Name:

Misc. Notes

By Fred Coffey

"Johann Heinrich" is almost always referred to as "Henry" in the documentation of his life.

Henry was one of the earliest pioneers in Owen County, Indiana, and I received a thick package of information from the Owen County Public Library. Some of the following is taken from published Owen County histories, some from unidentified sources in that package.

Henry Arney evidently married Magdalene sometime in the year 1775, in what was then Surry County, NC, but no record of the marriage has been found.

However there are entries in the Moravian Diaries that refer to Henry, and his father-in-law Andreas Volk:

June 3, 1778 (Bethania Diary): "Johann Jacob Spoenhauer came to me with the request that I would visit him and his brother-in-law Arny, and baptize their children."

Now, other records show that Johann Jacob Spainhour married Anna Catherina Volck in 1773, and my own 5G Grandfather Johann Heinrich (aka "Henry") Arney married Maria Magdalena Fulk. Anna and Maria were daughters of Andreas and Maria Fulk (see entry above for July 23, 1768). So these men were brothers-in-law because their wives were sisters.

And keep in mind that spelling of the time was flexible: Spainhour & Spoenhauer; Arny & Arney & Erny; Volck & Volk & Fulk & Folk; They are very clearly all the same people.

Anyway, it seems quite clear that the child awaiting baptism is my G4 Grandfather, Jacob Arney, born 18 Mar 1778. He was the second of Henry and Maria Magdalena Arney's 14 children.

And Grandpa Andreas Fulk is kept busy arranging for the baptism of his grandchildren:

Jan 10, 1780 (Bethania Diary): "Andreas Volck came for me, and I rode with him to the home of Heinrich Demuth, where I baptized Demuth's twins, George and Andreas, and little Anna Catharina Erny." (Anna Catharine Arney was born 25 Nov 1779 – she is the third of Henry Arney's 14 children.)

Surry County was split in1789, and the family was now in Stokes County. They took land in what was termed the Spainhower Settlement, ten miles north of Bethania near the present town of King, NC. In the Stokes County Deed Book 3, page 139, we find "State of North Carolina to Henry Arney for 30 shillings, 100 ares of land on the Little Yadkin River, entered April 22, 1796, approved on November 23, 1797." (This land was added to land already owned by Henry.)

Moravian Birth Records? Have seen a report that the births of six of their children, from 1776 to 1789, are recorded in a “Bethania Moravian Church Book”, and this is the source of the birth dates herein. So far, have not been able to find said book.

There was a large migration of families from Stokes Co. to Washington and Owen Counties, Indiana, starting in 1814. Henry, and several related families, were among those moving between about 1820 and 1825. (Note: Henry's son, Jacob, our ancestor, had previously left NC and moved to Ohio, so he was not part of this migration.)

In 1818 the families sent their "Family Scout" ahead to look for a suitable location. He was Adam Fiscus, who had married Henry's sister, Anna Catherina, and he explored Owen and Greene Counties in Indiana. He liked the area along the Eel River in southwest Owen County because of its fertile soil. He marked his claim, and returned home.

In the fall of 1819 Adam Fiscus led a number of families out of NC. Included were Henry Arney, and his son Henry Arney Jr. Within 2 years Henry's son Andrew followed, and also Frederick Fiscus, who had married Henry's daughter Mary Magdalena.

Henry and the other families did not reach Owen County in 1819, because of stormy weather. They wintered in the southern part of Indiana (Washington County, where several relatives lived). The next spring the band of settlers loaded their wagons, and after several weeks of travel through forest and across flooded streams, they reached the area where Fiscus had visited in 1818. They went to work and erected cabins, around which small patches of ground were cleared and planted.

(MEMO: Think the above timing may be off a bit. Henry Arney Sr., and his son Henry Jr., were recorded in the Stokes County, NC, census for 1820. But in 1821 the “History of Greene County” reported that Henry Arney (not clear if Henry Senior or Junior) filed for land in Greene County. Greene is just to the south of Owen county, and also includes part of the Eel River.)

The "History of Owen County" reports that "During the first two years the settlers on Eel River obtained all their marketing from New Albany, more than 100 miles distant. To make a trip there required several days, sometimes longer if the streams were in flood. Two or three persons would generally do the hauling for the entire neighborhood, taking produce such as venison hams, feathers, beeswax, and in later years wheat and pork. In return the traders would receive sugar, coffee, and other groceries, and occasionally a few yards of calico. Most of their wearing apparel, however, was manufactured at home. Some of the clothing was made of deer skins, and they manufactured their own shoes from deer and hog skins, tanned in large troughs."

The area settled, which became Jefferson Township, did indeed offer fertile soil. However one report had this to say about this area along the Eel River where this group settled: "The land skirting the Eel River is the lowest part of the township, and was originally covered with dense growth of large weeds, so tall that a person riding through them on horseback would be almost completely hidden from view. As a consequence, the soil remained damp during the greater part of the year, which, with the abundance of decaying vegetable matter, made the locality very unhealthy in an early day, and caused the first settlers to abandon their claims and seek homes farther back among the hills."

Henry Arney and his sons were among the founders of the Old Dutch Bethel Church, a Church of Christ, which is still active today. Early meetings were in the homes of the members, and the official church was organized in 1825 in a meeting held in the home of Henry Arney. They agreed to "take the New Testament as their only rule of faith and practice." They practiced trine immersion (under three times for Father, Son, Holy Ghost), night communion, and feet washing. Discipline was sometimes harsh. Their first building was erected in 1830 of hand-hewed logs, with fireplaces at each end.

THE WILL OF HENRY ARNEY:

(Henry Arney made his will 18 September 1830, and it was probated 9 November 1830. (One source says he died 27 September, but not confirmed.) His will was as follows (have tried to preserve original punctuation and spelling):

"Be it remembered that I Henry Arney of the County of Owen and state of Indiana the Eighteenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty do make ordain this my last will and Testament first I Recommend my body to the Earth at my decease to be buryed in a decent burial and my soul to the him who give it. Second I will and bequith to my Biloved wife Mary Magdaline a suport her lifetime with beding and other house hold furniture necessary for the same and live where she pleases. Thirdly I will and biqueth to my Sun Larance Arney Eighty acres of land on which I Reside at this time with all my farming tolls together with a choice of one horse at my death and all the increase of the horses from this date until my death Forthly as it Respects my other property and money I wish it to be Equally divided amongst my Children at my death and at the death of my wife I wish the property which is left of her support to be Equally divided amongst the Children by my Executors whom I appoint and put special trust in to have all the management of all my property to pay all my just debts and Collect all debt that are due me I allso appoint Henry Arney and John Arney my Will beloved sons my Executors as witness my hand and seal the year and day first above written.

I am of sound memery for my age as ever I was Henry Arney (seal)

Signed in present of us

Henery Littlejohn

Jefse Roark

Memo: I also have in hand an inventory of his livestock and other goods (excluding buildings and land), and of his debts. Roughly he appeared to owe about as much as he owned. There is also a bill of sale for many of the assets. (Fred Coffey)

CENSUS DATA:

The 1810 census for Stokes Co., NC, Shores Reed Twp, clearly shows Henry Arney (indexed as Army). In addition to Henry and Maria (age 45+) there are 3 males and 5 females over age 16, plus 3 younger children. Obviously a lot of grown children and/or spouses are still hanging around home!

This same township is home to several “Spainhour” families, consistent with it being part of the “Spainhower Settlement” mentioned earlier.

Also in 1810, in Stokes Co., Bethaina, are Henry Jr. and also the Adam Fiscus who scouted the move to Indiana.

In 1820, Henry Arney Senior, and son Henry Arney Junior, are still in Stokes County, NC (official census date 7 Aug 1820). The head count for Henry Senior is consistent with sons Lawrence and John still living at home. But only one daughter remains at home with Henry and wife.

In the 1830 census, Henry and sons John and Lawrence are heads of household in Owen County, Indiana. Henry’s household includes himself and his wife. In addition the household includes a female age 15-19, and a male age 5-9.

Spouse: Maria Magdalena FULK

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Birth: 30 Nov 1755 Allemangel, Northampton, Pennsylvania

Death: 28 Aug 1849 Owen County, Indiana

Burial: Dutch Bethel Cemetery

Maria (Mary) Magdalena Fulk (also written as Volk, or Volck) was born at Allemangal, Northampton Co., PA, the daughter of Andreas and Mary Margaret Romig Fulk. In 1761 her parents fled to Schonack because of an Indian War, lived there for a year, and then moved to Hebron, PA. In October of 1767 they migrated to North Carolina and settled three miles west of Bethania.

Other Information (Following generally confirmed by various sources):

Title: The 'Spencer Owen Public Library', 110 East Markey Street, Spencer County, IN 47460 Signed: CC Arney, Weatherford, OK states: " . . . Henry Arney himself was not a member of the Moravians but that his wife was, at least up to the time of her marriage. . . . Upon the death of Henry Arney . . . his widow made her home with her son Laurence Arney until her death 28 August 1849 at the age of 94." Last name may have been VOLCK. Fulk also spelled: Volck > ARNEY, Heinrich children 1776 - Anna Elizabeth 1778 - Jacob 1779 - Anna Catherina 1781 - John Henry Sr. (that 's our guy) 1783 - Rebecca 1785 - Mary Magdelena 1789 - Andrew 1791 - Susanna 1794 - Mary ? 1794 - Johanna(Hannah)these two may be twins 1796 - Lucinda 1797 - John (plain John) 1799 - Ann (Peggy) Margeret 1802 - Lawrence(Lors) All were born in NC.

1840 CENSUS, INDIANA, OWEN COUNTY, JEFFERSON TWP:

She is clearly found living in the home of her son Lawrence Arney. She is reported as a female age 80-90. Lawrence and his wife are age 30-40. Living with them are 5 sons and 3 daughters. One son is over age 15, all other children are under age 15.

CHILDREN:

Johann Heinrich ARNEY (21 Nov 1755 - 27 Sep 1830) & Maria Magdalena FULK (30 Nov 1755 - 28 Aug 1849)

Anna Elizabeth ARNEY (22 Sep 1776 - 1865)

Jacob ARNEY (18 Mar 1778 - 19 Oct 1848) & Nancy Martha TRUETT (Feb 1781 - 20 Oct 1848)

Anna Catherine ARNEY (25 Nov 1779 - 24 Oct 1865)

John Henry ARNEY (30 May 1781 - 1863)

Rebecca ARNEY (~1783 - ~1825)

Mary Magdalena ARNEY (3 Apr 1785 - 4 Apr 1850)

Andrew ARNEY (21 May 1789 - ~1880)

Susanna ARNEY (7 Mar 1791 - 19 Nov 1884)

Johanna ARNEY (31 Aug 1792 - aft 1870)

Mary ARNEY (~1794 - )

Lucinda ARNEY (~1796 - )

John ARNEY (8 Jul 1797 - 12 Dec 1870)

Anna Margaret ARNEY (~1799 - )

Lawrence H. ARNEY (9 Feb 1802 - ~1895)

Name: Johann Heinrich ARNEY