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NICHOLAS ADOLPH FLOHRI FROM BIRKENAU |
| Adolph Flohri was the half-brother to Johannes and George Flohri, his companions on the ship The John and Elizabeth, that brought him to Philadelphia in 1754. Although his full name was "Nicholas Adolph Flohri," Adolph went by his middle name. On some early documents, he may have been referred to as "Adam." For a history of Adolph and his brothers, go to the following link: The Three Brothers from Birkenau. For an extensive GEDCOM file that lists over 7,000 descendants of Adolph and his brother Johannes, click on The Descendants of the 1754 Brothers from Birkenau. Many of Adolph Flohri's descendants settled in Illinois. Two excellent sites that contain important genealogical information relating to the areas in which they settled can be accessed at Macon County and Moultrie County. For a record of Illinois marriages between 1763-1900, click on Illinois State Marriages. For a passenger list of the ship on which Adolph sailed to America, click on John and Elizabeth. |
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Descendants of Nicholas Adolph Flohri
Generation No. 1
1. NICHOLAS ADOLPH FLOHRI (JOHANN3, PETER2, HANS1) was born October 15, 1734 in Birkenau, Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, and died 1819 in VA. He married CATHERINE. Adolph Flohri settled in Mt. Bethel Township of Northampton County, Pa. on June 18, 1774. By June 4, 1787, he sold his land and was living in Botecourt, Va. Records seem to indicate that he may have been living in Virginia at the time he sold his Pa. holdings. He moved to Wythe County, Va. in 1791, where he took up over 300 acres of land, and 88 more in 1796 (see below). He willed his property to his sons, John and David, in 1819, who, along with him, had served in the Revolution. His name appears as "Flohri" and "Flor" on ship lists of the "John and Elizabeth" on which he came to Philadelphia in 1754. He was apparently literate, unlike his two brothers. Nevertheless, on his will of 1819. he leaves his mark rather than his signature. There are several records of his presence in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, where it appears that his name is sometimes listed as Adam. Perhaps transcribers could not understand his accent, perhaps translators of the German script misread the name, or perhaps Adolph was also known as Adam. One of his descendants has joked that the family goes back to Adam. In the records of the first Reformed Church of Easton, an Adam Flori and his wife, Catharina, were sponsors of Daniel Achenbach, son of Philip and Maria, at his baptism on Nov. 18, 1781 (b. Oct. 17, 1781). A Philip Acheback was on the ship the John and Elizabeth with Adolph. Adolph Flory took the oath of allegiance to the state of Pennsylvania before Samuel Rea on Dec. 27, 1777. He was also, along with Philip Schuch, witness on April 27, 1784 to the will of Nicholas Fell, husband of Margaret and father of Henry, Mary Magdalin, and Catreeny. Fell was from Mt. Bethel Township (see Abstract of German Wills in Marx Library, Easton Pa). In the Pa. Archives, series 3, vol. 26, p.77 (Northampton Warrantees of Land 1730-1898), Adolph Florey is listed as having 16 acres of land on June 18, 1774. He does not appear on county tax lists to the extent that his brother Johannes Flory does (Book C, Vol. 70, page 236 of the Department of Internal Affairs of Harrisburg lists the holding as 39 acres). However, in "Tax Lists of Northampton County," p. 132, an Adam Florah is listed twice under Mt. Bethel, an area where Adolph lived. No tax figure is given, only the name. He appears several times in the Pa. Archives for his military service. In the 6th series, vol. 3, p.809, he is listed among the "Class Roll of Male White Inhabitants of the 8th Co. of Militia in the 5th Battalion of Northampton for 1785 under Capt. Peter Meddagh as Adolph Flora, class 4. John Flora, probably his son, is listed as class 6. In series 5, vol. 8, page. 92, Adolf Flory is listed on the class roll as class 6 in the 2nd battalion for 1782 under Capt. John Lyle, with David as corporal. An Adulf Flory served under Capt. Lyle in 1781 (series 5, vol 8, 163). Perhaps the most intriguing reference to Adolph's military career is recorded in Pa Archives, series 3, vol 6, p. 767. Under the heading of "Tour Fines" for the second battalion under Samuel Rhea (presumably the same Rea who took his oath of allegiance) appears the name of Adolph Flora, who apparently was fined 100 pounds sterling. It's difficult to imagine Flora paying such a steep fine. Mary B. Kegley in EARLY ADVENTURERS ON THE WESTERN WATERS VOL II: THE NEW RIVER OF VIRGINIA IN PIONEER DAYS 1745-1800, by Green Publishers, Inc. Orange, Virginia writes "Adolph Flora and his two sons, John and David, are listed in the 1810 census when all were over age 45. Adolph wrote his will on March 1, 1819, and it was probated on June 8th of the same year (Wythe County Will Book 2, page 276). He devised to his son John the lands they both resided on. Son David was to have the lands where he lived, and a line was to be run by Francis J. Carter, separating the lands of John and David. David was to have life interest and then his heirs were to have his lands, although David had already sold some of the lands to his brother John. Daughter Christina Grabill was to have $100. Daughter Katherine Flora was to have money and all other personal property, as well as the unimproved tract of land adjoining the heirs of Joseph Honaker, deceased. Son John was to support Katherine, and if that were done, then John Flora and John Draper were to act as her guardians. After her death the land was to go to John Flora and his heirs. The Negro man Jacob was to have his freedom. Son John Flora and John Draper were to act as executors. "An appraisement of Adolph Flora's estate listed among other things $383.45 in silver, a still valued at $45, 4 cows, 7 young cattle, pots, pails, corn, wheat, 8 !/2 yards of broadcloth, a bee stand, a bed, a chest, and a bay horse." Wythe County Deed records show that Adolph Florey [sic] received 380 acres of land from John and Elizabeth Lowthain on Macks Run (Alexander Mack's Land, east and south of the Draper Homestead) of New River on Sept. 12, 1791. On the same day, he also received 45 acres in the same area from the Lowthains. In 1796, he obtained 88 acres on entry on treasury warrant. In a Virginia tax list of 1800 in the district of James Newell, Commissioner, an Adolph Flora is listed with "one male over 16, 1 slave, and three horses." In 1810, he is listed on a Wythe Co., VA list with "1 male over 45, 1 female over 45, and 2 slaves." Children of NICHOLAS FLOHRI and CATHERINE are:
Generation No. 2
1.1. DAVID FLORA (NICHOLAS ADOLPH4 FLOHRI, JOHANN3, PETER2, HANS1) was born June 29, 1759 in Montgomery Co., PA, and died 1830-1840 in Decatur, Macon Co., IL. He married MARIA EVA BREIDINGER 1780, daughter of ADAM BREIDINGER and ANNA SYBILIA. On a film in the Decatur Historical Society of PA Records (V237-9), David's birth is listed at Faulkner Swamp Church, Lower Hanover Twp., Philadelphia (now Montgomery Co.). He was baptized there on Oct 14, 1759. On June 8, 1819, David Flora (Florey) made the following declaration: That he was 60 years old, and that he enlisted in the service of the United States in the year 1781 in a company commanded by Captain Baker attached to Colonel Moore's regimen who commanded the 1st Pa. Regiment. He enlisted in Berk's County, and served 18 months at one time and was in a few skirmishes in the lower part of South Carolina. Afterwards he was under Colonel Butler who commanded the regiment and Captain Dunn who commanded the former company. Flora stated that he was in reduced circumstances and in need of his country's assistance. He had no proof of his service, except a sworn witness, John Florey (Wythe County Order Book, 1815-1820). It is not clear in the transcript why David's Northampton Co. service was not mentioned. On August 8, 1826, David Flora was granted the administration of the estate of Eve Flora deceased (Wythe County Order Book, 1822-1826, Sept. 13, 1825). The lands of the Flora family were sold in 1829 with John and Joseph Draper getting a large portion and Samuel and William Sloane getting the remainder. By this date, Daniel and George Flora, sons of David, were living in Cincinnati. Joseph Flora married Lydia Neff, daughter of George Neff of Wythe County, and moved to Fountain County, Indiana. Children of DAVID FLORA and MARIA BREIDINGER are:
1.2. JOHN FLOREY (NICHOLAS ADOLPH4 FLOHRI, JOHANN3, PETER2, HANS1) was born April 07, 1760 in PA, and died July 18, 1850 in Macon Co, IL. He married (1) ELIZABETH BREIDINGER, daughter of ADAM BREIDINGER and ANNA SYBILLA. He married (2) MARY OTT. In 1829 John and Mary came with their family to Illinois, reaching their destination in the latter part of December. John moved his family and effects in four wagons drawn by horses, and at length reached John's Hill. Decatur had just been laid out, and Springfield was a market at that time. Some of the older members of John's family had come to IL in 1825, namely David, Henry, Cynthia and Emily Florey. In 1831-32 trouble with the Indians flared up into what is known as the Black Hawk War. Several of John's family served in this war. January 9, 1833 John entered another 80 acres of land from the government, for a total of 320 acres. He became well-to-do, and, although he had served in the Revolutionary War and was granted a pension, he would never draw the money. John Flora died 18 July 1850. After John's death Mary Ott Florey lived with her youngest daughter, Virginia Greenfield, until her death on January 26, 1861. Both John and Mary are buried in Florey Cemetery in Long Creek Township, Macon Co. which is a short distance east of the village of Long Creek, a tiny cemetery which may be seen on the north side of the road. It is not easy of access and it is easy to overlook. The land for this cemetery was given by Israel, a son of John Flora; and it was in this graveyard that John Flora was laid to rest. He died at the advanced age of 90 years. In this small and infrequented spot rest the remains of at least 12 veterans of five different wars--the American Revolution, the Black Hawk War, the Mexican War, Civil War, and the World War I. It is interesting to note that a veteran of the last named war is a great-grandson of the veteran of the first named war. John's will was held by the Macon County Clerk, but it has been lost. It either was filed in the wrong place, or someone has taken it. In any event, transcripts have been made from it. Excerpts from John Flora's Will: The land where I reside to be divided half and half on a line north and south between wife Mary (south half) and son Israel, (north half). Mary's half for her lifetime, then to daughter Virginia. Daughter Sevana shall be paid $100 after my decease, if not paid before, as her legacy. It is understood that Henry Florey, David Florey, Jonathan Florey, George Quarry and Mary Ann, his wife, Elisha Quarry and Mary, his wife, Robert Stewart and Catharine, his wife, Emanuel Clover and Rhoda, his wife, John Draper and Amy Draper, his wife, Jacob Black and Eleanor, his wife, David Stewart and Sarah, his wife, have each received the sum of $100 toward their legacies. Further, I wish it to be known that the four children of my first wife, Elizabeth, (viz.) Geroge, Elizabeth, John, and Adam received from me the sum of $200, making in all the sum of $800, which sum my wife, Elizabeth received as a legacy from her father Adam Breidinger, which is $100 more than the children of my present wife receives. Further, it shall be understood that my son Israel receives half the land as his legacy. I nominate and appoint my wife, Mary, my son, Israel, and my son-in-law, Elisha Quarry, to be executrix and executors of this my last will and testament. Dated 6th of January 1842. Children of JOHN FLOREY and ELIZABETH BREIDINGER are:
Children of JOHN FLOREY and MARY OTT are:
1.3. CHRISTINA FLORA (NICHOLAS ADOLPH4 FLOHRI, JOHANN3, PETER2, HANS1) was born Abt. 1773. She married JOHN GRAYBILL February 21, 1793 in Wythe Co., VA. Children of CHRISTINA FLORA and JOHN GRAYBILL are: Information regarding further descendants of Hans Flohri can be found here. |
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