My West Virginia
Pioneer Families
The Bucher - Booher Family in America
According to the Dictionary of American Family Names edited by Patrick Hanks. Booher is of German origin: probably an Americanized spelling of Bucher.
By 1717, political and social conditions in Prussia and surrounding areas had reached such a point that thousands of families began the difficult journey to the American Colonies. William Penn or his agents made trips to the Rhineland soliciting immigrants and selling land in his colony in America. Germany was suffering from severe poverty in the late 1690�s as well as problems with the government, and a systematic suppression of Protestants. Thousands of Germans immigrated to America between the years 1717 and 1775. Many arrived in ports near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
In 1934 the Pennsylvania German Society published "Pennsylvania German Pioneers" with a subtitle of A Publication of the Original Lists of Arrivals in the Port of Philadelphia from 1727 to 1808. The lists only include the name of the male head of the family taking the oath of allegiance to the Province of Pennsylvania. Names of other men who begin showing up in records later, but are not showing as immigrants, may have been sons of the men who took the oath and have now come of age. Notes show that the total numbers migrating were about three times the number of males listed.
The earliest record for a Bucher in this publication, taking the oath, is a Martin Bucher on 5 Sep 1730. Martin Bucher is on a list showing male heads of 46 Palatines families, who were "imported in the ship Alexander and Anne, William Clymer, Master, from Rotterdam, but last from Deal". The date is the date they took an oath of allegiance in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania court. The next listing dated 21 Sep 1732 shows 72 Palatines with their families imported in the Pink Plaisance, John Paret Master, last from Rotterdam, but last from Cowes. On this list is Hans Ulrich Bucher. On 26 Aug 1735 there is a 'list of foreigners', 18 Switzers with their families, who were |late inhabitants of the Canton of Bern in Switzerland" imported in the Billender Oliver, Samuel Merchant, Master from South Carolina. On this list is Hans Bucher. Hans is the German name for John or a shortened version of Johannes. On 7 February 1738/9 Jacob Bucher took the oath of allegiance at the court house in Philadelphia. He was a Palatine who was imported on the Ship Jamaica Galley, Robert Harrison, Commander from Rotterdam, but last from Cowes in England. Oaths of allegiance in Philadelphia on 3 Sep 1739 were Patatines who were imported on The Loyal Judith, Edward Paynter, Commander, from Rotterdam, but last from Deal in England. On this list are Peter Bucher and Bardell Bucher. On 21 Sep 1742 Johann Michael Bucher took the oath of allegiance at the court house in Philadelphia. He is listed a foreigner who was imported on the Ship Francis and Elizabeth, George North, Master, from Rotterdam. Hans (John) Bucher was imported in the ship Francis & Elizabeth, George North, Master from Rotterdam and made an oath of allegiance on 30 Aug 1743.
To be considered a male head of household, these early immigrants would have likely been born before 1720 in Prussia/Germany. It is possible that the later records are of sons of these men and of the next generation.
Based on male descendants who have completed the y-DNA testing, it appears that one or several of these early Bucher males who made oath in Pennsylvania are the progenitors of the Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia early Bucher or Booher families. For more details and the DNA testing results.
Below is a timeline of early Booher/Bucher males with dates, locations and events. Francis, Richard and Daniel Bucher were found in Virginia records before 1700.
Pennsylvania Last Name Alt Spelling First Year Month Day State County Event Booher Bucher Martin 1730 Sept 5 PA Philadelphia Oath of Allegiance; ship Alex. & Anne, Rotterdam Booher Bucher Hans Ulrich 1732 Sept 21 PA Philadelphia Oath of Allegiance; ship Pink Plaisance, Rotterdam Booher Bucher Hans/Johannes 1735 Aug 25 PA Philadelphia Oath; ship Billender Oliver; Switz. To SC to PA Booher Bucher Bardell 1739 Sept 3 PA Philadelphia Oath; ship Loyal Judith from Rotterdam Booher Bougher Batholmye 1739 PA Philadelphia Early census of Pennsylvania Booher Bucher Jacob 1739 Feb 7 PA Philadelphia Oath; ship Jamaica Galley; Palatine from Rotterdm Booher Bucher Peter 1739 Sept 3 PA Philadelphia Oath; ship Loyal Judith from Rotterdam Booher Bucher Johan Michael 1742 Sept 21 PA Philadelphia Oath; ship Francis & Elizabeth from Rotterdam Booher Bucher Hans/John 1743 Aug 30 PA Philadelphia Oath; ship Francis & Elizabeth from Rotterdam Booher Bucher Martin 1746 Aug 1 PA Lancaster Birth of Martinus son of Peter Booher Bartholomew 1748 Aug 15 PA Lancaster 100 acres Booher Bucher Hans/John 1762 May 29 PA Lancaster Sons John and Benedict Wife Catherine; probate Booher Bucher John Conrad 1764 PA Bedford Served as Lutheran Minister until 1768 Booher Bucher Bartholomew 1767 Nov 23 PA Bedford 317 a from Arthur St Clair "Yellow Spring" Booher Jacob 1769 PA Bucks Deceased - Notice PA Gazette Booher Bucher Samuel 1771 PA Chester On list of names petitioning for Lutheran Church Booher Bucher Benedict 1771 PA Lancaster Tax List - 360 acres Booher Bucher John 1771 PA Lancaster Tax List - 150 acres Booher Bucher Henry 1773 Aug 22 PA Lancaster Marriage to Maria Schmidt Booher Bucher Christian 1774 Oct 14 PA Lancaster Baptism Trinity Lutheran Church Booher Bucher Martin Jr 1775 Dec 5 PA Lancaster Baptized at Zion Lutheran Church Booher Bucher Peter 1775 Sept 28 PA Lancaster Marriage - Maria Barbra Kuntzlemann Booher Bucher Peter 1775 Sept 28 PA Lancaster Marriage - he was a widower m. by Stoever Booher Bucher Henry 1777 PA Oath of Allegiance (time of Rev War) Booher Bucher Maria 1777 Apr 20 PA Lancaster Baptized at Zion Lutheran Church-d/o Martin Booher Bucher John 1778 PA Lancaster Affirmation of Allegiance and Fidelity Booher Bucher John 1777 PA Yok Served 7 months in militia - Capt Coulson Booher Bucher Margaret 1778 Jul 9 PA Lancaster Married Henry Naess Booher Bucher John 1779 Mar 23 PA Lancaster Baptized at Zion Lutheran Church - Johannes Booher Bucher Peter 1780 Oct 14 PA Lancaster Baptized at Zion Lutheran Church Booher Bucher Peter 1780 Oct 14 PA Lancaster Parents Martin and Catherine Booher Bucher Peter 1781 PA Lancaster 6th Class,3rd Co.,2nd Btn Capt Casper Stoever Booher Peter Jr 1784 Dec 25 PA Fayette Booherville 353 a to Richard Brown Booher Bucher Peter 1785 PA Fayette 154 acres Booher Bucher Peter 1785 PA Fayette Survey on Salt Lick Booher Bucher Peter Jr 1786 Mar 27 PA Fayette 343 a Back Creek Brch of Salt Lick Booher Daniel 1788 PA Huntingdon 150 acres Booher Bucher Peter 1788 PA Fayette Property Owner Booher Bucher Peter Jr 1788 PA Fayette Property Owner Booher Bucher George 1788 PA Fayette Property Owner Booher Jacob 1790 PA Dauphin 1790 Federal Census Booher Bucher Peter 1790 PA Fayette Mile above Back run - saw mill Booher Daniel 1791 Oct 21 PA Bedford 200 a adjoing Peter's land will of Bartholomew Booher Bucher Martin 1791 Feb 4 PA Lancaster Patentee 199 Acres "Springfield" Booher Peter 1791 May 1 PA Bedford 317 a willed by father; "Yellow Spring" Booher Bucher Martin Jr 1795 Feb 17 PA Lancaster Married Ann Martin Booher Bucher Peter 1795 Aug 23 PA Fayette Communicant - Good Hope Church Booher Bucher Peter 1799 PA Fayette Church met at his home Booher Bucher George 1800 PA Fayette Owned Slave - lived on Back Run Booher John 1800 Aug 15 PA Allegheny Son of John and Nancy Ryan Booher Booher Bucher Peter 1800 PA Fayette Lived on Back Run Booher Bucher Peter 1800 PA Fayette Land for Gutt Hoffnung Church Booher Peter 1800 PA Fayette Census - Salt Lick Twp Booher Peter Jr 1800 PA Fayette Census - Salt Lick Twp Booher Mathias 1801 Mar 6 PA Bedford St Clair Twp Probate of Will Booher Daniel 1807 Jun PA Fayette Sold land Booher Bucher George Jr 1807 PA Fayette Early Teacher Booher Peter 1807 May 6 PA Fayette Will Book 1 pages 350-351 Booher Peter 1807 Aug 26 PA Fayette Will Probate Date Booher Peter 1807 May 6 PA Fayette Sons: Peter, George, Jacob, Henry, John Booher Bucher Bartholomew 1810 PA Bedford Greenfield Township Census Booher John 1833 PA Huntingdon Will - Shirley Twp Booher John 1833 PA HuntingdonSons-Casper Daniel Samuel John David Virginia Last Name Alt Spelling First Year Month Day State County Event Booher Bucher Frances 1624 Feb 16 VA Resident of Virginia Colony Booher Bucher Richard 1638 VA Charles River Sponsor: William Clays Booher Boucher Daniel 1654 VA Isle of Wight Sponsor for John Bonnall Booher Bucher Johannes 1769 Oct 10 VA Shenandoah & wife Magdalena-witness bapt. Johnannes Miller Booher Bucher Marg Barb 1772 Jun 22 VA Dunmore & Anna Maria Communicants Booher Bucher Michael 1773 Nov 11 VA Frederick Survey 189 acres adjoining own land Cedar Creek Booher Bucher Peter 1775 VA Berkeley Land Noted Booher Bucher Philip Peter 1776 Jun 9 VA Dunmore Witness at baptism of Saloma Miller Booher Bucher George 1777 Jan 29 VA Augusta Age 15 - bound out to Henry Shuck - to be blksmth Booher George 1782 Sept VA 8th VA Regiment - Sick in Hospital Booher William 1783 Dec 24 VA Harrison 2000 a assignee of William - Lewis Lovely Booher Bucher Henry 1785 VA Harrison Pers Prop Tax List Booher Henry 1788 VA Harrison Pers Prop Tax List Booher Bucher Johannes 1789 Dec 26 VA Shenandoah baptism witness with wife Catherine Magdalena Booher Henry 1790 Feb 6 VA Harrison Paid for being Witness in Court Booher John 1792 Jul 6 VA Hampshire Pers Prop Tax List Booher William 1792 VA Birth Booher John 1793 Jun 25 VA Hampshire Pers Prop Tax List Booher John 1794 Jun 17 VA Hampshire Pers Prop Tax List Booher Bucher Philip 1794 Aug 13 VA Hardy 36 acres on the east side of Mickes Run Booher John 1795 Jul 21 VA Hampshire Pers Prop Tax List Booher Henry 1796 Apr 20 VA Harrison 60 a purchased from Anthony Coon Booher Bucher Philip 1796 Apr 13 VA Hardy Probate of Will Booher Bucher Philip P 1797 Jun 2 VA Frederick 8 3/4 acres assigned to Moses Russell Duck Run Booher John 1798 VA Harrison 1st appears on Pers Prop Tax List Booher John 1799 VA Harrison Pers Prop Tax List Booher Peter 1799 VA Harrison Pers Prop Tax List Booher Henry 1800 VA Harrison Pers Prop Tax List Booher John 1800 VA Harrison Pers Prop Tax List Booher John 1800 VA Harrison Pers Prop Tax List Booher John 1800 VA Harrison Pers Prop Tax List Booher Bouher John 1803 Mar 30 VA Harrison Land Clay Lick run mentioned in deed Booher Margaret 1803 Jul 9 VA Harrison Birth Booher John 1806 VA Harrison Pers Prop Tax List Booher John 1806 VA Harrison Pers Prop Tax List Booher Henry 1807 Sept 7 VA Harrison Land Purchase 50 acres on Coon's Run Booher Henry 1809 VA Harrison Pers Prop Tax List Booher John 1809 VA Harrison Pers Prop Tax List Booher Jacob 1814 Jun 22 VA Harrison Birth Booher Henry 1841 Feb 15 VA Harrison Will: son Conrad; 5 daughters Booher Bucher Philip P 1798 Dec 17 Frederick Witness to will of John Orndorff Booher Peter 1820 Sept 20 Death Location Unknown -Family History Maryland Last Name Alt Spelling First Year Month Day State County Event Booher Bucher Abraham 1776 Jul 13 MD Rev War - Capt. Mantz's Company Booher Bucher Batrholomew 1785 Sept 18 MD Frederick Marriage: Bartholomew & Susan Walter Booher Bucha Mathias 1786 MD Frederick Executor Peter's Estate Booher Bucha Peter 1786 MD Frederick Deceased Booher Bartholomew 1791 Oct 21 MD Frederick Sons: Bartholomew Mathias Peter Daniel & John Booher Bucher Bartholomew 1792 May 1 MD Frederick Will Probate Date Booher Boogher Jacob 1794 MD Frederick Land 4 mles East of Frederick Town Booher Baugher Peter 1796 Apr 24 MD Baltimore Chr Zion Lutheran Church - son of John Peter Booher Daniel 1808 Sept MD Frederick Sold land