Three Rivers
Hudson~Mohawk~Schoharie
History From America's Most Famous Valleys

The Descendants of JOHANN HENRICK LEUCHER (1720-1800)
AND
Ancestors of HENRY ARBA LYKER (1916-1994)

Researched by: Herman W. Witthoft, Sr.

A Genealogy of the Lyker Family

GENERATION NO.2

HenrY LEUCHER, Jr. (Johann1) was born 1760 in NJ. He was the son of Johann Henrich LEUCHER and Elisabeth [---?---] . Henry, Jr. died 1854 in Root, Montgomery Co., NY, USA, and was buried 1854 in Root, Montgomery Co., NY, USA. SOURCE NOTES for Henry, Jr.:

BIOGRAPHICAL: Henry erected and operated a grist mill at an early date at Brown's Hollow. This place having received its name later from John M. Brown, his son-in-law. The mill property susequently came into his possession. He increased the water power by tunneling a thousand feet thru the hill. Previous to this the water power was led around the hill. This mill was burned many years ago and rebuilt by John M. Brown, but later years did a small amount of business. A distillery, saw mill, linseed oil mill, carding machine and fulling mill were also in operation in Browns Hollow in former times.

In the year 1993, his descendant, Henry Arba Lyker, wanted to know the condition of the interior of this tunnel and asked some spelunkers to go in and inspect it. Their answer was, "We do not go into anything that is man made".

MILITARY: Henry Leucher served as Major in the War of 1812 in the Montgomery County Regiment of Lt. Col. George H. Nellis from September 7th, 1814 to November 14th, 1814. As Major of the regiment in that war he defended the port of Sacketts Harbor, NY, against the incursion of the British fleet and successfuly prevented their entrance and the consequent destruction of the town. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel in 1818.

BIOGRAPHICAL: He was Supervisor of the Town of Canajoharie in the year 1814. He was also elected an Elder of the Currytown Reformed Church in 1814 of which he was a member. He served as Justice for about forty years and was also a member of Congress in 1817. He joined the German Society of the City of New York, April 2nd, 1788. This Society is fourth to the oldest in the United States and was founded in 1784.

BURIAL: Buried in an old cemetery west of Lykers Corners.
He married Catharine RUNKLE. She was born 4 Nov 1760 in Schenectady, Schenectady Co., NY. She was the daughter of Cornelius RUNKLE and Elizabeth (Raaf) RAFE. Catharine died 11 Feb 1842 in Root, Montgomery I Co., NY, USA, and was buried 1842 in Root, Montgomery Co., NY, USA. SOURCE NOTES for Catharine:
BIRTH: Recorded in the Dutch Reformed Church, Schenectady, Schenectady Co., NY. Date of birth calculates to be 4 Nov 1760.

DEATH: Aged 81yrs 3mos 7das.

BURIAL: Buried in the old cemetery west of "Lychers". I presume this is the present day Lykers Corners, Root, Montgomery Co., NY USA."

Known children of Henry LEUCHER, Jr. and Catharine RUNKLE are:

3. Margareth2 LEUCHER (Johann1) was born about 1762 in Root, Montgomery Co., NY, USA. She was the daughter of Johann Henrich LEUCHER and Elisabeth [-?-] . She married Johann RUNKLE. He was born about 1762 in Schenectady Co., NY, USA. He was the son of Cornelius RUNKLE and Elizabeth (Raaf) RAFE. Johann died before 4 Jun 1809. SOURCE NOTES for Johann:

OCCUPATION: Farmer living on the farm containing 125 acres across from cemetery west of Lykers.

4. Gertrude2 LEUCHER (Johann1) was born about 1764 in Root, Montgomery Co., NY, USA. She was the daughter of Johann Henrich LEUCHER and Elisabeth [-?-] . SOURCE NOTES for Gertrude:
CHURCH AFFILIATION: She was received, 24 December 1804, as a member of Map1etown Reformed Church, Map1etown, Canajoharie, Montgomery Co., NY.
She married Jacob MOSHELL. He was born 28 Feb 1761. Jacob died 31 Aug 1805 in Minden, Montgomery Co., NY, USA. SOURCE NOTES for Jacob:
BIRTH: Date of birth, 28 February 1761, is calculated from age at death, 44 years, 6 months.

WILL: Moschel1, Jacob, (of Canajoharie), will dated 8/24/1805, probated 6/30/1810. Legatees: wife, Gertrud (dau. of Henry Lyker); sons, Daniel, Henry, Lawrence, Peter and Nicolas; daus. Eleanor, Elisabeth and Margareth; and an unborn child; Uncle, Johann Daniel Gros. Executors: friends and brethern-in-1aw, John Runkle, Henry Lyker, Adam Clement. Witnesses: Johann Daniel Gros, Henry Lycker, John Runkel. (WMC 56:181)

! BURIAL:

Cemetery at Fort Plain, Minden, Montgomery Co., NY USA.

5. Maria Elizabeth2 LEUCHER (Johannl) was born 1762 in Root, Montgomery Co., NY, USA. She was the daughter of Johann Henrich LEUCHER and Elisabeth [---?---] . Maria died 1781 in Root, Montgomery Co., NY. SOURCE NOTES for Maria:
BIRTH: Lykers Corners, Root, Montgomery Co., NY USA.

SURNAME:Originally the surname was "Leucher".

DEATH: Maria died shortly after the birth of her daughter, Elizabeth, in 1781. Was probably living at Browns Hollow, Root, Montgomery Co., NY USA.

She married Christopher Christian OTTMAN 1780. He was born 10 Aug 1761 in Seward, Schoharie Co., NY, and was christened Aug 1761 in Schoharie, Schoharie Co., NY. He was the son of Christyan Ernst OTTMAN and Christina SCHAFFER. Christopher died 5 Sep 1820 in Root, Montgomery Co., NY, USA, and was buried 9 Sep 1820 in Albany, Albany Co., NY, USA.

SOURCE NOTES for Christopher:

BAPTISM: Recorded: St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Schoharie, Schoharie Co., NY. Parents: "Christian Ottman, Christina". Sponsors: "Christian Schafer and wife".

CHILDREN: Wife # 1 - He had one child, Elizabeth, born 1781. His wife died shortly after her daughter's birth.
Wife # 2 - He had 3 - 5 children by Eva Sharp. Three children are mentioned in his will and 2 others that Marlena Amalfitano discovered and there are possibly a few others.

BIOGRAPHICAL: The Lyker Genealogy states: "Christian was born in Holland. He was stolen while herding stock and forced into the English Army and brought to America; compelled to fight against the Colonists. At the close of the American Revolution he settled near Lykers, NY." (Don't know whether this is correct or not.)

In 1781 Sharon and Currytown were raided by the British and Indians. Marlena Amalfitano says that her grandmother said that Christian was carried off into Canada and one of the County history books confirms this. His daughter, Elizabeth, was raised by the Lykers as her mother died at childbirth, 1781, and her parent's home burned down.

Many in the Currytown raid were carried off to Canada including three of his 1/2 brothers from Seward which was raided the same day.

OCCUPATION: Farmer. In his father's will, 1807, he inherited "fifty acres of land to be surveyed off from the south end my (father's) farm whereon I now dwell. . ." The will's further provisions seem to imply that Christian may have been frail of mind or body, they contain a procedure to be followed in the event that Christian became unable to maintain himself.

DEATH:

Browns Hollow, Root, Montgomery Co., NY USA.

BURIAL: Christian and Eva were first buried in a small cemetery near Brown's Hollow, by son Henry. Henry's son, Usher, had their remains moved to Albany Rural Cemetery where Usher, his sister, Eve Eliza and sister Ann O. Benham and her 2 sons, George and Henry are buried.

MARRIAGE: (From Marlena Amalfitano) "I think Christian married Eva in Canada, as he supposedly was captured and carried off there."

BURIAL: Body moved to Albany Rural Cemetery by her son, Henry. husband's da ta .

See notes under her,

Sophia2 LEUCHER (Johann1) was born about 1768 in Root, Montgomery Co., NY, USA. She was the daughter of Johann Henrich LEUCHER and Elisabeth [---?---] . Sophia died before 1801. SOURCE NOTES for Sophia:
DEATH: Sophia died soon after the birth of her daughter, Elizabeth.
She married ALPAUGH. He was born 1768.

Copyright © Herman W. Whitthoft, Sr. All rights reserved. All items on the site are copyrighted. While we welcome you to use the information provided on this web site by copying it, or downloading it; this information is copyrighted and not to be reproduced for distribution, sale, or profit.

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