Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Descendants of John Tanner

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Descendants of John Tanner

Generation No. 1

1. JOHN¹ TANNER was born Abt. 1745, and died 1833 in Derry twp., Columbia Co., Pa.. He married M. ?. She died 1822 in Derry twp., Columbia Co., Pa..

Notes for JOHN TANNER:
JOHN TANNER

The oral history of John Tanner states that he came from Germany to fight in the
American Revolutionary War. No proof of this has been found but a John Tanner had
enlisted on Jan. 19, 1776 as a private under Col. Anthony Wayne, according to a book
titled “Pennsylvania in the Revolution” 1775-1783 Vols. 1 &II, dated 1880 , found in
the Berwick Historical Soc. in Berwick, Columbia Co., Pa. There was no record found in
the National Archives of a John Tanner from Pa. receiving a pension. It could be that he
wasn’t in long enough as it appears that his enlistment only lasted until Nov.26, 1776 and
he might not have re-enlisted or according to records in the same book, a veteran had to
be in need of assistance before a pension was awarded.
Since the name Tanner seems to have various spellings, such as , Tarner, Terner,
Tenner, Tonner and Turner, it is sometimes difficult knowing if you have the right one.
The history from his son Adam Tanner stares that the name was originally spelled Toerner
and the letter o dropped to anglicize the spelling making it Terner. The only persons that
used that spelling appears to have been John’s son Peter (from his grave marker) and
Peter’s son John S. Terner. But then Peter’s tombstone was erected by his son, who
always used that spelling. Peter’s Letters of Administration in the Columbia
Co.courthouse has the Tanner spelling. All of the other descendants spell it as Tanner.
There has been no Tanner in any of the spellings found in the area of Columbia/Montour
Co., Pa. until the census of 1820. But in 1800 a John Tanner is found in Centre Co., Pa. .
That area would have been very wild at that time. Since Peter and his wife Lydia both
died in 1816 it is assumed that the whole family was probably here, arriving between 1810
and 1816. By 1820 John and his wife are elderly, approximately 70+. Their children and
their spouses are also in the area, except for Joel. By 1830 John’s wife has died. There
are two pieces of stone , serving as grave markers, in the Strawberry Ridge Cem., Derry
Twp., Montour Co., Pa., next to the grave stones of Peter Terner and wife Lydia Terner.
It is taken for granted that they are John Tanner and wife because one is engraved with the
initials J.T. 1833 and the other , M.T. 1822. The will of John Tanner(spelled Turner by
the lawyer) was made Sept. 22, 1827 and probated on Nov. 26, 1833 in Columbia Co.,
Pa. Phillip Deiffenbacher was appointed executor and requested the sale of his (John’s)
land to pay his debts on Jan. 27, 1834. Sale being made on Feb. 28, 1834 to John
Springer. The land was bounded by the properties of Robert Clark, George Cotner, John
Springer and others and according to the old maps of Montour Co. it appears to be
located in what is now the property of the Washingtonville Power plant , a short distance
from the cemetery.
John Tanner and his wife had five boys and two daughters. To date , the boys names
are Jacob, Peter, Henry W., Adam and Joel and the daughters are Susannah and
Catharine.
1. Jacob and wife Susannah Springer,(also Mary, maybe a second wife), seems to have
had no children and stayed in the area. They are in the 1830 census.
2. Peter and wife Lydia Shiffer both died in 1816 leaving a small son, John S. Terner ,
who appeared to be raised by Catharine, Peter’s sister .
.3. HenryW. and wife Sarah stayed in the area and had 9 children and many
descendants.

4. Adam Tanner and wife Mary moved to Ohio in the 1830’s. They had 6 children and
many descendants.
5. Joel Tanner has not been found yet but the last letter sent to his brother Adam was
dated Apr. 8, 1876
6. Susannah married John Herr, and had at least 4 children
7. Catharine, married John Shiffer, appears not to have had any children and raised her

More About JOHN TANNER:
Burial: Strawberry Ridge Cem., Montour Co., PA.

More About M. ?:
Burial: Strawberry Ridge Cem., Montour Co., PA.

Children of JOHN TANNER and M. ? are:

JACOB² TANNER, b. Abt. 1780; m. (1) SUSANNA SPRINGER; m. (2) MARY ?.

Notes for JACOB TANNER:
Jacob Tanner was married to Susanna Springer, daughter of Conrad Springer And his wife Mattina. They don't appear to have had any children. Among the property records, he is mentioned as having a wife named Mary. She may be his second wife. He was also described as a yeoman.
According to the will of Conrad Springer, Jacob was allowed to buy 120 acres at $10 an acre. This he did April 1, 1817 for the price of $1166.60. The property was part of the land granted to William Tilghman in Derry twp.. then Columbia Co., now Montour Co., Pa. on Aug. 15, 1806. It was bordered by the lands of; Robert Clark, Frederick Dieffenbacher, John Springer, Joseph Springer, John Rishel. ( Columbia Co. Court house, Bloomsburg, Pa., Deed book, 4, page 21). He then sold 22 acres of the above property to his brother-in-law John Springer for $333. on Dec. 25, 1819. ( Deed book 3, page 429) and again on Feb. 15, 1821 another 6 acres 4 perches, for $90. (Deed book 3, page 432) Then on Mar. 20, 1839 he and Mary sold 61 acres, 10 perches to Samuel Lowry for $976. (Deed book 8, page 132). This land was bounded by the lands of John Springer and James Clark. Mary was taken aside by the magistrate to see if she was willingly agreeing to sell the property. She was stated as being " of age". It may be that she was a young second wife. There is no known grave marker for Susanna Tanner but in the Strawberry Ridge Cem, Montour co., Pa. there is a stone with the initials S. T. alongside the stone for John Tanner , her father-in-law. She is mentioned in the deed dated, Feb. 15, 1821. And there is a wife listed in the 1830 census for Pa.
Jacob Tanner seems to have either died or moved out of the area since he can not be found in the 1840 or 1850 census.

2.	ii.	PETER TANNER/TERNER, b. Oct 18, 1789; d. Abt. Aug 1816, Derry twp., Columbia Co., Pa..
3.	iii.	SUSANNAH TANNER, b. May 21, 1790; d. Mar 25, 1858, Derry twp., Columbia Co., Pa..
4.	iv.	HENRY W. TANNER, b. May 06, 1793; d. Dec 09, 1878, W. Hemlock twp., Montour Co.,Pa..
	v.	CATHARINE TANNER, b. Jul 04, 1797; d. Jun 11, 1875, Derry twp.,Montour Co., Pa.; m. JOHN SHIFFER; b. Nov 02, 1780; d. Jun 15, 1861, Derry twp.,Montour Co., Pa..

More About CATHARINE TANNER:
Burial: Strawberry Ridge Cem., Montour Co., PA.

More About JOHN SHIFFER:
Burial: Strawberry Ridge Cem., Montour Co., PA.

5.	vi.		ADAM TANNER, b. Jan 27, 1798, Pa.; d. Apr 08, 1876, Dalton,Ohio.
	vii.		JOEL TANNER, b. 1802.

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