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, who himself was the son of Abraham’s brother named Samuel (1745-1808) who settled with other family members in Columbiana, now Mahoning, County.

Biographical Sketch (1884):119, p. 566. "The first permanent settler was Samuel Mosser . . . one of the proprietors of the first quarter township. Samuel and Abraham Mosser first came out on horseback about 1803, to examine the land the latter had entered. While inspecting the land, they were met by two Indians, one of whom wished to trade his rusty old flint gun for a new rifle which Samuel carried. The offer was refused, but the savages were treated before they departed, from the flask the proprietors carried. The Indians soon returned, and the one with trading proclivities was more anxious than before to exchange weapons of war. To conciliate the, the whisky flask was again brought forth, but without producing the desired effect of conciliation, and at the request of Abraham, his brother at last surrendered the rifle, to avoid difficulties which might postpone the settlement of this tract of land. Samuel Mosser first settled opposite Bolivar, about eight rods from the east bank of the river, and near the route of the Sandy & Beaver Canal. His first house was a diminutive hut, which served as a shelter until better accommodations could be provided. About 1809, he purchased Lot 2, and the east half of 14, and died in 1810 or 1812, while constructing a substantial hewed-log cabin. His wife survived him many years. Their children were Elizabeth (Kline), Joseph (still living near Quincy, Ill.), Jacob, Samuel, Catherine (Himes), John, Michael, and Abraham."

Biographical Sketch (1932):1372, p. 189-194. "Samuel Musser Jr. was born July 14, 1767, probably in York County, Pennsylvania, as his birth was recorded in Christ Lutheran Church in the Borough of York. He married Catherine —— about 1787, and shortly thereafter moved to western Pennsylvania, evidently with his father, who later returned to York County.

After the Whiskey Rebellion in western Pennsylvania, the inhabitants of those counties were required to take an oath of allegiance. Samuel took this oath in Somerset Township of Washington County, December 31, 1794.2182, Appendix, p. 108. Sometime between that date and 1800 he moved to South Beaver Township in Beaver County, where he was recorded in the U.S. census of 1800. At that time he was "between 26 and 45 years of age." His wife was listed in the same age column. In the family was one son between 10 and sixteen 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.1372, p. 189. As his authority, Farley cites Warner, A., History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, 1888, p. 103. His brother Jacob applied for a license to operate a tavern in 1804.1372, p. 189. As his authority, Farley cites Warner, A., History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, 1888, p. 123. In 18031372, p. 189. As his authority, Farley cites Mansfield, J. B., History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, p. 330. Samuel abandoned his tavern in Beaver County to settle in Lawrence Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, on lands owned by his Uncle Abraham.

Upon the death of his father, Samuel Sr., Samuel Jr. received a settlement of $200 in spite of the bequest of the will which was for the amount of $40. This bequest was smaller than that bequeathed to his other children, possibly because the younger sons had lived with or near their father in Springfield Township of Columbiana County and had assisted him in clearing and improving his farm. June 11, 1808 Samuel gave a quit-claim deed 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 Musser Sr., deceased.'1372, p. 190. As his authority, Farley cites Columbiana County deeds, Lisbon, Ohio, II-157. Witnesses were Peter and John Musser, likely the sons of Peter musser Sr., Abraham Muser, J. P., of Tuscarawas County was the attest.

Samuel Jr. made one of his first purchases of land recorded in Tuscarawas County, August 10, 1808 when Abraham Mosser sold him 50 acres of land 'on the Muskingum River, east 100 perch.'1372, p. 191. As his authority, Farley cites Tuscarawas deed I-15, Old I-175. May 30, 1809, Samuel and Catharine sold this tract to Jacob Good, Abraham's son-in-law, and Conrad Regheart, for $320. February 24, 1809, Samuel bought a lot in Abraham's new town of Lawrenceville from George Pease of Hudson, Portage County, Ohio, for $70.1372, p. 191. As his authority, Farley cites Tuscarawas County deeds, Old I-240. October 7, 1810, he bought another lot for $30 from Timothy Lamberson, who had married his daughter Elizabeth. These transfers show his part in the speculation in which these early settlers played — and lost. Though real estate has always been a substantial part of our nation's wealth, it has its hazards, even today, for investment purposes. It was probably not a great burden on Samuel Jr.'s estate to lose the town property which his will bequeathed to satisfy a judgment of some kind in Abraham's magisterial docket.

Lot 14 came into Samuel Jr.'s possession in the manner in which much land was purchased in those days by the pioneers of this section. Nathaniel Clark, a Revolutionary soldier, sold for $20 to a James Kingsbury the 100 acres which he had been granted by a generous government for his military service.1372, p. 192. As his authority, Farley cites Warrant #366, U.S. Ohio Military land Register, Revolutionary Lands, U.S. Land Office. There is no record of the amount Samuel Jr. paid Kingsbury, but it likely represented a good profit to the latter. This practice made much money for the men who engaged in the business of buying soldier's bonus lands for a song and selling them to settlers, and this illustrates the traditional improvidence of soldiers with their country's bounty.1372, p. 192. As his authority, Farley cites Mansfield, J. B., History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, p. 324.

Lot 2, of 100 acres, was purchased by Samuel Jr. for $200 Jan. 9, 1809.1372, p. 192. As his authority, Farley cites Tuscarawas County deeds, Old-250. It was on one of these two lots that he was constructing his permanent home when he died. His will was written January 14, 1811, and probated the following April. It was witnessed by his Uncle Abraham whose name frequently appaers on the legal records of Samuel Jr. It is tradition of the family that Samuel was killed when a vehicle in which he was riding fell off a bridge. [This information from William Musser, his grandson, Martinsville, Indiana. The story related by William seems to be inconsistent with all the facts. According to his account Catharine was also killed in this accident. The record of J. B. Mansfield says Catherine survived her husband many years. Tuscarawas marriages record a marriage of Catharine Musser, who may have been Samuel's widow, and Bartholomew Laffer, Nov. 13, 1815.] This accident may have happened while he was hauling logs to build his new home. A more likely explanation of this tradition is that his wife Catherine married again, and that she and her second husband met such an untimely end. It is supposed that after Samuel's death Catharine went to live in Beaver County with one of her older sons.

However Samuel came by his death, he was a young man when he died, not yet 44 years of age. His youngest son, Abraham, was not yet five years old. He and the other younger children were reared in the family of relatives, probably in those of their sisters, Elizabeth Kline and Catharine Himes.

During Samuel's comparatively brief residence in Tuscarawas he contributed to the development of the new county which was organized after he took up residence there, and participated in civic affairs. He served on the grand jury of August term of court in 1808,1372, p. 193. As his authority, Farley cites Rhodes, Edwin S., Centennial History and Atlas of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, New Philadelphia, 1908, p. 59. and helped in the making of roads.

Samuel's grave is likely on Lebold's Hill in the cemetery described heretofore, but no stones mark the resting places of these pioneers.

Samuel Musser Jr. was a true pioneer. He and his father seem to have been the first of his family to 'go West.' In Washington County, Pennsylvania, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and then in Tuscarawas County, ohio, he reared his family amid the hardships endured by the frontiersmen. His children likely never knew even the meagre comforts of the more thickly populated districts and the towns of his day."

1790 U.S. Census:1944
Pennsylvania, Washington County
Head of Household •• Samuel Mossir
Males 16 and over •• 1 << Samuel
Males under 16 •• 1 << son, perhaps Joseph or Jacob
Females •• 2 << wife Catrena; daughter Elizabeth, infant

1794 Oath of Allegiance:2182, Appendix, p. 108. After the Whiskey Rebellion in western Pennsylvania, the inhabitants of those counties were required to take an oath of allegiance. Samuel took this oath in Somerset Township of Washington County, December 31, 1794.

1795 Power of Attorney:1590, p. 15-16. On 29 August 1795, Samuel Moser Jr. of Washington County, Pennsylvania acknowledged a letter of attorney to empower Abraham Mosser of York County to receive in his name a warrant or patent for such lands that Samuel is entitled to for his service "as a private soldier in the late American War."

1797 Proof of Military Service1590, p. 39-40. On 8 September 1797, Samuel Moser Sr. appeared before notary John Norris to attest that his son, Samuel Moser Jr., had enlisted in the Army of the United States and had shown his discharge papers to Samuel Sr. John Norris indicated that Samuel Sr. had been personally known to him for ten years.

1800 Land Patent:2175, p. 4. "The first quarter township, Township 10, Range 2, of this township was entered by General Thomas Boude and Abraham Mosser, in 1800. Some of the purchasers from them were John and Christian Keller, five hundred and thirty-three acres; J. M. Bimeler, twelve hundred and seventy-five acres; and Samuel Moser, Jacob Good, Mary Taylor, Henry Hydegrass, William Christmas, John Shorb, and John Machan."

1809 Tax List, Lawrence Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio:1692, p. 49. Samuel Mosser and Abraham Mosser appear on the first tax list for Tuscarawas County, Ohio.

1808 Grand Jury, Tuscarawas County, Ohio:2175, p. iii. "The First Grand Jury — As the first to sit in council to arbitrate, in reason, the differences of their fellows, we give the names of Samuel Mosser, Godfrey Hoff, Gideon Jennings, John Herbaugh, Abraham Knisely, George Stiffler, Isaac Deardorff, James Smiley, Lewis Knaus, John Knaus, Abraham Romig, Joseph Everett, Philip Ziegler, and Conrad Roth."

1810 Tax List, Lawrence Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio:42, p. 383. Samuel Mosser appears on 1810 tax list .

1811 Samuel Mosser Will:2175, p. iii. "The will of Martin Keller, Sr., was number one on record of the first Court of Common Please, held at New Philadelphia, April 24, 1809. The next succeeding bears date of April 11, and is a simple Christian statement of the wishes regarding his estate of Samuel Mosser."

1811 Samuel Mosser Will:1625 Written on 14 January 1811, Samuel willed that his wife Catrena "shall live on my one hundred and fifty acres of land whereon I now live or leiesse [lease?], the Plantation and receive the rents for her use as she pleases so long as she remains a widow, and after her decease the land shall be sold and the money shall be divided amongst all my children. And I give and order that my wife shall have all the bed and bed clothes now in my house and all the house and furniture and two cows and all the grain in the ground to take and to her my said wife as her dower." Abraham Mosser and wife, Catrena, were named as executors.

1811 Samuel Mosser Estate:1624 In April 1811, the will of Samuel Mosser was probated and letters of administration issued to Abraham Mosser and Catherine Moser.

1813 Land Ownership:119, p. 330. "Samuel Mosser, or Musher, as he was also known, took possession of Lawrence Township soil in 1813." If Samuel died in 1811, what does this passage represent?

1816 Tax List, Tuscarawas County, Ohio:1980, p. 9.,42, p. 389. Samuel Mosser appears on 1816 tax list as owning one parcel of land, 150 acres, with moderate improvements, located in Tuscarawas County and in the Zanesville Land Office District. The total tax due was $3.37. [Note: Is this perhaps Samuel’s land still owned by his widow Catrena? However, she remarried B. Laffer in 1815.]

Descendant Information

[Note:1372, p. 195. Michael and Abraham Mosser the sons of Samuel Mosser and subsequently reared by Abraham Mosser, their uncle, until Abraham’s own death in 1822.]

Michael Mosser:918 Henry Laffer appointed guardian for Michael Mosser, November term 1822.

Abraham Mosser:918 Henry Laffer appointed guardian for Abraham Mosser, August term 1823.