It is said that when their oldest child became subject to conscription into the French army, Hans Nicholas and Catharina abandoned their 10 acre farm in Alsace and went to Holland. In Rotterdam, the couple with nine children boarded the ship "Peggy," Captain James Abercombie, Master. He arrived with his family in Philadephia, PA on Sept 24 1753. The family qualified for entry on the following day.
About 1755 until 1760 he indentured himself and sons as farm laborers in Lancaster Co., PA in order to pay for his passage to America. Some records are available about this family in Trinity Lutheran Chuch Record in Lancaster, PA.
In 1760, about the same time his wife died, he acquired a 300 acre tract of land that adjoined the Pigeon Hills in Paradise Township, York Co., PA. The land purchase was made by assignment from Fredrick Eichelberger in papers dated Nov 15 1760. The property was bound by 7 other owners: John Heidler, John Emich, Lawrence McMullen, Adam Blyer, Nicholas Bittenger, Jacob Balsley, and Gotlieb Priechner.
After his wife died he remarried to Catherine Hacken, widow respectively of John Kuntz (1723-1753) of Heidelberg Township, York Co., PA and of Nicholas Hacken (died 1758) of York Co., PA
Between 1760 and 1764 Nicholas and Catherine, his second wife, were associated with the Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in York Town. During this time they witnessed the baptism of a Stautzenberger grandchild on April 11, 1763.
On April 3 1763 he was naturalized at the "Supream Court" at Philadelphia. He listed his residence as Paradise Township, York Co., PA.
He was a carpenter and a farmer.
He died shortly before Jan. 11, 1768, the date on which administrative powers for his estate were granted to his second wife, Catherine, and his eldest son Nicholas Jr. He had lived in America only 15 years. On June 1, 1768 Nicholas Jr. filed a petition reporting that his father had left a widow, nine surviving children, and a 300 acre tract of land in Paradise Township. Nicholas Jr asked for partition of the real estate among the heirs and appointment of a guardian for his brother Michael, age 11 years. John Stiffler (Michael's uncle) was appointed guardian. On May 30, 1770 Nicholas' Sr second wife, Catherine (now remarried Catherine Fritz) and Nicholas, Jr. produced their administration account. Their administration bond and the inventory were filed on June 1, 1770. Nicholas Jr. petitioned the court that he be permitted to take the 300 acre tract, and he was ordered to distribute the estate among the heirs. On Nov 27, 1770 the Court ordered that Nicholas Jr. be summoned to show why he had not paid Conrad Stoutsberger his distributive share. Conrad was by then a widower with minor children of the late Catherine Firestone Stauzberger.
Three of his sons enlisted and served in the Revolutionary War. He and his descendants claimed, as did many Alsacians, German ancestry.
Other researchers include two more children, Susannah Catharina Feuerstein b. 2 Jul 1742 and Johann P. Feuerstein b. 6 Jun 1747. They also mention Catherina Dorothea instead of Maria Dorothea. It was thought these two might fit into the family if it can be proved that only nine of the children survived their father's death as mentioned in the estate records. The baptism records from Berg do show these children's parents were not Nicholas and Catherina.
The following sources by GeneJunky:
Sources:
1. Title: Firestone Family of Frederick Co. Maryland: Firestone Family of Frederick County, Maryland
Abbrev: Russell (1993)
Author: George Ely Russell
Note:
ABBR Western Maryland Genealogy, Vol 9, Nos. 1 & 2, Jan
Page: Therein, "Nicholas Firestone was born Johann/Hanss Nickel Feuerstein/Feyerstein..."
2. Title: Firestone Family of Frederick Co. Maryland, #01 Nicholas Firestone: Firestone Family of Frederick County, Maryland, Subject: #01 Nicholas Firestone, Volume: 9, No. 1, Page: 3-7
Abbrev: Russell (1993): #01 Nicholas Firestone
Author: George Ely Russell
Page: therein, "Nicholas1 Firestone was born Johann/Hanss Nickel Feuerstein/Feyerstein ca. 1713, probably in the village of Thal, a member of the well-established Feuerstein family in Berg Parish..."
3. Title: Firestone Family History (1904): Nicholas: Firestone Family History, Subject: Nicholas Firestone (the elder), Edition: typescript, Version: FHL film 1035628, item 2, File Reference: R. Ulmer, transcription of. dtd 2000
Abbrev: Firestone (1904): Nicholas
Author: Firestone, Jason
Publication: Chicago, 1904
Page: about page 2, "Berg and Thal are two small farming villages situated one mile apart, forty miles north-west of Strasbourg in the Province of Elsas, Germany, and six miles south of the railroad station of ----Union...;" according to Google Earth (10 July 2007) the town of Sarre-Union is located north east of Thal, about 3.3 miles as a crow flys, and 7.4 miles from Berg
4. Title: Firestone Family of Frederick Co. Maryland, #01 Nicholas Firestone: Firestone Family of Frederick County, Maryland, Subject: #01 Nicholas Firestone, Volume: 9, No. 1, Page: 3-7
Abbrev: Russell (1993): #01 Nicholas Firestone
Author: George Ely Russell
5. Title: Firestone Family of Frederick Co. Maryland, #01 Nicholas Firestone: Firestone Family of Frederick County, Maryland, Subject: #01 Nicholas Firestone, Volume: 9, No. 1, Page: 3-7
Abbrev: Russell (1993): #01 Nicholas Firestone
Author: George Ely Russell
Page: therein, "In June or July 1733 he married Anna Catharina Nunnenmacher of Berg, then already about seven months pregnant with their first child," cites "Berg Parish Church Book," baptismal entry dated 27 Aug. 1733 for child Anna Catharina born 23 Aug. 1733
1,2
Nicholas Firestone (Proginator of the American Firestones)
Born 1712: Berg und Thal, Alsace. Farmer having 10 acres. (Another ref. says born 1705). Member of German Lutheran Church. In 1752 he abandoned his propety and secretly left Alsace in order that his oldest son would avoid military service for King Louis XV. The family went to Holland, and sailed from Rotterdam on the ship "Peggy," Capt. James Abercrombie, master. He was an indentured servant, contracting to give his services of himself and his family in exchange for their passage. They arrived at Philadelphia on Sep. 24, 1753, he aged 40, son Nichlas, age 21, sons John, Mathias, and Michael. He qualified on Sep. 25, 1753. They traveled to Lancaster, Lancaster co., Pa., where they lived and workd on a farm as early as 1754. After the terms of their indenture were fulfilled, they moved to Conococheague Creek, in what was then Cumberland co., Pa., living in Peters twp. (now Franklin County), where he remained until his death in 1763. The name of his wife is not known; she may have died in Alsace. Children: Nicholas, b. c1732; George Philip, b. c1736' John, b. c1734; Mathias, b. c1740; and Michael (no further record).
Sources:
Compendium of American Genealogy, Virkus, volume 6., page 450
Harvey Firestone, A. Lief, 1951 (biography)
Penssylvania-German Pioneers, Strassburger & Hinks, 1934, v.1, page 46
Lancaster Co. (Pa) Historical Society Papers, page 2761
The record indicates Nicholas (Bichal) was a carpenter. Catherina was recorded as Catherine Marcel Nonnenmacher and not Anna Catherina. Marcel was her mother's name., Principal=Anna Catharina Nonnenmacher1
[List 204 A] A List of mens Names and ages, Imported in the Ship Peggy, Capt. James Abercrombie, from Rotterdam, 24 September, 1753.
Nicholus Fyrestein, 40
Nicholus Do., Jun., 21
[Endorsed:]
List of Foreigners imported in the ship Peggy, Capt. James
Abercrombie, Qualified 24th Sept. 1753.
119 Stedman.
[List 204 B] Foreigners imported in the Ship Peggy, Capt. James Abercrombie, From Rotterdam. Qualified 25th Sept. 1753.
Nickell Füerstein
Nickel Feuer[stein]
[Endorsed:] List of Foreigners imported in the Ship Peggy, Capt.
James Abercrombie
Qualified 24th Sept. 1753.
119 [men]
+21 [women & children]
140 [Total]3
June the 1st 1760 Present Martin Eychelberger Michael
Swoope Robert McPherson Thomas Marshall Mathew
Dill and Henry Slegle Esqrs Justices &c
The Petition of Nicholas Firestone was read to the Court
Setingforth That Nicholas Firestone his father lately Died Intestate
Seised and Posessed of a Certain Messuage Tract of Land and Improvemnt
Containing about three Hundred Acres situate in Paradise Township in
the said County leaving a Widow Catherine Firestone and nine lawful children
to surviv him Viz Nicholas the Petioner his Eldest Son and Heir at law
Joseph, Mathias, Michael, Catherine intermrried with Conrad Stoutsberger
Eva inteermarrie with John Steiffer, Rosina Intermarried with Philip Hoff
Dorothea Intermarried with John Wahl and Magelena intermarried with
Philip Emigh and that there hath nt been any Partision or Vluation made of the
said Estate and praying the Court to appoint an inquest for the partition of the said
Estate among the said Widow and Children of the same may be divided without prejudice
to or spoiling the whole or otherwise to value the same according to the Acts of
Assembly of this Province in such Case provided Whereupon it is Considered by
the Court and Ordered that Partitiion there of be made between the said Catherine
Firestone the Widow of the said Intestate and the said Nicholas Firestone Joseph
Firestone Mthias Firestone Michael Firestone Conrad Stoutsberger and
Catherine his Wife in tight of the saif Catherine, John Steiffer and Eva his
Wife in right of the said Eva, Philip Hoff and Rosina his Wife in tight of the
said Rosina, John Wahl and Dorothea his Wie in right of the said Dorothea
and Philip Emigh and Magelena his wife in ight of the said Magdelena
alotting to the said Nicholas Firestone the Eldest Son two shares thereof if the
same can be so Divided without prejudice to or spoiling the whole. And that a
Write do Justice fr that purpose to the Sherriff of York County Commsnding him
that in his proper Person he go to the said Messuage Tract of Land and Improve-
ment and in the Presence of the Parties aforesaid or the GUardians of such of them
as are minors if any such they have by him the said Sherriff having been
first warned if they will attend and the same Messuage Tract of Land and
Improvement with the Appurtenances
by the paths or affirmations of twelve lawful Men of this Bilwick
be caused to be Divided between the said
Widow and all the Children of the said Intestate as nearly can be Estimated
allotting to Nicholas Firestone the Eldest Son two shares thereof by them to be
held in severalty if the ame can be so DIvided without prejudice to or spoiling
the Whole. But in Case the said Premises wih the Appurtenances will not
admit of a Division in manner aforesaid without prejudice to or spiling the
whole then the said Sherriff by the Oaths of affrmations of the Jurors or affirmants aforesaid
deligently inquire into the true Value f the whole of the said Premises with the
appurtenances undivided nd the said Inquisition so openly and Distinctly made
under his Hand and Seal and the Hands and Seals of the Jurors or affirmants
aforesaid together with the said Writ he return to the next Orphans Court after the
said Inquisition be made.
Came into court Nicholas Firestone and prayed the court to
appoint a guardian for Michael Firestone his Brother aged Eleven Years whereupon
It is Ordered by the Court that John Stiffler be and is hereby appointed the
Guardian of the said Michael Firestone to take care of his Person and Estate.4
At an Orphans Court held at York for the
county of York the thitieth Day of August in the eighth
Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the third
by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland
King Defender of the Faith and &c Anno Domini 1768
Before David Jameson Martin Eychelbergr Michael
Swoope and Thomas Marshall Esquire Justices &c
Assigned &c
page 197-200
Came into Court David McConaughy Esquire
High Sherriff of York County and returned a Write of our Lord the King to him
Directed with an Inquisition thereunto annexed whereby he was Commanded
That taking with him twelve honest and Lawful Men of his Bailwick
he shouts go to the Messuage Improvement and Tract of land late the Estate of Nicholas
Firestone Deceased Situate in Paradise Township in the County of York
Containing about three hundred Acres and there by the Oaths of Affirmation
of the twelve Men aforesaid the said Mussuage Tract of Land and
Improvement with the Appurtenances having respect to the true Value
thereof into Eleven Equal Parts he souts Cause to be parted and Divided if
the same could be parted and Divided without Prejudice to or spoiling
the whole and one of the said Eleven qual Parts unto Catherine Firestone
the Widow of the said Intestate, two other of the said eleven equal Parts
thereof unto Nicholas Firestone he being the Eldest Son and Heir at
Law of the said Deceased, one other of the said eleven equal Parts unto
Joseph Firestone another of the sons of the said Deceased, one other of
the said eleven equal Parts unto Mathias Firestone another of the Sons
of the said Deceased, one other of the said eleven equal Parts unto Michael Firestone
another of the sons of the said Deceased, one other of the said eleven equal Parts unto Conrad
Stoutsberger and Catherine his Wife in Right of the said Catherine she
being one of the daughters of the said Deceased, one other of the said eleven
equal Parts unto thereof unto John Stiffler and Eva his wife in right of the
said Eva another of the daughters of the said Deceased, one other of the said
eleven equal Parts unto Phili Hoff and Rosina his Wife in right
of the said Rosina another of the daughters of the said Deceased, one
other of the said eleven equal Parts unto John Wahl and Dorothea
his wife in right of the said Dorothea another of the daughters of the said
Deceased, and the remaining eleventh Part unto Philip Emigh and Madelena
his wife in Right of the said Magdelena another of the daughters of the
said Deceased to hold to them in severalty he shouts assign and Deliver.
But if the same could not be so parted and Divided without prejudice to
or spiling the whole, then to Value the same undivided and make return
to this court And the said Sherriff by his return on the said Write setforth
that in Obedience to the same he had Summoned a Jury and warned the
Parties and havng viewed the said Premises with the appurtenances and
found that the same would not be admit of a Division amongst the Widow and
all the Children of the said Deceased and therefore Value the whole undivided
to the sum of three hundred Pounds as by the Inquisition to the said Writ annexed
appeared.
Came into the Court Nicholas Firestone the Eldest Son and Heir at Law of
Nicholas Firestone Deceased and prayed that he might be permitted to take the said
Messuage Tract of Land and Improvement with the appurtenances at
the Valuation there of Whereupon It is Ordered and Decreed by
the Court that the said Nicholas Firestone do pay unt the Ctherine Firestone
the Widow of the said Ntestate Yearly and every Year from this Day during her Natural Life
the sum of five Pounds seventeen Shillings and one Penny half penny
in full for her Dower of the said Premises. That the said Nicholas Firestone
do retain in his Hands the sum of thirty Nine Pounds and tem Pence half penny
and after the Death of the said Catherina the further sum of Ninteen Pounds
ten Shillings and five Pence half Penny in full for his two Shares of the said
Valuation as the ELdest Son of the said Deceased That the said Nicholas
Firestone do pay unto Joseph firestone Mathias Firestone and Michael
Firestone three of the Sons of the Deceased in one Year from this Day the
sum of Nineteen Ponds ten Shillings and five Pence Farthing to each of them
and also after the Death of the said Catherine that the said Nicholas Firestone
lso pay to eac of the three sons of the said Deceased the further sum of
nne Pounds fifteen Shillings and two Pence three Farthings in full for
their respective Sharees of the said Valuation. That the said Nicholas
Firestone also pay unto the Representatives of Catherine Stoutsberger
Deceased who Intermarried with Conrad Stoutsberger the like sum of
Ninteen Pounds ten Shillings and five Pence Farthing in the like time and after the
Death of the said Catherine Firestone the further sum of Nine Pounds
fifteen Shillings and two Pence Three Farthings in full for the share of the
said Valuation which belonged to the said Catherine Stoutsberger as one of the
Daughters of the said Deceased. That the said Nicholas Firestone do pay in
one year from this Day unto John Stiffler and Eva his wife the like sum of
Ninteen Pounds ten Shillings and five Pence Farthing and after the
Death of the said Catherine Firestone the further sum of Nine Pounds
fifteen Shillings and two Pence Three Farthings in full for the share of the
said Valuation belonging to the said John Stiffler and Eva his wife in right
of the said Eva as one of the Daughters of the said Intestate. That the said
Nicholas Firestone pay unto Phili Hoff and Rosina his wife in one year
from this Day the sum of Ninteen Pounds ten Shillings and five Pence
Farthing and after the Death of the said Catherine Firestone the further
sum of Nine Pounds fifteen Shillings and two Pence Three Farthings in
full for the share of the said Valuation belonging to the said Philip Hoff
and Rosina his wife in right of the said Rosina as one of the Daughters of
the said Intestate. That the said Nicholas Firestone pay in one year from
this Day unto John Wahl and Dorothea his wife the sum of Ninteen
Pounds ten Shillings and five Pence Farthing and after the Death of the
said Catherine Firestone the further sum of Nine Pounds fifteen Shillings
and two Pence Three Farthings in full for the share of the said Valuation
belonging to the John Wahl and Dorothea his wife in right of the said
Dorothea as one of the Daughters of the said Intestate. That the said Nicholas
Firestone pay in one year from this Day the sum unto Philp Emigh and Magdelena his
wife the sum of Ninteen Pounds ten Shillings and five Pence Farthing and
after the Death of the said Catherine Firestone the further sum of Nine Pounds
fifteen Shillings and two Pence Three Farthings in full for the share of the said
Valuation belonging to the Philip Emigh and Magdelena
his wife in right of the said Magdelena as one of the Daughters of the
said Intestate. And Lastly It is Ordered and Decreed
by the Court That upon the said Nicholas Firestone making the
payments aforesaid or giving Good Security for the same payable at the
Times aforesaid and paying seven Pounds three Shillings and three Pence the costs of these proceedings
That thereupon the said Nicholas Firestone doth hold
the said Mussuage Tract of Land and Improvements with the Appurtenances
for the same Estate and in as full and ample manner as the said Nicholas
Firestone his Father Deceased in his Lifetime heto and enjoyed the same
exonerated and Discharged from the further Claims of the said Widow and
the younger Children of the said Deceased or the Representatives of the said
Catherina Stoutsberger Deceased or any Persons Claiming under then to the
same or any part thereof.5
May the 31st 1770 The same Justices present
Came into Court Catherine Fritz late Catherine Firestone
and Nicholas Firestone Administrators of all and Singuar the Goods and
Chattle Rights and Credits which were of Nicholas Firestne Deceased
and prodiced their Administration Account of the Estate of the said Deceased
s settled by the Register of this County whereby there appears to be a ballance
in the Hads f the said Administrators of one hundered and forty three Pounds
eleven Shillings and three Pence half Penny Weherupon it is Ordered
and Decreed by the Couty that the same be and is hereby Confirmed and
THat the said Admiinistrtors be allowed for their Trouble in
Admnistering the said Etate the sum of Sixteen Pounds that is to say
to Catherine Frits for her Trouble the sum of six Pounds and to Nichols
Firestone the other Adminisrator the sum of ten Pounds. That the said
Catherine Fritz retain in her Hands the sum of forty two Pounds six Shillings
and two Pence in full for her share of the Personal Estate of the said Deceased
as his Widow That the said Nicholas Firestone the other Administrator
retain in his Hands the sum of sixteen Punds six Shillngs and five Pence
half Penny in full for his two shares of the Ballance in the said Administrators
hands as the Eldest Son of the Deceased. That the said Administrators pay
unto Joseph Firestone Mathias Firestone and Michael Frestone the sum
of eight Pounds eight Shillings and two Pence three Farthings to each of them
in full for their shares of the said ballance as three f the sons of the said
Deceased. That the said Administrators pay unto Conrad Stoutsberger
who Intermarried with Catherine one of the late Daughters of the said Deceased
who is since also Dead the like sum of Eight Pounds eight Shillings and two Pence
three Farthings. That the said Administrators pay unto John Stiffler and
Eva his Wife another of the Daughters of the said Deceased the like sum of
Eight Pounds eight Shillings and two Pence three Farthings in full for the
said Evas share of the said balance. That the said Administrators pay
unto Philip Hoff and Rosina his Wife which said Rosina is another of the
Daughters of the said Deceased the like sum of Eight Pounds eight Shillings
and two Pence three Farthings in full for her share of the said balance. That
the said Administrators pay unto John Wall and Dorothea his Wife which
said Dorothea is another of the Daughters of the said Deceased the like
sum of Eight Pounds eight Shillings and two Pence three Farthings in
full for the her share of the said balance. That the said Administrators alo
pay unto Philip Emigh and Magdelena his Wife which sid Magdelena is
another of the Daughters of the said Intestate the like sum of Eight Pounds
eight Shillings and two Pence three Farthings which with the aths of this
Court makes the full amount of the said ballance in the Hands of the said
Admnistrators.6