July 29, 2021
Conrad Stautzenberger (written by Edward Spannaus, presented by Fred Michel, both of Sgt. Lawrence Everhart Chapter SAR):
SAR StautzJohannes Conrad Stautzenberger was born on April in 1762 in York County, Pennsylvania. His parents were Conrad Stautzenberger and Catherine Firestone, and he was the second of 19 children.
On July 26, 1777, when he was but 15 years old, John (as he was called by then) enlisted as a “musician of artillery” – a drummer — into Capt. Nathaniel Irish’s Company of Artillery Artificers. His enlistment was for three years, but it seems to have lasted “for the duration.”
John rose to become the company drum major—a highly responsible position charged with relaying commands to the troops.
Earlier in 1777, George Washington had directed Col. Benjamin Flower, the Pennsylvania Commissary of Military Stores, to recruit a Regiment of Artillery Artificers. This organization was originally established in York, Pa. – and it is likely that this is where young John enlisted.
The regiment, which manufactured cannon, guns, ammunition, and wagon carriages for the Army, moved at some point to Carlisle Pa. – today’s home of the U.S. Army War College — and Captain Irish’s Company moved with the regiment. This company, also known as Company “B,” was what was known as a “depot company,” and operated from a fixed location – at Carlisle – until sometime around 1780.
At that point, Capt. Irish was sent with some others, to Westham, Virginia, in Henrico County near Richmond, to set up an armory to supply two companies of Artillery.
Although Captain Irish was sent to Virginia, most of his company was absorbed into Co. E of the Regiment of Artillery Artificers, led by Capt. Thomas Wylie, which was still at Carlisle. We know that John Stautsenberger was there, because he is listed on a roll of the company “late commanded by Capt. Nathaniel Irish,” which was signed by Capt. Wylie on the 10th of April, 1780.
In 1782, Capt. Wylie’s Company was also sent to Virginia. They went to New London, near Lynchburg. This was the site of a state arsenal which became a federal arsenal, and which supported both the Southern Campaign of General Nathaniel Greene, and the Ohio Campaign of George Rogers Clark. (In the 1790s, this arsenal was moved to Harper’s Ferry, where it remained until the Civil War.)
Although John’s three-year term of enlistment would have been up in 1780, he seems to have continued in service, since at one point in his military pension record, he is listed as serving in the “Virginia Line.”
In 1784, following his military service, he married Maria Margareta Ritschi. Her name was mis-translated as “Kitchen” in the church and other records. The error was discovered by Michael Zapf (who is here today).
We don’t know exactly when Stautsenberger moved to Loudoun County. He purchased land here in 1789, which is also the first year that he appears on the Loudoun County tax rolls.
He owned a number of properties in the Taylorstown-Hoysville area, which is a few miles east of here.
In 1796, he acquired land between along Lovettville Road and Taylorstown Road, where he built a house in the German style, which still exists today, and is known as the “Fowler House.” Another house was on the “Stoutsenberger Farmstead,” located in Eco-Village north of Taylorstown.
In the 1790s, he served as a Captain in the Loudoun County militia, and he operated a store at Hoysville, north of Taylorstown.
John and Maria and their family were active members of New Jerusalem Lutheran Church, as is shown in the church records.
John and Maria had seven children between 1787 and 1801.
Stautzenberger received a military pension of $104 per year, beginning September 1831, that lasted until his death in 1837. Maria received a widow’s pension that lasted until her death in 1847. They are buried next to each other in this cemetery, as are some of their children.3
John married Maria Margaretha Ritschi March 30, 1784, and purchased land in Loudoun County, Virginia in 1789, the first year he appears on the Loudoun County tax rolls. John applied for a military pension in 1832, and was granted $104 per annum. John and Maria and their family were active in New Jerusalem Lutheran Church.
A ceremony was held on June 29, 2002, to mark the placement on DAR plaques on John and Maria's gravesites.4
in
the memory of
John Stoutsenberger
Born April 2d, 1762.
Died March 31st, 1837.
afed 74 years, 11 months &
29 days.
Incription: Revolutionary Soldier
John Stautzenberger
Musician
4th Bttn of Continental Artillery, PA
Mrker Placed By
Capt Elisha Mack Chapter, NSDAR
29 June 20024