Found this on https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/11391888?h=f27e81 and had to replicate for posterity. Thank you, Gregory Eyman, for putting it all together and online.
Notes for Jacob Eymann (Eiman):
Jacob (1725) Eiman lived in Donnersburg,
Germany prior to his immigration (this is a possible residence) between
1730-1749. He lived in Philadelphia Twp, Pa in 1749. He immigrated to
the U.S. on the "St. Andrews" from Rotterdam, Netherlands, stopping in
Plymouth, England; arrived in Philadelphia. Name listed as Jacob Eiman
on 9 Sept 1749. He lived in Bethel Twp, Lancaster (now Daupin) Co., PA: a
Jacob Eighman is listed in 1771. He served in the military in Bet
1775-1784, Nov or Dec 1775 (Enlisted as a Private in the Lancaster Co.
militia under Capt. James Murray's Company, Col. James Burd's Fourth
Battalion of Lancaster County.
9 Sept 1949 upon arrival in
America, Jacob moved several times. It is unclear whether he brought
his wife or met and married her in PA, although a 1864 genealogy of
Peter Eyman indicates that they were married in 1746 before immigration.
Jacob took a land partnership with Jacob Raeif (farmeer and
distiller)in Upper Paxtang Twp.. Lancaster (now Dauphin) Co., PA. The
warrent that interest had been paid on that hundred acres along Clark's
Creek since 1770. The land was not surveyed nor was the land grant
formalized until August of 1787, after which, it seems that the land was
sold between then and 1801 to a Jacob Hutts. The 1787 warrent suggest
that the land adjoined grants for James Manama, Ludwig Melsher (various
spellings noted, although Ludwig used Minsker.Historians often refer to
him as Maksker. Many stories are written of him.) Thomas Carn (sometimes
called Kern) and James McNamara, who like the Eymans, served as a
private in James Burd's Battalion, although McNamara served under
Captain James Cowden. By 1787 McNamara had sold his property to Ludwig
Mansker. Between 1787 and 1800, a William Clark had taken possession of
the lands earlier owned by Thomas Kern (Carn/Cairn) adjacent to the
lands previously of the Eyman/Raief warrent. Most likely this was the
Clark after whom the valley and creek were named. This is one of the
famous William Clarks of which there are three of that family who served
America in many capacities.
While Jacob and his family
lived in the area, Upper Paztang settlers were often attacked in Indian
raids. Adjacent to the Eyman property was a John Elder (listed in 1779
Upper Paztang tax rolls). John was a preacher of the gospel and
developed a Donegal Presbytery, which subsequently divided off to a
Paxtang congregation. He took his "leadership of the flock" seriously
and provided direction of political and military affairs as well as
spiritual ones. In the face of the Indian difficulties he trained some
of his congregation as scouts. He superintended the disipline of his men
and mounted rangers, who became widely known as the "Paxtang Boys".
During two summers at least, in the early 1760s, his parishioners went
to church armed. The settlers were perplexed and angry by the lack of
action on the part of the Quaker politicians and took steps of their
own, which alarmed many and provoked widespread discussion. During the
later part of the summer of 1763, amny murders were committed,
culminating in the distruction of the Indians on Conestoga Manor at
Lancaster. Although the men who exterminated the Indians were thought to
have been part of the Paxtang Boys, it was never proven that Rev. Elder
had previous knowledge of the plot, though Quaker pamphleteers of the
day charged him with aiding and abetting those who took part in these
acts. The Quaker authorities denounced the frontiersmen as "riotous and
murderous Irish Presbyterians". John Elder took sides with the border
inhabitants and sought to condone the deeds as noted in his many
writings afterwards.
The "Paxtang Boys Affair" is seen by
some quarters as having influenced the onset of the revolutio. In 1774
meetings were held in different townships, the resolvesof only two of
which are preserved. The earliest was that of an assembly of the
inhabitants of Hanover(now Dauphin). These "Hanover Resolves" struck a
note of safeguarding liberty and a committe was nominated to act on the
general populations behalf, asemergencies may require. Elected to that
committee was the William Clark mentioned earlier.
30 June
1775bduring a Parliamentary Assembly of PA, deputies, it was resolved
"That this House approves the association entered into by the good
people of this colony for the defense of their lives, liberties, and
property". A Committee of Safety, consisting of 25 citizens, was
appointed and authorized to call into active service such number of the
"associators" as they may deem proper. Organizations of "associators"
were formed in most, if not all, the counties. The committee organized
July 3rd by the choice of Benjamin Franklin, president. Congress, July
18, recommended that all able bodied effective men between sixteen and
fifty years of age should immediately form themselves into companies of
militia to consist of one captain, two lieutenants, one ensign, four
sergeants, four corporals, one clerk, one drummer, one fifer, and about
sixty-eight privates. The companies to be formed into regiments or
battalions, officered with a colonel... Congress, June 14, 1775,
authorized the raising of six companies of expert fiflemen in PA, two in
Maryland, and two in Virginia to join the army near Boston. On the 22nd
the "Colony of Pennsylvania" was directed to raise two more companies
making eight in all, which were to be formed into a battalion. Lancaster
County furnished two companies instead of one... This battalion was the
first unit raised in the area. This description is offerd to provide a
basis for how and why Troops were enlisted in the area and it serves as
a prelude to the later formation of the 4th Battalion, which also
included men of Lancaster Co., among which were the Eyemans .
Nov
or Dec 1775 Jacob and his sons Jacob, Jr. and Christian volunteered in
the militia, quite early and before strong pressures of muster began in
1776. Important items to note are that the Eymans were not serving with
German speakers, but with neighbors who were of predominately Scottish
and Irish backgrounds. This company of vounteers was among the veery
first in the area and in the nation to get into the field battle. They
also seem not to have been concerned about fighting to protect the
community based on religious restrictions. There is some evidence that
they avoided some subsequent calls to duty, with both Jacob (Jr. ?) and
Christian paying fines. Son Peter Eyman enlisted around 1781 also
serving under Captain James Murray.
13 Mar 1776 a return
of Captain James Murray's (b. 1729 d. 15 Feb 1804 Dauphin Co., PA)
company of Associators of the Fourth Battalion (Revolutionary Roll
Records - PA. Jacket No. 71) of Lancaster County, commanded by Colonel
James Burd (b. 10 Mar 1726 - Ornistan, Scotland d. 1795-98 Lancaster,
PA.) (partial list as follows:) First Lieutenant; Peter Sturgeon; Second
Lieutenant: John Simpson; Ensign: John Ryen; Privates:...Eyeman,
Christopher , Eyeman, Jacob , Eyeman, Jacob ...
Captain
Murray was captured by the British at the battle of Long Island, NY in
1776 (possobly held on a British prison-ship and later released (5
months) in aprisoner exchange along with others captured in that
engagement, including Maj. William Henderson). Willian Bell, Sr.
promoted to Captain, serving in the retreat from Brooklyn, Harlem
Heights, Fort Lee. His company was then surprised at Fort Washington, a
horrific loss for the Patriots with many killed and captured, including
crucial weapons and supplies. A detailed accounting was later provided
listing the loss of guns, powder horns and blankets. Jacob and or his
son Jacob, Jr. is said to have suffered the loss of pouch and horn
during this engagement on 16 Nov 1776 ("the reduction of Fort
Washington"). Affirmation of the losses certified by Capt. James Cowden 8
Aug 1777.
Jacob, Jacob, Jr. and Christian are noted to
have participated in the battles of Trenton and Princeton, NJ. They
accompanied General George Washington during the famous crossing of the
partiaaly frozen Delaware river on Christmas night, 25 Dec. 1776 daring a
surprise raid on the Hessian mercenary encampment in Trenton. With only
a portion part of his planned forces, the remainder either unable to
make the crossing or not in time, Washington determined to press on with
the attack on the morning of the 26th, catching the unsuspecting
German's fully off guard as hoped, duled into a false sense of security
resulting from their previous days Christmas celebration, completely
routing the enemy and winning a much needed critical victory for
Washington and his troops. The Patriots recrossed the river back into
PA., but Washington, upon discovering that the British were sending a
reactionary force against him from their position in Princeton,
immediately reformed his forces, crossing over once more into Trenton
then marched a parallel path towards Princeton in an attempt to perform a
flanking attack against the rear guard of the very forces that were
indeed being sent towards him. Washington and his highly outnumbered
troops out-manoeuvered their foes, scoring another successive victory,
this time against the shocked British, 3 Jan 177.
6 Nov
1778 Jacob Eyeman (Eylman) signed an Oath of Allegiance in Town of
Lancaster, Lancaster Co. He is also shown that year as Jacob Eyman in
the Military card file. Signing this type of oath was often required of
foreign born soldiers. In 1793 there is an apparent Dauphin Co., PA
record of Letters of Administration for a settlement of jacob's estate
granted for his wife Catherine Emen to Jacob Emen (Jr.). Once
completed it appears that Jacob Jr. left to join his brothers in Hardy
Co., VA (now WV).
Catherine Shaver emigrated from the U>S> with husband, Jacob Eymann on 9 Sept 1749.
