Glessner Family Tree Information
(Our Roots in Pennsylvania and Europe)

In looking at the structure and the geographical makeup that had an effect on the early Glessners in this country, one must look to early Bedford County, Pennsylvania.   PA Map From the time of the settlement of 1682 at the Delaware River banks by William Penn until the early 1770s, the area of Pennsylvania which today emcompasses the counties of Bedford, Somerset, Cambria and Westmoreland were at one time considered Bedford County and frontier lands.   Parts of this area in now southern Pennsylvania will show that the Mason-Dixon Line ran on the 40th parallel and separated the Maryland claim from that of William Penn.

Today's Lincoln Highway, also known as the Old Forbes Pike, (state highway #30) at one time was part of the main artery that ran east-west through the territory.   When looking at a current map, or even an antique map, one can see the importance of linking the county seat with the rest of the uninhabited and undeveloped areas of the west.

The reformed Germans came to Pennsylvania from Switzerland and Palatinate areas of Germany.   Many of them used whatever means to get to the Rhine for departure from a port.   They came to the port by wagon, beast or boat.   All of these immigrants came to America on ships and many of the Germans arrived in Philadelphia.   A review of two major sources of this information revealed the following:

Johann Peter Glaffer arrived 20 Nov 1750 on the ship "SANDWICH" from Rotterdam and Cowes to Philadelphia.   The old German double "s" looks very much like double "f" and this may have been mistaken on the translation for Glaffer instead of Glassner.

Johann Wilhelm Glassner arrived on 23 Sep 1751 on the ship "NEPTUNE" from Cowes and Rotterdam to Philadelphia.

Johanes Glassler arrived 23 Oct 1752 on the ship "RAWLEY" from Rotterdam and Plymouth to Philadelphia.

Johann Heinrich Glassner and Jacob Glasener arrived 5 Oct 1763 on the ship "RICHMOND" from Rotterdam and Portsmouth to Philadelphia.

Johann, Johannes, Johanes are all prefixes to identify families in Germanic language, usually indicating the name of the father.   Therefore, those names are ignored and were dropped upon arrival to this country.

It appears the Peter, Heinrich (Henry), Jacob, Wilhelm (William) and John are all brothers and came to America to begin a new life away from religious persecution.   In exchange for passage to the New World, with the chance for freedom to worship God in their own way, William Penn's heirs offered these immigrants 200 acres of land, a tiny chunk of his huge territory, with the stipulation that they clear it, live on it and develop it.

William Penn and His Heirs (1682-1776)

In 1681, William Penn received a charter from King Charles II declaring him absolute owner of the land of what is now Pennsylvania.   As such, he had the authority to dispose of the land with little restriction.   He recognized claims to the land held by the Native Americans and maintained a policy of purchasing land from them before selling land for settlement.   This same policy was mostly adhered to by his descendants.   William Penn also purchased the land of what is now Delaware and distributed this with his sons during this same period.

This proprietorship lasted nearly 100 years and produced volumes of paperwork.   However, many settlers settled on the land without proper title and this caused disputes with the Indians.   The proprietor attempted to solve much of these concerns and tried to obtain rights to the land.   The Revolutionary War brought an end to the proprietorship.

The Commonwealth (1776-)

With the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, Pennsylvania found itself owner of all the unsold land.   The proprietorship process of land distribution continued for many years after the war.

Brothers Valley was organized as a township under the jurisdiction of Bedford County in the year 1771.   At that time, Bedford county consisted of current Bedford County, all of Somerset County west of the summit of the Allegheny Mountain and all of Cambria County as far north as the neighborhood of Ebensburg.   Ebensburg is now the county seat of Cambria County.

The first assessment of Brothers Valley in 1773 shows a total of 93 families of record in the township, just two years after the area was opened to legal settlement.   Prior to that date, there were nine families known to be residents of the region.   These settlers were known as squatters, although a few had purchased their claims from the Indians.

Jacob Glessner, a joiner by trade, had served in the Revolution.   By the year 1777, the territory known as Bedford was divided into three militia companies, which were attached to the First Battalion of the Pennsylvania Militia that was organized on December 10, 1777.   Under the command of Captain Henry Rhodes was Second Lieutenant Jacob Glessner, who served for one year.

Brothers Valley Township is now in Somerset County.   Berlin Borough is the oldest town in the county.   It appears to have been founded in 1784.

The southern part of Stonycreek Township was settled about as early as its parent township, Brothers Valley.   The first recorded schoolhouse in Stonycreek was built on the Joseph Glessner farm in 1795.   Stonycreek Township, also played an important piece in the puzzle of of the Glessner family and was the last township formed by the Bedford County Court in 1782, prior to the creation of Somerset County in 1795.

One notation with regard to the establishment of Somerset County - Berlin was originally selected to be the county seat.   Unfortunately, there weren't enough water troughs for the expected traffic in such a busy and important place, so the county seat was established in the village of Somerset where there were a few more.   The assessments made for 1796 taxes for Stonycreek Township included that of Jacob Glessner, a tavern keeper.   This Jacob Glessner was the son of the first Jacob who came to America.

NOTES:

Somerset County, Pennsylvania is approximately 50 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.   The city of Berlin in Somerset County is where Jacob Glessner Sr. and many of the earlier Glessners are buried.

Many thanks go to George W. Glessner, Seward, Pennsylvania, who provided me with much of the above information.   George is a very distant relative of mine, who first contacted me via email on September 29, 2000.

Also, thanks go to Pauline Grieco, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, who wrote a book on the Glessner family history.   That book, along with a few pictures, was given to me by George and Hiedi Glessner in October, 2000.

Glenn W. Glessner - Quincy, Illinois Web Page Created on November 29, 2000 - Updated on November 15, 2004

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