10. Joseph *³ VAN GUNDY (Peter Sr², Male¹) was born in Lancaster Co, PA 1750. Joseph died 1823 in Conotton, Harrison Co, OH, at 73 years of age. His body was interred in Methodist Burying Ground, Conotton, OH.

He married Fronica "Fanny" Kaufman in Berks Co, PA, probably, 1776. Fronica died in Harrison Co, OH. Her body was interred in Methodist Burying Ground, Conotton, OH. Fronica became the mother of Rebecca VAN GUNDY 1778. Fronica became the mother of Christina VAN GUNDY 1780/81. Fronica became the mother of Mary VAN GUNDY 1782/83. Fronica became the mother of Regina VAN GUNDY 1784/85. Fronica became the mother of Magdalena VAN GUNDY June 15, 1786. Fronica became the mother of Framia\Fanny Van Gundy 1788/89. Fronica became the mother of Benjamin VAN GUNDY 1790. Fronica became the mother of Fanny VAN GUNDY 1795. Fronica became the mother of Joseph Jr VAN GUNDY July 10, 1799. Her name was verified by a deed on 4/19/1800: "Release, Barbara Kaufman, widow of Stephen Kaufman, late of Berne Township, deceased, John Kaufman, Joseph Gundy and Fronica, his wife, late Fronica Kaufman, to Jacob Faust." The names Fronica and Veronica were used interchangeably by German speaking people. The name evolved into Frances and Fanny in anglicized form.

At 28 years of age Joseph became the father of Rebecca VAN GUNDY 1778. At 31 years of age Joseph became the father of Christina VAN GUNDY 1780/81. At 33 years of age Joseph became the father of Mary VAN GUNDY 1782/83. At 35 years of age Joseph became the father of Regina VAN GUNDY 1784/85. At 35 years of age Joseph became the father of Magdalena VAN GUNDY June 15, 1786. At 39 years of age Joseph became the father of Framia\Fanny Van Gundy 1788/89. At 40 years of age Joseph became the father of Benjamin VAN GUNDY 1790. At 45 years of age Joseph became the father of Fanny VAN GUNDY 1795. At 49 years of age Joseph became the father of Joseph Jr VAN GUNDY July 10, 1799. This Joseph and 2 others, also denoted by * in their names, have been thoroughly researched by the PA genealogy society. A great grandson, Rev Michael V Van Gundy, stated that Joseph was the son of Peter of Lancaster Co, PA, both in a biography and in a letter some 15 years later, 4/16/1904, to Franklin P Van Gundy, Convoy, OH. Some say this was probably the Joseph listed in Capt Reagel's Co of Berks County Militia in 1780-1781. His commanding officer dropped the "Van" from name and Joseph did likewise, establishing the Gundy branch. However, for purposes of identification in this book, the name will stay Van Gundy. He was a cooper, later a Mennonite minister (interesting, since they do not fight in wars) and finally a minister for the United Brethern church. He and son-in-law, Peter Forney were mentioned, as being ordained, in the history of the Meyers Mill congregation, a small congregation with partly Amish background, both eventually joining the United Brethren. Residences & events in his life: Brothers Valley, Bedford Co, PA. Joseph may have been the leader of the Mennonites who settled in the Valley, at the very least, he was an important member of that community. 11/11/1777 Lebanon, PA. He swore that he was not a symphazier with King George's cause, according to the Rev War Oaths of Allegiance. 1783 He was assessed for 100 acres, 2 horses and 2 cows. 1784 Elk Lick, Brothers Valley Twp, Somerset Co, PA. He probably never moved, rather the county lines shifted, making him a resident of the new county. At tax time his property consisted of 1 house with 6 whites in the household. 1790 In the census his name was Josiph Gunty with 1 male over 16 (himself) and 6 females (probably his wife and their first 5 daughters). 6/25/1793 & 1/13/1801 were the dates he took out warrants for 265 acres of land. The survey was dated 6/25/1819 and the Deputy Surveyor General, John Wells, entered a note that the first improvement on the land was made in April 1784, and the family had lived there since that date. Joseph was mentioned many times in the journal of a United Brethren minister, Christian Newcomer. It may have been Newcomer's influence which eventually caused Joseph to leave the Mennonites for the United Brethren. 10/27/1798 - "I stayed this night with a Mennonite preacher named Gundy; our souls immediately flowed together in Love." 1800 Somerset Co, PA. He and brother, David, were the only Gundys in the county. Joseph then had one male above 45 (himself), 2 males under 10, 2 females under 10, 4 females 16-26, and 1 female over 45 (wife). (Westmoreland, PA) There is no evidence Joseph ever actually lived there although some descendants claim he did briefly. 10/10/1801 Chillicothe, Ross Co, OH. Apparently Joseph had made a trip to OH but returned home before his mail could catch up with him as on this date the newspaper carried a listing of letters left at the local post office, Joseph's name among them. 11/17/1803 Somerset Co, PA. Newcomer again visited with Joseph: "This morning we set out very early. Rode 36 miles over very mountainous country, arrived at night at Joseph Gundy's." Newcomer preached there on Sunday, 11/27/1803, to a gathering, "followed by Brother Crum and then Gundy, a Mennonite preacher." 1804 Joseph withdrew his membership from the Elk Lick Mennonite church and became a minister for the United Brethren Church. Services were held in the cabins of the settlers. 1804 & 1807 Ross Co, OH. Joseph received two land grants as recorded at the Chillicoth land office. 1805 Harrison Co, OH. Supposedly, Joseph and his a 10 year old daughter came to the location of Conotton, built a cabin, cleared the land and returned to PA in the fall. 4/28/1806 Harrison Co, OH. Joseph entered the NE 1/4 of Sect 14, Twp 13, Rg 6 giving his current residence as Somerset, PA. It is unlikely he would have given that address if he actually lived in Westmoreland Co. This land was patented to him on 1/10/1812. He bought two quarter sections of land, plus another small parcel on the NW end of the ridge that came to be called "Gundy Ridge" His farm was just at the eastern edge of the present village of Conotton. An entry in Rev Newcomer's on 3/9/1807 states: "traveling west from Frankford, leaving Joseph Crisup's, I again pursued my journey; rode all day across a very mountainous part of the country; stopped at a public house to get refreshment for myself and beast. After we had recruited our strength, I set off with the intention of reaching Joseph Gundy's. When I arrived at the place where he formerly lived, I found he had removed to the western county, but found his son-in-law lived at the place. Both young people rejoiced to see me and entertained me with the greatest pleasure." A note in the PA Vital Records of Lancaster Co recorded Newcomer's death 7 yrs later: "Died on Tuesday morning last, (8 February 1814), Mr. Christian newcomer, of Manor township near Columbia, in his 42d year of his age, he left a wife and 9 children."

Joseph * VAN GUNDY and Fronica "Fanny" Kaufman had the following children:

+ 49 i. Rebecca⁴ VAN GUNDY was born 1778.

50 ii. Christina VAN GUNDY was born 1780/81. She married John Heastand\Hartrout.

51 iii. Mary VAN GUNDY was born 1782/83. She married Joseph Nafziger.

52 iv. Regina VAN GUNDY was born 1784/85. She married Male Folk.

+ 53 v. Magdalena VAN GUNDY was born June 15, 1786.

54 vi. Framia\Fanny Van Gundy was born 1788/89. She married Peter Forney. Peter died before 1808. In the history of the Myers Mill congregation, a small congregation with partly Amish background, he was mentioned as being ordained, as was Joseph Gundy, both eventually joining the United Brethren.

+ 55 vii. Benjamin VAN GUNDY was born 1790.

56 viii. Fanny VAN GUNDY was born 1795. Fanny died in childhood.

+ 57 ix. Joseph Jr VAN GUNDY was born July 10, 1799.

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