Notes for Anthony Bierly: [Brøderbund WFT Vol. 4, Ed. 1, Tree #3611, Date of Import: Dec 29, 2000]
Anthony Bierly was a prominent pioneer in Brush Valley in Centre County, Pa., probably the first white settler in the valley. He is the progenitor of all the Bierlys in Sugar Valley in Clinton County, Pa. and Brush Valley. Anthony was born in Germany. He came to America in 1743 with his parents. On December 5, 1778, Anthony was granted a warrant of survey for 200 acres of land in Northumberland (now Snyder) County, Pa.. He was assessed in Penn township, Snyder County, Pa., for the first time in 1778. He probably did not become a resident of Penn Township until after 1785. In 1787 he was taxed with 250 acres of land and personal property and lived somewhere along the Mahantango Creek near McKee's Half Falls, Snyder County. In 1790, Anthony's family consisted of one male over and three under 16 years of age, and seven females. By 1881 all the children were dead. When Anthony's son John was only several months old, Anna Marie hid him in a sugar trough in the woods during an Indian attack while the rest of the family fled. The savages did not discover him, and upon their return to the settlement the family found him safe. Because of the Indian trouble called the "Great Runaway" in 1778, Anthony left Snyder County and fled to the southern counties of Pa. to live along the Mahantango Creek. During the Revolutionary War Anthony served part of the time in the militia and part of the time as a "minute Man", ready to fight at a moments notice. It is not known what engagements he took part in. It is believed that he was a teamster in the army. On one or two occasions while he was still living along the Mahantango he joined parties following Indians who had murdered white families. In the spring of 1791 at the age of 49, Anthony left his tract in Snyder County and with his family travelled to Brush Valley in Centre County. They travelled through the Brush Valley Narrows with a team (probably oxen) and a cart constructed of wood from the nearby forests. Anthony, it is believed, was the first man to ever travel into Brush Valley on a wheeled vehicle. The road they used was constructed by Col. Samuel Miles a short time previous to their arrival. Col. Miles owned most of Brush Valley at that time, and he constructed this road through the entire length of the valley for the convenience of the settlers who were buying land from him. The road was in very poor condition for some time after it was built. That spring of 1791, Anthony brought his family over the new road when moving to their new tract of 300 acres. At this time Brush Valley was a part of the unsettled wilderness filled with wild animals and forests. Because of the poor travelling conditions on the road, it was slow travelling and they were obliged to camp overnight in the mountainous narrows. The situation was not very pleasant with mountains and deep forests in every direction and wolves howling around the family all night. Anthony and his son Nicholas had been up during the previous fall to clear a small piece of land and put in grain for the family's subsistence. It was probable that a few squatters had erected a few huts here and there in the wooded valley prior to 1791, thus on Anthony's tract, a Mr. Benjamin Strawbridge had cleared about a half acre of ground and had built a hut on this tract before Anthony had arrived. Upon reaching his tract, the work of clearing the land and building a log cabin was begun. Anthony's lease for this tract was one of the few still known to be in existence in 1883. Its conditions were representative of most of the leases given out at that time. It stated that Anthony was required to pay all taxes or assessments that might be made; to plant an orchard of apple trees containing at 100 trees of a reasonable size within four years of the date of the lease; to clear and to put into good English grass, 7 acres of ground at least for meadow; and to put in good fence all improved parts. It was further stipulated that he should purchase the tract during the term of the lease and Col. Miles was to convey on the following terms: "That the purchase money shall be 32 shillings per acre, with interest from April 1, 1791 to the time of making purchase; one fourth part of the whole purchase money to be paid at the time of making the purchase, the remainder in four annual payments". Records from Miles Township, Northumberland (now Centre) County showed that in 1799 Anthony's tax on real estate was 1.89 pounds and his tax on personal estate was .11 pounds. Anthony was said to have been a man of note in his day, possessing an unusually keen intellect and forceful character. He was an astrologer and practiced it a time at Guy. He took an active part in the development and improvement of his locality and was especially interested in the village of Rebersburg, which was established on part of his tract of land. Anthony was one of the leaders in his community and was primarily responsible for the building of the first church building in Brush Valley in 1804 or 1805, which was on the site which subsequently became Rebersburg. It was a small log building and there were neither a stove or fireplace in it for a number of years. The officers of the church used to build a fire outside for people to warm themselves before and after services. It is related that some of the members of the church used to warm themselves at the bar of the tavern across the street. The Lutheran congregation and the Reformed congregation which were about the only denominations in the neighborhood worshipped in this same building until 1822 when a brick church building was completed. The old log church that was built primarily by Anthony, was torn down in 1826. Anthony and his wife's names appear on the church records of the Lutheran and Reformed church in Brush Valley as early as 1793. most of the early church records were in the German language. When Anthony settled in Brush Valley in 1791, it was in Haines Township. However in 1797 Miles Township was formed out of Haines Township, thus without moving, he became a resident of miles Township. Over time , possibly due to selling land or giving it to some of his children, Anthony's original tract of 300 acres grew smaller. Thus the assessment of Anthony's land grew smaller: 1802; 176 acres, 3 horses, 3 cows; 1807; 167 acres, 2 horses, 2 cows; 1810; 167 acres, 1 horse, 2 cows; 1812; 167 acres, 1 cow. It is said that later in life, but while his two eldest boys were still at home, Anthony became sickly and his two oldest boys had to do much of the family's work. Anthony died quite a few years before his wife did. Here is a brief summary of his will, from what could be understood of it: the will was written on July 20, 1824; John Bierly was the executor; to Nicholas and John, "all my plantation in Miles Township"; to Nicholas, $150.00; to John, $135.00; he left the house and two acres to his wife to live on for the rest of her life; left the stable to his wife; also left to wife one cow and two sheep, which John and Nicholas should pasture on their land and deliver to her one ton of hay each year; John and Nicholas should deliver to the wife's door, 12 bushels of good wheat, and 6 of good rye, 3 bushels of buckwheat, 100 pounds of good pork, 50 pounds of good beef, one bushel of salt, one pound of pepper, $5.00 in cash; John and Nicholas should also deliver enough straw and firewood to her door; the wife will have, the liberty to choose 2 rows of apple trees in the orchard, executor John should take care of her and provide a nurse or doctor if necessary, and on her death John is to pay all funeral expenses; left Anthony, Jr. four acres where his shop stands. Both Anthony and his wife are buried in the Lutheran Reformed Cemetery in Rebersburg, but neither grave is marked.
Pioneer settler of Brush Valley. Bought 300 acres in Rebersberg. Came from Mahantango Creek, Snyder Co. Came to America from Bavaria with parents and brother.[v82t0071.ftw]
"Anthony Bierly" Anthony 1st, son of Melchior, is the one in whom or interest centers. He is our fore-bear. After the Great Runaway he returned to Mahatonga* Creek, Snyder County, Pa. During the Revolution he served part of the time as a "Minute Man" and part of the time in Washington's Army. After the war he went west on an ox-cart redely constructed out of the trees of the nearby forest. He was the first man to traverse the Brush Vally Narrows in a vehicle or wagon. He came to Brush Valley in 1791 and settled orth of Rebersbrg on what was afterwards Peter C. (S.) Bierly's farm. He was an astrologer of note. This family was blessed with twelve children
" For the purpose of comparison and verification the Biographical and Genealogical Sketch on Anthony Bierly, Sr, is here quoted from Linn's "History of Center and Clinton Counties: Helen Glossner Shuman writes"
Bierly, Anthony was one of the pioneer settlers of Brush Valley. He leased a tract of three hundred acres, on part of which Rebersburg is now situated from Col. Samuel Miles in 1791, and it is probable that he brought this family into the valley in the spring of that year. They came from Mahantango Creek, now Snyder County. Mr. Bierly and his son, Nicholas, had been upduring the previous fall to clear and put in grain on a small piece of ground for the family's subsistence. A Mr. Strawbridge had cleared about half an acre and built a hut on this tract when Mr. Bierly first came, and there were a few huts standing in the woods through other parts of the valley." Mr. Bierly's house was situated about mid-way between the present homes of Peter S and Anthony Bierly (III). There are several apple trees around the place which were brought from below, one of which measures thirteen and one-half feet in circumference. During the Revolutionary War, Anthony Bierly served in the malitia, but it is not known in what engagements he took part. On one or two occasions he, with other parties, followed Indians who had murdered white families. This occurred while he and his family were still living along the Mahantago. He came to the valley with his family through Brush Valley, Narrows, over the road which Samuel Miles had opened but a short time before, and was the first man that traveled it in a conveyance. Anthony Bierly was a native of Bavaria, his parents and only brother, Nicholas came to America at the same time probably, but in what year is not known (1743). His brother settled in Ohio somewhere. His father's name was Melchior, and he lived along the Mahantango also until the Indian troubles of 1778, when he left with the "Great Runaway," and never returned from the eastern part of the state. His wife brought along a beautifully ornamented bottle from the old country which is today a cherished relic in the family of a great-grandson, Melchior Bierly, of Rebersburg. Anthony Bierly was married to a Miss Warner; he died in April 7, 1825, and was eighty two years of age. Both he and his wife Anna Marie Warner who was born on Nov. 15, 1752 lie buried in the Lutheran and Reformed graveyard, Rebersburg and neither grave has a tombstone with an inscription. Anna Marie passed away April 3, 1841." "The old genealogy from which this study evolved lists only eleven of the twelve children, with their spouses. Helen Glossner Shuman has verified these and added much additional information to it. ( One of the three son's was John of whom we are related to. John was born February 8, 1779, married Mary Catherine Berry, he died 1887. Both were buried in Tylersville Lutheran Cemetery."
* Mahatonga--This should be Mahantango Creek, Snyder County, located south of Selingsgrove, Pa. This creek is bisected by Routes 11-15 and the Susquehanna River near McKee's Half Falls. The correct spelling of Melchoir is Melchior.
Facts about this person:
Occupation Carpenter and Builder, built the first church at Rebersburg, Pa.
Service Served in the Matitia during the Revolution;
Burial Place Rebersburg Lutheran and Reform Cemetery.Cemetery
More About Anthony Bierly: Baptism: 05 Jun 1748, Montgomery Co, PA. Burial: Unknown, Rebersburg Luth. & Ref. Cemetary. Fact 1: See Note Page.28 Military service: Revolutionary War. Occupation: Farmer.
More About Anthony Bierly and Anna Marie Warner: Marriage 1: Abt. 177329 Marriage 2: WFT Est. 1780-181230, 31
Children of Anthony Bierly and Anna Marie Warner are:
+Nicholas Bierly, b. 19 Jun 1775, Northumberland Co., PA31, 32, d. 25 Jul 1848, Rebersburg, PA33, 34.
Anthony Bierly (b. 22 Dec 1747, d. 07 Apr 1825)
Notes for Anthony Bierly: