Notes |
- The following information is found in "MICHAEL STOCKER AND THEIR
DESCENDANTS" by Charles L. Stocker and Jennie Stewart: "Andreas
Stocker, probably the fifth son of Michael, the Swiss imigrant of
1731, and Margaret, his wife, was "born in Perk Gaunty" according to
the inscription on the stone in the old Forks Cemetery, often called
the Stocker Burying Ground, at Stockertown, in Northampton County, Pa.
It is likely that this was in Upper Milford Twp., Bucks County, now in
southwesterly corner of Lehigh County, where on Sep. 11, 1738 Michael
Stocker received a patent for 150 acres of territorial land under the
seal of Thomas Penn." "The tombstone says Andreas died in the
eightieth year of his age which would fix his birth in 1743-1744, but
an entry in his old family Bible reads: "I, Andreas Stocker, was born
on Ascension day in the year 1746." "About 1770-71 Andreas and his
brothers Adam and Henry moved northeasterly into the present
Northampton County, where the records show that Andreas and Adam acquired
in common a tract of 345 acres of land in Bethleham Twp. This Andreas
soon thereafter quit-claimed to Adam. Thereafter he acquired a number
of parcels in Forks Twp. and became one of the largest land holders in
the region." "He was enterprising and constructive in the new
community. Tradition has it that before the establishment of a
church, services were held in Andreas' barn. He donated a location
for the Forks church and cemetery site. I think it almost certain
that the old stone mill powered by the waters of Bushkill Creek, whick
is still operating to this day, was one of his contributions to his
time." "Andreas and his four living brothers were enrolled as
soldiers of the Revolution. Andreas' service record as a private in
Capt. Jacob Buss' County of the 1st County in the 2nd Battilion of
Northampton County, according to the Class roll dated May 22, 1781,
appears in Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Vol. 8, p.143; also as
of roll made up in the fall of 1782, on p. 201 of Vol. 8, same
Series."
|