last updt 1-1-1999

This page is dedicated to the family of PERMELIA EMILY GAAR, the
wife of Francis Marbury Greer and the mother of Elizabeth Francis Greer.

Some miscellaneous data found about members of the family are:

Article in a newspaper appearing on November 19, 1822

	Pursuant to an order of the Court of Ordinary of the 
	County of Elbert, will be sold at the late residence of
	ADAM GAAR, in the county aforesaid, on the 1st Tuesday
	in January next, 11 negroes...Also...other property belonging
	to the estate of said deceased (signed) Allen Daniels, Adm'r,
	Nancy Gaar, Adm'x

from an issue appearing February 3, 1824:
	Georgia, Mmorgan Coutny.  Whereas Catharine Gaar applies to 
	me for letters of administration on the estate of LEWIS
	GAAR, late of said county deceased.... given under my hand
	this 27th day of January, 1824.

from an issue of September 28, 1824:
	Executors's Sales--will be sold at the late residence of JOEL 
	GAAR, late of Morgan County, deceased, on thursday the 4th
	day of November next, all the perishable property of said deceased
	consisting of horses, hogs, cattle, corn, fodder. (signed)
	Alexander McCalpin, ex'or

from an issue of December 7, 1824
	Executor's sale--will be sold on the firs Tuesday in February,
	next, at the courthouse in the town of Madison, Morgan County,
	a lot of land lying in the town of Madison, a part of the real
	estate of JOEL GAAR, deceased (signed) Alexander McAlpin, ex'or

from an issue of January 17, 1826
	Agreeable to an order of the Inferior Court of Morgan County
	will be sold at the courthouse in Madison, in said county, on the
	first Tuesday in Arpil next, 5 acres of land, adjoining the
	town of Madison, on which is situated a Tan-yard...sold for the
	benefit of the heirs of JOEL GAAR, deceased. (signed) Alexander
	McAlpin, ex'or.


In reviewing the book, "Georgia Intestate Records" by Jeannette Holland
Austin, the following three records were reported:

	GAAR, Michael, decd, paid James Brown, Abraham Gaar
	Nicodemus Colbert 1795; Virginia travel expenses;
	settlement by Joeseph Rucker and Lewis Gaar;  Benjamin
	Gaar, executor of Adam Gaar, Sr; Adam Gaar, guardian
	of minors--Sally, Joel, Wm, Nancy, Frances and George
	Gaar, Elbert Cty Ga


	GAAR, Joel, decd, Alexander McAlpin, guardian of orphans
	Permelia, Benajah L., Elizabeth W., 11/1/1824, Morgan
	Cty, Ga


	GAAR, Joel, decd, Alexander McAlpin appointed guardian
	of orphans: Michael A., Margaret and Russell W Gaar,
	3/15/1826  John Barton posted security, Morgan Cty, Ga


From p 230 of Early Records of Georgia-Wilkes County, 
	GAAR, MICHAEL, dec'd. Lewis and Adam Gaar app. adm
	December 23, 1790

on page 117 of the same publication, there is an entry wherein Michael
	Gaar had served as a witness to an act for another party 
	on Sept 10, 1790--indicating that he was alive at that time.

From one publication, I found a listing from Wilkes county listing the
returns of administrators and guardians from 1791-1795 listing:
	Gaar, Abraham
	Gaar, Adam Sr deceased
	Gaar, Benj
	Gaar, Lewis
	Gaar, Michael, deceased

In a publication of the Widows of Revolutionary Soldiers, I found a Gaar, 
Catharine listed as a widow living in Morgan County.

In a CD rom for Morgan County marriage 1808-1850, I found where there was
a marriage of Joel Gaar to Catherine Kendrick on Sept 24, 1816.


The family begins in Bavaria, Germany and progresses as follows:

HANS GAAR				ELIZABETH SCHAIELTEL
---------------------			--------------------
b					b
m  Jan 23, 1570, Bavaria
d					d
				--children--
				Thomas Gaar


THOMAS GAAR				ANNA WAIDENHOFEL
---------------------			---------------------
b 1575 Bavaria				b Apr 8, 1559, Bavaria
m July 26, 1625 Bavaria
d 					d

				--children--
				Johanns Adreas Gaar


JOHANN ANDREA GAAR			APPOLONIA GRIMM (daug of George Grimm)
---------------------			---------------------
b 1628 Bavaria				b Jun 4, 1630 Bavaria
m Jan 12, 1657 
d Oct 22, 1704, Bavaria			d Dec 18, 1704, Bavaria

				--children--
				Johann or John or Hans Gaar



JOHN GAAR (weaver)			BARBARA ELIZABETH SCHUEBET
---------------------			---------------------
b Nov 17, 1657 Bavaria, Germany		b June 8, 1663 Bavaria
m Oct 24, 1682 Bavaria
d May 22, 1738 Bavaria			d

		Their children were:
		Catherine		b Oct 23, 1683 d May 15, 1684
	----->	Anreas			b June 14, 1685
		John			b Apr 29, 1693
		John Martin		b Nov 22, 1697 d Dec 11, 1758




ANREAS GAR (weaver)			EVE SEIDELMANN
---------------------			---------------------
b June 14, 1685 Bavaria, Germany	b Feb 23, 1685 Bavaria
m Feb 23, 1711  Bavaria, Germany
d abt 1750, Madison Cty, Va		d 1713, Va

		Their children were:
	------>	John Adam Gaar		b Nov 24, 1711
		Rosina			b Aug 11, 1713
		Elizabeth Barbara	b Mar 20, 1715	d May 12, 1721
		Lorenz			b Nov 29, 1716
		Andreas			b Sep 13, 1718
		Eve Maria		b Oct 20, 1719	d Nov 30, 1724
		Anna Margharetta	b Feb 24, 1721	d Nov 26, 1724
		Hans George		b Aug 15, 1722	d Nov 22, 1724
		John			b Apr 24, 1724	d July 20, 1727
		John Leonard		b May 6, 1726	d July 25, 1727
		Maria Barbara		b July 15, 1728
		Elizabeth Barbara	b Feb 11, 1730

I found a listing of an Andreas Gaar and Johann Adam Gaar arriving in
Philadelphia from Germany in 1732 in Rupp: A Collection of Upwards of
Thirty Thousand Names, p 79-80 and in Strassburger:  Penn German Pioneers,
Vol 1, 3, page 89, 91.





JOHN ADAM GAAR, SR (gggggg g-f)		ELIZABETH KAFEL (gggggg g-m)
----------------------------		--------------------------
b Dec 24, 1711				/b
m
d  about 1822-Elbert Cty, Ga

		Elizabeth Kafel was the daug of Han Blankenbahler
		and Appelonia Kafer.

				---children---
	----->	Michael Gaar
		Louis Gaar
		Benjamin Gaar
		Elizabeth Gaar			
		Rosannah Gaar
		Mary Magdaline Gaar



MICHAEL GAAR    (my ggggg g-f)		Elizabeth Wilhoit  my ggggg g-m
------------------------------		--------------------------
b  					b  
m  
d  unknown but probably 1795 or prior	d  

		Elizabeth Wilhoit was the daughter of Adam and Catherine
		Wilhoit of Germany.

				---children---
		John Adam Gaar
		George Gaar	1899 to April 18, 1836
	----->>	Joel Gaar	
		Wilhelm Gaar	
		Abraham Gaar
		Simeon Gaar		b June 7, 1774	d Mar 20, 1852
		Maria Gaar		b Nov 27, 1775
		

Michael Gaar served in the Revolutionary War.  He furnished supplies to
troops of the Continental Army and served as a lieutenant in the County
Militia from Culpepper County under General Assembly Act of Oct 1780.
Also a recognized patrioth in Culpepper.  This is the same line as
DAR #438076.


JOEL GAAR (my gggg g-f)			LUCY HEAD (my gggg g-m)
-------------------------		----------------------
b ? 					b  ?
m ?
d unknown but probably 1824 or prior	d  1856

				---children---
	----->>	Permelia Emily		b Oct 6, 1804	d Sep 23, 1893
		Elizabeth Wilhoit	b		d Mar 1831
		Margaret Catherine	b Feb 27, 1810	d July 29, 1886
		Benagar Lewis Gaar	b 1810-1812	d Mar 1848 Greene Cty
		Michael Adam (Rev)	b Jan 9, 1813	d Mar 2, 1864
		Russell Winn (or Wiley)




I have exchanged e-mail with CriseydeJo@aol.com who has ancestral ties
to the above listed Benagar L Gaar.  Based on her family records, this
person confirmed that Joel Gaar who had married Lucy Head, d. 1856.  Her
records even showed that the
more modern faction of the family listed the last name as GARR.  It was
projected that Benagar was born between late 1810 to early 1812 and that
he died in Greene County in March, 1848.  Benegar's wife was listed as
being Louesa Williams, b Aug 11, 1811 in Greene Cty, Ga and died Apr 24, 
1873 in VIENNA, LA.  Louesa's mother was Cecilia Moore.  Benegar and Lucy's
daughter was Lucy George Gaar/Garr and her dates are Dec 27, 1836, Henry
Cty, Ga and death as Nov 6, 1908 in Ruston, La.  Lucy married William
Henry Tanner and later Dr Quinn.  Further data on this line should be
obtained via the above e-mail address.



See below for Permilea and Frances Greer's marriage on Dec 16, 1824 in
Morgan Cty Ga. In addition, the marriage records for Morgan County also
lists marriages of Elizabeth Gaar to Jesse Ammond on March 20, 1827.

There was a Lucy Gaar married to either William Barton or Partin on
July 10 or 11, 1824.  She may have been another child who married
prior to the death of her father so she would not have been listed 
above.

The third notice above includes a Margaret.  There was a marriage listing
in Morgan Cty for either Martha or Mary Gaar to George W Young on 
either Aug 5, 1829 or Apr 4, 1829.  This person could have been the 
same as listed for Margaret above.

Some other marriages from ELBERT  County that may be related and useful 
in the future were:

	William Gaar	to	Sarah Craft	Dec  1, 1831
	William Gaar	to 	Keziah Davis	Oct 25, 1827
	William Gaar 	to 	Lucy Rucker	May 20, 1810


There was a listing in the Christian Index of Obituaries  1822-1879 of
a Leonidas A Gaar  who died July 14, 1853 at the ages of 25 years and
who was the sone of Rev Michael Gaar.

In the same publication was a note of a Mrs Mary Gaar, 49 yrs, died on
Jan 26, 1844 in Elbert County.

In the same publication was a note of George Gaar, age 37, who died 
April 18, 1836 in Ruckersville, Elbert County.



The following data is also reported in the Greer page:



FRANCIS MARBURY GREER (my ggg g-f)   PERMELIA EMILY GAAR GREER (my ggg g-m)
----------------------------------   -------------------------------------
b 2-12-1794                        /b 10-6-1804
m 12-16-1824 Morgan County, Ga
d 2-27-1885 Claiborne Par, La      /d 9-23-1893  
(both are buried Lisbon Methodist Cemetary, Lisbon, Claiborne Par, La)

				----children----
				Francis Elizabeth Greer Avery (1823-1907)
				J L Greer
				J W Greer
				W Lafayette  1838-1860
				Russell Wynn 1843-1900

To continue this line, go to the GREER page.

The following is some historical data from records orignally created in Germany and relating to Andreas Gaar:
THE FOLLOWING IS FROM "GENEALOGY OF THE
DESCENDANTS OF JOHN GAR" BY JOHN
WESLEY GARR AND JOHN CALHOUN GARR:

The "OLD GERMAN LETTERS"   (Page 530)
Brought from Bavaria in 1732 by Andreas Gar


I.  From the Lutheran Minister at Illenschwang

        Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
and the
Holy Ghost.  Amen.
        Whereas, Andreas Gar, subject of Dunkhofbuhl and weaver-master
of this
town of Illenschwang, has determined to leave this country, with his
wife, Eve and his five children (John Adam, Lorenz, Rosina, Maria
Barbara and Elizabeth Barbara) and as I have wished to dissuade the same
and his family from their purpose, having been all along very dear
parish children of mine, by the grace of God;  but their purpose could
not be altered, and so, at their request, I furnish them the following
testimony, viz:  That the said married couple have been lovers of the
Word of God, have constantly attended public wordhip, and frequently
received the sacrament of the "Lord's Supper" after having with devotion
attended to the usual Confession and Repentance for sin;  and in all
other things have lived a Christian life;  also that they have raised
their children to perform holy and Christian works, so that they may
now, as baptized children in the Christian doctrine, with the blessing
of God, upon the foundation laid, build the superstructure.  I now wish
with all my heart that God may continue to govern the whole of them by
His grace, to preserve among them His Holy Word, to bless their
outgoing
and their incoming, to accompany them in all their ways, and to prosper
their enterprise, tht their spiritual and etermal welfare may thereby be
assured, and their temporal interests benefitted.  The Lord God say to
this, my pastoral wish - Amen!
                                        John Leonard Kisel, Pastor
                                        Illenschwang, April 25, 1732


II.  From the Mayor and City Council of Dinkelsbuehl

        Inasmuch as we, Burgomaster and Council of the City of
Dunkhofbuhl, in the Holy Roman Empire, have been informed by
Andreas Gar, formerly a citizen of Illenschwang, that he is resolved to
emigrate to
Pennsylvania, and in consequence has respectfully requested us to
furnish him a public certificate showing that he has been a well-behaved
citizen among us, and as it respects any blood-relation, he leaves none
behind him;  and as his request is founded on reason and truth; 
Therefore, we have thought it right to comply with his petition; 
Therefore, we certify by these presents hat the said petitioner, so far
as known unto us, has on all occasions conducted himself praiseworthily,
and that he leaves without any blood relations behind him, and without
any debts.
        In virtue of this, is this certificate given and sealed by the common
chancery seal of the city of Dunkhofbuhl.
        Given in Dunkhofbuhl the 26th day of April, 1732.

Note from John Calhoun Garr:  It was an indignity heaped upon the
Lutherans in Bavaria at that time by the Catholic administration at that
time in power, that they (the Lutherans), before they could leave
Bavaria, should certify that they left no children behind them - or,
more particularly, no illegitimate children - to become a burden upon
the state.  The records show that Andreas Gar left father and brothers
behind him.


RECORDS FROM ILLENSCHWANG, BAVARIA (Page 531)

Note from John Calhoun Garr:  The following letter and records were
delivered to me in Dinkelsbuehl, Bavaria by the Pastor of the Lutheran
Church at Illenschwang, five miles from Dinkelsbuehl, and were
translated into English by his brother, Lewis Wild, of 13 Canonbury
Park, S. London, England on March 1, 1888.

Honored Sir:

        In accordance with your wish, you will receive inclosed the family
certificate, as well as an exact copy of a letter of Andreas Gar's.
        I can not trace your genealogy any further back in our register, as
Andreas Gar came from Frankenhofen.  It is impossible to prove the
connection between Andreas Gar and Johann George Gar, nor is it
possible
to find the wedding date of Andreas Gar's wife's parents.
        Gearge and Barbara Seidelmann were married at some other place,
and
lived at some other place during the first few years of their wedlock,
but this place is not named anywhere.
        Concerning my renumeration, I have no guidance, as I never before
made such a comprehensive and complicated work, and therefore leave
the estimation of my labors in your hands.
        You may rest assured that I made a most exhaustvie examination of
our church registers, to give you a picture as complete as possible. 
According to our laws, I had to affix a stamp of 50 pfennigs on my
certificate.
        Inclosed you will find my brothers' addresses, etc.  Trusting you
will succeed in clearing up all points concerning your family.
                                I am, etc.             R. Wild


ILLENSCHWANG CHURCH FAMILY RECORDS  (Page 532)

        Andreas Gar, newly situated weaver and countryman of
D0inkelsbuhl, son of John Gar, Wuertembergisch Weiltingesch, weaver
in Frankenhofen, was married to Eva, daughter of George Seidelmann,
countryman of Dinkelsbuhl and weaver here, after being duly proclaimed
three times from the puplit here, on the 23rd of February 1711.
        From this marriage came the following children:

1.   John Adam.................Born Here  Dec. 24, 1711   
Baptized    Dec. 25, 1711
2.   Rosina....................Born Here  Aug. 11, 1713    
Baptized    Aug. 12, 1713
3.   Elizabeth Barbara.........Born Here  Mar. 20, 1715     
Baptized   Mar. 21, 1715
4.   Lorenz....................Born Here  Nov. 29, 1716    
Baptized    Nov. 30, 1716
5.   Andreas...................Born Here  Sept. 30, 1718   
Baptized    Oct. 1, 1718
6.   Eva Maria.................Born Here  Oct. 20, 1719     
Baptized    Oct. 21, 1719
7.   Anna Margharetha..........Born Here   Feb. 24, 1721    
Baptized   Feb. 25, 1721
8.   Hans George...............Born Here   Aug. 15, 1722    
Baptized    Aug. 16, 1722
9.   John......................Born Here   Apr. 24, 1724    
Baptized    Apr. 25, 1724
10. John Leonard...............Born Here   Mar. 6, 1726     
Baptized    Mar. 7, 1726
11. Maria Barbara..............Born Here   July 15, 1728   
Baptized    July 16, 1728
12. Elizabeth Barbara..........Born Here   Feb. 11, 1730    
Baptized   Feb. 12, 1730

        To the children mentioned under Numbers 1, 9, and 10 was
godfather John Adam Erbel, a countryman of Dinkelsbuhl here;  to
Numbers 11 and 12, his wife, Mary Martha Erbel;  to Numbers 3, 6, and
7, Rosina Kunder, wife of Lorenz Kunder, countryman of
Wurtemb-Weiltingesch;  to Numbers 4, 5, and 8, Lorenz Kunder,
countryman here.

        Of these twelve children, there died in Illenschwang:

3.  Elizabeth Barbara..Died May 5, 1721- Age 6 years, 2 mos, 8 days
8.  Hans George........Died Nov. 22, 1724 -  Age 2 years, 3 mos, 6 days
7.  Anna Margharetha...Died Nov. 26, 1724 -  Age 3 years, 9 days
8.  Eva Maria..........Died Nov. 30, 1724 -  Age 5 years, 1 month, 9 days

        The three last named had the measles, and they got over it;   then
they got diphtheria, which gae themselves very little pain, but increased
the sorrow of those left behind.

5.   Andreas..............Died July 15, 1727 -  Age 8 years, 9 months, 
	7 days
9.   John.................Died July 22, 1727 -  Age 3 years, 4 months, 	
	3 days
10. John Leonard..........Died July 25, 1727 -  Age 1 year, 4 months, 2weeks, 
	4 days
        All three died of flux.


Page 533

Note from John Calhoun Garr:  The following letter was copied onto a
front fly-leaf in one of the church registers, by the Lutheran minister,
where it might be consulted by all interested, thus answering the
purpose of our modern newspaper.

        Of existing news in the church books of the Pastorate of
Illenschwang,
concerning the emigration and arrival in Pennsylvania of Andreas Gar,
subject of Dinkelsbuhl and weaver here, who left from this place the
26th of April 1732 for Pennsylvania with his wife, Eva, and his five
children - namely, John Adam, Lorenz, Rosina, Maria Barbara, and
Elizabeth Barbara - with others, all in good standing, altogether three
hundred people, who chose for their paster Tit (?), the pastor of
Scheinbach (three hours from Crailsheim).  The above-named Andreas
Gar
has ordered that a clean wooden cross should be made by the carpenter
of Neustaedtlein-by-Dinkelsbuhl from the three florins which he left; 
which the carpenter made, as the bill shows.
        This was done in remembrance and on supposition that said
Andreas Gar would possibly not have a cross to be carried before his
funeral, or the funeral of one of the party, according the news Andreas
Gar shall not have reached Pennsylvania, or died immediately after
landing.
        Against this supposition there arrived in the month of August 1733,
a letter from the oldest son of said Gar, addressed to his godfather, John
Adam Erbel, dated February 1, 1733, and written in Germantown, a
place supposed to be tweve hours from Philadelphia.
        The letter says all eached Pennsylvania safe and living, but soon
afterwards the other daughter, Maria Barbara, died.
        He describes the land as being tolerably good, but for religion's
sake he wished to be back again in Europe, especially in Germany, etc. 
He who would not work would be as bad off as in Germany, etc.
        After this came a letter to my hand dated November 18, 1732,
written by Andreas Gar himself.
        The contents of this letter are that they all arrived at their
destination after a very long and dangerous voyage.
        At Rotterdam over four hundred of his faith partook of Holy
Communion.  There they had to wait six weeks on account of the great
number of people.
        From there it took eighteen days to bring them to Cowes, in
England, on account of contrary winds and heavy ships, and there all the
trunks were closely inspected on account of the high tariff.  After laying
there sixteen days, the ships crossed finally to sea.
        His ship arrived in seven weeks and four days, but had to cross
before the Gulf Stream eight days, as the wind came against them;  but
(these are his own words)  "God changed the wind, so we arrived safely
in Philadelphia, and descending from the ship we thanked our dear Lord
that He brought us all sound and safe to this beloved land.
        "It is a hard, trying, and long voyage.  Thirteen, probably over
thirteen, hundred miles.  There died six old persons and thiry-six
children of small-pox.
        "The wine is the life of man.  Nice flour, dried meat, and dried
fruits are very good.  The land is good.  Plenty of apples, and better than
in Germany.  One man preserved twenty-five barrels of apples.  There is
plenty of fruit, but as dear as in Germany.  Cattle are twice as dear as
in Germany.  There are plenty of forges, smelting-works, foundries, and
mills.  Everything is free.  Anybody can hunt, wherever he wishes,
bears, wolves, etc.
        "I belong to Germantown, six miles from Philadelphia.  Am living
with a weaver, and work this winter for half wages (could have got full
wages in Illenschwang - Minister).  A good hired man earns 100 florins; 
woman forty.  Have not yet seen any pine wood, but cedar wood.  The
most is oak forests.  There came two ships with people, some in six
weeks, some in eight weeks, and some in ten weeks, but the last one
came in eighteen weeks.  They suffered great misery, and those that did
not die on the sea are mostly sick.  I advise no people who have small
children to come, as the voyage is too trying, but I do not regret it."
        Until here are his own words.  That this letter was from him, or
from his son, is proven not only by his handwriting, which was known,
but also by his sign, which was given his cousin and him in my presence. 
"Love of Christ is better than knowledge of everything".
        Copied into the church book in the month of January 1734.
        Attest:  Kingly Protestant Pastorate
                                                Wild
        Illenschwang, February 17, 1888.



Page 535

POSTSCRIPT

        In the church annals of Illenschwang it is impossible to follow
further the genealogy of the Gar family, as Andreas Gar is descended
from Frankenhofen.  The church books there may give further
information, also the birth date of Andreas Gar must be found there.  
        In the death register of this parish is the following, registered from
the year 1736:  "July 6th of this year, John George Gar, princely
Brandenburgisch-Onolzbachisch subject, belonging to the cloister of
Aichhausen, near Oettinghen, on the Rhine, and being here, was buried
here, aged 68 years 5 months, less one day."
        From two of his sons you find in the marriage register the
following:
        1.  "June 8, 1728.  John George Gar, single, second son of the
above-mentioned John George Gar, was married at Sinnbronn to Anna
Dorothea Walterin, from Welchenholz."
        2.  "November 6, 1731.  John Stephen Gar, oldest son of the
above-named
John George Gar, was married to Johanna Margaretha Zieher, from
Schlierberg."
        From the wife of Andreas Gar, Eva, a native Seidelmann, it is
impossible to find the birth date, also the marriage date of her
parents;  but it is quite certain that in the year 1700, under the
Katechumenen, and from these until 1710, in the confitent register, (is)
mentioned Eva Seidelmann, later wife of Andreas Gar, the daughter of
the linen weaver, George Seidelmann and his wife, Barbara.  As in the
confitent register, the married couple, George and Barbara Seidelmann,
are not mentioned until the year 1692, so it is to be supposed that this
married couple came in the year 1691, with their baby daughter, Eva, to
Illenschwang.
        In the above-named year is in this parish birth register th first
record of the family made.  Wherefrom they came is not mentioned.
        Here was born to George and Barbara Seidelmann the following
children:

1.  George Albrecht............Born May 10, 1691
2.  Otillia....................Born April 7, 1694 - not
baptized
3.  Mary.......................Born April 28, 1696 - died
February 19, 1705
4.  Hans George................Born April 14, 1698 - died June
11, 1772
5.  Hans Casper................Born November 20, 1700
6.  Hans Christoph.............Born June 17, 1705

        Besides these mentioned (of) George Siedelmann you find in the
confitent register from the year 1689:
        "John Leonard Seidelmann, a farmer's son, from Dubren, parish
of Wittleshofen, marries Eva, daughter of the farmer, Leonard Krebs,
from Oberschwaningen."
        The marriage is in Illenschwang, and the bridal couple make their
home in Illenschwang.
        It is possible to trace the Seidelmann family further in the parish
register at Wittleshofen, where Duhren belongs to.
                                Kingly Protestant Parish
                                        Wild
        Illenschwang, February 17, 1888.


RECORD OF ANDREAS GAR'S LANDING IN AMERICA (Page 536)

(From Rupp's Collection of Thirty Thousand Names of Emigrants in
Pennsylvania)

September 12, 1732 - Palatines imported in the ship "Loyal Judith", of
London;  Robert Turpin, master;  from Rotterdam, last from Cowes:
        Andreas Gaar - first name
        Johann Adam Gaar - tenth name


BILL OF SALE (Page 540)

(Now on record in Orange County Court House, Virginia)

        Know all men by these presents that I, James Maxwell, of Orange
County and St. Mark's Parish, for divers good causes and valuable
considerations, me therein to moving, do bargain, sell, warrent, and
defend one negro man named Ben;  one white horse, one dark bay horse
-the white branded "W. D.", all sound, the bay branded "E. 17", known
by the name of "Jumper";  seventeen head of cattle, marked in the right
and left ear and under keel;  the crop of tobacco and corn now growing
on my plantation, where I now lately abide - for and in consideration of
the sum of twenty-seven pounds, three shillings, and one penny, current
money of Virginia, for with the said negro, horse and cattle and crops
of tobacco and corn, I am fully satisfied, contented, and paid.  I will
hereby bind myself, my heirs, executors, administrators, to warrant and
defend the aforesaid negro man named Ben, the aforesaid horses, cattle,
and crop to Andreas Gar, him, his heirs, executors, administrators, or
assigns forever;  provided always that if the said Andreas Gar do
satisfy, content, or pay the aforesaid sum of twenty-seven pounds, three
shillings, and one penny by the fourth Thursday in September, at Orange
Court now next ensuing the date here mentioned, that then this present
bill, bargain, and sale to be void and of no effect; or else to stand
and remain in full force, power, and virtue.
        Given under my hand and seal this fourteenth day of August, Anno
Domini
One Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty-Seven.
        Signed, sealed, and delivered.

                {SEAL}                          James Maxwell
                In the presence of:
                        Tully Choice
                        Ludwig Fisher
                        Isaac Smith
===========

        At a court for Orange County, on Thursday, the 27th of August,
1747, this instrument of writing was proved by the oaths of Tully Choice
and Isaac Smith, witnesses thereto, and ordered to be recorded.
                                Test:    
                                John Nicholas, Clerk
        A copy - Test:
                      P. H. Fry, Clerk

===========

Biographies (Page 565)

Andreas Gar

        Andreas Gar, the head of the American branch of this family, was
born in Frankenhofen, Bavaria, June 14th, 1685.  His father, Hans Gar,
a weaver, was "a humble and devout man".  His mother's name was
Elizabeth.  So attests the Parish Book of Frankenhofen.  He was married
to Eva, daughter of George Seidelmann, at Dinkelsbuehl, February 23,
1711, in due accordance with the ceremonies of the Lutheran Church. 
Twelve children were the offspring of this union, seven of whom died at
their home in Illenschwang, near Dinkelsbuehl.  Andreas Gar followed
the occupation of his father, a weaver, and became a weaver master,
which indicates that he possessed skill of no ordinary degree.  This
humble scion of a once powerful family was destined to become the
progenitor of 
a great multitude of descendants, who now form a desirable portion of
the citizenship of the United States.  The few meager details of his
life on available record reveal to us a character that possessed traits
which have been largely transmitted to his posterity.
        On the walls of the old Lutheran church at Illenschwang hang
paintings of the Twelve Apostles.  On the back of one of these is written
the name of Andreas Gar as donor.  In the church book a record is made
that Andreas Gar had left three florins to have a " clean wooden cross"
made in memory of him, should he not be heard from and deemed as lost
on the voyage to America.  The cross was made and paid for, but another
record describes the voyage and safe arrival in Andreas Gar's own words. 
After partaking of the Holy Communion at Rotterdam, they committed
themselves to God's merc.  They were storm-tossed for weary weeks on
the sea, but "God changed the wind so we arrived safely in Philadelphia,
and, descending from the ship, we thanked our dear Lord that he brought
us all safe and sound to this beloved land".
        Before leaving his old home he secured a letter from his paster,
which reveals not only his religious standing but his desire to be placed
in proper relation to his brethren in the New World.  Citizenship is not
forgotten, and so he applies to the burgomaster and city council for a
letter of character, and the seal of the ancient city of Dinkelsbuehl
attests that Andreas Gar has been a good citizen, and that he is worthy
of all confidence and esteem.
        These letters, worn and yellow with age, are now in possession of
the writer.  They indicate a type of character that should be a pattern for
every descendant who would honor his ancestors.  What called this man,
more than a century and a half ago, to leave his native land, forsake
his home, the graves of his household and his loved church, to undertake
a tedious inland journey and a perilous voyage by sea to a rude and
savage land?  Why did he leave the fertile and sunny plain of
Dinkelsbuehl ot settle at last on the sterile soil and forbidding hills
of Virginia?  Neither riches nor honor invited him;  poverty and
privation awaited him;  no lordly grant or royal appointment tempted
him, and he knew that even his occupation would not avail him in this
crude land.  It was enough that he had heard that in the New World there
was religious freedom.  With a martyr's devotion he could give up all
for this.  And so, like Abraham of old, he was called out by the voice
of God from the land of his fathers to found, in a new nation, a race of
men and women who worship God and love their fellow men.
        No record of his death can be found;  no stone marks his last
resting-place.  What matters it!  We record here his virtues, and we
rear to his memory a monument more enduring than marble.  The
descendants of Andreas Gar should ever be proud of their ancestor,
strive to imitate his character, and benefit by that glorious liberty
for which he sacrificed so much and which we so fully enjoy.
                                        James Oliver Garr
                                        Sixth Generation



You can reach me by e-mail at: marvin@intersurf.com..Baton Rouge, La

   Back to Marvin's Central GENEALOGY page

   Back to Marvin's homepage

copyright © 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 marvin e owen