Mansfield’s 1884 The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio is incorrect in describing the Samuel Mosser who settled in Tuscarawas with Abraham Mosser and who subsequently died in 1811 as Abraham’s brother. This person was Abraham’s nephew Samuel, the son of Abraham’s brother Samuel, who settled with other family members in Columbiana, now Mahoning County. The Samuel Mosser, 1745-1808, described on this page was not the Samuel Mosser of Tuscarawas County, Ohio.

Biographical Sketch (1932):1372, p. 178-182. "Samuel Musser Sr. was born in 1745 most likely in Maryland. Samuel mentions himself as one of the four brothers, Michael, Samuel, Daniel, and Jacob in a letter from Washington County about 1790 which he wrote to a York County official concerning the sale of some land. The letter is preserved in the archive of the York County Historical Society. There is nothing in the letter to intimate that he had no other brothers than the ones mentioned.

Samuel Sr.’s home was in Hopewell Township of York County, Pennsylvania as early as 1779.1546, (Samuel Mosser, p. 49) According to statements of his grandchildren, he and his family were originally from Maryland,1372, p. 178. As his authority, Farley cites Mansfield, J. B., The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, chapter IX. but as his home in Pennsylvania was close to the Maryland line, he may have lived at various times under the authority of either state, according to the currently accepted location of the boundary line which shifted many times during the course of more than half a century of dispute, and was settled officially only after Mason and Dixon ran their famous line in 1767. The birth of his eldest son, Samuel Jr., was recorded in the Christ Lutheran Church at York, Pennsylvania, in 1767.1372, p. 178. As his authority, Farley cites the Christ Lutheran Church, York County, records in York County Historical Society. The birth of another son, John Jacob, was recorded in the Salem Reformed Church at Hagerstown, Maryland, in 1771.1372, p. 178. As his authority, Farley cites Salem Reformed Church, Hagerstown, Maryland, records at Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore, Md. His appearance as a York County tax payer in 1779 would indicate only a brief residence in Maryland, unless the birth of the eldest son was recorded during a visit or temporary stay in York County. Samuel Sr.’s brother Peter Sr. was also a member of the Hagerstown church in the 1770s1372, p. 179. As his authority, Farley cites Salem Reformed Church, Hagerstown, Maryland, records at Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore, Md. which may be taken as some indication that their father Michael resided in Maryland proper before moving to York County, and that two of his elder sons remained behind for a number of years at the old home. Peter Sr. evidently moved up into Pennsylvania also as he was in a Lancaster County unit during the Revolution. After the Revolution, Peter Sr. returned to Frederick County, Maryland, where he continued to reside until he moved to Ohio in 1800.

In the census taken with tax returns in York County in 1783 Samuel Sr.’s family was listed as one of ‘six inhabitants.’1545, (Samuel Mosser, p. 775) Samuel Sr. evidently owned land in York County before 1779 as he paid taxes on land at that date, but the first land purchase which can be identified as his was made in 1787.1372, p. 179. As his authority, Farlley cites York County deeds X-460, and Land Office warrants, Harrisburg, Penn., P-59-263 and C-139-90; A-36-266, 267; also see Fairhill, P-60-309 and C-177-135. In that year Samuel Sr. ‘farmer’ was granted a warrant for a tract of land of 78 acres called Snowhill in Hopewell Township, ‘part of a larger tract granted to Samuel Mosser, February 23, 1787.’ In the same year he sold to an Andrew Finley 100 acres of land. September 23, 1798, Andrew Finley deeded it back to him.1372, p. 179. As his authority, Farlley cites York County deeds X-460, and Land Office warrants, Harrisburg, Penn., P-59-263 and C-139-90; A-36-266, 267; also see Fairhill, P-60-309 and C-177-135. It is likely that Samuel Sr. left York County after selling his land in 1787, and that he returned to Hopewell Township again in 1792. He was listed in the U.S. census of 1790 in Washington County, Pennsylvania.1372, p. 179. Farley indicates the township is not named. In 1800 Samuel was in Hopewell township again. From the several young children listed by the U.S. census of that year in his family, he may have been giving a home to some children of his relatives.

April 27, 1801, Samuel sold his Hopewell property of 235 acres to a John Winter.1372, p. 180. As his authority, Farley cites York County deeds and Land Office, Harrisburg. August 24, 1801, he entered Section 13, Township 9, Range 1, in what is now Springfield Township of Mahoning County,1372, p. 180. As his authority, Farley cites the U.S. Land Office, Department of the Interior, Steubenville, vol. I, p. 143. where he was a neighbor of his brother Peter who went there the same year. The section patented by Samuel Sr. lies about two miles north of Petersburg, Ohio, directly on the Ohio-Pennsylvania line. The patent certificate on this land was granted January 22, 1806. September 6, 1806, Samuel sold 320 acres of it to an Adam Painter,1372, p. 180. As his authority, Farley cites Columbiana County deeds, I-138. retaining the south half for his own home. The remains of the pioneer log homestead erected on the south half of this section were still standing in 1931, when it was photographed by the writer. The property consisted of a two story log house. Wooden pegs were used to fasten the timbers together, with the exception of some square cut nails used in handmade lath, probably put on at a later date than that at which the house was build. It had evidently been enlarged by a series of additions so that it was not easy to tell how many rooms the original home had. The house was used as a dwelling as late as the 1870s. On the premises were an excellent dug well, neatly walled with rock, an extremely old orchard of apple and cherry trees, and the jumbled ruins of a barn. A large lilac bush by what had evidently been the kitchen door, blooming in profusion, seemd to be trying to defy time’s efforts to make what had once been a beautiful pioneer home a pile of decaying rubbish.

While residing in Columbiana County, Samuel Sr. evidently devoted his full time to farming. That he may have been engaged in some kind of commercial enterprise as well as farming in York County might be inferred from his account book, inventories as part of his estate after his death. He may have kept tavern, an occupation that seems to have been a favorite one with this branch of the Musser family."

Biographical Sketch (1932):1372, p. 182-183. "Samuel Sr. is said to have been a private in Armand’s Legion during the Revolution.1372, p. 182. As his authority, Farley cites Prowell, George R., Continental Congress at York, Pennsylvania, p. 287. Samuel’s first wife was Elizabeth ___.1372, p. 182. As his authority, Farley cites Christ Lutheran Church, York County, Pennsylvania, and Salem Reformed church, Hagerstown, Maryland, records. She was the mother of Samuel Jr. and of John Jacob.1372, p. 182. As his authority, Farley cites Christ Lutheran Church, York County, Pennsylvania, and Salem Reformed church, Hagerstown, Maryland, records. Samuel’s second wife was Anna Maria ___.1372, p. 182. As his authority, Farley cites Blimyer’s United Lutheran and Reformed Church, Hopewell Township, York county. Also see grantor records, York County, Pennsylvania, and Columbiana County, Ohio.

Samuel Sr.’s will1372, p. 182. As his authority, Farley cites Columbiana County wills, I-65, 19 February 1808. is not absolutely unique in that it makes thoughtful provisions for his widow, but the solicitude he manifests is noteworthy. In many wills of the Pennsylvania Germans, wives were given slight consideration. Abraham, his brother, bequeathed his ‘beloved wife Mary’ the munificent sum of ten dollars."

Biographical Sketch (1974):1887 "Samuel (1745?-1818) was a private in Armand’s legion during the Revolution. He entered a section of land in Springfield Township, Mahoning County, Ohio on August 24, 1801, sold off half to Adam painter in 1806. He married first a woman named Elizabeth by whom he had Samuel Jr. (who was an early settler in Tuscarawas County, Ohio) and John Jacob. He married second to Anna Maria by whom he had Margaret, Eve, Michael, Mary Magdalene, and John Conrad."

1746 Baptism:2093, As her authority, Donson cites Family History Library Film 0727366. Transcribed and translated from the Bischwiller Reformed Church records: "1746 15 Mar. (baptized) Samuel, son of Hans Michael Moser & Eva nee Elsasser."

1779 Tax List, Hopewell Township, York County, Pennsylvania:1546, (Samuel Mosser, p. 49) Samuel Mosser listed as owning 50 acres, with 1 horse and 1 cow, who was levied a tax of 18.0.0.

1780 Tax List, Hopewell Township, York County, Pennsylvania:1547, (Samuel Moser, p. 314) Samuel Moser listed as owning 50 acres, 2 horses, and 4 cows, levied a tax of 12.3.0.

1781 Tax List, Hopewell Township, York County, Pennsylvania:1548, (Samuel Moser, p. 472) Samuel Moser levied a tax of 1.6.8.

1782 Tax List, Hopewell Township, York County, Pennsylvania:1549, (Samuel Mosser, p. 542) Samuel Mosser listed as owning 60 acres, no negroes, 2 horses, and 2 cows, levied a tax of 3.0.0.

1783 Tax List, Hopewell Township, York County, Pennsylvania:1545, (Samuel Mosser, p. 775),1374, p. 719.,1452, v. 1, p. 990-991. Samuel Mosser listed as having 6 people in the household and owning 60 acres. A tax of £54 was levied.

1790 Census: Samuel Mosser not located in visual examination of Ancestry.com images of 1790 U.S. census for Hopewell Township. Son Samuel Mosser Jr.1944 was enumerated in Washington County, Pennsylvania. Uncle Samuel Mosser1945 was enumerated in York Township, York County, along with his son, Samuel Jr.,1946 also in York Township.

1800 U.S. Census:1477
Pennsylvania, York County, Hopewell Township
Head of Family •• Samuel Moser
Males under 10 •• 1
Males 10-16 •• 1 << John Conrad Moser, age 11
Males 16-26 •• 2 << Michael Mosser, about age 21
Males over 45 •• 1 << Samuel Moser
Females 10-15 •• 1 << Mary Magdalena, about age 12
Females over 45 •• 1 << wife Anna Maria Moser