General Notes

REFN: 103AN
!Mansfield's 1884 The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio is incorrect in d
escribing the Samuel Mosser who settled in Tuscarawas with Abraham Moss
er and who subsequently died in 1811 as Abraham's brother. This person w
as Abraham's nephew Samuel, who himself was the son of Abraham's brother n
amed Samuel (1745-1808) who settled with other family members in Columbian
a, now Mahoning, County.
Biographical Sketch (1884):2745 "The first permanent settler was Samuel Mo
sser . . . one of the proprietors of the first quarter township. Samuel a
nd Abraham Mosser first came out on horseback about 1803, to examine the l
and the latter had entered. While inspecting the land, they were met by t
wo Indians, one of whom wished to traDe his rusty old flint gun for a n
ew rifle which Samuel carried. The offer was refused, but the savages we
re treated before they departed, from the flask the proprietors carried. T
he Indians soon returned, and the one with trading proclivities was more a
nxious than before to exchange weapons of war. To conciliate the, the whis
ky flask was again brought forth, but without producing the desired effe
ct of conciliation, and at the request of Abraham, his brother at last sur
rendered the rifle, to avoid difficulties which might postpone the settlem
ent of this tract of land. Samuel Mosser first settled opposite Bolivar, a
bout eight rods from the east bank of the river, and near the route of t
he Sandy & Beaver Canal. His first house was a diminutive hut, which serv
ed as a shelter until better accommodations could be provided. About 180
9, he purchased Lot 2, and the east half of 14, and died in 1810 or 181
2, while constructing a substantial hewed-log cabin. His wife survived h
im many years. Their children were Elizabeth (Kline), Joseph (still livi
ng near Quincy, Ill.), Jacob, Samuel, Catherine (Himes), John, Michael, a
nd Abraham."
Biographical Sketch (1932):3568 "Samuel Musser Jr. was born July 14, 176
7, probably in York County, Pennsylvania, as his birth was recorded in Chr
ist Lutheran Church in the Borough of York. He married Catherine -- abo
ut 1787, and shortly thereafter moved to western Pennsylvania, evidently w
ith his father, who later returned to York County.
After the Whiskey Rebellion in western Pennsylvania, the inhabitants of th
ose counties were required to take an oath of allegiance. Samuel took th
is oath in Somerset Township of Washington County, December 31, 1794.35
69 Sometime between that date and 1800 he moved to South Beaver Townsh
ip in Beaver County, where he was recorded in the U.S. census of 180
0. At that time he was "between 26 and 45 years of age." His wife was list
ed in the same age column. In the family was one son between 10 and sixte
en years, and three sons under ten years; two daughters under ten years.
In 1803 Samuel was operating a tavern in Beaver Township of Beaver County.
3570 His brother Jacob applied for a license to operate a tavern in 1804.3
571 In 18033572 Samuel abandoned his tavern in Beaver County to sett
le in Lawrence Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, on lands owned by his Un
cle Abraham.
Upon the death of his father, Samuel Sr., Samuel Jr. received a settleme
nt of $200 in spite of the bequest of the will which was for the amou
nt of $40. This bequest was smaller than that bequeathed to his other chil
dren, possibly because the younger sons had lived with or near their fath
er in Springfield Township of Columbiana County and had assisted him in cl
earing and improving his farm. June 11, 1808 Samuel gave a quit-claim de
ed to further share in his father's estate in return for remuneration '
to me in hand given by will and notes to be paid by the estate of Samuel M
usser Sr., deceased.'3573
Samuel Jr. made one of his first purchases of land recorded in Tuscaraw
as County, August 10, 1808 when Abraham Mosser sold him 50 acres of land '
on the Muskingum River, east 100 perch.'3574 May