The Mohler Family 

I. Henry Mohler, Sen., the immigrant ancestor of the larger part of the Mohler Family resident in Lancaster County, Pa., (in the locality now established as Ephrata) was probably born in Switzerland about 1700-1704, and in all probability a brother of Ludwig Mohler who came to America in the ship "Thistle" in August 1730. The exact year of Henry's arrival is not known, but he was in Pennsylvania as early as 1736, (and most likely earlier) for on November 18th, 1736 he received a grant of 245 acres in Cocalico Township, Lancaster County. Philadelphia Patent Book, A, Vol. 6, p.349, Vol. 8, p. 98). Part of this land he sold in 1749/50 and by deed of gift conveyed another part in 1756 to his son Jacob and another part in 1763 to his son Henry, Jr. (See: Lancaster Deeds, at the end of this article, #1 and #2). He is styled yeoman in the local records of the township.

He and his family were Christian Brethren or "Dunkers" in religious faith, and his home, a fine example of the early 18th. Century architecture was situated a little east of the Mohler meeting house, about a mile and a half from the present village of Ephrata, Pa. In 1749 he acquired further lands by purchase from Michael Witmer (Witman). He became a very large landed proprietor and a man of much local consideration. The Baptismal Record of the Conestoga District shows that he and his wife were received into the Church in 1739 and the year before his brother Ludwig and wife were received into the same church. The family home already referred to was built in 1764 and is still owned by descendants of the immigrant Henry Mohler, Sen. The Christian Brethren Church was founded in Lancaster County about 1738-9 when there was a large exodus of Brethren from the vicinity of Germantown, Pa., to Lancaster County. Lancaster County was established as an independent county, May 10, 1729. It is interesting to note that "The Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pa." (1905) contains the following statement in regard to the Mohlers: "Three brothers, Ludwig, Henry and John Mohler all settled early in Lancaster County coming from Switzerland and belonged to the German Baptist Brethren." (p.773) This historian, the author of this work, evidently had authority for part of this statement at least, but who the third brother John was we are unable to state.

Henry Mohler, Sen., married before coming to this country Elizabeth , who was alive as late as Jan. 1763 (See Deed #1) and after her death married Barbara, who survived him. He died in Cocalico Township in August 1769 (See Will #1). His gravestone has not been discovered, if he had one.

Children of Henry, Sen., and Elizabeth Mohler:

Jacob Mohler, born about 1721; died June 1770, and by his will made his brother Henry, Jr., his executor, and left children, Jacob, Elizabeth & Susanna. [probably wrong Jacob, I think this one is Ludwigs,]

Elizabeth Mohler, born ; married John Landis

[This Eliz. is born too late to marry John Landis, Jr.]

Henry Mohler, Jr., born January 1728

Martin Mohler, born (under age in 1769, but of age in 1771) (probably born 1753)

(Lieut.) John Mohler, born _____; came into his share of his father's estate in 1776. He was an officer in the Revolutionary War. He died in 1815, leaving a wife Catherine and 8 children. (probably born 1755)

Susannah Mohler, born ________.

(AUTHORITIES: Will #1, Deeds #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, at the close of this article; History of Lanc. County, Pa., by Ellis and Evans, pp 833-4; Penna. Archives Vol. 2, p. 356).

(A warranty for land grant in 1751 styles Henry Mohler as "Hans Henry Mohler")

II. Henry Mohler, (Jr.), son of Henry, Sen. and Elizabeth ______ Mohler, was probably born in Switzerland before his parents came to this country. The date of his birth was January 1728 (see his original gravestone at Ephrata, Pa.). In 1763 he received from his parents by deed a gift of 95 acres of land in Cocalico Township and soon added by purchase to this estate so that in 1771 he is rated as the owner of 175 acres, 2 horses and 4 head of cattle; his brother Martin that same year is rated as the possessor of 50 acres and their widowed step-mother, Barbara Mohler, as owning 100 acres. (Penn. State Archives, Third Series, Vol. 17). He married in 1748 Elizabeth (probably "Brecklebeck"). There is no record to prove who she was, though exhaustive search has been made in the deeds of Lancaster County. However, in 1761 Henry Mohler, Jr., was appointed with the widow Elizabeth Brecklebeck to administer on the estate of John Brecklebeck of Cocalico, deceased. [He was Executor of other wills and that doesn't mean he was married to those wives either. Henry, Jr.'s wife was Elizabeth Landis, d/o Ephrata John.]

In 1770 he and his wife were members of the Christian Brethren Church of Cocalico. (Penn. German Society Vol. 10, p. 87). His will was dated April 19, 1774 and was proved May 6, of that year. His grave-stone and that of his wife are to be found in the old yard near the Mohler meeting house in the village of Ephrata. He died April 20, 1774 and his wife, March 30, 1804.

Children of Henry, Jr. and Elizabeth (Brecklebeck?) Mohler: (All born in Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, Pa.)

i. Christian Mohler, born 1749 [born 17 March 1774]

ii. Margaret Mohler, born ; mar. John Zug of Cumberland County, Pa. [born 3 March 1767]

iii. Henry Mohler, born Oct. 21, 1754; died May 12, 1833. (He had children John 1783, Henry 1786 and Samuel)

iv. John Mohler, born September 16, 1757.

v. Maria (or Mary) Mohler, born; mar. John Frontz. [born 13 Oct 1750, m. John Pfautz]

vi. Elizabeth Mohler, born; mar. Christian Herr.

vii. Susanna Mohler, born; mar. Mar. 30, 1784, Dr. Benedict Bucher. [born 29 Jan 1764]

viii. Salome Mohler, born; mar. Martin Keller. [born 7 Sept 1761]

ix. Jacob Mohler, Born June 30, 1771 (Mohler Genealogy, p. 51); he died Jan. 29, 1833. His wife was Mary Bollinger.

(Authorities: Deeds # 6, 7, 8, 9; and private records; Mohler Garber Family History (1921) p. 28)

* Muster Roll of Capt. Smuller's Company, Lancaster County Militia, 1778, Private Third Class, John Mohler: (His uncle John Mohler, was Lieutenant of this Company.)

* Muster Roll same Company, 1779, Private Third Class, John Mohler:

* Muster Roll of Capt. Andrew Ream's Company, of the Third Battalion, Lancaster Militia, 1780, Private Third Class, John Mohler. 

* Muster Roll of Capt. Andrew Ream's Company, Lieut-Col. Fether's Regt., 1781, Private of the Third Class, John Mohler. 

He was a man of high standing in his community and lived in the ancestral mansion of the family near the Mohler Meeting house a mile and a half from the Village of Ephrata, Pa. In 1801 and 1802 he was a Representative in the Pennsylvania Assembly or Legislature from his county. 

(A Biological History of Lancaster County, Pa. (Harris, 1872) page 396.)

He married June 9, 1778, Anne Bollinger, born in Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, Pa., April 22, 1760, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth ( ) (Diertorf) Bollinger of Cocalico Township.

Hon. John Mohler died in Cocalico Township Nov. 11, 1821 and his widow died there Aug. 16, 1822. (See Will #3). Their gravestones are to be found in the burying-ground in Ephrata, Pa.

Children of Hon. John and Anne (Bollinger) Mohler: (all born in Cocalico Township, Pa.)

[i. Daniel Mohler, born 11 July 1779; died 1 May 1849 Brainerd inadvertently left out ii and gave Henry's dates to Daniel, this line-up is correct]

ii. Henry Mohler, born Dec. 14, 1780; died Feb. 15, 1853.

iii. Elizabeth Mohler, born June 15, 1782; died Aug. 15, 1849; mar. Samuel Fass.

iv. Anna Mohler, born Dec. 4, 1784; died Sept. 22, 1857; mar. Philip Weist.

v. John Mohler, (Jr.) born Oct. 17, 1786; died Feb. 18, 1865 mar. 1814 Salome Gline and had 9 children; Amanda, Cyrus, John, Reuben, Salome, Frederic, Levi, Samuel and Isaac.

vi. Sarah Mohler, born Aug. 6, 1788; died Feb. 11, 1789.

vii. Sarah Mohler, born Dec. 11, 1789; died Sep. 24, 1869; mar. John Eicholtz.

viii. Susanna Mohler, born Sep. 26, 1791; died Nov. 25, 1853; mar. Benjamin Riegle.

ix. Maria Mohler, born July 20, 1793, died Sept. 5, 1849; mar. John Merckle

x. Hannah Mohler, born Oct. 20, 1795; died Nov. 12, 1876; mar. Samuel Landis.

xi. Catherine Mohler, born March 4, 1798; died; mar. Sherick.

xii. Esther Mohler, born Oct. 13, (Sept 12) 1800; died Jan. 9, 1878; mar. John Royer.

xiii. Rebecca Mohler, born Oct. 5, 1802; died _____1887; married 1826 JOHN STUDEBAKER.

Lawrence Brainerd, (Genealogist), 9 Ashburton Place, Boston, Massachusetts. ( 1922 ) 

This Indenture made 8 Jan. 1763 between Henry Mohler, Sen., of Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, Province of Pennsylvania, & Elizabeth, his wife, of the one Part and Henry Mohler,Jr., one of the sons of the said Henry Mohler, Sen., of the said township of the other Part ...... Whereas John Penn, Thomas Penn and Richard Penn, Esquires, True and Absolute Proprietors of the said Province by a certain Patent under the Hand of the said Thomas Penn and their Great Seal bearing the date, the 12th. day of June, A.D. 1734 for the Consideration therein mentioned with (other?) Land, grant and confirm unto one John White, a merchant in the city of Philadelphia in right of a certain Grant made by the late Proprietary William Penn, Esq., unto James, Joseph and Benjamin Crispen, Jane Eleanor, Elizabeth and Amy Crispen, the children of Capt. William Crispen, late of Kingsdale, in Ireland, deceased, by deed dates the 8 Aug. A.D. 1687. Now witness in a certain tract in Lancaster County, 1627 acres, the said John White (Pa. Patent Book, A. Vol. 6, pp. 349 etc., 1734, 2 June). And whereas the said John White by a certain Deed or Indenture of Lease and Release, bearing the date 18 Nov. 1736, Dith Grant bargain, and sell, Release and Confirm unto the said Henry Mohler, Senior, to his assigns and heirs forever, a part of the above mantioned Tract of land for the Consideration named also by the Bounds and Lines, 245 arces.

Now this Indenture witnesseth that the said Henry Mohler,Sen., & Elizabeth, his wife, as well for the Love and natural affection that they retain for their son Henry Mohler, Jr., as also for the Consideration of a sum of 20 shillings to their hand well and truly paid before the ensealing and delivery of these Presents, have granted, bargained sold unto the said Henry Mohler, Jr., a certain part of said land (boundaries mentioned) viz. 95 acres. -

Recorded July 12, 1768. (Vol. M., p. 397) 

Dec. 30, 1756 Henry Mohler, Sr., & Elizabeth, his wife, grant unto their son Jacob Mohler, part of the property which Henry Mohler, Sr., bought from John White, merchant (granted him by the Proprietors Penn) Nov. 19, 1736, number of acres (uncertain) (Vol. 8, p. 16). 

Henry Mohler, Sr., & Elizabeth, his wife, for natural affection Jan. 10, 1763, granted land to Henry Mohler, Jr., their son, two tracts of adjoining land in Cocalico Township, containing 96 acres, which was granted to Henry Mohler, Sr. 8 Sept. 1736 and recorded Nov. 18, 1736, by the Proprietors Penn. (Philadelphia Patent Book A, Col. 8, p.98) (Vol. N. p. 7). 

Indenture made 3rd of March A.D. 1774 Between Henry Mohler, Jr., Jacob Mohler and Martin Mohler, all heirs at law of Henry Mohler, Sr., late of Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, yeoman, deceased, on the one part and Jacob Gorgas of the same, clockmaker, on the other part, a release of mortgage which Henry Mohler, Sr., held on a certain property of said J. Gorgas. Signed: Hendrich Mohler, Jacob Mohler and Martin Mohler ( Vol. N. p. 563). 

Oct. 12, 1776 John Landis, the surviving executor of the last will of Henry Mohler (the elder) deceased, late of Cocalico Township in the County of Lancaster and the Province of Pennsylvania, yeoman, to John Mohler, one of the sons of the aforesaid Henry Mohler, deceased, doth grant 140 acres ........... Whereas Henry Mohler, Sen., by his last will of 22 Day of Aug. 1769 mentions, John as to have the plantation in which he lived, meaning the above mentioned, plantation, and sons Martin Mohler and Henry Mohler, (Jr.), who is since deceased (Vol. R. p.292). 

Indenture made the 23rd day of Dec. 1795, between John Mohler of Cocalico Township and Ann, his wife, of the one part and Henry Mohler of Cocalico Township, on the other part, for L6 small piece or parcel of land, It being part and parcel of a larger Tract or Piece of land containing 9 acres and 100 perches of land which Daniel Bowman and Jacob Keller, executors of the last will and Testament of Henry Mohler, father of John and Henry Mohler, late of said place, deceased, in pursuance of the said last will by their indenture dated 26th of Dec. 1786 for the consideration therein granted and confirmed (among other land) unto said John Mohler (party hereto), houses, out-houses, etc (Vol. UU. p. 529). 

John Frontz and Maria, his wife, Christian Herr and Elizabeth, his wife, Benedict Bucher, Jr. and Susanna, his wife, and Salome Mohler, all of the County of Lancaster in Pennsylvania, the said Maria, Elizabeth, Susanna and Salome, being four of the Daughters of Henry Mohler, late of Co-calico Township, yeoman deceased, quit claim, etc. 1785 (Vol. DD. p. 358). 

Elizabeth Mohler, widow of Henry Mohler, late of Cocalico Township, deceased, gave receipt to Daniel Bowman and Jacob Keller for the full amount due her for the estate of her late husband 19 Dec. 1786 (Vol. FF. p.277). 

Jacob Mohler, Christian Mohler and John Zug and Margaret, his wife, (three of the children of Henry Mohler, late of Cocalico Township, deceased, quit claim, etc. 25 April 1795 (Vol . TT. p. 489). 

Feb. 17, 1792, John Mohler of Cocalico Township, County of Lancaster, and Ann, his wife, the said Ann being the Daughter of Daniel Bollinger late of the Township of Cocalico in Lancaster County, deceased, quit claim to Peter Bollinger, for the sum of L800, all their rights, interests, etc., in the estate of Daniel Bollinger, deceased. "The said Daniel Bollinger being seized at his Demesne of 140 acres, 29 acres, 42 acres, and died intestate, leaving a widow named Elizabeth and issue of two children said Peter and Ann, the wife of John Mohler." (Vol. NN. p. 506) 

Henry Mohler, Sr., of Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, Province of Pennsylvania, will dated 22 Aug. 1769, proved 2nd Sept. 1769. Executors named: John Landis and son Henry Mohler. Wife Barbara to receive L100, sons Jacob Mohler and Henry Mohler, L30 each, sons Martin and John (yet being under age), and daughters Elizabeth and Susanna (Lancaster Co. Probate Records, Book B.1, pp 637-8). 

Henry Mohler, Jr., of Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, Province of Pennsylvania, will dated April 19, 1774, proved May 6, 1774. Executors: Daniel Bowman and Jacob Keller, Jr. Mentions wife, name not given, and children, number and names not given. The will makes provision for the education of his children who were under age.

(Abstract of Lancaster County Wills, MS. in Penn. Historical Society, Philadelphia. p. 677)

The deficiency of names is supplied by the Deeds #6, 7, 8, and 9. 

John Mohler "In the name of God, Amen. I, John Mohler, of Cocalico Township, County of Lancaster, being at present in good health and sound mind, memory and understanding, blessed be God, and considering the uncertainty of this transient life, make this my last will and testament in the manner following:

First: I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Ann as much of my household and kitchen furniture, linen and beds as she shall want and to take thereof for her use and also one horse, two cows, also the sum of 500 Pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania.

Second: To my son John Mohler all my plantations or tract of land whereon we now live, being the same what I got of my father, excepting the nine acres and 100 perches adjoining the burying ground (see Deed #6) and five acres and 113 perches adjoining the land I purchased of Joseph Groff.

Third: To daughter Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Fass, 20 acres and 725 Pounds lawful money.

I give and bequeath unto my eight daughters, namely: Nancy, the wife of Philip Weist, Salome, the wife of John Eicholtz, Susanna, the wife of Benjamin Riegle, Mary, the wife of John Merckle, Hannah, the wife of Samuel Landis, Catherine, Esther and Rebecca, all the remainder of my lands in Cocalico Township [part is missing here, ELC] being nine acres at the burying place, 24 acres [missing] purchased of the Executors of Michael Kinesly and 25 acres purchased of Joseph Groff.

(Estate also shows lands in York and Cumberland Counties.)

I appoint my three sons: Daniel Mohler, Henry Mohler and John Mohler and my son-in-law, Landis, as my executors.

Dated 3 January 1818, Signed John Mohler

Wittnesses: Peter Martin and John Becker

Proved 24th of Nov. 1821 (1822) (Lancaster Probate Records Vol. 1N, p. 86)