Genealogy Data Page 97 (Notes Pages)

Note: THE PROGENITORS OF THE BERGEY FAMILY IN AMERICA
The first knowledge we have of John Ulrich Bergey and his
wife Mary dates from their purchase of a tract of about 250
acres of land in Lower Salford Township, in what was then
Philadelphia County but is now Montgomery County, Pennsylvania,
on the fifteenth of March, 1726. How long they had resided in
the province previous to this date can not be stated. Neither
is it known from whence they came, but it is believed that they
came from Switzerland.
Mr. O. B. Sauder, Chicago, Ill, has an old book in which
there is a record of a portion of the family. The statement is
made therein that the Bergey family came from Switzerland and
arrived in Pennsylvania in 1719.
Whether John Ulrich was married before coming to America
has not been learned; neither has it been ascertained what was
the surname of his wife Mary. Heckler, in his History of Lower
Salford township, states that 'there is some reason to believe
that she was a daughter of Gerhart Clemens,' but the reason for
this belief has not been discovered. The records of the Gerhart
Clemens family do not support the belief.
The following is a copy of the deed conveying the tract of
land which John Ulrich Bergey and his wife Mary purchased of
Hugh Roberts in 1726.
'This Indenture made the Fifteenth day of March in the
year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and twenty-six,
Between Hugh Roberts of the City of Philadelphia in the
Province of Pennsylvania Cooper and Rachel his wife of the one
part and John Ulrick near Perkeomy Creek in the county of
Philadelphia in the said province, Yoeman of the other part
WITNESSETH, That the said Hugh Roberts and Rachel his wife for
and in consideration of the sum of five shillings lawful money
them in hand paid by the said John Ulrick the receipt whereof
they do hereby acknowledge, have bargained and sold and by
these presents Do bargain and sell unto the said John Ulrick A
certain Tract of Land on Perkeomy Creek aforesaid in the said
county of Philadelphia beginning at a black oak at a corner of
Garrett Clemens' land southwest one hundred and four perches to
a post in a line of Reese Williams' land. Then by the same
North West North West thirty eight perches to the said Reese's
corner, then South West by said Reese's land forty perches to a
post. Then North West two hundred and sixty perches to a post.
Then North East one hundred and forty perches to a post. Then
by said Garrett Clemens' land South East three hundred perches
to the place of beginning containing two hundred and fifty
acres with allowance together with all and singular ways,
woods, waters, watercourses, fishings, fowlings, huntings,
hawkings, rights, liberties, privileges, hereditaments and
appurt's, whatsoever thereunto belonging or in any wise
appertaining and the revisions and remainders rents issues and
profits thereof, TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said tract of land
hereditaments and premises hereby bargained and sold or
mentioned to be bargained and sold with the appurt's unto the
said John Ulrick his executors, administrators or assigns from
the day of the date hereof for and during and unto the full end
and term of one year from thence next ensuing, and fully to be
compleat and ended to the intent and purpose that by virtue
hereof and of the statute for transferring of uses unto
possession, the said John Ulrick may be in the actual
possession of all and singular the premises, hereby bargained
and sold or mentioned to be bargained and sold with the
appurt's and may be enabled to take and attest of a release and
confirmation thereof to him, his heirs and assigns for ever. In
Witness whereof the said parties to these presents have
interchangeably sett their hands and seals hereunto the day and
year above written.
Hugh Roberts (seal) Rachel Roberts (seal)
Sealed and Delivered by the above named Hugh Roberts in the
presence of
Nicholas Scull Gabriel Hinton
Sealed and delivered by the above named Rachel Roberts in the
presence of
Henry Pennebeker Gabriel Hinton
The name given in the body of the deed is 'John Ulrick'
followed by a blank space. This indicates that the person
writing the deed was uncertain as to the proper spelling of the
surname, and the name was not completed when the deed was
signed.
On 26 January, 1728, John Ulrich Bergey and wife Mary sold
100 acres of their tract of land to Jacob Enger, but retained
the remainder as their homestead. On this land they erected
buildings near the northeast branch of the Perkiomen Creek.
Here they lived and raised their family, and here they died.
John Ulrich Bergey and his wife Mary were Mennonites as
shown by the fact that he was one of the originators of the
congregation in Salford in 1738. His name appears among those
to whom the meeting-house, and tract of land on which it stood,
was transferred by the ministers and deacons of the
congregation.
John Ulrich Bergey's name appears in other records which
indicate that he was a man of prominence in his community and
was trusted by his associates and neighbors. His name is
appended to a Petition to Governor Gordon, dated 10 May, 1728,
in which the inhabitants of the frontier petition for
protection against possible danger from the Indians.
In 1741, he was one of the witnesses to a deed for land
conveyed by Gerhart Clemens to his son, Abraham Clemens. In
1756, he was one of the overseers of the poor in Lower Salford
township. In 1760, he was supervisor of the roads of the
township, and in the same year his name appears in a list of
persons who offered free board to a poor woman of the township.
On July 8th, 1748, John Ulrich Bergey was appointed one of
the trustees for the administration of the estate of his
neighbor and friend, Rev. Dilman Kolb by the provision of his
last will and testament.
At a session of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, held in
Philadelphia on the 12th and 13th days of April, 1743, John
Ulrich Bergey was naturalized. He had conscientious scruples to
taking an oath and was affirmed.
John Ulrich Bergey made his will 9 November, 1762, and it
was probated 11 December, 1762, indicating that he died between
these two dates. He was a comparatively young man as shown by
the fact that only several of the older children were married,
while the younger children were still under age.
The following is a copy of the Will.
'In the name of God, Amen. Whereas I, John Woolery Barkey
of Lower Salford, in the county of Philadelphia and Province Of
Pennsylvania, Yeoman, do find myself weak in body, but praised
be God, of sound memory and understanding therefore I do
herewith this ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord,
One thousand seven hundred and sixtytwo make my Last Will and
Testament, in manner and form that is to say I give and devise
my immortall soul in to the Hands of the Almighty God through
the mercy of his son Jesus Christ and my body unto the earth to
be decently Buryed according to the direction of my hereafter
named executors and concerning my worldly estate I will the sd
disposed according to my direction following; viz.: I will that
all my legall debts and funerall charges shall be paid after my
decease by my Executors hereafter named. Item I give and devise
unto my loving wife Mary the sum of one hundred lawful money of
Pennsylvania to be paid to her directly after my decease,
besides a compleat new feather bed, Pillows with double cases
to the beds and Pillows and bedstead and all the furniture
belonging to it. Item all her clothes and one equal share with
my eleven children of all sorts of linnens, shects, towels and
table cloths and one cow to be kept for her at free fodder and
pasture (on the place whereon I now dwell) by my hereafter
mentioned son Michael or his assigns during such time as she
pleaseth in case she remaineth my widow, besides free lodging
and wood on the sd Place during the aforementioned conditions
and Term and one Iron Pott, a frying pan, besides two Pewter
dishes, all which I give unto her in lieu of her thirds,
besides that I give unto her the further sum of one hundred
pounds which shall be left on my place and the interest at the
rate of five per cent. annually paid to her as long as she
remaineth my widow during her natural life, but in case she
marrieth again then ysd sum shall be divided directly among all
my children by equal shares as well as after her decease,
Provided my sd children are then all of age.
Item I give and devise unto my son Michael my Plantation
and Tract of Land situate in Lower Salford aforesaid containing
about one hundred and sixty acres (be ysd more or less)
Together with all and singular ye Buildings, Improvements
thereto belonging or in any wise appertaining with the
appurtenances thereof, to have and to hold the said one hundred
and sixty acres (be ysd more or less) according to meets and
bounds conveyed to me by Hugh Roberts and his wife. Together
with all and singular the improvements and appurtenances
thereof unto the sd my son Michael and to his heirs and assigns
forever, for which said my plantation my said son Michael and
his heirs or assigns is to pay the full sum of Six Hundred
Pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania in manner and forms
following; vize, first the sum of One hundred pounds or better
say the interest thereof at the rate of five per cent to my
wife annually during her life if she remaineth my widow
according as above already directed concerncing the said sum of
one hundred pounds and the Residue of five hundred pounds he is
to pay fifty pounds thereof annually to my heirs without
interest. Thus he is to pay one hundred pounds thereof as soon
as my wife marries again or dieth (But in ye meantime ysd
interest to Her) to my sd children and annually fifty pounds to
them without interest until that part of the five hundred
pounds of the sum of Six Hundred Pounds is fully paid which
will make ten annual payments commencing directly at the time
of my decease besides which sd sum my sd Son or his heirs or
assigns is to allow unto my wife on the sd Place free and
convenient lodging sufficient firewood one Cow in free keeping
as above already Provided and reserved for these articles
concerning ye sd my Wife Mary. Then I bequeath to my oldest son
John the sum of ten Pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania as
advance before my other children because of his age and to my
son Samuel I give the sum of Eight Pounds of the sd money for
each year he has worked for me since he is past his lawful age
he being at present still with me and now past his twenty-sixth
year of age, and to my daughter Mary I give the sum of Ten
Pounds advance in consideration of her working for me after her
lawful age all the rest of my real and personal estate I give
and devise unto my eleven children; namely, John, Michael,
Isaac, Samuel, Mary, Elizabeth, Christian, Abraham, Ana,
Fronica and Salome in equall shares to every one of them and to
the heirs of their body legally begotten forever. But whereas I
gave to my son John after he was married in value ye sum of
seventy eight pounds nine shillings and three pence and to my
son Isaac in value the sum of thirtysix pounds nineteen
shillings, and to my daughter Elizabeth ye amount of Twenty
seven pounds fourteen shillings besides what ye have borrowed
of me therefore the said sums are to be charged to the estate
and deducted of their proper equal share at the time of the
first dividend which is to be made between my children one year
and one day after my death and to be paid to every one of my
children which are at that time of age and to the minors when
they arrive to their age. But whereas at the time nine payments
of my son Michael (for my real estate) are not elapsed I will
that afterwards annually ysd payments of fifty Pounds after the
same is paid shall be equally divided among ye sd my eleven
children or theirs, and I by virtue of these presents
constitute and appoint my two sons John and Michael sole
Executors of this my Last Will and Testament revoking and
annihilating herewith all my other Wills and Testaments
formerly made by me Ratifying and declaring these presents for
my True and Effective last Will and Testament In Witness
whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal the day and year
first above said.
John Woolery Barky (seal)
Signed Sealed and Delivered in the presence of
Andrew Ziegler Henry Ledraugh
Abraham Clemens

Philada 11th December, 1762, Then Personally appeared
Andrew Ziegler and Abraham Clemens, two of the witnesses to the
foregoing Will and on their solemn affirmation according to law
did declare they saw and heard John Woolery Barkey the Testator
therein named sign seal and Publish and declare the same Will
for and as his Last Will and Testament and that at the doing
thereof he was of sound mind memory and understanding to the
best of their knowledge.
Coram Wm. Plumsted Rgr. Gen.

Be it remembered that on the 11th day of December 1762 the
Last Will and Testament of John Woolry Barkey dec'd in due form
of law was Proved and Probate and Ltrs. Testamentary were
granted to John Barkey and Michael Barkey, Executors, in the
Said Will named being solemnly affirmed well and truly to
administer the sd dec'd estate and bring an Inventory thereof
into the Regr. Genl's office at Philadelphia on or before the
11th of January next and render a true account when thereunto
legally required given under the said Wm. Plumsted, Regr.
General.
The will of John Ulrich Bergey is recorded in Book M, p.
448, in the office of the Register of Wills at Philadelphia.
The widow of John Ulrich Bergey died in the year 1789.
Letters of Administration on her estate were granted to her son
Christian, 11th May, 1789.
John Ulrich Bergey and his wife Mary are buried at the
Salford Mennonite Meeting House. Their graves were marked with
field stones until July, 1907, when a granite monument was
erected on the spot by the Bergey family association, and
unveiled with appropriate ceremony 27 September, 1907.
The Family Name
In a deed, given in 1728, in which John Ulrich Bergey
conveys 100 acres of his land to Jacob Enger he writes his name
Hans Ulrich B?rgy. This is the earliest signature that has been
found and it is presumed that this is the original spelling of
the family name. John Ulrich's name as appended to his Will is
either written with assistance or it is an attempt to anglicize
it so as to make it more readily comprehensible by English
speaking persons.
John Ulrich Bergey's sons used three different renditions,
as Bergey, Berge, and Berky. By far the greater number of the
descendants of John Ulrich write their name Bergey. Some of the
descendants of John write the name Berky. A few of the
descendants of Isaac and all the descendants of Abraham write
the name Berge. Some of the descendants of Isaac also write the
name Bergy.

Source: (Name)
Title: Genealogy of the Bergey Family
Abbreviation: Genealogy of the Bergey Family
Author: David Hendricks Bergey, M.D.
Publication: Frederick H. Hitchcock Genealogical Publisher
Call number: G3151
Repository:
Name: Unknown
Page: 5

Birth: 1702 Switzerland or Saxony, Germany

Event: Type: Land Owner
Date: 15 MAR 1726
Note: purchased about 250 acres of land between the Skippack and the
Perkiomen creeks in Lower Salford Twp, now Montgomery Co,
Pennsylvania.