To wrap up the discussion of the vestry minutes of St. Mark's parish, we'll take a look at the few mentions of our Germanna people. Already, we have noted that Frederick Cobler had David Jones bound to him to learn the trade of a cooper. In 1734, Michael Holt was to receive sixty pounds of tobacco for an overcharged levy. The minutes give only the final action and omit the underlying reasons. We are left to guess at the reason.
The next mention of a Germanna person was ten years after the founding of St. Mark's. In 1741, it was ordered that "the church wardens pay thirty shillings to Thomas Wayland's wife, a like amount to Margaret Wright, when they receive it out of the money for the use of the poor due to the parish." In interpreting this order, remember that the vestry never paid money directly to the needy or to the sick. There was always an intermediary who performed some services at some trouble and expense to themselves. The best interpretation is that Thomas Wayland's wife had performed some service for the benefit of the poor.
In 1746, Mathas Plancit Pecker (Blankenbaker) was discharged from paying the parish levy. He was, at this time, 62 years old.
In 1750, Jacob Fishback was excused from paying the parish levy for the present year. Legitimate excuses that exempted one from the levy were old age and infirmity. Another cryptic order states that Frederick Zimmerman be paid three hundred pounds of tobacco that had been due to William Royles.
Jacob Hold Claw was refunded 29 pounds of tobacco for an over charged levy. Christopher Kabler was paid 50 pounds of tobacco for keeping James Cole one month.
In 1765, the vestry met at the house of Frederick Zimmerman. How are we to interpret the meaning of "house?" Since the Zimmermans kept a public house, the reference probably means this public house/tavern/inn. At this meeting, Frederick Kepler was discharged from the payment of the parish levy for the future, for he was very old and infirm. The vestry met at Frederick Zimmerman's on several occasions after this, until 1777, when they met at Reuben Zimmerman's place.
In 1766, Conrad Cabler, was paid 600 pounds of tobacco for boarding and clothing David Wright. In each of the next two years he was paid a like amount for the same reason. In 1768, Frederick Kabler was refunded one tithe which he had paid in the previous year. In 1778, John Cobler and John Woolfenbarger were refunded monies for overpaid tithes.
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.