West Virginia Pioneers

Johann Justus HENCKEL, Sr

Male 1706 - 1778  (72 years)


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  • Name Johann Justus HENCKEL 
    Suffix Sr 
    Nickname Yost 
    Born 10 Feb 1705/6  Daudenzell, Baden, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 24 Aug 1778  Hinkle's Fort, Germany Valley, Pendleton County, Virginia (WV) Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • The first record found on Jost Henkel appeared in the records of the
      Evangelical Lutheran Church of Daudenzell, Germany, in the original
      handwritting of his father, the pfarrer or pastor, translated as follows:

      "John Justus Henkel born at Daudenzell on February 10, 1706; baptized
      February 17, 1706; Godparent Herr John Justus Berthold, the Palatinate
      Collector of the Minnenberg tax district in Guttenback."

      John Justus accompanied his parents to American at the age of eleven,
      arriving on one of the "three little ships" that landed in the fall of
      1717 at Philadelphia.
    Person ID I7265  WVPioneers
    Last Modified 27 Feb 2018 

    Father Anthony Jacob HENKEL, Rev.,   b. Bef 27 Oct 1668, Mehrenburg (near Weilburg), Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1728  (Age > 59 years) 
    Mother Maria Elizabeth [HENKEL],   b. Germantown, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 23 Jan 1743/4 
    Married Abt 1706  Germany Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 

    • THE HENKEL FAMILY
      Life Sketches of Lutheran Ministers, North Carolina and Tennessee Synods 1773-1965, pp. 86-91

      The Henkel family line, which includes so many prominent Lutheran ministers, can be traced back to Reformation times. Count Conrad Henkel von Donnersmarck was a contemporary of the sixteenth century reformers.
      The first Henkel known to have come to America was a pastor, often called "The Pioneer", who arrived in 1717. For more than a century, through some unexplained confusion, "The Pioneer" was supposed to have been named Gerhart.
      The last will and testament of Anthony Jacob Henkel, found some fifty years ago, names Gerhart Anthony as "my oldest son"; and other mortuary records support this assumption. Another son of Anthony Jacob Henkel was John Justus. He and his wife Christine and their family moved to Rowan Co., N. C., at an early date. In 1760, he left North Carolina and, after several removals, finally located in Pendleton Co., Va., where he died in 1794.
    Family ID F2449  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Maria Magdalena ESCHMANN,   b. Between 1710 and 1712, Berks County, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Pennsylvania, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married Abt 1730  Pennsylvania, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 

    • John "Jost" and Maria moved to Macungie Creek Settlement and joined the Goshenhoppen congregation which after 1812 was located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. In 1750 he sold his holdings and moved to Rowan (now Davidson) County, North Carolina, settling on Dutchman's Creek about thirteen miles from Salisbury near the "Forks of the Yadkin". In 1760, because Indian depredations, they moved to Augusta County, Virginia, settling in the beautiful section known as "Germany Valley" which was located in Rockingham County, Virginia in 1778, later a part of Pendleton County (organized in 1788 from Augusta, Hardy, and Rockingham Counties). In 1863 West Virginia was formed and Germany Valley became a part of Pendleton County, West Virginia.

      Jost Henkel constructed a stockade fence, enclosing his house and other settler's houses in the immediate vicinity. This structure became know as Hinkle's Fort and was an outpost prior to and during the Revolutionary War. Upon Jost's death, his son Abraham was in charge of the fort. The fort was probably abandoned when it was no longer needed for the
      settlers' protection. The service of John Justus (Jost) Henckel as commander of Hinkle's Fort and in furnishing supplies to the Colonial forces has been recognized officially by the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution as a qualification for membership. A granite marker was erected October 10, 1935 and dedicated at the site of a Henckel Family Reunion held May 29, 1936. It was placed as near the original site of the fort as was practical. A granite marker was also placed in the Henckel Farm Cemetery to mark the graves of John Justus Henckel, Sr. and Magalena Eschmann.
    Children 
     1. Anna Maria Elizabeth Henkle,   b. 2 Aug 1731, Bucks (Lehigh) County, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     2. Jacob HENCKEL,   b. 14 Mar 1732/3, Upper Milford Township, Bucks (now Lehigh) County, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 14 Feb 1779, Hampshire County, WV Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 45 years)
     3. Catherine Hinkle,   b. 13 Jan 1734/5, Upper Milford Township, Bucks (now Lehigh) County, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     4. Rebecca Henkle,   b. 5 Oct 1736, Upper Milford Township, Bucks (now Lehigh) County, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     5. Anna Margaret Henkle,   b. 30 Apr 1741, Upper Milford Township, Bucks (now Lehigh) County, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     6. Mary Magdelena Henkle,   b. 1 Feb 1742/3, Upper Milford Township, Bucks (now Lehigh) County, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     7. Elizabeth Henkle,   b. 20 Dec 1745, Upper Milford Township, Bucks (now Lehigh) County, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     8. Susannah (Sunna) Hinkle,   b. 16 Oct 1747, Upper Milford Township, Bucks (now Lehigh) County, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     9. Abraham Hinkle, Sr,   b. 20 Mar 1748/9, Upper Milford Township, Bucks (now Lehigh) County, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     10. Hannah Henkle,   b. 9 Apr 1750, Upper Milford Township, Bucks (now Lehigh) County, Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     11. John Justus (Jost) Henkle,   b. 14 Jan 1751/2, Dutchman's Creek, Rowan (Davidson) County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     12. Isaac Henkle,   b. 5 Dec 1754, Dutchman's Creek, Rowan (Davidson) County, North Carolina Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
    Family ID F2448  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsDied - 24 Aug 1778 - Hinkle's Fort, Germany Valley, Pendleton County, Virginia (WV) Link to Google Earth
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