Tenth Generation

630. John Philip BOEHM was born on 25 November 1683 in Hochstadt, Germany.⁴²⁵ He owned on 1 December 1740 in Saucon Creek, Bucks Co., PA. From "Proceedings of the Re-Union of Apple's Church and of the Boehm Family" pp. 91-99. Rev. John Philip Boehm, the founder of the Boehm Family in this country, was one of the first land owners on Saucon Creek, in what is now Hellertown and Lower Saucon Twp., Northampton County, PA.
The records show that on the fifth day of February, A. D., 1740, "The Honorables John Penn, Thomas Penn and Richard Penn, Esquires, the proprietors and governors in chief of the Province of Pennsylvania, in and by a certain patent or grant, under the hands of the said proprietors and governors in chief, and the great seal of said province, ***** did for them, the said proprietors and governors, their heirs and successors, give, grant, and confirm unto the said John Philip Boehm a certain tract of land, situate on Saucon Creek, in the County of Bucks." (Now Northampton County, PA)
Beginning at a corner marked Swamp Oak Tree, and extending thence by a vacant land, West, two hundred and twelve perches to a post; North, one hundred and sixty perched to a post; East, two hundred and twelve perches to a post, and South one hundred and sixty perches to a corner marked Swamp Oak Tree, the place of beginning, containing two hundred acres and allowance of six per cent. for roads, etc.
Paying to them, the said proprietaries and governors, the yearly rent of one-half penny Sterling Money per acre, or value thereof in coin current according to the exchange.
And Whereas, on the sixteenth day of May, 1743, the said John Philip Boehm obtained another tract (probably adjoining the other) described as follows:
Beginning at a stone set for a corner, and from thence extending, by vacant lands, along lines of marked trees, the four following courses and distances: North, one hundred and seventeen perches to a post; East, one hundred and fifty four perches to a stone; South, one hundred and eleven perches to a stone and eighty-seven and one-half degrees, West one hundred and fifty-four perches to the place of beginning, containing one hundred and three acres and a like allowance as aforesaid.
The eastern boundary of the two hundred acre tract is supposed to have been the Bethlehem Road, the southern boundary Water Street now in the Borough of Hellertown, thence extending westwardly of equal width (one hundred and sixty perches) two hundred and twelve perches, including the iron furnaces, and all the land belonging to the Thomas Iron Company, and also most, if not all the land owned by Preston H. Riegel.
The location of the one hundred and three acre tract cannot be fully determined. It is however, supposed that it was adjoining the two hundred acre tract, either on the western or northern boundary.

The record further shows, that on the thirtieth day of September, A. D. 1747, John Philip Boehm, and Anna Maria, his wife, of Whitpain Township, Philadelphia County, by Indenture under their hands and seals duly executed for the consideration of natural love and affection which they have and do bear for, and towards Anthony William Boehm, the eldest surviving son and heir apparent of the said John Philip Boehm, and Anna Maria his wife, and for his better preferment in the world, and for divers other good causes them specially moving, have granted and confirmed the two above described tracts of land, under the yearly quit-rents aforesaid, to have and to hold the said tracts to him, his heirs and assigns forever.
He died on 29 April 1749 at the age of 65 in Hellertown, Northampton Co., PA.⁴²⁵ John Philip died at his oldest son's home near Hellertown. he was buried under the altar of his church in Whitpain. John Philip Boehm was an innkeeper of the Stage Inn at Labbsheim in his early years. He became a citizen there 14 Apr 1706. He was the Reformed Schoolmaster at Worms from 1708 to 1715 where his salary was 100 Guiden or about $48.00. A Christopher Schmidt wanted someone else as schoolmaster and his persecution caused John Philip to resign and take a position in Lambsheim where he earned 145 florin or about $69.60. This salary placed him in the upper middle class. He quarreled with the town council over distribution of lands and although the electoral government decided in his favor this conflict plus persecution by Catholics probably influence his migration to America.

Founded the German Reformed Church in the United States. Baptized 25 Nov 1683. Died at his son's home at Hellertown, PA. Settled as a farmer in Whitpain Twp, later Montgomery Co., PA - SOURCE -- Dictionary of American Biography, Volume 1. It is likely that he arrived in Philadelphia on the ship "Laurel" 10 Aug 1720. He had a 200 acre farm that he purchased in 1736. He served communion at Falkner Swamp 15 Oct 1725, this date is now used as the founding of the German Reformed Church in PA. Word spread and other groups requested his services so he became a circuit rider for Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Berks, Lehigh, Northampton, Lancaster, Chester and Lebanon Counties. When an ordained minister, George Michael Weiss, arrived in 1727, he denounced Boehm's ministry and challenged the validity of his ministerial acts. The people were divided, but several congregations sent petitions to the Classis at Amsterdam which concluded that Boehm's call "originating as it did, out of the very heart of the congregation, must be considered as valid." He was ordained in New York 23 Nov 1729. The act of 14 Feb 1730 allowed Boehm to become a naturalized citizen of PA. The English passed a low in 1740 allowing provincial courts to grant British citizenship to foreigners. Boehm took advantage of this and became a citizen 11 Apr 1741.
Rev. John Philip Boehm wrote a detailed account of the Reform Church in America from 1720 - 1744, which is at the Hague in Rotterdam.
He owned several tracts of land and evidently supplemented his income with other pursuits since he advertised in the 1 Aug 1755 Sower's newspaper "good rum and molasses for sale cheap".

Anna Maria STEHLER and John Philip BOEHM were married about 1706 in Lambscheim, Germany. 1st wife- 2nd wife was Anna Maria Scherer of Lambsheim.

631. Anna Maria STEHLER was born about 1687 in Lambscheim, Germany.⁴²⁵ She died in Hellertown, Northampton Co., PA.

Children were:

i.
Johanna Sebina BOEHM was born on 2 May 1709 in Worms, Prussia. She died in 1759 at the age of 50.⁴²⁵
ii.
Franciscus Ludovicus BOEHM⁴²⁶ was born on 26 July 1711 in Worms, Prussia. Died as an infant.
iii.
John Christopher BOEHM was born on 4 May 1713 in Worms, Prussia.⁴²⁷ He died on 2 August 1713 at the age of 0 in Worms, Prussia.⁴²⁷
iv.
Anthony William BOEHM was born on 27 April 1714 in Worms, Prussia.⁴²⁷ He owned on 30 November 1762 in Upper Saucon Twp., Lehigh Co., PA. That part of Lehigh Co. was formerly in Bucks Co., PA.
By Indenture, Anthony William Boehm obtained from Thomas and Richard Penn, proprietary governors, the following three hereinafter described tracts of land situate in Upper Saucon Township, Bucks County.
Tract No. 1. Beginning at a marked Hickory Tree, thence extending by vacant land East, one hundred and sixty perches to a stone; thence by vacant land South forty-seven perches to a stone, and West, sixty-eight perches to a stone, in line of Henry Weaver's land, thence by the same North, fourteen perches to a stone, West forty perches to the place of beginning, containing twenty and one-half acres, and six per cent. allowance.
Tract No. 2. Beginning at a small Black Oak in line of vacant lands, thence by the same East, one hundred and thirty-six perches to a post; thence by land of Philip Trap and vacant lands, South sixty perches to a large Hickory Sapling; Thence by vacant lands West, eighty perches to a post, and North forty-three degrees, West eighty-two perches to the place of beginning, containing thirty-eight acres and thirty-four perches and allowance as before.
Tract No. 3. Beginning at a marked Black Oak in line of land of Christian Eastbank, thence South, eighty perches to a stone, in line of vacant lands, thence by the same West, one hundred and forty-nine perches to a post, thence by land of Henry Weaver North one degree, West, seventy-six perches to a stone; thence by vacant lands fifty and one-half perches to the place of beginning, containing sixty-eight acres and one hundred thirty-eight perches, and the usual allowance.
The consideration for said three above described tracts being, yearly, a quit-rent of one-half penny Sterling money per acre.
Patent recorded at Philadelphia in Patent Book A. A., Volume IV., page 92, etc.
He died on 6 April 1766 at the age of 51 in Upper Saucon Twp., Lehigh Co., PA.⁴²⁷ Gravestone is one a tract of land he owned located about 1 1/2 miles west of Fiedensville, Pa in Upper Saucon Twp. "Hier Ruhet in Gott, Anton Wilhelm Boehm, 1st Geboren den 27ten April 1714, in Worms; 1st Gestorben den 6ten April, 1766, Alter, 52 Jahre.
He died intestate, so all the land went to Philip, who survived him. The 127 acres of land he owned west of Friedensville, PA was later found to have valuable zinc ore deposits.
315
v.
Anna Maria BOEHM.
vi.
Elizabeth BOEHM was born in 1718 in Lambscheim, Germany.⁴²⁸ She died on 17 May 1756 at the age of 38 in Upper Milford Twp., Northampton Co., PA.⁴²⁸
vii.
Maria Phillipina BOEHM was born about 1720 in Germany.⁴²⁸ She died in Gloucester Co., NJ.⁴²⁸
viii.
John Philip BOEHM Jr. was born about 1725 in Whitpain Twp., Philadelphia Co., PA.⁴²⁸ He died on 17 September 1790 at the age of 65 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., PA.⁴²⁸