2. Martin Flinchbaugh (1742-1802)

History and Biography of Martin Flinchbaugh

Martin Flinchbaugh, the second son of Melchior Flinchbaugh and Sophia Catharina Rembold, was born on October 20, 1742 in Grossgartach, Germany and baptized on October 21, 1742 in Grossgartach, Germany according to his baptismal record.  At the age of 10, he made the journey with his parents and other siblings on the ship “Brothers” in 1753 and arrived in his new country on September 26, 1753 in Philadelphia.  Martin then traveled with his family first to Lancaster County and then eventually to York County, PA where he settled and lived out his entire life.

On January 6, 1766, Martin married Barbara Pfister at Trinity Reformed Church in York, York County, PA.  In 1769, Martin received part of his father’s land, some of which lied in York Township and some of which lied in Hopewell Township (now North Hopewell Township).  He also later purchased additional land just to the south of this land, with all of that residing in Hopewell Township.  Tax records list Martin as a resident of York Township until at least 1795, then in 1798 all records (tax, census and estate records) list him as a resident of Hopewell Township.  Below is a list of his tax records:

  • 1779 – 30 acres, 1 horse, 2 cows
  • 1780 – 30 acres, 1 horse, 1 cow
  • 1781 – 30 acres, 2 horses, 2 cows
  • 1782 – 40 acres, 2 horses, 2 cows, 4 sheep
  • 1783 – 40 acres, 2 horses, 2 cows, 2 sheep,1 house, 1 barn (household consisted of 5 males and 3 females)
  • 1785 – 40 acres, 2 horses, 2 cows
  • 1786 – 40 acres, 2 horses, 2 cows
  • 1787 – 40 acres, 2 horses, 2 cows
  • 1788 – 45 acres, 2 horses, 2 cows
  • 1789 – 45 acres, 2 horses, 2 cows
  • 1793 – 100 acres, 2 horses, 2 cows
  • 1795 – 100 acres, 2 horses, 2 cows
  • 1798 – 100 acres (Glass Tax)
  • 1799 – 100 acres, 2 horses, 4 cows

Like his other brothers Adam and Frederick, Martin served his new country in the Revolutionary War.  He was a Private in the Eighth Class, Sixth Company commanded by Captain George Long, Third Battalion, York County Militia in 1778.  He remained a member of this unit when in 1780 it became the Second Company, still commanded by Captain George Long, of the First Battalion.

Based upon Orphans Court records, Martin passed away sometime near the beginning of 1802, as an Administration Bond was received on February 1, 1802.  Barbara probably passed away before Martin, as there is no mention of her in his Orphans Court records.  There is also no record of where Martin and Barbara are buried.

Martin and Barbara were the parents to at least 8 children, as verified by baptismal records and his estate records.  There names were, in order from oldest to youngest, John, Catherine, Elizabeth, Martin, Henry, Adam, Barbara and Frederick.  Baptismal records exist for the 7 oldest children at Blymire’s Church in York Twp, York County, but no baptismal records exists for Frederick.  Estate records for Martin does not mention his John, and in fact the records list his oldest son as Martin, therefore it is presumed John died before his father died in 1803 and did not have any children, as their is no mention of them in Martin’s estate records either.

In regards to Martin’s daughters Catherine (born in 1772) and Elizabeth (born in 1774), estate records for Martin (from 1803-1807) do not list a spouse for either of them, while it does list the spouse of their younger sister Barbara.  It is unclear what happened to these daughters after Martin’s estate closed, as nothing further is known.  So it is not known if they remained single and lived with another household, if they died shortly after the estate closed or if they married and no record exists of their marriage.

Same thing can be said for Martin’s oldest living son Martin.  He is mentioned in his father’s estate as the oldest son, but I have been able to locate any census, tax records or estate information for him.  Martin is mentioned in his father’s estate records that in 1809 he renounced and refused to take his father’s real estate at the valuation arrived at by the court.  This is the last record that I could find for Martin, as I have been unable to locate him in the 1810 census or any later records.

For the rest of Martin’s and Barbara’s children, more information will be available on their own pages.

Martin Flinchbaugh born October 20, 1742 in Grossgartach, Germany, baptized on October 21, 1742 in Grossgartach, Germany and died around 1802 in Hopewell Twp, York County, PA.  He married Barbara Pfister on January 6, 1766 at Trinity Reformed Church in York, York County, PA.

Children of Martin Flinchbaugh and his wife Barbara Pfister:

  1. John Flinchbaugh born January 20, 1770 in York County, PA and baptized July 22, 1770 at Blymire’s Church in York Twp, York County, PA.
  2. Catherine Flinchbaugh born April 4, 1772 in York County, PA and baptized April 26, 1772 at Blymire’s Church in York Twp, York County, PA.
  3. Elizabeth Flinchbaugh born April 4, 1774 in York County, PA (birth recorded at Blymire’s Church in York Twp, York County, PA)
  4. Martin Flinchbaugh born June 27, 1776 in York County, PA and baptized July 23, 1776 at Blymire’s Church in York Twp, York County, PA.
  5. Henry Flinchbaugh born May 28, 1779 in York County, Pa and baptized July 4, 1779 at Blymire’s Church in York Twp, York County, PA. and died after 1850.  He married Margaret Geesey.
  6. Adam Flinchbaugh born June 14, 1782 in York County, PA, baptized August 4, 1782 at Blymire’s Church in York Twp, York County, PA, died September 28, 1842 in York Twp, York County and buried at Blymire’s Church in York Twp, York County, PA.  He married Catherine Dohm born April 1, 1788 in York County, PA, died October 18, 1855 in York County, PA and buried at Blymire’s Church in York Twp, York County, PA.
  7. Barbara Flinchbaugh born June 3, 1784 in York County, PA, baptized June 27, 1784 at Blymire’s Church in York Twp, York County, PA.  She married Peter Caslow
  8. Reverend Frederick Flinchbaugh  born December 24, 1788 in York County, PA, died January 14, 1866 in York County, PA and buried at Lebanon Lutheran Church in North Hopewell Twp, York County, PA.  He married Mary Kindig  born August 20, 1788 in York County, PA, died Janaury 20, 1866 in York County, PA and buried at Lebanon Lutheran Church in North Hopewell Twp, York County, PA

Stone house located at the intersection of Arbor Drive and Innerst Rd. This house is located on part of Melchior’s land that was given to Martin in 1769. It appears the house was built in two sections and might have been enlarged at a later date as the stones appear different colors. Could this have been a house that Melchior or Martin lived in?

Map shows location of Melchior’s 150 acres. The red-dotted line is the boundary between York Township on the north and North Hopewell Township on the south. According to records at the York County History Center, the land in yellow became part of the property owned by Martin Flinchbaugh along with the land to the south highlighted in red that he owned.

Survey from 1769 shows the portion of Melchior’s land that Martin received (same as yellow section in above picture).  The right side of this picture would be heading North, while the left side would be heading South, where the rest of Martin’s land was located.

Survey for the land Martin acquired just to the south of his father’s land in Hopewell Township.

Connected draft map for North Hopewell Township that shows the location on Martin’s land he purchased just to the south of his father’s land

Back to Melchior Flinchbaugh (1716-1772)

 

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