"The Schneiders of Swamp"

The SCHNEIDER family immigrant, Johannes SCHNEIDER, arrived in America around 1717; most likely on one of the three ships arriving in September of 1717 in Philadelphia. It is well known that also on one of these three ships were Valentine GEIGER, and his father-in-law the Rev. Anthony Jacob HENKEL. Johannes SCHNEIDER purchased, on December 9, 1718, 200 acres of land from John Henry Sprogell in Hanover Township, now New Hanover Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Both the HENKEL’s and GEIGER’s acquired land in the same township at the same time, as did others who arrived from the three ships.

Johannes SCHNEIDER is listed in 1734 as a landholder in what was at the time Hanover Township, Philadelphia County. However, Johannes did not live much longer he died that year, leaving a wife, Sophia and five known sons: Johann Heinrich, Johannes, Jacob, George, and Christopher. Variations of the Schneider name include but are not limited to the popular spelling of Snyder, also Snider and Schnider. The branch of the family that remained at the Schneider homestead in what is currently New Hanover Township Montgomery County, retained the spelling Schneider, where other families switched to alternate versions. At this time the two sons of Johannes Schneider whom I have information on are his first son Johann Heinrich and second son Johannes.

Both branches of the Schneider family became prosperous and quite influential. Among the descendents of Johannes Schneider was Gen. John Frederick Hartranft, two term Governor of Pennsylvania and runner-up Republican nominee for President of the United States (Rutherford B. Hayes was nominated, later became President). The descendents of Johann Heinrich Schneider remained in ownership of the original Schneider lands and operated a successful farming and tannery business. The members of this family also became quite influential in their community, where Henry Schneider, grandson of Johann Heinrich, was very involved in local politics and was elected to positions such as County Commissioner and as a Representative in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Henry’s son Benjamin Schneider D.D. would become on of the first Missionaries abroad, serving in Asia Minor – Turkey, and Syria.

Also among the ranks of the Schneider family are various Patriots serving in different wars, notably Johann Jacob (son of Johann Heinrich) in the Revolutionary War, and his son Henry Schneider, serving as Lieutenant and rifleman in the War of 1812. I hope that this has served as an introduction to the Schneider family of New Hanover and keep in mind it is very brief. I will hopefully be adding detail to the webpage and if you have any questions or know anything about the Schneider Family of New Hanover please contact me.

Schneider Home, Farm, and Tannery in New Hanover "Swamp" Pennsylvania

John Frederick Hartranft

State Capitol - Harrisburg, PA

Searching for LOST Family Members