John Adam Varner¹ {M} [P808] = Catherine Barbara Sigler {F} [P810]

Married ABT 1724, Palatinate Region of Germany

John Adam Varner:

Born Thursday 2 September 1708, Massenbach (Schwaigern), Wurtemburg, Germany
Died Wednesday 26 July 1775, Germany Twp, York (now Adams), PA²
There were 7 children in this family
Left a will naming his wife, Catherana, and 7 children. He left his land to his son, Jacob, who was to give yearly payments to four of his children, namely, George Varner, Cristopher Varner, Fronany the wife of Henry Bruther and John Varner. "I give until my other two children Catherana, the wife of Jacob Fouts and John Adam Varner one shilling each with what they have already received".
Will of Adam Warner, Book C:302-3.


Catherine Barbara Sigler:

Born Tuesday 8 March 1698, Nordherm B-W, Germany
Died BEF Tuesday 21 August 1764
Reference number: 1280

John Adam , Jr Varner {M} [P905]

Religion: Mennonite

George Varner {M} [P906]

Christopher Varner {M} [P907]

Fronany Varner {F} [P908] = Henry Burther {M} [P909] > Family [F706]

Fronany Varner:




Henry Burther:

Reference number: 1381

Catherine Eva Varner³ {F} [P1152] = Jacob Michael , Sr. Pfautz⁴ {M} [P1163] > Family [F626]

Married ABT 1746, Germany Twp, Lancaster (now York) CO, PA USA⁵

Catherine Eva Varner:

Born Thursday 15 December 1726, Massenbach, Baden, Wurtennburg, Germany
Died BEF 1800, , Randolph CO, NC USA
Religion: Mennonite
Information on Catherine Varner from Don Varner


Jacob Michael , Sr. Pfautz:

Born 1722, Rohrbach, near Sinsheim, Rhenish Palatinate, Germany⁶
Died ABT 1803, Rowan, (now Randolph), NC or Montgomery CO, OH USA⁷
Religion: "Dutch Friends", otherwise known as Mennonites
Spanish-American War veterans are encountered in MIchael's line in the
seventh generation; World War II veterans likewise in the eight, ninth
and tent.
Michael Anglicized name to Fouts when he obtained land at Pipe Creek, Prince Georges County, MD in 1744.
Michael was the oldest son of Jacob but undoubtedly was given the double name of Jacob Michael Fouts. There was no Jacob Fouts, or any other male Fouts in the Germany Twp. area, with a wife named Caterana that is unaccounted for. Michael and young John Adam Varner migrated to Rowan County, NC in 1762-3 and signed documents for for one another. There is no question in the membership of the Fouts Association that Michael's wife is any other than Catharana Varner. The Verner's are reported to be Mennonite
Michael crossed the Atlantic while a babe in arms, along with his father, mother and older sister, Anna Margaretha. Their arrival in America took place prior to September 1727 at which time the first Ship Lists and Oaths were established. They settled on a hillside farm in or near the small German village of Skippack, Philadelphia (now Montgomery) Co., about 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia, where they remained for the next fourteen years.
When Michael was about 14 years of age a second relative from Germany arrived at Philadelphia and joined his family, Theevia (Theobald/Dewald/David), of about the same age, arrived on the Ship "Davy" in1738, and came directly to Skippack. The relationship is unknown, but most likely the two boys were Cousins once removed, and became inseparable friends for the remainder of their lives.
Michael and Catherine lived on Little Pipe Creek Waters, Frederick (now Carroll), MD 1744-1762, moved to Uwharrie Waters in Rowan, NC in 1763.
The actual date of death is missing and he was not probated in either Randolph, NC or Montgomery, OH
TAX: Randolph Co., NC on William Millikan's list of persons who had not taken the Oath of Allegiance.
LAND: 260 acres, 17 Feb 1763, North Carolina Land Grants, 19:445-449.
REV WAR: pay voucher from state of NC dated 20 March 1782, original in NC Archives.
In 1800, Michael, Sr, was apparently living with son John and grandson Michael, Jr., to sell off all of the lands they owned, individually and jointly, in North Carolina. It was Michael, Sr's last appearance in public records. He may have remained in Randolph Co, with son Andrew or have gone north with John (Jacob moved north in 1801). He was not probated in NC or OH.
Sources: John Scott Davenport newsletter 2, pg 7, plus a copy of a bible page, "5 Generations of the Pfautz-Fouts Family" by Audrey Woodruff
Considering that this family had been promoted as a "Quaker" family since Lindsey Brien (Dayton, OH) found some association with the Presidential Hoover line in the early 1930s, it is easy to understand why they could not be found in Quaker records.
Michael at 20 years old was ready to strike out on his own, in the company of his kinsman, David (Theobald) Pfautz. Both took out land on Pipe Creek waters along the Maryland border, not far from Hanover. On August 1744, Michael obtained his first Land Survey Warrant - following quoted in full - Prince Geo County ss
"By virtue of a Warrant Granted out of his Lordships Land Office of this Province unto l Michael Fouts of Prince Georges County for Fifty acres of Land bearing date by Renewment the 29th day of August Anno Domini 1745, I therefore certify as Deputy Surveyor of Prince Georges County under his Excelle Thomas Bladen Esqr Governor of Maryland I have carefully laid out for & in the said County called "Michaels Fancy", beginning at three bounded White Oak Trees standing on ye East Side of Hans's Branch, being a draft of little Pipe Creek & running thence North Fifty Four Deg West Fourteen Per, then North Fifty Six Deg East Per, then North Eighty one Deg East Sixty Per, then South Forty Five Deg East One Hundred and Four Per, then by a strait line to ye beginning Trees, Containing and now laid out for Fifty Acres of Land, to be held of Calverton or Minorcocee Mannor, Surveyd this 30 day of August Anno Domini 1745. Cfme Thos Cresap Dty Survr of prince Georges County." There follows a drawing of the tract, in the Shape of closed half circle, and a tabular key identifying the sides of the tract.)
From: Prince Georges Co. (Md.) Patented Certificates, #1452.
(In Abstract)
Michael Fouts, Patent for 50 Acres, called "Michael's Fancy" - August 30, 1745 - Thomas Bladen, Esqr., Lieutenant General and Chief Governor of Province of Maryland, to Michael Fouts, of Prince Georges County in Province of Maryland, 50 acres called "Michael's Fancy" laid out according to Certificate of Survey bearing date of August 30, 1745, and returned to the Land Office, said lands being in his Lordship's Manor of Calverton or Minorcocee. From: Marland Patents, Pt#2, pp. 291-292
With his 50 acre homestead firmly established, Michael was ready for a wife, and the following year, about spring of 1746, he married Catherine Varner, daughter of Adam Varner of Germany Twp., Lancaster (later York) Co., PA. Michael stayed on his land about 5 years, during which time the land was placed within the bounds of Frederick Co., MD

(In Abstract)
Frederick Co., MD, Deeds, B-25
27 March 1749 - Michael Fouts, of Frederick Co., farmer, to Valentine Mire, of same place, weaver, for 624, plantation of 50 acres called "Michael's Fancy," on Hance's branch of Little Pipe Creek..../s/ Michael Fautz (In Semi-Dutch), Wit: David Phautz, Peter Meyer (Both in Dutch). Michael's wife Catherine relinquishes Dower interest. Recorded 20 April 1749.
Having sold his property, he was granted a Warrant for 91 acres, bearing the date 20 July 1749, called "Clear Meadow", lying on the Great Bear Branch, a draught of Pipe Creek...There follows a drawing of the survey in the general shape of a tomahawk with a fat handle. (Frederick Co., MD, Patented Certificate #866)
Michael has lived on his second farm about five years when on 28 August 1754, he sold to Henry Cassell, both of Frederick Co., 91 acres called "Clear Meadow"...Michael's wife Catherine relinquishes Dower interest. (Frederick Co., Deeds E:527).
Michael's third farm, located on Pipe Creek in Frederick (now Carroll) Co., MD, was Surveyed on 20 February 1761. The 55 acres was first settled and named "Carolina" by Andrew Stiger who had apparently sold or abandoned his claim on the property. Michael's Certificate was issued on 12 Dec 1762. (Hall of Records, Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD.
Soon thereafter, word reached York County that the Cherokee War was over in Western NC and that the waters of the Uwharrie (Rowan Co) was open for settlers. The Pfautz families wasted no time in preparing for this move and in the summer of 1762, as of one mind, Michael, his father Jacob, his kinsman David and brother-in-law Andrew Hoover, sold all of their holdings in Maryland and Pennsylvania within two months time. (Have previously cited Jacob's Deed of 2 July 1762. (York Co, Book A:568).
(In Abstract) 4 June 1762 Michael Pfautz of Frederick Co., MD., assigned his interest in a tract of 55 acres, called "Carolina" located on Great Pipe Creek, to Gasper Rowland. Wife Catherine relinquishes Dower interest. (Frederick Co., Deeds, 4 June 1762). Note that the deed reads "assigned his interest". By the time that the Patent was issued, 11 December 1762, Michael was either in North Carolina or on his way there.
Michael and David in their prime, along with other interrelated families of Hoover, Mast, Waymire, and Yount, traveled a wilderness road for a distance of about 400 miles as the crow flies. It was the second time when these faithful companions set forth on a journey in search of a better homeland. At this time Michael and is wife, Catherine (Varner), were the parent of 7 children - John 16, Catherine 14, Andrew 12, Elizabeth 10, Susanna 8, Magdalena 4 and Jacob about 18 months.
On 17 February 1763 the following obtained Henry McCulloh Deeds on the Waters of Uwharrie in Rowan Co., NC. Note the English spelling of the name. (Deed Book 5; pages 332-415)
David Fouts - 292 acres (lands were
David Fouts (Jr.) -230 acres consolidated)
Jacob Fouts - 200 acres (16 year old son of David Sr.)
John Fouts - 200 acres
Michael Fouts - 260 acres
John Barnhart - 200 acres
Andrew Hoover - 275 acres (bro-in-law of Michael)
John Mast - 233 acres
William Merrill - 245 acres
Jacob Schwartz - 200 acres
Sunbright Heltzell - 200 acres
Adam Varner - 289 acres (bro-in-law of Michael Fouts)
22 Feb 1763 Andrew Hoover bought an additional 289 acres.
This is the earliest Uwharrie Dutch Settlement with the exception of William Merrill. The Uwharrie until 1771 were located in Rowan Co. In 1771, they, in most part, were taken within the newly erected Guilford Co. In 1779, the southern portion of Guilford, wherein they resided, was included in the newly formed Randolph County.
Dr. Davenport secured an area Map Maker who, from the deeds, plotted the land of the early Fouts on the Uwharrie. He secured over 3,000 land entries or deeds (property bought or sold) of the early Fouts and related families, covering Rowan, Davidson, Guilford and Randolph Counties. There are over 300 who are related, in some manner, to Michael and his son Andrew. Sufficient to say, Michael, Sr. owned land on the Uwharrie at the junction of the Rich Fork and North Fork and along both sides of North Fork.
Of interest - Guilford Co. Land Entry No. 1632, made 7 May 1779, by James Allen is described as "a tract or parcel of land containing 100 acres lying in between Michael Fouts' Mill and Harmon's improvement"...Inasmuch as the Fouts Mill does not appear in Randolph County records, we can assume that it was not a public mill, but was used privately. That it was a grist mill is evidence by the designation of "John Fouts, miller" in 1792 (Michael's oldest son). If it was a saw mill, he would have a a "sawyer", and if a Filling mill, he would have been a "fuller"
A transcription of the original "Rowan Co., NC, Tax Lists 1768-1769" contains the names of the Fouts, along with some of the families who had intermarried. These persons were:

Tax List of William Millikan (People not taking the Oath)
Davenport, Augustine
Dougan, Thomas
Fouts, Michael (error in translation - listed "Daniel")
Fouts, John
Fouts, John
Garron, James
Hoover, Andrew, son Jonas
Mast, John
Sheets, Martin
Shultz, Mark
Stutsman, Jacob
Waymire, Rudolph, son Frederick
Fouts, David (Jr.)
Fouts, David (Sr.) sons Andrew & John
Fouts, Jacob
(Last three translated as "Yonts" but definitely "Fouts")
Within Michael, Sr.'s own family there was a great diversion of faiths. Michael and his wife, Catherine, were both "Dutch Friends", otherwise know as Mennonites. His son John's progeny were largely identified with the Dunkers (Church of the Brethren); daughter Catherine's religious persuasion unknown, but her husband Lawrence Younce, was identified with the Dunkers; Andrew was a Baptist; Elizabeth Yount was a Dunker; and Esther Yount was Dunker.
At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, in 1775, each Poll was expected to take the Oath of Allegiance to the State of North Carolina, serve in the Militia, agree to bear arms, and pay taxes for the support of the war effort. The German's with few exceptions took the stance of "Pacifists" and refused
to take the Oath, etc. As a result they lost their Civil Rights, which included purchasing land, until the end of the war when they were restored in 1787. Michael and his children, with the exception of Andrew who married into the very patriotic Merrill family , were pacifists. During the 12 year interim many of the Germans lost, or were literally pushed off, their lands. It was not a happy place for the non-conformists -- the Mennonites, Dunkers, Quakers and Moravians.
When the Uwharrie Dutch, with large families, needed more acreage, they were forced to seek out lands in the mountainous country of Wilkes-Ashe Counties, NC in the 1780's; in Kentucky in the 1790's and in the Northwest Territory (Ohio) in the late 1790's and early 1800's.
Old David appears to have been the leader of the Uwharried German community, for he was appointed "overseer of the Trading Road, from the Painted Springs east across the Uwharrie to Caraway Creek", by the Rowan County Court in 1768 (Rowan County, NC Court of Pleas & Quarter Session Minutes, 2:17). He was the only German to be so recognized before 1771.
Bro. George Soelle, the Moravian Missionary from Old Salem made 12 visits (46 days) on the Uwharrie and recorded in his Diary that he "never got south of Michael Fouts' place." He held his first meeting at Dewald (David) Fouts, Sr.'s place on 18 November, he wrote in his Diary -- "This is a unique species of people. They appear to me like Aesop's crow which inflated itself with other birds' feathers. They have Moravian, Quaker, Separatists, Dunker principles, know everything and know nothing, look down on others, belong to no one, and spurn others. Just one soul inspired some hope in me, with whom I was also able to converse, namely, Dewald's wife, whose frivolity is getting to be a burden to her and often oppresses her. (This could be his second wife). She, also was the only one there who asked me to visit more frequently when I should return to that region. . . This Dewald has a lot of children who have been bline since birth." (David, Jr.'s children)...Old David Fouts was a hardheaded German according to Soelle who wrote that he "met stubborn resistance when I tried to enlighten him". Soelle stayed at David's one night when he "lost his way to Hoover's and had to turn back at Michael Fouts". On another occasion he wrote, "I often experience among such folks what Soloman says, "A fool ofter asks more questions than a wise man can answer". In general, he thought the Uwharried Germans a "course lot".
Other families remained on the Uwharrie for a brief time, picking up the few parcels of available land. Sample deeds -
9 Dec 1793 - Land entry by Michael Fouts, Sr., Entry No. 312 Grant No. 1684 (dated 18 Dec 1801) 50 acres lying on waters of Uwharried adjoining Juduthan Harper & Ledford. Chain carriers on Survey: Andrew Fouts & Michael Fouts, Jr. (NC Grants 114:56)
In the fall of 1803, Michael, Sr. joined with his son John (the miller) and grandson, Michael, Jr., to sell off all of the lands they owned, individually and jointly, in NC. Father, son and grandson had so mixed-up their lands on the Uwharrie that it was impossible to make sense out of their individual Land Registers. However, when all three are put together in terms of what land they obtained and what land they deeded away, that account balances withing three acres. It was Michael, Sr.'s last appearance in Public records. It is believed that Michael, Sr., died in 1803, or soon thereafter, in Randolph Co., NC.. Likewise, it is possible that he went with his oldest son John and grandson, Michael, Jr. to German Twp., Montgomery Co., Ohio, where they made their Entries in the summer of 1804.
REV WAR: pay voucher from state of NC dated 20 March 1782, original in NC Archives.
The basis for the family record is the "Bible List" contributed by Norman G. Fouts and the result of Dr. John Scott Davenport's research; also records shared by other member of the Fouts family

Jacob Varner {M} [P904] = Magdalene {F} [P2499] > Family [F705]

Jacob Varner:

Born 1741, , Germany Twp, York, PA
Died BEF Tuesday 11 November 1806, Gettysburg, Adams, PA



Magdalene :

1 : "Will"; Page of Adam Warner, Book C;301-3
2 : "Will"; Page Wil
2a: "complied by Dr. John Scott Davenport"; Page Will of Adam Varner: York, Co., PA Probate records C:302. In
3 : "Birth/Death/Spouse: Schwarz, p 427, 428"
BIRTH/DEATH/etc.; from Schwarztrauber, Steward and Related Families by Sayre Archie Schwarztrauber, p429-430
3a: "DEATH; 5 Generations of the Pfautz-Fouts Family by Audrey Wo"
4 : "FHL"
Info from: FHL,.
Info from 5 Generations of the Pfautz-Fouts Family compiled and published by Audrey L. Woodruff, C. G. R. S., 1987
4a: "Birth Source Schwarz, p 438"
BIRTH/DEATH/etc: from Schwarztrauber, Stewart and Related Families by Sayre Archie Schwarztrauber, p429-430
4b: "Death: SCHWARZ, p247, between 1751 and 1762 prob York, (now"
4c: "DEATH; 5 Generations of the Pfautz-Fouts Family by Audrey Wo"
4d: "Birth/Death/Marriage Source:"
Birth/Death Source:. from Schwarztrauber, Stewart and Related Families by Sayre Archie Schwarztrauber, p429-430
5 : "C. J> Burkett Famly bible."; Page C. J. Burkett Family bible
6 : "The line f Norman G. Fouts, Southfield, MI"; Page Infor from bible records held by , Middletown,
7 : "Morman Family Library disc 97561."