Johann Philip Schmeyer and Maria Salome Stephan met and married in the Saarland, a region of hills and forests in southwestern Germany.1 He was the son of Hans Franz Schmeyer and Anna Elizabeth Bungert of Nohfelden.2 She was the daughter of Michael Stephan and Anna Margretha Kunz, who were married in 1694 in Wolferweiler. All of the little towns where these families lived formed a cluster at the northern edge of Saarland, where it met the Rheinland-Palatinate.3

In 1733 Philip and Maria immigrated to Pennsylvania with their two surviving children, Johann Jacob and the infant Elisabetha Catharine.4 They first traveled up the Rhine to Rotterdam, then boarded the Pennsylvania Merchant, sailing from Rotterdam with a stop in Plymouth to load supplies. The trans-Atlantic voyage of the time could be dangerous, if disease spread on the crowded ship, or if contrary winds kept them at sea too long and the food ran low. But the Pennsylvania Merchant seemed to fare well, since 67 men took the oath of allegiance along with Philip on September 13 in Philadelphia.

The fertile land close to Philadelphia had long since been taken up by Quaker farmers. By 1733 German immigrants were spreading out into northern Bucks County, Philadelphia County and even farther, but not yet across the Allegheny Mountains. Philip went to the extreme northern end of Bucks County, to Macungie Township, which would be pulled into Lehigh County in 1752. As an early settler there he presumably had his choice of the land, choosing a place where the soil was fertile and a permanent spring flowed.5 He settled on 200 acres, for which he got a warrant in 1735.

The [first] step would be to erect or find some kind of temporary shelter… When the settlers’ immediate needs were taken care of, they would begin to clear a small tract of land to plant a garden and to build a house …The garden would be fenced off. Part of the clearing was used for vegetables and the remainder planted with fruit trees. Gradually, over time, more land was cleared for farming. The pioneer family’s first house was usually built of logs… Their homes were generally one and a half stories high. The first floors were usually hard-packed dirt which would later be covered with rough boards. The roof was usually quite steep and consisted of straw thatching laid on wooden lath which was placed across hand-hewn wooden rafters… The interiors were quite primitive. There were usually three rooms on the first floor, a kitchen, a living room and a bedroom. In the wall between the kitchen and the living room there generally was a fireplace which was used for cooking and for heat. …Above the first floor was a loft reached by steep stairs or a ladder. This area was used by the children for a bedroom.6

Philip and Maria had five more children. They attended one of the many Lutheran Churches that dotted the area, probably Jordan Lutherthan Church in South Whitehall.7

When Philip was naturalized in 1743, he was listed as a miller. He died about 1750.8 A few years later the family faced a crisis. 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. In 1755, encouraged by the French, the natives attacked settlements in Berks County. Many families fled east into Bucks County and stayed with fellow members of their church. Maria and her children probably fled as part of this movement. There is no record of their going, but the daughter Elizabeth Catharine, twenty-two years old at the time, stayed in central Bucks County after the others were back in Macungie, twenty-five miles to the west. She married Jacob Maust and had a large family.9

After Philip’s death, Maria married William Fegley; she died in 1759.

Children of Philip and Maria:

Johann Jacob, born 1728, died 1791, married Walborga Fegley. They lived in Macungie Township, where Jacob wrote his will, proved in April 1791.10 In it he named Walborga and eight living children. The children shared his personal estate, except for the sons Jacob and Philip who had already bought the land from their father. Children: Jacob, Susanna, Grate (Gertrude? Margaretta?), Regina, John, Daniel, Ann Elizabeth, Philip.11

Johann Nicklaus, born 1730, died in infancy.

Elisabeth Catharine, born 1733, died 1803, married Jacob Maust about 1755. They lived in Bedminster, Bucks County, where Jacob was a farmer. He died in 1807, leaving a will. In it he named four sons Jacob, John, George, and Frederick and daughters Magdalen, Mary and Elizabeth. His daughter Kathren had died before him. His wife Catherine was also dead.12

John Peter, baptized 1735, no further records.

Daniel, born 1738, died 1812, lived in Macungie, a blacksmith, married and Elizabeth Scherer and Catherine Keyser, served in the Militia during the Revolution.13 He died in 1812, leaving a will in which he referred to his wife and named his living children. Children of Daniel and Elizabeth: Daniel, Philip. Children of Daniel and Catherine: Maria Catherine, John, Peter, Elizabeth, Solomon, Sarah, Susannah, Benjamin, Joshua, James.14

Anna Margretha, born 1743, no further records.

Michael, born 1745, served in the Revolution, opposed the 1798 tax and joined the Fries Rebellion, died in prison where he died of yellow fever. Married Maria Magdalena Kuchel, lived in Macungie. Died in 1800; buried at Zion Lutheran, Alburtis, with his wife. Children: Gertrude, Catherine, Elizabeth, Maria Lavina, Johann Jacob, Magdalena, Abraham, Rachel.15

John Philip, born 1748, died 1819 in Adams County, Pennsylvania. He married Maria Magdalena Seitz and had six children with her. Children: Catherine Barbara, Johann Wilhelm, Johann, Lorenz, Salome, Catherine.16