| Notes |
- In The Mennonites of America by C. Henry Smith, pubished 1909:
"The settlers (in PA) from 1711 to 1717 came as individuals and in small groups. But in the later year there was another wave of immigration including many of those who had been exiled from Berne in 1710 and 1711. These refugees, as we saw, were scattered throughout the Palatinate and other parts of Germany. they were never in prospersous circumstances. The country was wasted by wars. The churches were poor. They hac to gain a livelihood as best they could, often by the help of their brethren in the Netherlands. At the same time came a special invitation from King George I to settle the lands west of the Alleghanies. Consequently, in February of 1717 a number of elders met at Mannheim and decided to emigrate to Pennsylvania. The Committee on Foreign Needs which had been organized some time before at Amsterdam for the purpose of helping their needy brethren in the Palatinate, and to whom these exiles now applied for assistance, discouraged the movement due to fear that they would be pressed for more
The Mennonite settlement occupied at this time the southern half of what was then Conestoga Township. the northern part of the township was composed largely of Scotch-Irish and English. Most of Lancaster County was, as a result, mostly a Mennonite community. In the first list of tax payers taken in 1718, there was included the names of Jacob Landes, Felix Landes, and Jacob Landes Jr.
These early ships bearing the settlers arrived usually in the fall during the months of August, September, and October."
Three brothers, Felix, Jacob and John Landis were driven by persecution from Mannheim on the Rhine in Baden Wurttemberg, from whence they emigrated in 1717 to district Old Chester (now Lancaster) Co, PA, received a patent for 400 acres there in Creek near Witmer's Bridge (now East Lampeter): of Lampeter twp 1737. Mennonites. John settled in Bucks Co, PA but Felix and Jacob remained in Lancaster Co, PA.
Records in the Register's Office in Lancaster evidence the fact the Foelix Landis purchased two 400 acre tracts from the London Company under dates of February 19 and 20, 1718. He paid 75 pounds for the land. Felix sold 200 acres of the land to his son in law, Johannes Binkley, and his daughter Barbara for 100 pounds.
1929 Naturalized (Ref: Best Swiss Origins p 22.)
1723-From the book "East Lampeter Township" on page 893 is the following:
"Felix Landis was an old patentee under the London Company, having acquired four hundred acres of land by patent in 1723. He granted part of this property to John Binckle, as then written who appears to have been a relative. John Binckely died intestate in 1757, leaving three sons, Felix, Henry and Christian Binckley. At the divisiion of the property Felix Binckley took the water right and land adjoining, and in 1767 built the mill. Felix died in this county, and as there are many graves of Binckleys at Mellinger's graveyard, it is fair to suppose that he was buried there also, although no stone bearing his name can be found. After the death of Felix Binckley his immediate family moved to Dauphin County and bought a farm at the junction of the Swartara and Spring Run, where their descendants still reside. This property remained in a collateral branch of the family for some time after the movement of the family of Felix, the builder of the mill. there is a stone dwelling house upon this mill property,
1731- From the book History of Lancaster County, PA by Ellis and Evans in 1883, pgs 899-900. "Graff's Mill. Felix Landis, in 1719, received a patent from the sons of Penn, Proprietors of the province, for four hundred acres of land situated on a branch of Conestoga River, county of Chester, (note that in 1719 the land around Lancaster, PA was in Chester Co., that land did not become Lancaster Co., until 1727.) This land was on Mill Creek, farther south than the tract of Boughwalter, and separated from it by the tract of Michael Danner. In 1731 he transferred part of this tract to John Binkley, also a Palatine, who died intestate in 1760, and his son, Felix Binkley, took one hundred and thirteen acres and ninety-six perches at the settlement of the estate and in 1767 built the mill at Millport, on Mill Creek. This mill remained, as far as can be learned, in the hands of the Binkley family, but not the immediate descendants of Felix, SR., until about the year 1820, when John Binkley sold it to Jacob Ch
There are some apparent errors in the above description as John Binkley died in 1749 with a will.
Will of Felix Landis, born 1672 and died April, 1739.
In the name of God Amen: I, Felix Landis, of the Township of Lancaster, in the County of Lancaster, in the Province of Pennsylvania, yeoman, being of perfect memory and sound judgment, thanks be to God for it, but weak and frail, and being satisfied to settle my affairs before it shall please God to call me hence. I do hereby give my soul to God who gave it to me, and my body to be buried in a decent manner at the discretion of my executors hereinafter nominated and: Item, I do leave and bequeath to my beloved wife, Rosina, One full third of all my real and personal estate that I shall die possessed of, Item, I do leave and bequeath unto Abraham Miers, the sum of five shillings currance to be paid immediately after my decease by my executors hereinafter nominated in full of all demands he shall or may have against my estate, real or personal, for or on account of being married to my daughter, Fronicka, Item, I leave and bequeath all the residue and remainder of my estate to my only son, Felix, to be u
Felix's land was next to that of Jacob Landis, his brother.
|
1672 - 1739 (67 years)