Information on this individual, probably an older brother of Michael STOCK of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania (1754-1832), was obtained while working on Michael's line. My notes were made over many years, some not recorded very carefully, so it is time to begin a tentative chronology in order to prove or disprove that connection.

23 Apr 1749: Melchior STOCK and Ursula STEINLIN were engaged to be married in Stammheim, Wuerttemberg, Germany. [G:Lists]

cApr 1751: Their second child and first son, Joh: Matthias STOCK, was born. This date was inferred from the parish record of his confirmation (v. infra) which, according to my calculation, fell on 02 Jun in 1765.

cApr 1751: Their pastor advised Melchior and Ursula to go to Pennsylvania since his marital difficulties prevented him from becoming a citizen of Stammheim or plying his masonry trade there. [G:Lists]

cJul 1751: This is another possible birth date for Matthius STUCK, inferred from his grave stone found in Jerusalem Cemetery, Seneca Co., NY.

02 Jun 1765: "Joh: Matthias Stock, aged 14y 2m" was confirmed in Christ Lutheran Church, Tulpehocken, (Berks Co., PA) on Whitsunday. [PR:CLCT]

1775: [Matthias Stock does not appear on the muster rolls of Rangers on the Frontier from 1775 to 1783 in PA (3), xxii. Michael, George, Conrad and John all appear.]

17 Sep 1775: "Matheus Stock [son of] Melchor Stock . . . and Margrith Hermannin . . ." were married. [PR:CLCT]

1776: Mathias STOCK of Northumberland County assessed as a single man [!]. [NCCH]

30 Sep 1781: Unnamed child of Matheus and Margareth STOCK baptized. Child was born 04 Sept. [PR:CLCT]

1782: Matthias STOCK of Heidleberg [!] Twp., Lancaster Co. was assessed Supply Tax of £0.17.0 for one cow. The list immediately preceeds that for Sheffer's Town [!], which is listed separately for the first time. [PA (3), xvii, 877]

1783: Matthias STOCK of Northumberland Co., was assessed Federal Supply Tax of £0.3.9 for 50 acres, no horses or cattle, in Penns Twp. [PA (3), xix, 572]

14 Feb 1783: Anna Margareth, child of Matheus and Margareth STOCK born 16 Jan 1783, was baptized. [PR:CLCT]

1784: Matthias STOCK of Northumberland Co., was assessed Federal Supply Tax of £0.4.4 for 50 acres, no horses or cattle, in Penns Twp. [PA (3), xix, 572]

1787: Mathias STOCK of Northumberland Co., was assessed tax of £0.0.7 for 50 acres, no horses and one cow, in Penn Twp. [PA (3), xix, 741]

1790: Matthias STOCK assessed in Northumberland Co. [NCCH]

1790: Matthias STOCK was enumerated in the Federal Population Census for Penns Twp., Northumberland Co., PA, with 1 male 16 and upwards, 3 males under 16, and 4 females including heads of families.

12 Sep 1792: Mathias STOCK received a warrant for 100 acres of land in Northumberland Co., PA. [PA (3), xxv, 311]

25 Dec 1797: Mathias STOCK was named as one of the legatees in his father Melchior STOCK's will made this date. The will was probated the following May.

1800: Mietthas STOCK was enumerated in the Federal Population Census for Penns Twp., Northumberland Co., PA, with 3 free white males under 10, 1 16 and under 26, and 1 45 and upwards including head of family; 1 free white female under 10 years of age, 2 10 and under 16, 1 16 and under 26, and 1 45 and upwards including head of family.

Until 1989 no further mention of Matthias STOCK had been found in Northumberland Co. records, but he had not been systematically researched by me. In that year, two probable cousins wrote of a Matthius STUCK that was buried alongside his wife, Margaret, in Seneca Co., NY. They believed him to be a son of Melchior and Ursula STOCK of Northumberland Co., PA.

It may well be that "our Matthias" did leave Northumberland Co. and settle in New York State. To confirm or disprove that, records of Row's (Salem) Lutheran Church near the family land in today's Snyder Co., which contain numerous references to family members, plus the contemporary tax, land and court records should be rechecked.

1999 Note: Further research by several descendants of Seneca Co.'s Matthius has uncovered an obituary that definitely ties him to a Northumberland Co., PA, origin, and - although there are some discrepancies in the data - strongly suggest he is the son of Melchior STOCK (the immigrant ancestor).

G:Lists Adolph Gerber, Neue Beitraege zur Auswanderung nach Amerika im 18. Jahrhundert, (Stuttgart: 1928).

NCCH Mary Belle Lontz, Early Assessment Records of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania transcribed from Original Lists in the Court House, (Milton, PA: n.d.).

PA (x), y, z Pennsylvania Archives, xth Series, volume y, page zzz.

PR:CLCT Parish Records, Christ Lutheran Church (Tulpehocken), Stouchsburg, Berks Co., PA.

Return to Previous Page