Family Files February 2022 - Person Sheet
Family Files February 2022 - Person Sheet
NameJahann George ZEH/SEE 
, M
, MBirthca 1685, Rudelsheim, Palatinate, Germany
Death22 Aug 1751, Hardy County, Virginia
Misc. Notes
The Moravian missionaries, Leonard Schell and John Grandmueller, in their diaries of travels from Maryland to Virginia and present WV visited Mathias Jochem and his family as early as 30 May 1747 and Joseph Spangenberg again visited Mathias and his family in October 1749 and described Mathias as a well-to-do German. They traveled 12 miles from the home of George Zeh.
George could have been md twice as records hint he married Mary Margaret Tschudi of SZ in 1720 NY
A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF GEORGE SEE; by Sara Patton
GEORGE LUDWIG SEE: Many See family histories, especially those written prior to the 1990s, refer to the patriarch of the See family as George Ludwig Zeh. These well-circulated histories to the contrary, there appears to be no such person as George Ludwig Zeh that can be documented.This incorrect name is probably based on another man named "Johannes Ludwig See" listed in 1733 ship records in Philadelphia who is not related to our See line that we know of.
These earlier genealogists were unaware of the long and well documented history of George See (or Zeh or Say) in New York, and later the Tulpehocken region of PA from whence came a large number of those who settled on the South Branch of the Potomac after 1742.
A preponderance of evidence has shown that the man referred to as George "Ludwig" See was actually Johann Georg (pronounced in the German way as Gay-org) Zeh, who arrived in NY in 1710 with his parents, German Palatines who settled in camps along the Hudson River to produce naval stores for the British Navy.
ORIGINS: No documentation has yet been found for George's birth: the year or the exact location. Again those earlier genealogies that give his name as George Ludwig See and claim he was from Silesia Prussia (based on the erroneous assumption of Thomas Jefferson Jackson See writing at the beginning of the 20th century that he was part of the Schwenkfelder religious movement who came to Pennsylvania in the 1730s-no mention of Zeh or See or Say has been found in Schwenkfelder records.) Others give the location the Upper Palatine, Germany-near Swiss-French-German border (Nugen); Silesia Pflatz, Bayern, Germany and Alzey near Oppenheim (Helen Powers); Prussia (Zimmerman).
The most convincing is Hank Jones' research into actual church records in Oppenheim naming Johannes and Magdalene Zeh of the village of Rudelsheim (just south of Oppenheim) in 1704-1709, with the baptisms of two of George's younger brothers. Rudelsheim no longer exists due to heavy flooding when a dike burst in 1819. The closest village today is Ludwigshöhe, built on higher ground. Abandonment and moving from the old Rudelsheim was ongoing up until 1830. The church, the only preserved building in Rudelsheim, was destroyed by fire in 1837.) Nearby Oppenheim, an ancient town, is now in the Mainz-Bingen district of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany halfway between Mainz and Worms on the Rhine River. (During WWII, troops under General George S. Patton built a crossing over the Rhine near Oppenheim to enter the heart of Germany.)
After a review of Oppenheim Church records, I was unable to find either his parents marriage date or George's baptismal date, though I think it safe to assume they lived in that area of the the Rhineland, Palatinate, known even today for its wine-based economy. (On ship records, Johannes Zeh listed as a "wine dresser." See Johannes' biography for reasons responsible for emigration to America.)
Given the known age of his mother from death records, George was most likely born after 1693 in Germany before the Palatine move to England and America in 1708-1710. Church confirmation records in 1711 identify him as a "young person" named Johann Georg Zeh at the New German Colony. From ship records, the Hunter lists showing Johannes Zeh with a son over 10 in 1709 and 1710 and George's documented church confirmation in 1711 (the typical age was 12 or 13), and the works of Henry Z. Jones, I conclude that Johann Georg Zeh was born ca. 1695-98 (at least 13 but not yet of legal age to be considered an adult. If he were of legal age, he would have been listed by name in the Hunter lists.)
http://threerivershms.com/nameskocherthal.htm A LIST OF FIRST COMMUNICANTS, pages 81-86. "From among our own young people the following partook of holy communion with us for the first time.... At the communion administered by me in the new colony of Germans, April 30th, 1711: Johann Philipp Braun, Johann Georg Zeh, Johann Adam Oemich,.... " [Note: the name "Johann" is usually a baptismal name for German boys in honor of St. John but not used in daily use unless it is spelled Johannes. In some cases I have seen his name as Hans Jery (Hans short for Johann) (Jery aka George)] ("Palatine Families of New York" by Henry Jones, page 1127, he was "conf[irmed] as Johann Georg Zeh at the New German Colony 30 April 1711 (West Camp Luth. Chbk.)."
We can follow George's parents with documentation from the Hudson River camps to Schoharie in upstate NY. From there, George migrated with many others of his generation (including Conrad Weiser) to the Tulpehocken and Swatara valleys of PA where he settled with his own family ca 1726 (not far from the Harness/Ernst family.) In most of the documents from PA, he is known as Hans Jery Say, Jery Say, and George Say.
1723: George Zeh appears on the "Lindenmuth Map" created ca 1904 purporting to be a list of the first Tulpehocken land owners in 1723. Since its publication in Morton L. Montgomery's Biographical and Historical Annals of Berks Co, PA (pub. 1909) and in the PA German Magazine-Oct 1904, others have noted that the 1723 date is incorrect and that it should refer to settlers after the year 1728. See 1737 for George Say's land warrant. Others on the map weren't even in PA until 1733.
1725 Sep 25 "Anna Magdalena ZEH co-sponsor with Conrad Weiser of bapt of Anna Magdalena RITH, d/o Michel RITH b 1696 & Barbara FEG [m 15 May 1717] from "The Registers of Reed's Church" by Frederick S. Weiser and Vernon Nelson [as noted by Hank Stuebing]: At first glance, it appears that Anna Magdalena Zeh, aged 53 (and the infamous leader of Schoharie women who attacked the sheriff), came all the way to the Tulpehocken area of PA for the baptism of this child and then returned to Schoharie in NY where she died in 1750 at the age of 78 as recorded in Schoharie church records. This seems to be a highly unlikely scenario as the Rieth or Reed's Church wasn't even established until 1727. In addition, the author of the original article explains that the Reed's Church records, for the years 1742-1747, followed Moravian custom, wherein "the entire family of members--including those baptised in Europe--was entered into the records." Thus the eleven entries made for Michel Rith's family, which extend from 1696 to 1739, include earlier births and baptisms obviously occurring somewhere other than the Tulpehocken Valley.
Without knowing when the Rith/Reed family actually came to PA, it is impossible to know where they were located in 1725. Michael Rith was not, however, on the early tax lists for the area the following January, making it highly unlikely he was in PA at that time. Thus I suggest that this mention of Anna Magdalena Zeh, as the baptismal sponsor of Michael Rith's child, was still located in Schoharie, and the occasion was simply included with the other records of the Rith family in the Reed Church record long after the fact.
1725/26, Jan 10-11: Chester Co, Tulpehocken Twp. Tax Assessments- Original document (PA State Archives Microfilm) Handwritten list of 36 names including "Hans Jery Say" who was charged £0.2.3 in tax. Handwriting probably by an English speaking clerk. Explanatory notes regarding tax assessment accompanying the microfilm states that the list of names was drawn up in the fall of 1725.
Note: Hans is short form of Johann or Johannes, aka John. The name "Jery" is also nickname for George and appears for other men as well–Jery Stump, Hans Jery Heine, Jery Reed, Jery Lesh, all known in other documents by the name "George". (In German pronunciation, the "J" sound is like a "Y".) Henry Z. Jones also lists Jurie/Yurie as nicknames for George and Rupp mentions Jerg, Jurg, Yerrick, and Yerg. I've also seen "Jury" and "Jörch" used as a substitute for "George". In at least two cases, I've seen the two names run together as "Hansyerry".
Given his location in the Tulpehocken area at this early date when only the Schoharie settlers are there, along with the following records that confirm he is in Tulpehocken area from 1725-1744, I am pretty well satisfied that Johann Georg Zeh of Schoharie is Hans Jery Say of Tulpehocken and Swatara and later George Zeh/Say/See of the South Branch of the Potomac.
It might be worthwhile to point out also that several other individuals or family surnames on this list also show up in the earliest years of settlement on the South Branch: Peter Torn/Dorn/Thorn, Jery (George) Stump, Peter and Leonard Reed, Tifiback (Deffe(n)bach aka "Tevebaugh"), and finally the last name in the list which appears to be "Michael Ernst" (aka Harness) (though different readers of the document interpret this as Gruf or Ernf since the final letter looks like "F" but is actually "st."
2-4 Jan 1726/27: Chester Co, Tulpehocken Twp. Tax Assessments - Original document (PA State Archives Microfilm) Handwritten list of 42 names including "Jery Fay" who owed £0.2.0 in taxes.
The names in this list are almost identical to and in the same order as the 1725/26 tax list (see above), so they are easy to compare for spelling and phonetics. Again, I suggest that "Jery" is George and "Fay" is "Say." The "F" in "FAY" is similar in appearance to the F's in other names although the surname "Fay" does not appear on other Tulpehocken documents of the period. That Hans Jery Say and Jery Fay are the same person can also be confirmed by their same relative position on each of the tax lists. On the 1725/26 tax list, Hans Jery Say follows Cynrod Culpman. On the1726/1727 tax list, Jery Fay follows Cynrad Culpman.
September, 1727: Tulpehocken to Oley Road Petition cites Michael Ernst Herner (aka Harness). We were unable to locate the original petition to check the signatures. However a transcript and almost illegible copy of the document can be found in Burgert, "A Research Guide..." pp. 8 &9.)
"having no Roads as yet established amongst us, by means where of we suffer diver inconveniences and a great part of ye land at present not Settled...be pleased to order a High road to be laid out, Beginning at the Lutherian (sic) Meeting House at Tolphehockan to end in the high road, at ye Quakers Meeting House near George Boone's Mill in Oley."
Burgert interprets one signatory as "Michgael Ernst Herner". Other signatories, including Reeds, Sebastian Fischer, and 2 of Conrath Diffenbach's children would all come to the South Branch valley within the next 2 decades. The original document should be checked for George Zeh's signature.
1732 May 2: George Say appointed to jury in trial of Callam McCurry for horse theft. Lancaster Co, PA Court of General Quarter Sessions 1729-1742, p. 56. From original records at Lancaster Co Historical Society.
1737 May 23: George Say Land Warrant in Lancaster Co. From original Land Warrants for Lancaster Co. Document P-251 (PA State Archives Microfilm)-<b/> "By the Proprietaries. Whereas George Say of the county of Lancaster hath requested that We would grant him to take up Two hundred Acres of Land, the same being vacant situate on a Branch of Tulpehoccon Creek about 3 Miles distant from Thomas Freame's Land in the said County of Lancaster for which He agrees to pay to our Use the Sum of Fifteen Pounds Ten Shillings current Money of this Province for each Hundred Acres, and the Yearly Quit-rent of One Half-penny Sterling for every Acre thereof; THESE are therefore to authorize and require thee to survey or cause to be surveyed unto the said George Say at the Place aforesaid, according to the Method of Townships appointed, the said Quantity of 200 Acres if not already survey'd or appropriated, and make Return thereof into the Secretary's Office, is order for further Confirmation; for which this shall be thy sufficient Warrant; which Survey in case the said George Say fulfil the above Agreement within six Months from the Date hereof, shall be valid otherwise void. Given under my Hand, and the lesser Seal of our Province, at Philadelphia, this 23th Day of May Anno Dom. 1737."
"1737 Lancaster May 23 George Say.....200 Retd 22 Febry 1814 in–al Jacob Shire This endorsement is evidently in error, as there is no return in this warrant and the Return referred to is on Warrants to Jacob and Geo Shire. One hund'd forty three Wm Borgdale N.S."
Opposite above written in later handwriting: a repeat of above. "1737 May 23d No. 143 Lancaster County 200 Acres George Say"
"Retd. 22 Feby 18th in al Jacob Shire This endorsement is evidently in error as there is no return on this warrant and the Return referred to is on warrants to Jacob and Geo Shire." I have no idea who this Jacob and George Shire were.
Land records are very tricky issue as we learned at the Pennsylvania State Archives. A brief explanation may help. While the entire colony of PA belonged to the "proprietor" William Penn, and after his death to his various children, to give or sell to others, the Penns were very sensitive to obtaining Indian title before selling to others. In 1723, when the Schoharie settlers first arrived, Indian title was still in question. Consequently, the Palatine families settled on the land without legal title. Finally, in 1732, the Delaware Indians made a treaty disposing of their lands in the area, thus allowing the Penns to begin the formal process of granting the land to others for sale or lease.
There 5 steps in the process of land ownership if purchased directly from the Penns (the "Proprietor." 1. Application: requesting a warrant to have a survey made. 2. Warrant: a certificate authorizing a survey and initiating title to the property to allow "legal" settlement but without granting all rights to the property. 3. Survey: sketch of boundaries with exact determination of total acreage 4. Return: verbal description of property boundaries. 5. Patent: final, official deed from the Penns or later the Commonwealth, conveying clear title and all rights
If land was purchased from or sold by a second party (i.e. someone who had already gotten a patent from the Penns), the transaction would appear in the county deed book.
By obtaining the warrant above, George Say completed the first 2 steps and was probably living on his land "three miles from Thomas Freame's land. At this point I have not found a definite location for Thomas Freame (whom, I believe, was a Penn son-in-law). However, by comparing the known locations of other landholders said to be adjacent to George Say, his land was located on the northeast corner of Myerstown, PA, bordering Rt. 422. Others researching original land documents (Lindenmuth, et. al.) have established this location for George and his neighbors and have mapped out the various landholdings on USGS maps and aerial photographs. We believe the identified Myerstown parcel to be the same parcel in the warrant but it is yet to be proven.
There were no ZEH, SAY, or SEE names listed as Grantors or Grantees in Lancaster Co. deed books. In fact the earliest Lancaster Co deeds don't appear until 1735 after Indian title had been transferred allowing the Penns to grant a large tract of land to Casper Wistar, one of his agents who later broke it into smaller tracts and sold to Christian Walborne and Peter Schell, next door neighbors of George Say.
Apparently George never completed the process of getting a survey and the final patent before moving on to VA ca. 1748-49. More research in the land records in Harrisburg may turn up additional information on his land holdings.
1737/38 Feb 7: George Say v. John Hammon. Lancaster Co Court of Common Pleas Appearance Docket 1737-1738. From original records in Lancaster Co Historical Society.
1738: "John George Ceh" said to have signed petition for establishment of new county. Could not find location of original petition.
7 Nov 1738: George Say appointed to view road from Hanover to "Tolpahocken". From original records in Lancaster Co, PA Court of General Quarter Sessions 1729-1742, p. 234. "Upon the Petition of Several Inhabitants of Hanover Twp Setting forth the necessity of a road through the Center of the Twp. to the publick Road in Tolpahocken ordered –that John McCurry, Richard Hough, ffrancis Reynolds, George Stites, George Grove & George Say View and if they or four of them So Cause that they lay out the Same by course and Distance according to the prayer of sd Petition & Report their Proceedings to the next Court."
Following common procedure, road petitions name men who live all along the road. Stites and Reynolds had adjacent land warrants around town of Lebanon, and George Say near Myerstown near Tulpehocken Creek. Several of same men are listed in another court case in 1740. (See below.) NEED TO FIND ORIGINAL PETITION
2 Nov 1739: George Say mentioned in Land Indenture from Casper Wistar to Peter Schell of Lancaster, Yeoman..."to the said Peter Schell (in his actual Possession now)... A Certain Tract or piece of Land situate in the said County Beginning at a post at a Corner of Land granted or intended to be granted to George Say thence extending by the same Land North...thence by Martin Batdorf's Land...thence by Thomas Copenhaver's Land...." Copy of original indenture in Lancaster Co Deed Book H: 388, Lancaster, PA.
Again, no deeds were recorded to or from George or Frederick Say/See/Zeh. There was a land sale recorded in 1762 for Godfried Stample in Lebanon Twp. (some relation to Maria Ottilia Stemple, wife of Frederick Zeh?)
1740 Aug 5 : George Say one of four witnesses for case against Henry Smith & ffrancis Reynolds for selling drink without a license. George Grove, George Say, John Hyle, Isaac Gusward. Each paid £10 that they appeared & gave evidence sd Smith. Case does not say if they testified for against defendants. Francis Reynolds and George Grove also on Hanover-Tulpehocken road petition above with George Say. From original records in Lancaster Co, PA Court of General Quarter Sessions 1729-1742, p. 288.
1742 Feb: Cushua vs. Say - Listed in Lancaster Co Court Plaintiff Indexes V1. Original in Lancaster Co. Historical Society. (Other references to Cushua show him living in Tulpehocken region. No first name for "Say.")
1743: Christ Lutheran Church–Witnesses to the cornerstone document of Christ Lutheran Church, Stouchsburg, PA. George Zeh and other names in handwriting of Tobias Wagner. (Transcript only. Burgert "A Research Guide..." p. 14, also listed in Rupp and Knittle.) George Zeh listed with other South Branch names: Michael Naef (Neff) Sr. & Jr., Sebastion & Jacob Fischer, Conrad Ernst, Jacob Zorn, George Pfafenberger (Baffenbarger); Adam Tiefenbach (whose half- brother came to South Branch), Stump, Mauz (Mouse), Christ, Huber. Balthas and Friderich Süss are also listed. Burgert notes that not all of those present at the ceremony were members of the congregation but residents of the Tulpehocken area at the time.)
1743 Dec 20 & 1744 Feb 2: George Zeh (Swatara), father of Anna Maria Zeh b. Dec. 20, 1743; bapt. Feb. 2, 1744. Sponsors, Heinrich Dubbs and his wife. "Early Lutheran Baptisms and Marriages in Southeastern Pennsylvania: The Records of Rev. John Casper Stoever from 1730 to 1779" p. 25. Translated and transcribed only. (See Dubbs below arriving 1736 on same ship with Andreas Yoakum and Ludwig "Lay".) WHERE ARE ORIGINALS??
1744 May 22: "John" Friederich Zeh marries Maria Ottilia Stempel, Swatara. Early Lutheran Baptisms and Marriages in Southeastern Pennsylvania: The Records of Rev. John Casper Stoever from 1730 to 1779" p. 60. Translated and transcribed only.) WHERE ARE ORIGINALS??
1744 Nov : Honly/Henly v. Sea - Listed in Lancaster Co Court Plaintiff Indexes V2. Original in Lancaster Co. Historical Society. (No first name given.)
1744: George Zeh listed in Potts Account Books, maintained for Tulpehocken area by Christian Lauer. Original said to be in Historical Society of PA, Potts Mss. V9:17 Tulpehocken Accounts, 1744. At one time property of Judge Pennypacker. (Transcript only in Burgert, "A Research Guide..." p. 17.) 1744 merchant accounts of Christian Lauer on Tulpehocken (now Berks Co) include Jacob Simon, Christian Schmidt, George Zeh [See], Mathias Theiss [Dice], Jacob Seibert, George Adam Busch, Henry Bickel [Pickle], and Peter Dorn (shown as "in Virginia") (PA Historical Society Potts Manuscript Vol 9 given in Kellog)
May 1745: Stoop v. Sea - Listed in Lancaster Co Court Plaintiff Indexes V2. Original in Lancaster Co. Historical Society . (No first name given.)
The Moravian missionaries, Leonard Schell and John Grandmueller, in their diaries of travels from Maryland to Virginia and present WV visited Mathias Jochem and his family as early as 30 May 1747 and Joseph Spangenberg again visited Mathias and his family in October 1749 and described Mathias as a well-to-do German. They traveled 12 miles from the home of George Zeh.
Comments on my trip to Pennsylvania with Hal McCawley
Doing research in PA is not as straightforward as it might appear. Just to know where to look and what records to ask for required an understanding of the dates and boundaries of county lines and geographical regions as they changed through time, a knowledge of the surnames of associated people–neighbors, fellow Schoharie emigrants, church members, relatives and future South Branch settlers.
In the time that George See/Zeh actually moved to the Tulpehocken region, the region was part of Chester County. In 1728 it was added to Lancaster Co, and in 1752 (after Zehs left) the Tulpehocken/Swatar region lay in what became Berks, Dauphin, and Lebanon Co. Thus any governmental records (land, estate, court records) are found in Chester, Lancaster, and possibly Philadelphia counties or in provincial record holdings.
IF the records to that period still existed, it helped to know what types of records would be held at the county level, at the state or provincial level, or at the church level. And finally, the continuing problem of reading the handwriting and trying to determine if the phonetically written German names are actually the names we are seeking.
Historical background information was essential to that understanding. A trip to the Historical Societies in both Lancaster and Berks Co allowed us to find background articles and books on the local history that we couldn't get elsewhere.
While we all know the problems with the phonetic translation of German names by English clerks, the lack of consistent spellings, and the variation in penmanship, we often forget the problems of interpretation and transcriptions. By using only published or secondary source material, we rely on the interpretations, typing skills, and abbreviated information of others. Because my own search for original documents (or microfilms thereof) has provided a wealth of information not always found in published sources, my research motto has become "Show me the original!"
Then I found a little booklet compiled by Annette K. Burgert, entitled "A Research Guide to the Tulpehocken Region Lancaster (Now Berks and Lebanon) Counties, PA. In her introduction, she makes note of the multitude of histories and interpretations regarding the early settlers of the Tulpehocken area: "...much conflicting information has appeared in print, and has been frequently quoted from one historian to the next without checking the original source document for accuracy of transcribing or translating....Certain names that appear on some of the petitions were difficult to read, and although translated and published, it is advisable to check the original..., especially if you have an ancestor who supposedly was among the early settlers, but seemingly does not appear...." Even comparing her list of names for the 1725 Tulpehocken Twp. Tax assessment with a copy of the original document, I found myself disagreeing with her interpretation and was glad I'd seen it for myself.
I've only included PA documents in the list above. I did not include unsubstantiated statements regarding George Zeh/Say in secondary sources like Rupp, Kellogg, Jones, Croll, Knittle, etc. unless they cited specific evidence or documents.
Other writers including Henry Z. Jones and Joseph Kellogg also claim that Süss, Six, Zech may also be interpreted as Zeh. Based on both PA and VA records, it is pretty clear that the German "Zeh" is pronounced to rhyme with Say and that Zeh, as written by the German Moravian missionaries in 1749, is probably the correct spelling.
Earl Ibach, author of the "Hub of Tulpehocken" , a resident and descendant of many generations of German- speaking Tulpehocken natives, told us that Zeh in German meant "saw" meaning the family occupation was traditionally that of carpenters. Others say that is the meaning of sage (umlaut over a) and that the real meaning is feet or toes!!
Other Interesting finds: <b/> Nov 15 1744 Lancaster County Deeds 1729-1743 Bk A: 205 (Lancaster Borough) Adam Kuhn divided a 15 acre parcel and sold 45 of 46 lots. Lot 2 to Micheal STUMP (no date shown); Lot 27 to George SEEHK 15 Nov 1744, Lot 12 to Mathias Buch 14 Nov 1744, Lot 26 to William Sauer 15. (This spelling is just another variation of Sech, Seg, Zech found earlier and probably is our George.)
SOUTH BRANCH VALLEY OF THE POTOMAC The first documentation we have for George Say aka George See and George Sea in the South Branch Valley of Virginia is the Tithable Lists for Augusta Co in 1749 and the mention of his name by Moravian missionaries (who were also German speakers) who refer to him George Zeh--also in 1749. His estate records in August of 1751 refer to him as George Sea and George Zee.
The best record we have of his actual location comes from the journals of those Moravian missionaries who visited him in 1749 at "The Gap" just east of today's Petersburg, WV. The 1749 Moravian Missionary journals (VMHB 11 & 12) show that the missionaries stayed with George Zeh and family at the "Gap" stating specifically that it was 12 miles distant from Mathias Yoakum at mouth of South Fork. Fairfax Rent Roles (Charles Morrison article in WV History) list Michael, George and Frederick See on the South Branch Manor along the South Branch of the Potomac--no date but probably ca 1748.
George Zee/Sea died just before 27 August 1751 according to probate records assigning his son Frederick "Sea" as his administrator. Augusta Co, VA Will Bk 1:375.
"The Condition of this Obligation is such that if the Above bound Frederick Sea Administr of all the goods Chattels & Credits of George Sea Deceased do make or cause to be Made a true & perfect Inventory of all and singular the goods Chattels & Credits of the said Deceased which have or shall Come to the hands possession or knoledge of him the said Sea or into the Hands or possession of any other person or persons for him and the same so made do exhibit or cause to be exhibited into the County Court of Augusta at such time as he shall be there unto required by the said Court And the same goods Chattels and Credits and all other the goods Chattals and Credits of the said Deceased at the time of his Death which at anytime after shall come to the hands or possession of the sd George Sea or into the hands and possession of any other person or persons for him do will & truely Administer According to Law and further do make a just And true Account of his Actings And doings there in when these to required by this sd Court and all the Rest and Residue of sd goods Chattels & Credits which shall be found remain'g upon the sd Administr. accompt? the same being first examined And allowed by the Justices of the Court for the time being shall Deliver & pay Unto such person or person respectively as the said Justices by their Order or Judgment shall directly? pursuant to the Law in this Case made & provided and if it shall heare? Appear that Any Last will & Testament was made by the sd deceased and the Executor or Executors there in named do exhibit the same unto the said Court making Request to have it allowed and approved Accordingly if the sd Frederick Sea being there unto required do render and Deliver up his Letters of Administration Approbation of such Testament being first had and made in the sd Court ??? this Obligation to be Void and of none Effect or Else to remain in full force--And Virtue
Sealed and Delivered Frederick FS Sea
in the presence of Convd & } his seal
At a Court held for Augusta County the 27 day of August 1751 Fredreick Sea & Andrew Lewis in open Court acknowledged this their bond for the sd Frederick true & faith of all adminsitration of the Estate of George Sea decd which bond is ordered to be recorded
Augusta Co, VA Will Bk1: 457-459
Apraisment of the Estate of George Zee deceased L S d
At a Court held for Augusta County November 15th 1752 This Inventory and appraisment of the Estate of George Zee Deceased being Returnd into Court is ordered to be Recorded."
It is my best guess, that Johann Georg Zeh and his wife Margaret are both buried on the lands they leased from Lord Fairfax at the Gap. Unfortunately we don't have an exact location for it. Cut and paste these coordinates in Google Earth to see my guess as to the location. 38°59'48.51"N 79° 6'0.25"W
There is also no known evidence for his wife Margaret's maiden name being Tschudi, so that is still up for debate.
Sources: -Governor Hunter's Ration Lists June, 1710 to September, 1714 in -The Book of Names Especially Relating to The Early Palatines and the First Settlers in the Mohawk Valley Compiled and Arranged by Lou D. MacWethy Published by The Enterprise and News St. Johnsville, NY., 1933 http://threerivershms.com/nameshunter.htm
The Kocherthal Records: A translation of the Kocherthal records of the West Camp Lutheran Church By J. Christian Krahmer, October 1926 http://threerivershms.com/nameskocherthal.htm
Henry Jones, ed. of 3 books: "THE PALATINE FAMILIES OF NEW YORK-1710 (Winner, Donald Lines Jacobus Prize: Best Genealogical Book of the Year), MORE PALATINE FAMILIES", EVEN MORE PALATINE FAMILIES
George could have been md twice as records hint he married Mary Margaret Tschudi of SZ in 1720 NY
A DOCUMENTARY HISTORY OF GEORGE SEE; by Sara Patton
GEORGE LUDWIG SEE: Many See family histories, especially those written prior to the 1990s, refer to the patriarch of the See family as George Ludwig Zeh. These well-circulated histories to the contrary, there appears to be no such person as George Ludwig Zeh that can be documented.This incorrect name is probably based on another man named "Johannes Ludwig See" listed in 1733 ship records in Philadelphia who is not related to our See line that we know of.
These earlier genealogists were unaware of the long and well documented history of George See (or Zeh or Say) in New York, and later the Tulpehocken region of PA from whence came a large number of those who settled on the South Branch of the Potomac after 1742.
A preponderance of evidence has shown that the man referred to as George "Ludwig" See was actually Johann Georg (pronounced in the German way as Gay-org) Zeh, who arrived in NY in 1710 with his parents, German Palatines who settled in camps along the Hudson River to produce naval stores for the British Navy.
ORIGINS: No documentation has yet been found for George's birth: the year or the exact location. Again those earlier genealogies that give his name as George Ludwig See and claim he was from Silesia Prussia (based on the erroneous assumption of Thomas Jefferson Jackson See writing at the beginning of the 20th century that he was part of the Schwenkfelder religious movement who came to Pennsylvania in the 1730s-no mention of Zeh or See or Say has been found in Schwenkfelder records.) Others give the location the Upper Palatine, Germany-near Swiss-French-German border (Nugen); Silesia Pflatz, Bayern, Germany and Alzey near Oppenheim (Helen Powers); Prussia (Zimmerman).
The most convincing is Hank Jones' research into actual church records in Oppenheim naming Johannes and Magdalene Zeh of the village of Rudelsheim (just south of Oppenheim) in 1704-1709, with the baptisms of two of George's younger brothers. Rudelsheim no longer exists due to heavy flooding when a dike burst in 1819. The closest village today is Ludwigshöhe, built on higher ground. Abandonment and moving from the old Rudelsheim was ongoing up until 1830. The church, the only preserved building in Rudelsheim, was destroyed by fire in 1837.) Nearby Oppenheim, an ancient town, is now in the Mainz-Bingen district of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany halfway between Mainz and Worms on the Rhine River. (During WWII, troops under General George S. Patton built a crossing over the Rhine near Oppenheim to enter the heart of Germany.)
After a review of Oppenheim Church records, I was unable to find either his parents marriage date or George's baptismal date, though I think it safe to assume they lived in that area of the the Rhineland, Palatinate, known even today for its wine-based economy. (On ship records, Johannes Zeh listed as a "wine dresser." See Johannes' biography for reasons responsible for emigration to America.)
Given the known age of his mother from death records, George was most likely born after 1693 in Germany before the Palatine move to England and America in 1708-1710. Church confirmation records in 1711 identify him as a "young person" named Johann Georg Zeh at the New German Colony. From ship records, the Hunter lists showing Johannes Zeh with a son over 10 in 1709 and 1710 and George's documented church confirmation in 1711 (the typical age was 12 or 13), and the works of Henry Z. Jones, I conclude that Johann Georg Zeh was born ca. 1695-98 (at least 13 but not yet of legal age to be considered an adult. If he were of legal age, he would have been listed by name in the Hunter lists.)
http://threerivershms.com/nameskocherthal.htm A LIST OF FIRST COMMUNICANTS, pages 81-86. "From among our own young people the following partook of holy communion with us for the first time.... At the communion administered by me in the new colony of Germans, April 30th, 1711: Johann Philipp Braun, Johann Georg Zeh, Johann Adam Oemich,.... " [Note: the name "Johann" is usually a baptismal name for German boys in honor of St. John but not used in daily use unless it is spelled Johannes. In some cases I have seen his name as Hans Jery (Hans short for Johann) (Jery aka George)] ("Palatine Families of New York" by Henry Jones, page 1127, he was "conf[irmed] as Johann Georg Zeh at the New German Colony 30 April 1711 (West Camp Luth. Chbk.)."
We can follow George's parents with documentation from the Hudson River camps to Schoharie in upstate NY. From there, George migrated with many others of his generation (including Conrad Weiser) to the Tulpehocken and Swatara valleys of PA where he settled with his own family ca 1726 (not far from the Harness/Ernst family.) In most of the documents from PA, he is known as Hans Jery Say, Jery Say, and George Say.
1723: George Zeh appears on the "Lindenmuth Map" created ca 1904 purporting to be a list of the first Tulpehocken land owners in 1723. Since its publication in Morton L. Montgomery's Biographical and Historical Annals of Berks Co, PA (pub. 1909) and in the PA German Magazine-Oct 1904, others have noted that the 1723 date is incorrect and that it should refer to settlers after the year 1728. See 1737 for George Say's land warrant. Others on the map weren't even in PA until 1733.
1725 Sep 25 "Anna Magdalena ZEH co-sponsor with Conrad Weiser of bapt of Anna Magdalena RITH, d/o Michel RITH b 1696 & Barbara FEG [m 15 May 1717] from "The Registers of Reed's Church" by Frederick S. Weiser and Vernon Nelson [as noted by Hank Stuebing]: At first glance, it appears that Anna Magdalena Zeh, aged 53 (and the infamous leader of Schoharie women who attacked the sheriff), came all the way to the Tulpehocken area of PA for the baptism of this child and then returned to Schoharie in NY where she died in 1750 at the age of 78 as recorded in Schoharie church records. This seems to be a highly unlikely scenario as the Rieth or Reed's Church wasn't even established until 1727. In addition, the author of the original article explains that the Reed's Church records, for the years 1742-1747, followed Moravian custom, wherein "the entire family of members--including those baptised in Europe--was entered into the records." Thus the eleven entries made for Michel Rith's family, which extend from 1696 to 1739, include earlier births and baptisms obviously occurring somewhere other than the Tulpehocken Valley.
Without knowing when the Rith/Reed family actually came to PA, it is impossible to know where they were located in 1725. Michael Rith was not, however, on the early tax lists for the area the following January, making it highly unlikely he was in PA at that time. Thus I suggest that this mention of Anna Magdalena Zeh, as the baptismal sponsor of Michael Rith's child, was still located in Schoharie, and the occasion was simply included with the other records of the Rith family in the Reed Church record long after the fact.
1725/26, Jan 10-11: Chester Co, Tulpehocken Twp. Tax Assessments- Original document (PA State Archives Microfilm) Handwritten list of 36 names including "Hans Jery Say" who was charged £0.2.3 in tax. Handwriting probably by an English speaking clerk. Explanatory notes regarding tax assessment accompanying the microfilm states that the list of names was drawn up in the fall of 1725.
Note: Hans is short form of Johann or Johannes, aka John. The name "Jery" is also nickname for George and appears for other men as well–Jery Stump, Hans Jery Heine, Jery Reed, Jery Lesh, all known in other documents by the name "George". (In German pronunciation, the "J" sound is like a "Y".) Henry Z. Jones also lists Jurie/Yurie as nicknames for George and Rupp mentions Jerg, Jurg, Yerrick, and Yerg. I've also seen "Jury" and "Jörch" used as a substitute for "George". In at least two cases, I've seen the two names run together as "Hansyerry".
Given his location in the Tulpehocken area at this early date when only the Schoharie settlers are there, along with the following records that confirm he is in Tulpehocken area from 1725-1744, I am pretty well satisfied that Johann Georg Zeh of Schoharie is Hans Jery Say of Tulpehocken and Swatara and later George Zeh/Say/See of the South Branch of the Potomac.
It might be worthwhile to point out also that several other individuals or family surnames on this list also show up in the earliest years of settlement on the South Branch: Peter Torn/Dorn/Thorn, Jery (George) Stump, Peter and Leonard Reed, Tifiback (Deffe(n)bach aka "Tevebaugh"), and finally the last name in the list which appears to be "Michael Ernst" (aka Harness) (though different readers of the document interpret this as Gruf or Ernf since the final letter looks like "F" but is actually "st."
2-4 Jan 1726/27: Chester Co, Tulpehocken Twp. Tax Assessments - Original document (PA State Archives Microfilm) Handwritten list of 42 names including "Jery Fay" who owed £0.2.0 in taxes.
The names in this list are almost identical to and in the same order as the 1725/26 tax list (see above), so they are easy to compare for spelling and phonetics. Again, I suggest that "Jery" is George and "Fay" is "Say." The "F" in "FAY" is similar in appearance to the F's in other names although the surname "Fay" does not appear on other Tulpehocken documents of the period. That Hans Jery Say and Jery Fay are the same person can also be confirmed by their same relative position on each of the tax lists. On the 1725/26 tax list, Hans Jery Say follows Cynrod Culpman. On the1726/1727 tax list, Jery Fay follows Cynrad Culpman.
September, 1727: Tulpehocken to Oley Road Petition cites Michael Ernst Herner (aka Harness). We were unable to locate the original petition to check the signatures. However a transcript and almost illegible copy of the document can be found in Burgert, "A Research Guide..." pp. 8 &9.)
"having no Roads as yet established amongst us, by means where of we suffer diver inconveniences and a great part of ye land at present not Settled...be pleased to order a High road to be laid out, Beginning at the Lutherian (sic) Meeting House at Tolphehockan to end in the high road, at ye Quakers Meeting House near George Boone's Mill in Oley."
Burgert interprets one signatory as "Michgael Ernst Herner". Other signatories, including Reeds, Sebastian Fischer, and 2 of Conrath Diffenbach's children would all come to the South Branch valley within the next 2 decades. The original document should be checked for George Zeh's signature.
1732 May 2: George Say appointed to jury in trial of Callam McCurry for horse theft. Lancaster Co, PA Court of General Quarter Sessions 1729-1742, p. 56. From original records at Lancaster Co Historical Society.
1737 May 23: George Say Land Warrant in Lancaster Co. From original Land Warrants for Lancaster Co. Document P-251 (PA State Archives Microfilm)-<b/> "By the Proprietaries. Whereas George Say of the county of Lancaster hath requested that We would grant him to take up Two hundred Acres of Land, the same being vacant situate on a Branch of Tulpehoccon Creek about 3 Miles distant from Thomas Freame's Land in the said County of Lancaster for which He agrees to pay to our Use the Sum of Fifteen Pounds Ten Shillings current Money of this Province for each Hundred Acres, and the Yearly Quit-rent of One Half-penny Sterling for every Acre thereof; THESE are therefore to authorize and require thee to survey or cause to be surveyed unto the said George Say at the Place aforesaid, according to the Method of Townships appointed, the said Quantity of 200 Acres if not already survey'd or appropriated, and make Return thereof into the Secretary's Office, is order for further Confirmation; for which this shall be thy sufficient Warrant; which Survey in case the said George Say fulfil the above Agreement within six Months from the Date hereof, shall be valid otherwise void. Given under my Hand, and the lesser Seal of our Province, at Philadelphia, this 23th Day of May Anno Dom. 1737."
"1737 Lancaster May 23 George Say.....200 Retd 22 Febry 1814 in–al Jacob Shire This endorsement is evidently in error, as there is no return in this warrant and the Return referred to is on Warrants to Jacob and Geo Shire. One hund'd forty three Wm Borgdale N.S."
Opposite above written in later handwriting: a repeat of above. "1737 May 23d No. 143 Lancaster County 200 Acres George Say"
"Retd. 22 Feby 18th in al Jacob Shire This endorsement is evidently in error as there is no return on this warrant and the Return referred to is on warrants to Jacob and Geo Shire." I have no idea who this Jacob and George Shire were.
Land records are very tricky issue as we learned at the Pennsylvania State Archives. A brief explanation may help. While the entire colony of PA belonged to the "proprietor" William Penn, and after his death to his various children, to give or sell to others, the Penns were very sensitive to obtaining Indian title before selling to others. In 1723, when the Schoharie settlers first arrived, Indian title was still in question. Consequently, the Palatine families settled on the land without legal title. Finally, in 1732, the Delaware Indians made a treaty disposing of their lands in the area, thus allowing the Penns to begin the formal process of granting the land to others for sale or lease.
There 5 steps in the process of land ownership if purchased directly from the Penns (the "Proprietor." 1. Application: requesting a warrant to have a survey made. 2. Warrant: a certificate authorizing a survey and initiating title to the property to allow "legal" settlement but without granting all rights to the property. 3. Survey: sketch of boundaries with exact determination of total acreage 4. Return: verbal description of property boundaries. 5. Patent: final, official deed from the Penns or later the Commonwealth, conveying clear title and all rights
If land was purchased from or sold by a second party (i.e. someone who had already gotten a patent from the Penns), the transaction would appear in the county deed book.
By obtaining the warrant above, George Say completed the first 2 steps and was probably living on his land "three miles from Thomas Freame's land. At this point I have not found a definite location for Thomas Freame (whom, I believe, was a Penn son-in-law). However, by comparing the known locations of other landholders said to be adjacent to George Say, his land was located on the northeast corner of Myerstown, PA, bordering Rt. 422. Others researching original land documents (Lindenmuth, et. al.) have established this location for George and his neighbors and have mapped out the various landholdings on USGS maps and aerial photographs. We believe the identified Myerstown parcel to be the same parcel in the warrant but it is yet to be proven.
There were no ZEH, SAY, or SEE names listed as Grantors or Grantees in Lancaster Co. deed books. In fact the earliest Lancaster Co deeds don't appear until 1735 after Indian title had been transferred allowing the Penns to grant a large tract of land to Casper Wistar, one of his agents who later broke it into smaller tracts and sold to Christian Walborne and Peter Schell, next door neighbors of George Say.
Apparently George never completed the process of getting a survey and the final patent before moving on to VA ca. 1748-49. More research in the land records in Harrisburg may turn up additional information on his land holdings.
1737/38 Feb 7: George Say v. John Hammon. Lancaster Co Court of Common Pleas Appearance Docket 1737-1738. From original records in Lancaster Co Historical Society.
1738: "John George Ceh" said to have signed petition for establishment of new county. Could not find location of original petition.
7 Nov 1738: George Say appointed to view road from Hanover to "Tolpahocken". From original records in Lancaster Co, PA Court of General Quarter Sessions 1729-1742, p. 234. "Upon the Petition of Several Inhabitants of Hanover Twp Setting forth the necessity of a road through the Center of the Twp. to the publick Road in Tolpahocken ordered –that John McCurry, Richard Hough, ffrancis Reynolds, George Stites, George Grove & George Say View and if they or four of them So Cause that they lay out the Same by course and Distance according to the prayer of sd Petition & Report their Proceedings to the next Court."
Following common procedure, road petitions name men who live all along the road. Stites and Reynolds had adjacent land warrants around town of Lebanon, and George Say near Myerstown near Tulpehocken Creek. Several of same men are listed in another court case in 1740. (See below.) NEED TO FIND ORIGINAL PETITION
2 Nov 1739: George Say mentioned in Land Indenture from Casper Wistar to Peter Schell of Lancaster, Yeoman..."to the said Peter Schell (in his actual Possession now)... A Certain Tract or piece of Land situate in the said County Beginning at a post at a Corner of Land granted or intended to be granted to George Say thence extending by the same Land North...thence by Martin Batdorf's Land...thence by Thomas Copenhaver's Land...." Copy of original indenture in Lancaster Co Deed Book H: 388, Lancaster, PA.
Again, no deeds were recorded to or from George or Frederick Say/See/Zeh. There was a land sale recorded in 1762 for Godfried Stample in Lebanon Twp. (some relation to Maria Ottilia Stemple, wife of Frederick Zeh?)
1740 Aug 5 : George Say one of four witnesses for case against Henry Smith & ffrancis Reynolds for selling drink without a license. George Grove, George Say, John Hyle, Isaac Gusward. Each paid £10 that they appeared & gave evidence sd Smith. Case does not say if they testified for against defendants. Francis Reynolds and George Grove also on Hanover-Tulpehocken road petition above with George Say. From original records in Lancaster Co, PA Court of General Quarter Sessions 1729-1742, p. 288.
1742 Feb: Cushua vs. Say - Listed in Lancaster Co Court Plaintiff Indexes V1. Original in Lancaster Co. Historical Society. (Other references to Cushua show him living in Tulpehocken region. No first name for "Say.")
1743: Christ Lutheran Church–Witnesses to the cornerstone document of Christ Lutheran Church, Stouchsburg, PA. George Zeh and other names in handwriting of Tobias Wagner. (Transcript only. Burgert "A Research Guide..." p. 14, also listed in Rupp and Knittle.) George Zeh listed with other South Branch names: Michael Naef (Neff) Sr. & Jr., Sebastion & Jacob Fischer, Conrad Ernst, Jacob Zorn, George Pfafenberger (Baffenbarger); Adam Tiefenbach (whose half- brother came to South Branch), Stump, Mauz (Mouse), Christ, Huber. Balthas and Friderich Süss are also listed. Burgert notes that not all of those present at the ceremony were members of the congregation but residents of the Tulpehocken area at the time.)
1743 Dec 20 & 1744 Feb 2: George Zeh (Swatara), father of Anna Maria Zeh b. Dec. 20, 1743; bapt. Feb. 2, 1744. Sponsors, Heinrich Dubbs and his wife. "Early Lutheran Baptisms and Marriages in Southeastern Pennsylvania: The Records of Rev. John Casper Stoever from 1730 to 1779" p. 25. Translated and transcribed only. (See Dubbs below arriving 1736 on same ship with Andreas Yoakum and Ludwig "Lay".) WHERE ARE ORIGINALS??
1744 May 22: "John" Friederich Zeh marries Maria Ottilia Stempel, Swatara. Early Lutheran Baptisms and Marriages in Southeastern Pennsylvania: The Records of Rev. John Casper Stoever from 1730 to 1779" p. 60. Translated and transcribed only.) WHERE ARE ORIGINALS??
1744 Nov : Honly/Henly v. Sea - Listed in Lancaster Co Court Plaintiff Indexes V2. Original in Lancaster Co. Historical Society. (No first name given.)
1744: George Zeh listed in Potts Account Books, maintained for Tulpehocken area by Christian Lauer. Original said to be in Historical Society of PA, Potts Mss. V9:17 Tulpehocken Accounts, 1744. At one time property of Judge Pennypacker. (Transcript only in Burgert, "A Research Guide..." p. 17.) 1744 merchant accounts of Christian Lauer on Tulpehocken (now Berks Co) include Jacob Simon, Christian Schmidt, George Zeh [See], Mathias Theiss [Dice], Jacob Seibert, George Adam Busch, Henry Bickel [Pickle], and Peter Dorn (shown as "in Virginia") (PA Historical Society Potts Manuscript Vol 9 given in Kellog)
May 1745: Stoop v. Sea - Listed in Lancaster Co Court Plaintiff Indexes V2. Original in Lancaster Co. Historical Society . (No first name given.)
The Moravian missionaries, Leonard Schell and John Grandmueller, in their diaries of travels from Maryland to Virginia and present WV visited Mathias Jochem and his family as early as 30 May 1747 and Joseph Spangenberg again visited Mathias and his family in October 1749 and described Mathias as a well-to-do German. They traveled 12 miles from the home of George Zeh.
Comments on my trip to Pennsylvania with Hal McCawley
Doing research in PA is not as straightforward as it might appear. Just to know where to look and what records to ask for required an understanding of the dates and boundaries of county lines and geographical regions as they changed through time, a knowledge of the surnames of associated people–neighbors, fellow Schoharie emigrants, church members, relatives and future South Branch settlers.
In the time that George See/Zeh actually moved to the Tulpehocken region, the region was part of Chester County. In 1728 it was added to Lancaster Co, and in 1752 (after Zehs left) the Tulpehocken/Swatar region lay in what became Berks, Dauphin, and Lebanon Co. Thus any governmental records (land, estate, court records) are found in Chester, Lancaster, and possibly Philadelphia counties or in provincial record holdings.
IF the records to that period still existed, it helped to know what types of records would be held at the county level, at the state or provincial level, or at the church level. And finally, the continuing problem of reading the handwriting and trying to determine if the phonetically written German names are actually the names we are seeking.
Historical background information was essential to that understanding. A trip to the Historical Societies in both Lancaster and Berks Co allowed us to find background articles and books on the local history that we couldn't get elsewhere.
While we all know the problems with the phonetic translation of German names by English clerks, the lack of consistent spellings, and the variation in penmanship, we often forget the problems of interpretation and transcriptions. By using only published or secondary source material, we rely on the interpretations, typing skills, and abbreviated information of others. Because my own search for original documents (or microfilms thereof) has provided a wealth of information not always found in published sources, my research motto has become "Show me the original!"
Then I found a little booklet compiled by Annette K. Burgert, entitled "A Research Guide to the Tulpehocken Region Lancaster (Now Berks and Lebanon) Counties, PA. In her introduction, she makes note of the multitude of histories and interpretations regarding the early settlers of the Tulpehocken area: "...much conflicting information has appeared in print, and has been frequently quoted from one historian to the next without checking the original source document for accuracy of transcribing or translating....Certain names that appear on some of the petitions were difficult to read, and although translated and published, it is advisable to check the original..., especially if you have an ancestor who supposedly was among the early settlers, but seemingly does not appear...." Even comparing her list of names for the 1725 Tulpehocken Twp. Tax assessment with a copy of the original document, I found myself disagreeing with her interpretation and was glad I'd seen it for myself.
I've only included PA documents in the list above. I did not include unsubstantiated statements regarding George Zeh/Say in secondary sources like Rupp, Kellogg, Jones, Croll, Knittle, etc. unless they cited specific evidence or documents.
Other writers including Henry Z. Jones and Joseph Kellogg also claim that Süss, Six, Zech may also be interpreted as Zeh. Based on both PA and VA records, it is pretty clear that the German "Zeh" is pronounced to rhyme with Say and that Zeh, as written by the German Moravian missionaries in 1749, is probably the correct spelling.
Earl Ibach, author of the "Hub of Tulpehocken" , a resident and descendant of many generations of German- speaking Tulpehocken natives, told us that Zeh in German meant "saw" meaning the family occupation was traditionally that of carpenters. Others say that is the meaning of sage (umlaut over a) and that the real meaning is feet or toes!!
Other Interesting finds: <b/> Nov 15 1744 Lancaster County Deeds 1729-1743 Bk A: 205 (Lancaster Borough) Adam Kuhn divided a 15 acre parcel and sold 45 of 46 lots. Lot 2 to Micheal STUMP (no date shown); Lot 27 to George SEEHK 15 Nov 1744, Lot 12 to Mathias Buch 14 Nov 1744, Lot 26 to William Sauer 15. (This spelling is just another variation of Sech, Seg, Zech found earlier and probably is our George.)
SOUTH BRANCH VALLEY OF THE POTOMAC The first documentation we have for George Say aka George See and George Sea in the South Branch Valley of Virginia is the Tithable Lists for Augusta Co in 1749 and the mention of his name by Moravian missionaries (who were also German speakers) who refer to him George Zeh--also in 1749. His estate records in August of 1751 refer to him as George Sea and George Zee.
The best record we have of his actual location comes from the journals of those Moravian missionaries who visited him in 1749 at "The Gap" just east of today's Petersburg, WV. The 1749 Moravian Missionary journals (VMHB 11 & 12) show that the missionaries stayed with George Zeh and family at the "Gap" stating specifically that it was 12 miles distant from Mathias Yoakum at mouth of South Fork. Fairfax Rent Roles (Charles Morrison article in WV History) list Michael, George and Frederick See on the South Branch Manor along the South Branch of the Potomac--no date but probably ca 1748.
George Zee/Sea died just before 27 August 1751 according to probate records assigning his son Frederick "Sea" as his administrator. Augusta Co, VA Will Bk 1:375.
"The Condition of this Obligation is such that if the Above bound Frederick Sea Administr of all the goods Chattels & Credits of George Sea Deceased do make or cause to be Made a true & perfect Inventory of all and singular the goods Chattels & Credits of the said Deceased which have or shall Come to the hands possession or knoledge of him the said Sea or into the Hands or possession of any other person or persons for him and the same so made do exhibit or cause to be exhibited into the County Court of Augusta at such time as he shall be there unto required by the said Court And the same goods Chattels and Credits and all other the goods Chattals and Credits of the said Deceased at the time of his Death which at anytime after shall come to the hands or possession of the sd George Sea or into the hands and possession of any other person or persons for him do will & truely Administer According to Law and further do make a just And true Account of his Actings And doings there in when these to required by this sd Court and all the Rest and Residue of sd goods Chattels & Credits which shall be found remain'g upon the sd Administr. accompt? the same being first examined And allowed by the Justices of the Court for the time being shall Deliver & pay Unto such person or person respectively as the said Justices by their Order or Judgment shall directly? pursuant to the Law in this Case made & provided and if it shall heare? Appear that Any Last will & Testament was made by the sd deceased and the Executor or Executors there in named do exhibit the same unto the said Court making Request to have it allowed and approved Accordingly if the sd Frederick Sea being there unto required do render and Deliver up his Letters of Administration Approbation of such Testament being first had and made in the sd Court ??? this Obligation to be Void and of none Effect or Else to remain in full force--And Virtue
Sealed and Delivered Frederick FS Sea
in the presence of Convd & } his seal
At a Court held for Augusta County the 27 day of August 1751 Fredreick Sea & Andrew Lewis in open Court acknowledged this their bond for the sd Frederick true & faith of all adminsitration of the Estate of George Sea decd which bond is ordered to be recorded
Augusta Co, VA Will Bk1: 457-459
Apraisment of the Estate of George Zee deceased L S d
At a Court held for Augusta County November 15th 1752 This Inventory and appraisment of the Estate of George Zee Deceased being Returnd into Court is ordered to be Recorded."
It is my best guess, that Johann Georg Zeh and his wife Margaret are both buried on the lands they leased from Lord Fairfax at the Gap. Unfortunately we don't have an exact location for it. Cut and paste these coordinates in Google Earth to see my guess as to the location. 38°59'48.51"N 79° 6'0.25"W
There is also no known evidence for his wife Margaret's maiden name being Tschudi, so that is still up for debate.
Sources: -Governor Hunter's Ration Lists June, 1710 to September, 1714 in -The Book of Names Especially Relating to The Early Palatines and the First Settlers in the Mohawk Valley Compiled and Arranged by Lou D. MacWethy Published by The Enterprise and News St. Johnsville, NY., 1933 http://threerivershms.com/nameshunter.htm
The Kocherthal Records: A translation of the Kocherthal records of the West Camp Lutheran Church By J. Christian Krahmer, October 1926 http://threerivershms.com/nameskocherthal.htm
Henry Jones, ed. of 3 books: "THE PALATINE FAMILIES OF NEW YORK-1710 (Winner, Donald Lines Jacobus Prize: Best Genealogical Book of the Year), MORE PALATINE FAMILIES", EVEN MORE PALATINE FAMILIES
Spouses
Marriageca 1712