Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1910-07-14
Found Grave of HenkeI Ancestor.

va, from Rowan county, n. I. lhey
were in further search OF information as
to their ancestors, who passed through
this section from Pennsylvania over
century ago to North Carolina, and prior
to 1900 moved to Indiana.
Ii was known here that Pastor Henkel
and family came from Frankfort-or-the
Main, Germany, in III, and located at
Falckner Swamp, in what is now known
as Montgomery county, Penna. He found
a German Lutheran congregation
probably the first in America-and later
on a church was built, near the old site,
where stands an elegant new building.
More recently it was learned from a nom
cupative will, recorded in Philadelphia,
that Pastor Henkel'S name was Anthony
Jacob mot Gerhard, as commonly sup
poSed-a som, who was mortally injured
on the 18th of August, l72S, by falling
loft his horse on the road from Philadel
phia to his house in New Hanover town.
ship" [Falckner Swamp land was car
ried to the house OF the deponent ION. OF
the witnesses to the non-cupative will
Herman GoothauSen," and died.
With this and other information, DR..
and Mr. Hinkle went from New Market
to Pennsylvania and began a diligent
and exhaustive search for the burial places
OF their ancestors. Finally in May they
located in ST. Michael Lutheran church
graveyard, Chestnut Hill, Germantown,
the tombstone atfirSthardly decipherable)
of Maria Elizabeth, aged 73, who died
Ian. %, l744-wife OF the exile Rev. An
thony Jacob HenkeI Near by was the
tombstone OF Anthony Jacob Henkel, Jr.
their som, who died Jan. q, 1851, atthe
age of Al years and 8 months. The let
ters A. H. were found cut on the stone OF
Maria Elizabeth, and also on a large
broken, crumbling footstone. Rev. DR..
A. Stapleton, of Jersey Shore, Pa, who
is the editor OF The Henkel Memorial,
became imbued with the idea, after much
investigation, that the remains OF the exile
were with those of his wife, which were
inferred in the same grave 10 years after
wards. Rev. Dr. ZeigenfuSS, pastor OF
ST. Michael church-an elegant new
building replacing the old one where the
Rev. Henkel devoutly preached nearly
two centuries ago-tully shared in this
belief, and the fact has been established
beyond doubt.
To finally settle this question-one OF
historic interest TO the family, as well as
TO the Lutheran church, OF which he was
one of the founders, in America-it was
determined to open and examine the
wife's grave. On Monday evening, June
6, DR.. James Hinkle, Mr.. c. r. HinkIe,
Rev. DR.. A. Stapleton, and Ambrose L.
Henkel and DR.. c. O. Miller, and little
son John Godfrey, ofNew Market, reach
ed Philadelphia-representing the 9th, ,7th,
8th, and 9th generations OF the family III
America On the 7th, these gentlemen,
with Rev. DR.. ZeigenfusS, DR.. F. p.
Streeper, OF Chestnut Hill, Pa, and 9TH
ers, assembled at the grave. The exca-
vation began, and at the depth OF about
4 I-2 feet, some bones were found at the
foot of the grave, and then the skull and
iaw-bone OF "mother" Henkel, whose
remains had been resting there for loo
wears. The momentouS question still re-
NAMED unSolved, and feeling was tense.
The excavation was ordered continued.
Half foot further down bones were found,
then the skull and jaw-bone OF an aged
man-the exile, buried lS2 years ago.
There was a deep silence and feeling
of awe, in the presence OF the remains Of
these two persons, eXiled from home
and country for conscience and freedoms
sake. He was court chaplain, and dared
to speak against its profligacy and suffer
ed the consequences, and like his illus
trious kinSman. Muhlenberg, he did hon
orable service for the church and the
country OF his adoption.
These hallowed bones were reintered
husband ard wife in the same grave, as
was a German cuStom-and a teryent,
touching, impressive prayer offered over
them by Rev. DR.. Stapleton, descend
ant OF Fredrika Henkel Geiger, daughter
of the emigrants. They await the final
coming of their heavenly king, who will
accord TO them an eternal abiding place,
not Of earth.
The skeleton of Herr Pfdrrer Henkei
indicates a man Of more than six feet in
height, and that OF his wife very tall
woman-a family trait for many genera
tions.
Later in the day. lunch was served the
relatives present at the exhumation in
The Mermaid Inn, near by, built by An
thony Jacob Henkel, Jr., in l746, with
whom his mother was living, quite near
by. when she died in l744.
II is quite probable memorial asso-
citation will be formed by the descendants
70 be found in half Of the States OF the
Union-many distinguished in the pro-
fessions and other walks OF life. It's OBJ
iect will, in the main, be to erect a monu-
ment to this pioneer, who preferred free
dom Of conscience to royal subServiency
and dire hardships 10 sacrifice OF princi-
pie.
1t is fitting that monument be erected
at the ancestral grave of this servanto
Christ, old when the battle OF German
town ragged around it in III, and when
his grandsons were battling against Brit
ish oppression, for freedom which we
now enjoy.
Work "a Hours A Day.