Johann Michael Wahl, The Wall Family Ancestor From Germany to Pennsylvania
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JOHANN MICHAEL WAHL
A note about Germanic give names: It was a common practice in these countries to baptize children with a first and middle name. The first was a spiritual name, usually of a favorite saint. There are a lot of male German names beginning with Johann (John) and was perhaps the most favored by parents for their sons. The second, or middle, name was a secular "rufnamen" used in business and everyday conversation. In 1784 a Michael Wall was one of signers from Northampton County requesting that Peter Caler be nominated as a candidate for sheriff of Northampton County. It is very unlikely this person was our ancestor. Michael Wahl most likely arrived in Northampton County, Pennsylvania after the American Revolutionary War period. During the war immigration, especially from Germany, stopped completely. He shows up on the First Census of The United States taken in 1790. The name "Wall" (no given name) appears on the enumeration for Northampton County on that census below Michael Ohl, whom we know from later documents to be Michael's neighbor in Penn Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. A few years after Michael died (1801) his two sons, Philip and Christian, left Northampton County. Philip settled in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, and Christian lived for a short period in what was then Union County in or near Selingsgroove. In 1824 Christian removed his family to Chippewa Township, Wayne County, Ohio.
Name 1. Johan Michael Wahl [Pennsylvania records refer to him simply as Michael Wahl]
Sex   Male
Father:   Unknown
Mother:   Unknown
Spouses: a. Susannah - her given name comes from the death record of son Philip in Columbia County, Pennsylvania and is not reliable as it comes second or third hand supposedly from his daughter. I have found no other evidence to support this as a fact.12
  b. Catherine Barbara (maiden name unknown) - named as his "beloved wife" in Michael's will of 1801.1,2
Birth: 22 June 1747(?) Probably born in Baden, Wurttemberg, Germany, which is near Stuttgart. Germany sources for the origins of German surnames indicate this is the highest probability for people with the surname Wahl.  German Lutheran baptism records available through Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org have records of several children named Johan Michael Wahl born and baptised between 1737 and 1750, making it nearly impossible to know which is our ancestor and the correct date of his birth. Son Philip was born in 1775 and assuming that Michael was at over the age of 20 at the time of his birth, I consider this to be the limit on his birthday (before 1750). Both sons reported they were born in Germany but the region is unknown and I have been unable to find baptism or birth records for either of them.1a
Death: about Sep. 1801 Michael's will is dated September 18, 1801 in which he describes himself as "in a weak and feeble condition." The will mention his wife Catherine Barbara and sons Philip and Christian, although the wording in the will indicates other unnamed children.1,2
Marriages:   Dates are unknown
Children:   Michael Wahl had at least two sons.
  i.

WALL, Philip, b. 16 Oct. 1775 in German; d. 25 Oct. 1852, in Mifflin Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania. Married (2) Rosenna Mosteller probably in Columbia County, Pennsylvania. The 1800 census of Northampton Co., Pennsylvania indicates Philip was married before moving to Columbia County; I have found no record of his marriage.2,4
  2. ii. WALL, Christian,2 b. 27 Nov. 1779 in Germany; d. 24 Oct. 1853, Wadsworth Township, Medina County, Ohio.
     
Notes: 22 June 1747 Johann Machael Wahl, born 22 June 1747 and baptised the same day, son of Johann Jacob and Margareta Wahl, Evangelische Kirche (Evangelic-(Lutheran) Church), Alfdorf (OA. Welzheim). Unfortunately, Johann Michael was a common name given to a male child born to several Wahl families living in this area of Germany and baptised in the Lutheran church, from the mid 1730's through the early 1750's making it impossible to be certain which is our ancestor.1a
  28 Oct. 1784 Citizens of Northampton County, Pennsylvania sign a petition nominating Peter Caler for Sheriff of Northampton County. Among the signers is Michael Wall. This seems much too early for our ancestor since immigration from Germany was unlikely during the American Revolution.5
  19 Apr. 1785 Christopher Hartung obtains a land Warrant in Penn Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania; (Hartung's land bordered that of Michael Wahl and the excutor of his estate in 1801).6
  1790 First Census of The United States, Penn Township, Northampton Co., Pennsylvania, lists one Wall (no given name) family and neighbors Christopher Hartung and Michael Ohl. The only other Wall in Northampton County, Pennsylvania on the census was William who lived in or near Allentown.3
  21 Mar. 1793 Michael Wahl obtains a warrant of 50 acres of land, Penn Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. The land is surveyed on 28 Oct 1793 for "Michael Wahll" and contains 54 acres 6 perches.7
  28 Oct. 1793 Land surveyed for Michael Wahl by virture of his warrant (above) and contains 54 acres, 20 perches. On the northwest boundry is Michael Ohl's land and on the northeast boundry are the lands of Christopher Hartung and Martin Shuck. On the southwest boundry is the land of George Brobst, which later becomes West Penn Township in Schulykill County.7
  1800 Septennial Census of Pennsylvania for Penn Township, Northampton County lists Michael "Waal"; no other information. Also listed are George Brobst, Michael Ohl and Christopher Hartung. These names are listed in alphabetical order on this census.10
  1800 Second Census of The United States, Michael Wall household is listed with one male and one female of the age 45 or over. Philip Wall household is listed with one male and one female both of the ages from 16 through 25.4
  18 Sep. 1801

Will of Johann Michael Wahl (translation extract), "I John Michael Wahl, a resident of Penn Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, am in a weak a feeble condition of the body, and yet...a sound judgement and clear thinking...I herewith make...this, my last Will and Testament.
"First...my beloved wife Catherine Barbara, thoughout her natural life, shall have her rightfull possession and sustenance from my present farm, the one I possess or the farm house, as long as she carries my name and continues in her widowhood.
"And if anyone of my surviving children should want to take possession of the...farm, then shall that one be obligated to build...my wife a dwelling that is comfortable and large enough and...furnish her thoughout her...life with her sustenance. This must not happen without her consent.
"But [if]...she is willing to remarry...then...sum of £15, fifteen pounds of Pennsylvania Currency to be paid to her from my estate, and she shall be deprived of her residence.
"Second, [my] personal goods shall...be sold at public sale...[and] she shall get one half the money received...the other half I give...to my youngest son Christian.
"After the decease of my wife, I decree...that my...farm shall be sold at public sale, and from this growing amount of cash I decree...to my son Philip £5, five pounds of Pennsylvania Currency and no more, because he deceived me instead of being a support to me in my old age, he grieved and caused me to suffer by means of unkind and cruel treatments. The balance thereof, shall be divided in equal shares among my natural children.
"Third, and the last, I...appoint...my neighbor and trustworthy friend, Christopher Harttung, to be my only executor of this my last Will and Testament..."
Signed, "Michael Wahl"; witnessed by Christopher Harttung and Lewis Encke.1
  17 Feb. 1818 The reverse side of Michael Wahl's survey is notated as returned on this date, indicating that the land was returned to the State of Pennsylvania and was then purchased and pattened by John Miller. The date fits well with the time that Michael's son Christian Wall removed to near Selinsgrove in Penn Township, Union Co., Pennsylvania at the confluence of Penns Creek and the Susquehanna River, present-day Snyder County, PA.7
     
Sources: 1. German Wills of Northampton County, Ernest F. Boettcher, WPA Project, Easton Public Library, Easton, Penn. 1939, Vol IV. 1801, file no. 2019. Will of John Michael Wahl, Penn Towship, Northampton Co., Penn. (English Translation).
  1a. 22 June 1747 Baptism, Johann Michael Wahl, Alfdorf u. Reutti, Wurttemberg (Baden-Wurttemberg), Germany, parents Johann Jacob and Margareta Wahl; Ancestry.com, Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, & Burials, 1500-1985, Alfdorf u. Reutti Taufen 1641-1804.
  2. 1801 Will, Jno Michael Wall, Northampton Co., Pennsylvania, (written in German) Ancestry.com [database on-line]. Provo, UT, (2015), Northampton Co., Pennsylvania Wills, Vol. 4-5, 1800-1842, pp. 71-72.
  3. 1790 Census of the U.S., Penn Township, Northampton Co., Penn., pg. 251, (Wall - 1 male over 16, 3 males under 16, 1 female); Ancestry.com 1790 United States Federal Census [database on-line], Provo, UT; Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010
  4. 1800 Census, Pennsylvania, Penn twp., Northampton Co., pg. 77. Michael Wall; 1 male 45 and over; 1 female 45 and over. Philip Wall, 1 male 16-25, 1 female 16-25.
  5. "PENNSYLVANIA ARCHIVES, 6th Seriers, Vol XI, Election Returns Northampton County 1756-1789", database, State of Pennsylvania, pg. 267, 28 Oct 1784. Petition to appoint Peter Caler as sherrif of Northampton County, [PA]; lists Michael Wall among list of names.
  6. Penn Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, 1785 Land Warrant for Christopher Hartung for 100 acres, Penn Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.; digital images.
  7. pg. 200, Warrant No. 342. Wahll, Michael - Survey 50 [acres] - Penn [twp] - Date of Warrant [?] March 1793, Return - 17 Feby 1818, 54.2 acres Pattened by John Adam Miller; Warrant Recorded Vol. H15 pg. 336; Copied Survey Book A77 pg. 37, Northampton County, Pennsylvania; WARRANT REGISTERS, 1733-1957, RG 17 Records of the Land Office; PENNSYLVANIA ARCHIVES.
  8. Penn Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, Book A77 pg 37. By virture of a warrant dated 21 March 1793, surveyed 28 Oct 1793 for Michael Wahll in Penn Township, Northampton County 54 acres 6 perches; reverse side has returned 17 Feb 1818; digital images, Pennsylvania State Archives.
  9. 1800 Census, Penn Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, Ancestry.com [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA, pg. 77. Michael Wall - one male 45 and over; one female 45 and over
Philip Wall - one male 16-26 one female 16-26.
  10. Penn Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, 1800., Pennsylvania; Septennial Census Returns, 1779-1863, Records of the [Pennsylvania] House of Representatives, Records of the General Assembly, Record Group 7, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, PA.; Ancestry.com [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.
  11. Medina, Medina County, Ohio, Probate Records, Case #442, final account filed Feb. 2, 1855. Estate of Christian Wall, inteststate; Medina County Court House Office of The Clerk of The Court.
  12. 1852 Death, Philip Wall, Mifflin Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania, Ancestry.com, [database on-line] Provo, UT, Ancestry.com Operations Inc., Provo, UT, Pennsylvania, Deaths, 1852-1854; Series 26.28, Reel Number: 670, Record and Indexes of Births, Deaths, and Marriages. Microfilm, rolls 668-673. Records of the Department of State, Record Group 26. Pennsylvania State Archives, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
 
Ronald N. Wall
Updated: 25 July 2023