It was suggested that the Sechler family emigrated here from Palatine Germany from the Rhine River Valley region in the mid 1700's. There is evidence supporting that the name "Sechler" may have first emerged around that time, but the family itself may have already been in America. There are records showing others carrying the name of Sickler and Seckler before the arrival of Johannes Andreas Sechler in the early 1700's. I am currently doing research to validate this theory and determine if these families are different branches from the same line. My findings will be posted as I figure it out and as time permits. I have found a lot about their history and the hardships they faced in the early settlements in the new world. Below is their history and the stories I have found about this extraordinary family of patriots. This page is dedicated to Margaret Bell Sechler, wife of Robert Almon Stewart.
According to records found in the files of a church known as Evangelische Kirchebuch, Lomersheim, Johannes Andreas Sechler was born in Lomersheim, Germany February 18, 1701 (date has conflicts that are being looked at). Johannes is recognized among the family as the first Sechler to emigrate here just prior to the mid 1700's. According to records at the same church, his father, Hans Andreas Sechler was born in Nussbaum, Germany.
Our family's line to Johannes comes down from his son Theodore Frederick Sechler, who's son Rudolph Sechler had a son named Henry W. S. Sechler, who's son was Abraham Christian Sechler, who was the father to Washington Christian Sechler, who then fathered a daughter who my husband knew as Margaret Bell Sechler (Stewart), his grandmother.
In 1728, Johannes Sechler married Anna Maria Maurer (b. December 11 1707). They had eight children:
1. Saphronia "Phroney" Sechler b. 1727
2. Barbara Sechler b. 1729
3. Abraham Sechler b. October 5, 1729 d. December 24, 1831
4. Johan Andreas (Andrew) Sechler b. September 2, 1742 d. September of 1830
(Revolutionary War Veteran)
5. Theodore Frederick Sechler b. May 5, 1744 d. February of 1825
6. Rutolph (Rudolph) Sechler b. May 4, 1747 d. September 24, 1776
7. Samuel Sechler b. January 13, 1748 d. August 12, 1761
8. Joseph Sechler b. July 30, 1749 d. 1804
Johannes died in 1761 in Upper Hanover Twp, Montgomery, Pennsylvania. Anna Maria died January 5, 1777. Both are buried in the New Goshenhoppen Cemetery in East Greenville, Upper Hanover Twp, Pennsylvania which is what we now know as Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
Our family's line to Johannes comes down from his son Theodore Frederick Sechler, who's son Rudolph Sechler had a son named Henry W. S. Sechler, who's son was Abraham Christian Sechler, who was the father to Washington Christian Sechler, who then fathered a daughter who my husband knew as Margaret Bell Sechler (Stewart), his grandmother.
In 1728, Johannes Sechler married Anna Maria Maurer (b. December 11 1707). They had eight children:
1. Saphronia "Phroney" Sechler b. 1727
2. Barbara Sechler b. 1729
3. Abraham Sechler b. October 5, 1729 d. December 24, 1831
4. Johan Andreas (Andrew) Sechler b. September 2, 1742 d. September of 1830
(Revolutionary War Veteran)
5. Theodore Frederick Sechler b. May 5, 1744 d. February of 1825
6. Rutolph (Rudolph) Sechler b. May 4, 1747 d. September 24, 1776
7. Samuel Sechler b. January 13, 1748 d. August 12, 1761
8. Joseph Sechler b. July 30, 1749 d. 1804
Johannes died in 1761 in Upper Hanover Twp, Montgomery, Pennsylvania. Anna Maria died January 5, 1777. Both are buried in the New Goshenhoppen Cemetery in East Greenville, Upper Hanover Twp, Pennsylvania which is what we now know as Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.