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Blankenberg, Johann Melchior (1743-1816)
Johann Melchior Plank
Date of Birth: c. 1743, Holland?
Date of Death: 1816 Pennsylvania
"Most of the Mennonite Planks of the central states, however, are descendants of Melchior Plank, or more specifically Johann Melchior Blankenberg, who arrived in America from Holland and was sold as an indentured servant for a five-year term to Jason Cloud on 27 November 1767. In Berks County, Pennsylvania, on 16 January 1769, Jason Cloud assigned his servant to Howard Hughes for the remainder of his term and on 22 June 1772, Hughes dismissed Blankenberg upon his payment of five pounds, as shown by the photostatic copy of the indenture in the Goshen Archives of the Mennonite Church. According to family tradition Blankenberg was a Swiss Mennonite in Holland, who with his wife visited friends sailing for America on a ship docked in a Dutch port. While they were on board ship it left the harbor.
"To the Melchior Planks were born six children, the oldest of whom was Jacob (1768-1851). To Jacob and his wife Mary Yoder Plank were born 12 children, 3 in eastern Pennsylvania and 9 in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. In 1821 Jacob moved to Wayne County, Ohio. The Planks of Wayne County, Ohio, and Lagrange County, Indiana, are descendants of Jacob."
Gingerich, Melvin. "Plank family." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1959. Web. 28 Jan 2020. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Plank_family&oldid=119792.
MLA Personal Photos Collection
Biographical note:
Married Margaret _______, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Indentured servant -- Pennsylvania 1767-1772
Bethel alumni note:
Photo holdings:
See James Morrell for indenture document -- Mennonite Life, July 1961
Sources:
Gen. of Isaac Plank p. I-II
Mennonite Life July 1961, p. 128
Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online (GAMEO), a portion of the article is shown above
