John Lesher

John Lesher^1,2

• Name Variation: Johannes Lescher

• Birth*: circa 1739; Birth year calculated, based on reported age at death.
• Marriage*: 23 July 1758; Atolheo Church, Tulpehocken Twp., Berks Co., Pennsylvania; "Johannes Lescher and Anna Catarina Wohlfahrt, Atolhoe"; Spouse: Catharine Wolfart¹
• Death*: 22 August 1811; Tulpehocken Twp., Berks Co., Pennsylvania; 72 years³

Family:

Catharine Wolfart b. c Dec 1741, d. 24 Jun 1815

• Marriage*: 23 July 1758; Atolheo Church, Tulpehocken Twp., Berks Co., Pennsylvania; "Johannes Lescher and Anna Catarina Wohlfahrt, Atolhoe"; Spouse: Catharine Wolfart¹

Children:

Margaret Lesher² b. 9 Jun 1759, d. b 1809
John Lesher² b. 22 Jun 1760, d. b 10 Apr 1804
Mary Catharine Lesher² b. 24 Oct 1762, d. b 1809
Elizabeth Lesher+ ² b. 1 Aug 1765, d. 25 Aug 1835
Catharine Lesher² b. 7 Jun 1768, d. b 1809
Philip Lesher² b. 7 Jul 1771, d. 1 Jan 1853
George Lesher² b. 25 Feb 1774
Christian Lesher² b. 7 Nov 1776, d. 23 Jul 1848
Elizabeth Lesher² b. 9 Jan 1780
David Lesher² b. 28 Dec 1782
Jacob Lesher² b. 1 May 1786

Notes

• Note*: Name spelling. "John Lesher" is used consistently in Berks County English language land and probate records. "Johannes Lescher" is the most common transcription of German records into English; Weiser translated the Altalaha Lutheran church records as "Johannes Läscher", Humphrey as "Lascher".
• Note: The origins of John Lesher are not known to this compiler. Any help would be appreciated.
• Note: Land
  
  a) On 2 Oct 1771 George Dollinger and Margaret his wife granted to John Lesher, in consideration of £1050 money of Pennsylvania, a tract of 206 acres
  situated in Tulpehocken Twp., Berks County, adjacent to lands of Catharine Reed, Rudolph Meyer, Frederick Hoffman, Jacob Artz & Jacob Anspach, which the proprietors by patent dated 9 Nov 1746, Phila. patent book A, Vol 14 page 92 did grant to George Dollinger. Recorded 21 July 1772, Berks Co., Vol. B1, page 202. Viewed on FHL microfilm #20762, image 288.
  Note that this property was just south of the John Wolfart's 162 acre tract. But the Wolfart tract was sold in 1753, so the families were not there at the same time.)
  
  b) On 15 Jan 1772 John Lesher of Tulpehocken Twp. and Catharine his wife sold to Jacob Anspach, in consideration of £189 pounds money of Pennsylvania, a tract situated in Tulpehocken Twp. of 35 acres and 150 perches, it being part of the 206 acres which George Dollinger and Margareth his wife granted to John Lesher. This tract was the southeast portion of the 206 acre tract. Recorded 30 Oct 1783, Berks Co., Vol. 8, page 112. Viewed on FHL microfilm #20766, image 362.
  
  c) The 15 Jan 1772 deed describes one leg of the metes and bounds as "thence by lands granted or intended to be granted to George[ Lechner south seventy eight degrees west forty six perches and an half". [No deed found by this compiler.]
  
  d) On 21 March 1797 John Lesher Sr. granted to John Lesher Jr 335 acres of land in Markheim and Mahantango Townships in Berks Co.
  
  e) In his will John Lesher bequeathed two tracts, a tract of 68 acres to son David, and a tract of 6 acres and 113 perches to son Philip. [No deeds found by this compiler.]
  
  r) An 19 March 1807 Samuel Lesher of Tulpehocken Twp. and Elizabeth his wife grandson of John Lesher sold a 130 acre tract inherited from his father John Lesher junior who died about 1804. The tract history recited in the deeds states that on 30 April 1784 Renier? (or Francis?) Loimich? with his wife Elizabeth sold the tract to John Lesher, who on 31 December 1789 with his wife Catharine granted it to John Lesher junior. [No deeds found by this compiler.]⁴
• Note: Probate
  
  Will of John Lesher of Tulpehocken Township Berks Co. yeoman, written 20 March 1809, proved 11 October 1811.
  
  Names wife Catharine, and names seven living children, David, Christian, Philip with wife Elizabeth, George, Jacob, Elizabeth wife of Christian Walborn, and Margaret Elizabeth wife of Henry Shell, and names four deceased children, John, Margaret, Catharine wife of John Miller, and Mary Catharine wife of Ludwig Swartz.
  
  Plantation and three contiguous parcels of Land on which he lived situated in Tulpehocken Township containing 68 acres to wife Catharine during her natural life, and after her decease to son David, he paying £600. A parcel in Tulpehocken Township, containing 6 acres and 113 perches, to son Philip during he or his wife's lifetime, and then to his children.
  
  Disowns George Weidel and his wife Catharine, she being one of the daughters of the deceased son John.
  
  Appoints as executors wife Catharine and son Christian.
  
  Recorded Berks Co. Will Register Vol. D2, p. 6.²
• Note: Military Service
  
  John Lesher is recognized by the DAR for his military service in the Revolutionary War, as Ancestor #: A069436.
  
  "Service: PENNSYLVANIA Rank(s): PATRIOTIC SERVICE, MAJOR
  Birth: CIRCA 1740 PENNSYLVANIA
  Death: 8-22-1811 TULPEHOCKEN TWP BERKS CO PENNSYLVANIA
  Service Source: PA ARCH, 3RD SER, VOL 18, PP 286, 416, 544; 5TH SER, VOL 5, PP 149, 181
  Service Description:
  1) LCOL HENRY SPYCKER, 2ND BATTALLION; ALSO CAPT, COL JOHN PATTON;
  2) PAID SUPPLY TAX 1779, 1780, 1781"⁵
• Note: Not to be confused with
  
  This John Lesher yeoman of Tulpehocken Twp. is not to be confused with John Lesher iron master of Oley Twp., Berks Co., whose will proved 4 Aug 1794 names wife Margaret and sons John and Jacob, and daughters Barbara wife of Jacob Morgan, Hannah wife of George Focht, Maria wife of John Pott, Jr., Catharine wife of John Feyther, and Elisabeth. He is probably the son of Nicholas Lusher of Oley and his wife Mary Johanna. John the ironmaster appears in numerous deeds in Oley and nearby townships. These two John Leshers are erroneously conflated in numerous online family trees. Both were captains in Revolutionary War militia. Both these John Leshers had sons named John and Jacob, who are also not unfrequently confused.