What is our Sanks ancestry - Where did the Sanks originally come from?

Bob Sanks, author of the 1997 “Sanks in America” book, the only major work on Sanks family history, traced the family’s ancestry back to colonial Maryland. This page takes Bob’s work, and adds some of my own, to see if we can trace it further. Bob identified the earliest known Sanks in our ancestry in an early Baltimore County will, analyzed that will, and even engaged noted chronicler of early Baltimore County families Robert Barnes for his opinion on the situation. That early will, on which he based his conclusions, is posted below. I have added a few more records about the person who left that will, as well as some early records of people named Zenk (or Senck) and will discuss what we can learn from all these records taken together. This is our Sanks ancestry “brick wall”, and this page is designed to see if we can move past it.

The evidence seems to point to German ancestry in early Maryland, by way of colonial Pennsylvania. This page will present Bob’s work and conclusions, documents on which his and my analysis are based, and a research plan of possible next steps to see if we can make further determinations. The great thing about this platform is that I can present not just analysis - but the original documents for everyone to see. I can edit at any time to correct, add, or further explain based on feedback from other researchers. I welcome advice, additions, or corrections. I believe this page adds a little more information than Bob Sanks had, and that we can take the research on our Sanks ancestry further.

My Personal Sanks Ancestry . . . .

Bob identified our original Sanks ancestor as “Immigrant Father Sanks”, because three Sanks brothers - John, Zachariah, and George - were named as step-sons of John Algire in a 1763 Baltimore County will. John Sanks, one of the thre brothers, had six known children - three of which came to Dearborn County, Indiana, including my ancestor Joshua Sanks. A skeletal ancestral chart for Joshua is shown at the top of this page, a chart I would love to update if there is progress on the Sanks family ancestry.

My great-great-grandmother Eliza Sanks, married Joseph Laird in Dearborn County after he returned from his service in the Indiana Cavalry during the Civil War.  Eliza was the grand-daughter of Joshua Sanks, who came to Dearborn County by way of what is now West Virginia, where Eliza’s father Zachariah Taylor Dunlap Sanks was born. Not only did Joshua and his son Zachariah come to Dearborn County, but so did Joshua’s brother George and Joshua’s sister Elizabeth Fenton.

Joseph and Eliza probably met because Joseph’s father Jesse lived on land adjoining that of Eliza’s grandfather Joshua. Eliza’s mother was Mary Cowles, who’s mother Rebecca Cole Cowles, married William Daniels. The Daniels, Lairds, and Sanks are all shown near each other in an 1860 township map of the Wilson Creek area of Lawrenceburg Township in Dearborn County - the map being shown on the front page of this site’s Sanks section.

Joseph and Eliza moved to Illinois with his widowed mother and brothers ca 1870.  Shortly after arriving in Illinois, they moved to Danville, Illinois, where Eliza’s older brother James Monroe Sanks had settled. They lived their lives in Danville until Joseph’s death in 1921 and Eliza’s in 1922 - and descendants of theirs live in Danville to this day. I have done extensive research on Joshua, George, and Elizabeth and others - and hope eventually to post information about them on this website as well, but first, the question of our collective Sanks ancestry.

In the beginning . . . .

As mentioned above, the earliest specifically identified Sanks in America were three brothers John, George, and Zachariah Sanks, who lived in the second half of the 1700’s in colonial Maryland. For the purposes of centering his research, Bob Sanks named the father of these Sanks brothers “Immigrant Father Sanks”. While he has yet to be clearly identified - a woman believed to be his widow married a German immigrant, John Algire. John Algire’s 1763 Baltimore County, Maryland will listed John, George, and Zachariah Zenk as stepsons. As those three brothers lived their lives out in Maryland, records show them no longer listed as Zenk, but as either Sank or Sanks. Bob Sanks had three theories about the “Immigrant Father Sanks”, which are posted right below.

The will of John Algire is central to his theories, and I have posted the original will and inventory below Bob’s theories - as well as a few other records for John Algire and his wives. This provides a basis for research on how to get to the bottom of our Sanks ancestry. This page will present all known information to track our ancestry back to colonial Maryland, and possibly to Pennsylvania and Germany.

Bob Sanks’ Theories About the First Sanks in America . . .

As already mentioned, Bob Sanks wrote the definitive history of the Sanks family, titled “Sanks in America”, and published a Sanks family newsletter for a few years, the “Sanks Connection”.  Above was his book’s heading of the section on the first Sanks in Maryland. When that book was published in 1997, he had his theory of who was the earliest descendant.  He did an amazing job of traveling the country, interviewing Sanks descendants from many different lines, and taking the research as far as he could. He even enlisted a well-known Maryland genealogical researcher, Robert Barnes, to help. I hope to take the research further. The best place to continue our search for our Sanks ancestry is with Bob’s book, and his discussion and theories about the original Sanks. . . .

Taking This Theory and Putting It into a Descendants Chart . . . .

As mentioned just above, Bob Sanks concluded this section by referring to his chart of Sanks descendants later in the book, where he put his conclusion into that format - posted just below:

Robert Barnes on John Algire from his Baltimore County Families Book . . . .

Bob Sanks mentions above Robert Barnes, author of the 1989 book “Baltimore County Families 1659-1759”. Bob engaged Robert Barnes to analyze how the Sanks were related to the information about John Algire. Robert Barnes own work has a biography of John Algire, posted below:

This Robert Barnes biography of John Algire above points to a number of primary source records in which John is named, that were not included in Bob Sanks’ work. I will include every one I can find below, starting with John Allgeyer’s will - which all researchers acknowledge as the basis of the first Sanks connection.

The actual records . . . First, the will of John Algire

Above are the sections of Bob Sanks on the earliest Sanks - and Robert Barnes section as well. Bob Sanks offers three different options for the original Sanks. I would offer a fourth, that is a variation of the alternatives he outlined. Bob’s theories rest on the 1763 will of John Algire, his widow Hannah, and three of his step-children, John, Zachariah, and George Sanks (Senk - Zenk). To get at this question, it is important to start with the source documents, on John Algire (there are many different spellings of his surname, as we will see). Then I have found a few earlier references to John, and I will post those as well. First, is the will of John Algire, shown in Baltimore County Will Book 3, pp. 26-27:

Transcription of the Above Will . . . .

The Will, shown above in Baltimore County Will Book 3, pp. 26-27, is both posted above and transcribed verbatim below, with some words not being clear, and me doing my best to get them right in this transcription: “Last Will and Testament of John Algire.  In the name of God Amen I John Algire of Baltimore County Talor and Innholder (?), being sick & weak in body but of perfect and sound memory (blessed be God) do this twenty fourth day of September in the year seventeen hundred and sixty three make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say, First and principally I recommend my soul to God who gave it and my body to the Earth to be buried in a decent manner at the direction of my Executrix hereafter named and as for my worldly Estate wherewith it has pleased God to Bless me with I dispose of as follows, viz. Imprimis (?) & is my will & desire, that the plantation whereon I now dwell and the land thereto appertaining namely parts of Bonds Garrison in quantity fifty acres with all my Goods and chattels of what nature or kind soever be inherited by my loving wife Hannah during her widowhood and no longer.  Item It is my will that at the decease of my said loving wife Hannah or at the end of her widowhood, the aforesaid fifty acres of land part of Bonds Garrison shall be inherited by and I give and bequeath the same unto my beloved son John Algire & his heirs; at which twice the said shall be valued and one morety (?) of that valuation shall then be paid by my said son John to the following nine persons his sisters and brothers viz. Hannah Price, Katherine Zimmerman, Elizabeth Barnet (Barrett?), Margaret Zenk, Elizabeth Algire, Katherine Algire, Mary Algire, Sarah Algire & Zachariah Zenk to be divided between them by equal & even portions.  Item I give and bequeath unto my step-son George Zenk fifty acres of land (part of Woolley’s range) that lies adjoining to my dwelling plantation to him and his heirs forever.  Item It is my will and desire that what property or right now ought to have by lease from James Richards for fifty acres of land part of North Carolina it is my will I say that the said property or right shall belong to my stepson John Zenk & his heirs.  Item It is my will and desire that at the decease of my said wife and after my just debts are all paid that the remainder of my personal Estate of what nature or kind soever be appraised & what it shall be valued at shall be divided by equal & even parts portions [to page 27 here] among mine and my said wife’s children being fourteen in all among which Phillip Miller is expressly included such division to be made by whom my wife shall nominate at her decease.  Lastly I constitute and appoint my said loving wife Hannah Algire my sole and whole Executrix of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and disannulling all forever & other wills by me heretofore made.  In witness whereof I have herewith set my hand and seal the day and year above written.  Signed sealed & published pronounced & declared to be the last will & testament of John Algire in the presence of Js. Gardner, Samuel Merryman and Samuel Taylor.  Johannz Algire (seal).  May 27, 1764.  Then came Saml.  Merryman & Samuel Tayler (sic) two of he subscribing witnesses to the foregoing will and being duly and solemnly sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God that they saw the Testator Jno. Algire sign the within will and hard him publish and declare the same to be his last will and Testament.  That at the time of his so doing he was to the best of their apprehension of found and disposing mind and memory that they subscribed their respective names as witnesses to the said will.  In the presents (sic) of the said testator at his request.  Sworn before William Young Deputy Commissary Baltimore County.”

John Algire’s Probate Inventory . . .

A Deed to John Algire in 1761 . . . .

Here is an abstract of the deed above that I had once done: [Trying to decipher the handwriting on the four pages of the deed – which is hard to read – has been difficult.] Baltimore Co MD DB 1, pp. 77-80.  This deed shows John Algier (sic) grantee from John Ridgely for 100 acres in Wooleys Range.  Dated April 8, 1761.   There is a reference to a deed of November 4, 1754 between John Jackson and John Ridgley that for forty pounds transfered the land known as Wooley’s Range. There is a land description that involves trees, perches, and degrees and seems to total 100 acres. This first part is signed by John Jackson, and witnessed by William Pearce and John Heddin (?). [In an online listing of some original Maryland patents, there is a patent for John Wooley for 100 acres in Wooleys Range, dated July 10, 1724, and in the column of adjoining is “Garrison Ridge, Galley Lot? Branch”.  I have obtained the original patent, which includes a small map.]  “A certain Allgir (?) of Baltimore County and the Province of Maryland and Andrew Barnet of the said County and Province hath paid and satisfied John Ridgely . . .”  April 8, 1761.  Signed by John Ridgely.  Witnessed by Charles Wells and James Rodgers.  Received April 20, 1761.  [Further NOTE: John left a daughter by the name of Barnet in his probate, this might be a relationship to the other party with him in this deed.] I would welcome anyone else looking at this deed and abstract and adding additions or corrections.

Because this deed is based on the original patent for the land in “Wooley’s Range”, which was recorded in 1724, I am posting the documents on the original patent below for reference:

What can we learn from these documents . . . .

These documents give us basic facts about the earliest Sanks. The will notes fourteen children of John and his wife. There are at least four Sanks (or Zenks) among them. The will lists two parcels of property, one described with a geographical reference in Baltimore County, and one that appears to be a leasehold interest in North Carolina. The inventory tells much about the life John lived - but also names some family members and associates. The deed matches the location in the probate, and gives a few more names of associates. The original patent gives us some information about the land in Baltimore County. From these we learn the following basic facts:

1) John lived in Baltimore County, was married to a woman named Hannah at the time of his death, and fourteen children were listed as between he and his wife. Bob Sanks believed that the fourteen children were children of just John’s wife Hannah - but the will expressly states that they were the children of him and his wife. The clear implication is that John’s wife Hannah was married at least once before John, and presents the likelihood that John was married at least once before Hannah.

2) Not all of the fourteen children were named in the will. The twelve named were John Algire, Hannah Price, Katherine Zimmerman, Elizabeth Barnet, Margaret Zenk, Elizabeth Algire, Katherine Algire, Mary Algire, Sarah Algire, John Zenk, George Zenk & Zachariah Zenk.

3) George Zenk and John Zenk were each referenced as step-sons. By inference, that would make Zachariah and Margaret step-children as well. There is an outside chance that one or more of the listed children who were women who had married were Zenks before their marriage.

4) There were pieces of property referenced in the will. One was fifty acres in Bonds Garrison that went to his widow Hannah and then son John Algire; one was fifty acres in Wooley’s Range that went to George Zenk - these two parcels together seem to equal the one hundred acres that John purchased in Wooley’s Ridge. Another listed property was by lease from James Richards for fifty acres of land part of North Carolina that went to John Zenk.

5) The will, inventory, and deed all list witnesses and other parties. The witnesses to John’s will were Joseph Gardner, Samuel Merryman, and Samuel Taylor. In the probate inventory, Hannah Algire was listed as Executrix; Joseph Cromwell and Samuel Merryman were listed as appraisers; John Stevenson and John Maret (?) were listed as “most conscionable creditors”; and John Sank and Samuel Taylor as “nearest kin”. The deed witnesses were John Ridgeley, Charles Wells, and James Rodgers - William Wells was the person in front of whom the deed was subscribed, and John Ridgeley was the grantor, which could explain two of these witnesses. The deed was also to both John Algire AND Andrew Barnet. Since Elizabeth Barnet was listed as one of John’s heirs in the probate, Andrew was quite probably a son-in-law.

6) The inventory says a lot about John’s life - something that might give a cultural anthropologist a lot to talk about. There are farm animals, clothes, dishware, and much more. “Very Old Dutch Books” are listed, and maybe they were just “very old”, but “old Dutch” is a euphemism for German at the time. There was also a very large Bible, which probably had family records in it - but it is almost 250 years ago, and probably does not exist.

Other References to John Algire in Maryland records before his death ca 1763 . . . .

In the Robert Barnes biography of John Algire above, he mentions records in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Here are the few actual records, or abstracts of them, that I could find in Maryland:

Church (Census) Records - There is a database of “Maryland Early Census Index”, which shows Johannes Allgeyer in St. Pauls Parish in Baltimore County in 1755, which is four years before Robert Barnes states he was in Baltimore County for sure, with the naturalization record that follows.

Naturalization Record - The 1975 book, “Colonial Maryland Naturalizations”, published by the Genealogical Publishing Company, contains the record for the naturalization of Johannes Allgeyer.  He and Andrew Hoppenheimer were in the record, both of Baltimore Town.  The date was September 12, 1759 and the two witnesses were Adam Gough and Andrew Caum.

Find-A-Grave Record for a John Algire (a different John Algire?). There is a John Algire in a Find-A-Grave record that seems to confuse the issue.  This record shows Johannes Algeyer, born November 4, 1725 in Reinheim, Landkreis Darmstadt-Dieburg, Hessen, Germany; and died 1764 (aged 38-39) in Carroll County, Maryland.  He is associated with the Algire Family Cemetery in Finksburg, Carroll County, Maryland. [For the record, Carroll County was not created until the 1830’s, and it was formed from land previously in both Baltimore and Frederick Counties.]  This John’s wife was shown in this record to be Maria Salome Bertsch Algeyer, born in 1725 in Germany and died in 1795 in Germany (sic).  This entry states that there is no burial record for either John or Maria.

This couple of in the record of John Algire, born 1745 in Bavaria (Bayern), Germany and died April 1834 (age 88-89) in Hampstead, Carroll County, Maryland and buried in the Algire Family Cemetery. Listed with him in this record: “Husband of Ruth Brown Algire. Married Ruth in 1768 in Baltimore City, Maryland. Children: 1) Elizabeth b. 1769, d. 1847 (married William Richards and 2nd Charles Jones,); 2) Nicholas b. 1785 d. 1870 (married Matilda Ebaugh Croft); 3) Lucinda "Lucy" b. 1788 d. 1867 (married George Richards and second Captain William Houck); 4) Henry b. 1788 d 1845 (married Mary Fowble,); 5) Nancy b. 1775 d. 1862 (married Joshua Brown); 6) Cynthia b. abt 1771 (married John Fowble, then John Snyder); 7) George, b.1776 d. 1871 (married Catherine Fowble); 8) Ruth b. 1785-1840 (married Jacob Troyer,); and 9) John b. 1773 d.1860 in Fairfield Co. Ohio, married Ann Courts and Jacob b.1776 d.1839 in Fairfield Co., Ohio.  The record further lists – Father: Johannes Algeyer, b. 1725, Germany; Mother: Maria Salome Bertsch, b. 1725, Germany.

This branch had many people born in Reinheim, Darmstadt-Dieburg, Hessen, Germany between 1721 and 1736 - with a couple of them listed as having been in Reinheim, Saarpfalz-Kreis, Saarland, Germany or Reinheim, Saar-Pfalz-Kreis, Saarland, Germany. These will be places to check for birth, marriage, and death records.

[This record is confusing for many reasons. It is of a John Algire that may have been the son of the John Algire who immigrated from Germany. It lists the father as John Algire and the mother as Maria Salome Bertsch. It is possible that this is our John Algire, and Maria is his first wife, who immigrated with him and died before he married the Zenk/Senck or Hannah. If that were the case, it suggests that there was a John his son, who survived him but died and is buried in Carroll County. But this John’s son remained in Carroll County, Maryland and died there. But it lists children that went to Ohio, and seem to match the Algire listed below descending from a Maryland branch. This is totally confusing.]

The information above in Find-A-Grave was posted by Lee Alguyer Brown, Sr. He also authored the 2006 book, “Joshua Brown and His Descendants”. Above, Nancy Algire, daughter of John, is shown to have married Joshua Brown. This work contains the same information listed above, and Lee is a fourth great-grandson of John. I cannot determine the source references for some of the information listed, and will followup during a future trip to Salt Lake City - particularly the records for the German locations, in the hope I can find baptismal, marriage, or other records that match.

Here Comes the Confusing Part . . .

There are a number of record entries for John Algire, or John Allgeyer or some of spelling version of his name, in Pennsylvania prior to the record entries above in Maryland. Were there two early John Algire’s in America? Was all this about just one and then he ended up in Maryland? It’s relevant, because in looking at the fourteen children of John and Hannah above, it helps us determine when they might have married, and who the father of the Zenk (Sanks) children was. Additionally, there are various records of people who had surnames of Zenk or surnames that resembled Zenk. They might be random entries that have no relation - they might be at the center of the question of who was the father of our Zenk step-children of John Algire. So it is important to list them all for a possible connection - which I have done below - even if they don’t appear to be connected, so they appear all in one place, in somewhat of a chronological order.

However, there is one key record entry I will list first and here - a 1933 listing for Vital Records of Christ Lutheran Church of York, Pa., Volume V, translated by Henry Hames Young and dated 1933 – included is a listing for an August 23, 1752 marriage for John Allgeiger (sic) and Maria Eva Senck. This could be the record of John Algire marrying the widow of the Immigrant Father Sanks. It is of the right time for Maria Eva Senck to have children that became step-children of John Algire and could be listed in his 1763 will. It raises many more questions - who was Maria Eva’s husband that died and likely was the father of George, Zachariah, and John. Did Maria die and John remarry again to someone named Hannah - or was Eva Maria the Hannah who was listed in the will? This entry is both exciting and confusing, and has to be weighed against the other records of Algire and Zenk/Senck in this period. Here are those other records with a listing of either an Algire or Zenk/Senck, with a few comments made with some of the record entries:

Algire References

Daniel Rupp’s 1876 book, republished by the Genealogical Publishing Company in 1985 – “A Collection of Upwards of Thirty Thousand Names of German, Swiss, Dutch, French and Other Immigrants in Pennsylvania from 1727 to 1776” – lists passengers on a ship that arrived October 17, 1747.  The ship was named Fane, William Hyndman Captain, 596 passengers.  It states that the ship included passengers from the Palatinate, Wirtemberg and Rittenheim, that the ship was from Rotterdam, last from Cowes.  One of the passengers was listed as Johannes Algeyer. [A son John Algire is referenced in John Algire’s 1763 will.  If he was the oldest, and not named as a minor in that will – in fact, he was left property – it is hard to believe he was born after 1752, which implies a previous marriage for John Sr.]

Descendants of one John Allgire, who they believe was born about 1745, and died in 1834 in Ohio, believe this John to be a son of the John who married the Senck and Hannah.  [John Algier and Jacob Algier are listed in the 1783 Baltimore County tax record in Pipe Creek Hundred.]  One of the descendants posted in a genealogy board and within that post quote from a church history in Ohio: “I am interested in the Allgires by way of the Browns. Here is what I know of the Allgires. Best source is a book ‘Two Centuries of Service, 1787-1987’ compiled by Joan Porterfield for the Wesley Church [no location listed] done in October of 1986. Small printing done for the Church members, I obtained a copy several years ago. To quote:

‘John Allgire was born about 1745. It is very likely that his father was John Allgire I, who lived south of Pikesville at Seven Mile Lane (Balto. County), the only known Allgire in Maryland at that time. John I had been born in Germany and probably migrated to America by 1750. He was an innkeeper and Taylor. In his will, probated May 27, 1764 he mentions a son John. There is good reason to believe that this John Allgire is ours and that his brother Jacob migrated to this area from Pikesville by the 1760's and founded what is now St. Paul's Lutheran Church at Arcadia, Md.’

John Allgire purchased land next to John Brown, just outside of Hampstead, MD. and married Ruth Brown, John Brown's daughter. They had nine children. John Allgire died in 1834 and his will was probated in Baltimore Co. He mentions all nine children in his will, including two sons, John and Jacob who moved to Ohio.” 

Senck/Zenk References

There are people by the name Senck in the same area at the same time that John Algire and Maria Eva Senck (Algire) married.  So, in order to see if there’s a pattern, I’ll list the few pieces of information I can find of anyone with the name Senck in this place in Pennsylvania during this period.

The heart of this information about a Senck family comes from a book titled “Eighteenth Century Emigrants from German-Speaking Lands to North America – Volume I: The Northern Kraichgau”, by Annette Kunselman Burgert and published by the Pennsylvania German Society in 1983.

Listed on p. 344 is a brief biography of Johann Georg Senck.  There is a note “Weiler = 6920 Sinshem, Elsenz”, which seems to be a place in Germany.  He arrived on the Pleasant in 1732.  In the Weiler Reformed KB (Church?) on March 9 1730 Joh. Georg Senck, apprentice tailer, married Maria Barbara Keller.  Maria Barbara Keller was born February 25, 1704, daughter of Martin and Margretha (Loscher) Keller.  See Johannes Keller, 1732 immigrant on the same ship, for complete detail on the family. [Maybe it is significant that both Johan Georg Senck and John Algire were tailors.]

Pennsylvania records: Trinity Lutheran KB, Lancaster: George Senk had 1. Anna Catarina, b. 5 Feb., 1737; Joh. Christian, b. 7 Feb 1739; and George Friedrich, b. 3 Sept. 1743.

In the First Reformed KB, Lancaster: Georg Senck and wife Anna Eva had: Anna Maria bp. 24 Feb. 1745; sp. H. Basler and wife.”  In the listing for Johann Georg Senck on the ship Pleasant, one of the other passengers was Friedrich Baasler, which sounds very close to the name of one of the sponsors for this daughter. [NOTE: in a book on Lancaster County probate abstracts, there is a probate for Margaret Keller, admitted and finalized in August and October 1737.  It lists that she was the widow of Martin Keller, and that children were John, and Mary, the wife of George Sevic.  This is likely the reading for Senck.  I am still looking for a copy of the original document to shed light on this. [I have a Lancaster County record for Martin Keller, which lists Margaret Keller at the widow – it’s in WB 2, pp. 691-92 – but it lists 1773 as the time he left her a widow.  Must be someone else.]

In this same book, there is also a Joh. Jacob Zend.  He immigrated on the James Goodwill in 1728, and on one of these lists his name was listed as Sinc or Zenck – the closest reference I can find of anyone that nears the listing for the name “Zenk”, ascribed to the Sanks children in the 1764 probate of John Algire.

In the York County Private Pastoral Record of Jacob Lischy, there is a listing for Maria Magdalena, daughter of Johannes Algayer and Catharina, baptized June 21, 1752, sponsors Friedrich Meyer and Magdelina Schmidin.  There is a second record with all the same people that lists a baptism for August 6, 1752. [The marriage for John Algire and Maria Eva Senck was on August 23, 1752.]

There is a second record in the same Lischy record from just above, that shows Susanna, daughter of Johanes Allgayer and Anna Eva, baptized May 7, 1758, sponsors Andreas Hebbenheimber and Margreth. [There is not a Susanna in John’s 1763 will, but then again, his wife from 1752 who had a similar name to the one listed in this baptism was also not alive then.] Above there is the 1759 naturalization record of John Algire in Baltimore County - and naturalized with him was “Andrew Hoppenheimer” - who is likely the Andreas Hebbenheimer above.

Creating a Research Plan Given the Previous Information . . .

The references above give us direction on what we should look for to further the research:

1)    The key 1752 marriage record for Eva Maria Senck and John Allgeyer in the Christ Lutheran Church in York, Pennsylvania.  There should be a search of all records of this church to see if there are any other records of anyone by these names.  Try to find an original copy of the record in case other people were listed.

2)    The “step-children” listed in the 1763 will of John Algire were children of a previous wife that she brought to the marriage.  Is it possible that that wife could have died and John remarried a third time?  Maria Eva of the 1752 marriage record, and Hannah of the 1763 probate, seem like very different names.

3)    Given John Algire’s death in 1763, and the fact that he and his wife had fourteen children or step-children between them, implies a marriage for him prior to Maria Eva Senck.  If, in fact, he is the same John Algire that came over in 1747, then there are records in Germany – likely baptism and marriage – that could be found.  See what avenues of research there are to search for these. [One branch had many people born in Reinheim, Darmstadt-Dieburg, Hessen, Germany between 1721 and 1736 - with a couple of them listed as having been in Reinheim, Saarpfalz-Kreis, Saarland, Germany or Reinheim, Saar-Pfalz-Kreis, Saarland, Germany. These will be places to check for birth, marriage, and death records.]

4)    Wherever there is a record listing above for an Algire or a Senck/Zenk, it is worth going through the complete body of records for that area and seeing if there are other records that can be found.  There is one record mentioned above that probably includes a Senck, but it was transcribed as Sevic - suggesting that mis-readings might have happened in other records. Those records would include:

·      The Christ Lutheran Church Records of York, PA – where the 1752 marriage record for Eva Maria Senck and John Allgeiger is located.

·      The “other” John Algire, who died in 1834 in what is now Carroll County, Maryland, would be in Baltimore County records, as Carroll County was not formed until 1837.  He is shown to have purchased land in Hampstead, which was in the part of Baltimore County that moved into Carroll County.

·      John George Senk, who immigrated in 1732, was shown in Weiler Reformed Church records in Germany, marrying Maria Barbara Keller.  Look for Senks in the Weiler Church Records.

·      Similarly, where did John Algire immigrate from in Germany.  Can he be found in church records there?

·      George Senk and Anna Maria were shown with children being baptized in Trinity Lutheran Church in Lancaster PA between 1737-1743.  Look for those records, who else was named, and see if I can find the originals.

·      In the First Reformed Church of Lancaster, George Senk and his wife Anna Maria were involved in the baptism of a daughter in 1745.  Look for this record, who else was named, and see if I can find the original.

·      There are York County private pastoral records of Jacob Lischy, which lists baptisms in 1752 and 1758 for Johannes Algeyer.  In 1752, there is a baptism for Maria Magdalena that lists John’s wife as Catharina.  In 1758, there is a baptism for Susanna, that shows John’s wife as Anna Eva.

·      John Algire is shown in St. Pauls Parish records in Baltimore County in 1755.  See if there are other records for this parish that I can review.

·      Then do a comprehensive further research task based on the records we have already found for Senck/Zenk and Algire names. Above there is the research task of going through records where there is already a reference. But a piece of that task is to look not just for any further Senck/Zenk or Algire reference, but also references to anyone else who was in a record with them to see if it tells us something. So below is a list of the locations where there have been references, and a list of the names who appear with the Senck/Zenk or Algire’s so that we have a systematic way to look for them. This means that there is a research program for a next visit to the Salt Lake City library. Below is first the list of locations and then the list of names in these entries, in alphabetical order:

Locations

York County, Pennsylvania.  John Algeyer is listed in 1752 records here, both as having a daughter with Katharine, and marrying Maria Eva Zenk.

Trinity Lutheran, Lancaster Co., PA – Records show that George Senk had 1. Anna Catarina, b. 5 Feb., 1737; Joh. Christian, b. 7 Feb 1739; and George Friedrich, b. 3 Sept. 1743.

Baltimore County, Maryland – lived south of Pikesville at Seven Mile Lane. The Ohio church book that mentions John Algeyer Jr. states this about his father – likely our John Allgeyer.

The “Maryland Early Census Index” shows Johannes Allgeyer in St. Pauls Parish in Baltimore County in 1755.

John Algier and Jacob Algier, possibly sons or other relatives of John Sr.,  are listed in the 1783 Baltimore County tax record in Pipe Creek Hundred.

The September 1759 naturalization of Johannes Allgeyer show that he and Andrew Hoppenheimer, in the same record, were both of Baltimore Town.

A 1761 Baltimore County deed has John Allgeyer purchasing land from John Wooley, and the location includes “Wooley’s Ridge”.

People who appear in records with John Allgeyer, family, and possible family

Andrew Barnet – listed in a 1761 property transaction with John Allgeyer in Baltimore County.  His probate two years later lists a daughter as Elizabeth Barnet (at the time, I thought it could be Barrett).

Andrew Caum – one of the two witnesses to the Sept 1759 Naturalization record of John Allgeyer.

Adam Gough – one of the two witnesses to the Sept 1759 Naturalization record of John Allgeyer.

Andreas Hebbenheimber and Margreth – listed in a May 1758 pastoral baptism record of Susanna, daughter of Johanes Allgayer and Anna Eva.  If you look at the Andrew Hoppenheimer listing in the naturalization the next year – this could be the same person.

Andrew Hoppenheimer – was in the Sept 1759 Maryland Naturalization record that also included Johannes Allgeyer.  It is unclear if they were related.

Samuel Merryman – Witness to John Algeyer’s will in Baltimore County in September 1763.

Friedrich Meyer – listed in a June 1752 York County PA pastoral record as a sponsor of the daughter of Johannes Algayer and Catharina.

Hannah Peece or Price – Daughter listed in John Algeyer’s 1763 probate.

Magdelina Schmidin – listed in a June 1752 York County PA pastoral record as a sponsor of the daughter of Johannes Algayer and Catharina.

Samuel Taylor – Witness to John Algeyer’s will in Baltimore County in September 1763.

Katherine Zimmerman – Daughter named in John Algeyer’s 1763 Probate.

As I post this . . .

in December 2020, we are still in the middle of the pandemic. It will be awhile before there can be trips to Salt Lake City to go through some of these records to follow up on the family members, locations, and people with whom they interacted - all listed in the above research plan. But this research plan contains the logical next steps to see if we can shake other facts loose and move this story along. I am happy to add any reasonable facts, records, or additional analysis that anyone wishes to suggest. We have a realistic opportunity to move past the “brick wall” that Bob Sanks encountered in his research.