Tenth Generation

864. John LESHER¹⁹⁸ was born on 5 Jan 1711. He emigrated in 1734 from Germany. He was naturalized in 1743 in Bucks County, PA. He died on 5 Apr 1794 in Oley, Berks Co, PA. In 1726 Nicholas, grandson of Francious and son of Jean, and his son John, came to Pennsylvania and in 1728 bought a tract of land two miles square (Berks County) bordering on the old Swedish trail.
Much of the land was ore land and John became one of the first Iron Masters of PA. He built forges and furnaces for the iron ore. He, with John Ross and John Potts, built the first forge there.
He also opened great stone quarries. He built a large stone house, which was known as The Castle. It and their stone mill are still standing.
His very active interest in the development and well being of his new country made him a popular leader.
He and John Weaver served as commanders of a wagon division to Fort Henry under Col. Weiser in the French and Indian war, June 1708.
He was elected July 8 1776, at Reading PA. A delegate to the Constitutional Convention held at Philadelphia July 18, 1776. While thus serving he was appointed on a committee of eleven who drafted a frame of government or Declaration of Rights. For some reason he did not sign the Constitution, passed Sept 28, 1776.
John Lesher was a member of the General Assembly from 1776 to 1782, from Berks Co, PA.
During the Revolution he acted as one of the commissioners for purchasing supplies for the army. He recruited a company of volunteers of which he was captain. He began active service August 1, 1776 and served as Capt. and Col. to the end of the war when he was honorably discharged.
His company was attached to Berks County Battalion of Foot (?), Pennsylvania Militia, commanded by Col. John Patton. His company took part in the battle of Long Island and of Germantown and Brandywine. They were with General Washington's army there the terrible winter at Valley Forge (where Washington's headquarters were in the home of John's friend, John Potts.)

865. Mary Johanna YODER.Children were:

432	i.	John LESHER.
	ii.	Jacob LESHER.
	iii.	Barbara LESHER.
	iv.	Hannah LESHER.
	v.	Maria LESHER.
	vi.	Catherine LESHER.
	vii.	Elizabeth LESHER.