52 in 52 "Long Line" Johannes Weller (3 of 52)

It took me three days to think of what subject to use for the "Long Line" prompt.  No lie.  I thought about my longest researched line, which would be the Wellers, but I've talked about them pretty extensively.  I thought about the long line of tough-as-nails Italian women I've descended from, but I've written of them more than once as well.  None of our branches have held a particular position over many generations, with the exception of farming, and that's pretty much every American's story, so I didn't find it all that interesting, albeit noble.  In the end, I did ultimately decide to go with a Weller's story, but in a different direction; the long line it took him to get here and thrive.

Johannes "John" Weller was born in Diedenshausen, Germany May 24th, 1716.  At age 17, he made the long trek from Diedenshausen to Rotterdam, Netherlands and boarded the Lydia, a Strassburger-Hinke pioneer ship.  This move would have taken him about 72 hours on foot, although I suspect he was taken by horse or wagon.  Unfortunately I can't find when the ship departed or how long it took do complete the crossing, but I'm sure it was at least days, probably weeks.  Johannes was listed as a Palatine Migrant, under Captain James Abercrombie, and docked in Philadelphia Sept 19th, 1743.  He took his oath to Britain the next day; but his journey wasn't done.

A ship like what the Lydia would have looked like

After arriving in Philadelphia, Johannes went on to Frederick, Maryland.   It is 150 miles between the two cities, forty-nine hours on foot.  Again, I doubt he was on foot, but how does one go from port to your new city?  How do you decide where you are going and how you will get there?  Besides the British, German immigrants were the largest group of settlers to the territory, and were encouraged by Maryland officials to settle because of it's rich farmland, but still, how this information is passed from one to another I do not know.  In Germany, Johanns family were millers, and that's exactly what he would go on to do.  He married Catherine Salome Ambrose once he settled in Maryland, another daughter of a miller (which is probably a clue as to how he ended there, I'd be willing to bet the families knew each other.)

Johannes set in to leaving his legacy; a long line of children and many acres to tend.  He purchased 72 acres, named it "Buck's Horn," and built a mill there.   Catherine and Johannes had at least ten children; Maria Catherina, Johannes R, Maria Magdalena, John Jacob, Heinrich, Anna Barbara, Suzanna Margaretha,  Daniel P, Matthias, and George.

But Johannes' long way wasn't done.  He joined the military of his adopted homeland, and served a long two years away from home with the German Battalion as a teamster under the Continental Troops, 6th Company Commanded by Capt. George P Keeports, on 03 Mar 1776 during the Revolutionary War.  August saw him fighting in Long Island, September in White Plains, in November they crossed the Delaware into Pennsylvania,  and surprised the British and Hessian forces at Trenton on Christmas Eve.  Johannes, now well and truly an American John, returned home to Maryland May 31, 1777. 

 Johannes "John" Weller was killed March 11th, 1792 when a horse he was leading up a hill path slipped and fell on him, but he lived a long, prosperous life at 75 years, and all but two of his children outlived him.  Johannes was buried at Apple's Reformed Church in Thurmont, and my family then spends generations preaching and worshiping there. 

Apple's Reformed Church

The miles he covered, both to get to this country and then to defend it, coupled with the generations that came not just before but so many after, leave a long line that is traceable back to a seventeen year old's determination to leave a legacy behind him.  I'd say he accomplished that goal.