Johann Conrad Bloss ^{1 3 4 5 6}

1718 - 1776

• Born: Abt 1718, Langenselbold, Germany ¹

• Marriage: Anna Magdalena Reber on 30 Nov 1740 in Langenselbold, Germany ^{1 2}

• Died: 27 Aug 1776, Long Island, , New York about age 58 ^{1 3}

  General Notes:

From the History of Lehigh County

The Bloss family whose descendants are especially numerous in Lehigh and in Carbon counties, trace their ancestry to the progenitor, Conrad Bloss, who emigrated from southern Germany. He sailed from Rotterdam on the ship Francis and Elizabeth, commanded by Capt. Geo. Worth, and landed at Philadelphia Sept 21, 1742.

Conrad Bloss, a weaver by trade, settle in Washington Twpthis county, and then Heidelberg Twp, Northampton Co. The exact time is not known, but as early as Oct 4 1749, he took out a warrant for twenty-five acres of land in Bucks county, which then embraced all of what is now Lehigh Co. On May 30, 1750, he took out a warrant for a tract of fifty-six acres and thirteen perches called "Issenberg"; on May 9, 1765 he purchased from John Engel Thomas a tract called "Manheim" which was taken out by a warrant dated Oct 19, 1757, for 139 acres; on April 9, 1767, he purchased from the heirs of Jacob Shellhammer a tract called "Berlin" of fifty-eight acres. The last three tracts are embraced in a patent that was granted April 10, 1767, to Conrad Bloss, by Thomas Penn and Richard Penn. On Aug 25, 1765 he made application for twenty-five acres and in pursuance of warrant No. 623 dated Aug 14, 1766, there was granted to him Aug 25, 1766 a tract of twenty-five acres and fifty perches called "Schwabenstadt".
Another warrant was taken out for twenty-eight acres and thirty-two perches on Aug 14 1766. The total land he owned amounted to 331 acres and ninety-five perches.
In the Proprietary Tax list of 1772, Conrad Bloss, farmer, is assessed one pound and four shillings.
The first official act in recognition of Heidelberg as a township was made at the October term of court 1752, when Conrad Bloss was appointed constable for it.

On Aug 6, 1776 Conrad Bloss was a member of Capt. Nicholas Kern's company, in camp at Perth Amboy, N.J., which composed part of the Flying Camp of Ten Thousand men commanded by Col. Hart in the Battle of Long Island. This was the Third company in the First Battalion of the Northampton county Associators. It is history that most of the men of the First Battalion were either killed or wounded in the engagement with the British on Long Island, Aug 27, 1776. Doubtless Conrad Bloss lost his life in this battle as we find no trace of him after this time.


Sept 6 2006
Possible spouse for Conrad Bloss: Anna Maria Daubenspeck born about 1726. I had received this from Robert Emory (see citations) however Carl H. Bloss has stated to me that this is not correct and she is not Conrads spouse.

Per Carl Bloss (Sept 2006)

Conrad and Magdalena were sponsors for a child of Jacob Daubenspeck and wife Julianna - daughter Anna Magdalena Daubenspeck B. Feb 16, 1753. This has led many researchers to conclude that Conrad's wife name was daubenspeck.
Conrad and Magdalena were sponsors for a child Daniel Reber on Feb 13, 1763. Big problem is mainden name of Conrad's wife. Most current information lead to The Reber family unless Daubenspeck family can come up with more than a family tradition. Keith Bloss says "last name for her is in the Langensebold records published in a book by Annette Burgert - "Eighteenth Century Immigrants from Langensebold in Hesse to America" published in 1997. In this she is listed as an Anna Magdalena REBER b. 3 June 1720. They married in Germany 30 Nov 1740 and had their first child Anna Margaretha there in 12 Nov 1741. Magdalena is the daughter of Bernhard Reber (son of Daniel Reber and Maria ?RONPEL) and Anna Maria (daughter of Valentine AHL).
Known information is that Johan Conrad Bloss emigrated to America from Rotterdam on the ship "Francis and Elizabeth" (George North, Master) that arrived in Philadelphia PA, 21 September 1742. He resided in Heidelberg Twp area of PA as a farmer and weaver. Colonial records indicate he owned 25 acres of land in Bucks County by 1750 (This was the county of record until 1752 formation of Northampton County).
He enlisted in Captain Nicholas Kern's Company in August 27, 1776 whose unit was activated in Perth Amboy prior to the Battle for Long Island (Battle of Brooklyn). It is anticipated that he died in this battle (War Records - PA Archives, Vol 8, Series 5th, p. 26).
He is listed in township records as the 1st Constable of the newly formed Heidelberg Twp.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Alternate Spell: Conrad Bloss. ¹

• Occupation: Linenweaver farmer constable. ⁷

• Born Alternate: Langenselbold,Germany, 8 Jan 1715. ^{8 9}

• Baptism, 5 Jan 1718, Langenselbold, Germany. ²

• Military, 1776, Revolutionary Army Patriot. ³

Johann married Anna Magdalena Reber, daughter of Bernhard Reber and Anna Maria Ahl, on 30 Nov 1740 in Langenselbold, Germany.^{1 2} (Anna Magdalena Reber was born on 3 Jun 1720 in Langenselbold, Germany ¹ and died in 1803 ¹.)