INTERWOVENFAMILIES

Early Settlement and History

The North Fork of the Shenandoah River, in the present-day Virginia counties of Frederick, Warren and Shenandoah, was mainly settled by German or Swiss-German pioneers. Many settled on fertile farms which had been created by the winding 'Seven Bends' of the Shenandoah River's North Fork. This river ran in a northerly direction along the western side of Massanutten Mountain in Shenandoah County. There were several points or fords along the river where a horse and buggy could cross.

It was therefore not surprising that when settlers headed west, this region was the first claimed by land speculators and early settlers looking for good farming land. Some of the early land speculators were Joist Hite, Robert McKay, Jonas Denton and John Denton. Hildebrand Inabnet purchased 132 acres from Jonas Little, a descendant of the above Denton. Most of this land in the Sandy Hook - Strasburg area was sold to German-speaking settlers from Pennsylvania. Henry Willis, who owned all the 2030 acres where Strasburg is now located, sold his entire tract to Jacob Funk in the summer of 1735. William Russell, who owned all of the Sandy Hook tract, more than 6000 acres, would later sell much of this land to Christian Bowman in 1737 (Orange Co., Deed Book, "2", p. 1) Thomas Chester would later sell 500 acres at the mouth of Passage Creek to John Funk in 1739 (Orange Co., Deed Book "3", p. 370).

Soon this area became the crossroads of the immigrant trails. Though the settlers were mostly farmers, most were still highly-specialized tradesmen that consisted of millers, carpenters, blacksmiths, coopers, and in Hildebrand's case a linen weaver. The most important of these trades was Funk's Mill, already in existence as early as 1743. Two of the earliest settlers, Ezekiel Sangmeister and Anthony Hollenthal, were members of the Sabbatarian Brotherhood called Dunkers. We are very indebted to these two as they kept very descriptive journals which told of their daily life and struggles. Sangmeister's carpentry work was highly respected and his skills were in great demand. With Samuel Eckerlin's arrival, the area became a trading center, and the first apothecary was opened. Using herbs and treatments learned from Indians, he soon built a reputation as a resident doctor and settlers came as far as 20-40 miles for treatment. In 1762, Eckerlin was joined by George Keller, a Dunkard Doctor from Ephrata. Others soon followed with the arrival of Martin Kroll in 1756 and Valentin Bruckmann in 1761. Hildebrand, our ancestor, was among those who came in the fall of 1763.

In Nov. 1761, Peter Stover, a son of German-Swiss immigrant Christian Stover, applied for a town charter. Strasburg, often spelled Strawsburgh, was named after Strasbourg, the capital of the German-speaking French province of Alsace. In German it was called Strassburg. However, most preferred to call the village Stoverstown after Peter Stover. The community was later to become known as "Pot-Town" after the top-of-the-art potter's workshop which was complete with a master potter.

A furnance and forge were built when the Sabbatarians commenced a search for ore in the nearby mountains. Our ancestor, Hildebrand Inebinet (or Ebinet as Sangmeister referred to him), together with the Funk brothers, Bastian Keller and a knowledgeable Marylander who was brought in by Samuel Eckerlin in 1763 to assist with his diving rod, prospected precious metals.

This area was not without the arts. Education and books were highly valued by the Sabbatarian settlers. Several artists and poets were among them. E.E. Keister in his book, "Strasburg, Virginia and The Keister Family" (1972), page 14 gives us an idea of some of the culture of this time frame.

"The Sabbatarians likewise enlivened the cultural life of the town. Their baggage had included many of the books printed in Ephrata and by the Sower press of Germantown. There were poets and artists in their ranks. They helped to revive much of the rural folk art that the pioneers had to forego in their struggle for survival. Some beautiful and ornamented writings, today prized as fraktur, originated during that period. The Lutherans opened a regular school with a salaried teacher, Simon Harr, who was much esteemed by the head of the Lutheran Church in America, Henry Melchior Muhlenberg. Harr also provided services and readings for the congregation. . . . Strasburg was in full ferment. Superstitions, dreams and prophecies filled the air. . . . The town had two physicians, Eckerlin and Dr. Conrad Neff. Patients would come for 20 or more miles to consult even though a thorough 'purge with tartarremetic' cost half a crown Virginia currency. The medics, however, accepted homespun cloth and produce instead of cash. Archdeacon Burnaby found no luxuries among the people nor any want: 'If there is such a thing as happiness in this life, I think that they enjoy it. Their inexperience of the elegancies of life precludes any regret that they possses not the means of enjoying them.' "

Civilization was coming to North Fork of the Shenandoah River.

However, this 'peace' was soon to come to an abrupt end. Keister, on page 15, goes on to say,

"On July 17th 1763, the uneasy peace came to a sudden end. Sangemeister's diary reports a surprise attack by the Indians."

The years 1763-1764 brought the constant threat of Indian attacks. Several of the settlers were captured, or killed by these 'Wild Men'. Disease was also prevalent during this time and our ancestors, Hildebrand and Anna, were two of the settlers who died. By the summer of 1764, people literally had to run for their lives. Hildebrand's three orphaned sons, our ancestors, were among the group of 26 Sabbatarians who returned to Pennsylvania. For the next few years, the few who did remain at Sandy Hook and in Strasburg, lived in constant fear and really struggled just to survive!

In April 1765, Samuel Eckerlin and John Martin returned to Sandy Hook. As executors of Hildebrand's estate, they had come to settle his estate. Eckerlin was also hoping to collect some debts that others owned him. The visit was though short-lived and they soon returned to Ephrata. Hellenthal was determined to revive the Sandy Hook community and returned in Feb. 1766. He was soon followed by Christian Hockman's family. Along with Barbara Landes, Hellenthal and Hackman gathered the scattered families under the spiritual leadership of George de Benneville, a famed radical pietist of Germantown. In the Spring of 1767 the area was hit with a very disastrous flood. In May 1771, Hellenthal moved across the river to the newly-formed town of Strasburg where he acquired lot #17 from Peter Stover. In 1770-1771, the Funk brothers returned. Finally, the remaining settlers learned to live peacefully with each other and put their religious differences behind them. By the mid 1780's, the Indian concern had finally quieted down and once more settlers returned. After the deaths of Eckerlin and Sangmeister, the Sabbatarian communal land was willed in equal shares to John Adam, Catherina and Jonathan Kelp. In 1801 the Eckerlin tract with buildings was sold to Jonas Graybill of Strasburg who converted it to a working farm.

The 1786 survey of Virginia farms by Jonathan Clark and published in Northern Neck Land Grants by Peggy S. Joyner gives us a birds-eye view of the lifestyles and homes of many of these early settlers. Daniel Bly in Volume II of "From the Rhine to the Shenandoah" writes:

"Cultivation (wheat, barley, rye and oates) still prevailed and had not been replaced by corn. Most dwelling houses described by Clark were built of hewn logs and common size was one-and half story building, 30 feet by 24 feet with stone. There were still a few 'old cabins' and some unfinished 'hulls' All occupied had substantial log barns measuring as much as 50 or 52 feet by 30 feet, but one was 70 feet long. Most of the barns were roofed German style, with straw thatch. Many of the 27 farms had apple orchards, some with as many as 100 fruit bearing trees."

After studying tax records of the area, Mr. Bly went on to say that most farmers had at least one milk cow and some even had very large herds.

Jacob Abnet - Sarah Baker (1802-1830)

Hildebrand's Grandson Remains in Shenandoah!

By 1804, the first generation of Hildebrand's descendants had left the Shenandoah Valley. John was deceased and Joseph and Jacob had left for Kentucky. However, John's son, Jacob, remained in the valley, and his descendants now use the ABNET spelling. On January 6, 1806 a bond was posted in Shenandoah Co., VA for Jacob Abnet to marry Sarah Baker, d/o JoHann Georg 'George' Baker and Maria Charlotta Volkner (Felker).

The ABNETS - Their Life in the Shenandoah! (a New Generation)

Louis Moses, a descendant and family researcher, has written the following detailed description of his search to uncover his Abnet ancestry. It was in late 1998 that our paths crossed and we were finally able to make sense of all the details. Louis has given us an excellent view of how this information was discovered and compiled.

The search for the ancestry of the Jacob Abnet family led us backward in time from Adams County, Indiana 1840, to Virginia. More than a few counties in Virginia were searched until Jacob Abnet was found with his signature on his marriage bond, dated January 6, 1806, in Shenandoah County. The bond showed his intent to marry Sarah Baker. Armed with the knowledge of his county of marriage, we next find Jacob Abnet and his family in the 1810 US Federal Census of Shenandaoh County. It shows Jacob 26-45 years old, with one male child (William) less than 10 years old. His assumed wife is also shown as 26-45 years of age, with two females less than 10 years old. These children, almost certainly, are the eldest child, Rebecca, and Elisabeth, the third eldest child. In this 1810 census, the scribe scribbled the Abnet name badly. It looked like it could be Abniet or Abnick. This was a bit unsettling. However, the observation that the Abnets were only seven households removed from that of a Scharlotta Baker circumstantially reinforced the thought that this truly was the Abnet family.

The family was next located in the 1820 US Federal Census of Frederick County. The census recorded one male 26-45, one male 10-16 and four males less than 10 years of age. The census also shows one female 26-45, two females 10-16 and two females less than 10 years old. Until very recent developments, the last time we knew of any record of this Abnet family in Virginia was in the 1830 US Federal Census of Fredrick County. On page 100 of that alphabetized listing census we find: Jacob Abnet with one male less than 10 yrs, one male 10-15 yrs., two males 15-20 yrs., one male 20-30 yrs. and Jacob 40-50 years old. There are two females 5-10 yrs, two females 10-15 yrs., one 15-20 yrs. and a female 40-50 years old. Based on evidence in Abnet Bible records, land records in Adams County, Indiana, observations of the Crawford Cemetery and various marriage records in Ohio and Adams County, Indiana, we knew the family of Jacob and Sarah to be blessed with at least the following children. All the Abnet children were born in Virginia beginning with Rebecca the eldest born 1806. William was next born in 1808. The third known child was Elisabeth, born 1810, probably in Shenandoah County. Then were born Jacob in 1812, Sarah in 1813, John in1814, Lewis in 1817, Katherine in 1823, Mary Ann in 1824, and lastly, Henry in 1826.

All the information noted above was gleaned from research prior to the days of the internet and home computers. Dramatic gains have been made since mid 1998 through internet contacts.

With all credit due Calvin Sonner and Daniel Bly for their research, we were able to view the records of St.Paul Lutheran Church in Strasburg and to identify and uncover the vast German familial community which included the Baker family from which Sarah Baker was descended. The records of St. Paul Lutheran Church show that Jacob and Sarah Abnet (Ebnet) had at least five of their children baptized there. The names Rebecca, Wilhelm, Elisabeth, child not named, and Johannes are shown in the baptismal records.

Additionally, with thanks to Daniel and Calvin, we came into possession of a constructed landowners plat map which shows a great number of the family farm locations West & slightly N.West of Strasburg including the lands owned by Heironymos Baker, Nicholas Baker and Philip Peter Baker. Thus we at last are able to pinpoint within a few thousand yards the landscape where Jacob Abnet and Sarah lived and began their large family. Based on the records in St.Paul Lutheran Church, the proximity of Jacob Abnet to Scharlotte Baker in the 1810 census, one can conclude that this family became a part of that Germanic Community with Sarah's kin N.West of Strasburg. This is noted because it shows clearly that Jacob Abnet was not a follower of the Sabbatarian's to which his InAbnet grandparents belonged.

Sarah's German Ancestry!

Author and historian Daniel Bly's book "From the Rhine to the Shenandoah" Vol.1, plus his plat map which shows the various landholders in the N.West corner of the Davis Magisterial District in Shenandoah County, present the homogenous nature of the Germanic inter-related families in that corner of the county. This is meaningful in that, according to Bly, Sarah Baker was the daughter of Johann Georg Baker and Maria Charlotta Vo:lkner (Felkner). Johann Georg Baker was the son of Heironymus Baker and Maria Gertraut Puntstein, both formerly of Framersheim, Germany. Author Bly also declares Charlotta Baker to be a daughter of Henry Vo:lkner (Felkner) and his wife Rosena.

Sarah (Baker) Abnet had 11 siblings - Catherine (Baker) Wygle, George Baker Jr., Abraham Baker, Margaret (Baker) Brubeck, Henry Baker, Daniel Baker, Rosena (Baker) Sonner, Rebecca (Baker) Brubeck, John Baker, Rachel (Baker) Rosenberger, and David Baker. It is known that Sarah's brothers, Daniel Baker who married Rebecca Fravel, and John Baker also went to Ohio and at one time lived near Jacob Abnet's descendants. In August 1821, in Shenandoah Co., VA Deed Book "BB", pp. 107-108, the whereabouts of many of these children are mentioned as they disposed of the 194 acres that had been willed to their father, George.

From Bly's chapter on the Bakers, we know that:

"Framersheim is a village in the German state of Rheinland-Pfulz (the Palatinate) near Alzey, about half way between the cities of Bingen and Worms. The is the famous wine producing region of Germany, a land of ruined castles and picturesque villages amidst rolling hills covered with vineyards."

In Virginia, the Baker family was very well respected and quite well-known. Bly goes on to say:

". . . instrumental in establishing the Lutheran Church in Strasburg and took an active role in civic affairs. Many of the second and third generation fought in the Revolutionary War and were among the pioneers who pushed on into the counties of western Virginia and western Pennsylvania."

Families which became closely associated with the Bakers include the Wendles, Snapps, Speagles, and Fravels - to name a few.

For a very detailed record of the BAKERS, see From the Rhine to the Shenandoah, Volume I, page 6, by Daniel Bly.

Interwoven Families - Community Prospers!!

Most of the settlers in the area were Swiss and German, and many had been associated with each other previously in the Lancaster County area of Pennsylvania. They were largely farmers, who believed in hard work, frugality, respect for nature and religious faith. Regarding their religious beliefs, the Funks, Hockmans, and Crabills were of Mennonite background, while the Baker, Miller, Snapp, Wendle, Keller and Spiggle families were German Lutheran or Reformed. John and Lawrence Marty, Christian Luther, and Christian Hockman, together with our ancestor Hildebrand Inabnit and family were members of the Sabbatarian sect connected with the Ephrata Community in Pennsylvania. Some others were Catholic. Many held on to their German culture and German language even into the nineteenth century. As was the case in many communities of this time, there was a good deal of intermingling and marriage between the local families. Travel was difficult, and families moved and traveled together for safety and because of inter-family ties.

Bowman

Christian Bowman bought more than 600 acres of land, the Sandy Hook Tract, in 1737 from William Russell, one of the original land speculators. (Orange Co., Deed Book "2", p. 1)

In 1735, Henry Willis, one of the original land speculators of this area, sold his entire 2030 acre tract to Jacob Funk. Jacob later sold part of this land to his brother, John Funk. In 1739, John Funk bought 500 acres of land at the mouth of Passage Creek from Thomas Chester. Orange Co., Deed Book "3",p. 370) Also, John Funk, Sr. was among several German pioneers who obtained a land patent as soon as Fairfax opened an office in 1749. He got seven grants for his children, south of Strasburg. In From the Rhine to the Shenandoah, by Daniel Bly, it states:

"His neighbors, John and Lawrence Marty, Christian Hockman and Hildebrand Inabnet were already connected with this group and Christian's young brothers and sisters were involved with them . . . In 1764 Christian Luther and Christina, her sister, Anna Maria and her husband John Marty and others joined with Ezekiel Sangmeister and moved permanently back to Ephrata."

Christian Hockman and his family were very early settlers at Sandy Hook and were members of the Sabbatarian sect there. They were very close neighbors of Hildebrand. Lawrence and John Marty, brothers of Christian Hockman's wife, were close acquaintances of Hildebrand. When Sangmeister and the Sabbatarians returned to Ephrata in June, 1764,the Hockmans were part of the group, along with the three orphaned sons of Hildebrand.

The Christian Hockman family returned to Sandy Hook in May 1766. Along with Hellenthal and Barbara Landes, he gathered the few remaining scattered families into a congregation of the keepers of the Seventh Day. Abraham Hockman, a son of Christian, would later become a leader of the regular, First Day Dunkers in Shenandoah Co., VA.

Luther and Kolb (Kelp)

Christian Luther is first found in Virginia in 1761 when he bought 138 acres on the North Fork of the Shenandoah from John Denton. He was married to Maria Christina Kolb (Kelp). This tract was in the "Seven Bends Section" on the east side of the river. In 1763, he bought another 24 acres which joined his first tract. About 1763, Christian Luther joined the Sabbatarian community. From the Rhine to the Shenandoah, Volume Two, by Daniel Bly states:

"His neighbors, John and Lawrence Marty, Christian Hockman and Hildebrand Inabnet were already connected with this group and Christian's young brothers and sisters were involved with them . . . In 1764 Christian Luther and Christina, her sister, Anna Maria and her husband John Marty and others joined with Ezekiel Sangmeister and moved permanently back to Ephrata."

The Luthers continued to hold on to their land and in fact bought another 22 acres. Finally, in May 1804, they sold all their land at Sandy Hook to William Bauserman (Shenandoah Co., Deed Book "O", p. 35).

Keller

Hans (John) Jacob Keller came from Rothenfluh, a village south of Basel, Switzerland, in 1736 to Pennsylvania with his wife, Elisbeth Imhoff, and three sons -Sebastian, John George and John Jacob. Sebastian 'Bastin' Keller was instrumental in persuading Hildebrand to move to Virginia. After the Sabbatarians were forced to depart in summer of 1764, Dr. John George Keller moved to Powell's Fort where he moved his medical practice. They soon joined the Ephrata community. In 1762, the son, Dr. John George Keller, moved to Sandy Hook. In 1764, the elder John Jacob Keller also lived at Sandy Hook as an Ephrata householder. He later died at the cloister at Ephrata in 1794.

A George Keller, probably Bastain's brother, was a witness to Hildebrand's will.

For a very detailed record of the Kellers, see From the Rhine to the Shenandoah, Volume I, pages 104-108 by Daniel Bly.

Bruckmann

Valentin Bruckmann, weaver by occupation, was a very close friend of Hildebrnad. Not only was he a witness to Hildebrand's will, but he also sang at Hildebrand's funeral. After the sudden exodus in 1764, Valentin forever abandoned the idea of returning to Sandy Hook. He sold his house there to Samuel Eckerlin and soon drifted away from Ephrata.

Spiegel, Spiggle, Speagle

We first hear of Michael Speagle in 1783 when he bought 265 acres of land from his brother-in-law, John Snapp (Schnepf) in Shenandoah Co., VA. We then find him listed on 1783 and 1785 Shenandoah Co., VA tax list. In August 1788, we even find Michael Spraggle as a bondsman on the marriage of Jacob Inabent to Mary Parkerson. In 1789, he sold the Snapp land to George Haun. It was about this same time, that Michael Speagle bought Hildebrand's Inabnet's Sandy Hook tract. Even before this time, we find several records which indicate that Michael Speagle along with Jacob Inabnet/Inabinett were guardians of John and Jacob, John's children and Hildebrand's grandchildren.

Michael Speagle, son of Johann Michael Spiegel, was born Aug. 5, 1741 in Lancaster Co., PA. He m/1 Christinia Snapp, d/o Lawrence and Margaret Snapp (Schnepf) of Frederick Co., VA. He m/2 Anna Barbara Hamman, - d/o George Michael Hamman and Catherina Elisabetha Streher on Oct. 1, 1786. Michael died in 1816 in Shenandoah Co., VA.

His name was well known and recognized in this part of Virginia. During the Revolutionary War, Michael served in the County Militia as Sergeant in 1782 and Captain in Sept 1784. On June 1, 1801, he was appointed sheriff of Shenandoah Co., VA. Wherever we find the Inabnet surname in early Virginia, Michael Speagle is usually found nearby either as a witness, bondsman, buyer, guardian, etc.

For a very detailed record of the Spiggle (Speagle) and family of Michael Speagle, see From the Rhine to the Shenandoah, Volume I, page 178 by Daniel Bly.

Snapp (Schneph)

Lawrence Snapp and his wife, Margaret Stephens, were very early settlers of Shenandoah Co., VA. They were married about 1745 in Frederick Co., VA. He was a patriot in the Revolutionary War - being a Captain in the Shenandoah County Militia. He was the s/o Johannes Schnepp whose will can be found in Will Book 3, page 35 and dated Nov. 30, 1761 in Frederick Co., VA. The Schnephs were from Alsace, Germany. Due to their early arrival in this area, it is easy to see that this family had many early connections to other families of the area. Descendants of this family married into the Baker (Becker), Speagle (Spiggle), Hockman, Wendle, and Keller families.

For a very detailed record of the Snapp family, see From the Rhine to the Shenandoah, Volume I, page 150 by Daniel Bly.

VIRGINIA SOURCES!!

Maps on this page

The original maps can be found in the various books of Daniel Bly, author, historian and professor at Bridgewater College. He has graciously given us permission to use them. The maps have been modified for this page to show our particuliar families and specific locations and are therefore not complete in all details.

Books and References

1. Bly, Daniel; "From the Rhine to The Shenandoah -Eighteenth Century Swiss & German Pioneer Families in the Central Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and Their European Origins" (Volume II)

2. Wust, Klaus, "Saint -Adventurers of the Virginia Frontier - Southern Outposts of Ephrata" (Shenandoah History Publishers of Edinburg, Virginia, 1977)

3. O'Dell, Cecil; "Pioneers of Old Frederick County, Virginia" (Marceline, MO, Walsworth Publishing Co., 1995)

4. "Life and Conduct of the late Brother Ezechiel Sangmeister" translated from the GermanLeben and Wandel by Barbara M. Schindler. (Historical Society of the Cocalico Valley, Ephrata, PA 1986) For ordering instructions, please e-mail Liz or myself (Ann).

5. Gilreath, Amy, "Deeds Of Shenandoah County"

6. Clark, "1786 Survey of Powell's Fort Valley unpublished Manuscript" (Eastern Mennonite College Library, Harrisonburg, VA)

7. "Some Marriages of the Rev Paul Henkel in The Virginia Genealogist" Vol 17 #4 Oct-Dec 1973 (Editor John Frederick Dorman, Washington, DC)

8. Ashby, Bernice M., "Shenandoah Co., VA Marriage Bonds" (VA Book Co, Berryville, VA, 1967)

9. Wayland, John W. PH.D., "A History of Shenandoah County Virginia" (Shenandoah Publishing House, Strasburg, VA, 1927)

10. Keister, E. E., "Strasburg, Virginia and The Keister Family" (Shenandoah Publishing House, Strasburg, VA, 1972)

Internet Sites and Newslists

1. Frederick Co., VA GenWeb - organized 1738-1743 from Orange and Augusta Counties. This was a vast county at this time composed of Augusta, Botetourt, Clarke, Craig, Frederick, Nelson, Page, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Warren. The county seat is Winchester. To subscribe to the Old Frederick Co., VA Newslist, click here. To subscribe to the present-day Frederick Co., VA Newslist, click here

2. Shenandoah Co., VA GenWeb(1) - organized 1772 from Frederick Co., VA and until 1778 was known as Old Dunmore Co., VA. Another site for this county is Shenandoah Co., VA GenWeb(2). The county seat is Woodstock. To subscribe to the Shenandoah Co., VA Newslist, click here.

3. Berkley Co., VA GenWeb -organized 1772 from Frederick Co., VA (present-day WV). The county seat is Martinsburg. To subscribe to the Berkley Co., WV newslist, click here.

4. Ancestors of Daniel Bly - Mr. Bly's personal homepage which includes 7 generations of direct Shenandoah Co., VA families. These include the surnames of Bly, Hockman, Racey, Funkhouser, Orndorff, Cullers, Beydler, Hamman, Spiggle, Baker, Snapp, Keller and Wendle - to name just a few.

5. Calvin Sonner's Frederick County Home Page -Mr. Sonner has several excllent links of pages of actual data and vital stats on Strasburg, VA families. This is a must site to visit for anyone researching the Bakers or any of these many related families.

6. Sonia's Families of the Shenandoah Valley Her families include Bowman, Rinker, Miller, Dodson and Swartz.

7. Shenandoah Co., VA Rootsweb Co-operative Resources sites Here you can find any of the many related sites to this county that are on rootsweb.

8. VA GenWeb Project- Entry Page for ALL of VA counties! This is a MUST PAGE for anyone researching any VA county!

9. VA Visitor Centre - GenConnect Boards -Click on County researching!

10. A River Runs Through It - A History of Shenandoah County - history, interviews, multimedia landmarks, poetry, statistics, towns and communities, more links

11. The Ancient Shenandoah Valley, It's legend and It's Future - a private personal page with thoughts to meditate on, beautiful music, poetry, legends, etc. Personally, this is one of my favorite sites!

The Journey Continues

If somehow you got to this page and haven't taken the first VA Walk, please visit - SANDY HOOK - Shenandoah Valley (Seven Bends). Here you get to visit with Hildebrand and Anna during their last year. Also you discover what becomes of Hildebrand's VA land! On our third Virginia page, "Terror In The Massanutten", we have a special treat as our own Louis Moses guides us on a present-day quest back to the Seven Bends, Sandy Hook, the North Fork and Hildebrand's land. The realism, humor, fantastic pictures and his unique discovery makes this a story that you'll return to often.

Then when you have finished your Virginia Walks, don't forget to return to our main IN AEBNIT PAGE - as there are many more 'walks' to take, cousins to visit, records to view and an outline of the first few generations of the In Aebnit boys!