Ferree History
Ferrees in Europe 1646-1709
Daniel LaVerre (Ferree) is thought to have been born about 1646 in Picardy, France. His family was listed in the Patrician ranks of French nobility. Marie Warenbour was born in 1653. Daniel married Marie Warenbour around 1676. Daniel became a citizen of Steinweiler in 1679. There is record of Daniel selling 3 houses in Steinweiler in the Rhineland-Palatinate in November 1681. If they lived elsewhere prior to Steinweiler we do not know. There is no record of the family moving to Billigheim in the Palatinate. We assume their home and business were located in Steinweiler. Daniel and Marie became parents of six children while in Steinweiler: Daniel Jr. (1677), Catherine (1679), Mary Catherine (1683), John (1685), Philip (1687), and Jane (1689).
There is record of Daniel Jr. and Anne Marie Leininger, his wife, baptizing sons Andrew in 1701 and John in 1703 in the Reformed Church in Rohrbach.
Isaac LeFevre joined the Ferree family in Steinweiler after surviving the French massacre of his family. Isaac LeFevre and Catherine Ferree were married and had a son, Abraham, in Steinweiler.
Growing grapes and making wine was prominent in the Palatinate. Daniel Jr. and Isaac LeFevre listed vineyard keeper and husbandman as their profession when they applied for a passport and certificate to leave the Palatinate.
Daniel and Marie were Calvinist Protestants which posed a threat to their lives and property. It is believed Daniel may have died in Steinweiler about 1707 and certainly before 10 March 1708 when the family requested a family passport and a valid certificate to leave Germany for Rotterdam. After arriving in Rotterdam, Daniel and Isaac along with their families traveled to London in 1708.
Marie and her unmarried children traveled from Rotterdam to London in 1709.
Ferrees in England 1708-1710
THIS SECTION NEEDS EDITED TO ACCOUNT FOR DANIEL AND ISAAC IN NEW YORK AND MARIE'S TRAVELS WITH REST OF THE FAMILY AND ARRIVAL ON NUTTEN ISLAND.
At this time in London, Rev. Joshua Kocherthal had procured free passage for 53 people to New York for some of the people who were escaping to England. William Penn had spread the word among the war-torn countries that Pennsylvania was a land of golden opportunity.
The Board of Trade approved of the Kocherthal List but added one requirement which was Letters of Denization. The Palatinates were naturalized in August, 1708. Therefore, when Daniel Jr. and Isaac reached New York, they were already British citizens.
In mid-October 1708, Daniel Jr. and Anne Marie Leininger with sons Andrew and John along with Isaac Lefevre and Catherine Ferree with son Abraham left England on the Globe with Reverend Joshua Kocherthal and arrived in New York. Rev. Kocherthal later made a second trip to get the rest of the Palatinates.
Maria with her four unmarried children arrived in London on 6 May 1709. Maria’s age was given at 56. The family stayed in London until sometime in December, 1709.
1709 There was no William Penn in 1708 because he was in prison from January to December of 1708. He was battling suits and legal problems in 1709. Marie was in London from May 6, 1709 until December of 1709. Dr. Walter Allen Knittle’s book mentions several locations where the Palatine families lived. One place was the quarters near the Tower in St. Katherine’s. (1) {Was Marie living with fellow Huguenots? Did she go to Spitalfields to try and find Huguenots who had immigrated earlier? Was she staying with other Palatines who were waiting for passage to New York like Hans Herr’s children?}
According to documents in Chester County, PA, it is clear that while in London, Maria and her daughters must have encountered THOMAS FAULKNER and RICHARD DAVIS, who would become the future husbands of Mary Catherine Ferree and Jane Ferree in 1715, at the Church in New Castle, Delaware.
Thomas and Richard were obviously British subjects. Both of their names were on the 1710 survey instructions for 333 acres – a piece out of the 2,000 acres granted to Maria. Thomas Faulkner and Richard Dave do not appear to be in Chester County before 1714.
It is not known on which ship Maria sailed because of all the passenger lists for ships sailing to the colonies before 1727 have been lost.
Ferree's in New York 1709 - 1712
THIS SECTION NEEDS EDITED TO ACCOUNT FOR DANIEL AND ISAAC IN NEW YORK AND MARIE'S TRAVELS WITH REST OF THE FAMILY AND ARRIVAL ON NUTTEN ISLAND.
In mid-October 1708, Daniel Jr. and Anne Marie Leininger with sons Andrew and John along with Isaac Lefevre and Catherine Ferree with son Abraham left England on the Globe with Reverend Joshua Kocherthal and arrived in New York. Rev. Kocherthal later made a second trip to get the rest of the Palatinates.
Maria with her four unmarried children arrived in London on 6 May 1709. Maria’s age was given at 56. The family stayed in London until sometime in December, 1709.
It is not known on which ship Maria sailed because of all the passenger lists for ships sailing to the colonies before 1727 have been lost.
Chester County 1710 -
What about the life of Marie Warenbour & Family in Chester County?
October, 1710 Chester Co. Pennsylvania- Isaac Taylor surveyed 10,000 acres for the Swissers (Mennonites) who had obtained the land from William Penn. It is not known who carried the instructions. {Martin Kendig?} The Ferree family was to purchase 2,000 acres out of the 4,000 acres left over. In October, 1710, 333 acres were set aside for the following: Daniel Fiere, John Fiere, Richard Davis, Isaac LeFevre, Thomas Falknor, Philip Fiere. (1)
1711 Ulster County, New York- On January 21st of both years 1711 and 1712, Isaac LeFevre of the Precinct of Highland was taxed. (1)
1711 The Ferrees, now Ferrys and Forrys who reached Chester County in 1711 and 1712, according to Rupp (p.91-101) reached New York in 1709, and were very Godly people…in the year 1709, they moved several Swiss families from the Palatinate and settled in Chester County. (Rupp p.7)
1711 (Philadelphia) The minute reads: ”Whereas we have agreed with John Rudolph Bundle, Martin Kendig, Jacob Miller, Hans Graeff, Hans Herr, Christian Herr, Martin Oberholzer, Hans Funk, Michael Oberholzer, and one Bauman, Swissers, lately arrived in this Province for 10,000 acres of land, situate on the northeasterly side of a hill, about twenty miles easterly from Conestoga, near the head of the Pequin Creek, for which said land, they are to pay the sun of L500 Sterling money of Great Britain". Due to their financial status, they had not fully satisfied the Penn agents, Lieutenant Gov. Gookin in June, 1711, visited them to inform them that “full payment at a higher rate must be paid at once, or they would lose their land.” Soon from some source satisfaction was forthcoming, and the patents appeared….(4)
1712: In the minutes of the Pennsylvania Board of Property, under date of September 10,1712, it is stated that at a meeting of the commissioners that day held- the late commissioners having granted 10,000 acres of land to the Palatines, by their warrant, dated 6th of 8th month, 1710, in pursuance thereof there was laid out to Martin Ken-dig, besides the 2,000 acres already confirmed and paid for, the like quantity of 2,000 acres, towards Susquehanna, of which the General Surveyor has made a return. the said Martin Kendig now appearing desirous that the said land may be granted and confirmed to Maria Warenbuer, for whom the same was taken up. But upon further consideration of the matter, it is agreed among themselves that the said land shall be confirmed to Daniel Foree and Isaac Lefevre, two of the said widow’s sons, and the consideration money, viz L140 at L7 per 100 acres, by agreement having been for some time due, but is now to be paid down in one sum..(2nd Series Pa. Arc., Vol 19, P.259 and Rupp, page 90.) (6)
September 10, 1712, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Commissioners granted 10,000 acres of land to Martin Kendig. Out of this he was to give 2,000 acres to Maria Warenbur. It was decided that Maria would put the title of the land in the names of Daniel Fierre and Isaac LeFevre. (1)
Sept 11, 1712 Maria Warenbuer paid 20 shillings for one year's quit-rent on the 2,000 acres of land that was laid out near Strasburg in Chester Co. PA.
Bonnie Thorp - Isaac LeFevre had uncles in New York. Isaac could help everyone navigate that step of their journey. Marie owned land and would be able to sell it and finance her family's travels, There would have been a mutual need to help each other. If Marie bought part of the Mennonite land grant, she would be helping them to finance their travels.
Bonnie Thorp - My question is why Marie felt it was safe to stay behind when Daniel and Isaac and their families went off to England? She had to be with a group of people she trusted to travel with later. The later group included the sons of Hans Herr, the Mennonite Bishop. It just can’t be a coincidence that Isaac and Daniel travel with Hans and Christian Herr who left the rest of their family to travel later with Maria and her children. Why do the Mennonite history books give the Ferree family credit for helping the Mennonites reach Pennsylvania? Why did Sam Stoltzfus say that the Amish revere Madame Marie? Why didn’t Marie and her family stay in Esopus with Isaac’s relations? They had to have trusted the Mennonites which implies they knew them.