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Another Lancaster County CDV Album
 Bushong Heritage For Sale SOLD
The Henry Bushong Family and Liberated African Americans!
Charles' parents, Gilbert Bushong and his wife, Edith Paxson
Here is yet another antique photo album lost from the Lancaster County family of Henry Bushong, a well-known Underground Railroad Conductor! This album which found its way to Columbus, Ohio, was presented to Charles H. Bushong (1856-1903) by his grandfather, Henry Bushong, who signed it. A son of Gilbert Bushong and Edith K. Paxson, Charles became a doctor specializing in Allopath and graduated from the New York College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1885. He wrote and published a medical book in 1893 and perhaps others.
BUSHONG LINEAGE: Charles Henry Bushong/ Gilbert Bushong and Edith Kinsey Paxson/ Henry Bushong and Esther Valentine/ Johannes John Bushong and Eve Dorothea Eckman/ Hans Philip Bushong and Anna Eva Hergard/ Hans John Bushong (IV) and Barbara/ Hanss John Boschung (III) and Anna Maria Boschung/ Hans Boschung (II) and Anna Stocker/ Hans Boschung (I) and Anna Anneler/ Michael Studer-Boschung and Dichtli Jaggi.
Here's a partial listing:
Freed Slave & Abolitionist Family Album
Estimate: $2,500 - $5,000 (plus 23% buyer's fee)
Description (partial)
A remarkable carte-de-visite album related to the abolitionist Bushong family of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The Bushongs were devout Quakers and are credited with manning Lancaster's “Columbia to Christiana” branch of the Underground Railroad from their homes in and around Bart Township. This newly discovered photo album, which dates to the Civil War era, contains original photographs of two freed slaves as well as photographs of various members of the Henry Bushong family.
Current bid: $100 Sold for $16,000! WOW
Ends August 5th, 8am Central Time
Offered at Live Auctioneers, by FLEISCHER'S AUCTIONS, Columbus, Ohio
When his grandfather gave him this carte-de-visite (CDV) album, he had already filled it with photos of Charles' parents, cousins, uncles, aunts, Rakestraws, and other family. There are also two CDVs of two freed slaves who the Bushong family were undoubtedly friends of and possibly helped in their escape. Charles married twice and had no children, which may be why the album became separated from the Bushong family.
Note: I have reviewed the later added identifications. All appear correct, except for two labeled cousins, Mary Bushong (labeled daughter of Henry, Sr) and Anna Bushong (labeled daughter of Isaac Bushong). These two identifications are wrong, as the named fathers did not have children with those names. I believe they may be daughters of Henry Sr's son, John, and Elizabeth Walton Bushong, who had two daughters named. Mary, and Anna, died without children in 1861 and 1867, respectively. It needs to be studied further.
I am not an expert on pricing old CDVs, so I have no idea what these great photos will sell for. If you're a Bushong, maybe more closely related than I am, please consider putting in a bid!
Rick
July, 10, 2023
Updated: October 24, 2023
The Bushong History Book
Is Almost Finished
Exciting news! The much-anticipated book, The History of the American Bushong Family, is making excellent progress. I anticipate its completion within the next few months, perhaps in time for Christmas. Currently, I am diligently working on the final two chapters, as well as the index and cover design. As is often the case, these tasks require more time than initially planned, but rest assured, I am committed to delivering a comprehensive and engaging book.
The History of the American Bushong Family is 8 1/2" x 11" and will span over 250 pages, providing a narrative of a broad selection of the Bushong family lineage. To cater to various reading preferences, I intend to publish multiple versions of the book, including paperback, hardback, and potentially even a deluxe leather-bound edition.
Your enthusiasm, interest, and support for this project is greatly appreciated. To ensure you receive timely updates, I am compiling a list of individuals who would like to be notified of the book's publication. If you would like to be included, kindly send an email with your name and phone number to this website.
Thank you for your support, and I look forward to sharing the printed edition of this remarkable journey through history for the American Bushong Family with you soon.
Rick
June 30, 2023
Again From Pennsylvania
Bushong Heritage For Sale SOLD!
Henry Bushong and Esther Valentine Daguerreotypes
Henry and Esther. One of seven eBay offerings.
Click to enlarge
What an incredible find! More photographs have turned up from one of the Lancaster County Bushong branches. There are seven individual eBay Buy-it-now offerings of seven beautiful cased-photographs. All incredibly sharp and clear, five are highly prized and sought after Daguerreotypes and two are Ambrotypes (also on glass). They are from the very well-known and active Lancaster County Underground Railroad family of Henry Bushong.
These are some of the finest Bushong photographs I have run across. They are sharp, well exposed, and remarkably fresh for being close to 170 years old! In the photograph of Henry and Esther above, Henry is actually smiling a bit, while Esther has a mildly bemused look. Much different than most of our ancestors, looking stiff. Daguerreotype photographs are highly collectible, and that makes these photographs expensive the prices range from $119 to $325. I am not a Daguerreotype expert, but I've seen "Dags" sell for hundreds of dollars, so the prices seem reasonable.
Some have already sold and if these beautiful photographs were my own branch, I'd buy them. Even at twice the price! If it's family, you'd have to do it. Even collectors of Bushong memorabilia should be interested because these are absolutely stunning photographs, on top of that, they were Underground Railroad operators! Someone buy them!
 A tip of the hat to Charlene Moore for sending this in! Thank you!
Rick
May 7, 2022
Updated May 22, 2022
Vetting Determines
Andrew Bushong Jr. ca 1749-____
Never Existed
(3 pages combined - click to enlarge)
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Many in Bushong genealogy, myself included, have thought that possibly Anthony Andrew Bushong and his first wife, Maria Catrina Bushong, had a third child, a son named Andrew Jr.
However, from research while writing the Bushong History book (see post below), I can conclusively state Andrew Jr. never existed. An excerpt from the book: ...a third son named Andrew (Jr). Possibly born between 1747 and 1753, though no records for his birth or baptism exist, there are unsourced references to Andrew Junior's birth in 1749. Perhaps the confusion arises from an Andrew's Virginia land purchase where, as will be discussed, our Andrew lived for a period but left by 1780. Intriguingly, there are Virginia transactions and surveys that mention not just an Andrew Bushong, but also George Bushong, Henry Bushong, John Bushong Jr., and Jacob Bushong. All the names, except for the Junior on John's name, match Andrew and Catherine's son's names, with one extra for Andrew Jr. But after analysis, these Bushongs are our Andrew's first cousins.
They can be identified as follows: Jacob Bushong (1735-1811), the husband of Maria Juliana Weigel. Three were sons of Lt. John Bushong (IV), husband of Elizabeth Sprenkel, who moved from Pennsylvania to Virginia by 1782, when Lt. John was a member of the Virginia Militia. In 1782 and 1783, he appeared on Virginia tax rolls. Their sons were Andrew Andrews Bushong (1773-1853), husband of Elizabeth Calvert, George Bushong (1755- after 1809), husband of Martha Hall, and John Bushong VI (1756-1796), (called John Jr.) husband of Elizabeth Wendel. That accounts for four of those mentioned and the fifth was Henry W. Bushong (1763-1836), husband of Barbara Lohr. Henry is the son of Hans Philip Bushong(1722-1785) and Ana Eva Hergard.
All five Bushongs are accounted for and all were of legal age. So the case for Andrew Bushong Jr. can be dismissed since there is no evidence to suggest that he ever existed.
On the left is the 1804 recorded indenture of Andrew Andreas Bushong's (1773-1853) for 330 acres in Montgomery County, Virginia, on the head waters of Indian Run a branch of the Roanoak (River).Andrew was thirty years old at the time, and obviously had accumulated money enough to buy land.
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Time to fix your Bushong Family trees
Rick
May 6, 2022
Nicholas and Magdalena
Their Last Child
Anna Maria Boschung
Anna Maria Boschung's baptism record, June 17, 1732 at the Dutch Reformed Church in Rotterdam.
Click to enlarge, For full page click here From Family Search here.
The History of the American Bushong Family book is progressing, But side-tracked for a moment, something new turned up that I wanted to share.
I was amazed to find this needle in a haystack: another child in the Colonial immigrant family of Johann Nicholas Boschung and his wife, Anna Magdalena Schaffner! A daughter named Anna Maria Boschung. Only she wasn't born in Germany like her brothers and sisters. Anna Maria was born in Rotterdam, South Holland Province, Netherlands, and her baptism, was on June 17, 1732, at the Dutch Reformed Church, in Rotterdam. Her date of birth is unknown, but it is safe to say she was born in June 1732. In support of that, Nicholas and Magdalena quickly baptized all their children. Andrew's was at just six days old.
That brings the total known children of Nicholas and Magdalena to seven. Though there are five years between Anna and Nicholas,(Jr.) and there could be another child, seven is all that can currently be proven. Everyone should fix your charts as I will integrate this discovery into the narratives on Bushong United and the book. Here is a list as it now stands:
- Maria Barbara November 15, 1715-1715 (died young)
- Johann Anton Andreas January 30, 1717-1790
- Maria Barbara Juliana (Meixel) February 4, 1719-1805
- Johann Henrich George January 30, 1722-aft 1774
- Eva Elisabetha (Schwartz)March 9, 1724- vef. 1770
- Johann Nicolas (Jr.) April 26, 1727-1732 (died on the voyage)
- Anna Maria June 17, 1732-1732 (died on the voyage)
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This new information adds so much to our knowledge and understanding of these brave immigrant ancestors. Calculating backward, Magdalena would have been pregnant since the middle of September 1731. That means, when the family left their village of Schmalenberg to go to America, in the middle of April 1732, she was seven months pregnant. Then after a few days traveling by wagon, they reached the Rhine River and hired a barge to take them to Rotterdam, arriving sometime in June only to find many more refugees than they were expecting. All while Magdalena was pregnant. Soon after arriving, she gave birth probably in a refugee camp outside of Rotterdam. On Tuesday, June 17, Nicholas and Magdalena took their infant daughter to the Dutch Reformed Church in Rotterdam for her baptism. Soon if not that day, their voyage to America would begin, and they must have known the dangers their daughter faced on the Atlantic crossing. But in baptizing her, they believed, should she die, her soul would go to heaven.
It also narrows down the date of departure of the Pink "John and William" to after Anna Maria's baptism and probably the same day. Because as the Pennsylvania Gazette stated, they were "seventeen weeks from Rotterdam." and October 17, when the men swore allegiance to the British Crown, is exactly seventeen weeks after Anna Maria's baptism. Following swearing allegiance, the passengers were free to enter the country after they paid their fares.
It all illustrates the determination, urgency, and maybe desperation their sojourn involved. For us, it is hard to fathom leaving home on such a perilous journey, with five children ages five to fifteen and a wife seven months pregnant. But they did it, and at great sacrifice, because Anna Maria was sadly never heard of again and undoubtedly died on the voyage. The same is true for five-year-old Nicholas (Jr.). Then after arriving, Nicholas and Magdalena disappear too, evidently never recovering from the infamous and deadly voyage. That or they more likely, died from the 1732-1733 Flu Pandemic. It invaded the colonies before their arrival, and by the time they left the ship, it had engulfed Philadelphia and all of Pennsylvania as well.
Their story should perhaps serve as an example of the sacrifices our immigrant ancestors made.
As well as show the bravery and determination they needed to make new lives in a democratic country,
where they could worship as they chose.
Rick
October 24, 2021
The Bushong United Website
and
The History of the American Bushong Family - The Book
The Bushong Book, a rendering of the Library Edition.
Some readers may have noticed a tapering-off of the articles published on the Bushong United Website, and their observations are correct. Coupled with the fact that the Bushong Tree is virtually complete, work has begun on a Bushong History in book form. To allow time for the book, except for the Bushong Photograph Album, I will not update or publish as frequently on the Bushong United Website.
Yes, for those who have been asking, the Bushong United History is being formatted to become a book. Rather than a book about just one Bushong branch or line, it includes the stories, biographies, and lineages of the founding ancestors for the entire American Bushong family, the immigrant brothers, Hans John and Johann Nicholas, and notable descendants.
The driving force to bring the history of the Bushong family out of digital and onto the printed page is the internet's transitory and non-archival nature. With a history as detailed as the American Bushong family, it needs to be on paper, in a book that will last hundreds of years. In a book that can be kept on a bookshelf and studied at will. A part of a family's heritage.
The working title is:
History of the American Bushong Family
From Switzerland to America
The Immigrants, Their Ancestors, and Notable Descendants
Though most of the stories are on this website, it needs formatting to fit in a book and is still in progress. Its completion could take a another year or two.
The size will be 8 1/2" by 11" and around 250 to 300 pages with numerous photographs and illustrations. There will be three editions: paperback, a hard bound library edition, similar to above, and a leather bound heirloom edition. Price has yet to be determined.
If you would like to be put on the waiting list, just send an email with your name and phone number to me at this website.
Rick
March 24, 2021
The Bushongs Get Around
Silas Eugene Bushong and
Antique Transportation
In the past, I have published photographs of Bushongs and their antique automobiles, and they appeared to be quite popular. Now in order to continue, I am now expanding to include other forms of transportation, which I am calling, logically, The Bushongs Get Around with their Antique Transportation. This time, two photographs of Silas Eugene Bushong are featured including a beautiful photograph of Silas standing next to a steam locomotive.
BUSHONG LINEAGE: Silas Eugene Bushong and Rose C. Davis/ Luther Davis Bushong and Martha Jane Crawford/ Isaac A.J. Bushong and Sarah Swank/ Henry Bushong and Catherine Brew/ Henry W. Bushong and Barbara Lohr/ Hans Philip Bushong and Anna Eva Hergard/ Hans John Bushong (IV) and Barbara/ Hanss John Boschung (III) and Anna Maria Boschung/ Hans Boschung (II) and Anna Stocker/ Hans Boschung (I) and Anna Anneler/ Michael Studer-Boschung and Dichtli Jaggi.
Silas Eugene Bushong, was born April 16, 1880, in Kerr County, Texas. He was the son of Luther Davis Bushong and Martha Jane Crawford. Luther who was born in 1852, should be remembered for his 1940 autobiography, (available in our Digital Library), where he relates his life in the west after running away as a boy, from his Virginia home. Luther was to travel over much of the country, visiting many states, including Texas, Arizona, and California, to name a few. Luther passed away in Real County, Texas in 1942. Regardless, Silas is easily tracked in census and other civic records.
In about 1900, Silas married Rose C. Davis, probably while still in Kerr County. Rose was born, February 11, 1880. They were to have three daughters and the first was Lola, born in 1900, in El Paso. Dollie Francis, the middle child was born in Seattle, Washington in 1902, but sadly, died in 1915 at just 13 years old.
Following Dollie's passing, Silas and Rose had one more child, Ella May, who was born in 1916, in El Paso. From Silas' census records and his 1918 Draft Registration, it can be seen that sometime between 1910 and 1918, Silas began working for the Southern Pacific Railroad. It was in the beginning, when he probably worked as freightman, but he was also a brakeman and eventually a conductor. In all Silas worked for the railroad at least 22 years, and maybe a couple more that have not been documented. However in 1941, he had retired and moved to San Francisco, California, when on August 3rd of that year he died. His passing, less than a year and a half after his retirement, perhaps bears a certain irony. He reported on the 1940 Census, in the year 1939, he worked 48 weeks, less a vacation, or virtually the entire year. Nevertheless, it is apparent he was proud of working for the railroad, and must have enjoyed it. This considering in 1940 he declared his occupation a Conductor on a Steam Railroad and his obituary said he was a member of the Order of Railway Conductors. It is fitting that Silas' body would have been sent by train from San Francisco back to Texas where he was buried in Evergreen Cemetery in El Paso, Texas. At the funeral, all of the pallbearers were Conductors and members of the order, as well.FindaGrave here
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Bushong Rites Set For Today
Funeral services for Silas E. Bushong, 61, Milner Hotel, will be held in the Martin Mortuary Chapel at 3 p. m. Friday with Rev. Martin L.. Sims officiating. He was a retired Southern Pacific Railroad Conductor. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery with Five Points Masonic Lodge No. 1137 officiating at the grave. Pallbearers, all members of the Order of Railway Conductors, of which Mr. Bushong was a member, will be Leon F. Abbott, A. C. Kinsey, R. E. Mounts, L. O. Fall, W. H. Prickett, and C.
A. Lewis.
Source: The El Paso Times El Paso, Texas Friday, 8 August 1941 Page 2.
Civic Record
- 1880 Census, here in Kerr County, Texas, as an infant
- 1900 Census, here: in Kerr County, Texas, taken in June, before 1st daughter's birth, with wife Rose and brother, Clarence.
Occupation: farm labor,
- 1910 Census, here: in Pinal County, Arizona. Occupation: Odd jobs
- 1918 Draft Registration, here, in El Paso, Texas
Occupation: Freight man, Brakeman and Conductor for the Southern Pacific Railroad.
- 1920 Census, here, in El Paso. Occupation: conductor.
- 1930 Census, here, in El Paso, Texas. Occupation: conductor.
- 1940 Census, on April 18 here. in El Paso, Texas. Occupation: Conductor for Steam Railroad.
- Death Record: in San Francisco, California, August 3, 1941 here. Worked 48 weeks in 1939 and made $3671
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Visiting Roosevelt Dam Project
Silas with daughters, Lola and Dollie, riding a wagon, near the Roosevelt Dam, in Arizona. For original photograph with caption, click here. |
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In his first photograph, we find Silas with his daughters in Arizona, as tourists, riding in what is obviously a sight-seeing wagon or coach. The photo's hand written caption is: "Gene Bushong and 2 daughters at Roosevelt Dam."
In the old covered wagon the driver sits on the left, holding a whip, while daughter, Dollie sits between him and Silas, with Lola peeking out from the back of the wagon. Lola, the older, looks to be six to seven years old and Dollie between four and five. That dates the photo between 1906 and 1907. That would be very close to when the Theodore Roosevelt Dam was begun. Of course construction started earlier, but on September 20, 1906, with much fan fare, the giant cornerstone for the dam was laid. source But this means Silas would have been seeing an early stage of the dam's construction. It is even conceivable, he was there for the cornerstone ceremonies.
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The umbrella in the photo, an advertising attempt by a local furniture store, would have come in handy in the Arizona heat, and could have possibly been given out or sold to tourists. This since another McNeil umbrella was reported and it provided the full slogan: "You get the girl, J. P. McNeil will furnish the house." From period local newspaper advertisements, McNeil's store is found opposite Miners' Union Hall, in the town of Globe, which is about 32 miles from the dam's site.
The Roosevelt Dam is on the Salt River located northeast of Phoenix, Arizona. It was created to provide water and power for the Salt River Valley and nearby, Phoenix, and was the first major project to be completed under a new federal reclamation program. When finished in 1911, standing 357 feet (109 m) high, it was, at the time, the world's tallest masonry dam. Today over 100 years after completion, the Roosevelt Dam is still serving and Lake Roosevelt, which it created, is the sixth largest water reservoir in the United State.source
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 Roosevelt Dam on September 20, 1907. This must be close to what Silas saw on his visit. Notice two men standing on top of the dam, close to the middle.
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The Roosevelt Dam in 1984. Compliments of Wikipedia.
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The photograph just above, shows the progress of the dam on September 20, 1907, one year after the cornerstone was laid. If Silas was there in 1907, this could have been close to what he saw. To get a sense of the project's scale, enlarge the photograph and notice two men standing in the middle on top of the dam. Jumping ahead, the 1984 photograph on the left, shows the fully completed project.
It is perhaps noteworthy, that around 1912, when Arizona became a state, Silas' railroad, Southern Pacific had already constructed a hotel near the dam and was offering tours of it and the lake.source Ultimately, Southern Pacific, operated a lodge at Lake Roosevelt for many years. |
Silas and the Railroad
In this next historic photograph, Silas, standing on the right side, in a the cowboy hat is posing next to what is clearly a locomotive that he worked on. The photo, taken sometime in the 1920s, also has three gentlemen who are likely his co-workers. Notice the man next to Silas, is wearing a uniform, of sorts, that has an almost even layer grease up to his chest. It seems he could be the engineer. Identifying the type of locomotive proved difficult, with such severe cropping in the photograph. As a result, most identifying features, such as the front of the train have been cut out. That and the wheels, which are used to identify and classify locomotives, are all but blocked from view.
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With three other workers, in about 1920, Silas Bushong, is wearing a
cowboy hat and standing on the far right.
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But in searching photos of Southern Pacific Railroad (SPR) steam engines, a couple of similar engines came up. They were made by Baldwin Locomotive Works and for example, made in 1907 is Engine no 2521, a 2-8-0 class locomotive, and it appears similar to ours. Click here to see its photo. Notice the piping on the side is almost identical to the engine in Silas' photo. Also Silas worked for SPR who bought a lot of the Baldwin Company's engines. Baldwin Locomotive Works was in business from 1825 to 1956.source Since they are classified by their wheel arrangement, if Silas' locomotive's wheel are the same as 2521 then they are probably the same model. These engines were designed largely as freight haulers,source and though they were not very fast, they could haul long heavy trains. Interestingly, the town of Globe, mentioned above, has a Baldwin Locomotive on permanent display. Built in 1901 it is Engine number 1774 and it is a 0-6-2 class engine.source
Silas Bushong, had an interesting job and visited the Roosevelt Dam construction project, which in its time, was a modern marvel. Seeing his old photographs allows us to learn a little bit.
Rick
April 14, 2020
From Pennsylvania Again
Bushong Heritage For Sale SOLD
Emma Bushong and Joseph Burkholder Bible pages
Another find on eBay. These pieces of Bushong heritage, that are being offered from Landisville, Pennsylvania, are from the Emma Bushong and Joseph Burkholder family.
LINEAGE Emma R. Bushong and Joseph R. Burkholder/ John Heller Bushong and Elizabeth Rupp/ Jacob Bushong and Elizabeth Heller/ Johannes John Bushong and Eva D. Eckman/ Hans Philip Bushong and Anna Eva Hergard/ Hans John Bushong (IV) and Barbara/ Hanss John Boschung (III) and Anna Maria Boschung/ Hans Boschung (II) and Anna Stocker/ Hans Boschung (I) and Anna Anneler/ Michael Studer-Boschung and Dichtli Jaggi.
However, they unfortunately appear to be pages torn out of and separated from a family Bible too. So the Bible may never be found. But there are three pages, including a births page (above), a deaths page, and a marriage record. The writing on them is beautifully done calligraphy and is very clear and legible. Note: Below is a partial listing, but to see the full eBay sale or the other pages go to the eBay sale. here.
BURKHOLDER / BUSHONG 1850-80s Family Calligraphic Ancestry - Lancaster Co. Penna
“Excellent condition with beautiful calligraphy , ready to frame and display. Please see the photos ” ... Read more
CALLIGRAPHY - Original 1850s - 1880s Family Ancestry for the JOSEPH R. BURKHOLDER of Farmersville, Lancaster County, Penna and EMMA R. BUSHONG of Oregon, Lancaster County, Penna. MARRIAGE
Outstanding calligraphic record of the MARRIAGE of Joseph Burkholder and Emma Bushong on December 9, 1875 by Rev. W.T. Gerhard, and witnessed by Clayton Bushong and Lizzie Burkholder. In addition to the Marriage Record, there is also a full page of BIRTHS of the Parents and their Children and another page for DEATHS. The historical value of these records is important, but the beautiful calligraphy is outstanding. Take a good enlarged look at how decorative each letter is - not only is the letter itself decorated, but also the interior spaces of each letter and also the air all around each letter. Amazing!
Price:US $16.99 Buy It Now SOLD
Best Offer: Make Offer
Delivery in 2 days
Longtime member
No returns
Shipping:$8.65 Standard Shipping | See details
To view it on eBay, click here.
This is absolutely a must have if Emma and Joseph are in your branch
and at this price maybe even if they are not!
Rick
April 3, 2020
More Bushong
Photographs Found
This month, Ancestry.com let me sign up again for another 14 day free trial. This is my second time, so it seems every four years or so, they will let me sign back up. Like the last time I unsubscribed on the 13th day, and avoided the monthly bill. Ancestry.com, is still missing most of the Bushong history, but they do have one thing that we need, and that is family photos. Members of Ancestry.com upload thousands and thousands of their family photos that unfortunately -the only way to see is to become a subscribing member. So for me, hopefully every few years they'll let me back in. They will have a new bunch of photos, and maybe some of will be needed for our Bushong family heritage.
On Ancestry.com, I went through around 125,000 items that their search returned. Of those about 100 were new or improved photographs of Bushongs that were nice to find. Those are photos of Bushongs in the first six generations from immigration. Six is the maximum generations I could fit in the (Digital) Bushong Photo Album. Ultimately, we ended up with about 15 new Bushong photo pages. This brings the number of photo pages for Bushongs with photos or important papers to 362. So the next time you get a chance, be sure and check for new ones in the Album, here.
I also came across some Bushong photos that can be used in a Bushongs and Antique Transportation series, so be looking for those soon.
Please remember if you share photographs on Ancestry.com, most people can't see them.
Also Ancestry.com keeps your photos forever and they can not be deleted.
Rick
March 26, 2020
Bushong Family Tree
on RootsWeb
Has Changed
I've always said that things on the internet, including this website, are not archival and often change or disappear. Well, here is a good example: the Bushong United Family Tree, hosted on RootsWeb has changed. Many will recall that the RootsWeb site had a serious security breach. Occurring almost two years ago, they had to stop allowing all tree and mailing list updates. First reported on this website, here, I can attest it was a serious breech since with it, my password was stolen and the thieves attempted unsuccessfully to use it on this site and another site. Because of the breech, I've been unable to update the Bushong United Tree since December 2017.
The good news is that the RootsWeb site has been newly rebuilt and I have been able to update the Bushong United Tree. The bad news, and I hope they change it is, the search engine is now different, and many of the features have disappeared. I'm still figuring it out, but searches can not be refined or "narrowed" down like before, and you will have to sort through a lot more data to find what you need. In fairness, I have only done a few searches, but it certainly seems very difficult to use.
In the mean while, you can access the tree, here. RootsWeb trees are gone......
As a final warning, this website, Bushong United will not be here forever, either. Copy and back up what you need before something happens to it too!
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Rick
November 26, 2019
 A New Article About
Hans John Bushong
The Dutchman
I am pleased to announce a new chapter in the Bushong history has been finished. This one is about John Bushong (1692-1749), also known as Hans Boschung IV. Being longer than most of my other articles, it was more difficult to write. If references are any measure, it has more than all the others.
One thing I found exciting was locating the original Bushong farm in Lancaster County. It is amazing how modern technology made it possible, because by using satellite imagery and an old plot map as an overlay it was possible to pin-point the old Bushong property. The article is available in Featured Articles column to the right, or the Articles page.
Hans John Bushong finally has his own article! Read it here.
Rick
October 3, 2019
A New Article is Coming!
For Hans John Bushong IV
Hello readers,
Just wanted to let you know that there is more Bushong genealogy on its way. I am most of the way through writing the next chapter in this family's history, which is about John Bushong IV, (1692-1749), the Dutchman. As always whenever I examine a different part of the Bushong history, new things come to light, and this is also true in this case.
Look for it coming soon!
Rick
August 16, 2019
The Bushong Home on TV!
of the
New Market Battlefield in Virginia
The Bushong Farm in 1880 or 1881.
New Market, Shenandoah County, Virginia.
I am pleased to announce that the Bushong home and farm of the New Market Battlefield in Shenandoah County, Virginia, has been chosen to be featured in an episode of Barnwood Builders. It is titled "Battle Ready", and will premiere on the DIY network May 12th. It also should be noted it is just three days shy of May 15th, the 155th anniversary of the actual battle. That day, Confederate General John C. Breckinridge, with the help of the cadets from Virginia Military Institute, (VMI), defeated Major General Franz Sigel and the Union advance.
BUSHONG LINEAGE: Jacob Bushong and Sally Strickler/ Henry W. Bushong and Barbara Lohr/ Hans Philip Bushong and Anna Eva Hergard/ Hans John Bushong (IV) and Barbara Bushong (the immigrants)/ Hanss John Boschung (III) and Anna Maria Boschung of Switzerland, (immigrated before 1719)/ Hans Boschung (II) and Anna Stocker/ Hans Boschung (I) and Anna Anneler/ Michael Studer-Boschung and Dichtli Jaggi.
Some may recall that Jacob Bushong and Sally Strickler Bushong were there during the battle, and the Bushong house became an impromptu hospital for the wounded troops streaming back from the fighting. It is said that Jacob and Sally remained in the basement during the battle, but helped with the wounded soldiers whenever they could.
Regardless, back in November, I was contacted by Katie Earls an associate producer for a television production company. One of its 18 different shows is Barnwood Builders. Katie explained they intended to create an episode that included the New Market Bushong farm and needed some help verifying a few photographs for the show. I was delighted to help and had only had one condition, and that was they not bring up or mention the "French Huguenot named Jean Beauchamp Myth," which they agreed.
Aside from that, the production company, "Silent Crow Arts" is very careful to stay within copyright and public domain guidelines and they had a couple of photos to use in the show. By painstakingly identifying subjects in the photos, we were able to date some of them to a two year range, 1880-1881, which satisfied their public domain requirement. Katie said the photos are used at the beginning.
In the episode, Barnwood Builders will visit the Virginia Museum of the Civil War, which is near a job site where they build a log cabin. In the museum they get some local history and then visit the buildings on the property which include the wheelwright shop, blacksmith shop, loom house, hen house, ice house, and summer kitchen. Here is their schedule...
 "Battle Ready," with the Bushong Farm premieres on May 12, 2019
It should be a fun episode, I encourage everyone to watch!
Rick
April 5, 2019
The Hans Phillip Bushong
Recorded Will
1785 Washington County, Maryland
The recorded 1785 will of Hans Philip Bushong.
(click to enlarge)BUSHONG LINEAGE: Hans Philip Bushong and Anna Eva Hergard/ Hans John Bushong (IV) and Barbara/ Hanss John Boschung (III) and Anna Maria Boschung of Switzerland, (immigrated before 1719)/ Hans Boschung (II) and Anna Stocker/ Hans Boschung (I) and Anna Anneler/ Michael Studer-Boschung and Dichtli Jaggi.
At FamilySearch.org, using the book numbers, included in an old transcription, I tracked down this scan of the recorded will of Hans Philip Bushong. Though there have been transcriptions made of it, I don't believe the original has been published yet. Of course, a recorded will is a transcription too, but it is copied from the actual will by, in this case, an official Washington County, Maryland Registrar. There are mistakes too, made by Thomas Bell the registrar.
But over the years there have been at least a couple of transcribed versions of Hans Philip's will published and those both vary with each other. One of them unfortunately edited and corrected text and spelling, for instance, the name "Barbary" was changed to Barbara. This is just wrong since it strips away historical integrity and context. If she was called Barbary, then we should know that. Then put "[sic]" after it to indicated the original writer wrote it like that. The readers will be able to figure it out and I think most of us can appreciate an accurate transcription over one that is an interpretation. Regardless, below, is an accurate transcription. (Just don't run it through spell checker.)
In the Name of God Amen I Phillip Bushong of Washington County and State of Maryland being very weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be [sic] given to God Calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men Once to die do make and Ordain this my last Will and Testament that is to say principally & first of all I give and Recommend my body unto the Earth to be buried in a decent Christian Burreal at the descretion of my Exec and I Recommend my Sole unto the All Mighty God who gave it to me nothing doubting but at the General Resurection I shall Receive the same again by the Almighty power of God and as touching such Worldly Estate as it has pleased God to bless me with in this life I give demise and dispose of the same in the the Same in the [sic] following manner and form.
Imprimise my Will is that my beloved Wife Barbary shall have an Eaquel Share with any of my Heirs herein Mentioned in my Real and personal Estate According to a Certain Marriage Contract between us Enacted this shall be the full Satisfaction for her dower and besides this her share she shall have no farther Right to my Estate Eighter Real or personal Except what she brought to me, and the Remaining and Residue of my Estate bothe Real and personal I leave and bequeath unto my nine children viz. as follows Except Sundry Leagcies hereafter Mentioned. John Bushong, Barbary Wife of Henry Hardman, Phillip Bushong Peter Bushong Henry Bushong, Mary Bushong Jacob Bushong David Bushong Elizabeth Bushong to be Eaqual divided between them.
Imprimise I give and bequeath to my Eldest Son John Bushong five Pounds
Imprimise I give and Bequeath unto the Widow of Robert Michael or his Heirs after her death forty Pounds & Ten Shillings it being for a Sertin Sum of Money I Borroweth of her Husband in former Good times and paid it in Continental Money when it Rated twenty for One
Imprimise my will is that is to say after my Death my Executors shall and may sell of my Real and personal Estate and Make Convayens for for [sic] said Lands to those fit thinking and after paying all just debts and funeral Charges and the leagcies above Mentioned the Remaining part to be divided as is herein before Mentioned that is to say to my beloved Wife Barbary and my nine children. And also I constitute and Appoint Christian Newcomer and Jacob Hess to be the Executors of this my last Will and Testament and I do hereby utterly disalow Revoke and dissanull all and every Other Testaments Will Legacies bequests Executors by me in any wise before named Willed and Bequeathed Ratifying and Confirming this and no Other to be my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this seventh day of February in the Year of our Lord Seventeen Hundred & Eighty five.
Phillip (his X mark) Bushong [seal]
Signed Sealed published and declared by me the Said Phillip Bushong as my last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each Other have hereunto Subscribed our names. John Core, Conrad Nichodemus Martin Belmire On the book of the Original Will of the said Philip Bushong the following Indorsements to wit Washington County Ss Feby 26th 1785 Came Christian Newcome & Jacob Hess & Solemly declared & Affirmed that the within Instrument of Writing is the true and whole Will & Testament of Phillip Bushong late of said County deceased that hath come to there hands or possession & that they do not know of any other. And at the same time Came John Coir, Conrad Nichodemus & Martin Belmire the three Subscribing Witnesses to the Within last Will & Testament of Phillip Bushong late of said County deceased & Severally declared & affirmed that they did see the Testator therein Named Sign & seal this Will & that they heard him publish pronounce & declare the Same to be his last Will & Testament that at the time of his So doing he was to the best of their Apprehentions of sound & disposing mind memory & understanding & that they respectively Subscribed their names as Witnesses to this Will in the presence & at the Request of the Testator & in the presence of each Other
Certified by
[signed] Thomas Bell Regr.
Recorded February 26th 1785
Washington County Will Book A
pages 107-109
Hagerstown, Maryland.
Hans Philip Bushong, who went by Philip, was born in 1722, probably in Germany. But it should be noted, family lore persists that the Boschungs spent some time in France, so we just don't yet know. Regardless, he arrived in Pennsylvania in 1731 on the Ship Britannia, at around nine years old. Later, likely before December 1750 when his first child, Johannes John Bushong was born, he married Anna Eva Hergard. Anna, who was born in 1733 and is thought to have been from France. She died June 19, 1778 and interestingly, Anna's tombstone, (viewable on Bushong United, here), is a part of the "Bushongs were not French" evidence. Accordingly it is carved completely in German..
Hier ruhen die Gebeine Anna Eva Bushong
Gebohren den 22 July AD 1733 Gestorben den 19 June AD 1778
Im Ihres Alters 44 Jahre 11 Monatheweniger 3 Tage
This appears to be the oldest will in Bushong heritage. At least that we can view.
Hans Philip's father's hasn't been seen in years and his siblings all died later, or their will hasn't yet been located.
Rick
March 18, 2019
More Bushong Heritage For Sale
Again from Lancaster County
Gilbert Bushong On eBay - Updated
Photo of Henry Bushong's 1854 fractur to Gilbert Bushong
Note: the white blemish appears to be from the camera flash, since they are different in other photos.Gilbert Bushong Bird Of Paradise Wedding Fraktur Lancaster PA Abolitionist 1854
Watercolor Wedding Fraktur depicting two Birds of Paradise, flanking a green outlined heart with the following script " The Greater Bird Of Paradise made for Gilbert Bushong by his Father in the seventy first year of his age 2 M o 3 1854". Executed in 1854 by Henry Bushong, for his son Gilbert, Eden Twp Lancaster County Pennsylvania. Gilbert Bushong's diaries are in the Lancaster County historical society. The Bushong Family oversaw Station #10 of the Underground Railroad and were one of the leaders of the Christiana Riots. The fraktur measures 12" x 7 1/2 sight, 10 1/2" x 15" with the frame. The frame is old and very attractive, with faux, curly maple paint. The watercolors are still nice and bright, some staining is evident on the fraktur, but it does not impose upon the written script or the watercolor Birds. A very attractive, period PA German watercolor with an excellent and interesting history. Full refund, less shipping, if not completely satisfied.
Starting bid:US $350.00 $325
[ 0 bids ]
Ends Monday, 10:50AM March 18
Ends Monday, 9:30AM March 25
Ships from United States
30-day returns
Shipping: $17.00 Expedited Shipping | See details
See full listing and bid, here.
BUSHONG LINEAGE: Gilbert Bushong and Edith Kinsey Paxson/ Henry Bushong and Esther Valentine/ Johannes John Bushong and Eve Dorothea Eckman/ Hans Philip Bushong and Anna Eva Hergard/ Hans John Bushong (IV) and Barbara/ Hanss John Boschung (III) and Anna Maria Boschung of Switzerland, (immigrated before 1719)/ Hans Boschung (II) and Anna Stocker/ Hans Boschung (I) and Anna Anneler/ Michael Studer-Boschung and Dichtli Jaggi.
This is a different Bushong heirloom being sold off. It is called a fraktur, and was drawn and lettered by Henry Bushong in 1854 in honor of his son Gilbert's marriage to Edith Paxson. The piece offers a unique insight into Henry Bushong, since before, there was no reason to believe he was artistic.
Regardless, it is unbelievable the amount of Bushong photos, diaries, and now folk art, that has been turning up for sale from this Bushong branch. This should serve as a reminder, that if you don't have a Bushong to pass your family's keepsakes on to, then they have a good chance of being lost from the family.
Sorry there is not much time left for the auction, but it is possible it will not sell and that maybe it will then be relisted.
Detail photo of the sentiment Henry Bushong wrote for his son.
And to think, Gilbert and Henry were part of Lancaster County's Underground Railroad too!
Rick
March 16, 2019
March 18: Updated- not sold.
March 21: Updated - relisted.
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