Jacob Maust appeared in Bedminster, Bucks County, as a young man, part of a tide of Germans who settled in upper Bucks County.1 They dominated the northern townships—Bedminster, Haycock, Tinicum, Nockamixon—townships dotted with their churches.2 From there they spread out into other nearby areas. This hilly country was still the frontier at the time, thinly settled compared to the dense Quaker townships to the south. As latecomers to the county the Germans had to take what land they could afford; they formed a buffer between the pacifist Quakers and the unsettled region further north and west.

In 1755 global politics touched the lives of the Germans in upper Bucks County. The battle for empire between France and England reached Pennsylvania when the French used the native Lenni Lenape people as allies. The Lenni Lenape had been angered by the Walking Purchase in 1737, when Penn’s sons bent the rules of an agreement in order to seize more land than the natives had agreed on. Encouraged by the French, the natives attacked settlements in Berks County. Families fled south and east into Bucks County and stayed with fellow members of their church until the crisis was over.

One such family was that of Johann Philip Schmeyer and Maria Salome Stephan. They had immigrated with two young children in 1733, sailing on the brigantine Pennsylvania.3 They settled in Lower Macungie Township, Berks County, where Philip got a grant of 200 acres in 1735.4 There they added more children to the family before Philip’s death around 1750. In 1755, there are no records to show where the surviving family went during the violence, but the daughter Catherine met and married Jacob Maust, who lived 25 miles east of her family. She stayed behind while the rest of the family went on with their lives in Lower Macungie.5 Jacob and Catherine spent their lives in Bedminster and neighboring Nockamixon, and had eight known children.6

They were probably Lutherans. It was common at the time for Lutheran and Reformed Churches to share a building. Tohickon Union Church was such a shared building. It is believed that Jacob and Catherine were buried there. It lies on the extreme western corner of the township, three miles from the other Lutheran Church there, Keller’s Lutheran, “standing upon a prominence along the Ridge road with the Tohickon creek winding along its base.”7

In 1773 Jacob bought 150 acres of land in Bedminster from John and Nancy Boaz. He paid taxes regularly on that land at least through 1785. By the 1780s the children of Jacob and Catherine were grown and beginning to marry and form their own families. In 1794 he sold the 150 acres to his son-in-law Michael Young, married to Jacob’s daughter Elizabeth.8 In 1800 Jacob and Catherine were still in Bedminster.9 Six of the children were living nearby: George in Tinicum with four young children, and John in Tinicum, also with four young children. Two of the daughters lived in Bedminster, while the others were in Nockamixon and Tinicum. Frederick and Jacob were in Lower Saucon, Northampton County, just over the northern border of Bucks County.

Catherine died in 1803 and was buried at Tohickon Cemetery as old Mrs. Mast.10 By the time Jacob made his will in September 1807, he was living in Nockamixon, perhaps with one of his children.11 The will was written in September 1807 and proved a month later.12  In it Jacob named four sons Jacob, John, George, and Frederick and daughters Magdalen, Mary and Elizabeth.13 His daughter “Kathren”, wife of Michael Young, was deceased, so he designated her share to her children. The executors were George Maust and Stophel Trauger (Magdalen’s husband).

Most of the children of Jacob and Catherine stayed in northern Bucks County or neighboring counties. The exception was the youngest, John Frederick. Perhaps because he was the youngest, he had the best opportunity to cross the mountains and settle one hundred miles to the west, in Sunbury on the Susquehanna River. This was the frontier until after the Revolution, and settlers were under constant threat of attack by the native Americans.

Children of Jacob and Catherine:  This family followed one of the German naming patterns, giving the sons the first name of John.

Catharine Elizabeth, born about 1756, died before 1807, married about 1778 Michael Young.14 They had at least five children, baptized at Tohickon Lutheran and Kellers Lutheran.15 They lived in Bedminster, where Michael was taxed in 1778. Catherine died before 1807, when her father’s will named her as deceased. Michael moved to the Northern Liberties and died there in 1822, leaving a will.16 George Maust and Stophel Trauger assisted in settling his estate.17 Children: William, Mary, Margaret, George, Christian, Barbara, Elizabeth.18

Jacob, born 1758, married before December 1788 Anna Maria Reifschneider, daughter of Philip. In 1793 Jacob bought land from Philip Reifschneider in Lower Saucon Township, Northampton County, about fifteen miles north of Nockamixon Township. In the deed Jacob was described as a weaver. In 1803 William Reifschneider of Berks County, only surviving son of Philip, granted a release indenture to Jacob Mast of Lower Saucon, as co-heirs of Philip’s estate. Jacob was in Lower Saucon for the 1800 census, with six children, but back in Nockamixon by 1810 with two sons and three daughters, all over 26.19 Known children of Jacob and Anna Maria: Anna Maria, Jacob20

Magdalen, born 1760, died 1828, married about 1780 Christopher Trauger, known as Stoffel, son of Christian and Anna Barbara. Stoffel and Magdalene owned two tracts of land in Nockamixon and a tract of timber land in Durham. Stoffel died in 1844. He left a will, naming eight children.21 He and Magdalen were buried at St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church.22 Children: Jacob, John, Christian, Elizabeth, Solomon, Sarah, Catherine, Joseph.23

Mary Margaret, born 1764, died 1842, married in 1783 William Keeler. They lived in Bedminster. She died in 1842; William died a year later.24 They are buried at Keely’s Church Cemetery in Schwenksville, Montgomery County. Children: Catherine, Susanna, Elizabeth, John, Henry.

John, born about 1766, married Maria Magdalena —. Maria’s last name is not known; it might have been Schumann.25 In 1794 their son Jacob was baptized at Tinicum Union Reformed Church. In the same year John bought a tract of land in Haycock Township.26 He and his wife were living in Tinicum in 1800 with four children.27 He was named in his father’s will in 1807.28 Maria probably died in 1823 and was buried at Tohickon Cemetery.29 It is probable that John is buried there also, but a record of his death or probate have not been found.30  Children: Jacob, Elizabeth, John, Catherine. 31

George, born 1767, died June 1849, married about 1793 Maria Magdalena Stein, daughter of Peter Stein and Margaret Deemer.32 Their son Peter was probably named for his grandfather Peter. George and Magdalene were members of Keller’s Lutheran, later at Tohickon Lutheran. In 1807 they were living in Tinicum. George died there in 1849. He did not leave a will. The inventory was taken on June 18. It showed the goods of a prosperous farmer, including the usual farm and household goods.33 Maria had died before him, in 1840 and is buried at Lower Tinicum Union Cemetery, Tinicum Township.34 Children: Sarah, Mary Magdalene, Jacob, Susan, George, Samuel, Peter, Mary, Catharine, Elizabeth. 35

Elizabeth, born 1771, died 1851, married about 1792 John Jacob Wildonger. They lived in Lower Tinicum. Jacob died in 1834. He left a will, naming his wife Elizabeth and five living children, plus one deceased, a son John.36 The next year the heirs signed a receipt acknowledging payment of the estate by the executors.37 From the inventory of his estate, he was a prosperous farmer, with  bountiful livestock. Children: John, Jacob, David, Abraham, Moses, Catherine.38

Frederick, born 1773, baptized in 1774 at Keller’s Lutheran, died in 1815 in Sunbury, Northumberland County. He married Sarah McHose and had seven children with her, before his early death.