George Adam Woltz

2nd Major John George Adam Woltz was born 16 September 1744 at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church of York, PA to Peter Woltz and wife Elizabeth Hasin. Little is known of the early life of George Woltz. George and Charlotte Shryock/Shruger married 10 February 1769. George Woltz was a well-known and active citizen of his community, which is demonstrated by frequent mentioning of his name in Pennsylvania and Maryland records, even in the contemporary press.

St. John's Lutheran Church at Hagerstown, MD, was organized 1770, and the constitution was signed by sixty members, including George and his brother Peter Woltz. who were among the first trustees.

March 177 4, George purchased lot number 42 from Jonathan Hager in Hagerstown which is located on the west side of North Potomac Street and the third lot north from Franklin Street. George Woltz attended the Second Congressional Congress from 26 July to 14 August 1775. The convention established forty companies of minutemen to serve until 1 March 1776, and give authority to fight anywhere in Maryland as well as the neighboring colonies. George, at thirty-one years of age, was elected and commissioned a second major of the militia on 1 June 1776 in Frederick County in the 33rd Battalion. The Act of Assembly, 5 February 1777, required the Oath of Fidelity and support be taken by all citizens, especially all holding positions of trust, all voting at any election, all transacting business in Maryland. Both George and his brother, Peter, took the oath certified by Henry Schnebly in Washington County 1778.

George along with brother Peter, were charter members of the Hagerstown Fire Company in 1791. In 1793, George and Peter Woltz helped established the Board of Health in Hagerstown. Friday Dec. 26th, 1799, Mr. George Woltz and others adopted resolutions to hold a funeral procession in honor of George Washington.

We do not know exactly when George Woltz began cabinet-making, but one of his clocks bears the date 1783. It must have been completed just after his return from the Revolutionary War, and with this in mind we may fix his most productive period between 1783 and the time of his death in the year 1812. George Woltz appears to have been not merely a clock maker but a versatile cabinetmaker. For a short time he advertised in contemporary papers that he made chairs, spinning wheels and tables. It has been said that he taught over fifty apprentices.

George died intestate. The account settling his estate is dated 3 Jan 1813. George and his wife Charlotte were buried in St. John's Lutheran Church cemetery in Hagerstown, MD. When this cemetery was being moved, George and other family members were placed in heavy oaken boxes, and at the request and expense of Mary Eliza Walling (Woltz) Long, were carried to Williamsport, Maryland and buried in the Riverview Cemetery.

The Federal Gazette 5 June 1801 , describes a meeting of the Mechanics Society in York, Pennsylvania, held for the purpose of promoting the member's trades. Various toasts were made to good fellowship. George Woltz spoke last and his message was earnestly proposed:  May virtue continue to the main spring of our government. May the friends of order wind up its chains, and may its hands always point to the public good.

References:

Young, James Henry. Vital Records, Christ Lutheran Church. York, Pennsy lvania, Vol V, York,

Pennsylvania" York Historical County Historical Society, 1933.

Bates, Marlene S & Wright F. Edward. 1991. York County, Pennsylvania Church Records of the

18th Century Vo/ 2. pl38.

Cunz, Dieter. The Maryland Germans, A History, Port Washington, New York: Kennikat Press,

1972, page 162.

Hanks, Patrick, editor. Dictionwy of American Family Names, Vol 3, Gentry, Edda. "German

Family Names", London:Oxford UniversityiJPress, 2003, page 342.

Gibbs, James W. Dixie Clockmakers. Gretna, Louisiana: Pelican Publishing Co. 1979, pp 81-83.

Miller, Louise L. Records of St. John :r Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hagerstown,

Washington County, Maryland, vol 1., Marriages, Burials, Misc .. 1767-1900. Salt Lake,

Utah: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, film number 0859283.

Brumbaugh, Gaius Marcus. Maryland Records Vol. l , Baltimore, Maryland:Genealogical

Publishing. 1993, page 247. Reproduced on Broderbund Software's Family Archive CD

#521 (Genealogical Records:Maryland Settlers and Soldiers, ( 1700s-1800s).

Clemets, S. Eugene and Wright, F. Edward. The Matyland Militia in the Revolutionmy War,

Westminster, Maryland: Willow Bend Books, 200 I, pages 4-5, 37, 39.

Brumbaugh, Gaius Marcus and Hodges, Margaret Roberts. Revolutionary Records of Mmyland,

Baltimore, Maryland: Clearfield, 1999, page 19. Reproduced on Broderbund Software's

Family Archive CD #521 (Revolutionary Records of Maryland).

Scharf, J. Thomas. J-fistO/y of Western Mmy/and. Baltimore, Maryland: Regional Publishing

Company, 1968, pg 1070 .

Maryland, Washington County Orphan's Court. Distribution, Vol. 2, 1806-1816, Annapolis,

Maryland: State Archives, film number CR9438- I, page 139.

Priddy, III, Sumpter and Quinn, Joan K. Cross Roads, of Culture: Eighteenth-Centwy Furniture

from Western Ma~yland, American Furniwre 1997, <chipsont. org/publications/1997AF/

PriddyQuinn!PandQarticle.html>, 28 Jun 2008.

(1) PA ARCH 5th Ser. Vol 2 PP 237, 239

(2) PA ARCH, 5th Ser, Vol6, PP 56, 58,420,421

(3) DAR Magazine Vol84 (1950) No 1 pg 66; No 2 pp 145, 146, 148.

(4) PA ARCH 3rd Ser. Vol20 PP 305,431, 587, 723. Name as Christopher Allinger or

Antinger.

(5) Washington County, Maryland Deed Book E pp. 1028,1033,1038; G pg. 807; K pg 326; N

pg 363; p pg 473; w pg 529; y pg 607

(6) Washington County, Maryland Administration Bonds Vol A pg 313.

(7) Find a grave memorial id # 101616532

(8) The Daily Mail (Hagerstown, Maryland) , Thurs, May 25, 1972, pg 11.