This Week in Frick-Heckman History

The strongest evidence places Martin in the Perkasie and Hatfield community. An English translation of a notice in Christopher Sower's German newspaper reports that Martin Funk, Jacob Souder, and a servant were riding toward market on 25 August 1749 when two armed men stopped them. The robbers were soon caught, the stolen property was recovered, and Martin, Jacob, and the servant identified the assailants before a justice.

An original deed dated 17 November 1763 records Martin's conveyance of his 100-acre Hatfield farm to ‘John Funk ... son of said Martin’ for £250. The deed recites Ebenezer and Sarah Kinnersley's earlier lease and release of 7 and 8 February 1743/44 conveying the same tract to Martin.

Martin's original will resolves the family relationship. Calling himself a widower, he named his only son John and six daughters: Margaret, Sophia, Barbara, Elizabeth, Susannah, and Catharina. Margaret received a £60 legacy, Martin's brass kettle, and his deceased wife's saddle. Peter Frick and Philip Marth witnessed the will. Peter's presence as a witness beside the named daughter provides strong evidence that Margaret was his wife and joins the Funk and Frick households.

Martin signed the will on 30 August 1765, and it was proved on 30 September. His precise death day, birth, and marriage duration remain unknown. The original 1720 Philadelphia marriage of a Martin Funk and Kath. Janson is real, but Kath has not yet been proved as this widower's deceased wife.

Heinrich Weierman, also recorded as Henry Weyerman, was born about 1724 and lived in colonial Pennsylvania. He reportedly married Catharine Juengling around 1746. Their five presently identified children were Anna Nancy, Mary, John, Catharine, and Christian.

Independent records now give the reconstruction a firm Bucks County setting. A published tax transcription places Henry Wireman in New Britain Township in 1765. More importantly, his original will identifies him as a husbandman of Buckingham Township and names his wife Catherine and five children: Ann Roar; Mary Ruth, wife of Cornelius Ruth; John Wireman; Christian Wireman; and Catherine, wife of John Fritsinger.

The appearance of Ann under the married surname Roar, an apparent phonetic or clerk's rendering of Rohr, provides strong independent support for the next generation. The direct line to Kathi continues through Anna Nancy Weierman Rohr, her daughter Catharine Rohrer, and Catharine's husband John Phillip Frick.

The will also corrects Henry's death chronology. He signed it on 27 August 1781, and it was proved on 2 October 1781. Henry was therefore alive on 27 August and dead by 2 October. The inherited death date of 9 September 1783 is incorrect. September 1781 remains a reasonable possibility, but 9 September is now only a wild guess.

If the reported marriage around 1746 is correct, Henry and Catharine had been married for about thirty-five years when he died. Anna's marriage record and further church, tax, land, and burial evidence remain important targets.