Mathias Marker was born Abt. 1715 in Probably Germany, and died 1754 in York Co., PA. He married Anna Catharina (Shroyer) Schreyerin June 27, 1738 in Codorus Twp., Lancaster Co., PA, daughter of Christian Schreyerin.
Mathias Marker: Mathias Marker arrived in Philadelphia Sept. 12, 1734 on the ship St. Andrews Galley, Capt. John Stedman, of Rotterdam, by way of Plymouth. He qualified and took his oath of Allegiance at the courthouse on Sept. 12, 1734 before the honorable Patrick Gorden, Esq., Governor, Thomas Griffitts, Esq., Mayor, Thomas Lawrence, Esq., and Charles Read, Esq. (Source: Pennsylvania German Pioneers, Strassburger & Hinke. Lists 34A, 36B, 36C p. 141)
Mathias sponsored a baptism at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lancaster on Apr. 17, 1737, and married Catharina Schreyerin, Corodus Township on June 27, 1738. They subsequently sponsored two more baptisms Oct 15, 1738 and Oct 29, 1738. In the book Monocacy and Catoctin it is stated that the name Mattheis Marcker was familiar in that area.
Mathias evidently settled on or near part of a tract known as "Digges Choice". (I cannot find a deed or warrant for Mathias, but it may be in MD, after the Mason/Dixon line was established) Digges Choice as surveyed contained 6,822 acres and was described as lying on "Little Conewago Creek". It principally lay in what is now Adams County, but passed into York County.
In August 1745, a resurvey was made and 3,679 acres were added to the former survey. This tract was 4 miles north of the temporary line between PA and Maryland surveyed in 1732. Subsequent disagreements led to the murder of the owner's son Dudley Digges by Jacob Kitzmiller in Feb 1752. There were many depositions taken regarding the disagreements and recorded in the archives. Among them:
July 21, 1746 Wm. Young and Sam Owens went out "to serve a Writt on One Matthias Marker, but the said Marker was at work over the Line, upon which this Deponent left the said Marker, and went to a certain George Shrivers (Mathias' brother in law), and executed a Writ on him, who told this Deponent by Word of Mouth, that he would answer to it, and appear at June Court, upon which this Deportant went back satisfied to the aforesaid. Matthias Markers, who then came to the house where this Deponet served the Writt on Said Marker, b ut the said Marker's wife would not let him give his Word to this Deponent for his appearance at Court, and that the said Marker took up an Ax, and told this Deponent he would not be carryed away (Old Matt must have been scared to death!) by force, but he would come down and answer to the Writt, if his Brother George Shriver came . . ." (Source Pa. Archives, Series I, Book I, p. 697)
York Co. Will Book A:132 This Mathias died in 1756, leaving a widow and 6 minor children, 4 boys and 2 girls, who are not named.
Feburary the 2th Anno Domni 1756 In the Name of God amin. I Matias Markeor of the township Germany and County of York & Province of Pensilvania being weak of body fot of Perfect Mind & Memory thank Be unto god for it. Imprimis It is my will that all My Just Debts and funeral Charges shall be paid And My wife Catherine Markeor Shall have the third of all as the Law Directs in such Cases as for the Remainder Shall be Equally Devided between My Six Children four boy and two guirls. I Do hereby ordain and Constituite John Srior (Shroyer/Shriver) and Jacob Sirior(Shroyer/Shriver) for My thrue and faithfull Esquetor to act for me and In my Stead for to Manage and Regulate all to the Best Advantage it is My will that My wife shall enjoy and Live upon the Plantation until our Eldest Son is of age if so be My wife Cannot Manage the Plantation My Esquetors May youse their pleasure for to Manage all to the Best Advantage as Witness Sined Sealed Pronounnced Published pronounced Ap My Last will and testament In the Presense of us Matias (his M mark) Markeor Adam Hahn (witness) Thomas Butler (witness)
York County Before me George Stevenson Esq Deputy Register for the Probate of Wills & granting Letters of Admn for the said County personally came the within named Adam Hahm & Thomas Butler the Two Subscribing Witnesses to the within Instrument of Writing and their Solemn Oath do say that they saw & heard the within named Mathias Marker Sign Seal publish & del the Within Instrument of Writing as and for his Testament of last Will and that at the doing thereby he was of sound & disposing mind & Memory to the best of their Knowledge and that they subscribed their Names as Witnesses to the same. Sworn & Subscribed 23d Feb. 1756 Adam Hahn for Geo Shovenson D R Thomas Butler
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