Min slægtsbog - Overmire, John George

Fortællende

IMMIGRANT, 1751

REVOLUTIONARY WAR VETERAN

CAPTAIN OF SIXTH COMPANY, COL. PHILIP COLE'S 4TH BATTALION, PENNSYLVANIA MILITIA, 1776-77

CAPTAIN OF 3RD COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, NORTHUMBERLAND CO. PENNSYLVANIA MILITIA UNDER COLONEL KELLEY, 1778

Johann Georg Obermeyer was baptized Nov. 28, 1727, in the Evangelische Kirche (Protestant church) in Blankenloch, Baden, Germany. He was probably born the day before, Nov. 27, but his exact birth date is unknown. The 1905 Overmyer Genealogy, which claimed he was born Oct. 27, 1727, was in error.

The spelling of the immigrant's name became anglicized in America to John George Overmire. The Captain spelled his name "George Overmire" in his will. Other variations of the family name include Overmier, Overmyer, Overmoyer, and Overmeyer. Overmyer is the most common spelling today, but it did not come into widespread use until about the mid-late 1800's.

Tradition says Capt. Overmire died in Northumberland County and was buried on the banks of Penn's Creek, but according to E.S. Colburn's History of Fairfield and Perry Counties (1883), the Captain died at the home of his son Jacob in Thorn Township, Ohio.

Source:
One Immigrant's Legacy, The Overmyer Family in America, 1751-2009, by Laurence Overmire (Indelible Mark Publishing, imarkbooks.com). This book updates and corrects many errors in the 1905 Overmyer History and Genealogy and tells the full story of Capt. Overmire and his children.

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The following notes were posted by a Mr. Overmyer, the original creator of this memorial. Some of the details have not been verified:

Revolutionary War Commander: Part of General George Washington's "Corps of Rangers" Expert Pennsylvania Riflemen. Captain John George Obermayer (Family spellings variant as Overmoyer, Overmier, Overmire, etc) Overmyer came to America in 1751 on the ship "Brothers." Overmeier served in the French and Indian War and later was a Colonial Militia Captain in the Revolutionary War. Assigned to Colonel Philip Cole's 4th Battalion of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania formed in 1776 - Captain John Geo. Overmeier, Sixth Company (His son J.G.O. Jr. was listed in Capt. John Clarke's 1st Co.) attached to Colonel James Potter's 2nd Battalion under Lt. Col. James Murray. They left Reading on January 3, 1777, and on the 8th joined Washington at Morristown, Elizabethtown, and indeed, of all the enemy's posts in New Jersey, except New Brunswick and Amboy, and then retired to secure winter quarters at Morristown. Captain Obermayer discharged varied and arduous duties at times at the head of a company of men as Captain, leading them to battle and pursuit of the enemy, at other times marching in the ranks and doing battle under other officers. Commissioned for local frontier defense, sometimes for special campaigns, and still others for periods in support of the Continental Army and General John Sullivan.

"For God & Country"

On Dec. 11th, 1777 occurred the action at Guelph's Mills, near Philadelphia, in which the enemy endeavored to surprise General Potter. The 2nd Battalion, under Colonel Murray, was engaged. The following spring May 30th, Jacob Morgan wrote, "I have just returned from camp at Valley Forge, saw fifteen regiments under arms well disciplined. They performed several maneuvers with the greatest exactness and dispatch under the direction of Baron Steuben. General Washington afterwards reviewed them." May 31st, Col. Samuel Hunter wrote that "The back settlers of Buffalo township have come down to Capt. Overmeier's at the mouth of Sweitzer run." By May, 1778, just prior to the "Great Runaway," the militia was re-organized. We find Captain George Overmeier leading the 3rd Ranger Co. in the 1st Battalion under Col. John Kelly. The Rangers were known for the stealth, night-time attacks.

In 1779, two days after the Battle of Fort Freeland, Colonel Kelly marched with his men to the fort to bury the dead. Colonel Kelly used a dog that would track Indian trails and immediately drop when near, to alert the men.

In 1780 Colonel Samuel Hunter wrote, "Four people were buried on the old Obermayer homestead from an attack on (French) Jacob Grozong's Mill, May 16. ( said to be on the bluff opposite Tuscarora Creek ). The Frontier Rangers killed were: George Etzweiler
(Dry Run Cemetery), James Chambers
, John Forster Jr. (were carried to Lewis Cemetery), and Samuel McLaughlin (McLoughlin). (Col. Mattew Smith also wrote of this). During 1780 John Henry Pontius(Ponges) served as 1st Lieutenant under Captain Overmire against the Indians who were led by British Officers and Tories on the frontier. Wm Moore also served as Lieutenant under Captain Obermier.

During 1781 the 1st Battalion (Colonel Kelley) Northumberland County included Captain John Geo. Overmeier's 3rd Company.(Included his two eldest sons, George & Peter).

On May 6, 1782 a battle engagement took place at an area by the Frederick Wise homestead, Limestone Township. Among Overmyer's men wounded were Private Edward Tate and killed were said to be Sergeants John Lee (perhaps buried at his family homestead?) & James Reyner. The bodies were prepared for burial by Mrs. Barbara Overmyer and others and buried (Rizner) on the bank of Penn's Creek near the Overmyer residence, their graves being marked by stones brought up from the edge of the creek. (Dry Run Cemetery). Captain Overmeier was with his men in pursuit of the Indians.

{Sources include State Archives of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Rangers on the Frontier, Overmyer History & Genealogy, History of Northumberland Co. & Annals of Buffalo Twp}

Family Members
Parents
Johann Georg Obermeyer
1681-1743

Anna Catharina Obermeyer
1684-1758

Spouses
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Eva Maria Magdalena Rosenbaum Overmire
1738-1759 (m. 1754)

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Anna Barbara Vogt Overmire
1741 - unknown (m. 1760)

Children
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John George Overmire
1755-1812

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Catherine Overmire Parkison
1756-1813

Margaretha Overmire
1758 - unknown

Susannah Overmire
1758 - unknown

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John Peter Obermeier
1761-1843

Elizabeth Overmire
1763 - unknown

Anna Eve Overmire
1764 - unknown

Ester Overmire
1764 - unknown