Maria's maiden name is unknown, but she was born in Evangelisch, in the Rhineland Palatinate on December 7, 1731. her parents are unknown. She married Samuel Pletcher about 1750.
The Pletcher family, Maria, her husband Samuel Pletcher and their three sons, Samuel, Jacob and Henry, set sail for the new world from the Dutch port of Rotterdam around the year 1756. The father, Samuel, almost certainly died at sea and the widow Maria arrived with her three young sons at the port of Philadelphia. It is possible that her last son, Henry, was born during the voyage. Since only male heads of families were listed in the ships records during this time, no record exists of the family's arrival in America. It is thought that the family came to America on the ship "Chance" which arrived in November of 1756. The "Chance" was the only ship bringing German emigrants to the port of Philadelphia between 1756 and 1761. Immigration to America had come to a halt during this time due to the Seven Years War between England and France.
In Philadelphia, Maria found herself in a strange, new land with three young sons, without funds to pay for charges they had incurred during the passage. They were not bound, as their passage had been prepaid. Family tradition has it that she advertised for hire in the Philadelphia papers to pay the charges, and Frederick Mennardt (Maynard), an uncle of Maria's who owned land on the Conestoga Creek in Lancaster County, heard about her plight and took them into his home, where Maria worked for him as a housekeeper. If Mennardt (Maynard) was her uncle, her maiden name might have been Mennardt (Maynard) too, but there is no proof that he was even her uncle. Samuel, Jacob and Henry probably were raised on Maynard's farm. There is a tradition in the family that Maria later married Frederick Maynard, as his second wife; but since Frederick's first wife most likely outlived him, that is not true.
Henry Bletcher, weaver, who can be found living next door to Ulrich Yordy in Martic Township (1779 tax list), may have been Henry, the son of Maria. Samuel, her son, also learned the trade of weaver and married Ulrich's daughter. These point to close association between Henry and Samuel. Maria Pletscher is listed on the tax records for Conestoga township, Lancaster County in the year 1760. It is unknown when Maria died or where she is buried, possibly Conestoga township.
The Pletcher family, Maria, her husband Samuel Pletcher and their three sons, Samuel, Jacob and Henry, set sail for the new world from the Dutch port of Rotterdam around the year 1756. The father, Samuel, almost certainly died at sea and the widow Maria arrived with her three young sons at the port of Philadelphia. It is possible that her last son, Henry, was born during the voyage. Since only male heads of families were listed in the ships records during this time, no record exists of the family's arrival in America. It is thought that the family came to America on the ship "Chance" which arrived in November of 1756. The "Chance" was the only ship bringing German emigrants to the port of Philadelphia between 1756 and 1761. Immigration to America had come to a halt during this time due to the Seven Years War between England and France.
In Philadelphia, Maria found herself in a strange, new land with three young sons, without funds to pay for charges they had incurred during the passage. They were not bound, as their passage had been prepaid. Family tradition has it that she advertised for hire in the Philadelphia papers to pay the charges, and Frederick Mennardt (Maynard), an uncle of Maria's who owned land on the Conestoga Creek in Lancaster County, heard about her plight and took them into his home, where Maria worked for him as a housekeeper. If Mennardt (Maynard) was her uncle, her maiden name might have been Mennardt (Maynard) too, but there is no proof that he was even her uncle. Samuel, Jacob and Henry probably were raised on Maynard's farm. There is a tradition in the family that Maria later married Frederick Maynard, as his second wife; but since Frederick's first wife most likely outlived him, that is not true.
Henry Bletcher, weaver, who can be found living next door to Ulrich Yordy in Martic Township (1779 tax list), may have been Henry, the son of Maria. Samuel, her son, also learned the trade of weaver and married Ulrich's daughter. These point to close association between Henry and Samuel. Maria Pletscher is listed on the tax records for Conestoga township, Lancaster County in the year 1760. It is unknown when Maria died or where she is buried, possibly Conestoga township.
Maria's maiden name is unknown, but she was born in Evangelisch, in the Rhineland Palatinate on December 7, 1731. her parents are unknown. She married Samuel Pletcher about 1750.
The Pletcher family, Maria, her husband Samuel Pletcher and their three sons, Samuel, Jacob and Henry, set sail for the new world from the Dutch port of Rotterdam around the year 1756. The father, Samuel, almost certainly died at sea and the widow Maria arrived with her three young sons at the port of Philadelphia. It is possible that her last son, Henry, was born during the voyage. Since only male heads of families were listed in the ships records during this time, no record exists of the family's arrival in America. It is thought that the family came to America on the ship "Chance" which arrived in November of 1756. The "Chance" was the only ship bringing German emigrants to the port of Philadelphia between 1756 and 1761. Immigration to America had come to a halt during this time due to the Seven Years War between England and France.
In Philadelphia, Maria found herself in a strange, new land with three young sons, without funds to pay for charges they had incurred during the passage. They were not bound, as their passage had been prepaid. Family tradition has it that she advertised for hire in the Philadelphia papers to pay the charges, and Frederick Mennardt (Maynard), an uncle of Maria's who owned land on the Conestoga Creek in Lancaster County, heard about her plight and took them into his home, where Maria worked for him as a housekeeper. If Mennardt (Maynard) was her uncle, her maiden name might have been Mennardt (Maynard) too, but there is no proof that he was even her uncle. Samuel, Jacob and Henry probably were raised on Maynard's farm. There is a tradition in the family that Maria later married Frederick Maynard, as his second wife; but since Frederick's first wife most likely outlived him, that is not true.
Henry Bletcher, weaver, who can be found living next door to Ulrich Yordy in Martic Township (1779 tax list), may have been Henry, the son of Maria. Samuel, her son, also learned the trade of weaver and married Ulrich's daughter. These point to close association between Henry and Samuel. Maria Pletscher is listed on the tax records for Conestoga township, Lancaster County in the year 1760. It is unknown when Maria died or where she is buried, possibly Conestoga township.
The Pletcher family, Maria, her husband Samuel Pletcher and their three sons, Samuel, Jacob and Henry, set sail for the new world from the Dutch port of Rotterdam around the year 1756. The father, Samuel, almost certainly died at sea and the widow Maria arrived with her three young sons at the port of Philadelphia. It is possible that her last son, Henry, was born during the voyage. Since only male heads of families were listed in the ships records during this time, no record exists of the family's arrival in America. It is thought that the family came to America on the ship "Chance" which arrived in November of 1756. The "Chance" was the only ship bringing German emigrants to the port of Philadelphia between 1756 and 1761. Immigration to America had come to a halt during this time due to the Seven Years War between England and France.
In Philadelphia, Maria found herself in a strange, new land with three young sons, without funds to pay for charges they had incurred during the passage. They were not bound, as their passage had been prepaid. Family tradition has it that she advertised for hire in the Philadelphia papers to pay the charges, and Frederick Mennardt (Maynard), an uncle of Maria's who owned land on the Conestoga Creek in Lancaster County, heard about her plight and took them into his home, where Maria worked for him as a housekeeper. If Mennardt (Maynard) was her uncle, her maiden name might have been Mennardt (Maynard) too, but there is no proof that he was even her uncle. Samuel, Jacob and Henry probably were raised on Maynard's farm. There is a tradition in the family that Maria later married Frederick Maynard, as his second wife; but since Frederick's first wife most likely outlived him, that is not true.
Henry Bletcher, weaver, who can be found living next door to Ulrich Yordy in Martic Township (1779 tax list), may have been Henry, the son of Maria. Samuel, her son, also learned the trade of weaver and married Ulrich's daughter. These point to close association between Henry and Samuel. Maria Pletscher is listed on the tax records for Conestoga township, Lancaster County in the year 1760. It is unknown when Maria died or where she is buried, possibly Conestoga township.
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