Individual Details
Johannes C. Florey
(21 Apr 1724 - 1801)
Johannes Flory (whom Bunderman titles "John I "in his book about Flory families in America) was one of three Florys to arrive upon the ship The John and Elizabeth, commanded by Captain Peter Ham, in the port of Philadelphia on Nov. 7, 1754. Tradition now has it that the other two Florys on board that day, Adolph and John George, were Johannes' brothers. It is not known where the three boarded the ship originally. The John and Elizabeth was registered in Portsmouth, England, but it made Palatinate, Hanau, Wirtemberg, and Rotterdam its main ports of call on the 1754 journey as it sailed down the Rhine to pick up German emigrants. While other English ships made similar voyages frequently along this same route, the John and Elizabeth apparently made but this one. It is also not clear as to whether or not any women accompanied the three brothers. The ship lists, following traditions of the time, did not record female passengers. They do enumerate "330 Whole Freights. 11 Roman Catholicks. 120 Protestants," with the term "whole freights" likely alluding to women and underage children (i.e., those under fourteen) who were not otherwise listed. Thus, it is possible, although not necessarily likely, that the brothers may have been accompanied by their mother, a sister or two, or even a wife, who may or may not have survived the trip.
The brothers' arrival in America in 1754 had been preceded by that of another Flory, Joseph J., from Palatinate (possibly Wuertemberg although more likely Bayern) who had sailed on the ship Hope in 1733 with his sons, Johnnes F. (15) and Joseph (J) (19) and his daughters Hanliey (17) and Maria (21). Joseph himself was 51, when he signed his various oaths of allegiance to the King and the Mayor of Philadelphia on August 28 of that year. Bunderman theorizes that this group of Florys was related to the three brothers of 1754-perhaps Joseph was their uncle or, given his age, great-uncle. Such a relationship is possible, although the name "Joseph Flory" has not been found in any town near Birkenau or Schopfheim.. Still, there are so few Florys in Germany in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries that one always has to consider the possibility that any individuals sharing that name might be related. Moreover, the first names of individuals in both the 1733 and 1754 families are peppered with similarities (Johann, Jacob, George, Maria, Elizabeth, Catharina, etc., although, admittedly these were very common names in 18th century Germany), and the state of Virginia seems to have been a popular destination for immigrants of both trees. No records have as yet been uncovered, however, that would indicate any communication between the two families in this country. Joseph's wife, according to LDS records, was born in Bayern, and this indicates one possible area from which his own family may have originated, but there is no known connection of the Birkenau Flohris to Bayern.
Both the 1754 Johannes and his companion John Georg were illiterate. They both affixed "x's" to their names on the ship and loyalty oath lists of The John and Elizabeth, names which appear variously in the records as "George" and "Johanes Flory, " "George" and "Hans Florin," and "Geo." and "Hannes Florin." Adolph, as previously mentioned, appears to have been able to write his own name, for the ship list does record the bold and practiced signature of "Adolf Flohri." However, in Adolph's will of 1819, probated in Wythe County, Virginia, he was only able to affix his mark to the name of "Adolph Flora," which someone else had written out for him. He may have been too ill at the time to do much else. Since Adolph and his two brothers had different mothers, it is not difficult to imagine that they also had different educations. Still , for many Europeans of the eighteenth century, the concept of literacy did not necessarily extend much beyond the ability to sign one's name.
Upon arriving in America, the "brothers" departed for parts unknown, but the earliest records we have of them suggest that at least Johannes, probably Adolph, and possibly George lived for a time in the area around Philadelphia and to the West.
Johannes I died in May of 1801 and was buried in Old Lutheran and Reformed Cemetery of Easton, Pa. in an unmarked grave. In the will previously mentioned and dated April 2? 0f 1801 and probated on the 16th of May, Johannes left all of his goods to his son, Ludwig, and his wife, Christina, with the proviso, as was common in wills of that time, that the widow stay with the son. Included in the division were one wagon, the two best horses, and gear for those horses, all of which went to Ludwig, a skillet, two coffee pots, a lantern, a table, and other household goods, which were bequeathed to Christina. The rest of the horses were to be auctioned off to pay various fees and debts. The total value of the estate was estimated to be a little over 84 pounds sterling. Ludwig's brothers, Johannes II and George, were excluded from the will. Presumably, Ludwig was the only son then living with the family, and Johannes wished to ensure the comfort of his widow through his son. For whatever reason, Ludwig eventually left Northampton County and moved to McConnelsburg in Fulton County, Pennsylvania. Whether or not he took his mother with him is not known nor is the place of Christina's death.
Johannes' will is easily obtainable from the Northampton County Courthouse in Easton, Pennsylvania. A description of the will, based on information supplied by John Garner Flora, also appears in Bunderman's history of the family. However, this summary differs in so many significant details from the original will, that it is possible several wills were confused. Bunderman, following Garner Flora, incorrectly lists the name on the will as "John C. Flora" rather than "John Flory," states that the entire estate "was left to wife" rather than the bulk to Ludwig, includes among the contents of Johannes' belongings fifteen acres of land whereas the actual will makes no mention of such property whatsoever, and is incorrect about other features of the inheritance.
To date, no will has been found for Johannes' son, Johannes II, although examples do exist for both Ludwig and his brother, George. Ludwig left a very small estate. His will, which was made May 16, 1850 and probated on December 20, 1851, can be found in the McConnelsburg Will Book, Vol. 1, page 20. His first wife, if living, was to receive 1/3 of the property; if she was not, that portion was to go to his daughter, Catherine, who was married to William Flencie. Of the remainder, the eldest son, Charles, was to receive $20 and the youngest, William, but $10.
According to the Franklin Co., Pennsylvania Will Book "F," p. 266, George Flory's will was drawn up on Dec. 1, 1857 and was probated on June 20, 1858. George was most concerned about his daughter, Christina Sophia, to whom he bequeathed his house and property on Main Street in Chambersburg, with the proviso that, following her death, the property be sold and the proceeds dispersed equally among his other children or their heirs. His son, William, also received land in compensation for "working for [George] after he was twenty one years of age," along with George's carpentry tools, but not the shop itself. The remainder of the property was divided equally among all of George's living children, who, in addition to Christina and William, included Henrietta Amelia, Catherine Augusta, Caroline Maria, and Lucretia Juliana. Catherine was listed as "insane" by the 1860 U.S. Census. George and his wife were probably buried in the First Lutheran Cemetery in Chambersburg, but there is no marker for him, and all of the Church's records were destroyed by Confederate troops during the Civil War. To date, the surname of George's wife, Henrietta Barbara, remains unknown.
The brothers' arrival in America in 1754 had been preceded by that of another Flory, Joseph J., from Palatinate (possibly Wuertemberg although more likely Bayern) who had sailed on the ship Hope in 1733 with his sons, Johnnes F. (15) and Joseph (J) (19) and his daughters Hanliey (17) and Maria (21). Joseph himself was 51, when he signed his various oaths of allegiance to the King and the Mayor of Philadelphia on August 28 of that year. Bunderman theorizes that this group of Florys was related to the three brothers of 1754-perhaps Joseph was their uncle or, given his age, great-uncle. Such a relationship is possible, although the name "Joseph Flory" has not been found in any town near Birkenau or Schopfheim.. Still, there are so few Florys in Germany in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries that one always has to consider the possibility that any individuals sharing that name might be related. Moreover, the first names of individuals in both the 1733 and 1754 families are peppered with similarities (Johann, Jacob, George, Maria, Elizabeth, Catharina, etc., although, admittedly these were very common names in 18th century Germany), and the state of Virginia seems to have been a popular destination for immigrants of both trees. No records have as yet been uncovered, however, that would indicate any communication between the two families in this country. Joseph's wife, according to LDS records, was born in Bayern, and this indicates one possible area from which his own family may have originated, but there is no known connection of the Birkenau Flohris to Bayern.
Both the 1754 Johannes and his companion John Georg were illiterate. They both affixed "x's" to their names on the ship and loyalty oath lists of The John and Elizabeth, names which appear variously in the records as "George" and "Johanes Flory, " "George" and "Hans Florin," and "Geo." and "Hannes Florin." Adolph, as previously mentioned, appears to have been able to write his own name, for the ship list does record the bold and practiced signature of "Adolf Flohri." However, in Adolph's will of 1819, probated in Wythe County, Virginia, he was only able to affix his mark to the name of "Adolph Flora," which someone else had written out for him. He may have been too ill at the time to do much else. Since Adolph and his two brothers had different mothers, it is not difficult to imagine that they also had different educations. Still , for many Europeans of the eighteenth century, the concept of literacy did not necessarily extend much beyond the ability to sign one's name.
Upon arriving in America, the "brothers" departed for parts unknown, but the earliest records we have of them suggest that at least Johannes, probably Adolph, and possibly George lived for a time in the area around Philadelphia and to the West.
Johannes I died in May of 1801 and was buried in Old Lutheran and Reformed Cemetery of Easton, Pa. in an unmarked grave. In the will previously mentioned and dated April 2? 0f 1801 and probated on the 16th of May, Johannes left all of his goods to his son, Ludwig, and his wife, Christina, with the proviso, as was common in wills of that time, that the widow stay with the son. Included in the division were one wagon, the two best horses, and gear for those horses, all of which went to Ludwig, a skillet, two coffee pots, a lantern, a table, and other household goods, which were bequeathed to Christina. The rest of the horses were to be auctioned off to pay various fees and debts. The total value of the estate was estimated to be a little over 84 pounds sterling. Ludwig's brothers, Johannes II and George, were excluded from the will. Presumably, Ludwig was the only son then living with the family, and Johannes wished to ensure the comfort of his widow through his son. For whatever reason, Ludwig eventually left Northampton County and moved to McConnelsburg in Fulton County, Pennsylvania. Whether or not he took his mother with him is not known nor is the place of Christina's death.
Johannes' will is easily obtainable from the Northampton County Courthouse in Easton, Pennsylvania. A description of the will, based on information supplied by John Garner Flora, also appears in Bunderman's history of the family. However, this summary differs in so many significant details from the original will, that it is possible several wills were confused. Bunderman, following Garner Flora, incorrectly lists the name on the will as "John C. Flora" rather than "John Flory," states that the entire estate "was left to wife" rather than the bulk to Ludwig, includes among the contents of Johannes' belongings fifteen acres of land whereas the actual will makes no mention of such property whatsoever, and is incorrect about other features of the inheritance.
To date, no will has been found for Johannes' son, Johannes II, although examples do exist for both Ludwig and his brother, George. Ludwig left a very small estate. His will, which was made May 16, 1850 and probated on December 20, 1851, can be found in the McConnelsburg Will Book, Vol. 1, page 20. His first wife, if living, was to receive 1/3 of the property; if she was not, that portion was to go to his daughter, Catherine, who was married to William Flencie. Of the remainder, the eldest son, Charles, was to receive $20 and the youngest, William, but $10.
According to the Franklin Co., Pennsylvania Will Book "F," p. 266, George Flory's will was drawn up on Dec. 1, 1857 and was probated on June 20, 1858. George was most concerned about his daughter, Christina Sophia, to whom he bequeathed his house and property on Main Street in Chambersburg, with the proviso that, following her death, the property be sold and the proceeds dispersed equally among his other children or their heirs. His son, William, also received land in compensation for "working for [George] after he was twenty one years of age," along with George's carpentry tools, but not the shop itself. The remainder of the property was divided equally among all of George's living children, who, in addition to Christina and William, included Henrietta Amelia, Catherine Augusta, Caroline Maria, and Lucretia Juliana. Catherine was listed as "insane" by the 1860 U.S. Census. George and his wife were probably buried in the First Lutheran Cemetery in Chambersburg, but there is no marker for him, and all of the Church's records were destroyed by Confederate troops during the Civil War. To date, the surname of George's wife, Henrietta Barbara, remains unknown.
Events
| Birth | 21 Apr 1724 | Birkenau, Bergstraße, Hessen, Germany | |||
| Marriage | 7 Apr 1760 | Pennsylvania - Christiana Hahn |  | ||
| Death | 1801 | Northampton County, Pennsylvania | |||
| Burial | Easton, Northampton County, Pennsylvania |
Families
| Spouse | Christiana Hahn (1739 - ) |
| Child | Johannes Florey II (1761 - 1827) |