| Notes |
- JOHANN WILHELM LEUTNER was probably born about 1714 - derived from actual and estimated birth years of siblings and approximate marriage date. Because Wilhelm spent his adult years in Tulpehocken Township, Lancaster/Berks County, it had been assumed that the Leutner/Leitner/Lightner family had been among the 1709ers who removed to the Tulpehocken from Scoharie, New York, but no record of the family has been found, on this side of the Atlantic, among others in that migration.
The first record found of him to date appears in the records of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, New Holland, PA where Wilhelm is given as a Sponsor at the 1 September 1734 baptism of Joh. Wilhelm son of Ignatius (Nathaniel) Leitner.
It's not known when Wilhelm had married, but most likely about 1735 since his eldest son, Joh. Peter, was likely born in 1736. He then begins to appear, though somewhat indirectly, in the Land records of Lancaster County: 1) On 2 April 1736, a Land Warrant was granted to Leonard Tabler for "200 Acres of Land situate in Tulpehoccen Township (whereon he has been 3 years settled) & adjoining to William Leidner in the said County of Lancaster". His name appears on surveys associated with this warrant - one made 23 June 1737 (Copied Survey Book, C-107-92) and another made at a later date (Copied Survey Book, C-107-112) - as occupant of adjoining land; 2) On a Land Warrant granted to Peter Leppo, dated 23 January 1737 [unsure if old- or new-style year], for "100 Acres of Land more or less situate between Peter Clupp & William Leydenaar in the said County of Lancaster". This property, located several tracts to the East of that in "1)" above, wasn't surveyed until 1861, when it was divided into three separate tracts. Adjoining lands on the East are labeled on the survey as "formerly William Leydenaar" and adjoining lands to the West are labeled "formerly Peter Clupp". Peter Clupp (Klob, Klopp, Glopp, &c.) also held two tracts of land bordering to the East and South of that "William Leydenaar" land. It doesn't appear that Wilhelm was ever granted a Land Warrant in his own right.
Wilhelm and Maria Elisabetha's eldest son, Joh. Peter, may have been named after one of these neighboring Peters - in which case, one may have been a baptismal sponsor and/or Maria Elisabetha's father.
"Joh. Wilhelm Leitner and his wife" were sponsors at the baptism of Maria Elisabetha Bortner 30 April 1738 at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, Little Tulpehocken, near Bernville, Jefferson Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. This is circumstancial evidence for the Christian name of Wilhelm's wife, at the time, since at baptism a child was most often named for one of the sponsors. Baptisms for just five of his own children appear later, beginning in 1744, in the Stoever Record; though, son Peter, aged 21 years, was confirmed and admitted to Holy Communion at Christ Lutheran Church, Stouchsburg, Pennsylvania, on Pentecost (14 May) 1758 placing his birth in 1736 or 1737.
Additionally, William Leidner witnessed the will of Mary Tabler of Talpahalm (sic.) Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, proved in Philadelphia County March 26, 1738/39. And on the 1743 list of charter members of Christ (Tulpehocken) Lutheran Church, Stouchsburg, Berks Co. was a William LEITNER. The church was formed in May, 1743 largely from former members of Ried's Lutheran which was founded about 1727.
The 1767 (1768) tax list for Tulpehocken Township, Berks, County shows William Leidner (Leydner) possessed of 100 acres, 2 (3) horses and 2 (3) head of cattle. Letters of Administration were granted at Berks County to his eldest son Peter on 26 March 1770, his widow Maria Elisabetha having renounced her right to administer the estate.
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Our Family History
Bef 1700 - 1770 (> 70 years)
