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Greathouse Point > Greathouse Archives > USA > PA > Northampton County > Plainfield Township

Greathouse of Plainfield Township, Northampton County, PA

Do you have any Greathouse kith and kin who resided in Northampton County, PA? If so, please join us in our efforts to better document the Greathouse kith and kin who lived in this county, by sending your additions and corrections to Greathouse Point.

Greathouse kith and kin records found in the township:

Records Collection
1751 - 1798 Beyer of Plainfield Township
1773 - Land Warrant: William Krothouse, 10 acres, Plainfield
1775 - Baptism: John Leonard Grothaus, Plainfield Reformed Church
1776 - Map: Northampton County, PA
1776 - Muster Roll: Captain Arndt's Company, Peter Beyer
1784 - Land Survey: William Krothouse, 10 acres, Plainfield
1909 - Rev. W. H. Brong, History of Plainfield Reformed Church
2008 - Proof Argument: William Greathouse In Twain

1778, Jul 2 - Oath of Allegiance: Return of Lewis Stacher, Esquire, Justice of the Peace, Plainfield Township

135. July 2 - William Grothous
151. July 7 - Leonhard Beyer

Analysis: Lewis Stacher was also Captain of the 4th and 6th companies of Plainfield Township, 2nd Battalion, Northampton County Militia, under whom William Grothous served as a Corporal from 1780-1783. It is logical to assume this William Grothous was also a resident of Plainfield Township or the surrounding area when his son, John Leonard was born on 10 Sep 1775, when he took the oath in 1778 and while he was serving in the militia of the township from 1780-1783.

For more about Leonhard Beyer, see also: Beyer of Plainfield Township

1780 - Plainfield Township: The following is a list of the taxable inhabitants of the present county of Northampton, together with their occupations, and the assessed value of their property in the year 1780. It is copied from the original "Return for Northampton County, of the eight-monthly tax. Beginning from the 1st of January to 31st of August, 1780."

Grothouse, William; taylor; tax: L48.

1780, May 16 – Plainfield: Muster Roll of Capt. Lewis Stacher’s Company, 2nd Batt. North’ton Co.:

Corp’s: William Grothouse

1781, Apr 10 – Plainfield: A List of the 4th Company of the 2d Battalion of Militia of Northampton County, Captain Lewis Stacher:

Corporals: William Grothause

1781, Jul– Plainfield: A Class Roll of Fourth Company of the Second Battalion of the Northampton County Militia, Captain Lewis Stacher.

Corporals: Will’m Grothouse

I do hereby Certify that the above Class Roll is a trued Class Roll of my Company. Witness my hand the 30th Day of Nov’r 1782. Lewis Stacher, Capt.

1781, Aug 8 - Tax Assessment: Plainfield Township

William Grodhaus, 10 acres, Warrant land.

1781, Sep 1 – Plainfield: A Class Roll of Capt. Stacher’s Company, Captain Lewis Stacher.

Corps.: William Grothouse

1781, Sep 18 - Tax Assessment: Plainfield Township

Grothouse, William; L 0 . 2 . 0.

1782 - Tax Return: Plainfield Township

Wilhelm Grothaus

1782, Apr 18 – Plainfield: A Class Roll of the Fourth Company of Militia of the Second Battalion of Northampton County delivered to the Lieutenant of the County by Captain Lewis Stacker.

Corps.: William Grothause

I do Certify that the above Class Roll is a true Class Roll of my company. Witness my hand the 30th day of Nov’r 1782. Lewis Stacker, Capt.

Note: Duplicate rosters with different last name spellings. William Grothouse, Page 173; William Grothause, Page 175.

1782, Jun 12 - War Supply Tax: Plainfield Township

William Grothouse, L 0 . 3 . 9.

1782, Jun 20 - Tax Assessment: Plainfield Township

Wilhelm Grothaus, L 0 . 15 . 0.

1783, Sep - A Class Roll of Captain Lewis Stacker, 6th Company, 2nd Battalion, Northampton County Militia.

Cop'l: William Goothouse

(c.) To the Honourable the Council of Safety for the State of Pennsylvania.
The Petition of Henry Geiger Esqr., Colonel of the second Battalion of Associators for the County of Northampton.
Humbly Sreweth that he is arrived in the "City of Philadelphia" with six Companies of the said Associators in their way to the Camp but as many of the Men are not provided with arms and necessaries, they will be obliged to lay still for a Day or two until supplied. And some of the Companies haveing applied to the Commisarie for Provision was refused which has occasioned several of the men to return home.
Your Petitioner therefore humbly Pray that your Honourable Body would be pleased to give such orders, and also direct me to act in your wisdom shall seem meet. --
And your Petitioner as in duty bound shall ever pray --
Henry Geiger, Colonel.

(c.) To the Honourable the Council of Safety for the State of Pennsylvania.
Whereas the second Battalion of Associators of Northampton County now in Philadelphia, on their way to Camp are deficient of a Quarter Master and Pay Master, the following Persons are recommended as fit, for the said Commissions By Henry Geiger Colonel of said Battalion v.izt.
John Jennings for Quarter Master and Richard Backhouse as pay Master.
pr. Henry Geiger, Colonel.

(c.) I do Certify that Jacob Sorber of the 3d Class in my Company of Militia found a substitute in his stead to wit Daniel Hunt who was out under my Command on Duty in the said Class and therefore the said Sorber is not liable to pay Fine.
Witness my hand Sept. 30th 1783
Jacob Heller, Capt., 3rd Company, 2nd Battalion.

Conclusion:

Based on records available for Plainfield Township and Upper Saucon Township, two adult men have been identified with the name of William Greathouse, residing in their respective townships of Northampton County, PA.

Evidence obtained from concurrent oath of allegiance entries, birth and baptism records, tax assessments, militia rosters, land records, will and estate settlement findings, for both men, from their respective townships, strongly supports the following:

The evidence leaves no doubt that there were two adult men with the name of William Greathouse, one residing in Plainfield Township and the other residing in Upper Saucon Township, both of Northampton County, PA.

William Grothouse of Upper Saucon Township was assessed on tax lists consistently with Thomas Owen. It is also known that William married Mary Owen, the sister of Thomas Owen. William and Mary Owen Grothouse were residents of Upper Saucon Township, Northampton County, PA up through 1791, when the couple moved to Mifflin County, PA where William Grothouse first appeared on tax assessment lists of the county in 1791.

William Grothaus of Plainfield Township was not listed on extant tax assessments and returns or on militia rosters of the township after 1783.

From Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, "Penn in Hand", Vol. 21, no. 2 - - June 2000:

Tax lists can be very helpful in establishing the comings and goings of individuals. When someone “disappears” from a particular township’s list, it ordinarily means the person either died or moved elsewhere.

Therefore, either William Grothaus died about 1783, while residing at Plainfield Township, or he moved elsewhere.

Conversely, it would be logical that when someone "appears" on a particular township's list, it ordinarily means the person either moved into the township from elsewhere or it could mean that a son, who had been living with a resident of the township, had come of age, where he had moved out on his own, and was taxed as a free holder, if he had acquired land in the township.

 

 

Sources:

Plainfield Reformed Church, Church Records of the Plainfield Reformed Church, Plainfield Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania 1763-1853, Vol. 1, Copied by Wm. J. Hinke, Feb - Mar 1934. Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society, Lancaster, PA. John Leonard, son of William & Maria Grothaus. Online: cover: http://www.footnote.com/image/229079309.

Ibid., Plainfield Reformed Church, Page 6, Rev. John Wm. Weber: http://www.footnote.com/image/229079311.

Ibid., Plainfield Reformed Church, Page 8 , John Leonard, son of William & Maria Grothaus. Online: http://www.footnote.com/image/229079312.

St Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Origin of the Plainfield Church. Online: http://home.epix.net/~stpeters/churchhist/originplnfldchrch.html.

Ibid., History of Early Churches. Online: http://home.epix.net/~stpeters/churchhist/buildinghist.html#history.

John T. Humphrey, Pennsylvania Births: Northampton County 1733-1800.

1776 Map of Northampton County

Pennsylvania Archives, 2nd Series, Vol 3, Names of Persons Who Took the Oath of Allegiance to the State of Pennsylvania Between the Years 1776 and 1794. Page 4: http://www.footnote.com/image/3072053; Page 5: http://www.footnote.com/image/3072057.

Plainfield Township, Northampton County, PA. Oath of Allegiance: Return of Lewis Stacher, Esquire, Justice of the Peace, Plainfield Township. William Grothous, line 135 - Online: http://www.footnote.com/image/228574078. Leonhard Beyer, line 151 - Online: http://www.footnote.com/image/228574054. Document photos by: Dick Musselman, Nazareth, PA, email: ram@enter.net.

Ellis, Northampton County History, 1877, 1780 - Tax List: Plainfield Township. William Grothouse, Page 75-76.

Northampton County, PA GenWeb, 1780 - Tax List: Plainfield Township. Online: http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/northampton/history/local/davis/davis08.txt.

Second Battalion, Northampton County Militia. Pennsylvania Archives, Series 5, Volume VIII. 1780, May 16 - Plainfield Township: William Grothouse, Page 122. . Online: http://www.footnote.com/image/3421090/grothouse.

Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Revolutionary War Militia Organization: Northampton Co., PA. Online: http://www.portal.state.pa.us.

Second Battalion, Northampton County Militia. Pennsylvania Archives, Series 5, Volume VIII. 1780, May 16 - Plainfield Township: 1781, Apr 10 - Plainfield Township: William Grothause, Page 138. Online: http://www.footnote.com/image/3421192/grothause.

Ibid., Second Battalion. 1781, Jul - Plainfield Township: Will'm Grothouse, Page 148. Online: http://www.footnote.com/image/3421257/grothouse.

Plainfield Township, Northampton County, PA. 1781, Aug 8 - Tax Assessment: William Grodhouse. Document photo by: Dick Musselman, Nazareth, PA, email: ram@enter.net. Online: cover - http://www.footnote.com/image/228667311; page - http://www.footnote.com/image/228667312; close-up - http://www.footnote.com/image/228667313

Second Battalion, Northampton County Militia. Pennsylvania Archives, Series 5, Volume VIII. 1781, Sep 1 - Plainfield Township: William Grothouse, Page 149. Online: http://www.footnote.com/image/3421271/grothouse.

Plainfield Township, Northampton County, PA. 1781, Sep 18 - Tax Assessment: William Grothouse. Document photo by: Dick Musselman, Nazareth, PA, email: ram@enter.net. Online: http://www.footnote.com/image/228667314.

Plainfield Township, Northampton County, PA. 1782 - Tax Assessment: Wilhelm Grothaus. Document photo by: Dick Musselman, Nazareth, PA, email: ram@enter.net. Online: cover: http://www.footnote.com/image/231318131; page: http://www.footnote.com/image/231318132

Second Battalion, Northampton County Militia. Pennsylvania Archives, Series 5, Volume VIII. 1780, May 16 - Plainfield Township: 1782, Apr 18 - Plainfield Township: William Grothouse, Page 173. Online: http://www.footnote.com/image/3421451/grcthouse

Ibid., Second Battalion. 1782, Apr 18 - Plainfield Township: William Grothause, Page 175: William Grothause. Online: http://www.footnote.com/image/3421464/grothause.

Plainfield Township, Northampton County, PA. 1782, Jun 12 - War Supply Tax: William Grothouse.Document photo by: Dick Musselman, Nazareth, PA, email: ram@enter.net. Online: http://www.footnote.com/image/231318133

Ibid., Plainfield Township. 1782, Jun 20 - Tax Assessment: William Grodhouse. Online: cover: http://www.footnote.com/image/231318129; page: http://www.footnote.com/image/231318130

Second Battalion, Northampton County Militia. Pennsylvania Archives, Series 5, Volume VIII. 1780, May 16 - Plainfield Township: 1783, Sep - Philadelphia: William Goothouse, Page 218. Online: http://www.footnote.com/image/3421789/goothouse.

Ibid., Second Battalion. 1783, Sep - Philadelphia: Letter from Colonel Geiger to Council of Safety, PA: Page 202. Online: http://www.footnote.com/image/3421671.

Ibid., Second Battalion. 1783, Sep - Philadelphia: Captain Heller Certification: Page 222 - http://www.footnote.com/image/3421822.

Pensylvania Genealogical Society, "Penn in Hand", Vol. 21, no. 2 - - June 2000. Online: http://www.genpa.org/research_taxrecords.html.

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