |
| Sibling | Peter Newcomer Junior (1715 - 1755) |
| Sibling | Magdalena Newcomer ( - ) |
Notes
Birth
Wolfgang Newcomer was born around 1714, according to Lyman Cole.Will
Wolfgang Newcomer signed his will on 4 March 1771, and it was proven 18 March 1771 (will C-1-20, Online Vol. C-D, Image 17, Leacock Township). Wolfgang's witnesses were John Be--dor and Abraham Mayer.Endnotes
1. Manley Mallet, All Those Newcomer Families of Maryland (October 1972).
2. Richard Warren Davis, "Swiss and German Mennonite Immigrants From the Palatinate, 1704-1717," Mennonite Family History, XIII, No. 1 (January 1994): 15.
3. Manley Mallet, All Those Newcomer Families of Maryland (October 1972).
4. Long, Agnes Young. Our Ancestors: Newcomer, Book 3 or Volume 3. Descedants of Peter Newcomer, Son of Wolfgang Newcomer, Washington County, Maryland. (Handwritten--extensive data) (Agnes Young Long. 155 King Street, Hagerstown, MD. Compiled 1951) (Washington County Historical Society, 135 West Washington Street, Hagerstown, Maryland 21740. histsoc@earthlink.net (301-797-8782) http://www.rootsweb.com/~mdwchs/) .