Overview of the life of CHARLES GEISSINGER

1. Christened 5 November 1740 in the Catholic Church in Goetzis, Vorarlberg Co., Austria
2. Joined a German led army and fought in 1766 as a soldier in Lisbon, Portugal.
3. Came to America on the ship, Cullodian Oct 1766. Sold as an indentured servant upon arrival.
3. Oct 1766- 9 May 1768: Indentured servant in Salem Co., New Jersey (age 27). Escaped, recaptured, escaped again.
4. Lived in York Co., Pa until joining the Pennsylvania Army in the Revolutionary War.
5. 1776-1780 REVOLUTIONARY WAR Soldier. Captured at the Battle of Three Rivers near Montreal, Canada. Prisoner of the War with the British. Released, went to Pennsylvania and joined up in another unit. Stayed the winter with George Washington's troops at Valley Forge.
6. Appeared in the 1780 York Co. Pennsylvania Tax List (age would have been 40)
7. 1780-1790 Lived probably in York Co., PA and/or Frederick Co., MD
8. Associated with the Catholic Church in America.
9. 1790-1800 Frederick Co., Maryland--on census records
10. Given 100 acres of land for service in the Revolutionary War and lived from 1804-until death abt. 1810, in Bedford Co., Pennsylvania.

ARRIVAL IN AMERICA 15 October 1766, Ship Cullodian lands from Lisbon: Listed as a passenger, Carl GEISSINGER. Pennsylvania German Pioneers pg 711.

INDENTURED SERVANT Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey, Edited by William Nelson, Volume XXV, Extracts from American Newspapers Relating to New Jersey:

Page 411-413: Twenty Dollars Reward "Run away, on the 5 instant from the subscriber, living in Alloway's Creek precinct, and county of Salem, two Dutch servant men, one named Charles Geisinger, about 27 years of age, 5 feet 4 inches high, dark complexion, grey eyes, marked with the small-pox about his mouth, short brown hair; had on, when he went away, an old felt hat, brown linsey jacket, with an under jacket, the fore parts the same as the other, the back parts of red cloth, tow shirt, striped trowsers, and new shoes, speaks no English at all. The other named John Michael Rider, about 5 feet 7 inches high, 25 years of age, well set, brownish hair, which he wears tied behind, red beard, whitish eye brows, large curled locks on each temple, and a large scar on the sole of one of his feet; had on, and took with him, two new tow shirts, a pair of tow trowsers, a pair of home made bearskin breeches, lined with tow cloth, a jacket of the same, with three flowered metal buttons on each sleeve, a red broadcloth jacket, half worn, blue flowered metal buttons on each sleeve, a red broadcloth jacket, half worn blue flowered damask ditto, without sleeves, and another blue ditto, bound round the arm-holes with linen; also a blue broadcloth coat, lined with red, with button-holes on each side, chiefly false holes, a pair of old leather breeches patched with new leather, a large felt hat, with a brass button, two pair of light coloured yarn stockings, old shoes, a pair of boots, grain side out, a large Dutch pillow case of stamped linen, a piece of white linen for shirts, a silk handkerchief, a stamped linen ditto, and a hogskin knapsack, with the hair on; he speaks broken English, but is a great talker, smokes much, takes snuff, plays on the fiddle and pretends to be a conjurer. They have two fiddles with them, and one of them has plenty of money; they have both been soldiers, and came last fall from Lisbon, can talk Dutch, French, and perhaps Portuguese. It is supposed they will change their clothes. They crossed the river at New-Castle, and came up towards Chester, where they were seen, and it is thought they are gone towards Lancaster or Maryland. Whoever apprehends or secures the said servants, or either of them, in any of his Majesty's gaols [jails], so that their masters may have them again, or brings them to their respective masters, or to Richard Wister, in Philadelphia, shall have Sixteen Dollars for the first mentioned, and Four Dollars for the last, besides reasonable charges, paid by us. Signed Martin Halter, Hugh Blackwood, Richard Wister, July 11, 1767." [This ad appeared in 20 July 1767 issue of The Pennsylvania Chronicle]

Evidently they were caught because the next year Charles ran away again. This time he was not caught.

Volume 26 of New Jersey Archives, Series 1, page 153: "Run away from the Subscriber, living in Salem county, West-New Jersey, a Dutch servant man, named Charles Geisinger; he is five feet two inches high, and about thirty two years of age, has a brown complexion and black short hair. Had on, when he went away, a double breasted swanskin jacket, with black spots and brown mohair buttons, also a brown linen one over it, a pair of half-worn shoes, with brass buckles, and a very small cut hat. Whoever takes up said serant man, and secures him, in any gaol [jail], or brings him to the Subscriber shall have ten dollars Reward, and reasonable charges, paid by me." Signed, George Miller [This ad appeared in 9 May 1768 issue of The Pennsylvania Chronicle]

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORD

Charles went to Pennsylvania and there he joined the Revolutionary War serving with the Pennsylvania army. Karl Geisinger (Gysinger) taken as a prisoner of War at the Battle of Trois Rivieres (Three Rivers) 9 Jun 1776.[Canada].

Karl was evidently released not long afterward because we have record of him rejoining the Seventh Continental Pennsylvania Regiment 13 Jan 1777. Karl belonged to Company No. 6 under Captain David Greier, of the Seventh Continental Regiment, formerly the Sixth Battalion from Pennsylvania. Company 6 (or "G") was raised in York County, Pa which was authorized to enlist as of 4 Jan 1776. Karl was also listed under Freiherr Von Ottendorf as an enlisted man who signed up again on 13 Jan 1777, following his release as a prisoner. This was a second enlistment. Listed with him was Johannes Geisinger who enlisted 16 Mar 1777. Ottendorf was authorized to recruit mainly German speaking soldiers for 3 years. This unit was an independent corp of light infantry which was later reorganized into a cavalry unit.

Taken from: The Pennsylvania Line, Regimental Organization and Operations 1776-1783 by John Trussell, pages 95-99, 287: "The 6th Pennsylvania Battalion was authorized on January 4, 1776. The original plan to recruit the battalion exclusively in Cumberland County was modified during the period of actual organization, with six of the eight companies being raised in Cumberland County and the remaining two in York County." [Note York County---where Charles shows up in 1780 on the tax list]

"The companies of the battalion were as follows:...Company G, raised in York County, was commanded by Capt. David Grier... On the return of the 6th Pennsylvania Battalion to Carlisle in March 1777, [Battle of Three Rivers June 1776] large numbers of its members enlisted in the 7th Regiment, the battalion's successor unit. While the muster rolls of the two organizations give less than a definitive picture, a comparison of those rolls shows 139 enlisted veterans [Grandpa Charles was one!] of the battalion serving in the regiment. As the initial strength of the battalion had been 710 and as it sustained considerables losses from disease and enemy action, together with experiencing the inevitable desertions, it appears that upwards of at least one fourth of the survivors of the 6th Pennsylvania Battalion joined the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment...The battalions uniform consisted of a blue coat and breeches, the coat 'turned up' with red, and a small round hat, bound with braid or tape.

"Col. William Irvine had been captured at the fiasco at Three Rivers on June 9, 1776....In the meantime, when the regiment was first formed, Major David Grier had been promoted to lieutenant colonel...and it was Grier who actually commanded the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment until he was wounded at Paoli on September 20, 1777. He did not return to duty....Many of the men of the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment continued to wear the same 'regimentals' they had been issued when serving in the 6th Pennsylvania Battalion....

"Companies G and H of the 6th Pennsylvania Battalion were raised chiefly in York County [Pennsylvania] and the other companies primarily in Cumberland County....Thus, the ...companies continued to be essentially York County units, and the other companies were manned mainly by Cumberland County residents."

Operations of Charles GEISSINGER's Unit:
"The 6th Pennsylvania Battalion, then at Carlisle, received orders on March 14, 1776, to join the forces at New York City. Evidently, it was rapidly uniformed and equipped, for by April 24 the entire battalion had arrived as ordered; but on April 26 it was directed (along with three companies of the 4th Pennsylvania Battalion) to go to Albany to join the army attacking Canada. The battalion reached Albany on May 10, leaving three days later. On May 24, as part of a force under Brig. Gen. John Sullivan, it passed Lake George; it reached Chambly on June 3, and joined the main army at Sorel the next day. On June 5, with other troops under the overall command of Brig. Gen. William Thompson, it was sent on to Nicolette to reinforce troops under Col. Arthur St. Clair. It was this force which was involved in the fiasco at Three Rivers on June 9.

"In that action, seventy-eight of the members of the 6th Pennsylvania Battalion were killed or captured. Among the prisoners was the battalion commander, Col. William Irvine. [and Charles GEISSINGER!] ...The survivors of the battalion, with the rest of the American force, fell back to Isle Aux Noix. While still camped there on June 24, Captains McClean, Adams, and Rippey, along with Lieutenants Samuel McFerren..[others]... and four privates, decided to leave camp 'to fish and disport themselves,' going across the lake to a point about a mile away from camp but still within sight....they went unarmed. After a time, they went into a nearby house and were drinking spruce beer when they were attacked by a group of Indians who had been watching their movements....[4] were scalped 'in a most inhuman and barbarous manner'.

"The American force at Isle Aux Noix retreated to Crown Point, which it reached July 1. While the other troops moved on to Ticonderoga, the 6th Pennsylvania Battalion remained behind forming the outpost for the army. For the next three and a half months it continued in this mission, having occasional brushes with the enemy and sustaining some casualties....The battalion stayed at that post as part of the garrison unitl the men's enlistments ran out. It then returned to Carlisle, where it was mustered out on March 15, 1777.

"With so large a portion of veterans re-enlisting, the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment was ready for field duty in a short time. As part of one of the brigades under Brig. Gen. Anthony Wayne, the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment marched south with Washington's army...". Charles GEISSINGER is listed as joining again for a 3 year enlistment on 13 Jan 1777, just 6 months after having been taken prisoner in the Battle of Three Rivers---so he wasn't a prisoner long, and he didn't hesitate to join up again. By 1780 he was released and living back in York County.

!Obituary Holdren Missouri Press 1929: Lamach GUISINGER born 26 Mar 1836 near the town of Thornville, Perry, Ohio. His parents were Philip and Sarah GUISINGER. He had four brothers and one sister, and he was the youngest of the family. His grandfather (this would be Charles) served 7 years in the army during the Revolutionary War. He was a member of Anthony Wayne's command, took part in the capture of Stony Point, and spent the winter at Valley Forge.

FOLLOWING THE WAR

Charles Geissinger is listed on Frederick Co., Maryland Census of 1790: 4 males to 16, 1 male 16 and up, and 4 females listed. We know of these children: John, Charles Jr. and Catherine, plus the parents, thus this census shows we need the names of 2 other males born between 1774 and 1790 and 2 other females.

On 23 May 1794, Charles allows his son, Charles Jr. to place himself as an apprentice for 5 years to Henry Darkey to become a farmer. FHL #014050: Frederick County, Maryland, Inventories.

On 13 Sep 1794, Charles places his son, John Geisinger, as an apprentice for 9 years to Conrod Ricker to become a blacksmith. John was 10 years old and his birth is recorded as 5 March 1784. FHL #014050: Frederick County, Maryland, Inventories.

After we found Charles in 1780 in York Co., Pa, we searched for records to tell us more about him there. We could not find him in a church anywhere, which is odd because these people were generally church-going people, but Charles may have not been that kind of a man. We then checked the Catholic records of Adams County, Pa which lies next door to York Co., Pa and found a very interesting entry:

Michael GEISSIN of Charles and Catharine GEISSIN; b. 9 Aug 1793; bap. 14 Mar 1794; Sponsors: Michael and Elisabeth RITELMOSER; I-13. Conewago Chapel Roman Catholic Records, page 189 in Adams County Church Records of the 18th Century. FHL 974.842 K2a This turned out to be Michael GUISINGER, son of Charles GEISSINGER.

John GEISSIN of John GEISSIN and Barbara BERN; born Feb 1805; FHL 974.841 D2o Founding Catholic Families of Conewago, page 28. This could be John GEISSINGER (son of Charles) and Charles and Catharine GEISSINGER, or it is John GEISSINGER, brother to Charles who md. Barbara BERN. Most likely it is not the brother of Charles as he would be very old.

Charles is listed on 1800 Census of Frederick Co., Md: 2 males under 10, 1 male 10-16, 1 male 45 and over, 2 females under 10, 1 female over 45. According to apprenticeship papers John and Charles were gone and Catherine was married to Michael Mower, thus this records shows we need the names of 2 additional males who were born 1790-1800, 2 additional females born 1790-1800---assuming these were his children and not relatives living in his home.

1807 List of Taxable Inhabitants: Colerain Twp., Bedford Co., Pa: Charles GISINGER. FHL # 1449358

1808, 1809, 1810 Tax List: Colerain Twp., Bedford Co., Pa: Charles GISINGER. FHL # 1449359

Bounty Land Warrant #202-100 for Pennsylvania issued to Charles KISSINGER or KISSENGER. National Archives Record States: "Charles Kissinger enlisted November 25, 1776 in the Pennsylvania troops and was discharged Aug 9, 1783, and a Warrant numbered 202 for one hundred acres of bounty land, for the above services as a Private, was delivered to him March 28, 1805. There are no further particulars given."

In the files of the National Archives a inquiry was made March 3, 1919 in regards to the Bounty Land Warrant by: Mrs. Ella G. Edmonds, 5639 Rippey St. Pittsburgh, Penn. (I suspect this to be Ella Geissinger Edmonds, probably a descendant.)

In Archives B.L. Wt. file 202-100: "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Bedford County---Personally appeared before me the Subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County, John Scott, Esq., who being duly sworn on the Holy evangelist of Almight God doth depose and say that Charles Kissinger produced to him a Discharge Signed Ay. Butten (or Butler) of the 9th August 1783. Enlisted the 25th November 1776 with whom he has been acquainted in or about two years during which time he always knew him by the name of Charles Kissinger. Sworn and Subscribed the Second day of June A.D. 1804."

Charles GEISSINGER appears on the spring tax list of 1810 but not on the fall tax list, so he must have died by fall 1810 in Bedford Co., Pa.

His daughter, Catherine (Geissinger) MOWER and her husband Michael MOWER lived in Bedford Co., and raised a family there. Their son, Henry MOWER Sr. was living there in 1836 when Mormon Elders came by prostyleting and Henry and his wife and family joined the Church. The MOWER family moved west to Nauvoo and then eventually to Pleasant View, Utah. In 1857 to avoid Johnston's Army the family went south to Springville, Utah and Henry MOWER died there in 1878. His son Henry MOWER Jr. went south to Fairview, Utah and established a homestead there and that is the area of Utah thought of to be the home of most of the Utah MOWERs.