Pvt. Anthony Blessing, Rev. War Hero

DAR Ancestor A131608

• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy

Anthony arrived from Germany on 25 Sept 1751 on the ship 'Phoenix', that landed in Philadelphia, PA. He and his wife, Margaret were one of the 46 families that founded St. Pauls Lutheran Church in 1752, also known as Sand Hill Church or Hill Church. Anthony and Margaret had 9 children in all, 6 sons and 3 daughters. The three oldest were born in Germany. Their oldest daughter, Anna Maria, died at the age of 1 1/2 before they came to America. One daughter, Elizabeth Barbara, married Frederick Hummel who is the founder of Hummelstown, Dauphin Co., PA. Their other children are Jacob, Johannes (John), Catherina, Phillip, George, Antonius and Christian. There is a marker that simply states Anthony and some say they can make out a 1724. It is probably just an error on the headstone. They say that there may not be a marker for Maragret, or if there is/was it was damaged or is illegible.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Aug 23 2017, 21:20:43 UTC

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Antonius BLESSING(313) (26) was born on 14 Sep 1723 in Ball, Goppingen, Germany. (26) He immigrated on 25 Sep 1751.(28) Ship Phoenix, Captain John Spurrier from Rotterdam, last from Portsmouth, 412 passengers. He died in 1803 in Hummelstown, Derry Twp, Dauphin Co, Pa. (28) He was buried in Sand Hill Cemetery, Hummelstown, Dauphin Co, Pa.(26) Antonius was a brick layer in Schlierbach, Germany. Documents from the Evangelische Kirchengemeinde, 7532 Niefern an der enz, indicate that Anthony and Margaret were living together and had a child before they were married. However, since Anthony was "noble born", the church records literally say they lived together prematurely and on the strength of a decree authorized by the prince, they were admonished and properly married April 2, 1745 in Niefern, Germany. Sometime before the summer of 1751, Anthony and Margaret made their way to Wiernsheim, Germany. It was from there that they left for America. Anton Blessing and family arrived in Philadelphia on the ship Phoenix, September 25, 1751, from Wiernsheim, Germany. Mr. and Mrs Anthony Blessing are included in a list of 46 families that founded the St. Paul Lutheran Congregation of Sand Hill, in Derry Township, Pa before 1752. The Lutheran church located in Sand Hill, now known as St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, has been variously known as Berge Kirche, Die Berg Kirche, Die Maxen Kirch, Die Maxa Kirch, The Hill Church, The Sand Hill Church, The Sand Hill Lutheran Church, Derry Townshp Lutheran Church and The Lutheran Congregation in Derry Township.

With Bible and gun, they went to church. In 1752, the church was nothing more than a gleam in the collective eye of a few German settlers who fought Indians with one hand and farmed with the other. In 1752 Derry Township was part of Lancaster County, since Dauphin county wasn't formed until 1785. Prior to 1785, the Blessings were listed in Lancaster County records. The area where Antonius settled is now considered to be RD#1, Hummelstown. Address of the church has been changed to 850 Hill Church Rd., Hummelstown, Pa.

The original church, of wood frame, was located across the road from the current stone structure. The current structure was built in 1875 by Anthony's great grandson Absalom Blessing.

First listed in the Lancaster County Tax List, Derry Twp in 1757. In 1780, Anthony was taxed on 100 acres in Derry Twp. in 1786, Anthony was elected one of two Supervisors for Derry Twp. In 1790, Anthony Plesly was listed in the federal census in Derry Twp, Dauphin Co. In 1798, Anthony was taxed on a house 25' by 24' made of logs, 1 story, 3 windows, 12 lights on 2 acres of land. Total worth was $110. In the 1800 federal census, he is listed as Anthony Plefsly, living in Derry Twp, Dauphin Co.

Occupation was brick layer. Parents: Hans Jerg BLESSING and Elisabeth GREINER.

He was married to Margaret Salome WACKER on 2 Apr 1745 in Niefern, Germany. (26) Children were: Anna Maria BLESSING , Jacob BLESSING, Elizabeth Barbara BLESSING, John BLESSING, Philip Adam BLESSING, Catherina BLESSING, George Frederick BLESSING, Antonius (Anthony) BLESSING , Christian BLESSING.