Re: John George b. 1755 m (Barbara?) Beaver
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Re: John George b. 1755 m (Barbara?) Beaver
Ruth Jordan Thoden 11/22/04
This is the information that I have, though our dates vary somewhat.John George Focht was born in 1755 in Naustadt, Franconia, Austria.He may have been know in France as Gerog Henrich Vogt, as it seems his father's name was Peter Vogt.
The lonliness of John George's unmarried sister who lived near Allentown, PA became the cause of his coming to America.At the age of 18 he immigrated to the states.He arrived on Oct. 1, 1773 from Rotterdam, Holland.
It is said that he paid his ocean fare but had no receipt, hence when he landed he was sold into four years of service to reimburse the merchant who befriended him.He was indentured to William Rey and his assign.After his indenture he went to live with his sister.
One other bit of information is that he might have come on October 5, 1767 on the ship 'Sally'.John Oaman was the master.The ship sailed from Rotterdam, last from Cowes and held 116 passengers.
John George enlisted on the American side of the Revolutionary War about 1778.He was drafted into the North Hampton Company.When the British troops were in New Jersey, he served two months as a private under Col. Geiger and was involved in skirmish at Germantown.Later he served two months under Col. Sigfried where he was engaged in several scouting parties.He enlisted (no date) and served as a substitute for another person for two months under Cap. Groves, then reenlisted and served 2 years as a driver of a team under Col. Hooper.After this service he served two months under Col. Stroud's regiment and then nine months as a pack horse driver against the Indians under Captain John Hale.This John George Focht is the only pensioner found in the records of this bureau.He was discharged at Wilkes-Barre, PA.
After his discharge he returned to his sister, Mrs. Horn, and about that time married Barbara (Bieber) Beaver in 1780 near Planck.He bought land on Cedar Creek, Lehigh Co. PA. where they lived for 16-18 years.Then they moved 6 miles SE of Tamaqua, PA.The soil was poor but they had a good stand of pine lumber.After his financial reverses he found a piece of land in Catawissa Valley and had it patented.He died there, his wife having died earlier at the home of their son Adam (possibly 1834).John George died on Jan. 24, 1834.John George and Barbara are buried in the Ringtown Cemetary.He was about 79 years of age.
John George and Barbara Focht had 8 children:
George 1/30/1783
Magdalene 6/3/1781
Elizabeth 11/1/1786
Catherine
Adam5/16/1787
John
Daniel1789
Barbara 1793
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Re: John George b. 1755 m (Barbara?) Beaver
Cory Craven 2/11/05