The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
State of Service: PA
Qualifying Service: Private
Birth: 01 Dec 1738 Bodelshausen / Tubingen / Germany Death: bef Oct 1802 Augusta / Northumberland / PA
Qualifying Service Description:
Captain Steven Bloom, 4th Company, 1st Battalion, Philadelphia County Militia
Additional References:
Grave Registry form. National Society Sons of the American Revolution (SAR)
PA Archives, Series 2, Vol XIII, pg 187
Spouse: Anna Maria Schauwecker Children: Anna Maria;
Author: Burton Edward Sarnoff
Hans Martin Roecker was born in Bodelshausen near Tubingen in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany on 1OCT1738. His father was Conrath or Conrad Roecker. He was a soldier, and fought in the 7 years War for a Bavarian army, on the British side against the French and Austrians in that war.
He came to America in 1766 and settled in Gwynedd Twp in Montgomey County, PA. During the war for Independence, he served as a Private, 2nd class, 4th Co, 1st Battalion, Philadelphia Co. Militia, under Capt. Stephen Bloom. Now what he did in service, I don’t know. I suspect that Capt. Bloom was happy to have a seasoned veteran in his company. They may both have been suspect as foreigners, as Capt. Bloom was an Englishman. I suppose he wasn’t an officer because he didn’t read or write English well enough to file the reports, or maybe he didn’t want to be. I any case, it is clear that Capt. Bloom thought well of him, since after the war, they got land grants here in Augustaville, in 1792. Martin received 100 acres. My understanding is that officers got grants in PA, while enlisted got grants in Ohio or further on the frontier In some way, Bloom brought Martin with him, and I think they shared a grant. Their families intermarried, and one of Martin’s sons bought the Bloom farm when Capt. Bloom died.
He had a profession of weaver, although he seems to have had at least a couple of farms over the years.
Martin had 7 children of record with his wife Anna Maria Schauwecker, Johan Martin (who was born while he served in the 7 years war), George, Anna Maria (Mary), Jacob, Conrad, Margaret, and Susanna. Mary married one of the young men in Martin’s Revolutionary War unit, David Knipe and stayed in Montgomery County.
Martin died in Oct of 1802, and his wife Anna Maria followed in 1805. It is believed that Martin donated the land for the cemetery in Augustaville, at the Zion Stone Lutheran/Reformed church, which was built on the land a few years later. He was the first person buried there. Anna Maria is also buried there. I went through the grounds and found no sign of a stone. This is not unusual, in that they were frequently wood or even a plain stone in those days. They tended not to spend money on such things. Of course the family knew where he was buried. I did find several gravestones in German. Perhaps they are nearby. (Reference Orphans Court County of Lancaster, Pennsylvania Book 4 Pages 14&15 September 1st, 1804. Land patent.)
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