Honoring Jacob and Nancy Christlieb

The commemorative marker in the old family cemetery at Chrislip Hollow features the Family Crest of the Christlieb Family. The names of Jacob and Nancy's 14 children and their spouses are inscribed on the reverse side.

A commemorative marker honoring the lives of Jacob and Nancy Christlieb was dedicated at the 5^th Biennial Family Reunion of the Christlieb-Chrislip-Crislip Family held at Carlisle, Pennsylvania. It was later mounted on a granite base and erected in the old family cemetery at Chrislip Hollow. This was accomplished through the generosity of Jacob and Nancy’s great-great-great-grandson, Denver Earl Crislip, Sr.

This side of the memorial lists Jacob and Nancy's 14 children and their spouses.

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Full Circle for Jacob Christlieb

In 1988, a group of Christlieb descendants visited the ancient family church at Bad Dürkheim in Germany. As retired Dean of the church, Rudi had taken charge of the special service for the 35 visiting Americans. Everybody was impressed with the sincerity and obvious integrity of Dean Rudi Weber. Following the service, Denver Earl Crislip, Sr., President of the Christlieb-Chrislip-Crislip Family Association, invited Rudi and Hildegard to be honored guests at the family reunion that would be held the following year. Some weeks later, they accepted the invitation.

It was late on the Saturday afternoon of the reunion when Rudi asked if he and Hildegard might visit Jacob Christlieb’s gravesite. Uncle Denver and I decided that there would be enough time to drive over to Elk City and to get back in time for the banquet that evening, so off we went.

As we drove along to Barbour County, the Webers commented that the beautiful countryside reminded them of Germany. At Elk City, we found our way to Chrislip Hollow, driving upward to the head of the hollow to the site of the old family graveyard. We were in for an unexpected surprise, as there in the middle of the road was a large, dead skunk. Rudi was delighted! We held our breaths while he photographed this animal unique to North America. We continued on and were pleased of the interest the Webers took in the remains of the old log house that had once been the home of Jacob’s son, Abram. It was clear that they recognized the type of dwelling as having its roots in Europe. We arrived at the cemetery, but before going over, we paid a visit to the present-day owners of Jacob’s land, the Wentz’s. After our brief visit, in which one of the men in the yard spoke German with our guests, we went over to the cemetery.

Upon seeing the gravesites of Jacob and Nancy, Rudi remarked that he and Hildegard would like to sing a resurrection hymn for our ancestors. Uncle Denver and I stepped back and observed the Webers as they sang the simple tune in German. It was a special, private moment as a pastor from the very church that Jacob and his family had left 225 years ago was at his gravesite in West Virginia, offering devotions and singing especially for him in the old language. Time had come full circle for Jacob. Ned Crislip

Singer

Singer is a very old German surname, as are its variants. The surnames Sanger (actually Sänger) and Singer are often found together, as their sounds are nearly identical and often have the same meaning. There are two origins for Singer; the one being Latin, the other Yiddish. In the Latin, the word refers to a singular/single person, whether male or female. According to the Dictionary of American Family Names, “Singer” is derived from the Yiddish word, Zinger, an Ashkenazi Jewish occupational name for a cantor in a synagogue. This opens the possibility that Nancy’s ancestral roots may have also been in Judaism.

Anna “Nancy” Singer

Nancy Singer was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in the year 1755. She was the eighth of nine children born to Simon and Elizabeth Singer. When she was about 24 years of age, she married Jacob Christlieb. Jacob was 30 years old when they wed.

Only a few documents have been found pertaining to her father: A letter, dated September 28, 1761, was found among the Orphan’s Court records of Lancaster County pertaining to the appointment of Simon’s widow, Elizabeth, as “Administratrix of the Estate of Simon Singer, Yeoman [who] lately died intestate.” Also found was a signed bond (also dated September 28, 1761) in the sum of two hundred pounds (£200) regarding the probate of Simon Singer’s estate. “Elizabeth Singer, Widow and Relict of the within named Simon Singer, dec’s. being duly affirmed did declare that the within named Simon Singer dyed without a Will so far as she knows & believes that she will truly administer the Goods and Chattels and Credits of the said Dec’d. and make and exhibit a true & perfect Inventory and render a just account when lawfully required.” Lancaster County Orphans Court Records.

The text of the document reads:

“At the Orphan’s Court held at Lancaster for the county of Lancaster the 26th Day of March 1764. Henry Eaby and Elizabeth, his Wife, late Elizabeth Singer, Admn. of Simon Singer, deceased, produced to this Court the Account of their Admron. on the Estate of said deceased July passed before the Deputy Register whereby there appears a Balance in the Hands of the said Admors. of £94.6.2 which account being examined is allowed and approved the said Balance after deducting £1.7.0 the Expenses of this Court is Ordered to be paid & distributed as follows [to Elizabeth, widow and her children], viz: To said Elizabeth for her Thirds £ 31.8.8 ½; To John Singer, eldest son 12.11.6; Simon Singer, 6.5.9; Barbara Singer, 6.5.9; Elizabeth Singer, 6.5.9; Jacob Singer, 6.5.2; Catharine Singer, 6.5.2; Henry Singer, 6.5.2; ANNA SINGER, 6.5.2; Mary Singer, 6.5.2. Total £94.6.2.”

The second-to-last child on the list was the future wife of Jacob Christlieb. Being just nine years old when this document was presented to the Orphan’s Court in 1764, she is listed as “Anna.” Throughout her life, she went by the familiar name, “Nancy.”

An accompanying document reads, “Barbara Singer, a Minor Daughter of Simon Singer deceased (being above age of fourteen Years) comes into Court and chooses Jacob Snider Guardian over her Estate during her Minority & he is appointed her Guardian accordingly.”

This statement shows that Barbara’s six younger siblings were under age 14. It also reveals that when Simon Singer died three years prior, in 1761, at least seven of his nine children were placed under the protection of the Orphans Court of Lancaster County.

Early tax records show that Simon Singer owned property in Derry and Donegal townships in 1758. Donegal, which was organized in 1722 and Derry, in 1729, shared a common boundary divided by Conewago Creek, which runs into the Susquehanna River at the southern end of Three-Mile Island. Also paying taxes in Derry and Donegal Townships in 1758, was one John Singer who is said to have been born in 1730 (perhaps in Germany). This man may have been a brother of Simon. John Singer died in 1790.

After Simon Singer’s death in 1761, Elizabeth married ca. 1763, Henry Eby [Heinrich Aebi/Eaby], a descendant of Theodorus Durst Äbi, who emigrated from Germany before 1712 and settled in Lancaster County by 1715. To Elizabeth and Henry were born three children: Christina Eaby in 1765; Frances Eby in 1769; and Abraham Eby in 1771.

Abraham Eby’s son, Jason W. Eby, was one of Cumberland County’s esteemed citizens. Sarah Crislip, daughter of Jacob and Nancy, who married her first cousin, Solomon Christlieb, reportedly depended upon her half-cousin’s wisdom throughout her 35 years of widowhood. In a letter to Ervin G. Chrislip, B.F. Christlieb wrote, “Aunt Sally, as we called Uncle Solomon’s wife, who was your aunt also, was related to Jason W. Eby. He was a public spirited man and one of considerable influence, and our venerable aunt often sought his advice, especially after the death of her husband.” Letter from Benjamin Franklin Christlieb to Ervin G. Chrislip, April 30, 1895.

The death date of Elizabeth (Singer) Eby remains unknown. Although Elizabeth and Henry Eby were reportedly interred in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, their graves have never been located. The gravesite of Elizabeth’s first husband, Simon Singer, who was reportedly buried in Lancaster County, has also not been located.

According to THE EBY REPORT, Elizabeth Singer’s maiden name was Davis or Davies. Attached to the statement is the caveat, “unproven.” An unidentified Internet source gives Elizabeth’s birth year as 1730, with her death occurring in Mannheim Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in 1804.