Tschantz Cemetery
West Lampeter Twp., Lancaster Co., PA
Tschantz Cemetery
West Lampeter Twp., Lancaster Co., PA
The following information and transciption is from the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society.
I visited the cemetery in April, and again on June 12, 2003. My own transcriptions are marked with an *. The photos are my own, taken at that time. I read these without comparison to the previous transcription so as not to be influenced. As you can see, the stones continue to deteriorate and much more information has been lost in the last 27 years.
Most of the people buried in this cemetery were in unmarked graves, as was the tradition. Just because a name does not appear here, does not mean that they were not buried here.
This cemetery, recorded in in 1976, is located about one mile south of Lampeter on the road to Lime Valley. It was named for the pioneer Mennonite bishop Hans Tschantz, who is believed to be buried here in an unmarked grave. Because Wendel Bowman was also one of the early pioneers in Lancaster County and lived less than a mile from this graveyard, we may assume that he is also buried here in an unmarked grave. He died in April 1735. Barbara Mylin quoted her father, Senator Amos Mylin, as stating that the elder Martin Mylin, sometimes designated as the gunsmith, is buried here. Because his wife and child are buried here, I assume this to be correct.
A number of plain field stones erected as tombstones bear no inscription. How unfortunate that they leave no historical data! Translations for this cemetery are by Ernest Waelder, a Hechingen, Germany, native who now lives in Lancaster.
HIER LIEGT BEGRABEN DS ALTEN JACOB MILLER'S SOHN. SEINE EHEFRAU WAR MAGDALENA. ER HAT MIT IHR IN DER EHE GELEBT 6 JAHR UND 18 TAGE. ER IS GESTORBEN 4 NOVEMBER 1739. SEIN GANZES ALTER WAR 28 JAHRE, 9 MONATE, 14 TAGE. 1742
(footstone) 1742 WAS GOTT THUT DAS IS WOHL GETHAN.
Translation: Here lies buried the son of old Jacob Miller. His wife was Magdalen. He was married to her 6 years, 18 days. He died on November 4, 1739. His total age was 28 years, 9 months, 14 days. 1742 (footstone)1742 What God does is well done.
It is believed the stone was put up in 1742
*well legible
HIER LIEGT BEGRABEN BEI BARBARA EHRW DES ALTEN MARTN MELLI SEN EHEFRAU GELEBT 24 JAHR IST GESTORBEN 11 ABRILL 1742.
(Translation: Here lies buried Barbara, wife of the venerable old Martin Mylin. His wife lived 24 years. Dies April 11, 1742)
*well legible
HIR LIEGT BEGRABEN DAS UNGEN MARTN MELLN. SEN SOHN MIT NAHMEN MARTN MELLN. SEN ALTER WAR 4 JAHR, 4 WOCHEN. STAAB IN DEN JAHR DEC., 1739.
(Translation: Here lies buried the young Martin Mylin, his son, with the name of Martin Mylin. His age was 4 years, 4 weeks. Died in Decmeber in the years 1739.
Note: Apparently an epidemic occurred in the settlement between 1739 and 1742. Perhaps the stonecutter made all four stones in 1742.)
*well legible
Hier Ruhet Johannes Meylin er is gestorben den 3ten September seines Alters 84 Jahre 3 Monat and 20 Tage 1823.
(Translation: Here lies Johannes Mylin. He died on September 3, 1823, aged 84 years, 3 months and 30 days.)
* well legible
Zum Andenken Veronica Meylin, ehefrau von John Meylin sines geboren den 20th April 1742 and gestorben den 30ten July 1832 ihren alters 90 Jahr, 3 Monat and 1 Tage.
(Translation: To the memory of Veronica Mylin, wife of John Mylin. She was born April 20, 1742 and died July 30, 1832, aged 90 years, 3 months, and 1 day.
Note: Veronica was a daughter of Pioneer Benedict Eshleman, Sr., of Conestoga)
Frances Kendig - April 23, 1766 - Nov 25, 1810
Anne, wife - Oct 21, 1757 - Apr 16, 1844
*Ann Kendig born Oct 2-st, 1757 died Apr --, 1844
Jacob Kendig, son of Francis & Anna Kendig - died 1825 (?) age 22 years
Elizabeth, wife of Francis Kendig - died 1835 aged 24 years
*Elizabeth, wife of Francis Kendig died May 2, 18--?
Jacob, son of Francis Kendig - died 1821 age 2 years
*Jacob, son of Francis Kendig died July 23, 1821 age 2 months (dates don't match with Elizabeth)
Amos, son of Francis Kendig - died 1829 age 4 (?) years
*Amos son of Francis Kendig died June 1829 age ? (youth)
Samuel Kendig - died 1835 age 36 years
*Samuel Kendig
Susanna, wife - died 1832 age 32 years
*Susanna, wife of Samuel Kendig died July 16, (1852?) age (32?)
Jacob, son of Samuel Kendig - died 1829 age 11 months
Amanda, dau of Samuel Kendig died 1829 age 3 years
Francis, son of Samuel Kendig - died 1832 age 2 months
*Francis, son of Samuel Kendig, died Feb 27, 1832 age 2m 5d
Samuel Howery - Oct 17 1796 - 1877
Daniel Howery - died 1868 age 43 years
*Daniel Howery
Catharine, wife - Jan 17, 1797 - Nov 24, 1883
*Catharine, wife of Daniel Howery
Joseph Bowman - died 1831 age 54 years 5 mo and 5 days
*died Dec'r 17 A.D. 1831 age 54-5-5
Ann, wife - died Jan 12, 1865 age 83 years
Ann, wife of William (?) - age 43
John Witmer - died Sept 22, 1828 age 74 years
*John Witmer, died Sept 22, 1828 age 71 years 7 mo (slate)
Esther, wife - died Dec 7, 1828 age 59 years
*Esther Witmer diedOct 7, 1828 age 59 - 8 - 22 (slate)
Daniel Keeports - died Sept 30, 1843 age 84 years
*on stone spelled as Keepports
Veronica, wife - died Dec 26, 1851 age 81 years
* Veronica, wife of Daniel Keepports
J B - 1821
David Minnick - Occt 14, 1800 - Apr 27, 1881
*David Minnick
Anna, wife - died Feb 27, 1861 age 41 years
*Anna, wife of David Minnick
David Franklin, son -age 6 mo 17 days
*David Franklin, son of David Minnick
Mary Ann, wife of David Minnich - died June 1, 1836 age 23 years **one of these is wrong
Letitia, daughter of David & Mary Ann Minnich - died 1856 age 19 years
George, son of David & Mary Ann Minnich - died 1841 age 2 years **
Jacob S. Harnish - 187- - 187- (youth)
Phares Harnish - 1870? - 187- (youth)
*Anna Maria, daughter of Henry & Orpha Miller died Sept ----- age 1-5-5
*Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Kendig died July 21, 1836 age 11-11-12
*many more unmarked field stones
Return to Home Page
Last updated 31 Jan 2007
This website belongs to Tina Miller
