Person Sheet


Name *Martin TSCHUDY (TSCHUDI), 5G Grandfather
Birth 22 Dec 1744, Schwanden, Canton Glarus, Switzerland338
Death 2 Jun 1836, Baltimore, Md. OBIT from Balto. American Newspaper states, " Martin Tshudy died June 2, 1836, instant, in his 94th year. At native of Switzerland. For the last 67 years a respectable citizen of Balto. He served in the Arm of Our Revolution."
Burial Loudon Park Cemetery, Balto., MD, Sec. KK-14
Occupation CLICK NAME FOR NOTES. Horticulturist & Florist. (Read about him in Baltis H. Kennard's memoirs and see various Tschudy/Tschudi items in DOCUMENTS)
Father *Rudolf TSCHUDI (1713-1797)
Mother *Anna STRAUB (1712-1770)
Spouses:
1 Anna Barbara ADAMS339, 5G Grandmother
Birth 18 May 1753, Rhinebeck Flats,Dutchess,New York,USA (Place from HOEFT Family Tree online)
Death 18 Jul 1819, Childbury, S.C. Died at age 66y 2m
Burial Biggin Church Cemetery, Childsbury, S.C.340
Occupation CLICK NAME FOR NOTES
Father Johann/John ADAMS
Mother *Susanna H. PETERS
Marriage 9 Sep 1777, German Reformed Church at Philadelphia, PA341
Children: John (Johann) Jacob (1778-1834)
Martin (1780-)
Barbara (1783-1791)
*Margaret (Margaretha) (1788-1869)
Anna (1792->1822)
Barbara (1798-)
Notes for *Martin TSCHUDY (TSCHUDI)
According to info. in an email to B.J. Peters, Thomas Schatti, founder of the Schwanden Historical Society in Schwanden, Canton Glarus, Switzerland - Martin Tschudi was the first to leave Schwanden for America. He left his widowed father, Rudolf and family behind. A new chapter was beginning in the life of Martin, as he left his homeland in 1772 where he had been employed as a Map Maker.

JoeMcKee offered the following information: "19th of October, 1772..... The Foreigners whose Names are hereunder written, imported in the ship Catherine, [James] Sutton, Master, from Rotterdam but last from London, did this day take the foregoing Oaths & Qualifications in the usual Form .... Mardin (X) Schude ."
Source:Ralph Beaver Strassburger, ed. William John Hinkle, Pennsylvania German Pioneers, A Publication of the Original Lists of Arrivals in the Port of Philadelphia from 1727 to 1808. Volune I, 1727-1775., (Pennsylvania German Society, Norristown, PA 1934), 742, " [List 297C]
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Officers named by Martin Tschudy in his Revolutionary War pension application.

Colonel Michael Swope
Major William Bailey
Captain Christian Stake, of the Fourth Company

"In July, 1776, five battalions of the York county emergency men were enrolled for duty with Washington. ... The First battalion, commanded by Col. Michael Swope, was almost entirely German. It suffered very severely at Long Island and Fort Washington. ... Capt. Stake's company lost many in the latter engagement.
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According to the sworn deposition of a man who served with Martin Tschudy during the Revolutionary War, Henry Yearick, a Justice of the Peace in Union County, Pennsylvania, he "was well acquainted" with my 5th great grandfather, Martin Tschudy of Baltimore, Md (formerly of Schwanden, Glarus, Switzerland) who had signed up with the Continental Army in June of 1776. Yearick says that they served in 1776 for six months. They were part of the Flying Camp, and that he was in the regiment commanded by Colonel Swope. He couldn't remember to which regiment Martin belonged, as the Brigade consisted of several body of troops, but Martin "conducted himself in a soldierlike manner during the whole of his service". Yearick recollected that "the service was principally performed in the state of New Jersey" ... Tschudy served "in a company with him in guarding prisoners taken by the American Army at Trenton". These two men would have been under the command of General George Washington. Martin was discharged from the Continental Army in Philadelphia in January of 1777. Washington reported the following to Congress.

"I HAVE the honor to inform you, that, since the date of my last from Trenton, I have removed with the army under my command to this place. The difficulty of crossing the Delaware, on account of the ice, made our passage over it tedious, and gave the enemy an opportunity of drawing in their several cantonments, and assembling their whole force at Princeton. Their large pickets advanced towards Trenton, their great preparations, and some intelligence I had received, added to their knowledge, that the ist of January brought on a dissolution of the best part of our army, gave me the strongest reasons to conclude, that an attack upon us was meditating.

Our situation was most critical, and our force small. . . . On the 2d [of January, 1777], according to my expectation, the enemy began to advance upon us; and, after some skirmishing, the head of their column reached Trenton about four o'clock, whilst their rear was as far back as Maidenhead. They attempted to pass Sanpink Creek, which runs through Trenton, at different places; but, finding the forts guarded, they halted, and kindled their fires. We were drawn up on the other side of the creek. In this situation we remained till dark, cannonading the enemy, and receiving the fire of their field-pieces, which did us but little damage.

Having by this time discovered, that the enemy were greatly superior in number, and that their design was to surround us, I ordered all our baggage to be removed silently to Burlington soon after dark ; and at twelve o'clock after renewing our fires, and leaving guards at the bridge in Trenton, and other passes on the same stream above, marched by a roundabout road to Princeton, where I knew they could not have much force left, and might have stores. One thing I was certain of, that it would avoid the appearance of a retreat (which was of consequence, or to run the hazard of the whole army being cut off), whilst we might by a fortunate stroke withdraw General Howe from Trenton, and give some reputation to our arms. Happily we succeeded. We found Princeton about sunrise, with only three regiments and three troops of light-horse in it, two of which were on their march to Trenton. These three regiments, especially the two first, made a gallant resistance, and, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, must have lost five hundred men; upwards of one hundred of them were left dead on the field; and, with what I have with me and what were taken in the pursuit and carried across the Delaware, there are near three hundred prisoners, fourteen of whom are officers, all British. . . .

. . . We took two brass field-pieces; but, for want of horses, could not bring them away. We also took some blankets, shoes, and a few other trifling articles, burned the hay, and destroyed such other things, as the shortness of the time would admit of. ...

. . . The militia are taking spirits, and, I am told, are coming in fast from this State [New Jersey] ; but I fear those from Philadelphia will scarcely submit to the hardships of a winter campaign much longer, especially as they very unluckily sent their blankets with their baggage to Burlington. I must do them the justice however to add, that they have undergone more fatigue and hardship, than I expected militia, especially citizens, would have done at this inclement season. I am just moving to Morristown, where I shall endeavor to put them under the best cover I can. Hitherto we have been without any; and many of our poor soldiers quite barefoot, and ill clad in other respects. . . ."

By General George Washington. This is from an official report to the Congress shortly after the battle.

The terms of service of the militia would expire January 1, 1777.
Sanpink = Assunpink.

George Washington, Writings (edited by Worthington Chauncey Ford, New York, etc., 1890), V, 146-151 passim.
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On 9 Sep 1777 he married Anna Barbara Adams in Philadelphia at the German Reformed Church. On that same morning, Washington's troops were being positioned along the Brandywine River to prevent an advance toward Philadelphia by the British. On September 11 the American forces were defeated at the Battle of Brandywine [see http://www.ushistory.org/brandywine/thestory.htm ], and the Continental Congress abandoned the city, moving the Capitol west. Before doing so, they called for the Liberty Bell, the bell that hung at the State House [now called Independence Hall], and bells from the surrounding churches to be moved out of the city to prevent the British from melting them down for ammunition.

According to the Zion's United Church of Christ's website, a train of 700 wagons, accompanied by 200 cavalrymen, left Philadelphia carrying the bells and military supplies. They were taking the bells to Allentown for safety. The Rev. Abraham Blumer, mentioned above, kept the Liberty Bell safe. He hid it under the floorboards of his church. There are more details on Zion's page [ http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Ithaca/1760/history.html ]
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CORRESPONDENCE: A gentleman named Edward Quinter has been kind enough to share what he discovers in his research. On 20 Nov 1798 Martin wrote a letter to his cousin, Rev. Abraham Blumer (mentioned above) One of the things he mentions is Napolean's forces attacking Switzerland.
Valued friend and cousin -
I take this opportunity to inform you that I and my loved ones continue in good health, thanks be to God. I also hope the same for you. This past summer I received the two letters from Mister Muller. He gave them to me in person. But the one that you sent to Mister Riegel in Frederick [?MD], I didn't see. My son, Jacob was at Riegel's , who said he didn't recall to whom he gave the letter. Please tell me if you hear any news. Or if you happen to be writing to Glarus soon, so please let everyone know we're getting on well, and are living in Baltimore in the province of Maryland. Two months ago I sent a letter with Bremer.
Young Mr. Bund[?] was here among us. He preached in all 3 churches. I asked him about the activities of his father and also of Mr. Pflaumer[?]. He told me that ____ both are still well. That was really good to hear. In the newspapers comes the troubling news from Switzerland, that evidently the French have invaded our homeland. I heard that the Glarner defended themselves well, so too the folk from Wallis and Bern. Other cantons, however, did nothing.
Baltimore in Maryland
20th Nov. 1798
your loyal friend,
Martin Tschudi
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There is record of a will that may shed light on the identity of Mr. Reigel as follows: TSCHUDY, JOHN, Windsor.
July 1, 1799
Will proved:October 8, 1802
To son John my plantation in Windsor for œ200, as follows: to dau.
Barbara wife of Daniel RIEGEL
œ100, to William WILLIAMSON husband of
dau. Anna Maria œ100 in trust for their children.
Exrs: Son John.
Wits: John MYER and Henry FIESTER.
Source:Wills: Abstracts: Berks Co, PA 1800-1803
Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Thera.

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Another letter dated simply Dec. 10th seems to be a later letter than the one above.

Esteemed Friend and Cousin:-
On the 28th of August I received your letter, in which I learned of the terrible circumstances in Switzerland, because they haven't ascertained the whereabouts of the merchant, whose name is Johannes Beles or Beher, because the name isn't correct, and also because of the sickness. The resident was from the city. But since receiving the last letter, I was able to find the correct name as Johann Bahn and retrieve the gold. Since I didn't know the exact sum of money or how much, he gave Master Frey $404.00. I would now request letting me know if you received that money or not, and how much that was in Gulden. Thank God the illness has receded.
At this time I don't wish to speak of an inheritance. I hope soon there will be peace. [Illegible text] I would have gone this fall, but was sick, and hope to go should there be peace still in my lifetime. I saw my cousin David Schriff a short time ago. He lives in Adams [illegible text] on the [not clear - Cider?] Creek about 8 miles from Master Frey.
I close for now with a hearty greeting and the wish for you and yours, that the Lord watch over you.
I remain your loyal friend,
Martin Tschudi

Baltimore, Maryland December 10th
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Edward Quinter also told me of an 1802 letter written by a Schindler cousin of Rev. Blumer. The letter to Blumer mentions Anna Goldi, a maid for the Tschudi family in Switzerland, who was tried as a witch, and the last accused of that crime and executed in Europe. Her execution took place in 1782. Schindler mentions that Martin returned to visit the family in Switzerland around Christmas of 1801 and would be heading back to America after Easter of 1802. This confirms the information in the Schwanden family tree in the Landesarchiv about Martin's visit.
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He appears in the Balto. City Tax Records Index: 1798, p. 49; 1799-1800, p. 308; Assessment Book 1800, p. 88; 1801-1803, p. 348; 1804-1808, p. 430
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342Baltis H. Kennard, grandson, states that Martin lived to be 93 years of age.
Both the Maryland Historical Society & Baltis H. Kennard's Family Register quote the Baltimore News American paper's obit in the paper of 4 June 1836: "Martin (Von) Tschudy died on June 2, 1836 in his 94th year. A native of Switzerland and for the last 67 years a respectable citizen of Baltimore. He served in the Army of our Revolution."
To view the transcribed text of his application for a pension as a veteran of the American Revolutionary War go to http://www.bjpeters.com/documents/McKeeINFOonMyMartin.html .
To view a picture of his tombstone in Loudon Park Cemetery in Baltimore, Md. go to http://www.bjpeters.com/photogallery/STTSvirtualCemetery/sttsCemetery.html#SpiesTschudy .
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