13 | John Settles in America

As the war came to an end in March, 1783, Johann (John) was released from Armand’s division, and as a revolutionary soldier, was entitled to land in Virginia or in Ohio. Since the Virginia legislature delayed the distribution of land to soldiers, it is not yet clear whether or not Johann was ever given land or not. Johann Wolfgang worked for german farmers in the area and became integrated into the life of the countryside. Johann used the American name John Odorfer, and later, in 1788, married his second wife, Elizabeth Rowe, who lived a few miles away in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and set up housekeeping in Washington County, Maryland.

John worked for many years on the Barnes/Mason estate, Montpelier, 12 miles from Hagerstown near unincorporated Conocheaque and Clear Spring, Maryland. He ran a mill and a weaving operation, and supervised several slaves owned by John Mason.

John and Elizabeth attended the St. Pauls Lutheran and Reformed church near Clear Spring, Maryland, where his children were were born and baptized. John was employed as the song leader at the church for several years. Their family is shown in the following chart. See Descendant Chart 2.

After John died in 1816, his wife Elizabeth continued to attend the St. Pauls Lutheran and Reformed church near Clear Spring, Maryland, with their youngest son, John B. Oderffer.

John B., Elizabeth, and Mary Sword (who later married John B. in 1826), were all listed as attending communion on September 18, 1825. It is interesting to note that the 1824 records of the church show John B. Oderfer and Elizabeth Oderfer, but that the 1825 records show John B. Odaffer and Elizabeth Odaffer, even though both of these records were recorded by the same secretary, Henry Firey.

It appears that this is when this branch began using the name Odaffer.