Bernard Giltner (Bernhart Güldner)

Bernard Giltner was born at Heidelberg Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania about 1748, the second child and eldest son of Frantz Güldner, an immigrant from the Rhine Palatinate of Germany, who arrived at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1738.  Bernard lived within a few miles of the Blue Mountains, which at the time was the frontier with Indian Territory.  He was listed as a farmer on the Heidelberg tax list of 1772.

Bernard enlisted 14 May 1778 as a private in the General Muster in the Third Battalion of the Seventh Company, Fourth Class of the militia of Northampton County, Pennsylvania.  Three of Bernard’s brothers were also enlisted in the same class.  Bernard was also listed in the muster rolls of the Continental Line and Rangers on the Frontier.  The men from the various townships were organized at the company level. 

In the Third Battalion, Bernard served under Colonel Michael Poost.  This term of service was until 28 July 1778, when the Third Battalion was dismissed at Weisenberg Township, Northampton County.  Bernard received payment of £40 for his service.  Bernard was mustered into subsequent services, 26 October 1780 and 20 September 1782.  By 1780, the Third Battalion had been reorganized as the Sixth Battalion under Colonel Henry Giger.  Bernard and his brothers remained in the Seventh Company, Fourth Class.  The Sixth Battalion was called into service 21 September 1782 and served until 28 October 1782.

Evidence of Bernard’s military service detail appears in the application for a Revolutionary War Pension pension application from his brother, Frantz.  Frantz states they were stationed at the Indian frontier at Fort Allen on the Lehigh River at (present-day) Weissport, Pennsylvania.  The fort was strategically placed on the north side of the Blue Mountains protecting the Lehigh Gap.  Of additional historic interest, Fort Allen was designed by Benjamin Franklin, who supervised its construction in 1756.  Frantz described their militia duties as “…scouting parties and watching the Indians and tories…”

Bernhard moved from Pennsylvania and settled at Bourbon County, Kentucky, in 1786.  He came down the Ohio River in a flat boat and landed at Maysville, Kentucky.  His family is claimed to be the first to settle outside of Bryant’s Station.   He established a farm along the Ohio River at Hunters’ Valley which is approximately seven miles downriver from present-day Carrollton, Kentucky.

Bernard married Catharina Margaretha Lichtenwalner.  She was born 30 October 1749.  The date of her death is not known, however; she died after moving to Kentucky.  Bernard died in 1821 and was buried at the family cemetery at Hunters Valley.   The marker for his grave was lost over the years.  The exact location of his grave at the cemetery is not known.   The family cemetery was relocated in November 2008 to a location adjoining the nearby Saint Peter’s Lutheran Church Cemetery at Hunters’ Valley.  Fourteen unmarked graves were part of this relocation and it is thought Bernard’s was one of these.  Bernard was survived by seven of his children, Abraham, Johannes (John) Frantz, Maria Agatha, Johan Michael, Maria Magdalena, Bernard, and John.