Much has been written online and in books about Hans Adam Bittinger and especially, his son, Nicholas, a Revolutionary War soldier and prisoner of war of the British. His sons, Christian and Frederick are also found on the Revolutionary War rolls.
Much of the story can be read in the Biographical History of York County, Pennsylvania, edited by John Gibson, 1886, pages 60-61...here.
The History of York County, Pennsylvania by George Reeser Prowell in 1907, also has a good summary for Joseph Bittinger, grandson of Adam...here.
To add something different, perhaps, is this query from the Harrisburg Telegraph, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, February 25, 1882, page 6. A correspondent to the paper from Kentucky was trying to trace the family line.
On April 22, 1882, the Harrisburg Telegraph posted this interesting notice concerning the land and family after the above query was in the paper.
"THE FAMILY OF BITTINGER
Information is asked by a correspondent from Kentucky relative to the descendants of Adam Bittinger. Some friend has kindly responded by sending us the following, valuable and interesting contribution to the genealogy of the German families in Pennsylvania
I. ADAM BEITINGER bought, May 7, 1753, a tract of land form John Shauman which he had take up three years previous, and located (now on the Carlisle turnpike) three miles northwest of Hanover, York county, Penna. This farm is now owned by William Bittinger, Esq. of Abbottstown. From the records of the Orphans' Court of York county, it is seen that on the death of Adam Bittinger, his oldest son Nicholas presented a petition beginning thus:
'That his father, Adam Bittinger lately died intes'a'e, leaving a widow named Sabina, and lawful issue to survive him, namely the petitioner, Nicholas Bittinger, Henry, Michael, Peter, Marillis, George, Adam, Christian, Frederick and Eva'
The petition was presented September 1, 1768, and it further appears from the records that on May 30, 1771, Nicholas Bittinger, by paying certain sums to the heirs became the owner of this tract of 190 acres.
II. NICHOLAS BIETTINGER (as he spelled his name) was born in 1725, and died May 2, 1804, and is burried in the Lutheran cemetery, at Abbottstown. He was a man of great energy and force of character, as a soldier and citizen. He was successful in the accumulation of property and within six miles of Hanover owned some ten good farms, and also owned in Franklin county almost an equal number of choice tracts of land. He had a family of nine children, two sons, JOSEPH and JOHN, and seven daughters. John was never married, and died in Baltimore, Md. Joseph, during the lifetime of his father, obtained the old 'Shauman tract.' A deed executed Dec. 21st, 1798, by Nickolas Bittinger and his wife Christina, conveys this land to their son, Joseph, 'as well for and in consideration of love and affection.' The son, however, did not long survive his father. He died July 26, 1804, and is buried in the same graveyard, having attained only to the thirty-second year of his age.
III. JOSEPH BITTINGER, just mentioned, had a family of five children, all sons, John, Joseph, Henry Frederick and George.
IV. JOHN BITTINGER died near Alexandria, Va. and left a family of six children, four sons and two daughters. Joseph, one of the sons, died some years ago. Edard C. is a Chaplain in the U. S. Navy; Benjamin and Michael are ministers.
V. JOSEPH BITTINGER, born November 13, 1794, died September 27, 1850, on the old homestead (Shauman's tract) which he owned, and is buried at Hanover. His family consisted of twelve children:
i. William, born Nov. 21, 1820, resides at Abbottstown, Pa.
ii.Henry, b. Nov. 13, 1821; d. April 22, 1879 at Hanover, Pa.
iii.Joseph B., b. March 30, 1823; graduate of Penn's College and Andover Theological Seminary, Pastor of Presbyterian Churchat Sawickly; a fine speaker, elegant writer and a Doctor of Divinity.
iv.Ellen C. b. Aug. 13, 1824; m. Geo. Wolf; d. March 33d, 1875
v. Edward B., b. Nov. 14, 1825, d. Sept. 21, 1859 at Chicago, Ill.
vi.Rebecca E., b. Aug. 21, 1827; m. to Dr. J. M. Brenneman of Freeport, Ill.
vii. George W., b. May 13th, 1829, now in Leadville, Colorado.
viii.John Quincy, b. March 20, 1831, graduate of Dartmouth College, and Andover Theological Seminary, pastor of Congregational church of St. Albans, Vt.
ix. Daniel, b. April 10, 1833; d. June 8, 1848 on the homestead.
x. Anna Maria, b. January 10, 1835, resides in Chicago, Ill.
xi. Howard Nicholas, b. April 12, 1839; resides in Des Moines, Iowa.
xii. Charles Lewis, b. May 25, 1841; graduate of Franklin and Marshall College; resides in Dakota.
VI. HENRY BITTINGER, now in his eighty-sixth year; has one son, John W., a member of the York bar, and two daughters. He lives with one of the latter at Middletown, Ohio.
VII. FREDERICK BITTINGER - died recently at his residence in Littlestown, Pa.
VIII. GEORGE BITTINGER died about two years ago at the residence of his daughter in Hanover, Pa. He had three daughters"
Our line - Elizabeth Bittinger Hollabaugh, Jacob Bittinger, and now George Michael Bittinger, great-great-great-great grandfather.
In most records, this fellow was just named as Michael, but sometimes he appeared as George Michael. Again the best document I began with in my research was the will, and quite an interesting one it was. Dated in March, 1811, it preceeded his death by about fourteen months, as Michael died on May 29, 1812 in Franklin Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania. He was 80 years old when the will was written, quite an advanced age for the era.
Here is the will as it was written (with commas added for clarity) -
"In the name of God, Amen, I, Micaell Bittinger of franklin township, County of Adams and State of Pennsylvania....being sickly in body, but of Sound Mind and Memory and understanding, blessed be God for the same and Considering the uncertainty of this transitory life, do make and publish this my last will and testament in maner and form following to wit -
Princebelly and first of all, my commit my immortal soul into the hands of God who gave it and my Body to the earth to be buryed in a cristian like maner at the dscretion of my Executors here after named, and as to such worldly Estate wherewith it both peased God to bless me in this life, I give and dispose of in the same in the following maner to wit -
I Give and Devise until my Dear wife Elisabeth, one Milk Cow and Sheep, one feather Bead, Bedstead, and Beding and Spining Wheel, one chest, one iron pot, one Stove and full posesion of the home we now ocupy and the one half of the Bond of Mentinance Given unto us by Jacob my Son During her Natural Life, and immediately after my Decease, the remainder of my personal Estate to be maid Sale of and Divided Equally Share and Share alike to them and their Heirs or the Survivors of them to wit- Frederick, Elisabeth, Micaell, Susannah, Pegy, Andrew, Catharine, Poley, Christian, Mary and unto my sone, Jacob, I Give and Devis all my Real Estate to wit, the plantation in which (I) now live, franklin township With Paying one Hundred and fifty pounds to the rest of my children in maner folowing,
to my Son Frederick in the third year after my Deceas forty Dolars,in the forth year after my Decease to Betsy forty Dolars, the fifth year after my Decese to Michael Bittinger forty Dollars, The sixth year after my Decease to Susanah G Minder (?) forty Dollars, The seventh year after my Decease to Peggy Foal forty Dollars, The eighty year after my Deceas to Andrew Bitinger forty Dollars, the Ninth year after my deceas to Catherine Coser forty Dollars, The Tenth year after my Decease to Polley Cross forty Dollars, The Eleventh year after my Deceas to Christina Humel forty Dollars, and The Twelfth year to Mary Bittinger forty Dollars or the survivor or survivors of them and the heirs of such survivor or survivors equally to be divided between them.
And lastly, I nominate constitute and appoint my said two sons, Jacob and Andrew Bittinger, to be the Executors of this my will, hereby revoking all other wills, legacies, and bequests by me heretofore made and declaring this and no other to be my last will and testament. This __ March Eighteen hundred and eleven signed, sealed, published, pronounced, and declared by the said testator as his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence of us and at his request have subscribed as witness.
Jacob Bushey
Jacob Sauble Michael Bittinger"
(Commas do make a difference, don't they?)
Most researchers place the date of Michael's birth at December 21, 1731, making him 81 at the time of his death. His wife is named as Elizabeth and, as was the custom of the time, she is given the the bed and a few other items important to her well-being and what amounts to a life lease on their home. The "Bond of Maintenance" would suggest that an agreement was made with Jacob to take care of his parents and allow them to live in their home until her death, while he inherited the farm, commonly called the plantation in those days. Elizabeth received one-half that Bond of Maintenance at Michael's death.
In the final accounting of the will was an inventory of "good(s) will'd to the widow" which showed her inheritance to be worth $31.50
We also know, without a doubt, the names of the children of Michael and Elizabeth Bittinger who were alive at this time: Jacob, Frederick, Betsey (Elizabeth), Michael, Susannah, Peggy (Margareta), Andrew, Catherine, Polly, Christina and Mary - a total of eleven. We also learned that four of the daughters were married by 1811 - Susannah, Peggy, Polly and Christina and we have their married names.
Although an appraisal was done, no auction was noted nor were there any bills of sale for any of the items, so it would seem that they stayed with the farm. Many tools were listed for wood cutting and wagon making and farming, and items for the kitchen, and then again, there was a Bible and books, a fur hat, and other items of Michael's clothing. The most expensive items appraised were a windmill at $12.00, a watch for $8.00 and a sidesaddle and bridle for $10.00.
It would seem certain that Michael and Elizabeth Bittinger were buried in Adams County, but I have yet to locate their tombstones, if they still exist.
