Friedrich
Meinert Jr. (Meinder)
( ? -1816)
Frederick Meinert Jr., the son of Friedrich and Eva Maria (Weber) Meinert Sr., was born in the Oley Valley in Philadelphia County, now Berks County, PA in the late 1730s or early 1740s.
Probably out of ignorance on spelling German names local bureaucrats spelled the name of this branch of the family “Meinder.” Some members of this branch who moved west to Wisconsin and Iowa in the 1850s eventually dropped the "e" and spell the name “Minder.” In addition to these two spellings, on some of the land records in Berks County the name is spelled Miner or Meiner.
In 1763 Friedrich married Catherine Nein, the daughter Casper and Barbara Nein, German immigrants of the Oley Valley. (Friedrich’s brother Jacob Minerd Sr. married Catherine’s sister, Maria Nein.)
Frederick and Catherine had six known children: Elizabeth, Burkhart, Susan Sigfried, Sarah Friedrich, Anna Maria Wertz, and Frederick junior.
Frederick owned a farm in Rockland Township, which was created out of the larger Oley Township in 1758. On his land he ran a grist mill and a saw mill and also worked as a "cordwainer."
When the Revolutionary War broke out, Frederick joined the Berks County militia. He was in the First Battalion of Captain Focht’s company. The militia was composed of civilians, men who could not reasonably be called upon for any prolonged tour of duty or for travel far from home. Such men could give but limited service and were used chiefly to garrison nearby forts, guard prisoners, serve in local campaigns, or temporarily support the Continental Army. Avoiding militia calls was not difficult. A man who failed to report for drill paid an “exercise fine.” On the Berks County list of fines most of the men paid 20 to 60 species, the monetary unit used in the colonies during this time. Frederick “Meinter,” as he is listed, paid only 6 species which indicates that he was a responsible man and took his civil obligations seriously.
When the Revolutionary War ended, all males had to sign the oath of allegiance to the new government. Frederick Meiner, as his name was written, is listed in the book The Names of Persons Who Took the Oath of Allegiance in Berks County Pennsylvania, and signed June 1, 1778. Since he was illiterate, someone else signed his name for him and Frederick made an "X" near his name.
Frederick and Catherine bought land on several occasions. In 1768 they purchased 16 acres of land from neighbor John Deleplane and his wife Sophia. In 1775 they acquired more acreage. One of the contracts was written completely in German.
Frederick died in 1816 leaving no will. Because many of his children were baptized and took communion at the Mertz Bieber Church in Rockland Township, in all probability Frederick and Catherine, and perhaps other family members, are buried there, but no grave markers exist there today.
Copyright © 2000 Eugene F. Podraza. Published with permission.