Ausmus of Colonial America
Germany to Pennsylvania, Virginia, Tennessee and Illinois

last updated 03/10/09

Introduction:
I conducted this research out of interest in knowing my heritage and because of the interesting stories that my grandfather, James Hulse Ausmus had told me about a small town in Tennessee where most of the early residents were either Ausmuses or related in some way to the Ausmuses. He called this town Speedwell, and gave me three books: Old Speedwell Families, by Lawrence Edwards,1955, Ausmus Family History 1711-1962, Harry L. Ausmus 1963 and More Speedwell Families by Joy Edwards Davis 1988.

Much of this research is based on these books and wherever possible, errors and omissions from these books and tradition have been documented.

Coupled with a fascination of history and knowledge in computers and the internet, I began searching transcripts of tax lists, church records, and message boards. The more I learned, the more I became interested. As I began my research, I constantly found boring pedigree charts which told absolutely nothing of the person or the type of life they lived. There was an unreferenced date of birth and an unreferenced date of death and if you’re lucky – a marriage date. The focus of my research was to provide these milestones, but also to uncover what happened in the world around them, and what may have provoked them to do different things such as relocate or change occupations. This could be accomplished by looking at oral tradition, global and local politics, economy, customs and trends and dabbling around in court records.

More importantly, I did this research to promote further discoveries of the Ausmus Family Pioneers and their kin. I owe a lot of thanks to William J. Hunter who has performed a lifetime of research on our common ancestors.

With all of the following information, there WILL be errors, please email me and let me know. My email should be at the bottom. This is a "Work in Progress".

Ausemus – without a mark, note, or stamp; Greek, from a privative, without, and sema, sematos, a sign, mark, note, stamp, Germanice; zeichenlos, ungewohnlich. [22]

According to this definition, the term Ausmus would have been used to describe a message if you had received one without any markings on it.

The first recorded use of the name "Osimus" can be traced back to inscriptions on a catacomb in Rome in 394 A.D

DEP III IDVS MAII OSIMVS QVI
VIXIT ANNVS XXVIII QVI FECIT
CVM CONPARE SVA ANNVS SEPTE
MENSIS VIII BENEMERENTI IN PACE. CON
SVLATV NICOMACI. FLABIANI. LOCV MAR
MARARI QVADRISOMVM 

"Buried on 13 May, Osimus who lived twenty-eight years, who was united to his wife seven years and nine months. May the well-deserving rest in peace. He died during the consulate of Nicomachus Flavianus. Grave of the stone-mason for four bodies."

In addition, Asemus was an ancient Roman stronghold located along the Danube River near present day Pyce, Bulgaria. Citizens of this stronghold would be referred to by their first name followed by "of Asemus". For example, "Peter of Asemus". This eventually lead to the modern first and last name, Peter Asemus.

This ancient Roman stronghold constructed to support the Scythian people was located about three hundred miles northwest of Constantinople near modern day Mangalia. In the fifth century AD, this area was under periodic control of Attila the Hun. According to [34] the city, had always been especially exposed to the incursions of the barbarians from beyond the river [present day Romania], and hand therefore been provided with a strong [Roman] garrison. "The name of the strong fortress of Asemus in Lower Moesia deserves to be handed down by history in golden letters for its brave and successful resistance to the Hun. A division of the Huns, countless in multitude, invaded Lower Moesia and laid siege to Asemus. The garrison not only defied the foes, but so effectually harassed them by sallying forth that they retreated. The Asemuntians were not satisfied with a successful denfence. Their scouts discovered the opportune times, when plundering bodies of the Hunnic army were returning to the camp with spoils, and these moments were eagerly seized by the adventurous citizens; the pillagers were unexpectedly attacked; many Scythians were slain, and many Roman prisoners, destined to languish in the wild of Hungary, were rescued from captivity. [34].

This Roman city can be seen below in the center of the picture. Picture curtsey of the Universtity of Chicago
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/secondary/BURLAT/9*.html

Name Variations

What a curse and a blessing it has been to research such a strange name. The blessing being the fact that if you found an Ausmus in a part of a State or Colonial Province he or she was a part of your tree and related to the Ausmuses nearby, unlike finding a ubiquitous, "Smith", which any town could have several families unrelated.

The first known Ausmus progenitor, Philip Ausmus' had a name that was never transcribed the same way twice, signifying illiteracy and a native German tongue to English-speaking transcribers.  The following is an actual list of just some of the variants of the surname

1. Asmas
2. Asmass
3. Asmos
4. Asmus
5. Ashimus
6. Assimus
7. Assimuss
8. Assmus
9. Ausamus
10. Ausemas
11. Ausimus
12. Aussimus
13. Ausemus
14. Ausmis
15. Ausmus
16. Ausummet
17. Ausummets
18. Ausummust
19. Ausummust
20. Ausumust
21. Awsimas
22. Oshahamis
23. Oseamus

American Ausmus Roots
There seems to be a few random areas in Germany and Prussia that have church records with the surname Asmus or a similar variant. The one that has stood out the most is Rheinbischofshm and nearby Hausgereut in, Offenburg, Baden, Germany near Strasberg along the Rhine River.

The Ausmus origins in Rheinbischofsheim and nearby Diersheim and Hausgereut date back to the 16th century. The first known mention of this town of Rheinbischofsheim is in 1274. The town lies directly across the Rhine from the French City of Strasbourg and was named after a high bridge the can be seen over tributary stream to the Rheine River.

According to the Church records researched by, David Eckberg, David R. Smucker, and LDS microfilm (rolls 1189692, 1272766, 1272765 and 1272764). Please note that the original records were extremely difficult to read and errors can exist.  I would also like to thank Hilary Rauch for aiding in this research. These records are now available online for viewing at:

http://www.smithdom.de/ekibi/Startseite.htm

The following is an outline of early Ausmus families in the Rheinbischofsheim area:

1. Diebolt “Theobold” Assamus (abt 1572 - ?) of Morsberg in Lottharingen (southeast of Metz) m. Maria Eben (abt 1578 - ?) of Hausgereut, Offenburg, Baden Germany on 10 Sep 1605 in Hausgereut, Germany. She was the daughter of Hans Eben (?- 21 Jan 1600/01) and Margreten. Hans Eben’s occupation was listed as a tailor.
   1. Maria (21 Sep 1606 - ?)
   2. Johannes (Hans) (2 Mar 1608/09 - ?) of Hausgereut, Offenburg, Baden, Germany m. Barbara Koenig (Palm Sunday 13 Apr 1617 - ?) on 25 May 1640 in Hausgereut, Germany. Barbara was the daughter of Johannes (Hans) Konig (12 Jul 1584 - ?) and Margaretha Baschens or Wilhelm (9 Apr 1585 - ?)

i. Hans (14 Feb 1640/41- ?) Bischofsheim, Germany

ii. Margaretha (8 May 1642 - ?)

iii. Maria (19 May 1644 - ?)

iv. Diebolt “Theobald” Assmus (1646 – 15 Feb 1706) m Maria Sanger (14 Apr 1645 - ?) on 7 Feb 1671 in Rheinbischofsheim (LDS AFN: 1T7Q-10N)

1. (Andreas Assmus (16 Dec 1683 - ?) m Maria Salome Schaefer (1690 - ?) on 5 May 1711 in Rheinbischofsheim.. She was the daughter of Hans Schaefer (5 Jul 1660 – 10 Jun 1720) and Brigitta Hauss (15 Nov 1663 - ?) (LDS AFN: 1T7Q-0R8)

a. Maria Salome (10 Apr 1712-22 Jan 1782)

b. Phillip Jacob (1 May 1714 - ?)

c. Andreas (13 Sep 1716) m. Catharina Hennenberger on 21 Dec 1742 (LDS AFN: 1T7Q-0X9)

I. Daughter baptized 1744 [cannot read the name of the child]

d. Hans Daniel (4 Apr 1719 - ?)

e. Hans Philipp (19 Sep 1722 – 19 Sep 1722)

f.  Hans Georg b. 1724 pat. 14 may 1724 in Rheinbischofsheim.

f.    Hans Philipp (15 Jul 1728 - 28 May 1800) m. Margarethe Wendling on 27 Sep 1752. She was the daughter of Johann Georg Wendling . (LDS AFN: 1T7Q-0W3)

            I.  Margarethe Assimus baptized 1752

                II. Johann Phillip Asimus, baptized 1755

2. Hans Conrad (14 Oct 1675 – 8 Jun 1678)

3. Barbara (5 Dec 1680 - ?)

4. Susanna (30 Nov 1686 – 21 Oct 1691)

5. Hans Diebold (21 Feb 1672 – 2 Apr 1722)

6. Magdalena (Apr 1674 – 22 Aug 1675)

v. Jacob (20 May 1648 - ?) m. Margaretha Shaeffer (9 Jan 1649/50) in Bischofsheim, Germany. She was the daughter of Georg Shaeffer and Margaretha Konig

1. Jacob Assmus (7 Feb 1685/86 – 10 Oct 1776) m. Anna Magdalena Weyck (31 Jan 1685/86 – 21 Feb 1748/49) on 15 Jan 1708/09 in Bischofsheim, Germany. She was the daughter of Hans Jacob Waick and Anna Magdalena.

a. Johann Jacob Assmus (28 Nov 1717 – 4 Nov 1783) m1. Katharina Magdalena Wendling in 1744. She died 1 Dec 1747. She was likely the daughter of Hans Georg Wendling and Catharina Wabnitz. He m2 Catherina Rosina Klein (b. ca. 1718)

b. Philipp Assimus (10 Mar 1726 - 1757) [Died at 31 years, 7 months and 8 days]. He m. Anna Maria Wendling on 3 Feb 1750. She was the daughter of Hans Georg Wendling (1689-22 May 1738) and Catharine Wabnitz (3 Aug 1693 – 29 Feb 1748)

i. Hans Jacob (1750 - ?)

ii. Hans Phillip Assimus (1752-1756)

iii. Anna Maria Assimus (1753 - ?)

vi. Barbara (20 Nov 1650 - ?)

vii. Andreas (24 Nov 1653 - ?)

viii. Magdalena (28 Sep 1656-31 May 1661)

ix. Susanna ((5 Sep 1658 -24 Aug 1677)

3. Margaretha Assimus (19 Apr 1612 – 13 Aug 1618)
4. Michel Assimus ( 20 Aug 1614 – 21 Feb 1632/3)
5. Georg Assimus (5 Feb 1616/17 - ?)
6. Diebolt Assimus (18 Apr 1619 - )
7. Jacob Assimus (1 Jul 1621 - ?)

The First Great German and Swiss Exodus
A perpetual state of war in Europe between the Protestants and Catholics during the 17th Century led to a mass exodus of tens of thousands of German and Swiss. At the invitation of Queen Anne of England in the spring of 1709, about 7,000 Palatines sailed down the Rhine to Rotterdam. From there, about 3,000 were shipped to America, either directly or via England, under the auspices of William Penn to Pennsylvania and the Carolinas.

Of the 7,000 German and Swiss emigrants approximately 4,000 were sent to England or Ireland to strengthen the protestant interest. For those that stayed in Germany, or were sent back due to the overcrowding, the winter of 1708-1709 was a very cold and bleak period. Most of the German people were poor agrarian farmers and by early spring, the land was still frozen crops had been lost by the bitter weather. In addition, to pay for the war debt, the Palatines were heavily taxed and subjected to religious and political persecution.

"We the poor distressed Palatines, whose utter ruin was occasioned by the merciless cruelty of a Blood Enemy, the French, whose prevailing Power some years past, like a Torrent rushed into our Country, and overwhelmed us at once; and being not content with money and food necessary for their occasions, not only dispossess us of all support but inhumanely burnt our house to the ground, where being deprived of all shelter, we were turned into open fields, and there drove with our families, to seek what shelter we could find, being obliged to make the cold earth our lodgings, and the clouds our covering."

Emigration from one’s fatherland was not encouraged by any government. Mass emigration led to the diminishing of a nation’s protection, vital resources, and economy. Governments that could demonstrate an increase in population showed signs of wealth and prosperity, but states of depopulation wreaked signs of weakness and ineptitude. Quick to act, policy makers in Switzerland and Germany posed an emigration tax to offset these damages and imposed a campaign of propaganda with tales of death at sea by pirates and impoverished servitude for emigrants to the New World. Returning emigrants could be imprisoned and preaching praise of success stories in the American colonies where considered criminal acts. “Emigrant enticer’s” letters offering advice and planning of the journey, rumors of high wages, ample and free farmland were confiscated. Some returning emigrants with enlightening stories of their travels and adventures in the New World would gather small crowds of interested listeners.

The emigration tax failed to slow the mass exodus. Some emigrants left secretly to avoid the tax. A tendency existed to damage the reputation of those who departed at least to represent them as an undesirable class, who had better be got rid of anyway. However, as overpopulation and poverty increased, the rewards outweighed the risks and emigration increased.

Phillippus Ausimuss

The first Ausmus in America can be found during the first immigration of Palatine Germans in 1709. Phillippus Alsemusch [Auzemuss], his wife and four children were among a displaced group of about 11,000 person on the third of five sailing vessels enumerated by the Dutch Commissioners in Rotterdam, Holland between June 5th and June 10th 1709 [33; pg 253]. These emigrants first sailed to London for welfare assistance from the crown.

These displaced Protestant were unloaded in London where tents were set up along the south side of the Thames, at Greenwich, on the Thames, just north of Blackheath, and at Camberwell. Barns and cheap houses were rented for them as they bartered with coin and their trade skills. The Palatine camps attracted curiosity-seekers so the Germans capitalized on this and crafted trinkets to sell to the onlookers and visitors.

As the novelty of the displaced Germans wore off, resentment from the lower English class set in. Some English people said the Palatines came to eat the bread of Englishmen and reduce the scale of wages. It wasn't long before London Mobs made up of 2,000 infuriated Englishmen, armed with axes, scythes, and smith hammers were said to have made an attack upon the Palatine camp.

As pressure on the English Government mounted, plans for exporting the Palatines began to unfold. One scheme was to settle them on the Rio de la Plata in South America. However, a regiment would be required to protect them. So at an expense of over 200,000 lbs, the plan was scrapped. Another project called for settlement in the Canary Islands but this would require removal of the Spaniards. Another plan was made by offering three pounds per head to the parishes which would be willing to receive them, the government was to pay the expense of sending them to the respective places.

In the crowded quarters and with meager sustenance, the Palatines had fallen prey to fevers and plagues. Death wrought havoc in their ranks in spite of the hardiness.

In early 1710, 2,814 Palatines agreed to leave for New York on ten ships in exchange of working for the crown in the colony's naval stores in order to bolster the British stronghold of the colony and the encroachment of the French settlements. The Palatines would become temporary servants of the crown and would be granted by the governor without fee or reward, forty acres per person to each family, after they had repaid by the produce of their labor, the expense of their settlement. The usual quit rents were to commence and be payable seven years after the said grant.

They were on board for six long months and the sufferings of the Palatines were terrible the people were closely packed in the ships. Many of them suffered from the foul odor and vermin; some below deck could neither get fresh air nor see the light of day. Under such conditions, the younger children died in great numbers. One of the ships reported eighty deaths and another ship reported one hundred sick. Typhoid fever was spread by infectious fleas and body lice.

The first ship to arrive was the "Lyon" which touched New York on June 13, 1710, Governor Hunter's ships and several others followed the next day. One, the Herbert was wrecked on the east end of Long Island on July 7, 1710. The last ship didn't arrive until August 2nd. Of the 2,814 passengers who had started the journey, 446 had before the end of July.

Due to the poor condition of the Palatines, the residents of New York protested their arrival and they were subsequently encamped on Nutten Island. The immigrants were slow in recovering their health after their wretched passage from England. Peter Willemese Romers, a coffin maker was the chief benefactor. For in 1711 he petitioned for 59 pounds 6 shillings sterling in payment for 250 coffins used for the burial of Palatines during the summer of 1710.

Many children were left orphans. The problem for caring for them was solved by apprenticing them. According to the records seventy four were apprenticed by Hunter from 1710 to 1714. The minister, Haeger wrote on July 6, 1713, that the Poor Palatines boil grass and the children eat the leaves of trees. I have seen old men and women cry that it should almost have moved a stone. Several have for a whole week together had nothing but welsh turnips which they did only scrape and eat without any salt or fat and bread.

Within the next five years, many Palatines removed to Pennsylvania and new Jersey, settling at Hackensack, still others pushed a few miles south to Rhinebeck, New York and some returned to New York City and Livingston Manor. On October 26, 1713, Governor Hunter of New York reported 1,008 Palatines were in the Hudson River settlements, 500 in Schoharie Valley and about 500 among the various planters. By 1718 approximately 224 families of 1,021 Palatines lived along the Hudson River and 580 persons lived in Schoharie.

In approximately 1717 several Palatines from New York settled in Pennsylvania. The people received news from the land at Swatara and Tulpehocken in Pennsylvania. Many of them came together, cut away from Schoharie that had now faced title disputes. They traveled to the Susquehanna and brought their goods there and made canoes and journeyed down to the mouth of the Swatara Creek and drove their cattle overland in the spring of 1723. Thence they came to the Tulpehocken settlement; later others followed and settled there, at first without permission of the owner of the land or company, or from the Indians from whom the people had not yet bought the land. In 1725 there were 33 families settled there and fifty more families expected. These moved in 1729 and among them was the family of Conrad Weiser, who served Pennsylvania and the colonies generally as a valuable intermediary with the Indians.

About 1710 a company of Palatines, in faith Mennonites settled "toward the River Susquehanna" in Pennsylvania. Palatines continued to arrive in that colony in increasing numbers. For example, in 1717 one hundred "sold themselves for servants to Pennsylvania for five years." About 400 more were in London awaiting disposition when in 1717, the registration of immigrants was required by the Penn colonial authorities. On September 14, 1727, a ship from Holland arrived in Philadelphia with 400 Palatines. It was then said a much greater number would follow.

More on Phillip Ausmus

William Oshawhammus

The second record of a name similar to Ausimus in Colonial America is when William Oshawhamumus purchased a 50 acre tract of land named "Timothy's Parish" in Somerset County, Maryland [1].

Maryland By Virtue of a warrant granted out of his lordships land office to John Athison of Somerset County for two hundred & forty acres of land bearing date the sixteenth day of Sept Anno Dom 1728 fifty acres of which is duly assigned to Wm Oshaushamus as for assignee appeares. These are therefore to certify that I David Wilson deputy land s of Somerset County under Michael Howard Esquire Lord General of the Eastern Shore have accordingly surveyed & laid out for the said Wm Oshaushaumus a tract of land called Timothy's Parish situate lying & being in said County & on the north side of the head of Pocomoke River in the Indian Town beginning at a marked white oak standing by the side of a marsh near the second bandor? of a parcel of land formerly surveyed for George Parker called Wubouos? North thence coming north fourteen degrees last one hundred sixty pole thence south sixty degrees last seventy five pole thence south Thirty degrees west and hundred & fifty pole & from thence with a right line to the first bandor containing & now laid out for fifty acres more or less to be held after the Manor of Somorset this sixth day of October Anno Dom 1728 & passed by Ohasshamus.

-David Wilson

Charles etc. Know ye that for and in consideration that William Oshaushamus of Somerset County in our said province of Maryland ??? him 50 acres of land within our said province by virtue of an assignment of that quantity from John Athison of said County being part of a warrant for two hundred & forty acres granted the said Athison the sixth Day of October seventeen hundred & twenty eight as appears in our Land Office and upon such land is now and ...therefore hereby grant unto him the said William Oshaushamus all that land or parcell of land called Timothy's Parish situate lying and being in Somerset County and on the north side of the land of Pocomoke River in the Indian Town...To Have and to Hold...the seventh day of November in the twenty third year of our Dominion our our [sic] said Province Anno Domini Seventeen hundred and thirty seven.

-Samuel Ogle Esquire

On 7 Nov 1751, he (or his son with the same name) this time spelled William Oshahamis purchased 200 acres in the same County [1]. Nothing else is known of person and it doesn't appear that this was a person that would gather amongst and travel with German settlers of Pennsylvania and Virginia .   The map below shows what the State of Maryland would have looked like in 1737. Look for the county labeled "SO" which was Sommerset.

William Whittingtons Court? 200 acres to Thomas Soll Paid to Wm Osshehamis Nov ?yth 1751 Rent ?? in the Rent Rolls.

The next record of an "Ausmus" in North America yet to be found is on April 8, 1762 when Anna Margaretha Ashimus was born to Philip Ausimus and Anna Margaretha. She was baptized 31 days later at the St. Jacobs (Stone) Union Church in Codorus Township, York County, Pennsylvania [2].

This lack of documentation for early Ausmuses is not unusual but has become troublesome in determining the origins in Germany. A thorough scan of ships passengers reveals no explicit listing of an Ausmus until the American Revolutionary War begin importing Hessian mercenaries in 1776. The closest name variation for early ship's passengers list is in 1752 when Johan Peter Issiem (later spelled Assum, Asom & Assem) stated his Oath of Allegiance to the Crown in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This "find" by past researchers has led many, including myself to spin our wheels for years and assume that Johan Peter Assum was Philip Ausmus' father. To complicate the matter further there was a Peter Ozmus in Virginia during this era where Philip Ausmus would later settle, but Peter Assum and Peter Ozmus were two different people.

This author has done an exhaustive study of Johan Peter Assum and several coincidences have arose, but making the leap from "Assum" to "Oss-i-miss" is troubling especially because "Assum" was an established surname in the Germany and the Netherlands - so was Asmus.

The next earliest mention of an Ausmus in North America is in 1766 when "Peter Assosmsis" [transcribed by a court recorder] is mentioned as "supernumerary" or an extra juror in Augusta County, Virginia court records [11].

Several other mentions of Ausmuses are mentioned in Virginia, these include:

1775: Gilbert’s list of Tithables for Rockingham County include the transcribed name "Peter Nasmus". On the same document is the name Michael Erhart who Philip Ausmus sells his Pennsylvania land to in 1772. Signifying a potential relationship between Peter and Philip.
1777: Tithes by William Bowyer for Augusta County, Virginia, Philip Assimaus paid tithes on one person and no land
1781: The court of Augusta/Rockingham County: "Ordered that the church wardens bind out Catherine Spoon and John Spoon, children of Conrad Spoon who has absconded to Peter Ozmus until they come of age and that he teach the said John Spoon the trade of a shoemaker". [5].[11]

Ausmus Descendants Index

I. Philip Ausmus (1728-1809)
       A. Henry Ausmus (1774-1849)
                1. Benjamin Ausmus (1801-1862)
                        a. Benjamin Ausmus (1843-1928)
                                i. Henry Franklin Ausmus (1882-1937)
        B. Peter Ausmus (1775-1861)
        C. John Ausmus (1778-1853)
        D. Phillip Jr.(1788-1856)

Other Names Index

Mordecai Price (1749-1799)
James Ellison (1778-1835)
Henry Ellison (1831-1895)
Berry Ellison (1863-1951)

James Boring

Other Early American Ausmuses not directly related to the Tennessee & Illinois Ausmuses:

In 1777 during the Revolutionary War, Henry Osmos took the oath of Allegiance to the State of Pennsylvania. [27]. On September 12, 1782, Henry Osmos testified that he deserted the British Army at Billingsport in 1777, a Hanoverian [24; pg 91]. On August 7, 1794 Henry Asmus married Maria Gelling at St. Michaels Zion and Lutheran Church  [31].

According to "Persons Who took the Oath of Allegiance to PA, Second Book, 1778-1787; Pennsylvania Colonial Records; Genealogoy Publishing Co., Inc. pg 88, John Assmus, Locksmith, deserted the British Army in Jersey in 1778. In 1778 John Assmus took the Oath of Allegiance in New Jersey [29]. Also, according to the Revolutionary War Services Records held in Roll box 60, John Asmes was a private out of New Jersey. Captain John Conrad Asimus was enlisted in Jonathan Edes's Company, Col. Crafts's Regiment and served 8 months of service from April 30, 1777, to Dec. 30, 1777; Thomas Crafts Jr. as Colonel of Regiment of Artillery [28]. John was a Gunner in Capt. Warner's Company, Col. Revere's Regiment; Continental Army pay accounts for service from Nov. 1, 1777, to Dec. 31, 1779. According to Volume 5, page 389 of "Soldiers and Sailor of the Revolutionary War", 1896-1908, compiled by the Secretary of the Commonwealth in Boston, Massachusetts, John Ausmus, born 175? in Massachusetts was a gunner. According to Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors page 708, John Osimus is listed for Return of Provisions delivered the State train of artillery commanded by Lieut. Col. Paul Revere, deted Castle Island, May 8, 1779; Capt. Warner's co.; said Osimus credited with allowance from April 15, 1779 to May 8, 1779 (21) days. According to Philadelphia 18th Century City directories, just after the war in 1785, John Asmos, a blacksmith residing in Philadelphia can found at the northeastern corner of Arch & 6th Street and on 5th street between Race and Vine Street. This would be a few blocks away from Betsty Ross' or [Elizabeth Griscom Ross Claypoole (1752-1836)]. John Osmos settled in Philadelphia as a blacksmith and possibly married Hanna (__) Osmas who could be found as a widow remarrying Johann Heinrich Koelder in Philadelphia in 1798.[32].

According to the Revolutionary War Services Records held in Roll box 13 , David Osmes was a private out of Connecticut. David Osmun can be found in the New Jersey Census for 1805 and 1806. He was most likely related to the Osmun family of New Jersey. According to Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailor page 708, David Osmore or Osman was a private under Major's co., Col. Wesson's regt.; Continental Army pay accounts for service from March 1, 1777 to Sept. 19, 1778; residence, Brookline; reported deserted Sept. 19, 1778, also Capt. Joseph Pettingill's co., Col James Wesson's regt.; company return [year not given]; residence, Boston.

According to the Revolutionary War Services Records held in Roll box 59, Benajah Osmus was a Lieutenant out of New Jersey that along with several other men were captured by the British. Benajah Osmun was a second Lieutenant for the New Jersey Regiment [21]. This would be the Benjamin Ausmus that Harry L. Ausmus claimed was a son of Peter, and was George Washington’s herb doctor. This “rumor” probably came about because in 1803, Benajah Osmun was Colonel under Brigadier General, William Charles Cole Claiborne, the person that Claiborne County was named after. This association probably fueled the rumor. During a search of the New Jersey Supreme Court Cases from 1704 to 1844, Benajah Osmun and a family of Osmuns appear with no name variation. This soldier was not from a Pennsylvania German community and according to some of his letters after his capture, he wrote fairly well English. This person would probably not have any relation to the Ausmus family of Pennsylvania/Virginia/Tennessee.

Christian Osmus
According to the 1810 census for Penn, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, Christian Osmus can be found listed between the age of 26 and 44 and married to a wife with the same age range. According to records held in Roll Box 157 roll 602 in the National Archives, Private Christian Osmus can be found enlisting in the 1st Battalion Riflemen's (UHLEH's) Pennsylvania Volunteers.According to the 1820 Census for Spring Garden Township, Philadelphia, PA Christian Osmus is between 26 and 44 years old. Since he was also in the same age range 10 years prior, his birth year can be narrowed down to the years ( 1776-1784).

George Osmus
According to the 1870 census for Alexandria Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, George Osmus, a farmer born in 1813 can be found born in New Jersey. His Children are: Suzie, Joseph V., Rebecca and Halloway.

Mary C. Osmus
According to Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT, Film # 0754010.On June 16, 1800 Mary Osmus marries John Glynn in Oxford, Massachusetts

References