An American Family History

from "Bloss Family" from History of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania compiled by Clinton J. Bloss.

The Bloss family whose descendants are especially numerous in Lehigh and in Carbon counties, trace their ancestry to the progenitor, Conrad Bloss, who emigrated from southern Germany. He sailed from Rotterdam on the ship Francis and Elizabeth, commanded by Capt. Geo. Worth, and landed at Philadelphia Sept. 21, 1742. Besides Conrad Bloss, we have record of the following coming to America and landing at Philadelphia.

• Geo. Conrad Bloss, ship Lydia, John Randolph Capt. from Rotterdam, qualified Oct. 13, 1749
• Jacob Bloss, ship Two Brothers, Thomas Arnt Capt., from Rotterdam, qualified Aug. 28, 1750.
• Michael Blaass, ship Neptune, Geo. Smith, Capt., from Rotterdam, last from Gosport, qualified Oct. 7 1755.
• Peter Blaass, ship Chance, Charles Smith, Capt., from Rotterdam, last from Cowes, qualified Sept. 23, 1766.

It is not known what relationship existed, if any, between Conrad Bloss and each of the four persons just mentioned; doubtless some kinship did exist. Nor do we know up to the present time of living descendants from any one of them except from Conrad Bloss. Conrad Bloss, a weaver by trade, settled in Washington township, this county, then Heidelberg township, Northampton county. The exact time is not known, but as early as Oct. 4, 1749, he took out a warrant for twenty-five acres of land in Bucks county, which then embraced all of what is now Lehigh county. On May 30, 1750, he took out a warrant for a tract of fifty-six acres and thirteen perches called "Issenberg"; on May 9, 1765, he purchased from John Engel Thomas a tract called "Manheim," which was taken out by a -warrant dated Oct. 19, 1757, for 139 acres; on April 9, 1767, he purchased from the heirs of Jacob Shellhammer a tract called "Berlin" of fifty-eight acres. The last three tracts are embraced in a patent that was granted April 10, 1767, to Conrad Bloss, by Thomas Penn and Richard Penn. On Aug. 25, 1765, he made application for twenty-five acres and in pursuance of warrant No. 623 dated Aug. 14, 1766, there was granted to him Aug. 25, 1766, a tract of twenty-five acres and fifty perches called "Schwabenstadt."

Another warrant was taken out for twentyeight acres and thirty-two perches on Aug. 14, 1766. The total land he owned amounted to 331 acres and ninety-five perches. In the Propietary Tax list of 1772, Conrad Bloss, farmer, is assessed one pound and four shillings. The first official act in recognition of Heidelberg as a township was made at the October term of court 1752, when Conrad Bloss was appointed constable for it. On Aug. 6, 1776,

Conrad Bloss was a member of Capt. Nicholas Kern's company, in camp at Perth Amboy, N. J., which composed part of the Flying Camp of Ten Thousand men commanded by Col. Hart in the Battle of Long Island. This was the Third company in the First Battalion of the Northampton county Associators. It is history that most of the men of the First Battalion were either killed or wounded in the engagement with the Britsh on Long Island, Aug. 27, 1776. Doubtless Conrad Bloss lost his life in this battle as we find no trace of him after this date.

The Heidelberg Reformed Church records in 1781 record his wife Anna Magdalena, as a widow, who acted sponsor for her granddaughter, of the same name, a child of her son John George Bloss. The Federal Census of 1790 record "Lanah Plose" as a widow in Heidelberg township. In the history of the Heidelberg Church by Rev. William Helfrich, he mentions Conrad Bloss and George Bloss as heads of families who helped to build the second church. Magdalena Bloss lived with her son-in-law Peter Seidel, five years prior to her death, which occurred in 1803, having attained the age of about 77 years. Doubtless she is buried on the old cemetery adjoining Heidelberg church, although no trace is found of her. Peter Seidel was appointed administrator of her estate, Aug. 8, 1803. Conrad and Magdalena Bloss had at least eight children, viz: John George, Susanna, Eva Elizabeth, Daniel, Peter, Henry, Sonia ( ?) and Conrad.

Concerning the other four persons who came to America; namely, George Conrad, Jacob, Michael, and Peter Bloss, no more is known at the present time than what is noted in the following: According to the Lutheran Church records of New Hanover (Falckner Swamp) Church in Montgomery county, George Conrad Bloss was married to Mary Catherine . On Oct. 7, 1750, their daughter Eva Elizabeth, born Sept. 7, 1750, was baptized; Frederick Bassler and wife were the sponsors. The records of St. Michael's German Evangelical Lutheran congregation of Philadelphia, state that on Feb. 24, 1754, Jacob Bender and wife Christina Sautere (Vulgo Langin) Jacob Bloss, acted as sponsors for Heinrich Jacob Moll, a son of Michael and Magdalena Moll; also, on May 15, 1758, Jacob Bloss married Rosina Sauerbreyin. The witnesses were Carl Ewald and Adam Fuchs. On Nov. 18, 1788, a Peter Bloss was united in marriage to Ann Richardson, as is recorded in the records of the First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia. It is doubtful whether this is the Peter Blaass who came to Philadelphia in 1766.