Jonas Odenbaugh

Stars on the maps indicate where Jonas Odenbaugh lived in the 1760s. "His residence was the then county, now city, of Baltimore including a large part of the square at the southeast corner of Pitt, now Fayette Street and Temple Street."

Temple Street was one block east of High Street in the historic Jonestown district. Today it is between High and Exeter streets.

Baltimore City record's reference to Charles Otenbaugh: "As also the Division line between a lot
or parcel of ground sold by Charles Otenbaugh to John Britton on about the
19 day of December 1787." Thanks to Eric Holcomb!

Most Americans with the Odenbaugh surname descend from Jonas Odenbaugh who came to the Colony of Maryland and died before the Revolutionary War. His son, Charles Odenbaugh was born about 1760.

The reference that Jonas' "proper name" was Jonas Stohler Von Adenbach" is questioned by a researcher who wrote: "As far as I know the term "von" was only used by the Prussian landowners, and not until later in l9th century. There are no "vons" listed in early immigration lists, only "vans'" which is Dutch." Previously other researchers told me "von" often preceded the names of "landowners."

My Family Memoirs by Thomas HUGHES, 1888 (descendents of Jonas' granddaughter Mary (ODENBAUGH) Hughes wrote: The progenitor in this country was Jonas Odenbaugh, more properly Jonas Stohler Von Adenbach. His residence was the then county, now city, of Baltimore including a large part of the square at the southeast corner of Pitt, now Fayette Street and Temple Street. His residence has long since given place to other structures. His wife was an English lady. All that I know of his personal habits is that he wore a wig, gold ring, sleeve buttons and shoe buckles, and possessed a beautiful hunting gun--rather curious and isolated knowledge to possess of an ancestor. I know further, that he died prior to April 14,1768 leaving no relatives in this country other than a minor child, Charles who attained his majority in 1780.

Oath of Allegiance Records for Jonas ODENBAUGH

Witnesses for others naturalized in 1763 at the same place/date as Jonas ODENBAUGH include: Jonas ODENBACH, Jonas ODENBACK, and Jos ODENBACK...however these names could be misspelled.

Jonas ODENBAUGH
The reference that Jonas' "proper name" was Jonas Stohler Von ADENBACH" is questioned by a researcher who wrote: "As far as I know the term "von" was only used by the Prussian landowners, and not until later in l9th century. There are no "vons" listed in early immigration lists, only "vans'" which is Dutch." Previously other researchers told me "von" often preceded the names of "landowners."

1) It was suggested we check what church records in Odenbach (or Adenbach, that is a village not far from Odenbach) say about a Jonas Stohler. Odenbach and Adenbach are 25 miles northwest of Kaiserslautern, Germany.

NOTE: I found records for two possible "Jonas Odenbach" in early church records on microfilm while searching at LDS-SLC about 1998. (I need to find & scan them)

2) PALATINES website (Germans to PA in the 1700s) After William Penn went to Germany in the early 1700s, many of the Germans came to America (esp. PA). Some went to England before America. One researcher thinks it is probable that Jonas went from Germany to England before America.

Jonas ODENBAUGH is listed in Colonial Maryland Naturalizations published by Genealogical Publishing Company Call number G, 975.2, Rec, 19.3., page 46

ODENBAUGH, Jonas
Place: Maryland
Year: 1763
Source Name:
WYAND, JEFFREY A., and FLORENCE LEONE WYAND. Colonial Maryland
Naturalizations. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1975. 104p. Repr.
1986.
Source Annotation:
Denizations, pp. 1-3 (1660-1771); naturalizations, pp. 5-71 (1666-1775). The
compilation covers about 1,600 new citizens. Appendix: place names, clergymen
and parishes.
Source Page #: 46

Listing no. 231 ODENBAUGH, Jonas; German; 14 Sep 1763 (1st date listed); 11 Sep 1763 (2nd date listed) Provincial Court Judgments, Book DD4-l33. is listed for Jonas and several others listed on 14 Sep 1763

St. Paul's-(Anglican Church)-taking communion at a Protestant church was a requirement of naturalization. St. Pauls is the parish for the southern area of Baltimore County (starting in 1692). Another researcher wrote: I wonder why Jonas joined the Anglian Church. A German from the Palatinate would join the Reformed Church. This again is a strong hint that Jonas came from England or that he had lived there for a while!

Chase-name of minister
wit (witnesses ?) Carl Shiel, Martin Tchudi
On the same page 46 are THREE listings with Witness names VERY similar
#227 Shield, Charles...witnesses: Jonas ODENBACK, Marti Tschudi
#228 Chudy, Martin* (The swiss name Tschudi (Chudy is a variation of Tschudi) is pronounced Judy in English)
witnesses: Jonas ODENBACH, Carl Shiel
#229 Hush, Valentine...witnesses: William Piper, Jos ODENBACK

Note: ODENBACK is a common surname in Germany. The English pronounce it ODENBACK. Also, these names could be misspelled or transcribed incorrectly.
Jonas Odenbaugh attended services and took Communion at a Prot. Church (one of the requirements of naturalization) on Sept ll, 1763 was naturalized on Sept l4th. Chase was the Minister who provided the religious service at St. Paul's Anglican Church . Carl Shiel and Martin Tchudi were witnesses to
Odenbaugh.

(Jonas died before 14 Apr 1768...probably the date his will was probated.) There are no further records of this name: He is not in the 1776 Census, the required 1778 Oath of Fidelity, the l790 census, He did not serve in the Revolution. All Maryland counties for these records, including listings that might be alternate spelling of Otenback or Adenbaugh/bach were checked. Neither of the two best sources for Passenger Lists of German Emigrants have a name that can be construed as Odenbaugh or Otenbaugh (the Germans used "d" and "t" interchangeably). He would have had to be in America for several years before he could be naturalized.

Jonas Odenbach does not need to come from the village of Odenbach in the Palatinate. Odenbach is a common name in Germany.

I would try to understand who the persons in the records are.
Who is Charles Shield? He seems to come from England.
Did Jonas come with him from England?
Many Palatinates cames thru England to America. There are books around which tell that Palatinates settled in England and moved further on to America. That was in the beginning of the 1700s.
Who is Valentine Hush? Again that is English
Who is William Piper? Again he is English
Who is Marti (Martin?!) Tschudi. Tschudi could be Swiss.