Honssinger Family

John Honssinger Family

John Honssinger Sr. was born about 1760/70 according to the 1830 Federal Census. He married Margerett in Canada? It is family tradition that when John left Canada, they went to Tennessee and then to Franklin County, Missouri. They migrated to Franklin County, Missouri by 1819. In 1830, they were living in Crawford County, Missouri according to the census (Note that Laclede use to be part of Crawford & Franklin County).

On another note, John Honssinger that married Margaret Stewart is buried in Canada and they never left Canada to move to Missouri - A descendant from this line that I'm in communication with gave explained that to me.

Research Information

Reflected below just general research information that I have acquired that may help others research this family further. The Honssinger may have been originally Huntzinger. Here is a summary of what I'm trying to piece together:

	John Honssinger may come with his dad Johannes Huntzinger with the palatines imported in the ship Robert and Oliver, of Dublin, Walter Goodman, Commander, from Rotterdam, last from Dover. - 320 passengers one of the passengers listed is Johannes Huntzinger. Johannes Huntzinger lived in Allentown, PA.
	A Johannes Huntzinger and Johannis Honsinger are listed on Palatines on Board the Ship Robert & Alice, Walter Goodman, Master, from Rotterdam in 1738. Another link to this Robert & Alice Ship.
	Johannes Huntzinger had three son's with him Johannes, Johannes Micheal and George. Maybe the first Johannes maybe John Honssinger since he had to have come over on the boat since the census had reflected he was born in Germany.
	Johannes Huntzinger had sworn support of the king and George had supported the King. After the war George was told to leave the U.S. and he and hundreds of others traveled the "Road of the black walnut" to ST. Catherines Ontario where he was deeded land by the King. Last known record is 1790 in the U.S.

I became aware that the Honssingers may actually be Huntzingers by finding these posts:

http://www.stonecabin.com/wwwboard/messages/373.html

http://www.stonecabin.com/wwwboard/messages/558.html

There is a Hunsicker Y-DNA in progress that reflects the results of the John Honssingers line. See kit 92015, John Honsinger:

http://www.kerchner.com/hunsicker/hunsickerdna.htm

These Y-DNA results suggest a very close ancestry with Hunsicker and Hunsinger.

I found this Sullivan Co., PA Site:

https://sites.rootsweb.com/~pasulliv/

A John Hunsinger is reflected as an early settler under the map.

Carol Jo Biship found this site that mentions Phillip Honssinger:

http://www.genealogycanada.ca/norton/prehenry.htm

I found this information:

There was a Swiss man named Samuel Huntziger living in Switzerland until 1711. They stated they did not know where he moved to. (I wanted to make a copy of this but I ran out of change so I have to go back - so this reflects what I remember) The index did mention other similar names such as Hundsicker, Hunseker, Hunfinger, Hunsinger, and Huntsicker.

There was also a book called 'Rhineland Emigrants Lists of German Settlers in Colonial America' by Don Yoder. published 1981 ( I did copy this book's pages), page 133

Hunsicker (Honsaker, Hunsecker, Hunsinger, Hunzinger, Hunziker, Unziker) Of Aargau orgin to the Palatinate, Alace (BA 47). Valentine Hunsicker (1700-1771), 1717 to Montgomery Country, settled at Skippack; families in Pennsylvania, Illinos, Ohio (ME II: 844-845; MC 169-170)

Swiss form: Hunziker; in Cts Aargau, Bern (Schwarzhausen, Wynau, Thun) and Luzern (HBLS IV:324).
Elisabeth Hartman, and six children, named Huntseker, on the Pennsylvania Merchant, September 10, 1731 (PGP 1:43, 44)

Name Variations

Variations on the Hunsaker surname are: Hunsicker, Hunsecker, Hunsiker, Hunziger, Huntzinger and Hunsucker. Supposedly, the name derives from the origins of Valentine Hunsicker, in the centre of the Schwartzwald (the German Black Forest), about 70 miles north of Zurich where there is found a district which bears names from the time of Attila the Hun, in Hunstruck, Hunstruecker, Hunsbach, and in the center of the valley, Hunseck (Huns' Valley). It is believed that the name Hunsecker came from this valley and possibly this is the origin of the family.

I have also seen Honssinger spell as: Honsinger, Hunsinger, and Hinsinger.

John and Margaret's Descendants

John Honssinger Jr. , Son of John and Margaret Honssinger, was born in Canada about 1798. He married Matilda Gillespy in 1827 in Missouri. They are reflected on the Pulaski County tax list in 1828. They had 8 children.

In the one of the Laclede Co. History of John F Honssinger it states that they were originally from Canada, then moved to Franklin County, Missouri. In 1829 settled on Osage Fork River which is now part of Laclede Co.

The Laclede Co. History book, the George James' story states the Honssinger family came to Laclede Co, MO in 1835 from Tennessee in covered wagons drawn by oxen (I have not been able to find any proof they were in Tennesse before Missouri, have you?).

Thomas F. Honssinger

I have updated my database, that Nancy Honssinger b. 1821 and Thomas F. Honssinger b. 1823 were children of John and Magaret Honssinger. I have been ordering more documentation from the Missouri State Archives to identify who there parents were.

	John and Matilda did not marry until 1827 and they (Nancy & Thomas) were born prior.
	Matilda would have only been 11 years when Nancy was born and 13 years old when Thomas was born.
	John Honssinger's probate dated 1845 shows that Thomas Honssinger was the administrator and not listed as one of the children. There were 8 children listed, Nancy and Thomas were not listed. (I actually do not know how I came about that Nancy should be part of this family? I lost some of my source information in my database after converting the data to a new database - I'm trying to clean this up)
	Matilda Honssinger's 1855 probate records also show 8 children. Nancy and Thomas are not listed.
	When William G. Honssinger, son of John and Matilda, died in 1863, his heirs sold his land. Since William had not married, his siblings were the heirs. Nancy and Thomas are not shown as heirs.
	My Great Aunt Georgia Chambers wrote a Thomas F. Honssinger family history for us years ago. She does state that Thomas was the son of John and Matilda (Gillespy) Honssinger and he was born in Franklin County, MO on Feb 10, 1823. She also states the Honssinger family came from Tennesse in a covered wagon. The 1830 and 1840 census does show that Thomas could be in their household. Maybe though Matilda was the step mom though. The 1880 census reflects Thomas' mother was born in Kentucky. The 1850 census reflects Nancy was born in Kentucky. Matilda states she was born in North Carolina according to the 1850 census.
	I believe that John Honssinger Sr may have been Thomas' dad as stated in the 1979 Laclede History., The 1830 census reflects enough head count for Nancy and Thomas to be part of John Honssinger Sr family. I'm trying to get a copy of John Sr's probate/will if one exists - I have requested this from the Missouri Archives.

Honssinger Spinner

This spinner originally belonged to the Honssinger family. It is now in the Laclede County Historical Society. There is a photo album on the side of the desk that explains where it came from.