Tillman Family of Susan J. Dorey

My Tillmans originated in Prussia; they immigrated to America in 1826 and took up residence in New Jersey. One—my great grandmother—married a Gray.

I recently learned that "Prussia" is not the same as "Germany". Today I believe they came from a place in what is modern Lithuania.

Contents

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At A Glance

In the Beginning

1. Peter Tillman born 1789 Prussia, immigrated to America in 1826, died 1853 NJ. He is my great-great-great grandfather.
wife Maria Sophia Miller born about 1791 Baden? Prussia?

First Generation

1.1 John A. Tillman (1818–1870) born in Prussia, probably died in Bridgewater, NJ
wife Agnes Young (1823–1867) lived NJ and CT
1.2 Mary Christian Tillman (1821– ) born Prussia
husband John Freck (1813– ) born Baden, lived NJ
1.3 Augustus Peter Tillman (1823–1896) born Hilderberg, died Raritan, NJ
wife Magdalene Hollander (1830–1916) born Heidelberg, lived NJ
1.4 Peter Tillman (1831– ) born and lived NJ
wife Matilda Garrison (1837–1923) lived NJ
1.5 Catherine Tillman (1814– ) born Prussia, lived PA
husband Frederic Eberhart (1810– ) born Wurtemberg, lived PA
1.6 Sophia Tillman
husband William Kritcher
1.7 Albert Tillman (?–1850) lived NJ

Second Generation

1.1.1 Elizabeth S. Tillman (1845–1927) born CT, lived in NJ 7
1.1.2 Augustus Tillman (1846–1916) born CT, lived in NJ
1.1.3 John Vaetor Tillman (1849– ) born NJ
1.1.4 Annie Tillman ( – )
1.2.1 George Henry Freck (1849– ) born and lived in NJ
1.2.2 Theodore W. Freck (1852– ) born and lived in NJ
1.2.3 John F. Freck (1854– ) born and lived in NJ
1.2.4 Catherine Freck (1857– ) born and lived in NJ
1.3.1 Elizabeth Tillman (1852–1925) born and lived in NJ
1.3.2 Mary L. Tillman (1856–1917) born and lived in NJ
1.3.3 Edward S. Tillman (1858– ) born and lived NJ
1.3.4 Peter Tillman (1860–1926) born and lived NJ
1.3.5 Katherine Amelia Tillman (1863–1900) born and lived NJ; my great grandmother
1.3.6 John C. D. Tillman (1865–1937) born and lived NJ
1.4.1 George W. Tillman (1855– ) born NJ and lived PA
1.4.2 Mary Tillman (1857– ) born NJ
1.4.3 James Tillman (1859– ) born NJ
1.4.4 Ella M. Tillman (1870– ) born NJ

List of Family Members

There are 46 people listed here, in order by ID.

ID NAME KEY DATES NOTES
1. Peter TILLMAN b. 6-5-1789 province of Tenes Krieseene, northern Prussia
d. 5-9-1853
bur. Old Cemetery, Somerville, NJ 		Immigrated to America in 1826 with wife and children: Catherine, Mary, John, Augustus, Peter, Sophia, Albert.
In 1830 lived in Bridgewater, NJ with 2 male children (John and Augustus), 3 females under 20 (Catherine, Mary, and Sophia?), and wife.
In 1840 lived in Bridgewater, NJ with 2 males age 5–10 (Peter born 1831, Albert?), 1 male age 15–20 (Augustus born 1823), 1 male age 20–25 (John born 1813), 1 female age 10–15 (unknown), 1 female age 15–20 (Mary born 1821), and wife.
In 1850 lived in Bridgewater, NJ with wife and sons Augustus and Peter; he was "copper ruelter" (?), sons were farmers. Lived very near son John TILLMAN. Lived next door to John and Elizabeth MILLER of Germany, 56 and 53 respecitively; may be inlaws. John was a miner.
1. -1 Maria Sophia MILLER b. abt. 1791 Baden, Prussia?
d. February
bur. Old Cemetery, Somerville, NJ 		Appears by name in 1850 census.
Not in 1860 census, so probably dead.
Her birth place is odd as Baden was not in Prussia. Given that her early children were born in Prussia, she was likely born there.
1.1 John A. TILLMAN b. 10-24-1818 village of Sozen (?), Prussia
d. 3-8-1870
bur. Old Cemetery, Somerville, NJ 		In 1850 lived in Bridgewater, NJ with wife and 3 children; miner.
In 1860 lived in Bridgewater, NJ with wife and 3 children; farmer.
On 11-6-1867 applied for passport to travel throughout Europe. Naturalized. 5' 10" tall, blue eyes, black and curly hair. Lived Somerset County, NJ.
1.1 -1 Agnes S. YOUNG b. 12-6-1823 NJ
m. 2-22-1844 Somerset County, NJ
d. 7-16-1867
bur. Old Cemetery, Somerville, NJ
1.1.1 Elizabeth S. TILLMAN b. 8-1847 (or 1845) CT
d. 1927
bur. Old Cemetery, Somerville, NJ 		In 1850 and 1860 lived in Bridgewater, NJ with parental family.
In 1900 lived in Fanwood, NJ with husband Amada and child Anna B.; Amada was farmer.
In 1920 lived in Scotch Plains, NJ with husband Amada; he was elevator operator in factory, age 70.
1.1.1 -1 Amada WOLFE b. 3-1849 NJ
m. abt. 1882
d. 1926
bur. Old Cemetery, Somerville, NJ 		Parents born NJ.
In 1870 lived in Clinton, NJ with wife Mary 23, children Alexander 2 and Emma 4/12, and William Albaugh 75 retired farmer; Amada was a day laborer.
1.1.1.1 Anna B. WOLFE b. 8-1885 NJ
d. 		In 1900 lived in Fanwood, NJ with parental family, age 14.
1.1.2 Augustus TILLMAN b. abt. 1846 CT
d. 1916
bur. Old Cemetery, Somerville, NJ 		In 1850 and 1860 lived in Bridgewater, NJ with parental family.
I could not find him in the 1870 census. Married.
There are two illegible gravestones to the left of Augustus' and the lot is registered as holding Mary and Agnes Tillman, whom I do not know of. Perhaps they are his daughters or wife and daughter.
1.1.3 John Vaetor TILLMAN b. abt. 11-1849 NJ
d. 		In 1850 and 1860 lived in Bridgewater, NJ with parental family.
I could not find him in the 1870 census.
May have married Ann and lived with her in 1880 in Manhattan, NY; conductor.
1.1.4 Annie TILLMAN b.
d. 		Living in 1928.
1.2 Mary Christian TILLMAN b. abt. 1821 Prussia
d. 		In 1850 lived in Bridgewater, NJ with husband, 1 child, his parents, and another couple; he was teamster. Next door lived another Freck family, likely husband John's brother.
In 1860 lived in Bridgewater, NJ with husband and 4 children; he was farmer. Mary was born Prussia.
In 1870 lived on farm in Bridgewater, NJ with husband, 3 children, and John Tillman age 9. John Tillman was "domestic servant". Don't know who he was. Mary was born Baden; likely an error by the census taker.
In 1880 lived as widow in Elizabeth, NJ with son John and his wife Sarah, born NJ about 1856. John was railroad engineer, Mary ran boarding house. Among her lodgers were niece Anna Tillman, age 19, and grandniece Catherine Freck, age 1. Anna Tillman may be #1.1.4.
Family was all dead by 1928.
1.2 -1 John FRECK
(or TRECK) 		b. abt. 1813 Baden
m. 2-12-1842 Somerset County, NJ
d. between 1870 and 1880 		Father: Theobold FRECK. Mother: Margaret FRECK. Both born about 1783 Germany.
Farmer. The 1860 census has his birth place as Bavaria, Germany (although the handwriting is uncertain). The 1870 census has his birth place as Baden; it also has wife Mary with the same birth place (an error).
1.2.1 George Henry FRECK
(or TRECK) 		b. abt. 1849 NJ
d. 		In 1850 lived on farm in Bridgewater, NJ with parental family.
In 1860 lived on farm in Bridgewater, NJ with parental family.
In 1870 lived on farm in Bridgewater, NJ with parental family; railroad clerk.
1.2.2 Theordore W. FRECK
(or TRECK) 		b. abt. 1853 NJ
d. 		In 1860 lived on farm in Bridgewater, NJ with parental family.
In 1870 lived on farm in Bridgewater, NJ with parental family; bank clerk.
1.2.3 John F. FRECK
(or TRECK) 		b. abt. 1854 NJ
d. 		In 1860 lived on farm in Bridgewater, NJ with parental family.
In 1870 lived on farm in Bridgewater, NJ with parental family; machinist.
In 1880 lived in Elizabeth, NJ with wife Sarah, born NJ about 1856, and widowed mother; railroad engineer.
1.2.4 Catherine FRECK
(or TRECK) 		b. abt. 1857 NJ
d. 		In 1860 lived on farm in Bridgewater, NJ with parental family.
Was not living with parental family in 1870 in Bridgewater, NJ.
1.3 Augustus Peter TILLMAN b. 1823 Hilderburg, Bavaria?
d. 6-8-1896 Raritan, NJ
bur. Old Cemetery, Somerville, NJ 		In August 1850 lived in Bridgewater, NJ with parents and brother Peter; farmer. Lived very near brother John TILLMAN. Augustus born Germany.
In 1860 lived in Bridgewater, NJ with wife and 4 children; laborer. Augustus born Germany.
In 1870 lived in Bridgewater, NJ with wife and 6 children; machinist. Augustus born Germany.
In 1880 lived at 67 First Avenue, Raritan, NJ with wife and 5 children; engineer. Augustus born Prussia.
1.3 -1 Magdalene Hollander DISBROW
(also written as Magdalene Amelia HOLLANDER) 		b. 1-11-1830 Heidelberg, Baden
m. 1850 NJ
d. 6-5-1916 Raritan, NJ (per M. Olmsted)
bur. Old Cemetery, Somerville, NJ 		Ancestors where French Huguenots. Her grandfather was a religious minister, as were his seven sons. During the persecution they all were captured and disappeared. The family emigrated to Germany.
Parents were born in Baden (now in modern Germany). Had 7 children, 6 living by 1900.
Magdalene is said to have been born in Baden "where the Neckar River flows into the Rhine". Technically the city of Mannheim is located at the confluence of the two rivers; Heidelberg is 20 km upstream from Mannheim.
Magdalene immigrated to America in 1849; Martha Olmsted has a trunk labeled "MH 1849".
In 1860 lived in Bridgewater, NJ with husband and 4 children.
In 1870 lived in Bridgewater, NJ with husband and 6 children.
In 1880 lived at 67 First Avenue, Raritan, NJ with husband and 5 children.
In 6-11-1900 lived in Bridgewater, NJ as widow with daughter Mary. Had 7 children, 6 living. Daughter Katherine died 7-18-1900 so I may be missing a child.
I could not find her in the 1910 census.
I have a photo of Marion Hawkins Gray (my grandmother) wearing a black lace dress and fan that originally belonged to Magdalene.
1.3.1 Elizabeth TILLMAN b. 3-30-1852 Bridgewater, NJ
d. 1925
bur. 1925 Evergreen Cemetery, Basking Ridge, NJ 		In 1860, 1870, and 1880 lived in Bridgewater, NJ with parental family.
In 1900 lived on Maple Street, Bridgewater, NJ with husband Andrew and his sons; sons were traveling salesmen. Elizabeth's birth date is 3-1851, age 48.
In 1920 lived in Raritan, NJ as widow with brother Edward.
She was buried with her husband in the Dunster plot.
1.3.1 -1 Andrew N. DUNSTER b. 12-20-1841 NJ
m. abt. 1885
d. 1908
bur. 1908 Evergreen Cemetery, Basking Ridge, NJ 		Father: Oliver DUNSTER, born about 1812 NJ, farmer.
Mother: Abigail DUNSTER, born about 1816 NJ.
Siblings: Nancy, John, Jefferson, Mary Ann, Charles, Oliver C. (Curtis?), Maryan, Frank. Lived in Bernards, NJ.
First marriage: Susan G. Stevens, born abt. 1842 NJ; buried Dunster plot, Evergreen Cemetery, Basking Ridge, NJ; children: George J. (born 3-1867 NJ) and Charles H. (born 1-1869 NJ).
In 1870 lived in Bernards (Basking Ridge), NJ with wife Susan and two children; farmer.
In 1880 lived in Richmond (Staten Island), NY; Andrew kept a livery stable.
1.3.2 Mary L. TILLMAN b. 6-1856 Raritan, NJ
d. 6-22-1917 (also written as 1937)
bur. Old Cemetery, Somerville, NJ 		In 1880 lived in Raritan, NJ; dressmaker.
In 1900 lived on First Avenue, Bridgewater, NJ with mother.
IN 1910 lived on First Avenue, Bridgewater, NJ as single boarder; dressmaker.
A caption on the back of a photograph names her as Mary Tillman Gray.
Gravestone reads 1855–1917.
1.3.3 Edward S. TILLMAN b. 2-1858 NJ
d. 		In 1880 lived on Somerset Street, Raritan, NJ with wife Sarah, wife's parents, and wife's grandfather; Edward worked in woolen mill, Cornelius and John were farmers.
In 1900 lived on Somerset Street, Bridgewater, NJ with wife Sarah, daughter Lucy, and mother-in-law Catherine Lomerson; Edward was machinist.
In 1910 lived in Bridgewater, NJ with wife Meta; foreman in woolen mill.
In 1920 lived on Somerset Street, Raritan, NJ as widower with widowed sister Elizabeth T. Dunster; overseer of wool mill.
In 11-1928 wrote history of Peter Tillman's family in a letter.
I could not find him in the 1930 census.
According to descendant M. Olmsted, he worked in the Milton Wool Mill in Rahway, NJ.
1.3.3 -1 Sarah F. LOMERSON b. 11-1859 NJ
m. abt. 1880
d. 		Father: Cornelius T. LOMERSON, born about 1831 NJ; farmer.
Mother: Catherine S. LOMERSON, born 8-1837 NJ.
Grandfather: John H. LOMERSON, born about 1804, NJ; farmer.
In 1910 Catherine Lomerson lived on Eastern Avenue in Bridgewater, NJ as grandmother-in-law with Herbert L. Davis, 26. and his wife Louise E. Davis, 26; Herbert and Louise had been married 7 years. I think Louise is Lucy Tillman, #1.3.3.1.
1.3.3 -2 Meta H. HENDERSON
(Meta HUNT?) 		b. 1855 NJ
m.
d. 1917
bur. Fountain Grove Cemetery, Hampton, NJ site D13 		Father born NJ.
Mother born NY.
In 1870 Meta HUNT lived with parental family in Bethlehem, NJ. Father was T. Edgar HUNT (43, born NJ). Mother was Cynthia (37, born NY). There were 6 children including Meta and brothers Edgar and Charles. Father was a physician. I believe this is Meta H. Henderson.
In 1880 lived in Lebanon, NJ with husband William J. HENDERSON (35, born PA of parents born PA) and son Edgar C. (5, born PA); husband was clergyman.
In the cemetery in site D12 is Edgar C. Henderson (1875–1924), her son. In site D14 is Rev. William J. Henderson b. 10-14-1844, d. 5-22-1899, her first husband.
1.3.3.1 Lucy TILLMAN
(or Louise E.) 		b. 1-1884 NJ
d. abt. 1930 		Daughter of Sarah.
Appears in 1910 census as Louise E. Davis living on Eastern Avenue in Bridgewater, NJ with husband Herbert L. Davis and grandmother-in-law Catherine Lomerson; Louise was a teacher's helper in public school, Herbert was a house painter.
Appears in 1920 census as Lucy Davis, 35, married, living with mother Catherine Lomerson, 88, widow, in Glen Gardner, NJ; Lucy was a public school teacher. Glen Gardner was the home of the New Jersey Sanatorium for Tuberculosis.
Appears in 1930 census as Lucy T. Davis, 46, divorced, living alone in Somerville, NJ; grammar school teacher.
1.3.3.1 -1 Herbert L. DAVIS b. 9-1882 NJ
m. abt 1903 NJ
div.
d. 		Per 1910 census Herbert, age 26, was born IL, parents born NJ. But I cannot find him born in IL with parental family.
The 1900 census has a Davis family living in Bridgewater, NJ: head Leonard, 43, born 9-1856; wife Anna L., 43, born 4-1857; son Leonard, 19, born 10-1880; son Herbert L., 17, born 9-1882; daughter Gertrude, 16, born 1-1884; daughter Mary T., 15, 4-1885. Parents married 20 years with 4 children, all living. All born NJ. It seems likely that this Herbert was the husband of Lucy Tillman because of his age and residence (Lucy lived in Bridgewater with husband in 1910).
The 1910 census has a Davis family living in Bridgewater, NJ: head Leonard, 53; wife Anna Theresa L., 53; daughter Gertrude, 26; son Robert M., 9. They are listed on the same census page as Herbert L. and Louise E. Davis and Catherine Lomerson. Son Leonard lived with wife Mary in same town.
1.3.4 Peter TILLMAN b. 4-28-1860 Raritan, NJ
d. 11-12-1926 Rahway, NJ 		In 1870 lived in Bridgewater, NJ with parental family.
In 1880 lived in Raritan, NJ; worked in woolen mill.
In 1900 lived in Rahway, NJ with wife Emma and 3 children (Eva, Sarah, and Peter); superintendent of cement works.
In 1910 lived on Milton Avenue in Rahway, NJ with wife Emma B. and children Eva B. (19), Dorothy (16), and P. Kenneth (14); 4 children born, 3 living; manager of woolen mill.
Peter lived in Jersey City at the start of his marriage. In 1898 he moved to Rahway. Was a stockholder of Portland Cement Co. in Perth Amboy and a VP and Director of Citizen's Bank. He was prominent in the city and county.
Was an organizer of the Milton Mills in Rawhay, NJ; the wool mill dated from 1794. Was a Mason and member of the Elks Lodge.
He lived at 144 Bryant Street and was Postmaster at time of death. Died of heart problems.
1.3.4 -1 Emma Elizabeth BARBER b. 4-1858 NY
m. 10-18-1882
d. 1943 NJ 		Father: Amos BARBER born 8-31-1857, Mottville, NY.
Mother: Elizabeth BARBER born England.
Lived in Port Elgin, Ontario, Canada just before death. She died in a nursing home in NJ, perhaps of cancer, age 87.
1.3.4.1 Magdalene TILLMAN b. 3-31-1884 Raritan, NJ
d. 		Died in infancy of typhus.
1.3.4.2 Eva Brook TILLMAN b. 5-24-1889 Jersey City, NJ
d. 		Named after Eva Brook Donnelly, a relative.
In 1900 lived in Rahway, NJ with parental family.
In 1910 lived in Rahway, NJ with parental family.
Eva went to Ontario to visit family, met husband-to-be there.
1.3.4.2 -1 Monroe LANDON b.
d. 		Lived in Simcoe, Ontario at time of marriage. Dairy farmer.
Six children: Robert, Mary, Eva, Alex, James, and Thomas. The last two were twins.
1.3.4.3 Sarah Dorothy TILLMAN
or Sarah Dorothea 		b. 5-27-1893 Jersey City, NJ
d. 10-18-1986 		Named for Aunt Sarah Larribee. Nicknamed Dot.
In 1900 lived in Rahway, NJ with parental family.
In 1910 lived in Rahway, NJ with parental family.
Had two children: Elizabeth Tillman Lauer who married Joseph Jackson and had three children; and Peter Tillman Lauer who married Barbara Ann Wolfe and had two children and six grandchildren.
1.3.4.3 -1 Ethan Edward LAUER b. 10-3-1892 Rochester, NY
m. 10-20-1915 Rahway, NJ
d. 11-24-1957 		Died of pneumonia.
In 1917 (per draft card) lived at 179 Milton Ave, Rahway, NJ. Chemist, manufacturer of medicines for Merck & Co. on Scott Avenue, Rahway. Married. Tall, medium build, blue eyes, light hair.
1.3.4.4 Peter Kenneth TILLMAN b. 7-5-1895 Jersey City, NJ
d. 8-23-1940 Rahway, NJ 		In 1900 lived in Rahway, NJ with parental family.
In 1910 lived in Rahway, NJ with parental family.
Received citation for bravery at Bony, France 9-29-1918 where he was badly mustard gassed. He never fully recovered from the gassing, never married, and committed suicide.
Clirehugh archives have a photo of Peter as a young child.
1.3.5 Katherine Amelia TILLMAN b. 2-23-1863 Raritan, NJ
d. 7-18-1900 Elizabeth, NJ
bur. Old Cemetery, Somerville, NJ 		Katherine is my great-grandmother.
1.3.5 -1 William Newman GRAY b. 7-17-1858 NYC, NY
m. 10-5-1882 Raritan, NJ
d. 7-29-1932 NYC, NY
bur. Old Cemetery, Somerville, NJ 		See Gray family document for family details.
1.3.6 John C. D. TILLMAN b. 2-25-1865 NJ
d. 1937
bur. Old Cemetery, Somerville, NJ 		In 1880 lived in Raritan, NJ with parental family; worked in woolen mill.
In 1900 lived in Bridgewater, NJ with wife Minerva.
In 1910 lived in Bridgewater, NJ with wife Minnie and nephew Walter. B. Jenkins (age 15, born PA, parents born PA); foreman woolen mill.
In 1920 lived on Somerset Street, Raritan, NJ with wife Minnie; foreman woolen mill.
In 1930 lived in owned home on Reimer Street, Bridgewater, NJ with wife Minnie.
1.3.6 -1 Minnie B. ?
or Minerva 		b. 8-1869 PA
m. abt. 1890
d. 1951
bur. Old Cemetery, Somerville, NJ 		Parents born PA.
May have been born Minerva BOWER to parents George and Amelia D. Bower of Catasauqua, PA; father was a butcher. In 1900 parents lived with grandson Walter B. Jenkins.
1.4 Peter TILLMAN b. 12-14-1831 Somerville, NJ
d. 3-1-1900 Dover, NJ
bur. 3-5-1900 Locust Hill Cemetery, Dover, NJ 		In 1850 lived in Bridgewater, NJ with parents and brother Augustus; farmer.
In 1860 lived in Milford, NJ with wife Matilda and 3 children; journeyman carpenter.
In 1880 lived in Newark, NJ with wife and daughter Ella; carpenter.
Died in sleep of paralysis after experiencing pain in left side and breast. Was prominent member and trustee of the First M. E. Church of Dover; was a leader of the Sunday morning class.
1.4 -1 Matilda GARRISON b. 3-1837 NJ
m. 1-13-1855 PA
d. 10-15-1923 Rochester, NY
bur. 10-18-1923 Locust Hill Cemetery, Dover, NJ 		Parents: Issac GARRISON (mother Dinah ROBINS) and Eliza METTLER both born NJ.
Siblings: Naomi (d. 5-6-1890, bur. Locust Hill Cemetery), Isabella (m. Constantine Kieter 1-9-1864, he died 1913), Dianne, John (died VA during Civil War per father's pension), William (lost at sea, 1858). A researcher believes William jumped ship, changed his name to John Johnston, and ended up in the Montana gold fields in 1862.
Lived in Bloomsburg, NJ at time of marriage.
In 1900 lived as widow in Dover, NJ with daughter Ella; had 6 children, 3 living.
In 1910 a widow of her name, age 67, lived in Holland, NJ by self, born NJ to parents born NJ; had 3 children, 1 living.
Named as next of kin in will of William Garrison believed to be John Liver-Eating Johnson (the man who was the subject of the movie Jeremiah Johnson) who died 1-1900.
1.4.1 George W. TILLMAN b. 11-1854 NJ
d. 		In 1860 lived in Milford, NJ with parents and siblings.
In 1900 lived in Litchfield, PA with wife Eva (she had 2 children, 2 living but not with them); farmer.
In 1900 lived in Hackettstown per Garrison researcher.
1.4.1 - 1 Eva ? b. 12-1861 PA
m. abt. 1888
d. 		Parents born PA.
1.4.2 Mary TILLMAN b. abt. 1857 NJ
d. by 3-1900 		In 1860 lived in Milford, NJ with parents and siblings.
1.4.3 James TILLMAN b. 10-1859 NJ
d. by 3-1900 		In 1860 lived in Milford, NJ with parents and siblings.
1.4.4 Ella M. TILLMAN b. 5-1870 NJ
d. 		In 1880 lived in Newark, NJ with parents.
In 1900 lived in Dover, NJ with mother Matilda, a widow.
1.4.5 Emma TILLMAN b.
d. 		Married Mr. Levers. In 1900 lived in Elizabeth, NJ. I found out about this woman from a biographer of John Johnson/Garrison.
1.5 Catherine TILLMAN b. abt. 1814 Prussia
d. 		In 1850 Catherine and Frederick Eberhard lived in Hanover, Lehigh County, PA. He age 43, born Germany. She age 36, born Germany. This couple had children born PA: Eliza 18, John H. 15, Ferdinand 12, William F. 10, Augustus I. 8, Levina 5, Franklin 2, Peter 2 months born Ireland. [This is the only Catherine Eberhart in the 1850 census.]
In 1860 this family lived in Catasauqua, Leigh County, PA. He was 50, born Wunderberg (Wurtenberg?), she 46 born Prussia. Children: Ferdinand 22, William 20, Augustus 18, Ellen 15, Franklin 13, Peter 10, Jacob 8, George 5. Surname Eberhard.
In 1870 this family was still living in Catasauqua, PA. He was 60, born Wurtenburg, she 57 born Prussia. Children: Franklin 22 watchmaker, Peter 20 railroad clerk, George 15, Frony (?) 14 grandchild born IL. Surname Eberhart.
In 1880 this family lived in Allentown, Lehigh County, PA on Second Street. He 70 born Wurtenberg, a blacksmith; she 66 born Prussia. Children: George 25 born PA, watchmaker. Surname Eberhard.
1.5 -1 Frederick EBERHARD
Frederic Eberhart 		b. abt. 1810 Wurtemberg
m. 12-29-1831 Somerset County, NJ
d. 		 
1.6 Sophia TILLMAN b.
d. 		Married William KRITCHER and had 7 children, 5 alive in 1928.
Looking for her in the census has proved unrewarding. I found a record in the 1850 census of a Sophia and Paul Kritzer living in Carroltown, PA. She 36 born Germany, he 41 born Germany. No children. I found a record in the 1870 census of a Sophia and Parson Kritzer living in Cleveland, OH. She 57 born Prussia, he 59 born Prussia. Next door lived Wm. Kritzer 32 born Prussia, Lena (?) 27 born Prussia, Momone (?) 1 born OH.
1.7 Albert TILLMAN b.
d. 3-10-1850
bur. Old Cemetery, Somerville, NJ 		Never married.

Notes for the Reader

ID: In this document, each person has an assigned ID. The ID is a segmented number where each segment is separated by a period. The number of segments indicates the generation. For example, 1.2.3 is the third child of 1.2 who is the second child of 1.0. Spouses are identified with a suffix of "-n" where n is the number of the marriage; for example, 1.2.3 -1 is the first spouse of 1.2.3.
When there is no ID, the relationship of the person to others is unknown; they may not be a relative.

Key dates are specified in MM-DD-CCYY format.

Date abbreviations: abt.: about b.: born bap.: baptized m.: married div.: divorced sep.: separated d.: died bur.: buried

A Word About European Place Names

The place names I report here are from family archives.

Prussia is an area in Central Europe bordered on the north by the Baltic Sea. As a place and political unit "Prussia" was several different entities that changed over time. The original Prussians were a tribe of Balts; this map of the Baltic tribes in 1200 CE shows their relative location. In 1226 Prussia was invaded by the Teutonic Knights intent on Christianizing the Old Prussians, who were gradually Germanized over the following centuries. When the Teutonic Knights took control of Pomerelia (the area on the western bank of the lower Vistula) in 1309, the name Prussia gradually was extended over it as well. The Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg (ruled by the Hohenzollern Dynasty) joined forces in 1701 to form the Kingdom of Prussia. In 1806, when the Holy Roman Empire was dissolved, the name Kingdom of Prussia was extended over all Hohenzollern territories, eventually extending west to Belgium and the Netherlands and south to Hungary. After the Napoleonic Wars (1806–1815) Prussia became the dominant power in greater Germany; its capital was Berlin. Prussia was dissolved as a state by the Nazis in 1935 and by the Allies in 1947. At the end of WW II West Prussia and East Prussia were divided by Poland and the Soviet Union; much of the old east Prussia now lies in modern Poland, Lithuania, and inbetween them the Königsberg, now Kaliningrad, exclave of Russia; the modern state surrounding Berlin (itself a city-state) is called Brandenburg. The original Prussian place names have been replaced by Polish, Lithuanian, and Russian ones—thereby challenging the 21st century researcher. The Federation of East European Family History Societies (FEEFHS) has an 1882 map of the area with the original place names. There is a tortuous history of Prussia that helps me understand why the Tillmans would have left.

The US Census began recording birth place in 1850. The use of "Prussia" over "Germany" changed over time: In 1850 only 17 people were born in "Prussia" while over 574,000 people were born in "Germany." In 1860 more than 37,000 people were born in "Prussia" while over 464,000 were born in "Germany." In 1870 more than 619,000 people were born in Prussia and only 24,000 in Germany.

Baden is a state in the southwest of Germany. It came into existence in the 12th century as the Margraviate of Baden and subsequently split into different lines, which were unified in 1771. It became the much-enlarged Grand Duchy of Baden, a sovereign country, through the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1803–1806. Since 1952 it has been a part of the state of Baden-Württemberg.

The number of people born in Baden as reported in the US Census: 1,600 in 1850; 102,000 in 1860; 162,000 in 1870; 129,000 in 1880.

Hilderburg may be a different spelling of Heidelberg, a city in the state of Baden (then) and Baden-Württemberg (now). There is also a Heidelberg in the state of Brandenburg, northwest of Berlin. There is a third Heidelberg in the state of Saxony near the Czech border. I'm inclined to guess that the first one was the home of my ancestor.

Wurtemberg, more correctly spelled Württemberg, is a region in sourthwestern Germany. The earliest known inhabitants were Celts. The first known Count ruled from 1241 to 1265. It was a Duchy from 1495 to 1805; the first Duke was Eberhard I. It was a Kingdom after 1806, a Republic in 1916, and in 1952 merged with Baden to become the state of Baden-Württemberg. Its traditional capital was Stuttgart.

Kreise are administrative districts in Germany and the old Prussia; they are analagous to counties and are intermediate between state and local or municipal districts. The concept of Kreis was different in pre-1806 Prussia and referred to the districts of the noble families ("Die Adeligen Kreise") as well as the Immediatstädte and royal Domainen-Aemter.

Tillmans Buried in Old Cemetery, Somerville, NJ

Name Death ID Lot Gravestone Inscription
Albert Tillman 3-10-1850 1.7 289  
Maria Sophia Miller Tillman 2-12-18xx 1.0 -1 290  
Peter Tillman 5-9-1853 1.0 291  
Agnes S. Young Tillman 7-16-1867 1.1 -1 944 The day of breaking let me go
Dear companion / fare thee well
We have spent a / night in waking
In this wilderness / below
John A. Tillman 3-8-1870 1.1 945 I know in whom I have believe
Augustus Peter Tillman 6-8-1896 1.3 937  
Katherine Amelia Tillman Gray 7-18-1900 1.3.5 912 [see Gray page]
Magdalene Hollander Tillman 6-5-1916 1.3. -1 938  
Augustus Tillman 1916 1.1.2 942  
Mary L. Tillman 6-22-1917 1.3.2 939  
Amada Wolfe 1926 1.1.1 -1 943  
Elizabeth S. Tillman Wolfe 1927 1.1.1 943  
John C. D. Tillman 1937 1.3.6 940  
Minnie B. Tillman 1951 1.3.6 -1 940  
Agnes Tillman ? ? 941 illegible
Mary Tillman ? ? 941 illegible

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Revision: 1-30-2008.