HALDEMAN/STEHMAN RESEARCH (The following material was found as one document at the Lancaster County Historical Society. It probably had been transcribed one or more times from original sources. This copy tries to reflect that document as accurately as possible, including grammatical and punctuation errors and, perhaps as well, some errors of fact. Whether these errors were in the original sources or made in the transcription(s) is unknown. Parts of the document were unreadable, hence missing words and lines. In a few instances a best guess at a word, date, or name is included in this transcription.) STEHMAN FAMILY There seems to be considerable difference of opinion as to the orthography of this family s name, as we find by examination of the Lancaster County Court records that the same family used Stoneman, Stamy, Stemmy, Stayman, Staneman, Steman, Stamen, Staman, and lastly Stehman, the latter being used by a few members of comparatively late generations, although there seems to be no authority, nor good reason for the addition of the superfluous h. After careful examination of records, with the assistance of other descendants, we find that in no instance was the h used by any of the progenitors of those who adopted it later. In our genealogical charts we have endeavored to give the orthography as adopted by each branch from time to time. While the first settlers who came to Lancaster County used Stoneman, it is suggested to us that it was not so spelled in the old country, and that the change was made on their arrival here, in the desire to anglicize same, possibly assisted (?) by the English clerks or scriveners who seem to be responsible for so many unfortunate changes in old names. The first of the family to come to Lancaster County seemed to have spelled their name Stoneman. They were Joseph and Christian, Swiss Mennonites. They arrived here in 1717, settling in what was then Conestoga Township, Chester County, now Lancaster County. Joseph located a few miles from the present village of Willow Street adjoining the Breneman, Kendig and Hess families. Samuel Evans, Esq., writes us: Joseph Stoneman, the ancestor of the Manor and Conestoga families, settled about 1717. This Joseph Stoneman purchased large tracts of land in Conestoga Township near the mouth of Pequea about 1730. In 1748 he purchased several hundred acres of land in Manor Township to which place he removed with his son John Steman. xxx After Joseph Stoneman came to Manor, he was first called Staneman, then Steman. All his children were called Steman." Christian settled on the Little Conestoga in 1728 at a point where the present Columbia Turnpike crosses. He purchased 150 acres of land there with a grist and saw mill. In 1730 he built a bridge over the creek at his mill. The descendants of the above are numerous and they have always been large possessors of valuable lands in Conestoga, Manor and Hempfield, as shown by the transfers in the Lancaster County Court records and our notes given further on. We have attempted to give some of the descendants of Joseph Stoneman on our genealogical chart. As we show at another place, there were five others who spelled their names Steman who came to Lancaster County in 1732. There were three by the name of Hans, one John George and one Peter. Our tradition is that they were relatives of the first two Stonemans, given above, but the correctness of this assertion does not seem to be susceptible of proof at this late day.
The John (Hans) Steman, whose descendants we give on our chart of this descendants seems to have descended from one of those who came to Lancaster County in 1732. We have been unable to connect him with the two arriving here in 1717. The letter we give from the late Hon. John M. Stehman will show the efforts that have been made to trace his ancestry. This last John Steman resided in Lampeter Township where he was a renter from 1751 to 1758. He married a daughter of Christian Brenneman (father of Melchoir Brennemen 2nd) who had given him 187 acres of his land in Donegal on May 7, 1751 and, at his death, willed him other lands, in 1758 he removed to Donegal where he died in 1758, and is buried in the graveyard along Bainbridge road, about a mile west of Shock s Mills (now Rowenna). He is buried among the Brenemans and is the only Steman buried in this graveyard. The inscription on the tombstone is now obliterated but has only been so for a few years. Before becoming so, the late Hon. John M. Stehman and others had taken a record of same. After the death of John Steman, his children all seem to have removed from Donegal as shown on our genealogical chart. The executors of John Steman were John Breneman (his wife s nephew) and John Haldeman (who married his wife s niece, Maria Breneman). On December, 1786, they sold 336 acres of land of John Steman, deceased, to Harmon Long, being the same land which Christian Brenneman and his wife Susannah conveyed to their son-in-law John Steman, May 7, 1751. This land extended along the Maytown and Bainbridge Road. In 1786 and 1791 the executors divide 2538 [pounds] among the heirs. John Haldeman was the guardian of Ann Stemam (1787-1867), who married his son, John B. Haldeman, and the latter was guardian for Frances Steman (1794-1826), his wife s cousin who married his brother, Henry Haldeman. John B. Haldeman was also guardian for Martha Steman (1809-1871), who married John S. Breneman, and her sister Elizabeth Steman who married Benjamin Herr. The latter two being descended from the John Steman who died in 1785 and was the son-in-law in Christian Breneman. We have always understood that John B. Haldeman s wife and Martha and Elizabeth Steman, for whom he was guardian, were related. This, however, may be incorrect. Martha Steman, who married John S. Breneman (1803-1869), was on her paternal side, a grand-niece of Melchior Breneman (1726-1809), and her husband on his paternal side, was a great-grand-son of the same Melchior Breneman, making them relatives, so that properly this branch of the Steman family should have appeared on our chart of the Breneman family. As has been elsewhere shown, my father, Cyrus S. Haldeman (1825-1892) was descended in the fourth generation from Melchoir Breneman, his grandfather, John Haldeman (1753-1832), having married Maria Breneman, a daughter of Melchoir Breneman; and my mother, Elizabeth Breneman, a daughter of John S. Breneman (1803-1869), was also descended through her father in the fifth generation from Melchoir Breneman. That makes me a descendant of that family through my maternal grand-mother, my father and my mother, each in a different line. The above also shows that I am descended from Stemans through both grandmothers. Horace L. Haldeman On December 6, 1884, Samuel Evans, Esq., writes, Your (Horace L. Haldeman) great-grandfather was Samuel Staman. William Gish and John B. Haldeman married first cousins of your grandmother (Frances, wife of Henry Haldeman).
And on February 14, 1895, he furnished us with the following information: John Steman who settled in Lampeter Township prior to 1748 was the only member of the numerous families of the name in the county (Lancaster) who spelled their name in that way. Joseph Stoneman, the ancestor of the Manor and Conestoga families, settled about two or three miles southeast of the above John Steman about 1717. This Joseph Stoneman purchased large tracts of land in Conestoga Township near the mouth of Pequea about 1730. In 1748, he purchased several hundred acres of land in Manor Township to which place he moved with his son John Steman. He gave large farms to a son in Conestoga, near Pequea, and at Long Lane to his son Tobias Steman, at Rock Run Conestoga. After Joseph Stoneman came to Manor, he was the first called Staneman, then Steman. All his children were called Steman. There was a Christian Stoneman (Steman) who settled at Little Conestoga creek where the Columbia Turnpike crosses, in 1717. This family were called Steman in the second generation. He married a Brubaker. If you look in the Pennsylvania archives, you will find an affidavit from Joseph Steman that Cressup took him to Annapolis to buy land from Lord Baltimore. The land at Burkholder s Ferry was bought by Joseph Steman from Lord Baltimore about 1732, under a Maryland patent. I have not been able to fix relationship of your John Steman with Joseph Stoneman or Christian Stoneman. He was not the son of latter, might however, been a relative. The following letter from the late Hon. John M. Stehman to Samuel Evans, Esq., is an interesting collection of information on this subject: My Dear Sir: Hempfield, Oct. 27, 1885 Your note of the 26th came to hand. The John Steman who is a son-in-law of Christian and Susan Breneman you will find recorded on page 750, where Christian Breneman and his wife Susan deeded to their son-in-law John Steman 187 acres on the 7th day of May, 1751, and in 1786 there is a will entered in the Register s office which was entered as the will of John Steman then living on the property now owned by Abram Cassel, Esq. John Steman is buried on the Maytown and Marietta road graveyard near Shocks Mills on said road. The same John Steman had three sons: John who settled in Franklin County; Christlie, who was my grand-father and married John Huber s daughter in East Hempfield Township; Jacob, also married John Huber s daughter. Jacob was the father of Mrs. Benjamin Herr, also the father of Mrs. John S. Breneman. There are no descendants in Lancaster County of John s, neither of Jacob s children, except Mrs. Herr and Mrs. Breneman. Now if this John Steman was the son-in-law in 1751 of Christian Breneman, he had not very far to reach back to 1717. He could not have been a descendant of Christian Stoneman or Steman who died at or near Fry s Mill on the Little Conestoga, that Christian Stoneman had a son Christian, John and Jacob. Both the latter sons are recorded in a release as one being demented and the
other dying underage. Therefore we cannot well be a descendant of Christian Stoneman owning that will. There is nothing on record of any other Christian Stoneman or Stehman until late in 1780 or upwards, therefore we cannot be of the stock of that miller Stoneman because our ancestor John Steman is already mentioned in 1751 as a son-in-law of Christian Breneman and wife. We have the line correct from this John Steman of 1751 down to this day, but the trouble is to trace his connection back from 1751. Whether Joseph Steman had a son by name John that would fit in to be a son-in-law of Christian Breneman. You will please remember it is not far back from 1751 to 1717. My living uncle, Henry Steman, near Junction, Manheim, also contended that the relationship did not. (missing lines) Increase fast until later, and that it only increased when his father Christlie was married to a Huber, The impression of my uncle seems about in this way that the father of this John Steman of 1751 had but this one son John, that he died young and had this child John and does not know what his father s name was or where he came from. (missing lines) names recorded in 1717 viz Christian and Joseph. There may be somebody slipped over besides those two mentioned names. There is a date stone on the mansion house now owned by Jacob Bausman 1765 Johannes Steman and Frau Barbara Haus Gesant In speaking of this house in the late Lancaster County History it says Henry Steman built this house. J.B. (?) Bausman Esq. took the inscription from this date stone and handed it to me. There seems to be only about fourteen years between the son-in-law John Steman of 1751 and Johannes Steman of 1765. You will please remember you must hold yourself to John Steman of 1751, son-in-law of Christian Breneman. Joseph Steman had a son John too. I am not able to say whether he is this Johannes of 1765 or not, if he is, then he cannot be the John of 1751. Joseph Steman s will is recorded in 1756. I am rather inclined to think we might be of another family. I must remind you again that the son-in-law John of 1751 can hardly be the Johannes of 1767. How can we reconcile ourselves that we are descendants of Christian the miller or of Joseph? I am thinking possibly that as said before that someone may have slipped over without record and it must be so if you can prove the record of Hans Steman in 1732 John George Steman 1732 Hans Steman 1732 Peter Steman 1732 Hans Steman 1732 You say that the last two Hans came in some vessel and were father and son. You have now mentioned at least four arrivals of Stemans that are not recorded and it might be possible that one of these Stemans had a son who could be fitted in to make the John of 1751.
I will come to see you soon and make an effort to explain. I have not examined much of the records at Lancaster. You can do that so much better you must not despair. Yours John M. Stehman To Samuel Evans, Esq. The following extracts are taken from the researches made by Samuel Evan s, Esq. of Lancaster, Co. court records. (there are however some omissions) Joseph and Christian Stoneman..came to Conestoga township now Lancaster county,..joseph located..present village of Willow Street..Brennemans, Kendigs, and Hesses and Christian settled on the Little Conestoga in 1728, where the Columbia turnpike crosses. He purchased there 150 acres of land with a grist, corn and saw mill. This was part of a 1,000 acre tract which was taken up by Hans Brubaker and Christian Hershey. In 1730 he built a bridge over the creek at his mill. Christian Stoneman left the following children: 1. Christian, who died in 1785. 2. John, 3. Jacob, 4. Maria, m. Christian Hershey, 5. Elizabeth, m. John Newcomer. Joseph Steman purchased 110 acres of land about two miles north of the mouth of Beaver creek. His land was bounded as follows: on the north, by Martin Kendig; on the south, and west, by Christian Stoner and Hans Hess. Christian Brenneman s farm was south of Joseph Stoneman s and bordering on Pequea creek. Melchoir Brenneman, the father of Christian, settled about a mile or two south of Conestoga at Graff s Landing. Joseph Steman seems to have sold two farms to Christian Stoner as early as 1728. Joseph Steman purchased some six hundred acres of land from Edward Smout in 1751. Washington borough is on this land. He died in 1751 leaving 1. John, m. to Elizabeth, who inherited 113 acres of land, 2. Tobias, 3. A daughter, m. to John Bare, 4. Feronica, m. to Ludwig Wilson (Note re above -- Joseph Steman's will abstract shows his date of death to be May 17, 1756. It also shows more children than included here, including Feronica, married to Jacob Kaggi, not Ludwig Wilson. This research also shows above that Joseph's son, John, was married to an "Elizabeth" but John was married to Barbara Kagy which is confirmed when further down it shows Barbara as John's wife -- "November 1776, John Stayman of Conestoga leaves wife, Barbara, and following children:"
Joseph Stoneman of Conestoga, purchased lands from Caleb Baker and Martha his wife, April 17, 1742. He conveyed a portion of this land to his son John who with his wife Elizabeth conveyed 100 acres to Benedict Eshleman, his son-in-law. This Joseph was probably the first of that name who settled here in 1717. The following came from the Palatinate to Pennsylvania. Hans Staman, in 1732 John George Staman in 1732 Hans Staman in 1733 Peter Staman in 1737, died in 1748 Hans Staman, Jr. In 1735 Peter was the son of Joseph Staman of Manor. His brother John was his administrator. (Note re above -- This seems to show that Joseph had at least one child in Europe who came to join his father in 1737. If that is the case it would seem unlikely that Joseph's wife's name was Plumstead -- an English name that shows up in the Philadelphia in the early 1700's if not before. Why Peter would have been left in Europe is not explained. Could Joseph have had a wife who chose not to accompany him to Pennsylvania? I have Peter in my data base but I am dubious if he belongs. He is not included in Shertz's research.) January 9th, 1755, John Neare(?) appointed guardian over Jacob Stoneman a minor child of Christian Stoneman..1767, Henry Neave and John..executors of John Stoneman of Manor September 5, 1759, Anne Stoneman widow of Joseph Stoneman, who was the son of the first Joseph Stoneman, or Steman, who came over in 1717, files petition for guardian over the minor children to give a new bond. The children were: 1. Christian, over 14 in 1768, 2. Frena, m. Ludwig Urban, 3. Elizabeth, 4. John, 5. Anna. 1761, Samuel Meyers, administrator of Joseph Stoneman, deceased. Joseph Steman left the following children: 1. Christian, 2. Frena, 3. John, 4. Elizabeth, 5. Ann Christian, eldest son, petitions the court on March 6, 1770. Tobias Steman of Conestoga leaves wife Anna and one son Tobias. November 1766, John Stayman of Conestoga leaves wife, Barbara, and following children:
1. Peter, 2. Henry, 3. Elizabeth, m. Benedict Eshleman, 4. Anna, 5. Barbara, 6. Margaretta, 7. Susanna 8. Fronia (Note re above -- John's son, John, not included but he is named in the will abstract. A listing of children appears again further down when the estate is divided and John appears there but Peter does not. Perhaps he had died by then. Peter is not included in Shertz's research.) August 8, 1766, Court appoints Jacob Brubaker guardian over the estate of Christian Brubaker, to the same Christian, his son, descended and belonging by the death of his mother, Susannah, late wife of the said Jacob Bribaker and daughter of Christian Stoneman. 1766, Christian Stoneman eldest son of Christian Stoneman, late of Hempfield, 163 acres in Manor. 1767, children of Joseph Stoneman: 1-Frena 2-Elizabeth 3-John 4-Anna 1767-72 Christian Stayman a minor son of Joseph Stayman, late of Conestoga, choses Gerhart Brenner as his guardian. His father owned three plantations in Conestoga township 250, 200 and 150 acres and left five children. 1776, Christian Stoneman died without issue. He left A sister, Feronica, m. to Ludwig Urban, A brother, John Stoneman, A sister, Ann Stoneman. May 1780, Citation, Tobias Stoneman, son of Tobias Stoneman. June 1782, Barbara Stayman, Abram Keagy and John Burkholder, executors of John Stayman, deceased, of Conestoga make division among his children, viz: 1. Elizabeth, m. Benedict Eshleman, 2. Ann (late widow of John Miller), m. Daniel Kendrick, 3. Barbara, m. Michael Harnish, 4. Mary, m. John Neff, 5. Susannah, m. Peter Good, 6. Magdalena 7. John, a son, was indebted to the estate, 8. Henry, a son, was indebted to the estate.
June 1786, John Haldeman and John Breneman executors of John Stayman of Donegal, divide balance of their lands as follows: To Mary, the widow, ----------------------- 729 John, eldest son, -------------------------- 243 Ann, wife of John Cryder, ------------------243 Elizabeth, wife of Frederick, Gilbaugh, ----------------------------------243 Christian, ----------------------------------243 Jacob, ------------------------------------ 243 Mary, -------------------------------------243 2,187[pounds] In 1791, John Haldeman, executor, makes a further distribution to same heirs, of 9551 [pounds]. 1786, Maria Steman (Mary above, appointed guardian of Maria (also Mary above) minor daughter of John Steman late of Donegal. John Grieder (Cryder above) of Donegal appointed guardian over Jacob Steman minor son of John Steman, under fourteen years of age. (missing lines) John Steman of Manor settled with his son Jacob in 1792, Release of heirs of John Steman, late of Manor, viz Joseph Steman, John Steman, Samuel Steman, Christian Kauffman, Henry Neff The latter two being sons-in-law. January 15, 1793 Henry Steman, of Conestoga, and his wife Feronica convey to Benedict Eshleman, land that was conveyed to him, on November, 1784 by John Steman, of Hempfield, eldest son of John Steman, late of Conestoga, and Barbara his wife. John Steman, of Conestoga, had the following children: 1. John, who moved to Hempfield, 2. Henry, 3. Elizabeth, m. Benedict Eshleman, 4. Ann, m. Daniel Hendrick, of Dover, York county, 5. Barbara, m. Michael Harnish, 6. Mary, alias Margaret, m. Isaac Kauffman, of Manchester, York county. John Steman and John Miller bought 222 acres of land from Christian Brubaker in 1773, situated in Hempfield township, now East Hempfield. In 1782, John Miller sold his share to John Steman.
1792, John Steman of Manor, left children: 1. Joseph 2. John 3. Jacob 4. Samuel 5. Abraham 6. Ann, wife of Henry Neff 7. Elizabeth, wife of Christian Kauffman John B. Haldeman (1778-1836) and John B. Gish married daughters of Jacob Steman. Jacob Steman owned farms in Manor adjoining John (1792) and was probably a brother. (Note re above -- Jacob is a son, not the brother of John. Shown above in the listing of children left at his death.) Henry Haldeman (1787-1849)..Frances Steman..Samuel Steman, the latter probably a son of John. 1795 Samuel Steman leaves wife Mary and one daughter, Frances, who later married Henry Haldeman. 1796, Jacob Strickler, William Wright, John Bernhard, executors of Samuel Steman, late of Manor. Ann Steman, minor daughter of Jacob Steman, late of Manor, chooses John Haldeman, of Donegal, her guardian. He was also appointed guardian for John Steman, a minor child under 14. July 29, 1800, Abraham Steman, of Manor, appointed guardian for Frances, under 14, daughter of Samuel Steman, of Manor. Thomas Boude was appointed guardian later, and on April 18, 1808, James Graham was appointed, and on Aug. 22, 1810, John B. Haldeman was appointed. She married Henry Haldeman, October 29, 1811. Frances and Ann, the daughters of Jacob and Samuel above referred to were first cousins. 1799 Jacob Stehman, of Manor, leaves wife Barbara and following children: 1. John, 2. Nancy, 3. Elizabeth He appoints his brother Abraham one of his executors. 1799, Abraham Steman, of Manor, and Henry Breneman, of Donegal, appointed guardians of John, Ann, and Elizabeth, minor children of Jacob Steman, both under 14. (Ann married John B. Haldeman, and Elizabeth married John B. Gish). 1794, Henry Steman, deceased, late of Conestoga. 1794, John Steman, son of Henry Steman, chooses his guardian, being over 14. Frena, Henry, Jacob and Benjamin, under 14, had guardians appointed for them.
April 16, 1793, Henry Steman, of Conestoga, son of John, died leaving widow, Barbara, who died January, 1793, and the following children: 1. John 2. Frena 3. Henry 4. Jacob 5. Benjamin All were minors at the time except John. (Note re above -- Henry was married to Feronica Neff, not "Barbara" as was shown in this research previously when they conveyed land to Benedict Eshelman. Also, Feronica did not predecease him, living until 1844.) Abram Steman left a widow, Elizabeth, and two children: 1. Susannah, m. Christian Herr, 2. Elizabeth 1805, Jacob Witmer, of Manor, appointed guardian of Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Steman, then under 14. When over 14, she selected Jacob Strickler for her guardian. 1807, Christian Herr married Susannah, daughter of Abram Steman, late of Manor. 1814, Ann, widow of F. Gilbaugh: children 1. Fanny 2. Catherine 3. Harriet 4. Barbara 5. Benjamin 1815, Mary Steman, widow of John Steman, late of Conestoga, children: 1. Tobias 2. Christian 3. John 4. Jacob All under 14 years. 1816, Jacob Steman, minor son of Jacob Steman, of Donegal, selects John Leeb. of Warwick, as his guardian. He was also appointed guardian of Elizabeth Steman, under fourteen. The following are the children of above Jacob Steman, deceased: 1. John, over 14 2. Jacob
3. Martha (who married John S. Breneman), 4. Elizabeth (who married Benjamin Herr). The last three at the time were under 14. His estate amounted to nearly $70,000. September 19, 1818, release of Jacob Steman, son of Jacob Steman to Christian Breneman, of Columbia, his step-father. 1827, John Steman and his wife, Elizabeth, convey 110 acres to Jacob Charles, being same land which was conveyed to the former on May 30, 1818 by Christian Steman and his wife, Elizabeth. In 1788 John Stehman married Susanna Kagy, of Martick township, (Note Queries)