Lehigh County, Pennsylvania was first settled about 1730 and officially constituted in 1812 with the division of Northampton County.
Pennsylvania is one of the 13 original states and was originally founded in 1681 as a result of a royal land grant to William Penn, the son of the state's namesake.
He married Mary Magdalena Neff (Polly). She was born in the 1770s in Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Conrad Neff and Elizabeth Freeley.
Their children included:
Henry Brunstetter (1798-1872, married Sarah Yager) and
Mary Brunstetter Strock (1799-1868, married Samuel Strock).
At the time of the 1800 census, the household was in Heidelberg Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. The household consisted of a man and a woman between 16 and 25 and a boy and a girl under 10.
Henry was one of the early settlers in Canfield Township, Trumbull County (later Mahoning), Ohio. They left Pennsylvania in 1804 with 16 family members including Polly's parents. They made the journey in Conestoga wagons and found a settlement of only 16 log houses. They settled in the southeast of the township. Henry was one of the first members of the Canfield Reformed Lutheran Church. It was organized a few years prior to 1810. The first meetings were held at the member’s homes.
According to the History of Trumbull and Mahoning Counties by H. Z. Williams Henry Bronstetter was a private in the First company First regiment, Third brigade, Fourth division Ohio militia under Captain Joshua T. Cotton.
Henry, John and Jacob’s families all appear in the 1820 and 1830 census in Austintown, Trumbull County, Ohio.
Henry (Bronstetter) died on January 9, 1833. in Austintown, Trumbull (now Mahoning County), Ohio, when he was about 56 years old. A barn fell on him. He left a wife and two children.
Melancholy Accident
On the 9th instant, Henry Bronstetter, of Austintown, aged about fifty six years, while in the act of throwing down an old log barn, was thrown by a log to the ground, which broke his scull, causing instant death: he has left a wife and two children and a large circle of friends and acquaintances who mourn his untimely death. (Trumbull County Ohio Newspaper Obituary Abstracts 1812-1870 Clegg, Michael, Volume 1, 1981)
In 1850 Mary was living with her son Henry and his wife, Sarah in Austintown.
Heidelberg Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania originally included Washington Township and Slatington. It is located on Trout Creek and Jordan Creek.
Joseph Strock was born September 25, 1831, in Austintown township, Trumbull county. His father, Samuel Strock, was a native of Pennsylvania, Cumberland county, and came to Ohio in 1814 with his father, Joseph, who first settled in Tuscarawas county for one season, then came to Trumbull county and settled in Austintown, where he lived till his death, which occurred in 1832, leaving a family of twelve children. Mrs. Strock died in a few weeks after the death of her husband.
Mr. Samuel Strock came to Newton in 1840 and lived upon the farm where his son Joseph now resides, till 1878, and died in this year. Mrs. Strock died in 1868. Mr. Strock, the subject of this sketch, has always lived in what was old Trumbull. He has an excellent farm of two hundred and one acres.
He was married in 1853 to Miss Susan Kistler, daughter of Michael Kistler, of Newton township. There were nine children by this marriage. Mrs. Strock died in 1868. His second marriage was in the fall of 1868 to Miss Almira Powers, daughter of William Powers, of Ohltown, Ohio. There were five children by this marriage. Mrs. Strock died in 1876. Mr. Strock is an enterprising man.
American pioneers migrated west to settle areas not previously inhabited by European Americans.
When a mark is used for a signature, the person was probably illiterate, but may not have been able to sign because of age or infirmity.
Deed Book I,
p. 239
July 16, 1807
"76 acres and 52 rods of land; lot number 22 in Canfield Twp."
Henry Brounstetter and Polly Brounstetter, wife, are named as sellers of property to Henry Chrum [Crum].
Henry Brandsteter and Mary Brunsdsteder, wife signed. He signed and she used her mark.
The rod or perch or pole is a surveyor's tool equal to 5 1⁄2 yards.
Trumbull County Estates;
Probate Book 8, p. 6-7
Henry Bronsteter Deceased
Final Settlement
Date of final settlement Oct. 15, 1834
Samuel Strock and Henry Bronsteter Jr., were administrators of estate. Henry Jr. signed his name in German and clerks, in parentheses, added the translation of the name. Funds were paid to Magdalena Bronsteter, widow of the deceased. The total amount of the estate was $253.98.
Trumbull County Ohio
Deed Book 33, p. 406-407
Date of deed is 14 May 1835
The deed is signed by Henry Brunstetter Jr. and Samuel Strock, administrators; Magdalena Brunstetter, widow; Sally Brunstetter, wife of Henry Jr.; and Magdalena Strock, wife of Samuel Strock and daughter of Henry Sr. and Magdalena Brunstetter.
