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Ancestors of Katelyn Renee Rigsby

      1776. John Reay, died Unknown. He married 1777. Mary.

      1777. Mary, died Unknown.

Child of John Reay and Mary is:

888

John Reay, born Abt. 1750 in Sunderland, Durham, England; died Unknown; married Margaret Cowan April 07, 1781 in Sunderland, Durham, England.

      1778. George Cowan, died Unknown. He married 1779. Ann.

      1779. Ann, died Unknown.

Children of George Cowan and Ann are:

	889	i.		Margaret Cowan, born April 12, 1765 in Southshields, Durham, England; died Unknown; married John Reay April 07, 1781 in Sunderland, Durham, England.
		ii.		Thomas Cowan, born September 21, 1766 in SouthShields, Durham, England; died Unknown.

      1780. George Carter, born June 18, 1720 in Sunderland, Durham, England; died Unknown. He was the son of 3560. Stephen Carter and 3561. Joan. He married 1781. Ann Johnson September 30, 1744 in Sunderland, Durham, England.

      1781. Ann Johnson, died Unknown.

Child of George Carter and Ann Johnson is:

890

William Carter, born January 11, 1763; died Unknown.

1808. Barzillai Newbold, born November 13, 1710 in Springfield Twp., Burlington Co., NJ; died July 15, 1757 in Mansfield Twp., Burlington Co., NJ. He was the son of 3616. Michael Newbold II and 3617. Rachel Clayton. He married 1809. Sarah Core 1734 in Chesterfield Twp., Burlington Co., NJ.

1809. Sarah Core, born Abt. 1712 in Burlington Co., NJ; died October 17, 1784 in NJ. She was the daughter of 3618. Enoch Core and 3619. Sarah Roberts.

Notes for Barzillai Newbold:
Barzillai was born in Springfield Township, Burlington County, West Jersey, November 13, 1710, and died in Mansfield Township, Burlington County, July 15, 1757. He was a blacksmith by trade, and held many public offices: collector, overseer of the poor, freeholder. He married in 1734 Sarah Core, daughter of Enoch Core and Sarah Roberts. Like his brothers Thomas and Michael, Barzillai built a substantial brick house, in 1740, still standing on the left side of the road from Columbus to Freehold, at the corner of the road to Georgetown and about one mile west of Thomas'; it is now known as the Bowne House. Barzillai and Sarah had two maturing sons: Thomas and Joshua. Both started male descent which has continued to the present day.
The unusual name Barzillai - appearing first in the Newbold family in the present member (144) and used again twice in the Fifth Generation, twice in the Sixth, and twice in the Seventh (by descendants of Thomas: 141 as well as Barzillai: 144) - is Biblical in origin. He is twice mentioned in the Second book of Samuel as tcBarzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim, a very aged man, even fourscore years old" (Samuel 2: 17:27-29and 2: 19: 31-39).

The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, Vol. 51, #1, Jan 1976, p. 5-10:
lists m, d info.

Families History of Philadelphia by Houston p. 269:son of

Comly Family in America, George Norwood Comly, 1939, p. 807: b, m, d
date. He was a blacksmith by trade and settled in Mansfield Twp., where
from 1740 until his death, he occupied a prominent position. 11 Jan 1740
he was chosen collector of the Township and was reappointed the
following year. 9 Mar 1741/2 he was chosen Overseer of the Poor and was
reelected the following year. From 1774/5 until 1750 he was one of the
Freeholders of the Township. 29 Nov 1721 he was left, by his father's
will, 600 acres in Upper Springfield Twp., 400 acres in Hunterdon Co.,
one negro man and one colt. 18 May 1736, he gave to his brother Thomas
200 pounds for 105 acres of land in Mansfield Twp., and settled there.
Some of Barsillai's descendants claim that Barzillai should not be
called "Blacksmith" when he was such a large landholder and held such a
prominet position. But in spite of all this priominence he was evidently
proud of his trade, for in writing his will he did not say "Barzillai
Newbold, farmer, landholder, gentleman," but "Barzillai Newbold,
blacksmith." His will was signed 10 Jan 1757, proved 29 Aug 1757, filed
in the State House at Trenton, Lib 8, p. 434.

Notes for Sarah Core:
The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, Vol. 51,
#1, Jan 1976, p. 5-10: a minor (under 21) in her mother's will. m. 2nd
m. 1734, Barzilla Newbold in Evesham MM.

Comly Family in America, George Norwood Comly, 1939, p. 807: m, d, date

Children of Barzillai Newbold and Sarah Core are:

904	i.	Thomas Newbold, born March 07, 1733/34 in Mansfield, Burlington Co., NJ; died November 26, 1786 in Wrights Twp., Burlington Co., NJ; married Ann Lamb April 03, 1765 in Burlington Co., NJ.
	ii.	Margaret Newbold, born February 21, 1736/37 in Mansfield, Burlington, NJ; died February 19, 1738/39.
	iii.	Sarah Newbold, born January 21, 1738/39 in Mansfield, Burlington, NJ; died February 19, 1808; married Unknown Barton; died Unknown.
	iv.	Enoch Newbold, born July 01, 1742 in Mansfield, Burlington, NJ; died August 15, 1749.
	v.	Hannah Newbold, born March 28, 1745 in Mansfield, Burlington, NJ; died Unknown; married Phillip Dennis; died Unknown.
	vi.	Rachel Newbold, born April 26, 1751 in Mansfield, Burlington, NJ; died Unknown; married Benjamin Paxon November 15, 1797; died Unknown.
	vii.	Joshua Newbold, born November 14, 1753 in Mansfield, Burlington, NJ; died December 06, 1835; married Rebecca Atkinson September 24, 1780; died Unknown.

1810. Joseph Lamb, born Abt. August 1715 in Burlington Co., NJ; died Abt. July 15, 1794 in New Hanover Twp., Burlington, NJ. He was the son of 3620. Jacob Lamb and 3621. Ann. He married 1811. Rebecca Budd March 28, 1737 in Upper Springfield, Burlington Co., NJ.

1811. Rebecca Budd, born Abt. September 13, 1714 in Rahway Union, St. Mary's, NJ; died Abt. December 1783 in Upper Springfield, Burlington Co., NJ. She was the daughter of 3622. William Budd and 3623. Elizabeth Stockton.

Notes for Joseph Lamb:
. He was
buried about 17 Jul 1794 in New Hanover Twp., Burlington Co., NJ. :b.
info m. info Upper Springfield,Burlington,Quaker Records,NJ: d info :
New Hanover Twp,Burlington,Quaker Records,NJ He was married to Rebecca
BUDD on 28 Mar 1737 in Upper Springfield, Burlington Co., NJ.

Notes for Rebecca Budd:
She was christened on 4 Nov 1714 in St. Mary's Church, Burlington Co., NJ.
She died about Dec 1783 in Springfield Twp., Burlington Co., NJ. b.
info, chr info, Rahway, Union, St. Mary's, NJ, d. info Up. Springfield,
Burlington, Quaker Records,N.J.

Children of Joseph Lamb and Rebecca Budd are:

	i.	Jacob Lamb, died Unknown.
	ii.	Elizabeth Lamb, died Unknown.
905	iii.	Ann Lamb, born Bet. 1740 - 1743 in Upper Springfield, Burlington Co., NJ; died March 24, 1787 in Springfield, Burlington Co., NJ; married Thomas Newbold April 03, 1765 in Burlington Co., NJ.
	iv.	Rebecca Lamb, born Abt. May 26, 1742; died Unknown.
	v.	Nehemiah Lamb, born Abt. December 11, 1749 in Springfield, Burlington Co., NJ; died Abt. 1782; married Lettice Foster September 12, 1772 in Burlington Co., NJ; born Abt. February 22, 1755 in Up. Springfield, Burlington, NJ; died Unknown.

1816. Balthaser Pauley Bortner, born 1698 in Oberhockstad, Pfalz, Bayern, Paltinate, Germany; died March 03, 1746/47 in Tulpehocken, Berks Co., PA. He married 1817. Maria Elizabetha Merrilis Abt. 1720 in Oberhockstad, Pfalz, Bayern, Paltinate, Germany.

1817. Maria Elizabetha Merrilis, born 1695 in Oberhockstad, Pfalz, Bayern, Paltinate, Germany; died 1750 in Tulpehocken, Berks Co. PA.

Notes for Balthaser Pauley Bortner:
Notes for BALZER BORTNER:
His birth date may be 1697 or 1698 also. He probably died and was buried
around the Philadelphia area. Balzer, his wife, son Jacob and infant son
George arrived in Phildelphia on the ship "Adventure" in September 1732.
He lived and died in Lancaster Co., PA, this area is now Berks Co.

The Palatinate was a part of Bavaria, Western Germany, and the Swiss lands about Zurich. The
Palatine Lutherans suffered both from religious persecution and from economic distress after the Thirty
Years War. Penn visited the Palatinate three times to invite its oppressed people to his new colony. The
first of them arrived on the Concord in 1685. thousands of them landed in the next hundred years to
make up no small part of our colonial population. These people, by no means unimportant in the
development of our country, were particularly strong in Philadelphia and S.W. of that city, where they
became known as Pennsylvania Dutch. They were not Dutch nor Hollanders in any sense of those terms.
Ethnically, they were Swiss, Alemanni, Franks, and Bavarians; geographically, they were a part of
Western Germany. Their only contact with Holland was a long and tiresome wait at Rotterdam while they
awaited the coming of a British ship long overdue. Unquestionably, many of them worked out their
passage in the new country. We do not know whether Balzar Bortner had to do this or not. We can
readily assume that crossing the ocean was not pleasant. References to exposure of the body to the
elements as well as to the gaze of one's fellows, to filthy and vermin-infested quarters, to meager rations
at the best, to moldy grain supplemented or replace entirely by rats and mice, selling at an English shilling
apiece, should the crossing be too long and too rough, are shockingly frequent in the records of the day.
More About BALZER BORTNER:
Burial: Berks Co., PA
Immigration: 23 September 1732, Philadelphia, PA
Occupation: Farmer
Religion: Reformed/Lutheran

Further Information: http://tnnet.com/sfm/D0005/I0285.html

Info from Dr. John Getz:
Came to America because of persecution. On passenger list of "Adventure" arr.
22/Sep/1732, at Phila. PA. Baby in arms (George) Settled in Lancaster Co. (now
Berks) at Tulpehocken. Left from there because of Indians and reports of good
land in York Co. PA. Was confirmed into the Evangelical Church, Niederhochstat
(Lower Hochstadt) in 1710. This area is west of the Rhine, known as the
Palatinate( Pfalz) the area constantly changed from French to German rule.
Was confirmed in 1710 at Niederhochstadt Reformed acc. to Burgette.

Robert Curson was the Master of the ship Adventure, from Rotterdam, qualified
23/ Sep/1732 in Philadelphia.

Notes for BALTHASER PAULEY BORTNER: (These Notes come from Stephen F. McGovern)

BIO: Balthaser Bortner was born around 1698 in the Palatinate, most
likely in Oberhochstadt. The village of Hochstadt was mentioned in
documents for the first time in the year 776. In the middle of the
15th century an adjacent village was founded west of the Haardt
Mountains; it was called "Oberhochstadt", while the original village
was called "Niederhichstadt". Today both are united in one village
named "Hochstadt"; it has the zip code number 6741.
Hochstadt is several miles northeast of Landau in that part of the
Palatinate, west of the Rhine River, that was coveted (along with
Alsace, Lorraine, and the Netherlands) by King Louis XIV of France.
During the several french invasions in the latter part of the 17th
century and the early part of the 18th century, it was severely
ravaged.
There are records from the Evangelical Churches of Niederhochstadt
and Oberhochstadt showing: Balthasar Bortner from Oberhochstadt being
confirmed in 1710 in Niederhochstadt, and Johan Jacob Bortner, son of
Balthasar and Elisabetha Bortner being baptized August 10, 1731, in
the Oberhochstadt church. The sponsors were Jacob Sauter and
Apollonia Meyer, both single.
The Johan Jacob Bortner mentioned previously was either Jacob
Bortner who was born around 1720, or another son called Johan who must
have died young (since the Adventure has no listing for him in 1732).
The records do not indicate which case may be true.
It is believed that Balthaser and his family left their homeland
to escape tyranny and oppression, to escape the ruins and horrors of
frequent wars, to avoid religious discrimination, and above all, to
enjoy all of the fruits of their own labor. They were doubtless
peasants in the old country, and the position of peasants had only
slightly improved since the Middle Ages. From their standpoint, the
political and religious climate of William Penn's Colony, as well as
its natural soil and climate, were better than in any other American
Colony. And Penn's agents had long advertised among and solicited
German protestants to come to his Colony. These sturdy farmers were
among the best in Europe. They were desirable immigrants, as well as
ripe for the plucking away from their homeland.
Balthaser and his family arrived in Philadelphia in September,
1732 on the ship, "Adventure", from Rotterdam, Holland. They had
probably started from their home in the Upper Rhine River Valley in
the previous Spring. The voyage down the Rhine by barge took five or
six weeks; the ocean voyage was longer. And there were delays in
waiting for a ship at Rotterdam, and after taking the ship there was a
stopover at Cowes on the Isle of Wight in the English Channel. Such
voyages involved much suffering -- bad food and water, overcrowding,
coldness, wetness, stench, and much sickness and disease. Some died.
Survivors had to be strong and healthy as well as courageous.
According to the passenger list, Balser Bortner (Balser is short
for Balthaser), age 34; arrived with his wife, Maria Elisabetha
Bortnerin, age 37; and his two children, Jacob Bortner, age 10; and
Anna Maria Barbara Bortnerin, age 8. According to family legend,
another son was "a babe in his mother's arms" when they arrived in
Philadelphia. This was George Bortner. It is possible he was born in
Germany before the trip, but there is no record of this. Another
possibility was that he was born in transit, since the total voyage
was several months, but this is my speculation, though it would
explain why there is no entry for George on the passenger lists.
The names were misspelled on the passenger lists as Porterner, but
these misspellings were common. The English-speaking people had a
difficult time with German names. Also it appears that Jacob's age
was incorrectly reported as ten instead of twelve, but this may have
been to save on the fare for his ocean passage by Balthaser.
On the Oaths of Allegiance taken September 23, 1732 by all the
heads of families of the passenger ship "Adventure", we have a written
signature of 'Balser Bortner'. The Bortner's evidently spoke High
German and the recorded wills of the early Bortners were written in
High German. The early Bortners were also members of both the German
Reformed and the Lutheran churches.
The Host Reformed Church of Berks County was founded in 1727 at a
place called "Host", located on the Tulpehocken Trail between the
Delaware Indian Village of Shamokin on the Susquehanna River (present
Sunbury) and Womelsdorf in the Tulpehocken Settlement. Host is about
three miles northwest of Womelsdorf; both are also located on
Tulpehocken Creek. It is believed that "Host" was derived from
"Hochstadt"; the 'ch' being pronounced like 'sch'.
The Host Reformed Church records began in 1748, the year after the
death of Balser. However, there are records of his son, Jacob, being
confirmed, and that some of his children were baptized there. Also
earlier church records were found for the baptism of Balser's
daughter, Maria Elisabetha, by the Reverend John Casper Stoever, in
1738 at Christ (Little Tulpehocken) Church (Evangelical Lutheran).
This church, founded in 1734, then housed in a log structure, was in
the Tulpehocken Settlement, located in the Northeastern part of
Lancaster County. Later in 1752 most of that area became the Western
part of the newly-created Berks County. Today this church is located
1 1/2 miles Southwest of the Village of Bernville in Jefferson
Township, Berks County. And records for a marriage of a daughter in
1748 in Christ Lutheran Church (Tulpehocken), near Stouchsburg. These
churches were about 4 miles and 3 miles, respectively, from Host. It
is likely that the Balser Bortner family lived near Host.
Perhaps Balser Bortner, like many of his contemporaries, became a
"Redemptioner" (or indentured servant) after his arrival in
Philadelphia, in order to pay for the passage of his family. Such a
period of voluntary servitude might have lasted as long as four or
five years. In any event, the family was doubtless together on a farm
during that period.
There is no record that Balser purchased land for a farm from the
Proprietors, who were then sons of William Penn. It is possible that
he settled as a squatter, as many did, on the land in the Tulpehocken
Settlement owned by the Proprietors, and that he cleared the land of
trees and built a log cabin for a home. However, it is also possible
that Balser and his family actually lived on one of the two farms
covered by early Warrants from the Proprietors - one in the name of
his son, Jacob, in Earle Township; the other in the name of his son,
Peter, in Heidelburg Township.

More About BALTHASER PAULEY BORTNER:
Confirmed: 1710
Immigration: September 23, 1732, Philadelphia, PA
Nickname: Balthazar, Balzar, Balser, Blazer
Occupation: Farmer
Religion: Reformed/Lutheran
Spoke High German

Notes for Maria Elizabetha Merrilis:
Notes for MARY ELIZABETH UNKNOWN:
She lived and died in Lancaster Co., Pa, but, is now Berks Co., PA.

More About MARY ELIZABETH UNKNOWN:
Burial: Berks Co., PA
Immigration: 23 September 1732, Philadelphia, PA
Occupation: Homemaker
Religion: Reformed/Luth.

Notes for MARIA ELIZABETHA MERRILIS from Stephen F. McGovern

BIO: Very little is known about the wife of Balthaser Bortner, Maria
Elisabetha. Mostly she came to America with her husband in 1732 and
is believed to have died around the time of her husband. She is
believed to have been from the same area in Germany as Balthaser. For
more information about the family, read the biography on Balthaser
Bortner (#44).
More About MARIA ELIZABETHA MERRILIS:
Immigration: September 23, 1732, Philadelphia, PA
Nickname: Mary Elizabeth
Occupation: Homemaker
Religion: Reformed/Lutheran

Children of Balthaser Bortner and Maria Merrilis are:

		i.		Anna Maria Barbara Bortner, born 1724 in Oberhochstad Pfalz Bayern Palatinate germeny; died Unknown; married Henry Kann February 17, 1747/48 in Tulpehocken, Berks Co., PA at Christ Luthern Church; born Abt. 1729; died Unknown.
		ii.		Sarah Bortner, born 1727 in Oberhochstad Pfalz Bayern Palatinate germeny; died Unknown.
		iii.		Jacob Bortner ¹⁸¹², born August 10, 1731 in Bayern Pfalz, Oberhochstadt, Rhine, Germany ¹⁸¹³; died February 22, 1792 in Bethel Twp, Berks Co., PA¹⁸¹³; married Sarah Balt 1753¹⁸¹³; born Bet. 1720 - 1725¹⁸¹³; died Abt. 1800 in Berks Co., PA¹⁸¹³.

Notes for Jacob Bortner:

Notes for JACOB BORTNER:
Jacob Bordner was a member of King George's Army in 1746. The army, of about 400 Pennsylvanians grouped together with other British colonists and British regulars, was formed to invade Canada (which became known as "King George's War"). The army disbanded before an invasion was carried out. - David Becker

More About JACOB BORTNER:
Christened: ?, (08/10/1721-31)
Confirmed: 1753

More About Jacob Bortner:
Occupation(s): Farmer¹⁸¹³

Notes for Sarah Balt:
Alternate Spelling: BOLT

908	iv.	George Bortner, born 1732 in Bayern Pfalz, Oberhochstadt, Germany; died January 02, 1801 in Cordus Twp., York Co., PA; married Marie Appolinia Floucher Abt. 1759 in Berks Co., PA.
	v.	Peter Bortner, born 1734 in Tulphocken, Berks Co., PA; died Bef. 1760.
	vi.	Philip Jacob Bortner, born 1736 in Tulphocken, Berks Co., PA; died August 17, 1786 in Pinegrove, Berks Co., PA; married Maria Elisabetha Velt August 09, 1760 in Berks Co., PA. at Bethel Church; born September 04, 1741 in Bethal Twp., Berks Co., PA; died 1800.

Notes for Philip Jacob Bortner:
BORTNER, PHILIPP JACOB and wife MARIA ELISABETHA (Bethel)
Bortner, Heinrich, b 04 24 1761; bap 05 1761, Spon. Heinrich Mueller and wife Jacobina.
Bortner, John George, b 02 1 1763; bap 04 1 1763, Spon. George Velten and wife Anna Maria.
Bortner, Johannes, b 06 3 1765; bap 06 16 1765, Spon. Johannes Felten and wife.
- Baptismal Records of Rev. John Casper Stoever found at http://www.chm.davidson.edu/pagenweb/records/StoeverBaptisms.txt

More About Philip Jacob Bortner:
Occupation: Farmer

Marriage Notes for Philip Bortner and Maria Velt:
Alternate marriage date is August 19, 1760

		vii.		Phillippina Rozena Bortner, born 1736 in Tulphocken, Berks Co., PA; died February 19, 1772 in York Co., PA; married (1) Charles Schaefer 1755; died Unknown; married (2) Frederick Frasher 1761; died Unknown.
		viii.		Mary Elizabeth Bortner, born March 08, 1736/37 in Tulphocken, Berks Co., PA; died Unknown in NC or TN (?); married Michael Low; born 1734 in Tulpehocken Township, Berks Co., Pennsylvania; died Unknown in Scott Co., Tennessee..

Notes for Mary Elizabeth Bortner:
nickname: "Betsy"

More About Mary Elizabeth Bortner:
Christened: April 30, 1738, Bernville, Berks Co., PA

Notes for Michael Low:
nickname: "Grand Mickey"
Moved from NC to TN in 1776

MICHAEL "GRAND MICKEY" LOW (my 6th great granddad)
The first permanent settler, according to available records, was Michael Low, who brought his family here from North Carolina and settled on Smoky Creek in 1776. The land which he possessed was under a North Carolina land grant. It included the land which borders on each side of Upper Smoky, to the top of the mountains on both sides. The fertile creek bottoms were planted in corn and vegetables, and the vast tracts of virgin timber remained uncut for many years as a haven for the wild animals which were plentiful at that time. "Grand Mickey," as Low was commonly called, was Scotch-Irish. The Scotch side of his stock showed up remarkably in the frugality of his ancestors, and so did the Irish, in their independent ways, which often led to disputes and fights among the "clans." Their ancestors became involved in numerous lawsuits which left them but small profit from these vast tracts of virgin timber. Trees six to seven feet in diameter were not unusual.

According to historical data furnished by one of the older settlers of Scott County, there was a Cherokee and his wife living on Smoky Creek when the first settler, Michael Low, arrived. The Native American had been banished from his tribe in North Carolina before coming to Smoky. Shortly afterward he accused Grand Mickey (name by which he is familiarly referred to) of casting amorous glances at the pretty, young squaw. Soon after when Grand Mickey went to fish in a deep hole in Smoky Creek, he spied the Native American lurking in the bushes nearby, evidently waiting for him to cast his line and become quietly engaged in fishing, when he could, unoticed, aim a death-dealing shot with his bow and arrow. Apparently undisturbed, Grand Mickey nonchalantly picked up his hog rifle and killed the Cherokee on the spot. Since that time the deep hole of water has been known as Indian Hole.

According to stories by relatives of Grand Mickey, the squaw remained in the Smoky settlement and was cared for by the white settlers. She left some half-breeds whose blood can be traced through several generations of the Lowes. However, intermarriage of the races was relatively small in Scott county in comparison with some of the other counties in East Tennessee where the tribes had settlements. Grand Mickey was a famous hunter, and many were the glowing yarns spun about his prowness in that direction. He was especially fond of hunting bears, which were plentiful at that time. Once he was supposed to have crawled in a cave, where he was punching about with a stick. When an angry bear tried to get out over him, the two became hung in the hole; and by the time Grand Mickey managed to back out of it, he was badly lacerated by the furious animal.

A favorite story told by descendants was that Grand Mickey's wife (Elizabeth Bordner) went to a spring for water, when she saw a big bear also coming toward it. She started running with her wooden pail, and the bear went after her. She tossed the pail down, and the bear stopped for a second to examine it, then took up the chase again. Piece by piece she threw down most of her clothing, the animal slowing down each time, then making for her again. By the time she had reached the door of the cabin in the clearing she could almost feel the bear's hot breath at her back. She managed to reach safety nearly completely exhausted but in time to bar the door against the intruder.

Every man on Smoky old enough to carry a gun joined the Union forces during the Civil War. At one time Rebel forces came, and the Union men hid out. The militant, pioneer women of the country rode for miles after dark to carry their men food, risking their lives in the effort. Smoky Creek was soon settled by more Lowes, the Hembrees, Massengales, McGees and the Llewellyns.

From the book "Scott County and it's Mountain Folk" by Esther Sharp Sanderson

Michael Low

Or "Grand Mickey" as his descendents refer to him. According to local legend, he was the first permanent white settler in the area. He settled in
what is now known as Smokey Junction. He is listed in the early Anderson County census records as living in Clinton, but it is not known if he
actually resided there, or if the census takers just listed him there to simplify records. There is a lot of mystery surrounding this man. We know
the following:

A- He was born in Pennsylvania in 1771 and was in the area that became Scott County by 1795.

B- His wife's name was either Elizabeth or Maria Elizabeth Bordner and she, too, was born in PA.

C- He was the first white settler in the area and he fought in the War of 1812.

Beyond that, we can speculate the following:

A- He was probably born in Berks County, PA and, due to the pronunciation of Low as similar to cow, was probably the grandson of Christian
Lau.

It is known that Christian's son Philip had a son named Michael Lau in 1771 and, while the records of the rest of the family are quite complete,
this Michael seemed to disappear. No further info can be found.

You will notice that our Grand Mickey's second son was named Philip.

B- Maria Elizabeth was almost assuredly the granddaughter of Balthaser Bordner, who also lived in Berks County, PA. Since we don't know
what year she was born, it is difficult to find a possible match.

Perhaps someone reading this will have further information.

ALSO:

There were several LOW / LOWE families in the area during the 1750 to 1850 time period. Most notable of these was Abraham Low of Knoxville,
and it took this writer over a year of research before he came to the conclusion that Grand Mickey was probably NOT Abraham's son. Be that as
it may, it is safe to say that most, if not all, of the Low / Lowe's in Scott County today are descended from our Michael.

In the book Dusty Bits Of The Forgotten Past - Author and copyright date unknown - there is mention of Michael having a brother named
Fielding Low, who ended up in Morgan County, just next door to Scott. Since we haven't been able to verify this one way or another, and since
the only descendent of Fielding's that returned my E-mail's didn't know anything about it, I only mention it here in the hopes that some future
researcher might find something and share it with the rest of us.

More About Michael Low:
AKA (Facts Page): LAU

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