The start of the story of the Bolsinger/Balsinger family in the northern states of America is unclear at this time. There are two possible scenarios created by; One; a biographical history put forward in the History of Cambria County Pennsylvania by Henry Wilson Storey and the second; put forward in family lore from one branch of the family in Colorado. Both may have truth or splinters of truth or may be true at the same time. The first (in Storey's version), has that a Christopher (angelicized Christophfel), came to America, settled in New Jersey, then in 1760 moved to what became Fayette Co., PA. He had four known children; George, Philip, Stuffel (means Christophel), and a daughter who married a Mr. Frogal. In Storey's version he has a child named John as another son.) So far this direct connection to Christopher does not hold up. Instead it seems more likely that John was the oldest son of George. ( According to his Will.) The story is that Christophel was a cobbler who set up a stand called Balsinger's Stand (tavern, Inn) at a crossroad where today is the small village of Balsinger. So far no discoveries have been made in finding Christopher but George is well documented. George is listed as a "Associator in the Revolutionary War for having contributed to the cause. (He may not have fought but his granddaughters were accepted into the DAR on that basis.) George's National Number for the DAR is A011846.
A George (maybe George W.)ran the "Stand" in the April sessions of 1812 and a Henry Balsinger ran it in the September sessions of 1812. A George had two frame houses in Uniontown, one on South Mount Vernon Ave. and other on the eastside of the avenue. George also had a farm, as stated in the Josiah VanKirk Thompson journals. He married Elizabeth Keener in 1780 in Maryland or perhaps in the area that now is Fayette Co. He was an early signer for the establishment of the State of Westsylvania (1776.) (Fayette became a county on December 27, 1783.) George and Elizabeth had ten children; (See her site for the children's names.)
The legend of a Colorado branch of the Bolsinger name has it that the family founder came as an inscripted soldier (on loan to King George to fight the rebels on his behalf.) He came from Hesse-Kassel where the names "Hessian" originated. After the war many Hessian soldiers were paroled and stayed to marry, live and became Americans. This family story believes that the founder changed his name from Von Bols. It is not incompatible for Christophel to have been both a Hessian soldier and a cobbler by trade. HOWEVER, SEVERAL GERMAN GENEALOGY EXPERTS HAVE BEEN CONSULTED. THEY SAY THAT CHRISTOPHER ARRIVED TOO EARLY TO HAVE BEEN LABELED A "HESSIAN". This is a work in progress. Please note this information as possibility only.