The Germanna Colony

[shanti]

One of my father's maternal lines included several members of the Germanna Colony in and around Culpeper, Virginia. My ex-husband had some too. Anyone else have Germanna Colony ancestors? Many of them were Revolutionary War soldiers, which would qualify one for the DAR/SAR.

There were two migrations: 1714 and 1717. The first was voluntary, the second batch were indentured servants. Mine came in the second migration. Many eventually removed to northern Kentucky and southern Indiana, but there are still many distant cousins in Virginia. Some related names in my own family: Wilhoit, Blankenbaker, Gaar, Clore.

http://www.germanna.org

[csziggy]

1. At a quick glance some of those surnames are in my husband's tree

And those families are from Virginia but we don't have them researched that far back. This is the first time I've heard of this wave of immigration! I'll have to spend some time to see if they tie in.

My German ancestors came to either South Carolina or Pennsylvania. The SC branch came from the German Palantine. I'm not sure about the PA branches.

[shanti]

2. Each wave

of immigrants to this colony came from different parts of Germany. Although the German first names are pretty redundant, and they often used the middle name as their first name, they kept good records, so you may be able to go much further back. There was a lot of intermarriage between the families. Also, some of the families did move to Pennsylvania.

BTW, the website has LOTS of information!

[csziggy]

3. Some people have taken the Kynerd surname back into Germany

And found where the original family was baptized. They are also spelled Kinard, Kennard, Kynard, etc. - sometimes in the same document. The earliest spelling is Keynat:

The following Petn of John Keynat in behalf of himself and
his Brother Martin and Certificate of Henrv Middteton Esqr to
his Excellency and the Honble Members of his Majestys Council
setting forth
That your Petr came with his parents in Capt. Brown on the
Encouragemt given to foreign Protestants that his Father and
Mother are both dead in the service of Mr. Middleton. Your
Petr having served his time out with said Mr. Middleton is
now desirous of settling in or near Saxa Gotha Township that
Brother being also out of his time altho but 15 Years of Age
and is under the care of your Petr who humbly Prays that
your Excelly and Honors would direct the Survr Genl to run
out 50 Acre of Land for each of them in or near Saxa Gotha
Township and also a Town Lot in Saxa Gotha and that your
petr may be paid the Provision Bounty for himself and his
Brother under such Direction as to your ExY and Honors shall
think fit .
Certificate of Henry Middleton Esqr
This is to Certifie that John Keynot and his youngest Brother
Martin Keynot were my Indented Servants and have been free a
twelve Month the fifth of this Month.

January 15th 1749
Henry Middleton

The Petitioner appearing and being sworn to the Truth of what
is set forth in his said petn the prayer thereof was Granted
and accordinly

Ordered that the DepY Surr make out a Warrant to the Surveyor
Genl to 1ay out to the petr 100 Acres of Land for himself and
Brother and that John Dart Esqr the Comp y Genl do pay the
Bounty if it appears that it has not been Received before.

My problem is that we can't get our Jacob Kynerd, who moved to central Alabama in about 1819, connected to a specific family in South Carolina. We know he was born in South Carolina - he told the census takers so later on. And there are at least a couple of Jacob Kynerds whose parents are known who were born about the right time - but they stayed in SC so far as we can figure. One of his descendants, Dan Kinard, compiled a book about Jacob Kynerd and children but Dan died while still trying to find Jacob in SC - and he'd eliminated the ones I've found.

I've bookmarked the Germanna site - as you say, there is a lot of information there. Once I get into my husband's ancestors who are possibilities, I will see if I can make the connection

[dgibby]

4. Thanks, Shanti.

My paternal gg grandparents are my brick walls. so I started doing "cluster" research to try to discover more info about him. His first wife was a "Camper" aka Kemper, and althought the Craft/Kraft/Krafft name doesn't appear in the Germanna Colony, the Kemper name does! It appears these 2 families migrated down the Valley of Va. together (from Faquier Co. to Botetourt, then finally, Craig Co.). Although not finding my line in the Germanna Colonies is disappointing, it is encouraging to be able to narrow the search area for where the 2 families are found together.

[shanti]

5. Glad to help!

The names have various spellings too, so it can be confusing. As for your Craft connection...I did the genealogy for my sons from my first marriage and Craft is one of them too! They were from the Eastern seaboard, NC, etc.