Burkhard
Meinert I
( ? - 1797)
Burkhard Meinert, the son of Friedrich and Eva Maria (Weber) Meinert, was born in the Oley Valley, Philadelphia County, later Berks County, PA. He was one of three brothers to serve in the American Revolution.
After spending his early years in Berks County, in the 1780s, he moved to Macungie Twp., Northampton County, PA. Like his father he not only owned land, but was also a blacksmith. As with other Pennsylvania-Germans, his name went through various spellings in official documents due to carelessness of local officials: Meinder, Mieder, Meiner.
In 1774 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Alburtus, PA, Burkhard along with Maria Barbara Bader, a widow whom he later married, were the sponsors of Burkhard Meinert (Burket Minerd), the son of his brother Jacob Minerd Sr.
Two years later, in 1776, his mother appointed Burkhard along with her good friend Jacob Roth to be the executors of her last will and testament, referring to him as "my loving son".
At the outbreak of the American Revolution, Burkhard joined the local militia. He was listed on the roll as “Bork Meiner,” and served as a lieutenant in the Northampton home guard. Like his brother Friedrich Meinert Jr. (Frederick Meinder), who served in the Berks County militia, Burkhard was very responsible as seen by the fact that he was fined very few times for failing to report for training.
At war’s end, on August 1, 1777, as required by all adult males, Burkhard signed the Oath of Allegiance to the new federal government. Since he was illiterate, someone else signed his name for him, “Borger Meiner.” Burkhard made the letter "X" by his name.
In his German-written will dated July 6, 1796, Burkhard wrote," It is my Will and order that my Worthy Wife, Maria Barbara, shall have uncontested right over all my estate...” He left some funds to his nephew Burkhard, son of brother Frederick, and to niece Elizabeth Deheven, daughter of his sister Catherine Eigner.
Burkhard died in 1797. His final resting place is unknown. His wife's fate is unknown.
Several nephews and grand-nephews appear to have been named after him -- Burkhard Meinder, Burket and Frances (Skinner) Minerd and Burket and Susan (Hartzell) Minerd.
Copyright Ó 2000 Eugene F. Podraza. Published with permission.