Seilhammer Surname
The Seilhammer surname is German in origin. It seems that the Seilhammers originated in the area of Germany called Hessen. Over the past several hundred years, the spelling of the name has changed. Spellings have ranged from Seilheimer (probably the most “authentic” German spelling), to Seilhammer, to Salehamer (anglicized).1st Generation:
Johann Phillip Seilheimer was born in September 1674 in Framersheim, Hessen, Germany. He died on February 7, 1743/4 in Framersheim, Germany.
He spent his whole life in Framersheim, Germany. He was married there on June 22, 1700 to Anna Catherine Beckenbach. They had at least one child: Johann Christoffel (see next generation). Johann Phillip died on February 7, 1743/4. His wife had died in 1724.Johann Phillip married Anne Catherine Beckenbach on June 22, 1700 in Framersheim, Germany. She was born on February 18, 1680/1 in Kongernhein, Germany. She died on June 3, 1724.
They had at least one child:
1 Johann Christoffel Seilhammer
2nd Generation:
Johann Christoffel Seilheimer was born on December 1, 1715 in Framersheim, Germany. He died on March 31, 1758.
Johann Christoffel married Maria Juliana Haas on January 30, 1741/2 in Framersheim, Germany. She was born on March 31, 1724 in Neider Saulheim, Germany. She died in 1760.Father: Johann Phillip Seilheimer He married to Maria Juliana Haas on January 30, 1741/2 in Framersheim. He had at least one son: Johann Nicholas (see next generation). Johann Christoffel died on March 31, 1758, his widow Maria died in 1760.
Mother: Anne Catherine Beckenbach
They had at least one child:
1 Johann Nicholas Seilhammer
3rd Generation:
Johann Nicholas Seilheimer was born circa 1749 in Framersheim, Germany. He died on October 17, 1822 in Licking Creek Valley, Mifflin (now Juniata) Co., Pennsylvania.
Johann Nicholas married Marsilea Elisabeth Pohl in September 1773 in Rotterdam, Holland. She was born in December 1749 in Hawsland, Germany. She died in July 1849 in Lurgan Twp., Franklin Co., Pennsylvania.Father: Johann Christoffel Seilheimer He decided to come to America as a young man and was married to Marsilea Elisabeth Pohl in September 1773 in Rotterdam, Holland. Then Johann and Marsilea left Rotterdam aboard the ship “Charming Molly.” They arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on October 22, 1773. Johann Nicholas and Marsilea settled in Pennsylvania. Nicholas served in the American Revolution in Captain Bartholomew Von Heer’s Company. He enlisted on July 11, 1777 and was discharged in 1781 at Trenton, New Jersey.
Mother: Maria Juliana HaasNicholas and his family first settled at Berks County, Pennsylvania. They had at least 3 children: Johann Conrad (see next generation), Johann William, and Susanna. They eventually settled in the Licking Creek Valley in Mifflin (now Juniata) County, Pennsylvania. Johann Nicholas died on October 17, 1822. His widow Marsilea died in 1849 in Franklin County, Pennsylvania.
They had at least 3 children:
1 Johann Conrad Seilhammer 2 Susanna Seilhammer was born circa 1790. 3 Johann William Seilhammer was born in September 1776 in Heidelberg, Berks Co., Pennsylvania. He died on September 18, 1826 in Licking Creek Valley, Mifflin (now Juniata) Co., Pennsylvania. He married Elizabeth Houltry.
4th Generation:
Johann Conrad Seilhammer was born on February 5, 1785 in Heidenberg Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania 5. He died sometime between 1816-1820 in Jefferson Co., Virginia (now West Virginia).
Johann Conrad married Sophia circa 1801 in Pennsylvania. She was born circa 1781 in Pennsylvania. She died on September 21, 1856 in Dayton, Montgomery Co., Ohio 6.Father: Johann Nicholas Seilheimer Eventually he moved to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, which is probably where he was married to Sophia in about 1801. By the late 1800’s, they moved to Chester County, Pennsylvania. Together, they had 6 children: Elizabeth (see next generation), Anna, John, Sarah, Julia, and Phebe.
Mother: Marsilea Elisabeth PohlIn the early 1810’s, Conrad moved with his family to Jefferson County, Virginia (now West Virginia). He enlisted in the army there during the War of 1812. He joined the 5th Regiment of the Virginia Militia on April 1, 1813. He died sometime between this date and 1820. His widow continued living in West Virginia until the 1840’s, when she moved to Ohio where she died in 1856.
They had the following children:
1 Elizabeth Seilhammer 2 Anna Maria Salehamer was born on August 14, 1805 in West Cocalico Twp., Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania 2. She died sometime between 1805 and 1820 in Pennsylvania or Virginia. 3 John William Salehamer was born on June 2, 1807 in West Cocalico Twp., Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania 2. He married Mary Morgan on September 2, 1835 in Berkeley Co., Virginia (now West Virginia). 4 Sarah Salehamer was born on June 19, 1810 in Brandywine Twp., Chester Co., Pennsylvania 6. She died on March 29, 1888 in Wapakoneta, Auglaize Co., Ohio 6. She married Archibald Butt on May 11, 1834 in Berkeley Co., Virginia (now West Virginia). 5 Julia A. Salehamer was born circa 1815 in Jefferson Co., Virginia (now West Virginia). She married Jacob Silver on October 26, 1837 in Berkeley Co., Virginia (now West Virginia). 6 Phebe Salehamer was born circa 1816 in Jefferson Co., Virginia (now West Virginia) 7. She died on April 8, 1881 in Dayton, Montgomery Co., Ohio 6. She married Alfred Hooper on April 18, 1839 in Berkeley Co., Virginia (now West Virginia).
5th Generation:
Elizabeth Salehamer was born on March 19 1 or June 22 2, 1803 in West Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She died on September 21 3 or 24 1, 1866 in Shelby Twp., Ripley Co., Indiana.
Elizabeth married Isaiah Custer on June 5, 1825 in Berkeley Co., Virginia (now West Virginia) 4.Father: Johann Conrad Seilhammer The correct spelling of Elizabeth's last name is not easily determined. The name was spelled SELHEIMER in her baptism record and SALEHAMER in her marriage record. It appears that SALEMHAMER was the spelling adopted by her father and most of his descendants. In her early childhood, Elizabeth moved with her family to what is now Berkeley County, West Virginia. There, Elizabeth, married to Isaiah Custer on June 5, 1825. Then in about 1829, she moved with her family to Hopewell Township, Seneca County, Ohio. Within about two or three years they moved to Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio. In 1836, Elizabeth moved a final time to a farm in Shelby Township, Ripley County, Indiana.
Mother: SophiaIsaiah and Elizabeth were farmers and were members of the Hebron Baptist Church in nearby Jefferson County, Indiana. Isaiah Custer died on August 17, 1862. Elizabeth died on September 24, 1866. Both were buried in the Hebron Baptist Church Cemetery in Monroe Township, Jefferson County, Indiana.
For more information on their children, see his page.
Sources:
1. Tombstone inscriptions, Hebron Baptist Church Cemetery, Jefferson Co., Indiana
2. Swamp Reformed (Little Cocalico) Church, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 1788-1822. (Ancestry.com)
3. DAR records
4. Virginia Marriages, 1740-1850. (Ancestry.com)
5. Berks County, Pennsylvania, 1745-1805: Cacusi or Hain's Reformed Church
6. Online gedcom family files
7. Assorted US Federal census records