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- From SHANTZ site ( Wendy Chizek):
"Jacob SHANTZ was born in 1710. He died in Feb 1781. The little that is recorded of Jacob Schantz states that he came originally from Switzerland and that, prior to his leaving for America, he resided for about 15 years in Holland. Additional information was discovered in 1924 by Dr. Homer LeRoy Shantz while he was attending a botanical congress in the city of Berne, Switzerland. Dr. Shantz visited the Staats House, where he found, among the old emigration records, the following interesting information: "Staatsarchive, Berne---Rodel Weggenogener Manrechten Tschanz, Jacob, aus dem amt thun des Manrecht Wegzuzuchen Berwilliget dem 9, Frebruarius, 1737" Literally translated: Jacob Tschanz asked of the authorities in Berne, permission to emigrate, which was granted. Jacob came to America on the boat named "Townshead", arriving at Philadelphia Oct. 5,1737. Bought land in Hanover twp., Phila. Co., Pa., before 1743 and additional land in 1762 and 1765. Now in the Boro. of Pottstown. Died Feb., 1781. According to the court records, Jacob Shantz was survived by his widow, three sons and six daughters. In the Sprogell cemetery in Pottstown, Pennsylvania is his tombstone on which is inscribed: "Hier Liegt Der Leib Von Jacob Shantz Gestarbim Februarius 1781". "
From Ezra Eby, p. 309:
"Shantz, Jacob was born in Switzerland about the year 1710. Owing to religious persecutions, he, with others, left their native home and went to Holland where they had the promise of protection from the persecuting parties by the Prince of Orange. Here he lived some fifteen years. Seeing so many of his coreligionists emigrating to America, besides being informed of the proclamation issued by William Penn, he at last decided to emigrate to America and settle among his coreligionists. He crossed the ocean in a vessel named "Townshead" and landed safely at Philadelphia in the summer of 1737. He may have resided in Germantown for some time. In the year 1745 we find him and his family located in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. What number of children he had could not be ascertained. We know that he was married twice. ...Old Jacob Shantz died in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, February 5th, 1781, aged a few months less than 71 years. He was buried in the Sprogeli Cemetery, beside Magdalena, his first wife." [5, 9]
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