EIGHTH GENERATION

136. Christian , Sr. Bauer was born in 1720 in Germany. He died in 1816. Christian Bauer Early History and Genealogy
These comments and thoughts concerning the early days and
genealogy of Christian Bauer of Shenandoah County, VA are current as
of the research completed as of November 22, 1989.
It has not been definitely determined just which Christian Bauer
several possibilities of a Christian Bauer, is actually the one who
migrated from Maryland to present day Shenandoah County, VA (the area
where he resided in VA was first Agusta then Dunmore county before
adopting the current name of Shenandoah County in about 1776).
Inconclusive research has led to the possibility that the Christian
Bauer, age 17, who arrived at Philadelphia on 24 Sep 1737 on the
vessel VIRTUOUS GRACE may be the correct arrival. This is particularly
an interesting possibility because Maria Elizabeth Schindeldecker, his
later bride was a passenger of the vessel ST. ANDREW GALLEY, together
with her mother and father, Jacob & Maria Elizabeth (Schuessler)
Schindeldecker, who arrived on 26 Sep 1737. It is also interesting
that the name on the passenger list just before Johan Jacob
Schindeldecker, is George Schissler. George & Anna Ottilia Schuessler
are the parents of Jacob's wife. This vessel arrived in Philadelphia
only two days after Christian Bauer's arrival. Since our subject was
probably in Rotterdam at the same time as his future bride and her
family as well as well as in Philadelphia together on arrival, the
possibilities are intriguing.
Assuming the correct Christian Bauer has been selected, it
appears that his traveling alone at the young age of 17, indicates he
had friends or family already in America. This man apparently went to
Lancaster County, probably to the area now known as York County, PA.
There were other Bauers in the area at this time who he would have
lived with while getting accustomed to this new land. After a period
Christian began the migration into Maryland (actually only a relative
short distance from York County, PA) as many others did enroute down
the old wagon road to the area now named Shenandoah County, VA. That
Christian lived a number of years in Fredericks County, I~D is
certain. One area of some confusion is that there were Bauers in
Frederick County, MD as the same time, one being named Christian. The
other Bauer people could very well be relatives as the German
immigrants of that period generally made moves with friends or
relatives. As a result it is not certain that the Christian Bauer
naturalized in York County, PA but a resident of Frederick County, ~ID
was actually the same Christian. There is a record of the
naturalization of a Christian Bauer in the same time frame in ~ID. The
PA naturalization is the most probable, however.
Recent research disclosed that Christian & Elizabeth Bauer were
the parents of a son, Agustin in Fredericks County, MD on 31 Mar 1774.
It believed that Christian, Jr. was born in 1768 and it is established
from the prized Bauer document provided by S. Parker Gay, that
Johannes was born 29 Nov 1772. The list of Christian & Elizabeth
(Schindeldecker) Bauer children, taken from the same document, gives
the order of the children as Elizabeth, Ludwig, Christian, Catherine,
Maria, Agustin, Margaretha, Philip, and Barbara. From the available
evidence (the known dates and the fact that Ludwig was the oldest
son), this list is chronological, so that Johannes would have been
born after Maria. This would also means that Elizabeth was born in the
1763-5 time frame. The marriage of Christian and Elizabeth would have
most likely occurred around 1760. This would be more consistent with
the fact that Elizabeth was born 24 Jan 1734 and bore at least ten
children. This earlier marriage date would reduce the possibility that
Christian had a previous marriage.
As a matter that might be of interest on your Welty research,
while working on the Neas line some facts emerged that may have a
bearing. Sara Welty who married Philip Bauer, son of Johannes & Maria
Magdalena (Andes) was brought to Greene County, TN when a young girl
by a Neas family. There is additional information about a Renner
relationship. The Welty family in Shenandoah County, VA utilized both
the Bauer and Neas as sponsors for christening of their children at
the Old Pine Church.
Johannes & Margaret Welty's Susanna, b. 27 Nov 1789 was sponsored
by Catherine Bauer d/o Christian & Elizabeth.
Elizabeth, b. 6 Aug 1791 was sp. by Joh. & Eliz Nehs.
The bother of Michael Meas was Jacob Neas b. 1738, died
Shenandoah County, Va 6 Apr 1823. His daughter, Elizabeth m. Johannes
Renner in 1791. According to the booklet on Parrotville, Cocke County,
Tn on the Renner family, John and Eliz (Neas) Renner arrived in TN in
1823. Elizabeth (Nehs) Renner's uncle Michael was already in Greene
Co, TN, having arrived at about the same time as the Johannes Bauer
family. Joseph Neas, a son of Jacob & Anna Maria Neas also arrived in
Green County, TN in 1823.
In the St. James Church records of Greene County, TN is the
following record concerning the Weltys:
Johannes Welty & wife were parents of Johannes b. 24 Mar 1830
sponsored by Johannes Renner & wife.
William Renner (son of Johannes & Eliz. b. 30 Dec 1815) was
parent of Sara b. 5(?) Jan 1837, sp; by Sara Welty.
It seems that the Welty family was closely associated with the
Bauer and Nehs family in Shenandoah County, VA. Sarah was associated
with the Renner, Neas, Bauer, and Welty families in TN.
In the old St. James Cemetery is a grave for Anna Maria Nehs born
1743, died 1823, which Anna Maria has been speculated to be an
unmarried sister of Michael Nehs. This is close but probably not
correct as this Anna Maria is more probable his sister-in-law, the
widow of Jacob who died in Va in 1823. He was married to Maria Elizabeth Schindeldecker in 1767 in Frederick Co, MD.

137. Maria Elizabeth Schindeldecker was born on 24 Jan 1733/34 in Hinterweidenthal, Pfalz. She died in SherarRoah Co., VA. Children were:

68 i. Christian Jr. Bower.
ii. John Bowers was born on 20 Nov 1772 in PA. He died on 22 Jul 1849 in St. James, Greene Co, TN.
iii. Elizabeth Bauer was born about 1770.
iv. Ludwig Bauer was born about 1770.
v. Catherine Bauer was born about 1770.
vi. Maria Bauer was born about 1770.
vii. Augustine Bauer was born about 1770.
viii. Margareth Bauer was born about 1770.
ix. Philip Bauer was born about 1770.
x. Barbara Bauer was born about 1770.