Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Name4G GF John Hassinger 
1692
1692Birthabout 1798
Memo(will written 24 Apr proved 21 Jul 1828)
Father5G GF John Jacob Hassinger Jr. (1762-1821)
Mother5G GM Mary Magdalena (Polly) Krick (1771-1837)
Parent-Proof notes for 4G GF John Hassinger
We know that John Jacob Jr. who died in 1821 named his son John in his will and appointed him one of his Executors. It is also clear from Jacob’s will that he had more than one minor child in 1821 and so we can conclude that John, though “of age”, was probably still a young man.
We also know that the 1828 final accounting for Jacob’s estate was filed by Conrad Hassinger, the surviving executor. So that tells us that Jacob’s son John died as a young man sometime between 1821 when Jacob wrote his will and August 1828 when the accounting was filed.
Since there does not seem to be any evidence of another man named John Hassinger of the right age in this place, I consider the evidence quite compelling that John who died in 1828 was the son of Jacob who died in 1821. A final point is that Conrad was also appointed Executor of John’s estate. Since not everything had yet been settled from Jacob’s estate, this probably simply made sense.
We also know that the 1828 final accounting for Jacob’s estate was filed by Conrad Hassinger, the surviving executor. So that tells us that Jacob’s son John died as a young man sometime between 1821 when Jacob wrote his will and August 1828 when the accounting was filed.
Since there does not seem to be any evidence of another man named John Hassinger of the right age in this place, I consider the evidence quite compelling that John who died in 1828 was the son of Jacob who died in 1821. A final point is that Conrad was also appointed Executor of John’s estate. Since not everything had yet been settled from Jacob’s estate, this probably simply made sense.
Census History notes for 4G GF John Hassinger
The 1820 Census shows 7 Hassinger (Hosinger) households in Centre Twp, Union Co. I think they can be sorted out and help to verify the Ancestry family tree of dmbhari. They are:
Three brothers -- all sons of John Jacob Hassinger Sr.
Jacob age 45+. I believe he is John Jacob Jr. 1762-1821 so age 58.
George age 45+. I believe he is George 1773-1855 so age 47.
Abraham age 45+. I believe he is Abaham 1765-1828, so age 55.
A fourth brother John has died, he was born 1764 and died in 1810.
In this Census listing all the “H” names are gathered together but they are NOT in precise alphabetical order. Whether we can infer something from the gaps is a matter of speculation, but it seems to me in this case we can.
The first listed Hassinger is the Jacob age 45+ noted above. Immediately below him is John age 26-45 and then next after one intervening name Jacob Jr. age 26-45. I believe both of the younger men are sons of Jacob age 45+ who was Jacob Jr. but once his father died and his son matured became Jacob Sr. According to the AWT, Jacob Jr. was born 1792 and John 1798 -- which would mean Jacob Jr. should indeed be 26-45 but John should be 16-26.
Immediately after Jacob Jr. comes George and Abraham and then another gap and finally we have Conrad age 26-45 and Henry age 16-26. These last two, I believe, are sons of the brother John deceased. Conrad is said to have been born 1794 and Henry 1796 making their age brackets correct.
For most of these men, their tombstones exist so their birth years are known -- however that is not the case for John and so either his birth year is a little before 1798 or the Census was slightly in error. But this discrepancy does not shake my faith that I have correctly identified all of these men named Hassinger.
Three brothers -- all sons of John Jacob Hassinger Sr.
Jacob age 45+. I believe he is John Jacob Jr. 1762-1821 so age 58.
George age 45+. I believe he is George 1773-1855 so age 47.
Abraham age 45+. I believe he is Abaham 1765-1828, so age 55.
A fourth brother John has died, he was born 1764 and died in 1810.
In this Census listing all the “H” names are gathered together but they are NOT in precise alphabetical order. Whether we can infer something from the gaps is a matter of speculation, but it seems to me in this case we can.
The first listed Hassinger is the Jacob age 45+ noted above. Immediately below him is John age 26-45 and then next after one intervening name Jacob Jr. age 26-45. I believe both of the younger men are sons of Jacob age 45+ who was Jacob Jr. but once his father died and his son matured became Jacob Sr. According to the AWT, Jacob Jr. was born 1792 and John 1798 -- which would mean Jacob Jr. should indeed be 26-45 but John should be 16-26.
Immediately after Jacob Jr. comes George and Abraham and then another gap and finally we have Conrad age 26-45 and Henry age 16-26. These last two, I believe, are sons of the brother John deceased. Conrad is said to have been born 1794 and Henry 1796 making their age brackets correct.
For most of these men, their tombstones exist so their birth years are known -- however that is not the case for John and so either his birth year is a little before 1798 or the Census was slightly in error. But this discrepancy does not shake my faith that I have correctly identified all of these men named Hassinger.
My Comments notes for 4G GF John Hassinger
I have a copy of John’s will written 24 Apr 1828 and proved 21 Jul 1828. It is clear his children were, for the most part, young. His instructions to his Executors included: “See that my three sons: Samuel, David and Jacob Wendel shall be educated in German reading and English reading, writing and cyphering.” “See that my girls are sent to the German school until they can read well.” “All my children as soon as they come of age shall be sent to the minister.” He appointed Conrad Hassinger and Solomon Engel Executors.
Parent-Proof notes for Catherine (Spouse 1)
I don’t know her maiden name, let alone the names of her parents. A clue to her maiden name may be that when her husband died, he named Solomon Engel as one his Executors. Was Solomon family?
A check of Internet Family Trees shows a Solomon Engel of about the same age as John, who apparently had a sister named Catherine (too young, though, to be Catherine, the wife of John Hassinger.) The birth date for Catherine could be wrong of course -- as could my total speculation that Solomon Engel was some kind of family to John Hassinger.
A check of Internet Family Trees shows a Solomon Engel of about the same age as John, who apparently had a sister named Catherine (too young, though, to be Catherine, the wife of John Hassinger.) The birth date for Catherine could be wrong of course -- as could my total speculation that Solomon Engel was some kind of family to John Hassinger.
Census History notes for Catherine (Spouse 1)
1830. Catherine Holsinger lives in Centre Twp, age 30-40, with two young daughters and 1 young son. This may well be her, but some of her family is missing, isn’t it?
1840. There is no sign of Catherine. David is present, age 20-30. There are two females present in his household, one 15-20 could be Mary Ann and one 0-4 I don’t know who it would be.
1840. There is no sign of Catherine. David is present, age 20-30. There are two females present in his household, one 15-20 could be Mary Ann and one 0-4 I don’t know who it would be.
Research notes for Catherine (Spouse 1)
John Hassinger’s wife was named Catherine, according to his will. This assumes that it is the right John Hassinger, father of our Mary Ann, whose will I have seen.
Children Names notes for Catherine (Spouse 1)
John’s will mentioned wife Catherine and children: Samuel, David, Jacob Wendel, Elizabeth, Sarah and Mary Ann.