“Tangent” or “Distraction” should have been my middle name. Almost every week, a dear friend and I catch up on the week’s events. We’ve been doing this for 15 years or more. Our conversations usually turn to genealogy since we’re both hobbyists. Recently, she started telling me about her German ancestors who were living in New England in the 1700s. They were part of the Palatines – a group of German immigrants who came to America by way of England. They had gone to England to escape the unrest and turmoil of their homeland – the “Palatinate” region. (Thus, they name.) In doing so, they became England’s immigration problem which they solved by shipping the Palatines to the American colonies. Many of them died living in squalid conditions; some of them prospered. It’s a fascinating and disturbing historical period for sure.
In any event, I was a bit jealous learning that her German ancestors were here long before mine. Most of mine arrived in Missouri in the mid-19th century – 100 years after the Palatines. But it got me thinking about my other German ancestors – the ones who were living in North Carolina around 1750. Could there be a connection between them and the Palatines?
The answer is “yes”. It turns out that the Proprietors of North Carolina – the governing body at the time – got wind of the immigration “solution” that was happening further north and decided they could also use some of those skilled Germans to populate their growing colony. The Palatines usually farmed the taxable land which they would then own over time. So that’s what happened. North Carolina had its own mini Palatine “movement”.
John Martinleer, my 7th great grandfather, who was living in Cumberland County, North Carolina between 1750 and 1775, was likely of German descent. That’s what I contend. His surname was probably not “Martinleer” but rather “Lear” or “Lehr” and “Martin” was likely his middle name. His second wife, Sarah, signed her name on a deed “Sarah Lear” and not “Sarah Martinleer”. Voila. Barbara Blocker was John or Johann’s first wife. Her father was Michael Blocker, who was also living in Cumberland County around the same time. Another family researcher believes “Blocker” was probably “Plocher” in the original German.
Since the Palatines typically traveled and settled with people they knew, it got me to wondering if I could find any Plochers or Lehrs living in the Palatinate region before 1700. Oh, boy. Not only did I find them, I found a man named “Johann Martin Lehr” who was born in 1686 in Bavaria (which is in the Palatinate region!). Although he died in 1753, it’s possible that he’s related to my ancestor, John Martinleer. The Germans loved to recycle names within families. I also found several Plochers living in the same general area including a handful of Michael Plochers.
As distractions go, this is a whopper. Connecting the dots between the Martinleers and the Blockers of North Carolina and the Lehrs and the Plochers of the Palatinate region is going to take some doing. After all, they would have gone to England first becoming to America.
This is one rabbit hole I may have to avoid for a while. And for the record, if John’s middle name was indeed “Martin”, he’d be the 9th ancestor bearing that name. Too many Martins!
Kenfolk: Tranthams
Relation: 7th great grandfather
Common ancestors: Quite possibly the Lehrs of Bavaria!