Jacob Souder - Incorrect Jacob

Robert, You may be correct. I was only able to verify the tree back to Jacob Sowder (b.1734). From there back, it was largely speculation among possibilities. Another Genie user (Alexander ?? - can't find his last name because internet is so slow at this time) claimed he had verified detail and asked to be able to input. I agreed, but what he has posted is only one of the possibilities I came up with. As far as I know, none of Jacob Sowder's descendants has been successful in tracing his heritage with complete certainty, and I have had some contact with descendants in western Virginia as well as my own family in Missouri.

Richard....

I have come across your name and research several times over the years, and I know you have been dealing extensively with the Souders line.

Because of our current social situation and a long planned second retirement, I have been able to review what has now been about twenty years of research into my Souders family line.

In that time, the main error that seems to never go away is the lineage to our original immigrant ancestor, who I recently changed on Family Search to Hans Jacob Suter (Sowter) just to try and fend off more incorrect connections. The Family Search number for him is, and was, L19Y-YJS. To the limit it would take characters, I posted as much as possible there in his profile.

The primary information comes from Jacob's will, written in 1733 and proven in 1737, the date of his probable death. Also, and this is where the incorrect attributions happen, there is a seminal work by the noted Mennonite Jane Evens Best in 1991 that outlines the Sauder family, from Hirzel. What is always overlooked is that Best did a correction for Jacob in 1993, and all of our research confirms this.

Many places, such as Geni, keep trying to keep Jacob tied to the incorrect Jacob who seems to be from the PA Franconia area. This incorrect Jacob married a woman named Rosenberger, and from there the mistake keeps growing.

Many keep trying to mash up Jacob's two daughters, Maria and Susanna, from his first marriage with those from his second marriage which is absolutely proven to be with Ann Groff in 1725.

Jacob and Ann's first son is the DAR Patriot John, totally incorrectly identified in Geni as "John Rosenberger." Jacob and John are my direct line. We have a connection to them even back to the 1300's as outlined by Best.

I do not know how to make corrections in Geni, and I know you are very much involved, so having the time, I am taking this on again.

If possible, more information is in the Family Search person outline above, and I can even send more, but the best is there.

Thank you for your time and attention.

Robert Souders

Richard....

Sorry to bother you once more...

My line descends from Jacob to John and John's son Benjamin.

Our original immigrant Jacob (Hans Jacob Suter (Sowter), as you may know, had a son also named Jacob from his second marriage to Ann Groff. He was born in 1734.

There has been a lot of speculation that this Jacob is one who shows up in Virginia, which may be your line?

I have also worked since 2003 with a genealogical DNA expert, Marilyn Souders of Plano Texas. We have pretty much concluded that this Jacob is not the same Jacob.

As this is not my direct line, and I am no expert on DNA as she is, I have not followed that very deeply.

And, just as an interesting sidelight, when I began this research, it was as a gift for my father as we really did not know our roots.

We are from Missouri, (I was born in KC). My line went from PA to MD, to Ohio, and then Missouri.

I think that way back, I tried to contact some of your MO folks but that was in the early days of the internet and DNA work.

Thanks again.

Robert Souders.

Richard....

Just thought I would share one more thing to demonstrate how much information over the years has distorted the connections from Jacob, our original immigrant ancestor.

Here is a translation of Jacob's 1733 Will:

On March 8, 1733, Jacob Sautter in his illness and with good mental faculties dictated his will and testament.
Thus he decided and states here:
Firstly, the two children Mary Sauder and Susanna Sauder shall have the money, the household furnishings and the chests from their mother's inheritance.
Further this farm and three hundred aces of land are to be shall be added for 2 (?) hundred 80 Pounds
Of this the above mentioned children Mary Sauder and Susanna Sauder are each to have one hundred Pounds as their inheritance from their father, the wife is to have 80 Pounds and shall have the use of the farm for three years as she wants to use it.
However, so far as the movable goods and the debts shall belong to the wife.
But the land along the Pequea [2 -pw] and 33 acres [should be 233 acres -pw] of land is to go to Hans Sauder and he is to pay out to his sisters [should be translated as "siblings" -pw] and allow his mother to live on it for as long as she lives.

I located your Souders outline and had it in my files since 2012. In it, you actually start the outline with mentioning this will, but ascribe Jacob's daughters Mary and Susanna as being married to "John Sowder" and being "Susanna Martin."

In actuality, Mary married "Hans" or John Rohrer, from a very well known and documented family, and Susanna married Martin Funk, another well documented family.

So you can see from this small example, how misinformation can multiply.

My professional genealogist in 2004 first proposed that Jacob married Anne Groff and research has borne this out. Most likely, the first wife died.

Anyway, so as not to get stuck in the weeds, please let me know if there is anything else I might help with to clear up this situation.

Thanks again.

Robert Souders

Richard...

Thought I would do a small follow up and send you something since I was organizing my many files...

Our John, the DAR Patriot (1726-1788) under discussion had many land transactions between himself and his siblings Ann and Jacob (born 1734).

Here is a deed that marked the transfer of land from John to Ann and Jacob:

"Release" Indenture from John Sowter to Ann Sowter 1758/1795
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book XX, page 378; FHL film #0021403 (LAFHC).
Note that filmed book is a typescript copy of original document which is apparently not filmed.
Note also that it is likely that some of the apparent errors in spelling or wording may be
attributed to whoever did the typescript copy from the original.

John Sowter
to
Ann Sowter
THIS INDENTURE Made the Nineteenth day of December in
the Year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and fifty
eight. BETWEEN John Sowter of the County of Lancaster
in the province of Pennsylvania yeoman and Anna Sowter
Mother to the said John Sowter of the same place, Widow of the same place of the
other part.
WHEREAS the said Anna Sowder in and by her certain Deed Intended bearing
date on the sixteenth day of this Instant December did grant release and confirm
unto the said John Sowter his Heirs and Assigns forever (in consideration of the sum
of three Hundred pounds by him to be paid to his Sister Anna and Brother Jacob for
which sum the said John hath already given his Bonds or Obligations) a certain Tract
of Land situate in the Township of Lampeter & County afsd Begining at a post being a
corner of Land now or late of Jacob Graffe, thence West by South by the same One
Hundred and fifty one perches to a post, thence North by West by the said Graffs
Land two hundred and sixty one perches to a post, thence East by North by a line
of Trees One hundred and fifty one perches to a perches to a post, thence by Phillip Ferre's Land
two hundred and sixty two perches to the place of Beginning, containing Two hundred
and thirty three Acres, AS in and by the said Indenture may more fully appear.
NOW
THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH That the said John Sowter in consideration of the Premises
and for divers good causes and considerations him thereunto moving and for the con-
sideration of the sum of Ten shillings to him in hand paid by the said Anna Sowter.
HATH given and granted and by these presents DOTH give and grant unto the said Anna
Sowter the full and free Liberty and privilege of dwelling in the Messuage or dwelling
house standing on the said Tract of Land during her Natural Life with the Use of the
one third of the Garden, the one third of the Orchard, and the one third of the clar-
'd Lands during the Term aforesd with the Liberty of as much Timber for fenceing and
firewood as she shall necessarily have occasion and the said John Sowter for himself
his Heirs Executors and Administrators doth covenant and grant to and with the said
Ann Sowter that he the said John Sowter his Heirs Ex'ers Adm'ors or Assigns shall
and permit the said Anna Sowter to have and enjoy the Liberties and Privilege above granted her during Life as aforesd, without the Let Hindrance, Molestation, Inter-
ruption or Denial of him the said John Sowter his Heirs Executors Adm'ors or Assigns
or of any other person or persons whatsoever.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties to these
presents have hereunto interchangebaly set their Hands and Seals the day and Year
first above written.
John Souder [seal]

Sealed and Delivered in presence of us: Margaret Stout, David Stout.

LANCASTER COUNTY SS: Personally appeared before me the subscriber, one of the
Justices of the peace for said County, John Hubley Esquire who being duly qualified
according to Law doth depose and say that he is well acquainted with the hand writ-
ing of David Stout Esquire lately deceased (having frequently seen him write) and
that he believes the name David Stout subscribed as a Witness to the within written
Instrument or Lease for Life to be the hand writing of the said David Stout Esquire
deceased, and further saith not.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF I have hereunto subscribed my
Name & affixed my Seal this Thirtyeth day of Abril in the Year of our Lord One thou-
sand seven hundred & Ninety six.
Mc Hubley [seal]
Exd. Recorded the 2nd day of November Anno Domini 1795
Pr me, G. Ross, Recorder

John's sibling Jacob, as I mentioned earlier, has been proposed as the same Jacob Souder that went to Virginia by many researchers, and I think that you may have mentioned that that may be your line.

We do not have any verifiable trace of this Jacob after 1758. He does seem to have the same birth year as the Jacob in VA, but that is the only coincidence that seems, on our research, that exists.

Through DNA, which Marilyn Souders and others have tracked, we feel that the two are not the same. A short outline of this is on the Mary Fern Souders research site.

I was one of the DNA subjects that appears in her summation.

Again, this Jacob is not my line as John is. .

Anyway, I know that you have mentioned this in your general outline.

Just another Jacob to be confused about.

Robert Souders